A WORLD GONE MAD
A Progressive Liberal News Podcast
Veteran Television, and Radio Broadcaster Jeff Alan Wolf offers his Observations on the issues (many issues) of the week with a fearless liberal bent. His solid delivery, and dry common sense approach sets him apart from other liberals that populate Talk and Commentary Podcasts”
Jeff Does NOT Pull Punches.
He does NOT Make comments that are “SAFE”.
He tells the Truth.
(He Tells It As He Sees It)
He Is Very OPINIONATED!
He says the things Out Loud YOU’RE
already thinking.
Jeff is Unfiltered, Unspun, A little Unhinged, but offers a lot of Common Sense.
This Podcast could make you MAD.
This Podcast could make you SMILE.
Regardless, it WILL make you THINK!
A WORLD GONE MAD
Showdown With The Courts, Workers Rights Ended, Senator A Traitor?, Let’s Talk Juicy Steaks!
Democracy stands at a precipice as Trump continues to test legal boundaries with the Supreme Court, terminate federal workers' collective bargaining rights, and push aggressive foreign policies. The courts represent the last line of defense against presidential overreach while economic markets tumble in response to uncertainty and impending tariffs.
• Trump asks Supreme Court to overturn ruling blocking deportations under the Alien Enemies Act
• Executive order ends collective bargaining rights for federal workers in "national security" roles
• Defense Secretary Hegseth promises to stand with allies against China despite Trump's anti-ally stance
• Dow Jones sinks over 700 points as Wall Street reacts to…
• Elon Musk labels A Senator a "traitor" for supporting Ukraine
• JD Vance makes controversial Greenland visit, telling Denmark they've "neglected" the territory
Which Steakhouse is losing market share to other steakhouses?
Contact me at WolfpackListener@gmail.com,
call my toll-free voicemail box at 833-399-9653,
or find me on Bluesky.
Please check out my Substack under Jeff Alan Wolf or contact me for a direct link.
AWorldGoneMadPodcast@gmail.com
There is chaos in the world, can't you see? And we need to stand up and preserve our democracy. Well, this is a world gone mad. This is a world gone mad, season 2, episode 82, and I'm your host, jeff Allen Wolfe. I give my commentary on national and world news and politics. So here we go, continuing battles between Trump and the courts Ending collective bargaining rights for federal workers. Hegseth's visit to Asia sends conflicting ideas versus Trump. Dow Jones sinks again. I wonder why Senator Mark Kelly called it traitor. Vance's visit to Greenland ramps up the aggression, and I'll also talk about steak Yum. Have I got news for you?
Speaker 1:Trump asked the Supreme Court to overturn Boasberg's ruling blocking him from using the Alien Enemies Act for deportations. Now, president, donald Trump's administration on Friday asked the Supreme Court to wade into the fraught legal battle over enforcing the Alien Enemies Act, the wartime authority he used to rapidly deport alleged members of the Venezuelan gang order from US District Judge James Boasberg. Blocking further deportations under the act further thrust the Supreme Court into Trump's whirlwind. It is perhaps the most significant matter now pending on the court's docket dealing with his second term, and it sits at the center of an explosive confrontation between the White House and the judiciary. At issue in the case is Trump's invocation, on March 15th, of a wartime authority the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which gives him broad power to target and remove undocumented immigrants. Now the law grants that authority in times of war or when an enemy attempts an invasion or predatory incursion. The ultimate showdown between the courts and Trump. And if the courts fail in this showdown, I believe we rapidly slide down the rabbit hole with no turning back.
Speaker 1:Trump signs an executive order ending collective bargaining rights for many federal workers. President Donald Trump took his most consequential action against federal employee unions late Thursday, now signing an executive order aimed at ending collective bargaining for government employees whose work include national security aspects. Employees whose work include national security aspects. The expansive order applies to workers across many federal agencies, including the Departments of State, defense, justice and Health and Human Resources. It also impacts the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Communications Commission and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A fact sheet released by the White House said the president needs a responsive and accountable civil service to protect our national security. The order is aimed at stopping federal unions who have declared war on President Trump's agenda. According to the fact sheet Now it noted that the largest union, the American Federation of Government Employees, has filed many grievances to block Trump's policies. President Trump refuses to let union obstruction interfere with his efforts to protect Americans and our national interests. The fact sheet said, noting that the president is using authority granted by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. A guidance issued Thursday by the Office of Personnel Management said that the agencies and divisions covered by the executive force, or IRF, that Trump had previously ordered without regard to provisions in terminated collective bargaining agreements. Likewise, any procedural restrictions on agencies' return to office mandates won't be in effect after the agreements are terminated won't be an effect after the agreements are terminated. Look, this is just a further clamp down by the Trump administration to curtail the rights of people and to further solidify Trump's iron fist approach to how he handles things in this country and in the world. And I'm being repetitive and I'm sorry for doing this to you, the listeners, but until the Republicans in the Congress and the Senate stand up and draw a line in the sand against Trump, we have nothing to stop him and his agenda to remake our country and the world.
Speaker 1:Us Defense Chief Hegseth vows to counter China's aggression. On first Asia visit, the United States will enhance its military alliance with the Philippines as it aims to reestablish deterrence to counter China's aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. Us Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday during a trip to Manila. The efforts reflect the strength of the US-Philippines ironclad alliance, particularly in the face of communist China's aggression in the region. Hex has said during a joint press conference with his counterpart Gilbert Teodoro, the US will deploy additional advanced military capabilities for joint training, enhance interoperability for high-end operations and prioritize defense industrial cooperation, hexeth told reporters. Hexeth made the remarks as he opened his first visit to Asia as defense chief, an important opportunity for US President Donald Trump's administration to set a tone for its engagement in the region, which comes as Hegseth is under a cloud of scrutiny for discussing American war plans on commercial messaging app Signal.
Speaker 1:The Philippines has been on the front line of China's increasingly aggressive posture in Asia. Beijing seeks to assert its claims over the bulk of the South China Sea, despite an international ruling denying its sovereignty over the waterway. The Trump administration, hegseth pledged, would truly prioritize a shift to the Indo-Pacific, with the recognition that for the 21st century to be a free century, america needs to stand alongside our allies and partners, shoulder to shoulder. And I want to repeat that because I'm going to talk about something Hegseth says America needs to stand alongside our allies and partners, shoulder to shoulder our allies and partners shoulder to shoulder. And what Hex had just said about standing along our allies, isn't it the opposite to what Trump did to the EU and Trump being against Ukraine and against NATO and against, basically, canada and Mexico Anyone who's on our side, he's against. So I'm confused and I'm saying this sarcastically. Trump is not shown any willingness to stand alongside his allies and I don't know what heck Seth is talking about.
Speaker 1:Dow Jones sinks more than 700 points. Stocks are on track for their worst quarter since 2023. Us stocks were lower Friday as investors digested souring consumer sentiment and inflation data that showed an uptick in one of the Federal Reserve's key gauges, underscoring the delicate state of the economy. As businesses brace for President Donald Trump's tariffs, wall Street was also grappling with Trump's announcement on Wednesday of 25% tariffs on all cars shipped into the US, set to go into effect April 3rd. Trump also announced tariffs on car parts like engines and transmissions, set to take effect no later than May 3rd, according to the proclamation he signed. And Wall Street gets rattled again. Why? Well, because, like the rest of the world and us, the citizens of America, we feel completely uncomfortable with Donald Trump in charge. There's no stability, it's like walking on quicksand right now, so no wonder that the Dow Jones is down again.
Speaker 1:Elon Musk doubles down and calls Senator Mark Kelly a traitor. In an interview on Fox, elon Musk basically stated that Mark Kelly should put the interest of America over the interest of another country. He was referring, of course, to Ukraine. Now Senator Kelly responded back to those remarks to Musk by saying that Elon should stick to making rockets and cars and stay in his own lane. He's an unelected billionaire and the second most powerful man in the world and he's probably pissed off at me for selling his Tesla, my car that I owned and I got rid of it, kelly concluded. Senator Mark Kelly is a decorated military man, former astronaut. Certainly the word traitor is a ridiculous, silly remark used by Elon Musk. The pot calling the kettle black is a perfect analogy with Musk calling Kelly a traitor. I guess, with that viewpoint from Elon, then Wolfpack listeners, I guess I'm a traitor to America and I guess you, all of you, the listeners, are also traitors to America if you support Ukraine. Silly season in our country continues. Donald the King bypasses Congress, the law of the courts, to do whatever the hell he wants to do. Elon says whatever the hell he wants to say, which is free speech, but there's no rhyme or reason or reality to what Musk says.
Speaker 1:Jd Vance accuses Denmark of neglecting Greenland. Makes highest profile case for the US control of the island. Vice President JD Vance on Friday made the highest profile case to date for American control of Greenland during a controversial visit to the semi-autonomous island, which his residents had resisted, and his leader said the visit was unwelcome. We want to have good relationships with everybody, vance said during a visit to an American military installation high above the Arctic Circle. But part of having good relations is showing your strength when you have to. It was the clearest message yet to Greenlanders, who have been watching with anxiety as President Donald Trump vows to acquire their land one way or another. Vance, who only decided in the last few days to make the trip, by the way, he did it because his wife Usha was getting slammed for her visit and there were going to be protests everywhere she was going to visit. So basically, jd, at the last minute, said I'm going to join my wife because I'm looking forward to it. Also, why should she have all the fun? Well, denmark, vance said, has neglected its territory and that America could no longer ignore Russian and Chinese alleged designs on the island. Our message to Denmark is very simple. Vance said you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. He repeatedly claimed the island was vulnerable and that the United States had no other option than to ramp up its presence there. Greenland would be better off coming under the United States security umbrella than you have been under Denmark's security umbrella, he said, saying it was the policy of the United States to see changes to the island's Danish leadership. So why the interest from Trump for Greenland? Rare earth minerals Apparently there's abundance there in Greenland Military strategic position in the world, a new world order vision, a fight to grab Greenland before Putin All of this, some of this A lot of reasons why Trump wants Canada and Greenland.
Speaker 1:Trump and Putin share a similar world order viewpoint. As US power recedes abroad, the White House has declared ambitions throughout the Western Hemisphere in a term that some commentators have compared to the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, under which the US proclaimed itself the protector of the hemisphere, which goes butting heads with Trump's thing of not helping Europe, not helping Canada, not helping any allies, not helping Ukraine. It's just a mixed bag of messages from Donald the Delusional. And what else is to be expected from this man, donald the delusional one? What else is to be expected from this man? And with each soundbite declaring that the US should take back the Panama Canal or that Canada should become the 51st state, trump will find an enthusiastic ally in the Kremlin who will see Trump's jaded vision of a new world order reflected in another. We are in a completely new paradigm, potentially fraught with a lot of dangerous situations to come.
Speaker 1:And finally, outback the restaurant is no longer America's king of steaks. Americas don't want Outback's Aussie-themed steaks anymore. Instead they're craving Texas-style cuts from Texas Roadhouse and Longhorn's tender fillets. Texas Roadhouse and Longhorn sales topped Outback last year and the chain stocks are going in different directions. Texas Roadhouse's stock has increased around 15% over the last year, while shares of Longhorn owner Darden jumped around 25%. Meanwhile, outback parent company Blumenbrands the stock has tumbled more than 70% to roughly $8 a share.
Speaker 1:As inflation pressures cuts in consumer spending, americans are abandoning casual dining chains. They don't perceive as good value in casual dining chains. They don't perceive as good value such as Outback and TGI Fridays. Instead they are shifting to Roadhouse, longhorn, chili's and other chains they feel offer them a better deal when they go out to dinner. It's a steep fall for Outback, which defined the casual dining steakhouse model in the United States.
Speaker 1:Founded in 1988, customers jumped on Outback's cheap, juicy sirloin steaks deep-fried onion blossoms during the 1990s and 2000s. But Outback's mistakes and competitors' innovative strategies have tipped the power order in the restaurant steak wars. Outback hiked prices too high, relied too heavily on promotions to draw diners and cut costs too far. Customers and analysis alike say food quality suffered, table service slowed, restaurants became dingy. Outback is also more expensive. The chain's check average was $29 per check last year, $6 above Roadhouse and $2.50 more than Longhorn. That allowed Roadhouse to peel off Outback's budget-conscious customers, while Longhorn won diners by increasing the size of its steaks. Both chains also increased prices at a slower pace than Outback, while investing in their staffs and restaurant remodels.
Speaker 1:Now, in fairness, from my point of view, I haven't been to any of these three in a very long time, maybe due to COVID in 2019 and over the years that my girlfriend and I were being very cautious, also due to pricing over the years. You know, tightness of the income, we felt it was out of line to go to these restaurants. So how do you, the listener, how do you feel? Have you visited any of these restaurants? Roadhouse, texas, you know Texas. Roadhouse, longhorn, outback Do you feel that the quality has suffered at Outback? What is your favorite steak place?
Speaker 1:If you care to comment about this or anything in this episode, or even just to say hello, jeff, would be nice to hear from some of you. By the way, to a couple of people I want to thank you who sent me good wishes about my health. That I announced on last episode being a short episode, thank you for taking the time to send me a comment and feedback. Truly do appreciate it. You can reach me at WolfpackListener, at gmailcom 833-399-9653, toll free voicemail box, or leave me a comment on blue sky and if you're on apple or spotify, leave a comment, leave a rating that pushes me up in the rankings and helps me to go higher in their mind. Thank you, I appreciate that.
Speaker 1:Please check out my sub stack. I just started this again. You could find it on sub stack under je Allen Wolfe, the Wolfe, sten, or you can contact me. I'll send you a direct link to make it easier for you. I'll be back again Monday. This is the World Gone Mad. I'm Jeff Allen Wolfe, and without your comments, your feedback, your engagement with me, I'm sitting in a room talking to myself. Stay hopeful with me. I'm sitting in a room talking to myself. Stay hopeful. This is a world gone mad. This is a world gone mad, mad, mad, mad. Yeah.
