Devin Fergus (@Devin_Fergus), the Arvarh E. Strickland Distinguished Professor of History and Black Studies at the University of Missouri and author of Land of the Fee: Hidden Costs and the Decline of the American Middle Class, joins us.

On today’s show: Trump says Khasshogi cover-up was “worst ever.”

Devin Fergus (@Devin_Fergus) joins us to discuss his new book, Land of the Fee: Hidden Costs and the Decline of the American Middle Class. In this book, Fergus explores the impact of hidden consumer fees on wealth inequality in the US. Ever since the deregulatory wave of the 1970s, rising fees have redistributed wealth from the average consumer to corporations, shutting people — particularly the historically marginalized — out of middle class indicators like home ownership, higher education, and transportation. He also points his finger at the government, which, rather than raise taxes on the wealthy, has increased its revenue by increasing fees and fines, essentially placing a regressive tax on society’s most vulnerable. To combat this, Fergus recommends increased regulations and a re-framing of what “good credit” means, among other things.

A challenge to Steven Crowder: stop being a coward and debate Sam.

On the fun half: Broflamingo on how Sam murked Kirk and the role of white supremacy in the Kavanaugh confirmation. Jeff in GA (DissidentPeasant.com) calls out Crowder. Fox News equates bombs sent to media outlets with meals interrupted by protesters. CNN anchors interrupt broadcast for pipe bomb. Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) says “both sides” need to tone down the “rhetoric.” DHS claims there are Middle Eastern migrants in the caravan headed for US border; Sarah Huckabee Sanders affirms it. Jeffrey Toobin asks if the media is complicit in Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric. The crew watches the final portion of Sam’s debate with Charlie Kirk, in which he schools Kirk on regulations, the ’08 crisis, and how banks work.

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