It is a truism that does not get talked about enough, but is innately part of being a conservative, or really a person of any ideological conviction — world view matters.
Personal values drive policy. When Kamala said her "values" had not changed I knew at that point that her policies that differed from 2019 had not changed either.
Mr. Kennedy's values could easily bleed over into his policies in attempts to change things coming out of HHS. While some might be ok, I would have to bet that others would not be.
As for former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, I think he's been a bad boy and it will come out Wednesday.
Edit, Show Notes Nov 19... Nevermind, Trump actually wants these idiots. Looks like the midterms are going to be ugly and Trump is going to make 2028 as difficult as possible.
******
Is Trump playing 4D chess? I know that is a stretch, we know that in his first term the good people he sourounded himself with made him look like genious even though his decision if carried out as asked would have been disastrous.
Matt Gatez: Trump gives him an out and kills the House investigation mitigating damage. The Senate will not confirm, he just goes away.
RFK: Trump throws him cinder block disguised as a bone. The Senate will not confirm and he just goes away.
I find Erick's comments on cabinet appointees to be thoughtful and insightful. His assessment of Kennedy is his opinion and he is free to express his opinions. I would encourage you, Frank, to reup your subscription for the next four years. I think you're going to miss a lot of good commentary.
Unlikely that Kennedy can garner Senate approval. Then, Trump can say he honored His commitment to Kennedy and nominate someone qualified. And Kennedy slithers off into wherever disgraced Kennedys go.
Your morning email is how I start my day. I look forward to reading your thoughts and perspective. Especially your spiritual view. I do have to disagree with you on this topic. RFK jr was one of the few standing up for us during Covid and vaccine mandates. Free speech as well. Our food system is a disaster and he’s been a loud voice in the movement. I’m so excited for the prospect of real changes being made in medicine and our food. I honestly don’t care what he’s done or not done in his past. He’s a Kennedy, are we shocked ?? This is for God to sort out. I really do believe he’s been given this opportunity to finally make a sizable change across the board. He’s not owned by any special interest groups and I’m giddy with the possibilities. Fingers crossed!
Interesting and heart breaking to read. Ive followed RFK since 2020 through his Children’s Health Defense Fund. He was one of the only voices calling for medical freedom during the COVID lockdown. Remember it had a 99.999% survival rate?
If there is a better candidate, I’d love to know who. As a mother of young children, I have been absolutely ecstatic of the thought of someone helping clean up our health industry. Pharma ads need to go, red40 and other hazardous additives need to go, vaccines need higher standards, and so much more. I haven’t heard of any other politician talk about these topics that affect us everyday. So although, the new revelation of RFK is disgusting, I pray he’s appointed.
My gosh, I have never seen a more contentious thread then this one. Nor can I recall, Erick, you being more engaged. Why should there be these reactions? Robert Kennedy and Matt Gaetz are very bad people, and their nominations blow my mind. I want to believe Trump and Susie are being clever, knowing these two will never make it through, but providing an avenue to reward loyalty. Now I'm worried Trump might have once again
I knew this thread could stir the pot a bit, but honestly I am flabbergasted by the people who want to just wave away the man's conduct and character because they think he was with them on COVID or red dye number 5. There are plenty of other people without his issues who did the same. It is a wild time.
Erick...you went off the deep end here...your personal animus is highly telling. The fact that you would not consider Gaetz allegations....if true...FAR WORSE than a man who cheated on his wife. She committed suicide and that was HER selfish choice BUT underage girls and sex parties? Hmmm...where is your DISDAIN? I live for your perspectives on a daily basis but I am beyond tired of the religious holier than thou spewed at times.
You can cancel your subscription, like Frank did. RFK, Jr. is a liar, egomaniac, conspiracist, and pro-abortion progressive. Them's the facts. But OMG he hates red dye number 5 so he must be perfect. Good grief. Grow up.
And YOU sir should grow up and show some damn respect to other voices and opinions. I DO NOT care for RFK Jr or GAETZ. Neither should be confirmed. I will accept your apologies and pray you are not as petty as your attack was against your subscriber and ardent fan.
My ardent fan accused me of going off the deepend because it is well documented RFK's behaviors contributed to his wife's meltdown and suicide in addition to his terrible policy views, conspiracy theories, etc. And so my ardent fan, who apparently didn't hear my views on Gaetz from just last week, wants to lecture me in the comments.
Mr Erickson...I am an ardent fan because you challenge and make your listeners think. You are my generation Rush Limbaugh and your perspective and platform is only going to get bigger and broader....I did not hear your Gaetz take...for that I apologize...I am not a highly religious person so sometimes your take comes as an attack...my bad.
I adore your show and feel privileged to have the knowledge you disperse…now I have to get back to my bar studies! Florida Bar! Keep doing what you do…I am listening!
I am holding the expletive that this piece warrants. I am done here. Canceling my subscription and encouraging others to do the same.
Erick, with this, you are branded the enemy of the good people of this country. You are one of them. You are an upper class political media chattering class bot that is the exact type of person in the media that we just elected to rid ourselves of. I am done with your types... time to lump you into the basket of real evil that is basically the collection of self-anointed superiors that scold the rest of us for being not good enough to occupy your hallowed life-space.
Name a damn Trump appointment that you have not jumped to oppose.
Why the hell does anyone buy your inauthentic brand of conservative? You are just one of the media Trump Deranged trying to carve out a niche of hate of regular Americans to fund your upper class life-style.
Yes, worldview matters, and I have had enough with yours.
So, we (not me, but collectively as the Republican Party) should be asking ourselves, "why the hell did we choose a nominee who would choose the likes of Gaetz, Kennedy, Gabbard, and a FOX News host to serve in his cabinet?" SNL could not have come up with a skit any better than that! All my Trumpy friends told me not to worry, that Trump would not do all the crazy shit he said he was going to do. Well, he is doing the crazy shit, and he's not going to stop. And when he slaps his 20% across-the-board tariff on all imported goods (ALL, not just those from China) we will see inflation that will make Biden's look mild by comparison. Buckle up. It's going to be a wild four years.
I was furious at being hoodwinked by the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson "fight" because it was nothing more than a money-making hoax. Democrats awoke November 6th furious at having been hoodwinked by the "Trump is an existential threat to democracy / fascist / Hitler" because they realized it was a money-making hoax. Conservatives were furious with the COVID vaccine mandate because they saw it as a money-making hoax. So it shouldn't surprise us to see politicians hoodwinking us with flip-flops on policy or even party affiliation in order to perpetrate yet another money-making hoax. Thanks, Erick, for reading the tea leaves and giving us this insight.
Can't say I agree with you there. Factually speaking, the vaccine did nothing it was supposed to do, making any claims that it saved lives pure conjecture IMO. It reminded me of my dad's imaginary "alligator repellant" when I was a kid. I would tell him, "Dad, there's no alligators around here" to which he would respond, "See how well it's working?"
You are not factually speaking. Check the Covid death rates before and after the vaccines were available to most people in the world. Six of my friends or acquaintances died before the vaccine was available. Two died after it was available, but they refused to take it because of the misinformation spread by nut cases. While many people I know, including myself, have contracted Covid after being vaccinated, the symptoms were mild, and none have come close to dying.
I should have been clearer. Yes, I concede that you are correct on the published death rates. But factually speaking, the vaccine did not perform as advertised: it didn't prevent anyone from contracting COVID; it was not a "one and done" solution (it required multiple boosters); and it was not "totally safe" (heart-health risk for young men). Furthermore, the CDC became a cheerleader for the vaccines while almost completely ignoring acquired immunity (you had to search their website REALLY hard to find anything on the subject). Meanwhile, this 60-something unvaccinated male with a 20-year heart history had COVID three times with nothing more than a periodic forced nap as a symptom. COVID was, and still is I guess, a very personal virus, affecting each of us differently, both physically and psychologically. I don't downplay its seriousness at all. But the "show me the money" moment on the vaccine just never materialized for me. I don't advocate for or against it, I just advocate for choice.
I appreciate your clarification, but you might want to show a bit of grace for people fighting a virus that was killing people by the thousands every week for choosing to go with the best information they had at the time. Judging these folks with 20/20 hindsight is more than a bit unfair. They found a vaccine that is now protecting millions from premature death from a disease that, without their efforts, would still be killing people at rates unseen since the Spanish Flu outbreak in the early 20th century. Glad you survived without the vaccine, but a lot of people did not.
This is not gossip. This is who the man is. He cheated on his wife repeatedly, sent the naked pictures to his friends, and drove his wife into depression and dependency, then divorced her. And when she committed suicide, he denied her family her body because the divorce had not gone through. He's a narcissistic crank who loves himself, peddles junk research, and cravenly lies.
Personal values drive policy. When Kamala said her "values" had not changed I knew at that point that her policies that differed from 2019 had not changed either.
Mr. Kennedy's values could easily bleed over into his policies in attempts to change things coming out of HHS. While some might be ok, I would have to bet that others would not be.
As for former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, I think he's been a bad boy and it will come out Wednesday.
Edit, Show Notes Nov 19... Nevermind, Trump actually wants these idiots. Looks like the midterms are going to be ugly and Trump is going to make 2028 as difficult as possible.
******
Is Trump playing 4D chess? I know that is a stretch, we know that in his first term the good people he sourounded himself with made him look like genious even though his decision if carried out as asked would have been disastrous.
Matt Gatez: Trump gives him an out and kills the House investigation mitigating damage. The Senate will not confirm, he just goes away.
RFK: Trump throws him cinder block disguised as a bone. The Senate will not confirm and he just goes away.
This view is Trump ego-centric.
I find Erick's comments on cabinet appointees to be thoughtful and insightful. His assessment of Kennedy is his opinion and he is free to express his opinions. I would encourage you, Frank, to reup your subscription for the next four years. I think you're going to miss a lot of good commentary.
Unlikely that Kennedy can garner Senate approval. Then, Trump can say he honored His commitment to Kennedy and nominate someone qualified. And Kennedy slithers off into wherever disgraced Kennedys go.
For relevant questions for Kennedy from the American Council on Science and Health, see: https://www.acsh.org/news/2024/11/15/12-questions-rfk-jr-49117 (good info source, BTW; free newsletter)
Your morning email is how I start my day. I look forward to reading your thoughts and perspective. Especially your spiritual view. I do have to disagree with you on this topic. RFK jr was one of the few standing up for us during Covid and vaccine mandates. Free speech as well. Our food system is a disaster and he’s been a loud voice in the movement. I’m so excited for the prospect of real changes being made in medicine and our food. I honestly don’t care what he’s done or not done in his past. He’s a Kennedy, are we shocked ?? This is for God to sort out. I really do believe he’s been given this opportunity to finally make a sizable change across the board. He’s not owned by any special interest groups and I’m giddy with the possibilities. Fingers crossed!
Interesting and heart breaking to read. Ive followed RFK since 2020 through his Children’s Health Defense Fund. He was one of the only voices calling for medical freedom during the COVID lockdown. Remember it had a 99.999% survival rate?
If there is a better candidate, I’d love to know who. As a mother of young children, I have been absolutely ecstatic of the thought of someone helping clean up our health industry. Pharma ads need to go, red40 and other hazardous additives need to go, vaccines need higher standards, and so much more. I haven’t heard of any other politician talk about these topics that affect us everyday. So although, the new revelation of RFK is disgusting, I pray he’s appointed.
My gosh, I have never seen a more contentious thread then this one. Nor can I recall, Erick, you being more engaged. Why should there be these reactions? Robert Kennedy and Matt Gaetz are very bad people, and their nominations blow my mind. I want to believe Trump and Susie are being clever, knowing these two will never make it through, but providing an avenue to reward loyalty. Now I'm worried Trump might have once again
stepped in it...all on his own. God help us all.
I knew this thread could stir the pot a bit, but honestly I am flabbergasted by the people who want to just wave away the man's conduct and character because they think he was with them on COVID or red dye number 5. There are plenty of other people without his issues who did the same. It is a wild time.
Agree. I just don't understand why Trump wants to die on this hill, and why these people are willing to go down with him.
Agree with you 100%.
I just watched a YouTube video that stated for unwanted political
Messages you can send them to 7726 Spam
What you wrote here is news to me...so if there are better candidates who share his concern regarding health and safety, who would you recommend?
He should put Dr. Jay Bhattacharya there instead of NIH.
Thank you. I will look him up.
Erick...you went off the deep end here...your personal animus is highly telling. The fact that you would not consider Gaetz allegations....if true...FAR WORSE than a man who cheated on his wife. She committed suicide and that was HER selfish choice BUT underage girls and sex parties? Hmmm...where is your DISDAIN? I live for your perspectives on a daily basis but I am beyond tired of the religious holier than thou spewed at times.
You can cancel your subscription, like Frank did. RFK, Jr. is a liar, egomaniac, conspiracist, and pro-abortion progressive. Them's the facts. But OMG he hates red dye number 5 so he must be perfect. Good grief. Grow up.
And YOU sir should grow up and show some damn respect to other voices and opinions. I DO NOT care for RFK Jr or GAETZ. Neither should be confirmed. I will accept your apologies and pray you are not as petty as your attack was against your subscriber and ardent fan.
My ardent fan accused me of going off the deepend because it is well documented RFK's behaviors contributed to his wife's meltdown and suicide in addition to his terrible policy views, conspiracy theories, etc. And so my ardent fan, who apparently didn't hear my views on Gaetz from just last week, wants to lecture me in the comments.
Mr Erickson...I am an ardent fan because you challenge and make your listeners think. You are my generation Rush Limbaugh and your perspective and platform is only going to get bigger and broader....I did not hear your Gaetz take...for that I apologize...I am not a highly religious person so sometimes your take comes as an attack...my bad.
Thanks and I am sorry for myself being snippy. I got Frank in here telling me I'm evil and Lanier in here telling me I've been lying to save my job.
I adore your show and feel privileged to have the knowledge you disperse…now I have to get back to my bar studies! Florida Bar! Keep doing what you do…I am listening!
I am holding the expletive that this piece warrants. I am done here. Canceling my subscription and encouraging others to do the same.
Erick, with this, you are branded the enemy of the good people of this country. You are one of them. You are an upper class political media chattering class bot that is the exact type of person in the media that we just elected to rid ourselves of. I am done with your types... time to lump you into the basket of real evil that is basically the collection of self-anointed superiors that scold the rest of us for being not good enough to occupy your hallowed life-space.
Name a damn Trump appointment that you have not jumped to oppose.
Why the hell does anyone buy your inauthentic brand of conservative? You are just one of the media Trump Deranged trying to carve out a niche of hate of regular Americans to fund your upper class life-style.
Yes, worldview matters, and I have had enough with yours.
Bye Felicia!
Don’t let door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.
Great news, Frank. The average IQ of posters here is only going up!
"Name a damn Trump appointee that you have not jumped to oppose."
Marco Rubio
Mike Huckabee
John Ratcliffe
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya
Pete Hegseth
Susie Wiles
Stephen Miller
Mike Waltz
Tom Homan
Lee Zeldin
Elise Stefanik
Steven Witkoff
John Sauer
Goodbye.
So, we (not me, but collectively as the Republican Party) should be asking ourselves, "why the hell did we choose a nominee who would choose the likes of Gaetz, Kennedy, Gabbard, and a FOX News host to serve in his cabinet?" SNL could not have come up with a skit any better than that! All my Trumpy friends told me not to worry, that Trump would not do all the crazy shit he said he was going to do. Well, he is doing the crazy shit, and he's not going to stop. And when he slaps his 20% across-the-board tariff on all imported goods (ALL, not just those from China) we will see inflation that will make Biden's look mild by comparison. Buckle up. It's going to be a wild four years.
I was furious at being hoodwinked by the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson "fight" because it was nothing more than a money-making hoax. Democrats awoke November 6th furious at having been hoodwinked by the "Trump is an existential threat to democracy / fascist / Hitler" because they realized it was a money-making hoax. Conservatives were furious with the COVID vaccine mandate because they saw it as a money-making hoax. So it shouldn't surprise us to see politicians hoodwinking us with flip-flops on policy or even party affiliation in order to perpetrate yet another money-making hoax. Thanks, Erick, for reading the tea leaves and giving us this insight.
A "money making hoax" that saved millions of lives worldwide.
Can't say I agree with you there. Factually speaking, the vaccine did nothing it was supposed to do, making any claims that it saved lives pure conjecture IMO. It reminded me of my dad's imaginary "alligator repellant" when I was a kid. I would tell him, "Dad, there's no alligators around here" to which he would respond, "See how well it's working?"
You are not factually speaking. Check the Covid death rates before and after the vaccines were available to most people in the world. Six of my friends or acquaintances died before the vaccine was available. Two died after it was available, but they refused to take it because of the misinformation spread by nut cases. While many people I know, including myself, have contracted Covid after being vaccinated, the symptoms were mild, and none have come close to dying.
I should have been clearer. Yes, I concede that you are correct on the published death rates. But factually speaking, the vaccine did not perform as advertised: it didn't prevent anyone from contracting COVID; it was not a "one and done" solution (it required multiple boosters); and it was not "totally safe" (heart-health risk for young men). Furthermore, the CDC became a cheerleader for the vaccines while almost completely ignoring acquired immunity (you had to search their website REALLY hard to find anything on the subject). Meanwhile, this 60-something unvaccinated male with a 20-year heart history had COVID three times with nothing more than a periodic forced nap as a symptom. COVID was, and still is I guess, a very personal virus, affecting each of us differently, both physically and psychologically. I don't downplay its seriousness at all. But the "show me the money" moment on the vaccine just never materialized for me. I don't advocate for or against it, I just advocate for choice.
I appreciate your clarification, but you might want to show a bit of grace for people fighting a virus that was killing people by the thousands every week for choosing to go with the best information they had at the time. Judging these folks with 20/20 hindsight is more than a bit unfair. They found a vaccine that is now protecting millions from premature death from a disease that, without their efforts, would still be killing people at rates unseen since the Spanish Flu outbreak in the early 20th century. Glad you survived without the vaccine, but a lot of people did not.
Not judging the people who chose to get it, judging the people who were pushing it even after it proved to be flawed.
Please, Erick, send your RFK comments to every Senate member of the coming 119th Congress.
Thanks Erick….appreciate the feedback!
Sorry, but I disagree with you on this position.
I’m a bit disappointed in you spewing this gossip….not like you!
This is not gossip. This is who the man is. He cheated on his wife repeatedly, sent the naked pictures to his friends, and drove his wife into depression and dependency, then divorced her. And when she committed suicide, he denied her family her body because the divorce had not gone through. He's a narcissistic crank who loves himself, peddles junk research, and cravenly lies.
Thanks for the detailed summary. My high-level memory was that he had some kind of baggage.