In this episode, Josh and Ian discuss the recent Texas abortion "ban" and the confusion of political slogans. They talk about 5-6 week restriction on abortions in Texas and some of the points within the bill, working around the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision and soft totalitarianism, the difficulty of detecting pregnancies early on and family planning, some of the main reasons that women have abortions, the philosophical differences between "life", "human beings", and "persons", whether or not a fetus  could be considered a "person", a burning thought experiment, the influence of the present and future on real and possible persons, the quality of life and possibility of suffering, the role of physicians in healthcare ethics, the role of religion in women&apos;s healthcare and the prospects of the human soul, a drunken thought experiment and the world&apos;s unluckiest violinist, their personal takes on abortion, complications in pregnancies, grasping at straws when defining life, how political slogans can distort moral messaging and emotions, how ideology frameworks our thought processes, the rise of black markets in the wake of government bans, and other topics.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links:We annotated Texas’ near-total abortion ban. Here’s what the law says about enforcement.Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision"Pro choice" and "Pro Life" - phrase meaning and originPregnancy Week 5 - 5 Weeks PregnantAbortion ethicsThe Pro-Life vs Pro-Choice DebateRecorded 16 September 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Necessary Bullshit Podcast

Episode #80: Texas Abortion Ban v. Political Slogans

In this episode, Josh and Ian talk about the 20 year anniversary of 9/11 and U.S. troops exiting from Afghanistan. They talk about the initial exit strategy of U.S. troops and citizens from Afghanistan,  the Cold War and the formation of the Taliban, the Soviet Union and spread of communism, their original thoughts and feelings of the September 11th attacks and the fall of the Word Trade Center twin towers, war in the middle-east and the prospects of nation building, the critiques against American imperialism and European colonialism, the  underestimation of Islam and the instinct of religious zealotry, the initial invasion of Afghanistan the prolonged wars that followed, leaving room for cultural relativism and understanding Islamic tribal sectarianism, allowing the Taliban to govern themselves and Afghani citizens, understanding Shariah Law and what Islamist&apos;s take from the Koran, looking back to tradition to solve modern moral problems, the migrant crisis in the wake of the Syrian civil war, the influence of the West throughout history in the middle-east, and various other topics.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links:Inside the Taliban&apos;s Takeover of AfghanistanTaliban Is Stronger Than Ever 15 Years After U.S. InvasionWe Joined The Marines Trying To Defeat The Strongest Taliban Army YetJocko Willink: &apos;Sickened&apos; to see US weapons left behind for terroristsWhat We Know About The 13 U.S. Service Members Killed In The Kabul Airport AttackThe history of Afghanistan and US ties, from the Cold War to 9/11Afghanistan War | History, Combatants, Facts, & TimelineISIS-K, Islamic State, The Taliban and Al-Qaeda: How Are They Different?Afghan War: Do Americans support Biden pulling out?This Is How the US&apos;s Afghanistan Exit Plan UnraveledWhat is Sharia law? What does it mean for women in Afghanistan?Shariah | Definition, History, & ExamplesUnderstanding Sharia LawWhat is sharia law? What to know about the Taliban&apos;s move toward religious rule in AfghanistanRecorded 2 September 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Episode #79: 9/11 and the Taliban in Afghanistan

In this episode, Josh and Ian speak about the latest state mask mandates and the perception of tyranny by citizens. They talk about people&apos;s initial protests to mask mandates, the rise of the COVID Delta variant and how variants arise, the state of Oregon&apos;s latest pandemic restrictions, the psychology of wearing masks and similar legal preventative health measures, the difference between rights and privileges, individual liberties and the cognitive dissonance when private businesses act on those liberties , civil disobedience and adhering to the behavior of unvaccinated people, responsibility to the republic and the harm principle, other countries lock-downs, restrictions beyond the pandemic on our freedoms, literacy in science and media, civic duty and responsibility, using statistics to fit a particular narrative, data from the CDC, the prospects of super-bugs and antibiotic resistance, existential risk stemming from climate change, the lack of wisdom or intelligence in dealing with problems of scale, and various other points.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links:New Oregon Mask MandateDelta VariantCOVID-19 Weekly Cases and Deaths per 100,000 Population by Age, Race/Ethnicity, and SexVaccination Demographic TrendsRecorded 12 August 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Episode #78: Mask of Tyranny

In this bonus episode, Josh and Ian discuss the latest Netflix special from comedian Bo Burnham. They talk about Burnham&apos;s relevance to the cultural zeitgeist and the background to the special&apos;s production, the staging of the special in light of the camera&apos;s presence, the evolution of art and content creation, generational divide, smartphones and screen time, the commodification of identity, online vs. in-person performances, the internet and information overload, attentions span and boredom, growing up and millennial adulthood, fame and mediocrity, the simplification of ideas in art and media literacy, the question of race and culture, finding meaning and living online, gazing into the camera lens and fighting the monsters of commodity capitalism, and various other points. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcastWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links: The Meaning of Bo Burnham&apos;s Inside – A Philosopher ReactsBreaking Open The Format of Bo Burnham&apos;s InsideRecorded 29 July 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Bonus #13: Inside Bo Burnham

In this episode, Josh and Ian speak about cancel culture and state laws surrounding critical race theory. They discuss the necessity to talking about cancel culture, the differences between cancelling and accountability, understanding the current language of the culture, the history of "conservative" movements cancelling certain sectors of art and entertainment, the debate between creationism and evolution in public schools, the conservative impulse to defend the liberal ideology, political correctness and being decent/respectable, the recent attempts by conservatives to ban the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 schools, Chris Rufo&apos;s influence on conservatives and war against CRT, Kimberly Crenshaw and the origins of CRT found within critical theory, their own impressions of CRT and race as a social construction, tackling racism structurally vs. individually, race vs. economic inequality, the cost of education and growing student debt, how to educate our children, and various other topics. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links:What is cancel culture? How the concept has evolved to mean very different things to different people.What is cancel culture? Everything to know about the toxic online trendWhat Is Cancel Culture?A Lesson on Critical Race Theory - American BarThe GOP&apos;s &apos;Critical Race Theory&apos; Fixation, ExplainedA &apos;Forgotten History&apos; Of How The U.S. Government Segregated AmericaVisualizing the racial disparities in mass incarcerationParental Advisory: The Story of a Warning LabelCreationism and the “conspiracy” of evolution: inside the UK’s evangelical schoolsHow a Conservative Activist Invented the Conflict Over Critical Race TheoryWe Disagree on a Lot of Things. Except the Danger of Anti-Critical Race Theory Laws.Critical TheoryRecorded 21 July 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Episode #77: Cancel-Happy Rabble-Rousers

In this episode, Josh and Ian speak with U.S. Navy veteran Grant Owens about war and the military industrial complex. They talk about the power of the U.S. military and its naval force, capitalism and the influence of China on the global economy, the difference between the Navy and other branches of the military, the selective service, the global threat from China and Russia, the war in Afghanistan and how technology has changed violent conflict, the amount of armed conflict the United States is involved in, military contracts and the percentage of the U.S. budget is spent on the Department of Defense, warrior culture and the heroism imposed on U.S. veterans, hazing and camaraderie in the military, the link between patriotism and nationalism, the necessity of the U.S. military in context with global threats, the humanitarian crises in North Korea and China, nuclear deterrents and energy independence, America&apos;s identity crisis and how the conservative far-right has high-jacked American exceptionalism, and other topics.Grant Owens was a  five year U.S. Navy submariner, serving on the USS Albuquerque. He studied engineering at Portland State University. Grant is currently working as a mechanical engineer living in Portland, Oregon.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Recorded 1 July 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Episode #76: War Never Changes (ft. Grant Owens)

In this episode, Josh and Ian give an update on the latest political news from the G7 summit and the global pandemic. They talk about the COVID-19 vaccines and their side effects, the latest info-dumb on the Fauci emails, "trusting the science" and skepticism of authority, personal hygiene and rights vs. responsibility, the SARS-COV-2 "lab-leak theory" and hyper-politicization, tribalism and zealotry in American politics, W. Virginian Senator Joe Manchin and bipartisanship, the meaning behind political representation, how local and state politics can turn national, psychological problem solving, the US Competition and Innovation Act and Biden&apos;s national budget proposal, the recent G7 summit and the myriad problems of China, the US national debt and the "value" of currency, and the nature of human freedom. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links:No, Dr. Fauci&apos;s emails were not leaked, they were obtained through FOIA requestsAnthony Fauci’s Emails Reveal The Pressure That Fell On One ManScientist Opens Up About His Early Email to Fauci on Virus OriginsCOVID Data TrackerPresident Biden&apos;s budget proposal projects debt rising past WWII levelshttps://www.usdebtclock.org/47th G7 Summit: 11-13 June 2021John Cena Apology to ChinaInside Higher Ed Senate Passes Bill Funding Technology Research Through NSFt5 days agoSenate passes $250 billion tech bill aimed to boost US competition with ChinaJoe Manchin: the Democrat who holds the fate of Biden’s agenda in his handsOpinion | The secret strategy that explains how Joe Manchin wields his powerManchin on his veto power over Biden agenda: &apos;It&apos;s not a good place to be&apos;Recorded 16 June 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Episode #75: 28 Trillion Problems and China Is One

In this episode, Josh and Ian talk about whether or not we live in a just world. They talk about Americans refusing to take the covid vaccine, principles and keeping your word, Plato&apos;s Republic and the inquisitive nature of Socrates, their own definitions of &apos;justice&apos;, acting in our own best interests, formal definitions of justice, restorative justice and being closer to the community, how resentment drives society apart, justice within the context of survival, the murder of George Floyd and the trail of Derek Chauvin, police violence and healing in America, the workings and faults of the criminal justice system, individuals and culture, as well as making some confessions of injustice. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links:Plato&apos;s The RepublicJustice- and fairness-related behaviors in nonhuman primatesDerek Chauvin guilty in death of George FloydWas justice served in the Derek Chauvin trial? Here&apos;s what our readers told usWhy Honor Matters by Tammler SommersRecorded 26 May 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Episode #74: ...And Justice For All?

On this B.S. Boulevard, Josh and Ian cover a variety of topics and give an update on their lives. They talk about early childhood and cognitive development, the nature of being human, children and the negation of their own bodies by adults, ambiguity and nuance in learning, being born into an already &apos;worlded&apos; world, being open to exploratory conversations, negative images of the body, pleasure in suffering, the question of &apos;what is nature?&apos;, philosophical monism, the &apos;separation&apos; of man from nature, education and self-reliance, Dark Souls and the popularization of the Souls-genre by FromSoftware, video game challenge and how the Soulsborne games shape the perception of other games, environmental storytelling and the obscurity of the narrative of Souls games, Souls-lore and the community of players, the philosophical themes that move from Dark Souls to Dark Souls 3, difficulty and working on understanding what Souls games are asking of the player, and gaming preferences. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links:VaatiVidya YouTubeHow Dark Souls&apos; Undead Burg Teaches Through Suffering | Art of the LevelRecorded 12 May 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Episode #73: B.S. Boulevard 7

In this episode, Josh and Ian discuss the philosophical underpinnings and consequences of pessimism. They talk about the immediate future of the podcast, misconceptions about pessimism and parallel philosophies, world-view and personal attitude, HBO&apos;s True Detective and the public&apos;s understanding of pessimistic ideas,  a deep dive into philosophical differences, political stagnation, techno-futurism and rational optimism, Arthur Schopenhauer and our relationship with suffering, finding joy in cynicism, deserving and fulfillment, necessary suffering and grand indifference, childhood vs. adulthood and the power of perspective, traumatic experiences, depictions of Portland, OR, pessimistic blindness to aesthetic beauty, cancel culture and the "wokening", the IDW and liberal ideology, the morality behind birthing children and propagating the human race, the parallel between pessimism,  anti-natalism, and nihilism, human&apos;s impact on the environment, and various other topics.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links:Making Sense Podcast #244 - Food, Climate, and Pandemic RiskEssays & Aphorisms by Arthur SchopenhauerNihilism and Our Present MomentVery Bad Wizards Episode 199: When Philosophy Goes SidewaysRecorded 14 April 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Episode #72: Pessimism, Anti-Natalism, & Suffering

In this episode, Josh and Ian continue their ism-series by talking about the misconceptions of, formation of, and the political use of the progressive movement. They talk about political slants against progressives, the rise of the &apos;progressive era&apos; during the industrial revolution in the late 19th/early 20th century, technological progress and it&apos;s cultural impact, the inevitable comparisons between progressivism and Marxism or socialism, the progressive movement&apos;s split from liberalism, the goals of the progressive movement, the &apos;common good&apos;, equality vs. equity, the impossibility of equal outcomes, student debt and the added costs of education, FDR and the New Deal, the role of technology in political and social change, free markets and consumerism, the problem of education in rural America, career politicians and the vast injection of wealth into American politics, genuine improvement vs. utopian idealism, and various other topics. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links:ProgressivismThe Progressive Era: Crash Course US HistoryThe US has a lot of money, but it does not look like a developed countryThe Gilded Age Summary & AnalysisRecorded 31 March 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Episode #71: A New Progressive Era

In this episode, Josh and Ian continue their ism-series by talking about the background of contemporary conservatism. They talk about the psychological influences of political temperaments, the most common themes found in conservative philosophy, the impact of power and hierarchy, the role of human nature in the structure of society, the inevitable link between religion and conservatism, the reach of moral quandaries, individual rights, the similarities between conservatives and liberals, how the far-Left radicalized the far-Right, a few of the most prominent conservative thinkers, the structure of some revolutions, what kinds of change should happen in society, the value of order and chaos, the lens through in which we should view conservatism, the moral and logical inconsistencies found on both the Right and the Left, and the links between patriotism and nationalism. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links:Conservative themesThe Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and ReligionAndrew Sullivan on the War Within Conservatism and Why It Matters to All of UsThe Conservative Soul: Fundamentalism, Freedom, and the Future of the RightConservatism: The Fight for a TraditionA Political Philosophy: Arguments for ConservatismReflections on the Revolution in FranceThe Rise of Conservatism: Crash Course US HistoryAnti-Racism Is Becoming Troublingly RacistRecorded 8 March 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Episode #70: Conservatism and the Influence of Tradition

After a two-month hiatus, Josh and Ian are back in this episode to talk about Shakespeare. They talk about Josh&apos;s background in theater studies, the psychology of stageplays, famous Shakespeare plays and their widespread influence, acting as a craft, characters expressing empathy in plays and film, audience participation, Shakespeare&apos;s impact on the English language, the differences between comedy and tragedy, the culture of Broadway in the New York City Theater District, the medium in which stories are told, the way we experience stories, the different spin on Shakespearean plays, thespians and actors viewed through the lens of family, the influence of ancient Greek plays on Shakespeare, the intellectualization of narrative and the &apos;real&apos; world, the story of our lives and the power of speech, superstition within the thespian community, conspiracies surrounding Shakespeare the man, the difference between literature and poetics or stageplays, and other topics.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links:Who was William Shakespeare and why is he famous?Elizabethan EnglandThese Shakespeare Conspiracies Will Blow Your MindRecorded 24 February 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Episode #69: Shakespeare and the Impact of Storytelling

In this episode, Josh and Ian discuss the pro-Trump riots at the U.S. Capitol, during the attempt to confirm Biden&apos;s Electoral College win. They talk about social media dieting, the Georgia run-off elections, rioters breaking into the capitol building, comparisons between left-wing and right-wing protesting or rioting, justifying hypocrisy, what constitutes Americanism, the potential &apos;failure&apos; of democracy, the potential of Vice President Mike Pence invoking the 25th amendment and the attempted removal of President Trump, the growing problem of polarization, how philosophical ideology informs political movements, people&apos;s loss of individuality during the riots, the parallels between how conspiracies spread and the size of civilization, the future of the Republican party, and various other topics.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links:The Capitol Attack AftermathFacial recognition firm claims antifa infiltrated Trump protesters who stormed CapitolWashington Times corrects widely cited story claiming &apos;antifa&apos; infiltrated Capitol siege, says &apos;neo-Nazis&apos; ID&apos;dDemocrats take control of the SenateUS Capitol&apos;s last breach was more than 200 years agoWhy People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our TimeRecorded 6 January 2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Episode #68: The Madness Unfolds

In this episode, Josh and Ian talk about the historical origins of Santa Claus and the ritual of Christmas in the West. They talk about being raised in Christian households and belief in Santa Claus, the spirit of gratitude in conflict with guilt, the power of ritual, industrialization and the rise of Christmas&apos; popularity, the roots of paganism in nature, the origins of Saint Nicholas, miracles and sainthood, Santa&apos;s parallels with the Christian god, Kantian deontology, Black Friday and the rush for Christmas sales, demand for next generation video game consoles, pandemic economics and poverty, family and gift-giving, the distance from a ritual&apos;s origin and its contemporary destination, and other topics.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @NBSPodcast1Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Recorded 17 December 2020Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/nbsproductions)

Episode #67: St. Nick, Christianity, & Christmas Consumerism

The Necessary Bullshit Podcast is an experimental, ongoing conversation, between a progressive and a libertarian. Hosts Josh Simpson and Ian Savage tackle issues in philosophy, politics, society and culture, the media, film and entertainment. Josh received his BFA in performance arts from Southern Oregon University. He is an actor and a 2013 company member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and is currently a company member of the Eugene Shakespeare in the Park. He is also a writer and social commentator, writing on issues of love, relationships, mental illness, and optimism. He writes on his personal blog at https://jstheonlyoneblog.blogspot.com/. Ian studies philosophy at the University of Oregon. He is a writer and novelist, writing about topics varying from Nietzsche, nihilism and pessimism, values, liberalism in politics, science fiction and its commentary on current issues, and existentialism. He writes on his personal blog at www.modernoverman.com. You can follow them both on Twitter @theonlyoneblog and @modernoverman respectively. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter @NecessaryBSPod

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Necessary Bullshit Podcast

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