<p>Listeners: join Josh, Megan and Ben on Friday at 1pm Eastern/10am Pacific for a video chat on Substack. Go to <a target="_blank" href="http://Https://www.centralairpodcast.com">centralairpodcast.com</a> for more details.</p><p>This week: we discuss President Trump’s gross and remarkably self-centered response to the murder of Rob and Michele Reiner, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-1">the strangely candid interview</a> that Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles granted to <em>Vanity Fair</em>. We look at reporting from <em>The New York Times</em> on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/magazine/jeffrey-epstein-money-scams-investigation.html">how Jeffrey Epstein rose to prominence and success on Wall Street</a>, despite <em>very early</em> signs that he shouldn’t be trusted, and we consider <a target="_blank" href="https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-lost-generation/">an essay in </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-lost-generation/"><em>Compact</em></a> arguing that diversity mandates at academic, arts and media institutions have been designed by older generations to fall solely on the backs of white men who are millennial and younger, producing institutions staffed by old white guys and very few young white guys. Plus: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.calmdownben.com/p/if-every-lawn-in-america-was-turned">bad ideas about backyard gardening</a>, and our predictions for 2026.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.centralairpodcast.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">www.centralairpodcast.com/subscribe</a>