In Episode 68, the hosts revisit Donald Trump’s campaign promise to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office—a bold claim repeated throughout 2024 and framed as proof of his diplomatic prowess. Nine months into his second term, the war continues, prompting questions about whether Trump underestimated Vladimir Putin or was strategically outplayed. The hour concludes with Mitch Francis, a serial entrepreneur and inventor, whose book Bad-Ass Solutions for Today’s Big-Ass Problems presents bold, nonpartisan strategies for tackling major global challenges.

In Episode 68, the hosts revisit Donald Trump&rsquo;s campaign promise to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office&mdash;a bold claim repeated throughout 2024 and framed as proof of his diplomatic prowess. Nine months into his second term, the war continues, prompting questions about whether Trump underestimated Vladimir Putin or was strategically outplayed. The hour concludes with&nbsp;<a href="https://bad-asssolutions.com/about/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Mitch Francis</a>, a serial entrepreneur and inventor, whose book&nbsp;<a href="https://bad-asssolutions.com/books/bad-ass-solutions/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Bad-Ass Solutions for Today&rsquo;s Big-Ass Problems</a>&nbsp;presents bold, nonpartisan strategies for tackling major global challenges.

Tune in each week, as an established lawyer, and a self- proclaimed “man of the people,” debate some of the hottest issues impacting our city, state and nation. 

Tune in each week, as an established lawyer, and a self- proclaimed &ldquo;man of the people,&rdquo; debate some of the hottest issues impacting our city, state and nation.&nbsp;

Shake It Off with Mert & Lucas Live

Tune in each week, as an established lawyer, and a self- proclaimed “man of the people,” debate some of the hottest issues impacting our city, state and nation.

Hour 1: Promises, Power Plays, and Putin — Trump’s stalled Ukraine Pledge, Dissected. Interview with Mitch Francis, Author of Bad-Ass Solutions for Today’s Big-Ass Problems.

In our second hour we examine the record-breaking success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and how its story of a forgotten, isolated hero illuminates loneliness in modern life. Drawing on insights from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and psychologist Pauline Boss, we explore why this emotionally resonant superhero tale has connected so powerfully with audiences worldwide. The show closes with an interview featuring Dr. Mark Evans, a composer, conductor, author, and founder of the Cultural Conservation foundation. Based in North Carolina, he hosts the television program Mark! My Words and has written definitive books on film scoring (including Soundtrack: The Music of the Movies) as well as cultural renewal. Through his foundation, he works to preserve America’s cultural heritage—music, language, history, and the arts—with the same care devoted to natural resources, promoting self-education to counter cultural decline.

In our second hour we examine the record-breaking success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and how its story of a forgotten, isolated hero illuminates loneliness in modern life. Drawing on insights from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and psychologist Pauline Boss, we explore why this emotionally resonant superhero tale has connected so powerfully with audiences worldwide. The show closes with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://www.culturalconservation.org/press/about-mark-evans/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.culturalconservation.org/press/about-mark-evans/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787007773199000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2jHFEUmRDuA_BXeIzZTEi6">Dr. Mark Evans</a>, a composer, conductor, author, and founder of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.culturalconservation.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.culturalconservation.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787007773199000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0oATFdJzSoiZFpoaI2hULi">Cultural Conservation</a>&nbsp;foundation. Based in North Carolina, he hosts the television program Mark! My Words and has written definitive books on film scoring (including&nbsp;<a href="https://a.co/d/08KAjrX0" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://a.co/d/08KAjrX0&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787007773199000&amp;usg=AOvVaw07hP1iKf3lLaTIo0P3leHz">Soundtrack: The Music of the Movies</a>) as well as cultural renewal. Through his foundation, he works to preserve America&rsquo;s cultural heritage&mdash;music, language, history, and the arts&mdash;with the same care devoted to natural resources, promoting self-education to counter cultural decline.

Hour 2: Spider-Man & Modern Loneliness | Dr. Mark Evans on Cultural Conservation

Episode 110 opens with the absurd political circus around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. A rushed no-bid renovation for America 250 peeled and failed from botched contractor work—yet the administration invented sophisticated midnight vandals, charged a former Olympian with a felony, then watched the DOJ quietly drop the case while Trump kept pushing the vandalism story. It’s a perfect, embarrassing metaphor for a system that would rather invent saboteurs and scapegoats than simply admit a high-profile paint job went sideways. The show then shifts to an interview featuring Dr. K. Alan Stokes, a minister, storyteller, and author with degrees in psychology and pastoral counseling. In his latest book, Continuing Covenant: Extending His Faithfulness to a Thousand Generations, Stokes shares his faith journey—beginning even before his birth—as a reminder that God’s covenant continues through every generation.

Episode 110 opens with the absurd political circus around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. A rushed no-bid renovation for America 250 peeled and failed from botched contractor work&mdash;yet the administration invented sophisticated midnight vandals, charged a former Olympian with a felony, then watched the DOJ quietly drop the case while Trump kept pushing the vandalism story. It&rsquo;s a perfect, embarrassing metaphor for a system that would rather invent saboteurs and scapegoats than simply admit a high-profile paint job went sideways. The show then shifts to an interview featuring Dr. K. Alan Stokes, a minister, storyteller, and author with degrees in psychology and pastoral counseling. In his latest book,&nbsp;<a href="https://a.co/d/09MTRjoa" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://a.co/d/09MTRjoa&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787007773199000&amp;usg=AOvVaw25Z_cKm7-GP76J79PGgFkN">Continuing Covenant: Extending His Faithfulness to a Thousand Generations</a>, Stokes shares his faith journey&mdash;beginning even before his birth&mdash;as a reminder that God&rsquo;s covenant continues through every generation.

Hour 1: Lincoln Reflecting Pool Fiasco | Dr. K. Alan Stokes on Continuing Covenant

During our second hour, the hosts frame the 2026 midterms as more than a left-right contest, asking whether voters are being moved more by economic pain, cultural identity, institutional distrust, or partisan loyalty. From affordability, health care, immigration, crime, Trump, and competing media narratives, the segment probes which party can best reach Americans who feel squeezed, suspicious, and unseen by those in power. The show then wraps with Scott Gibbs, author of Toward the Turning: Rethinking the Meaning of 9/11, the Clash of Civilizations, and a Postmodern World. Gibbs is a California-licensed psychotherapist whose book examines how inherited religious, national, and cultural identities can harden into destructive cycles of fear, blame, and violence, using 9/11 and the War on Terror as touchstones for a larger argument about moving beyond reactive, identity-driven conflict.

During our second hour, the hosts frame the 2026 midterms as more than a left-right contest, asking whether voters are being moved more by economic pain, cultural identity, institutional distrust, or partisan loyalty. From affordability, health care, immigration, crime, Trump, and competing media narratives, the segment probes which party can best reach Americans who feel squeezed, suspicious, and unseen by those in power. The show then wraps with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mscottgibbs.com/about" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.mscottgibbs.com/about&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1786401175286000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2js8KI00LE1CP2ONxGVhOn">Scott Gibbs</a>, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Turning-Rethinking-Civilizations-Postmodern/dp/3838217667" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Turning-Rethinking-Civilizations-Postmodern/dp/3838217667&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1786401175286000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3kUD0-a4Fg1WGnn2bah0bb">Toward the Turning: Rethinking the Meaning of 9/11, the Clash of Civilizations, and a Postmodern World</a>. Gibbs is a California-licensed psychotherapist whose book examines how inherited religious, national, and cultural identities can harden into destructive cycles of fear, blame, and violence, using 9/11 and the War on Terror as touchstones for a larger argument about moving beyond reactive, identity-driven conflict.

Hour 1: Promises, Power Plays, and Putin — Trump’s stalled Ukraine Pledge, Dissected. Interview with Mitch Francis, Author of Bad-Ass Solutions for Today’s Big-Ass Problems.

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