This episode dives straight into the firestorm over noncitizen voting in local elections. From constitutional quirks and partisan pressure to questions of allegiance and integration, the host examine what it means to have a voice in American democracy. Later in the hour, James Sweeney and Rhonda Lauritzen -- highly respected and accomplished entrepreneurs -- chat about their new book, “Creative Insecurity: Lean Into the Unknown and Unleash Your Inner Misfit.”

This episode dives straight into the firestorm over noncitizen voting in local elections. From constitutional quirks and partisan pressure to questions of allegiance and integration, the host examine what it means to have a voice in American democracy. Later in the hour,&nbsp;<a href="https://jamesmsweeney.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable">James Sweeney</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://evalogue.life/rhonda-lauritzen/" data-auth="NotApplicable">Rhonda Lauritzen</a>&nbsp;-- highly respected and accomplished entrepreneurs -- chat about their new book, &ldquo;<a href="https://jamesmsweeney.com/creative-insecurity/" data-auth="NotApplicable">Creative Insecurity: Lean Into the Unknown and Unleash Your Inner Misfit</a>.&rdquo;

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 “man of the people,” debate some of the hottest issues impacting our city, state and nation.

Shake It Off with Mert & Lucas

Hour 1: Should Voting be Reserved for Citizens?  Interview with Entrepreneurs, James Sweeney and Rhonda Lauritzen.

The hosts examine how Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez’s high‑profile appearance at the Munich Security Conference unraveled, turning a bid for foreign‑policy credibility into a viral stumble defined by her halting Taiwan answer and her Venezuela misstatement. They contrast her rocky debut with Gavin Newsom’s disciplined, controversy‑free performance and Marco Rubio’s standing‑ovation moment, framing Munich as an early sorting mechanism for the 2028 field. The show wraps with an interview featuring Chris Gillett — a nationally recognized headshot photographer and expression coach known for his signature high‑contrast portrait style and his ability to capture authentic presence on camera. His work has become a go‑to resource for executives, performers, and public figures seeking images that project confidence, clarity, and credibility.

The hosts examine how Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez&rsquo;s high‑profile appearance at the Munich Security Conference unraveled, turning a bid for foreign‑policy credibility into a viral stumble defined by her halting Taiwan answer and her Venezuela misstatement. They contrast her rocky debut with Gavin Newsom&rsquo;s disciplined, controversy‑free performance and Marco Rubio&rsquo;s standing‑ovation moment, framing Munich as an early sorting mechanism for the 2028 field. The show wraps with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://liketherazor.com/about/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Chris Gillett</a>&nbsp;&mdash; a nationally recognized headshot photographer and expression coach known for his signature high‑contrast portrait style and his ability to capture authentic presence on camera. His work has become a go‑to resource for executives, performers, and public figures seeking images that project confidence, clarity, and credibility.

Hour 2: AOC’s Munich Missteps | Chris Gillett on Identity, Image, and the Perfect Shot

Episode 86 opens with a breakdown of the February 24th Washington Square Park incident, where an emergency NYPD response escalated into officers being chased, attacked, and injured with snowballs—an account that directly contradicts Mayor Mamdani’s description of the encounter as “a childish snowball fight among kids.” The hosts then pivot to the city’s multibillion‑dollar budget gap, arguing that his tax proposals ignore the structurally unsustainable costs of the sanctuary‑city and right‑to‑shelter framework and rely on political avoidance rather than fiscal reality. The hour concludes with an interview featuring Don D. Ford III — the Managing Partner of Ford + Bergner LLP, a boutique Texas firm specializing in estate planning, guardianship, and complex estate litigation. Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law, he’s known for decades of courtroom work and for steering Texas’s toughest family and fiduciary disputes.

 

Episode 86 opens with a breakdown of the February 24th Washington Square Park incident, where an emergency NYPD response escalated into officers being chased, attacked, and injured with snowballs&mdash;an account that directly contradicts Mayor Mamdani&rsquo;s description of the encounter as &ldquo;a childish snowball fight among kids.&rdquo; The hosts then pivot to the city&rsquo;s multibillion‑dollar budget gap, arguing that his tax proposals ignore the structurally unsustainable costs of the sanctuary‑city and right‑to‑shelter framework and rely on political avoidance rather than fiscal reality. The hour concludes with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://fordbergner.com/attorney/ford-don-d-iii/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Don D. Ford III</a>&nbsp;&mdash; the Managing Partner of&nbsp;<a href="https://fordbergner.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Ford + Bergner LLP</a>, a boutique Texas firm specializing in estate planning, guardianship, and complex estate litigation. Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law, he&rsquo;s known for decades of courtroom work and for steering Texas&rsquo;s toughest family and fiduciary disputes.
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 Hour 1: Mamdani’s Washington Square & Budget Fallout | Don Ford III on Estate Planning

The hour begins with Steak ’n Shake’s headline‑grabbing decision to ban microwaves nationwide — a symbolic move that taps into America’s growing distrust of processed food and the cultural politics of “real cooking.”  The hosts unpack the science, strategy, and economics behind the shift, showing how fast‑food chains are scrambling to regain public trust amid falling satisfaction, rising prices, and a national realignment toward simplicity, transparency, and “real food.”  The show wraps with an interview featuring Jon Grishpul, co‑founder of GreatBuildz, a homeowner‑focused service that matches clients with rigorously vetted general contractors, and the Co‑CEO of Maxable, one of the nation’s leading platforms for planning and building ADUs. His work across both companies centers on making home renovation and small‑scale development clearer, safer, and more accessible for everyday homeowners.

The hour begins with Steak &rsquo;n Shake&rsquo;s headline‑grabbing decision to ban microwaves nationwide &mdash; a symbolic move that taps into America&rsquo;s growing distrust of processed food and the cultural politics of &ldquo;real cooking.&rdquo;&nbsp; The hosts unpack the science, strategy, and economics behind the shift, showing how fast‑food chains are scrambling to regain public trust amid falling satisfaction, rising prices, and a national realignment toward simplicity, transparency, and &ldquo;real food.&rdquo;&nbsp; The show wraps with an interview featuring Jon Grishpul, co‑founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greatbuildz.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">GreatBuildz</a>, a homeowner‑focused service that matches clients with rigorously vetted general contractors, and the Co‑CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://maxablespace.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Maxable</a>, one of the nation&rsquo;s leading platforms for planning and building ADUs. His work across both companies centers on making home renovation and small‑scale development clearer, safer, and more accessible for everyday homeowners.

Hour 1: Should Voting be Reserved for Citizens? Interview with Entrepreneurs, James Sweeney and Rhonda Lauritzen.

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