Kids get candy. Adults get Fireball and campaign messages. This week, the gang compares Halloween before and after adulthood, including haunted childhood libraries, expensive ghost tours, year-round skeletons and the satisfaction of terrifying neighborhood children before life does it for you. Also, Dan Sullivan runs against Dan Sullivan, Vivek Ramaswamy weaponizes family trauma and Three Musketeers receives the respect it deserves from exactly one person.
(0:00:00) Intro
(0:04:14) Jay’s Halloween vacation
(0:09:01) Meredith needs quiet time
(0:10:00) Beginning of the end of fascism?
(0:12:32) 2026 Bing Card update
(0:15:16) Meredith’s ChatGPT therapy
(0:18:18) Celebrity Death Pool update
(0:23:36) Sounds of the Week: Voters need to know your middle name … if you’re brown
(0:32:57) Sounds of the Week: The attack ad that finally crossed the line
(0:42:19) Halloween: Child vs. Adult
Songs:
“Witches” by Switchblade Symphony
“Walk Like a Zombiw” by HorrorPops
“Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein or Dracula” by The Diamonds
Notes:
Why the US has become a political base for Brazil’s Bolsonaro allies (https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/28/americas/bolsonaro-allies-exile-united-states-latam-intl)
Meta’s role in Brazilian elections comes under scrutiny (https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/10/29/metas-role-in-brazilian-elections-comes-under-scrutiny/)
Meta’s response to Brazilian election interference (https://transparency.meta.com/recent-updates/meta-platforms-during-brazil-election/)
Serbia's populist strongman Vucic outplayed all his opponents. Then the students came (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/serbias-populist-strongman-vucic-outplayed-all-his-opponents-then-the-students-came)
It Appears That the AI Bubble Has Just Burst in China (https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-bubble-burst-china)
A Plan for Two Dans: How Democrats Manipulated Alaska’s Ballot (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObJ-BJ50Onc)
19 Oct 2026
Death Wish List
There are no good ways to die, but being torn apart by a pit bull and turned into anti-pit-bull propaganda afterward feels especially rude. This week, the gang discusses gruesome deaths, lonely deaths, workplace deaths and the animals cool enough to make a fatal mauling worthwhile. Also, Cornell introduces the book-report approach to sexual assault, James Hetfield retires from youthful idealism and Meredith nominates firing squads for the humane-execution award.
(0:00:00) Intro
(0:03:45) Jay wants to embalm dead bodies
(0:06:40) Nobody needs a gun
(0:08:44) The American Dream Nightmare
(0:12:03) 2020 Bingo Card update
(0:14:15) Celebrity Death Pool update
(0:18:49) Sounds of the Week: President of Cornell speaks out about Cornell 7
(0:31:07) Sounds of the Week: James Hetfield on politics in entertainment
(0:44:52) Worst ways to die
Songs:
“Leader of the Pack” by The Shangri-Las
“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” by The Beatles
“Tom Dooley” by The Kingston Trio
Notes:
Trump’s social media post calling Annie Andrews anti-trans slur (https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117390404347091382)
More than 20 million Medicare beneficiaries may get one-time $90 payment — here’s who qualifies (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/05/medicare-part-b-beneficiaries-90-payment.html)
The day after this episode was recorded, Trump called off the execution livestream (https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/13/politics/trump-fort-hood-shooter-livestream-execution)
4 Oct 2026
Fear and Loathing in 2026
Nobody warned us the monsters under the bed would grow up to become private equity firms and federal agents. This week, the gang looks back at what scared them most in 2026, from job security and collapsing drywall to the global rise of fascism.
Also, the attorney general turns hurt feelings into a national security threat, Sen. Eric Schmitt mistakes a Caitlin Clark game for a conspiracy and Jay explains how murder could finally launch Tyson’s writing career.
(0:00:00) Intro
(0:03:06) Jay dodged a bullet in his job hunt
(0:05:19) Meredith fears upcoming doctor visit … bill
(0:07:44) Ty’s bougie cosplay 10-year wedding anniversary
(0:12:58) Killing children update
(0:14:08) Celebrity Deathpool update: “Saved by the Bell” edition
(0:19:53) Sounds of the Week: Attorney General Todd Blanche does more mental gymnastics
(0:26:21) Sounds of the Week: Sen. Eric Schmitt gets dunked on
(0:42:28) Fears of 2026
Songs:
“Running Scared” by Roy Orbison
“Fear of the Dark” by Iron Maiden
“Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell
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