Views on the News from the Couch
My goal is to explore subjects that interest me – and might interest you – with some occasional humor and less partisan spin.
I call myself a conservative at about the 40‑yard line for Republicans but even that gets confusing given how far crazies and the media have moved the goalposts.
My aim is simple: call out the crazy on all sides and pull the conversation back toward a sane middle. AND encourage people to read the actual source material instead of just repeating headlines or relying on the media to tell us what we need to know. Full disclosure, I probably miss some of the crazy on the right.
If that sounds like your lane, give Views on the News from the Couch a try – and if you like it, please share it.
Be safe, and wear sunscreen.
Episodes
271 episodes
How Climate Change advocates (oops, I corrected the audio file) lost me and what it would take to get me back.
This piece explores how someone open to climate science became skeptical—not of the science, but of how the issue has been communicated. It argues that exaggeration, selective framing, and social pressure have undermined trust, even ...
Why the hell do they keep calling conservatives Fascists. And your mother wears Army Boots.
In this episode I take on a label that gets thrown around way too casually: ‘far‑right fascist.’ I walk through how mainstream politicians, academics, and media smear conservatives as fascists, starting with Biden’s ‘semi‑fascism’ line and movi...
Rufus, Outhouses, and Should we give a $#@%? Or, Do Boomers owe their children a better life?
In this episode, I push back on the idea that Boomers “had it easy” and owe their kids a softer life. Starting with the story of Rufus—a kid who walked into an auto shop two weeks before his 14th birthday to ask for a job—I connect three genera...
You Can Vote It In, But You Can't Vote It Out
What happens when key institutions in a 50–50 country start operating like one-party systems?Today’s episode digs into the growing imbalance across universities, media, and the legal world—where certain viewpoints aren’t just debated, th...
What would Churchill do on Iran?
In an earlier episode I supported Trump attacking Iran. The last few weeks I got wobbly and played a game where I asked AI If Churchill was was in charge in 2026, what would he do? For the results, you will to listen to the episode....
Golf: I like the Courses, Cherish the People
A walk down memory lane of my golfing memories. Might be more suited for a diary but I think some may find it interesting.
Shut Up and Affirm: The NBA vs. Jaden Ivey.
The April 4, 2026 episode of Views on the News from the Couch looks at the firing of Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey after he criticized the NBA’s Pride Month promotion on his own time, away from the court and team facilities. The Bulls...
No Kings Day? You are late to the party
When I first started to think about the No Kings subject, I have to admit the No Kings rallies bothered me. How dare they insinuate we have a king—particularly when aimed at a Republican. Republicans believe in less government, not more....
Yes, There Was a Deep State — And It Came for Trump
In this episode of Views on the News from the Couch, Jeff walk's through why he believes there really was a “deep state” — and how it targeted Donald Trump. Drawing on newly declassified ODNI material, House and Senate findings, ...
Team Mary Ann or Team Ginger? And How Much Should Politics Matter
On this episode of Views on the News from the Couch, I start with the age‑old question: am I Team Mary Ann or Team Ginger—and what does that say about how I handle politics? Using a light, nostalgic argument over two sitcom icons, I di...
Free Socialized Medicine? What Is It, And Will “Free” Cost Too Much?
For many years I have said I’m for single‑payer healthcare—mostly because we’ve screwed up the system we have but that does not mean I understand the issue. Today I am exploring what “socialized medicine” actually means, what it would cos...
Libya, Iran and Media Logic. I finally share my opinion if the current air war with Iran is a good idea.
Today’s podcast was a journey. Lot’s of rewrites. Lot’s of probing questions. I did not start with an answer and try to explain it; I started with some questions, and did a lot of thinking.It started with a simple question: If y...
I am for Social Justice, not Social Stupid
In the early part of this millennium, 2006 or so, from a race standpoint it felt like we were on a roll—more mixed neighborhoods, more interracial marriages, more boring, everyday life together. Then somewhere around the Obama era, we took a ha...
Tax the Rich, Kill the Host.
In this episode of Views on the News from the Couch, I take apart the fantasy that we can fix America’s $35‑trillion‑plus debt and multi‑trillion‑dollar deficits just by “taxing the rich.” We run a thought experiment: what if we confiscated all...
Trailer - Views on the News From the Couch
My goal is to explore subjects that interest me – and might interest you – with some occasional humor and less partisan spin. I call myself a conservative at about the 40‑yard line for Republicans but even that gets confusing given...
Addendum to Hitler, Iran, Iraq and Marshall Dillon: How early should America draw?
Let's add one more historical piece to this discussion that a lot of listeners will think of: the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Hitler, Iran, Iraq and Marshall Dillon: How early should America draw?
We love to say, “If I’d been around in the 1930s, I would have stopped Hitler early.” We curse the people who appeased him, who let him tear up treaties, who watched him send a few battalions into the Rhineland in 1936 and did nothing while his...
Be happy, dammit. Come on, you can do it.
If you live in the modern Western world, your default setting probably ought to be “basically happy.” Not ecstatic, not Instagram‑perfect—just generally okay.And if you’re not, at least some of that might be on you.Becaus...
Why I think the left has more stupid ideas than the right.
Today’s February 19, 2026 Views on the News from the Couch podcast asks the important question: Why do I think the left, littered with smart people and many academics, has more stupid ideas than the right?Not that the right doesn’t have ...
Two Trumps, Two Pronouns and lessons from a black musician who talks to Ku Klux Klan members.
I float a theory I’ve been working on since 1977, long before Donald Trump came down the escalator and announced he was running for President. It’s a theory about pronouns, prejudice, and why the same person can be both charming in ...
I’m pissed my reasonable views are called racist, fascist and Nazi‑ish—and AI helped me understand why.
The February 1, 2026 episode of Views on the News from the Couch started in a weird way. I basically spent a morning arguing with my AI assistant so I probably should call this one “Questions from the Couch,” but instead let’s go with:“I...
ICE, A few views on What is going on in Minneapolis January 26, 2026
ICE, A few Views from the Couch on What is going on in Minneapolis. Summary, play with fire, get burnt.
Greenland, Golden Domes and the Kicking of Cans
I’m back. Not sure for how long or how often, but I just can’t let Views on the News from the Couch die. Lay dormant, sure. Not die. This podcast started a few years ago for me to share views and opinions based on a life...