Mass delusional stupidity

Drones, politicians, and physics

EVERYONE PANIC!!!

In a shocking development over the last few weeks it appears that there are either aliens invading, a super secret government program, or a creator of hundreds of car sized drones testing their new product…over the 11th most populous state in the entire United States near on of the largest cities in the world.

Exactly where you would never expect them!

Or….hear me out…it’s just aircraft or hobby drones flying around and people are freaking the hell out.

I know…it’s tough to decide which of those is more likely.

I’m not an expert in UFO’s or whatever we are calling them now. I am a former helicopter pilot though. That part of me finds it all so painfully stupid. You can see that nearly every single video is either stars, aircraft on approach to airports or passing overhead. We are taught how an approaching aircraft looks like it’s standing still or hovering. On top of that, all of these ‘super secret stealthy drones/aliens’ are using FAA approved lighting.

These are some brilliant aliens.

I’m also a communications guy and know that often when a story goes viral people begin to see what they expect to see. It’s led more than a couple of politicians to post videos of “sightings” and then walk them back as they are explained as aircraft or, my favorite one, Orion’s Belt as former Maryland governor Larry Hogan posted a long tweet and video that clearly showed planes approaching BWI and stars, leading to this priceless Community Note.

So, I say this with care…what the fuck are we even doing these days?

We just elected a convicted felon who is stacking his Administration with villains from every movie genre ranging from Disney to Wes Anderson. Media companies are rolling over to authoritarianism like stray dogs for a pat on the belly. Influencers are switching personalities like Dr. Jekyll and your hometown ex that is suddenly really into organic-whole-grain-locally-produced-grass-fed negronis.

Now we are seeing aliens and drones in the stars.

But wait there’s more

You see this is America so obviously the answer is the solution that much of our country decides is the likely answer to most things: shoot them.

No really.

This week Republican Congressman Mike Smith of central New Jersey, now serving his 22nd term in Congress (WHAT THE HELL…that’s a thing?) held a press conference announcing his plans to introduce a bill authorizing local and state police to shoot at these ‘mysterious’ drones.

Remember earlier about 4 inches above where we figured out that nearly all of these sightings have turned out to be passenger aircraft or stars? So, he wants to authorize people untrained in aircraft identification or visual illusions to be able to shoot their weapons at these “threats.”

We already have reports of pilots being painted by civilians pointing lasers at aircraft on approach to area airports. Those things are incredibly dangerous and can blind a pilot at the most critical point of a flight. But, sure, let’s add actual bullets punching holes in 737’s gliding into Newark.

What could go wrong?

It’s a law not just a good idea

That’s before we talk about the immutable aspects of physics and gravity. Trust me they are laws not just good ideas. They tell us that things that go up come back down. We learned this early on in Iraq where our friends like to shoot their AK-47’s with tracers in the air for celebrations.

I can’t tell how many times we woke up with spent bullets laying around the tarmac of the airfield or soldiers actually being wounded and killed. A good friend of mine got a Purple Heart after a bullet struck him on the top of his head randomly while standing in a parking lot.

Stray bullets injuring Americans is stupidly common in a country awash with guns and stupidity.

The story has now morphed into the perfect distraction from the insanity of the incoming Trump Administration, holidays, and general drift of our national psyche. Politicians and media have a chance to boost a story that is so ridiculously unlikely that will lead to its inevitable next step when you elect this idiot to be Vice President.

Mass delusional stupidity in human form.

Let’s stop

I would love us to not do this. Perhaps we can get back to focusing on stopping Russian spies, accused rapists, vengeful idiots, and conspiracy theorists from attaining positions in our government? That would be awesome.

In the meantime, I am begging with tears in my eyes don’t shoot someone’s grandmother in Seat 34B on her way from Miami to see the toddlers in Ridgefield.

That would be great.

The Sunday Show is so good

Our new Sunday show is getting its legs and taking off now. This week’s show is one you must watch. After catching up on the news of the week I had a chance to talk with Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler on his run for DNC Chairman and vision for how they can reach more Americans.

Then the hilarious Christopher Titus joined me for a “panel of one” as his wife Rachel Bradley refused to get up at 8:00 AM on a Sunday for the “kind of Nazi” that has a show that early. Don’t miss his story of his worst audience ever.

Finally after beating him up on Twitter, Congressman Ro Khanna accepted my invitation to speak on the show. He was so interested in talking he took the interview from the back of an Uber on the way to a meeting. I asked him how he answers the critics saying his willingness to work with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ was obeying in advance. It’s a great chat.

I hope you’ll check it out and subscribe to our YouTube channel as we try to break the key 10,000 subscriber mark this holiday season.

My favorite part is the incredible community we are building in the chat. My incredible producer J.J. is talking with folks, I am watching, and we have some just amazing regulars joining us. I hope you’ll consider joining us.