Topic: 1972

A C-SPAN caller's praise for Joe Biden and her recollection of the 1972 election as a choice between "two evils" is criticized by the hosts. They argue that George McGovern was a sincere anti-war candidate and not an "evil" choice. The segment uses the call to illustrate a perceived lack of historical knowledge and political "stupidity" among some Democratic voters.

Archival audio from 1970 and 2020 features biologist Paul Ehrlich discussing human population size as a driver for pandemics and ecological collapse. His 1970 prediction that the world would never reach 7 billion people by the year 2000 is highlighted as a significant failure of his "arithmetic." The analysis characterizes Ehrlich as a political operative rather than a scientist, specifically citing his 1972 "point of no return" as a tactic to influence presidential elections.

The 1972 adult animated film "Fritz the Cat" is analyzed for its surprisingly modern "woke" dialogue. A scene is played where college students use contemporary-sounding social justice terminology to impress a black character. The hosts note that the film, based on R. Crumb's comics, was self-aware and intended for adults, unlike modern "edgy" animation.

A 1972 MIT computer simulation predicted the collapse of global society by 2040 due to resource scarcity and overpopulation. In more optimistic news, a Slovakian company called Kleinvision successfully tested "Aircar," a roadworthy vehicle that transforms into a plane in under three minutes. The prototype completed a 35-minute intercity flight between two airports, reaching speeds of 120 miles per hour.

A Dutch representative at a Brookings Institute conference questioned how U.S. marijuana legalization affects international treaty obligations. Professor Greves responded that international treaties generally bind the federal government but not individual states. The segment references a 1972 treaty binding 184 countries and notes that Bolivia recently denounced the treaty to reiterate its reservation regarding cocaine production.

An unnamed California congressman is called out for a significant historical error during a floor speech regarding the 1972 presidential election. The representative incorrectly identified Eugene McCarthy as Richard Nixon's opponent instead of George McGovern while discussing the secret bombing of Cambodia.