Executive Disorder: 2026 Midterms Edition

Kevin Foster dives into the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger and the consequences for labor, press freedom, and history.   Sources: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/warner-bros-signs-110-billion-deal-with-paramount-its-executive-discloses-2026-02-27/ https://www.skydance.com/news/press/paramount-completes-acquisition-of-warner-bros-discovery-creating-a-new-global-entertainment-leader-skydance https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/12-states-challenge-paramounts-takeover-of-warner-say-merger-would-extinguish-competition https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/paramount-pledges-release-30-films-year-how-will-that-add-up-2026-09-23/ https://fortune.com/2026/10/15/skydance-warner-media-consolidation-trust-gallup/ https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/18/paramount-bonta-in-talks-to-settle-antitrust-litigation-01085072 https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/trump-praises-paramount-warner-bros-skydance-merger-terrific-people-1236903643/ https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/free-press-founder-bari-weiss-named-editor-cbs-news-after-deal-with-paramount-2025-10-06/ https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/new-cbs-news-chief-draws-backlash-by-pulling-60-minutes-story-on-el-salvador-prison https://www.nilc.org/resources/tracking-the-cecot-disappearances/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/new-cnn-cbs-news-editorial-indepedence-board-who-what-why-1236707168/ https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/11/oracle-tiktok-us-stake-outages.html https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-china-d5d8a1d56b5185778536874d7fc1ee62 https://csmapnyu.org/impact/news/was-there-censorship-on-tiktok-after-the-u-s-takeover See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James is joined by Natali Geovia of the Water Protector Legal Collective to discuss the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) and the tremendous damage it could do to protections for the land, Indigenous people, and public health. https://www.waterprotectorlegal.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mia talks with David Forbes of the Asheville Blade about how Asheville's government has used Helene to exploit its people and push neoliberal economics. Sources: https://ashevilleblade.com/?p=5399See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James talks with Dane Brinkley about Mount Shasta, why it's not a good idea to outsource your planning to the internet, and why we go to the mountains ​. https://www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff/posts/pfbid09S8teHAogsxqUS66ManmS8kqBRkTzJtqhBPfL4vH6sKUktKHqsN99Sb7WQ1z5RA6l  https://krcrtv.com/news/local/three-mount-shasta-climbers-rescued-after-relying-on-ai-to-plan-climb  https://www.shastaavalanche.org/climbing-advisory  https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/solo-teen-hiker-hoisted-from-mountain-cliff-after-using-ai-to-plan-route-north-shore-rescue-says-12855671  https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/two-hikers-rescued-one-hiker-missing-and-a-rescuer-dead-in-separate-incidents-on-mt-baldy/  https://www.casavalpt.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carlos breaks down Puerto Rico’s water crisis and how it seemingly ended but none of the underlying problems that caused it have been fixed.   Sources: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-declares-drought-disaster-parts-puerto-rico-dry-conditions-persist-rcna594653  https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/notas/el-embalse-la-plata-se-acerca-al-nivel-de-control-como-estan-sus-condiciones/  https://www.esmental.com/agua-impacto-sequia-salud-mental-ansiedad/  https://www.neefusa.org/story/water/home-water-use-united-states#Puerto%20Rico  https://docs.pr.gov/files/Estado/OrdenesEjecutivas/2026/OE-2026-035.pdf https://www.prfaa.pr.gov/recent-press-releases/governor-announces-usda-approval-of-drought disaster-declaration-for-puerto-rico https://periodismoinvestigativo.com/2026/09/aaa-contratos-millonarios-perdida-agua/ https://periodismoinvestigativo.com/2026/09/aaa-fondos-reparar-tuberias-perdida-agua/ https://wapa.tv/noticias/locales/una-semana-sin-agua-y-190-mil-abonados-afectados-por-rotura-en-el-superacueducto/articleb4a05276-f542-4d3b-a21e-6b154eee5d16.htmlref_=heavyweather.media https://www.metro.pr/noticias/2026/06/07/utilizaran-camiones-de-leche-para-distribuir-agua-en-comunidades-afectadas-por-averia-de-la-aaa/?ref=heavyweather.media https://www.youtube.com/watchv=Mtu_y1nBj1M&sourceve_path=NzY3NTg&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fheavyweather.media%2F https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/notas/averia-en-el-superacueductos-dejara-mas-de-100-mil-abonados-sin-agua/?ref=heavyweather.media https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/notas/yo-voy-a-cobrarles-todo-lo-que-pueda-presidente-de-la-aaa-advierte-que-buscara-que-luma-pague-por-reparacion-en-carraizo/?ref=heavyweather.media https://elpais.com/us/2026-08-01/mas-de-100-dias-sin-agua-la-crisis-que-golpea-a-miles-en-puerto-rico-ademas-de-los-apagones.html https://www.periodicolaperla.com/actualidad/nuevo-estudio-advierte-que-la-sequia-en-puerto-rico-seguira-y-aumentara/ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/sep/10/puerto-rico-water-access https://www.wired.com/story/puerto-rico-is-rationing-water-it-could-avoid-it-by-harvesting-rainwater/ https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/videos/carl-axel-soderberg-acueductos-pierde-el-60-del-agua-que-produce-294132/ https://es.euronews.com/2026/08/08/puerto-rico-raciona-el-agua-a-500000-personas-por-la-peor-sequia-desde-2015 https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/notas/falta-de-dragados-y-mala-planificacion-estudio-confirma-lo-que-esta-limitando-nuestros-embalses/ https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-declares-drought-disaster-parts-puerto-rico-dry-conditions-persist-rcna594653 https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/notas/mas-de-la-mitad-de-puerto-rico-sigue-bajo-sequia-o-sequedad-pese-a-lluvias/ https://www.cdc.gov/global-water-sanitation-hygiene/about/about-global-hygiene.html https://apnews.com/article/puerto-rico-esencia-cabo-rojo-developers-44d13fdafa22d9ec3 94ff222426db331 https://noticel.com/ultima-hora/20260811/puerto-rico-tiene-desde-el-2024-una-ley-que-obliga-a-las-agencias-recolectar-agua-de-lluvia/ https://bvirtualogp.pr.gov/ogp/Bvirtual/leyesreferencia/PDF/91-2024.pdf https://periodismoinvestigativo.com/2026/09/agua-no-da-proyecto-esencia/ https://www.senado.pr.gov/aaa-aee-y-turismo-se-oponen-al-proyecto-esencia-en-cabo-rojo-durante-los-trabajos-de-investigacin-del-senado-de-puerto-rico https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/notas/culmina-el-dragado-del-embalse-carraizo/ https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/legislatura/notas/carlos-johnny-mendez-promete-accion-sobre-el-plan-de-mitigacion-al-cambio-climatico-pero-dice-falta-un-proyecto-de-ley/ https://periodismoinvestigativo.com/2026/08/nuevo-estudio-advierte-sequia-aumentara/ https://planclimaticopr.com/visor.html?tomo=1&pagina=1 https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/legislatura/notas/legislatura-apunta-a-aprobar-version-reducida-del-plan-para-enfrentar-el-cambio-climatico/?templateId=OT3HWJU9FRSI& templateVariantId=OTB2HAZL1TSY&experienceID=EX029JWEG3W3 https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63354869/108/1/maldonado-gonzalez-v-puerto-rico-aqueduct-and-sewer-authority/?ref=heavyweather.media https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/dd80d863-6a63-11ef-a8ba-01aa75ed71a1/language-en  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/who-was-puerto-ricos-water-system-really-built-for/id1553089886?i=1000799569550  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Margaret reads you some non-fiction with advice for organizersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file: Hope & Dirty Tricks: How Lula Beat Flavio Bolsonaro Election Rumors and Conspiracism Catching up with the status of Kurdish groups in Iran  Executive Disorder: 2026 Midterms Edition  Executive Disorder: GOP Blame Game, Trump/Epstein Report, Paraguay Ousts President You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today! Sources/Links: Election Rumors and Conspiracism https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/26/trump-reward-reporting-voter-fraud https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/harassment-public-records-requests-bombard-uw-truth-seeker-after-jan-6-hearings-cameo/ https://uwcip.substack.com/p/election-rumor-rundown-october-24 https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/minnesota-charges-conservative-activist-okeefe-influencer-higby-after-voting-2026-10-29/ Catching up with the Status of Kurdish Groups in Iran https://x.com/vvanwilgenburg Executive Disorder: GOP Blame Game, Trump/Epstein Report, Paraguay Ousts President https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/10/how-mamdani-canceled-cop-city/416903/  https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/04/nyregion/pied-a-terre-mamdani-appeal-win-home-tax.html?smid=url-share https://apnews.com/article/port-strikes-arms-shipments-france-greece-italy-4a8813406fd51b91b3b7d17826c1883d https://x.com/vvanwilgenburg/status/2117641211909730538?a=ri24O90ueHp7eYgCoDc&s=20 https://x.com/war_noir/status/2117581845755773246?a=P0quWPGQ6wjaX70NPOQ&s=20 https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/26/26A624/431463/20261102111302952_California%20Application.pdf  https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/united-states-v-california-2/  https://2026.electoral.dsausa.org/ https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-elections/senate-results https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/how-trump-lost-midterms-33cf9fd4?st=EQm4gx https://x.com/justinbaragona/status/2117780696626257981?a=Q68Ma2bBhMU2LKxTVkk&s=20 https://x.com/JDVance/status/2118004988433641835 https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2117614591060721973?a=A5arnEBUOHurQE3jSg8&s=20 https://x.com/atrupar/status/2117612993139585093?a=dprbLi0Afsej7Jh14ko&s=20 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/11/04/desantis-calls-midterm-bloodbath-an-extinction-level-event-for-republicans-01148705 https://x.com/politico/status/2117840712855113793?a=5vZ3flWUbvcJyTvleyU&s=2 https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/11/05/congress/bernie-sanders-launches-medicare-for-all-push-01151604 https://x.com/atrupar/status/2117887743443505646?a=tif1VPo4NuwejhijsNY&s=20 https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6199505-house-investigations-trump-administration/ https://x.com/atrupar/status/2118335426968616973?a=tRXmF86Rp3SEkpIuB_E&s=20 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/15/paolo-zampolli-fired-state-department-trump-01121739 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/house-democrats-call-for-special-counsel-to-investigate-trump-s-ties-to-epstein/ar-AA2g6UnX https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/judiciary-democrats-report-details-mounting-evidence-linking-trump-to-epstein-s-criminal-activities-and-doj-s-cover-up-specific-accounts-involving-11-women-provide-more-evidence-of-potential-sex-crimes https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/318-garment-factories-closed-amid-labour-unrest-over-7-lakh-workers-leave-workplaces  https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/paraguay-president-santiago-pena-resigns-following-bank-collapse/4102079/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The gang discuss Republican’s reactions to the election blowout, DSA’s midterm wins, how Democrats can go after the Trump admin while delivering on economic issues, economic collapse protests in Paraguay, and a one million worker wildcat strike in Bangladesh. Sources: https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/10/how-mamdani-canceled-cop-city/416903/  https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/04/nyregion/pied-a-terre-mamdani-appeal-win-home-tax.html?smid=url-share https://apnews.com/article/port-strikes-arms-shipments-france-greece-italy-4a8813406fd51b91b3b7d17826c1883d https://x.com/vvanwilgenburg/status/2117641211909730538?a=ri24O90ueHp7eYgCoDc&s=20 https://x.com/war_noir/status/2117581845755773246?a=P0quWPGQ6wjaX70NPOQ&s=20 https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/26/26A624/431463/20261102111302952_California%20Application.pdf  https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/united-states-v-california-2/  https://2026.electoral.dsausa.org/ https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-elections/senate-results https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/how-trump-lost-midterms-33cf9fd4?st=EQm4gx https://x.com/justinbaragona/status/2117780696626257981?a=Q68Ma2bBhMU2LKxTVkk&s=20 https://x.com/JDVance/status/2118004988433641835 https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2117614591060721973?a=A5arnEBUOHurQE3jSg8&s=20 https://x.com/atrupar/status/2117612993139585093?a=dprbLi0Afsej7Jh14ko&s=20 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/11/04/desantis-calls-midterm-bloodbath-an-extinction-level-event-for-republicans-01148705 https://x.com/politico/status/2117840712855113793?a=5vZ3flWUbvcJyTvleyU&s=2 https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/11/05/congress/bernie-sanders-launches-medicare-for-all-push-01151604 https://x.com/atrupar/status/2117887743443505646?a=tif1VPo4NuwejhijsNY&s=20 https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6199505-house-investigations-trump-administration/ https://x.com/atrupar/status/2118335426968616973?a=tRXmF86Rp3SEkpIuB_E&s=20 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/15/paolo-zampolli-fired-state-department-trump-01121739 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/house-democrats-call-for-special-counsel-to-investigate-trump-s-ties-to-epstein/ar-AA2g6UnX https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/judiciary-democrats-report-details-mounting-evidence-linking-trump-to-epstein-s-criminal-activities-and-doj-s-cover-up-specific-accounts-involving-11-women-provide-more-evidence-of-potential-sex-crimes https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/318-garment-factories-closed-amid-labour-unrest-over-7-lakh-workers-leave-workplaces  https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/paraguay-president-santiago-pena-resigns-following-bank-collapse/4102079/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert, James, and Garrison are joined by Steven Monacelli and Kevin Foster to discuss the BLUE TSUNAMI with Democrats flipping at least 7 Senate seats and gaining an 80+ House majority. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James is joined by Wladimir Van Willgenberg to discuss the situation for Kurds in Iran after nearly nine months of the USA’s bombing of Iran. Links: https://x.com/vvanwilgenburgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.