@MarkBahner @acnewsitics @LatinTimesMag Go Heels!!

Mark, you got me with Boshamer Stadium! Everything else you mentioned is fairly explainable as common progressive-libertarian thinking, but tying it to my alma mater—now that’s a curveball I didn’t see coming. But if you really want me to blow your mind—I’m a Bryson of Bryson City and Bryson Field within Boshamer Stadium. Can’t wait for the Diamond Heels to kick off the season next weekend at The Bosh. Best wishes, my friend—looking forward to more good conversations!

@lsrobbins @acnewsitics 🎯

Uncovering waste is important, but what makes you think the VA has meaningfully helped veterans in the past? My father, a Navy SEAL and Vietnam vet, avoided the VA entirely because it was the worst healthcare option available. The system has long been plagued by mismanagement, excessive wait times, and a focus on overprescribing medication rather than offering real solutions—especially alternatives to pharma. And has the VA actually made progress on the homeless veteran crisis? If anything, its policies have contributed to the problem rather than solving it. Reform is necessary, but ‘anything’ might still be better than the status quo.

Ah yes, the same old script—if the U.S. doesn’t funnel billions overseas, China and Russia will swoop in and take control! Because nothing says “freedom and democracy” like bankrupting our own country to police the world on behalf of defense contractors and corrupt foreign governments. But hey, don’t question it—just keep cheering for the Uniparty-approved foreign policy, where no matter which Red or Blue team you vote for, you’ll still get endless wars, military adventurism, and taxpayer-funded nation-building. Meanwhile, Americans get stuck with skyrocketing debt, open borders, and a crumbling economy. But don’t worry, we’re “spreading democracy!” And let’s be real—international aid isn’t charity; it’s a money-laundering scheme for the military-industrial complex. We don’t “help” other nations; we install puppets, fund coups, and keep the war machine running. Democracy? Please. It’s about profit, control, and propping up corrupt regimes that serve our political class. Maybe, just maybe, it’s time for America to stop being the world’s ATM and start taking care of itself for once. But sure, keep believing the talking points—Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and the career warhawks in D.C. thank you for your service.

Man, you’re really fired up on Super Bowl Sunday—did someone spike your nachos with government conspiracy theories? I’m just trying to figure out why this is the hill you’re so willing to die on. Let’s break it down—are you upset because a political ideology you don’t like is doing something you’d otherwise support if the roles were reversed? Or are you a staunch constitutionalist who feels this is a direct violation of the Constitution? I mean, if that’s the case, I’d love to see this same energy applied across the board. Or… do you work for the government? Did you lose a bureaucratic gig and now harbor some deep resentment? Because honestly, the intensity of your argument feels personal—almost like there’s something to hide. I’m just trying to understand the communication style here—passionate patriot or disgruntled paper-pusher? Either way, I hope you at least get to enjoy the game.

Saw this list of the top 10 guitarists, and I gotta ask—how is Dean Ween not on here?! Feels like a major oversight. What do you guys think? Who else is missing? @Ween, what do you say?

Take it from someone who’s been down this road before—there’s no real discussion to be had here. He’s too set in his ways to engage in an actual exchange of ideas. No matter how logical or well-reasoned your argument is, it won’t matter because he’s not listening; he’s just looking for a fight. You’re only feeding into the chaos by going back and forth. Sometimes, the best move is to step back and let people yell into the void on their own.

I get that you’re passionate, but screaming in all caps and throwing around insults doesn’t exactly make your argument stronger. If anything, it makes it harder to take seriously. If you actually want a discussion instead of just ranting, let’s have one. Yes, the government isn’t a business. But you know what is a business? The countless government contractors that overcharge for everything from weapons to office supplies—costs that come straight from our pockets. The Pentagon, for example, can’t even account for half of its budget, but we’re supposed to trust that a trillion-dollar machine is running efficiently? So maybe instead of blindly defending a system that wastes our money, you could take a step back and actually think about where that money goes. If we cut the waste, maybe we wouldn’t need to be taxed into oblivion to fund corruption and incompetence. But hey, if you’d rather yell at people than have a real conversation, that’s your choice.

I’m not sure if this is a serious question but I’ll try to provide an answer as I 100% agree—government waste isn’t limited to NGOs. But if we’re talking about institutions that burn through cash like it’s Monopoly money, let’s not forget the Pentagon. You know, the same Pentagon that somehow “misplaced” $2.3 trillion the day before 9/11? The same Pentagon that failed five consecutive audits and literally cannot account for over half of its assets? And while we’re at it, how about the IRS? The agency that aggressively goes after middle-class taxpayers but somehow can’t seem to track the billions in fraudulent COVID relief funds or the missing billions from Ukraine? The same IRS that wants to monitor every $600 Venmo transaction but shrugs when the government hands out blank checks to defense contractors? So yeah, government waste is a bipartisan sport. But if we’re serious about cracking down on fraud, maybe we should start with the institutions that lose trillions, not the ones trying to escape their grip. Maybe—just maybe—we’d be better off without a system that drains our wallets to fund endless wars, corporate welfare, and black budget projects no one can explain. Would love to hear thoughts on how we fix that—maybe by, I don’t know, eliminating federal income tax and dismantling the military-industrial complex?

Ah yes, the government auditing itself—what could possibly go wrong? Since they’re so great at keeping track of things, remind me—what’s our national debt up to these days? How many endless wars are we funding? And how much taxpayer money disappears into the abyss of useless spending? Speaking of audits, did they ever get around to checking on that $800 billion in military equipment we left behind in Afghanistan? Or the billions that somehow never made it to Ukraine, a war that conveniently lined the pockets of the military-industrial complex? If we’re against a non-governmental agency keeping an eye on spending, what independent auditors would you suggest? Or should we just keep trusting the same folks who can’t seem to balance a budget with my tax dollars? Just trying to figure out which black hole my money is vanishing into this time!

I completely agree that there’s a big difference between making surgical cuts and taking a sledgehammer approach. The challenge, though, is that bureaucracy tends to resist even the most reasonable reforms, which is why many people feel like drastic measures are the only way to get real change. How would you propose going about cutting wasteful government spending in a way that avoids the sledgehammer approach while still making meaningful progress? Personally, I think USAID is just the first place to start—before tackling bigger institutions like the IRS or the Pentagon. You can’t just go straight for the core pillars of government spending without laying the groundwork first. Ultimately, I see the end game as reducing reliance on the Fed and the IRS (aka the federal income tax system), but I’m not subscribed to any particular political ideology—I just have no interest in bureaucratic nonsense. Once you invite politicians from either side of the perceived aisle into the conversation, you’ve already shot yourself in the foot and defeated the purpose. It’s frustrating that something as straightforward as cutting wasteful spending has turned into a partisan issue. I get why those are the optics, but it really should be something we can all get behind. Curious to hear your thoughts on the best way forward.

I really appreciate the sentiment—seriously, that’s a huge compliment! But it’s probably best I stay in my lane. I’m 1000% on board with what Elon and DOGE are doing, but from an optics standpoint, it’s become partisan, and I try to steer clear of the political tribalism that’s taken over. If I were sending my CV anywhere, it’d be to @RepThomasMassie @RonPaul @RandPaul or most importantly @RobertKennedyJr & @NicoleShanahan as they all share my passion for cleaning up our food, pushing back against Pharma and ag special interests, and restoring some fiscal sanity. Ending the @federalreserve would be the end game as far as my political fantasies go as we should all have been listening to @RonPaul years ago and we wouldn’t be in this mess.

If you’d like some additional unsolicited opinion of people that everyone should read I want to highlight: •Hans-Hermann Hoppe (Austrian economist, critic of democracy) •Murray Rothbard •Jeff Deist (former Mises Institute president, great economic analysis) •Lew Rockwell (strong anti-state views, Mises Institute founder)

To be on this platform, you should have to read our entire conversation from start to finish. It’s a great example of healthy, open dialogue—two people who have far more in common than not, working through disagreements without attacks or unnecessary, juvenile name-calling. Required reading. By the way, I love the content you’ve put together on Substack!

@not_myrealnam33 @Lolly3535 @ScottPresler @charliekirk11 @laralogan @GenFlynn @RealCandaceO 👌

@MarkBahner @Sheryl782103 @acnewsitics @LatinTimesMag @MarkBahner is a prime example of the open healthy dialogue that should be allowed without insults and open to new ideas. Kudos to you!

@IvanRaiklin the schtick is up. Quit with your nonsense Nobody wants to seek revenge via physical or political retribution. You seem to be stuck on this just as you were on January 6th. Your cooked. You’re a fed & absolutely part of the larger Flynn network to incite violence and disrupt our society. You’re are the problem and you’ve been exposed months ago by numerous trusted sources on this platform. Go away and STFU.

I’ll repost this for you as well… With all due respect. Quick and brief lesson on the libertarian party…. The core difference between Republicans and Libertarians is rooted in the approach to government power and individual freedom. Republicans generally believe in a limited government but often support a stronger role for the state in areas like defense, law enforcement, and traditional social values. They may also support government intervention when it aligns with national security or economic interests. Libertarians, on the other hand, prioritize individual liberty above all else. They believe in minimal government intervention in both personal lives and the economy. They support personal freedom, voluntary cooperation, and free markets, and they are generally skeptical of government programs, especially in areas like taxation, surveillance, and military involvement abroad. This is the issue. The “uniparty” democracy we live in keeps pushing people to choose between two sides that are more alike than different in practice. The intense tribalism in our political system keeps us locked in a cycle of division. We have been conditioned to choose sides, to align with one party or the other, but this binary system is unhealthy and unsustainable. I’ve voted for both parties in the past, but it’s becoming harder to engage in national political discussions because of the nonsense and extreme polarization. There’s a real need for a fresh approach—one that looks at policies based on their merits, not just party lines. And for me, that’s where Libertarianism comes in: advocating for individual rights, limited government, and freedom from the control of the state. If you want to box me in to a political tribe I’d have to fall in the Isolationist Libertarian movement. Listen to @ComicDaveSmith or @lexfridman