Welcome to episode of episode 24 of the Charles C.W. Cook podcast.

Since I last recorded an episode, I have seen the Super Mario Brothers movie twice.

With my kids, that is. Not on my own. Although I did think it was excellent. It's cramped.

It doesn't really ever leave the game environment and there's a lot of fan service in there

and a lot of nostalgia in there. But that's great.

That's what I wanted out of it.

As an observer of movies, I'm not especially sophisticated.

You give me an extended Mario game in bright beautiful colors with a terrific soundtrack.

I'm anyone's.

So if you're thinking of taking your kids or going on your own, with a terrific soundtrack, I'm anyone's.

So if you're thinking of taking your kids or going on your own, do.

I'm going to start today's show with a brief Q&A section.

And then when I've done that, I'm going to talk to Giancarlo Sopo about the threats that the GOP faces ahead of 2024.

Question 1. Were he alive today, would Ben Franklin be repairing old cars or modifying golf carts?

Historically, Americans make, alter and enhance all manner of tools, contraptions, food, music, etc.

I think the obvious answer is both. But Franklin would no doubt have been into golf cards.

Because despite being from Pennsylvania, Ben Franklin would have made one hell of an honorary Floridian.

Franklin loved lightning.

He loved drinking.

He electrocuted turkeys.

He was the first guy to chart the Gulf Stream.

And as my friend Troy Seneca's pointed out, he had a mullet.

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