Episode 464
Small Talk - Only 2.2% of Legislators Are Working Class
Only 2.2% of legislators across 97 different democracies are working class, while 70% of their populations are working class — so yeah, representative government has some fine print and I’m calling it out. I’m Haystack and we riff on that, then jump to juicy bits like Prince Harry, Elton John, Elton John’s husband and Elizabeth Hurley being ordered to pay $13 million in legal fees after losing an invasion-of-privacy suit against the Daily Mail (yikes). Walmart says its $2.9 billion in tariff refunds will be used to lower prices in stores, the Odyssey just beat Deadpool and Wolverine to become the highest grossing R-rated movie ever, and Sir Anthony Hopkins — at 88 — put out his first album, Life is a Dream, full of classical pieces he’s been composing since his early 20s. There were GTA 6 footage leaks by a hacktivist group called Cyber Leak, UNO Championships hit LA on November 11 with seven contestants fighting for $50,000, and a Gallup poll says 51% of Americans think one or two drinks a day is harmful. Also: a study claims eating breakfast after 8am raises all-cause mortality risk, lifetime toilet paper spending is about $12,000–$13,000, 29% of Americans report package theft with Monday afternoon being the riskiest delivery time, and today — August 24 — is National Lawful Day, National Knife Day (on the cutting edge), and Pluto Demoted Day. Quick, weird, useful stuff to drop at the watercooler — I gotcha covered.
Takeaways:
- I flag that working-class people are only 2.2% of legislators across democracies, wild disparity lol.
- We joke that UK courts making losers pay legal fees would totally kill frivolous lawsuits here, honestly.
- I gush about pop culture bits — Prince Harry stuff, Elton John legal drama, and Sir Anthony Hopkins' surprise album.
- We toss in quirky lifestyle stats — late breakfast equals higher mortality risk, and lifetime toilet paper costs are insane.
- I warn that Monday afternoons are porch-pirate prime time, so hide packages or embrace the awkward neighbor chase.
Transcript
Good morning, it's Haystack and it's time for some small talk.
Speaker A:Working class politicians are rare.
Speaker A:Probably no surprise.
Speaker A:It's apparently not just here though.
Speaker A:Only 2.2% of legislators across 97 different democracies are working class, while 70% of their populations are working class.
Speaker A:So just a reminder that the whole representative government clearly has some fine print.
Speaker A:And speaking of politicians, Prince Harry as well as Elton John, Elton John's husband, and Elizabeth Hurley all have been ordered to pay some $13 million in legal fees after losing an invasion of privacy lawsuit against the Daily Mail.
Speaker A:I wish the US had the same court system as the UK where if you sue somebody and you lose, you have to pay their legal fees.
Speaker A:That would slow a bunch of our crap down.
Speaker A:Walmart says they plan to use the $2.9 billion they received in tariff refunds to lower prices in the grocery stores.
Speaker A:Or the stores.
Speaker A:I shouldn't say grocery, but I'll hold my breath on that.
Speaker A:The Odyssey has set a box office record surpassing Deadpool and Wolverine to become the highest grossing R rated movie in all time history.
Speaker A:Sir Anthony Hopkins has released his first album at the age of 88.
Speaker A:It is called Life is a Dream.
Speaker A:It is classical music that he has composed ever since his early 20s.
Speaker A:There have been leaks by a hacktivist group called Cyber Leak leaks of unauthorized Grand Theft Auto 6 footage.
Speaker A:And that's going to be the easily the most anticipated video game of all time.
Speaker A:The UNO Championships are set for Los Angeles on November 11th as seven contestants compete for $50,000.
Speaker A:And somewhere grandma wants a qualifying event.
Speaker A:Americans are cutting back on alcohol.
Speaker A:According to a new Gallup poll, 51% of Americans believe drinking one or two adult beverages per day is harmful to their health.
Speaker A:Turns out eating breakfast late could be harmful to your health.
Speaker A:A study says that eating breakfast after 8am gives you a progressively higher risk of death from any cause.
Speaker A:All cause mortality is higher after 8am so I should croak any minute now.
Speaker A:Lifetime toilet paper spending is some 12 to $13,000.
Speaker A:For the average American, that is.
Speaker A:There's a lot of money going directly down the drain.
Speaker A:Need to save some leaves and corn cobs.
Speaker A:Monday, turns out, is the most common date for package theft.
Speaker A:For porch pirates, 29% of Americans report package theft and Monday afternoon deliveries are the most vulnerable.
Speaker A:It is the 24th day of August.
Speaker A:It is National Lawful Day.
Speaker A:So celebrate waffles or as comedian Mitch Hedberg called them, pancakes with syrup traps.
Speaker A:It is also National Knife Day.
Speaker A:One of those days that's on the cutting edge of holidays.
Speaker A:And it is Pluto Demoted Day.
Speaker A: It was on this date in: Speaker A:So I guess it's true.
Speaker A:Size matters.
