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Published by George Pearkes
Normal Men is four guys talking about the news. We want to help explain what's happening in the world around us and have some laughs along the way. And we think you might enjoy hearing what we have to say, as long as you don't mind a bit of normalcy in a world without much of it.
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From the feed
The latest episodes published to this podcast’s own RSS feed. Titles and descriptions are the publisher’s.
Why every enterprise open-weight model is bad, digging holes in your yard, consumer AI and warfare, the Amodei Pause, capex math, and dayenu on the models. Lowtax turns up late with a dispatch on Ian Paisley Jr. Plus Cascadia subduction, the generic ballot, and the correct amount of Tajin.
This week: leatherwork. Ed tries on a harness, George does some shoe-leather reporting, and we kick around the ol' pigskin. Also: an old coinage, and a departure reviewed. Links: Polytoken · Sky Marchini , harassed over heavy sour crude
This week: the Lake Effect and CBC comes packing. The Men investigate pheromone-maxxing, chicken-tender nation, and (unfortunately) data centers. Links: Shiv Ramdas's Rice Truck thread · George's Jerome Powell shirt
This week: a brief exploration of comparative religion and the lost art of letter-writing. George teaches us about USMCA and les dangers du Québec. Ed thinks they should cut the power. Also: Dude Wipes. Links: George on Canadian supply management (FT) · Hailey · Sky Marchini , owed an apology · Fatal Attraction
the Ed-less Men tackle the state of the Senate states. Buckle up, it's the preseason!
Down one normal man and up one provisionally normal historian: Bret Devereaux joins to discuss Christopher Nolan's Odyssey, and we make it about twenty minutes before the Late Bronze Age collapses. Chapter markers say which segments contain spoilers for the film. Bret Devereaux blogs at acoup.blog and is @bretdevereaux.bsky.social .
Mike Black joins the Men for a wide-ranging conversation about mostly the NDAA. Authorized and appropriate at all times.
Improv episode after Glonzo ate our guest's internet connection. Three thousand words about lettuce, Nolan does Homer, Troy in Maine, and Taco Bell totally exonerated. Then: some Tate schadenfreude, the darkening of the dawn, and Spanish supply lines. Also, gossip about some models. Normbot now live on Bluesky: @normal-men.bsky.social
Lindsey Graham and the McConnell succession watch. Brazil's World Cup exit gets blamed on Protestantism. Count Binface takes the fight to Clacton. Michigan's Senate proxy war, and how Graham Platner actually got out of Maine. Links: the Institute for Hispano Studies , the hand dryer at the Crown and Treaty , and Allagash, Maine .
Some futbol, moderate arborism, the fast road to Argentina, and Eurovision. 250 years and Normal as ever. Show notes: Mexico 2–3 England at the Azteca (match report) The cherry trees and the golf course Trump confirms he asked FIFA to review Balogun's red card Balogun: born American by accident Canada joins Eurovision Frederick Douglass, “Love of God, Love of Man, Love of Country” (1847) Albion's Seed Groverhaus
The normal men get hot and bothered, fix what's wrong with NYC politics, are gone to look for America, and contemplate an unwise conflict that expects too much of the Curds. A well-insulated episode.
Come take a mind-safari with us to Beirut, Manchester, and West Palm Beach. Plus: tilling the GOP 2028 field way too early.
A defence of the pastoral lifestyle and also the barbacoan lifestyle. Also: your gut health and soda, thunder v swamp, grudgingly handing it to the Knicks, and 10 mpg(ame). Links: Musicology Duck’s reflecting pool · The Double Pivot · Sickos Committee
Unfortunately additional Maine. Then: a bit of fish and the Intercept Cinematic Universe.
A Very Special SpaceX Episode with Quantian ( @quantian ) and ESGHound ( @esghound )! Come for the S-1, stay for the physics. Contains not even homeopathic levels of investment advice. Links: Ann Lipton, "No Votes, No Sales, No Suits" · our earlier space ep with Normal astrophysicist Mike Boylan-Kolchin, We Are All Made of Starmusk .
Lots of tech, somewhat more Pope than usual, and a well-conceived 2028 Presidential Democratic contender tier list that will never embarrass any of us in any way. Plus Jack White's upholstery era and Stephen Colbert.
Patrick Wyman joins the Normal Men to talk dirty soda, apartment deposits we definitely did not get back, the only bracket that matters, 1619 and its descendants, and sharp little lads.
The Men get chippy, Fed up, car talk, Giuliani hantavirus and other pathogens, Graham crackers and some states that are probably in the Midwest, and the AI capex bubble (?).
Panic! at the WHCD, several niche beverages, American airports, and strait cash homie.
Iran oil futures, market madness, Spencer Pratt for some reason, ivermectin and psilocybin, spammers and affinity scams, and hyping the Mythos.
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Observed September 20, 2026.
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