Dear Friends,

THIS WEEK’S PODCAST features Kathy Byrnes, Charles Goldman, and Ed Fallon:

(01:32) Is the movie Civil War more fact than fiction?;
(22:44) A deep dive into Bobby Kennedy’s presidential bid;
(41:14) The battle over renewable energy transmission lines;
(54:39) Doomsday seed vault wins World Food Prize.

Sure, I’m biased, but I think our program this week is particularly worth a listen. One caveat: If you plan to watch Civil War and/or God and Country, the first segment  comes with a spoiler alert.

Scene from the movie Civil War.

That said, Charles, Kathy, and I had a solid conversation about a frighteningly important topic: Is the movie Civil War more fact than fiction?

We don’t have a decisive response, but the fact that millions of Americans are even considering the possibility is deeply disturbing. The film does an excellent job of forcing us to question the divisions in our country and where they might lead.

Presuming you check out the podcast of our Civil War convo or catch it on one of the community-owned stations that airs the Fallon Forum, you might as well keep going and listen to the rest of the program:

Charles and I are poles apart in our take on RFK, Jr.’s campaign for president. I’m still standing by my earlier contention that, given the broad dislike of Donald Trump and Joe Biden, Kennedy has a shot at winning the election. Insert your preferred “Ed, you’re an idiot” comment here.

Charles and I are a little less confrontational when it comes to building transmission lines to transport wind and solar energy. I have concerns about the use of eminent domain to build an adequate grid. Charles has done some research on new technologies that might mitigate that concern.

Finally, for our Farm and Food segment, Kathy and I love that the World Food Prize — which usually goes to an ag venture that’s big and conventional — this year goes to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, where over 1.2 million seed samples from across the world are being preserved for posterity.

Finally, for “fun,” here’s a cartoon that my off-beat sense of humor appreciated. Maybe you’ll like it, maybe you won’t. It’s by Sam Locke Ward and I came across it in Little Village Magazine earlier this month:

Thanks for reading, listening, and doing your part for a better world.

Ed Fallon

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In addition to our PODCAST, listen to the Fallon Forum on these affiliates:

– KHOI 89.1 FM (Ames, Iowa)
– KICI.LP 105.3 FM (Iowa City, Iowa)
– WHIV 102.3 FM (New Orleans, Louisiana)
– KPIP-LP, 94.7 FM (Fayette, Missouri)
– KCEI 90.1 FM (Taos, New Mexico)
– KRFP 90.3 FM (Moscow, Idaho)
– WGRN 94.1 FM (Columbus, Ohio)
– KKFI 90.1 FM (Kansas City, Missouri)

Please support the local businesses and non-profits who make this program possible. Click on their logos on the Fallon Forum website and in our weekly email, and visit Bold Iowa, and Birds & Bees Urban Farm. Thanks to Des Moines Irish Session for providing our bumper music, and thank you for supporting a civil alternative to the shock jocks!

Ed Fallon