In addition to discussing the concession made by some Democrats that Trump’s criminal prosecutions were “politically motivated” and Bill Gates’s expressed regrets over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, we speak with Brandon Tosti about his new book, Bright Lights & Long Nights, which chronicles his 18-year sports career.  [Special guest Fernando Luis Alvarez also joins us.]

In addition to discussing the concession made by some Democrats that Trump&rsquo;s criminal prosecutions were &ldquo;politically motivated&rdquo; and Bill Gates&rsquo;s expressed regrets over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, we speak with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brandontostiauthor.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.brandontostiauthor.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1738617974710000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3Ycz_7u9HJHoYmu4JWUOOt">Brandon Tosti</a>&nbsp;about his new book,&nbsp;<a href="https://a.co/d/7BcJlVo" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://a.co/d/7BcJlVo&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1738617974710000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3x1m6Qh3_fA6oWnBzmoaSc">Bright Lights &amp; Long Nights</a>, which chronicles his 18-year sports career. &nbsp;[Special guest&nbsp;<a href="https://alvarezgallery.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://alvarezgallery.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1738617974710000&amp;usg=AOvVaw15wEeQhIhQRf5zOkYsvhjG">Fernando Luis Alvarez</a>&nbsp;also joins us.]

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 2: The Political Impetus Behind Trump's Criminal Cases, Bill Gates's Jeffrey Epstein Regrets & Interview with Brandon Tosti

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 2: The Fast‑Food Reckoning | Jon Grishpul on Renovation, ADUs & Homeowner Clarity

Episode 85 opens by drawing a clear line between traditional voter ID laws — which most Americans already support and easily satisfy — and the SAVE Act’s stricter requirement for documentary proof of citizenship. The hour unpacks the political, constitutional, and logistical stakes of that shift, framing the bill as a national fight over access, federal power, and who ultimately gets to participate in American democracy. The hour concludes with an interview featuring Prof. David B. Oppenheimer, a Clinical Professor of Law at Berkeley Law and one of the world’s leading scholars on discrimination, civil rights, and comparative equality law. He is the author of The Diversity Principle: The Story of a Transformative Idea, a sweeping historical and legal examination of how diversity became a defining framework in American public life.

Episode 85 opens by drawing a clear line between traditional voter ID laws &mdash; which most Americans already support and easily satisfy &mdash; and the SAVE Act&rsquo;s stricter requirement for documentary proof of citizenship. The hour unpacks the political, constitutional, and logistical stakes of that shift, framing the bill as a national fight over access, federal power, and who ultimately gets to participate in American democracy. The hour concludes with an interview featuring <a href="https://www.law.berkeley.edu/our-faculty/faculty-profiles/david-oppenheimer/#tab_profile" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Prof. David B. Oppenheimer</a>, a Clinical Professor of Law at Berkeley Law and one of the world&rsquo;s leading scholars on discrimination, civil rights, and comparative equality law. He is the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://a.co/d/07tu924b" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">The Diversity Principle: The Story of a Transformative Idea</a>, a sweeping historical and legal examination of how diversity became a defining framework in American public life.

Hour 1: The SAVE Act Showdown | Prof. David B. Oppenheimer on Diversity and Democracy

The hosts discuss a stark reality: major national surveys show that AI has entered classrooms faster than schools can respond, leaving faculty overwhelmed, unprepared, and watching core skills like writing and critical thinking erode in real time. Together, the data and faculty voices paint a picture not of a debate, but of a full‑blown educational crisis unfolding at unprecedented speed. The show wraps with an interview featuring Caroline Jane Knight — author of Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage and the last Austen descendant to grow up in the family’s ancestral home. Knight offers a rare, intimate perspective on heritage, identity, and the legacy of Jane Austen, blending memoir and lived history to bring warmth, insight, and a uniquely personal window into one of literature’s most enduring voices.

The hosts discuss a stark reality: major national surveys show that AI has entered classrooms faster than schools can respond, leaving faculty overwhelmed, unprepared, and watching core skills like writing and critical thinking erode in real time. Together, the data and faculty voices paint a picture not of a debate, but of a full‑blown educational crisis unfolding at unprecedented speed. The show wraps with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://janeaustenlf.org/caroline-jane-knight/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Caroline Jane Knight</a>&nbsp;&mdash; author of&nbsp;<a href="https://a.co/d/03OQCHxT" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Jane &amp; Me: My Austen Heritage</a>&nbsp;and the last Austen descendant to grow up in the family&rsquo;s ancestral home. Knight offers a rare, intimate perspective on heritage, identity, and the legacy of Jane Austen, blending memoir and lived history to bring warmth, insight, and a uniquely personal window into one of literature&rsquo;s most enduring voices.

Hour 2: The Political Impetus Behind Trump's Criminal Cases, Bill Gates's Jeffrey Epstein Regrets & Interview with Brandon Tosti

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