Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, April / May 2025 (Ep.359)

10 comments on “Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, April / May 2025 (Ep.359)”

1. Maybe a bit of a correction, but I’m pretty sure solid state batteries aren’t heavily used right now, outside of a few niche applications. Pretty sure Lithium ion, LiPo, LiFe, etc. are all more commonly used in consumer electronics.

   • Correct. They’ve been “a couple years away” from mass deployment for a few years now. It’s hard to saw when the economics will tip over.

   • Good correction, guys, thanks. I guess I’ve been hearing for so long now that we were just around the corner from mass deployment that I’d assumed we were now further along than we are. I will still, however, remain hopefully that we *finally* do turn that corner soon w/r/t solid-state batteries in EVs.

     #fingerscrossed

2. With respect to REI, I think that REI’s members are disproportionately older, as in my generation (X) and up. With that said their clientele also skews college-educated and liberal (the “other” Xers and Boomers are over at Bass Pro Shops or whatever they call themselves now) so the Burgum endorsement showed a mind-boggling level of disconnection IMO.

3. Liked your thoughts on Mountainhead.

   I think Steve Carell was suppose to be venture capitalist Peter Thiel, Cory Michel Smith was Elon Musk and Ramey Youssef was Sam Altman. Not sure who Jason Schwarztman was suppose to be.

4. 2 quick comments on this month’s great episode:
   1. Canadian Geese are pretty chill if you aren’t confrontational, and will happily come and gently check you out if you crouch down to their level. They’re very defensive of their young, so stay away from the families, but they also love bluff-charging. Also, the worse part isn’t the hissing or the nipping, it’s the damn poop everywhere.
   2. The REI situation is certainly different from our MEC situation, but still reminds me of what we went through with MEC. Mountain Equipment Co-op was a co-op (duh) that did a good job of getting people into outdoor sports (but often lacked the niche gear). It became a not-a-co-op and majority owned by an American investment corp (I’m still bitter I never got my membership fee back) and people were very upset. Now, it’s still not a co-op, but recently came back under Canadian majority ownership so that’s something. Damn profit motive :(

5. REI.

   Here on the Westside of Los Angeles, if I need anything Ski or Mountain related REI is the most convienent option. 2 Stores within 10 miles of my house. They are my best option for general merchandise and services: clothing, assessories, and ski tech.

   I imagine for city folks like myself where a “local” ski shop is not available REI is very much the primary player for retail goods. If I lived in Crested Butte or Tahoe City I probably would not think of REI either as there are much better specialty stores available.

   Btw, I would not go there for anything with my bikes as I have specialty stores near by that can do specialty work for them.

6. First off, there is no project 2025. No matter how many times you rip that term out, it remains a fact it was rejected and disbanded early on. If Democrats want to push the environmental issue in a meaningful productive way, then maybe don’t align yourself with people like AOC, Schumer, Maxine Watters, and Tim Walz. All of whom are wildly unpopular and on the 20% side if every single 80/20 issue . As far as the Chinese EV’s that Cody is in love with, keep in mind they are produced in coal powered planets by child and/or grossly underpaid labor.
   As far as the narrative that public lands are in danger, it’s more of a look at restructuring how public lands are managed. The administration is looking to cut staff and expenses as well as moving a portion of public land control to the states. Many western states are 4-50% federally owned land. I think some of these states like Wyoming would like to have more control over these lands, as far as mineral rights and petroleum exploration. I’m obviously conservative , but not in favor of this. I’d like to keep public lands as they are.
   As someone not lucky enough to live in the west or a mountainous region, it dies get annoying reading/listening to the privileged few that do live there bitch and moan constantly about everything. I’ll trade any day.

   • Sorry for the many typos but you get the point.

   • 1. On Project 2025 being “rejected and disbanded”: While Project 2025 is not an official government initiative, it is a real and active policy blueprint developed by the Heritage Foundation and other conservative groups. It outlines sweeping changes to federal agencies, environmental regulations, and public land management. Critics argue that it poses serious risks to environmental protections by proposing to weaken the Clean Air Act, dismantle the Endangered Species Act, and roll back safeguards on hazardous chemicals like PFAS2. So while it may not be “official,” it’s far from irrelevant — it’s a roadmap that could influence future administrations.

     2. On Democratic environmental leadership and public perception: It’s fair to critique individual politicians, but dismissing environmental policy based on personalities overlooks the broader public support for climate action. Polls consistently show that a majority of Americans — across party lines — support clean energy investment, stronger pollution controls, and conservation of public lands. The Inflation Reduction Act, for example, passed with broad support and is projected to cut U.S. carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. The focus should be on policy outcomes, not just political figures. Although you might not like AOC and Tim Waltz, they are not wildly unpopular, other two, sure.

     3. On Chinese EVs and labor concerns: You’re right to highlight the ethical issues in global supply chains — they’re real and troubling. But that doesn’t invalidate the push for EV adoption. In fact, it underscores the need for stronger labor and environmental standards in trade policy. The U.S. is investing in domestic EV manufacturing and battery production to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains and create cleaner, fairer alternatives. Rejecting EVs altogether because of China’s practices would be like refusing to use smartphones because some are made under poor labor conditions — the better path is reform, not retreat.

     4. On public lands and state control: Transferring federal lands to state control may sound appealing, but it raises serious concerns. States often lack the resources to manage vast tracts of land, and some have histories of selling off public lands to private interests. Federal stewardship ensures consistent protections for recreation, wildlife, and cultural heritage. Even many hunters, anglers, and rural communities oppose state takeovers because they fear losing access. Keeping public lands under federal protection helps preserve them for all Americans — not just those with extractive interests.

     5. On frustration with Western voices: It’s understandable to feel disconnected from debates centered in the West, but public lands and environmental policy affect everyone — from clean water and air to climate resilience and biodiversity. The “privileged few” who live near these lands often serve as stewards and advocates, not just complainers. There are a lot of people, like myself, that have had to make sacrifices and have had to prioritize parts of their life to be able to live in the West, most of whom are not privileged in the traditional sense of the word.