x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Beneath the Cypress and Star

BlueRidge Pundit

A look into the biggest headlines from the U.S. and around the world, breaking down complex issues with expert insights and thoughtful analysis. Each episode examines the political, social, and economic forces shaping our world, enabling listeners to understand the deeper context behind the news. This podcast connects the dots from Washington to world capitals, giving you the whole picture.

news news commentary

All Episodes

29:40

Economic Inequality in the United States: The New...

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/12/26

Economic Inequality in the United States: The New Price of the American Dream The American Dream once promised that hard work and persistence would lead to stability, homeownership, and a secure future. But today, that dream feels more like an illusion than a roadmap. Economic inequality in the United States has reached a tipping point, not because people are working less, but because the cost of merely existing in modern life has exploded. Official poverty calculations are still based on a 1963

en

16:31

Astroturf Politics: The Illusion of Grassroots Power

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/12/21

In today’s polarized America, astroturf politics, movements that appear to spring from popular demand but are, in fact, orchestrated by special interests, have redefined how political enthusiasm is staged and sold. The question that now dominates much of U.S. political discourse is whether the MAGA movement is a legitimate grassroots uprising or an expertly managed, manufactured political movement. To answer that, it helps to compare it to prior mass mobilizations: the Obama campaign of 2008, the

en

11:41

How AI in Tax Law and LLMs Can Help Us Better...

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/12/15

In this episode, we explore AI for tax research and how large language models (LLMs) are revolutionizing the way experts interpret and manage the tax code. These advanced systems can ingest not only statutory text but also historical court rulings, IRS guidance, regulatory updates, and decades of academic research assessing the real-world effectiveness of tax policies. By correlating these datasets, LLMs can uncover inefficiencies, contradictions, outdated provisions, and unintended consequences

en

37:16

Rethinking Progress: The Paradigm Shift in Societal...

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/12/08

In this episode, we explore the growing call for a well-being economy, a reimagining of progress that moves beyond GDP and material growth to focus on collective human flourishing. The conversation challenges the assumption that wealth accumulation and longevity define success, arguing that true advancement lies in connection, emotional health, and ecological harmony. By contrasting Western materialism with Bhutan’s philosophy of happiness-based development, the hosts reveal how societies can

en

33:06

Understanding Free Market Economics Through Milton...

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/11/15

Monetarism and the doctrine of shareholder-value maximization pushed U.S. companies toward an extract-at-all-costs model, which offshored jobs, hollowed out the domestic workforce, expanded the labor pool at home, and steadily eroded people’s ability to earn a livable wage. This model treats the economy like an infinite reservoir rather than a closed system with limits, so each demand for “more value” becomes another round of resource extraction, social, economic, and environmental, much like a

en

30:17

The Cost of Living Crisis and the 2026 Midterm...

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/11/04

The United States is entering a volatile period as the cost of living crisis deepens and the 2026 midterm elections approach. The dismantling of the social safety net under the One Big Beautiful Bill has left millions of Americans without essential support, sparking unrest and uncertainty across all fifty states. Food insecurity, inflation, and rising unemployment are converging into what economists warn could be a sustained national emergency. As the Trump administration's policies prioritize

en

25:19

Building Fair Governance Through Participatory Budgeting

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/11/01

In this episode, we examine how participatory budgeting offers a pathway to rebuilding governance systems that benefit everyone, not just the wealthy or those with political connections. Originating in Porto Alegre, Brazil, participatory budgeting enables ordinary citizens to decide how public funds are spent, nurturing stronger accountability and inclusive governance. By embedding citizen participation into financial decision-making, democracy becomes tangible rather than theoretical. We also

en

44:32

Capitalism and Exploitation: The Engine Beneath the...

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/10/27

In this episode, we unpack the complex relationship between capitalism and exploitation, tracing how thinkers from Marx to modern critics have argued that the system’s survival depends on surplus extraction. Drawing on Marx surplus value theory, we explore how profit emerges when workers create more value than they receive in wages. We also confront the uneasy question: can capitalism exist without exploitation? — a question that continues to haunt economic and moral debate. Exploitation isn’t just

en

22:37

Trump Boat Bombings: How U.S. Strikes Are Shaping the...

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/10/25

In today's episode, we dive into the controversial Trump boat bombings, exploring the recent escalation in U.S. military strikes on suspected drug traffickers. The Trump boat bombings are shaking the foundations of how the U.S. combats illegal narcotics operations. We break down the objectives of these attacks and the strategic reasons behind them, particularly in Latin American waters. The most recent drug boat strike in Venezuela is a critical focal point. This targeted bombing not only destroys

en

26:20

National Guard Deployment: How Far Can Presidential...

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/10/24

In this in-depth episode, we confront one of the most pressing and misunderstood questions in American governance: national guard deployment and its evolving role in maintaining internal security. With headlines dominated by discussions of possible troop movements, the use of force in U.S. cities, and questions about the limits of executive power, our conversation dives into the complex interplay between law, politics, and national defense. We begin by examining the mechanics of how the National

en

33:37

Elite Theory and the Drift of Democracy

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/10/19

According to Elite Theory, even in democratic systems, a small group of powerful political elites inevitably dominates decision-making. As politicians climb in status, they often absorb the worldview of the ruling class, leading to policies that favor the wealthy. This process aligns with Robert Michels’ Iron Law of Oligarchy, which argues that every large organization eventually becomes governed by a self-interested elite. Modern research on political inequality supports this: representatives’

en

31:42

No Kings: America’s 3.5% Moment

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/10/18

The No Kings protests 2025 have erupted into the largest wave of civil demonstrations in modern U.S. history. In cities across the country, millions joined the anti-Trump No Kings demonstrations in October 2025, demanding limits on presidential authority and accountability from the administration. Organizers say these No Kings protests against Trump administration policies are a direct response to the consolidation of power under the Unitary Executive Theory, a doctrine advanced by Russ Vought —

en

26:59

Wage Stagnation and the Purpose of the Corporation

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/10/17

Wage Stagnation and the Purpose of the Corporation sit at the center of today’s economic and business debates, shaping how value is created and who benefits. Wage stagnation refers to a situation where pay remains flat after adjusting for inflation, often associated with income inequality and weak real wage growth. Researchers point to multiple causes of wage stagnation in America, from automation to declining bargaining power, while policy analysts track the impact of wage stagnation on

en

33:03

Supreme Court Voting Rights Act: Section 2 on the Line

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/10/16

This episode dives into the Supreme Court Voting Rights Act clash now centered on Louisiana v. Callais, where justices weighed a “color-blind” Constitution against remedies for Section 2 voting discrimination. Reportage from the argument suggests the Court may narrow how plaintiffs prove vote dilution and when courts can order additional majority-Black districts, a shift with national consequences for redistricting. We trace the road to this moment—Congress’s 1982 amendment of Section 2 to cover

en

27:32

Donald Trump Death: What Happens Next and What Gets...

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/10/06

The political and media landscape after a Donald Trump death will likely be a tug-of-war between formal procedures and narrative chaos. Institutions have rulebooks; the internet has rumors. In the first 24–72 hours, journalists, scholars, and security analysts expect information vacuums. That’s when the question “what happens when Trump dies” spikes: succession rules are straightforward, but perception isn’t. Expect sharp divides over cause, timing, and credibility of disclosures. As archives open

en

33:38

Portland ICE Protest 2025: Timeline, Ruling & What’s...

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/10/05

The Portland ICE protest 2025 continues outside the South Waterfront facility, with crowds monitored under clear de-escalation and identification protocols set by local authorities. After competing claims about public safety, a judge issued an Oregon National Guard court order that temporarily blocking any activation tied to the protests while arguments proceed. Drawing on court filings, official police updates, and corroborated regional reporting, this account focuses on verifiable events and

en

26:26

How Russell Vought’s Project 2025 Strategy Drives the...

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/10/02

Former OMB Chief Russell Vought has emerged as the strategist behind the Russell Vought Project 2025 at the center of the current government shutdown, using the moment to force structural change across agencies. Loyalists praise his willingness to push beyond business as usual; moderates warn that rapid moves risk chaos and deeper federal budget cuts without clear guardrails. What this means on the ground: federal workers face furloughs, disrupted services, and program delays. For authoritative

en

11:50

Global Instability: Russia Threats, Trump Scandals,...

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/09/25

The world feels increasingly defined by instability, from Russia declaring war as the only option after Trump’s Ukraine U-turn to U.S. scandals like the Epstein files cover-up eroding trust in politics. Domestic unease only deepens as major corporations such as Starbucks announce store closures and layoffs, amplifying everyday economic instability. Together, these stories reveal how turmoil at the top—whether global or political—spills into the lives of ordinary people. Source

en

11:57

NATO Article 4 Consultation Weighed Amid Rising Drone...

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/09/25

Danish officials are urging a NATO Article 4 consultation after repeated drone incursions at major airports, which they describe as a hybrid attack. The call highlights mounting concerns over Russian military activity near allied airspace and potential destabilization efforts. A NATO Article 4 consultation would allow members to discuss threats and determine a collective response before tensions escalate further. Sources

en

14:18

Free Speech Consequences: After Charlie Kirk’s Death

Beneath the Cypress and Star ·

2025/09/17

This episode dives into the free speech consequences emerging in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death: how various government bodies, employers, and public figures are responding to speech that mocks, celebrates, or criticizes the tragedy. We explore the tension between accountability and expression — when does criticism cross a line, what protections (or lack thereof) speech contributors have, and how "cancel culture" becomes part of the debate. Listeners will gain insight into how society balances

en

45 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS News

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci