Normal Men
Normal Men is four guys talking about the news. We want to help explain what's happening in the world around us and have some laughs along the way. And we think you might enjoy hearing what we have to say, as long as you don't mind a bit of normalcy in a world without much of it.
Listen on:
Episodes
Monday Dec 29, 2025
Monday Dec 29, 2025
The Normal Men dive into appellate immigration strategy and the Battle of Chicago with Mark Fleming of National Immigrant Justice Center. Also, stroads and the modern authoritarian; primary ethics and efficiency.
National Immigrant Justice Center: https://immigrantjustice.org/
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights: https://www.icirr.org/
Organized Communities Against Deportation: https://www.organizedcommunities.org/
Thursday Dec 18, 2025
Thursday Dec 18, 2025
We interview Mike Sacks, who is running for Congress in NY-17; people are doing more mass shootings; Propter sounds robotic; and what is truth, really?
Mike Sacks (https://bsky.app/profile/mikesacks.bsky.social) is running for Congress in the New York's Fightin' Seventeenth: (https://bsky.app/profile/mikesacks.bsky.social/post/3lmev4vf4hc2n)
Learn more here: https://www.mikesacksforcongress.com/
Give his campaign money here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mike-sacks-donate
Early corvid scholarship by Mr Sacks: https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/cb488d23-ab03-42be-994b-1fe5b2054038
An AI-generated video of a crow sledding on a frisbee: https://www.facebook.com/reel/864322122972412
Chapters:
0:00 Podcast Intro and Guest Mike Sacks4:50 NY-17 District and Politics19:30 Universal Healthcare as Key Policy24:30 Supreme Court and Structural Reform30:30 Primary Race and Competitive Edge45:00 District Deli and Smoked Fish47:30 Mass Shootings and Gun Violence55:30 Proctor's Voice and Robotics1:02:30 AI, Crow Video, and Epistemology1:12:30 Duke Chronicle Letter & Outro
Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
Infant diction, Noted Underdogs Duke, birthright citizenship, c-c-c-cocaine, coffee: black.Norwegian outreach: https://bsky.app/profile/norwayinusa.norway.no/post/3m4bcalmg7s2u
Coffee, black: https://bsky.app/profile/bmhughes.bsky.social/post/3m6wc33skm22z
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Linguistics Lesson4:39 Trump's Pardon & RGV Politics12:53 College Football Playoff Explained33:29 SCOTUS & Birthright Citizenship50:39 Navy SEALs & Cocaine Strikes1:00:21 FIFA Award & Global Bribery1:04:29 Normalcy Studies & Identity1:18:01 Outro
Tuesday Dec 02, 2025
Tuesday Dec 02, 2025
The majesty and the mystery of Lane Kiffin, what on earth is up with oil, war crimes in your war crimes, and optimism in Tennessee.
Chapters:
0:00 The Boston Molasses Disaster5:00 College Football: ACC & Lane Kiffin22:20 Global Oil Market Dynamics35:00 OPEC, EVs, and Geopolitical Oil Play50:00 Oil Geopolitics: Russia, Venezuela, US1:01:00 Trump Admin War Crimes & Fallout1:11:00 Tennessee Special Election1:23:50 Episode Wrap-up
Wednesday Nov 26, 2025
Wednesday Nov 26, 2025
Talking turkey, taking questions, slandering yams, and giving thanks with distinguished alumnus golikehellmachine.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Blue Sky Food Discourse2:22 Podcast Intro & Trump's Post6:13 Vehicle Must-Haves & Deal Breakers12:56 Friendsgiving & Dinner Guests19:37 Thanksgiving Music & Gravy Debate29:53 Hosting & Turkey Debate38:53 Dealing with Racist Uncle46:33 Lightning Round: Sides, Pies & Trolls57:01 Outro
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
Green energy and touring finances with Jael Holzman of Heatmap and Ekko Astral (@jael.bsky.social), the Epstein Files, and Peak Trump.
listen to Horse Glue by Ekko Astral here: https://ekkoastral.bandcamp.com/album/horseglueand submit questions for mailbag here: https://golikehellmachine.com/2025/11/16/thanksgiving-mailbag/
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Casual Food Chat5:20 Energy Transition & Policy16:00 Fossil Fuel Influence & Geothermal30:00 Political Risk & Media Critique42:30 Echo Astral & Music Life58:30 Jeffrey Epstein Email Dump1:26:00 Epstein's Political Impact1:37:30 Has Trump's Era Peaked?1:46:00 CBP in Charlotte & Outro
Thursday Nov 13, 2025
Thursday Nov 13, 2025
Normal Man Haydon (@haydonmp.bsky.social) joins us to talk about strokes and those who may have had them! In addition to that premortem, shutdown perimortem and election postmortem.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro: Trump's Health & Guest4:10 Analyzing Trump's Health Signs15:40 Transparency, Aging, Public Office24:20 Cognitive Tests for Presidents35:00 Stroke Risks & Longevity Obsessions43:30 Government Shutdown: The CR Deal1:01:00 Shutdown Politics & Caucus Dynamics1:15:00 House Democrats' Frustration1:24:00 Post-Election Analysis & 2024 Outlook
Tuesday Nov 04, 2025
Tuesday Nov 04, 2025
Truck Talk returns with harsh words for Stellantis, SNAP impact discussion (human edition not macro edition), and just-in-time election previews (at 43:50).
please help some people out at:https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/teams/7634
Chapters:
0:00 Jeep Wrangler & Stellantis Woes5:00 EV Range & Hybrid Benefits10:00 ICE vs EV: The Value Argument27:10 Normal Men Intro & Feeding America30:00 SNAP Funding Cliff & Consequences40:00 Political Blame & Election Forecasts44:30 Virginia & New Jersey Governor Races55:00 New York City Mayor & Betting1:05:00 Final Thoughts & Charity Call
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Prof. Liz Sepper joins us to talk state of play on reproductive rights (remember those?), we do the needful on Graham Platner, and the Trump Administration prepares to Thanos SNAP.add'l reading:
Hospital system outcomes in Texas:https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-abortion-ban-sepsis-rates-dallas-houston
George's coffee table:
https://bittersoutherner.com/magazine
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
The incomparable Don Moynihan (@donmoyn.bsky.social) joins us to talk administrative burden, No Kings gets people in the streets, and there are hijinks in Argentina.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & College Athletics System7:22 Podcast Welcome & Admin Burden25:02 Psychological Costs & Policy Intent34:51 Medicaid Work Requirements Impact46:39 AI in Government Services: Promise & Peril1:00:23 Government Shutdown & Benefit Attrition1:13:09 No Kings March & Cringe Culture1:20:02 Media's Trump Coverage & Argentina's Milei1:21:29 US Treasury's Argentina Bailout
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & College Athletics System7:22 Podcast Welcome & Admin Burden25:02 Psychological Costs & Policy Intent34:51 Medicaid Work Requirements Impact46:39 AI in Government Services: Promise & Peril1:00:23 Government Shutdown & Benefit Attrition1:13:09 No Kings March & Cringe Culture1:20:02 Media's Trump Coverage & Argentina's Milei1:21:29 US Treasury's Argentina Bailout