In this episode, we unpack the growing political crisis in the U.S., sparked most recently by ICE raids right here in Southern California. As the situation continues to escalate, we share our personal reactions and growing concerns about the rise of authoritarianism, and how these national developments are showing up in our own communities. We draw connections between Trump’s upcoming military parade on Saturday, June 14, and similar displays in authoritarian regimes, talk through the breakdo...
Jun 12, 2025
27 min
In this episode, we reflect on Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration and share our thoughts on the blend of nostalgia and missed opportunities. While we genuinely enjoy the return of beloved shows like Wondrous Journeys and Paint the Night, their reuse without any new offerings created specifically for this milestone raises questions about Disney’s current creative direction. We discuss the changing park atmosphere and what this all signals for the future of Disney parks. As fans and annu...
May 26, 2025
24 min
Just over 100 days into Trump’s second term, the political and economic landscape is shifting rapidly, with aggressive tariff policies causing a projected 35% drop in imports at Southern California ports, raising fears of supply chain disruptions and shortages. In this episode, we unpack the immediate domestic effects, declining global perceptions, and economic instability marked by reduced tourism and capital flight. We draw connections between Trump’s actions and Project 2025, a conservativ...
May 7, 2025
30 min
After celebrating John’s birthday, we’re back to address recent feedback from our March 22nd episode, particularly claims of “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” As public servants, our concerns stem from direct experience with the impact of erratic policies. Sudden tariff shifts, for example, disrupt planning and create instability, not out of partisanship, but because effective governance matters. We also examine federal spending priorities, where minimal investment in homelessness contrasts sharp...
Apr 21, 2025
34 min
Following our discussion on the Trump administration’s attack on DEI initiatives in our last episode, we now shift our focus to recent economic policies, such as tariffs, that contradict campaign promises to tackle inflation and lower the cost of living starting on day one. We also examine the administration’s sweeping executive actions, including efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, which signal a fundamental reshaping of the federal government. As these radical changes accelera...
Mar 23, 2025
33 min
In this episode, we reflect on how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives have increasingly become a target for the Trump administration, with recent policy shifts and administrative actions designed to dismantle progress achieved in promoting equity in the workplace and education. As two individuals who are part of several groups which benefit from DEI initiatives, we share our personal perspectives on why such initiatives are important and the positive impact which they have for socie...
Feb 25, 2025
33 min
It is officially the five-year anniversary of John and Marcus hosting The RTWJ Podcast, having proudly first started pre-pandemic in February 2020! And to celebrate the occasion, it'll be one of our classic mixed topic episodes. We will start by covering the radical developments in U.S. politics since we last joined you on January 19th, now that Donald Trump is President of the United States and has released a flood of executive orders that have impacted numerous people around the country. Bu...
Feb 2, 2025
53 min
With John still away on vacation and enjoying the life of luxury, Marcus is holding down the fort for The RTWJ Podcast with today’s episode. We’ll touch on a few current “hot topics” for the month of January, starting with a brief mention of the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, followed by some reflection about what have been the most catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles history since our last episode release on January 5th. We’ll then conclude with a mentioning the rap...
Jan 19, 2025
29 min
We’re back with our first episode of 2025, where after some housekeeping we start off with reflecting on what concerns us with upcoming major political transition activities as we approach Inauguration Day in just two weeks. But after taking that moment to reflect, we then have some fun focusing on a positive upcoming event for the year, which is John’s first visit to Walt Disney World in Orland Florida in just a few days from this episode release. As we navigate Inauguration Day, our next ep...
Jan 6, 2025
30 min
We’re taking a break from discussing politics and news headlines, and instead are reflecting on what this current holiday season means to us, where we’ve been during 2024, and the direction we’re headed in 2025. No matter which holiday(s) you celebrate, we wish all our listeners a happy holiday season, as well as a safe and happy new year. We look forward to returning on January 1, 2025! December 10, 2024
Dec 11, 2024
35 min
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