The Snark Factor

This week on The Snark Factor, Fingers Malloy and Sarah Smith dig into the ongoing chaos in Minneapolis and the bigger problem underneath it: the argument isn’t even about what happened anymore — it’s about who gets to explain it. They break down how modern “protests” become coordinated disruptions, from encrypted group chats on Signal to the manufactured tactics of whistles, bullhorns, and traffic blockades. They also explore why the flashpoint appears concentrated in Minneapolis while other parts of the country are handling ICE cooperation and transfers without the same street-level disorder. From there, the conversation moves to the collapse of trust: viral footage, the constant question of “is this real,” and the way misinformation floods the public space so thoroughly that people struggle to verify anything before reacting. Fingers and Sarah argue that the public is being baited into rage, because anger is the easiest fuel to control. The episode also covers the “Pig Face” case out of Arizona — a story they use to discuss gangs, territory, private property norms, and the cultural mismatch arguments that emerge when communities feel order breaking down. They connect the issue to DHS priorities and the narrative battle over what immigration enforcement actually targets versus what people are told it targets. In the second half, they pivot to day-to-day pressure points: Real ID hitting its next enforcement phase, the mood inside the Washington, D.C. political bubble, and why federal systems often feel insulated from the consequences everyone else lives with. They also react to a chart of price changes since 2000 — with medical care, childcare, college, and hospital services exploding upward — and argue that government involvement is the common thread in the biggest increases. The show wraps with a rapid-fire run through property taxes, permits, insurance traps, utility bill spikes, and the rising sense that bureaucracy is designed to grind people down — plus a detour into egg prices, butter prices, and why arguing with people online is rarely worth the energy. On this episode: Minneapolis unrest and the coordination behind it Signal, group messaging, and “manufactured chaos” tactics Trust collapse, misinformation, and the anger trap The “Pig Face” story, gangs, and property norms Real ID enforcement and the TSA fee conversation Price changes since 2000 and why the public feels squeezed Property taxes, permits, utility spikes, and the bureaucracy spiral Follow Fingers on X. Follow Sarah on X. And get the weekday 3 in 3 on Substack via FingersMalloy.com — like it, subscribe to it, send it to a friend… and if you don’t like it, send it to someone you hate.

Three stories. Three minutes. Every weekday. Here’s what survived the week. This Week in Review pulls together a run of stories about trust, control, and the quiet confidence institutions keep asking us to accept. We start with investigations that matter less than who’s allowed to run them, as lawmakers argue credibility while millions meant for the homeless quietly disappear into luxury homes and private jets. Oversight isn’t the problem. Belief is. From there, control becomes the theme: Tax season promises relief, then hands you new forms. Real ID tightens security while making movement more expensive. Technology offers dignity and choice, right up until it asks a machine to make the most human decision imaginable. California spends $236 million to help 22 people and calls it leadership. Health experts warn that everything you enjoy eating is destroying your gut. Your car shakes after a snowstorm—not because it’s failing, but because ice is stuck where it doesn’t belong. Meanwhile: The U.S. quietly positions itself closer to conflict with Iran. Kids can’t read cursive, but are still expected to sign their names. Major restaurant chains file for bankruptcy while insisting nothing changes. Washington avoids a shutdown the same way it always does—delay, duct tape, and confidence. AI agents promise efficiency while quietly introducing new risks. And adulthood officially begins at 32, complete with blowout parties and the realization that nobody actually knows what they’re doing. The through line is simple: Everyone wants certainty. Very few want questions. Most systems just ask you to go along with it. Sign here. If you want this every weekday, it’s Three Stories. Three Minutes. The Snark Factor 3 in 3 posts Monday through Friday, exclusively on Substack. Subscribe at FingersMalloy.com to get each episode as it drops. This is the Snark Factor 3 in 3 — Week in Review. I’m Fingers Molloy. Let’s talk Monday.

A $5 billion lawsuit is usually a sign your day isn’t going great. This episode of The Snark Factor opens with Donald Trump suing JPMorgan Chase and its CEO over claims he was “debanked,” which quickly turns into a conversation about discovery, settlements, televised courtrooms, and why the fun lawsuits never make it to trial. From there, Fingers and Sarah dig into how media narratives get built — and why once a story is shared enough times, the truth becomes optional. ICE, viral clips, selective editing, and the growing problem of misinformation all collide in a conversation about trust, cameras, and why nobody believes anyone anymore. There’s also: Tax refunds, stimulus checks, and why “stimmies” keep breaking people’s brains Why Goodwill had to beg Americans to stop donating wet, moldy items — including a novelty grenade YouTube’s plan to let creators clone themselves with AI, and why that’s deeply unsettling How vertical video, short attention spans, and tiny screens make fake content harder to spot Suits, weight loss plans, postponed events, and the return of pleated pants And finally, Peeps teaming up with Pop-Tarts, Sunny D, and chili-lime mango — proof we are absolutely unsupervised Serious topics, wild detours, and just enough common sense to make everyone mad. This is The Snark Factor. Fingers Malloy with Sarah Smith.

This week’s Snark Factor 3 in 3 — Week in Review pulls together the headlines that made your shoulders tighten… and the ones that made absolutely no sense. Doctors in the UK are warning that kids and technology aren’t just a “screen time” problem anymore — they’re calling it the early signs of a public health emergency. Meanwhile, Americans are discovering that grocery prices don’t hurt equally, and nothing feels more condescending than budgeting advice from a completely different ZIP code. We check in on bartenders’ end-of-night drinks (less “craft,” more cry for help), Iran’s missing uranium (a mystery that does not spark joy), and a Pokémon shop robbery that somehow involved guns, hammers, and cardboard dragons worth more than a car. There’s also: Weather forecasts that sound like disaster-movie auditions Goodwill begging people to stop donating damp hope Heart disease still winning, just by fewer points Corporate language infecting parenting TikTok being “fixed” by a new group of billionaires AI clones doing the meetings And Pop-Tarts teaming up with Peeps, because of course they did Same rules as always: serious news, undercut authority, escalate absurdity, land it quietly. This is The Snark Factor 3 in 3 — Week in Review. I’m Fingers Malloy.

Sarah Smith is off this week, so Fingers Malloy is joined by Amy Miller, a former senior Senate aide and longtime D.C. insider, for a rare thing on The Snark Factor: A calm, informed, no-hysteria conversation about health care policy. Yes. Really. Amy pulls back the curtain on how Capitol Hill actually works—committee power, donor pressure, political fear, and why “good policy” and “winning elections” rarely sit at the same table. Together, they break down the latest push around health care reform, prescription drug pricing, insurance subsidies, and the middlemen nobody likes but everybody has. Along the way: Why Appropriations, Finance, and Judiciary are the real power committees What Republicans say they want to do on health care—and what they’re afraid to touch How COVID-era subsidies quietly rewired expectations Why pharmacy benefit managers keep showing up in every reform conversation The political math behind “lowering costs” without detonating an election year And why the Senate is designed, above all else, to avoid “having a bad time” It’s wonky by Snark Factor standards—but in the best way. Also: a quick heads-up at the end about lost audio, where to find the longer versions of this conversation, and why not everything fits into a radio segment. More writing, audio, and the weekday Snark Factor 3 in 3 live at FingersMalloy.com. And if you want lighter, louder, and occasionally beef-related content, check out Eat, Drink, Smoke wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening. Courage.

Four weekdays. Twelve stories. One calm look at how strange things actually got. In the very first Snark Factor 3 in 3 — Week in Review, Fingers Malloy pulls together this week’s daily three-minute episodes into one sharp, measured scan of the news cycle — minus the yelling, the panic, or the fake urgency. This week includes: Why a criminal investigation involving Jerome Powell somehow made central banking interesting — and why markets hate that feeling How Bitcoin ATMs became scam magnets, and why “just use the machine by the beef jerky” should always be a red flag A push to ban social media for kids under 16, and the awkward moment where lawmakers try to legislate parenting A nationwide Pecorino Romano recall upgraded by the Food and Drug Administration to its highest risk level — and why this is your sign to stop chewing FBI-style communication tricks that actually work in real life (and don’t require a badge) Why global powers are suddenly talking about Greenland, sugary drinks are getting cheaper, and some people are still threatening fast-food workers over refunds Retail sales, streaming wars, nose-picking science, and the quiet reminder that not every headline is a crisis — but none of them are nothing either This is what 3 in 3 is meant to be: Not hot takes. Not outrage. Just context, perspective, and one steady thought at a time. Three stories. Three minutes. Every weekday. This is The Snark Factor 3 in 3 — Week in Review. I’m Fingers Malloy. Let’s talk next week.

This week on The Snark Factor (WAMM Talk Radio), Fingers Malloy and Sarah Smith try to make sense of a world where the “big story” can change between Thursday’s recording and Sunday morning’s broadcast. They dig into the online frenzy over Venezuela, the endless cycle of narrative-building, and why “two things can be true at the same time” might be the only usable philosophy left. Then they tackle the Minneapolis ICE shooting—how partial clips shape public reaction, what the video appears to show, and why politicians and activists pushing civilians into confrontations with federal agents is a dangerous game. And because you can’t do hard news forever, Fingers takes a sharp left turn into his most honest confession yet: playing hooky at 7 a.m. at Harrah’s, drinking coffee that tastes like “wax, powder, and shame,” overhearing the single most cursed sentence ever spoken on a casino floor, and leaving with two allegedly worm-free hot dogs. Show notes (with timestamps) 0:00 – Quick plug: Eat, Drink, Smoke with Tony Katz 1:06 – Show setup: recording Thursday / airing Sunday; “what changes in between” 2:30 – Venezuela reaction + social media panic; skepticism vs celebration 9:40 – “Two things can be true at the same time” becomes the theme 15:35 – Minneapolis ICE shooting: what the video appears to show + the narrative war 19:22 – “Blue/gold dress” comparison: same footage, different “truths” 23:07 – Reset: hard news fatigue; FingersMalloy.com + podcast cadence 24:39 – Fingers plays hooky: 7 a.m. casino trip + video poker + cigar etiquette 36:13 – Overheard: “Older men give you worms… pinworms” 38:07 – Ford “eyes-off” autonomous driving + parallel parking disappearing 41:39 – Driver-assist paranoia: lane assist fights you, alarms everywhere 46:37 – Close + plugs: FingersMalloy.com / Three in Three / podcast platforms

This episode of The Snark Factor takes a measured look at alleged fraud tied to Minnesota daycare centers, the media’s reaction once the story went viral, and what tends to happen when independent reporting forces coverage. Fingers Malloy and Sarah Smith also break down a HUD review flagging billions in questionable rental assistance payments, along with other examples of large systems struggling with oversight. The Snark Factor airs Sunday mornings on WAAM in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is presented here in podcast form.

This week on the radio hootenanny: You get a tariff. And you get a Tariff. Cory Booker, white supremacist? Bloviation bares his party’s shameless playbook. April Fool's Day is the worst. Fox aives 4-Season Renewals to ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Family Guy’ and ‘Bob’s Burgers.' Customers are outraged over a 'very weird' new restroom rule at Wendy's. All that and much more on episode 1416 of The Snark Factor. Fingers Malloy (https://twitter.com/fingersmalloy) and Sarah Smith (https://twitter.com/mamaswati) host The Snark Factor Radio Program on WAAM 92.7FM Ann Arbor, MI. Listen to The Snark Factor Sunday mornings on WAAM (https://www.waamradio.com), Ann Arbor. The Snark Factor is available on your favorite podcast platform. For all things snark, visit www.fingersmalloy.com.

This week on the radio hootenanny: The EU urges citizens to stockpile 72 hours’ worth of supplies amid war risk. Did people not learn any lessons during the COVID years? Could anything or anyone truly unite America? USPS to cut 10,000 workers through voluntary early retirement program. It's okay to take a break from social media and the news. The push against property taxes. MLB Opening Day 2025: What are the wildest new food items at ballparks around the league? All that and much more on episode 1415 of The Snark Factor. Fingers Malloy (https://twitter.com/fingersmalloy) and Sarah Smith (https://twitter.com/mamaswati) host The Snark Factor Radio Program on WAAM 92.7FM Ann Arbor, MI. Listen to The Snark Factor Sunday mornings on WAAM (https://www.waamradio.com), Ann Arbor. The Snark Factor is available on your favorite podcast platform. For all things snark, visit www.fingersmalloy.com.

This week on the radio hootenanny: To help save America, some believe they have to burn the Teslas... or something. Are attacks on Tesla domestic terrorism? NPR is unhinged. AP retracts Gabbard story. Domino's Pizza unveils generous deal amid alarming consumer trend. More folks are avoiding food delivery to save money. Installment payments are now available... for DoorDash. Is layaway still a thing? Frontier offers free checked bag promotion to entice angry Southwest customers. All that and much more on episode 1414 of The Snark Factor. Fingers Malloy (https://twitter.com/fingersmalloy) and Sarah Smith (https://twitter.com/mamaswati) host The Snark Factor Radio Program on WAAM 92.7FM Ann Arbor, MI. Listen to The Snark Factor Sunday mornings on WAAM (https://www.waamradio.com), Ann Arbor. The Snark Factor is available on your favorite podcast platform. For all things snark, visit www.fingersmalloy.com.

This week on the radio hootenanny: A Judge orders reinstatement for most fired probationary federal workers. Trump threatens a 200% tariff on European alcohol as trade war escalates. The continuing internal debate about Trump's political leanings. The possible big moves over at the Department of Education. Did you get a text message saying you owe money for tolls? Fingers' magical trip... to Denny's. What is a bathroom divorce? Things men should never text to a woman. All that and much more on episode 1413 of The Snark Factor. Fingers Malloy (https://twitter.com/fingersmalloy) and Sarah Smith (https://twitter.com/mamaswati) host The Snark Factor Radio Program on WAAM 92.7FM Ann Arbor, MI. Listen to The Snark Factor Sunday mornings on WAAM (https://www.waamradio.com), Ann Arbor. The Snark Factor is available on your favorite podcast platform. For all things snark, visit www.fingersmalloy.com.

This week on the radio hootenanny: The Epstein Files dump... dumped. MSNBC ruined Joy Reid's day. Jake Tapper is writing a book, and the subject will make you laugh. Joy Behar had thoughts. Sarah went to CPAC. What did she see? Changes are coming to the Washington Post. A 19-year-old high school grad sues teachers, claiming she graduated but can’t read or write. All that and much more on episode 1412 of The Snark Factor. Fingers Malloy (https://twitter.com/fingersmalloy) and Sarah Smith (https://twitter.com/mamaswati) host The Snark Factor Radio Program on WAAM 92.7FM Ann Arbor, MI. Listen to The Snark Factor Sunday mornings on WAAM (https://www.waamradio.com), Ann Arbor. The Snark Factor is available on your favorite podcast platform. For all things snark, visit www.fingersmalloy.com.

This week on the radio hootenanny: Over 6,000 IRS employees were expected to be terminated by end of week. There's little respect for the American taxpayer in DC. Property taxes are ridiculous. The media has started its 'Bart's People' segments about folks who lost their jobs because of DOGE. Federal Reserve officials seek ‘further progress’ on inflation before cutting rates. Home delistings soar 64% to the highest level in nearly a decade as buyers turn down sellers. The Washington, D.C. real estate market is getting crazy over possible job cuts. Folks need to be aware of how their Facebook posts can travel well beyond the popular social media platform. Does the construction industry have a labor problem? KFC is leaving Kentucky. Costco now carries the retro soda Slice. All that and much more on episode 1411 of The Snark Factor. Fingers Malloy (https://twitter.com/fingersmalloy) and Sarah Smith (https://twitter.com/mamaswati) host The Snark Factor Radio Program on WAAM 92.7FM Ann Arbor, MI. Listen to The Snark Factor Sunday mornings on WAAM (https://www.waamradio.com), Ann Arbor. The Snark Factor is available on your favorite podcast platform. For all things snark, visit www.fingersmalloy.com.

This week on the radio hootenanny: Mitch McConnell 'takes his revenge' on Trump. Democrats chased Joe Rogan, Elon Musk and RFK Jr. away. Are democrats so out of touch? No, it's the children who are wrong. The Trump administration begins mass layoffs across multiple federal agencies. DOGE is set to audit the IRS. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency has found billions of taxpayer dollars parked at a financial institution by the Biden-Harris Administration. Unpopular hot take -- Fingers and Sarah liked the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Fingers ends the show by featuring the band Jamestown Bound (https://youtu.be/sjvwv95Xrr8?si=w_rZ2aMyXD33rHWH). All that and much more on episode 1410 of The Snark Factor. Fingers Malloy (https://twitter.com/fingersmalloy) and Sarah Smith (https://twitter.com/mamaswati) host The Snark Factor Radio Program on WAAM 92.7FM Ann Arbor, MI. Listen to The Snark Factor Sunday mornings on WAAM (https://www.waamradio.com), Ann Arbor. The Snark Factor is available on your favorite podcast platform. For all things snark, visit www.fingersmalloy.com.

This week on the radio hootenanny: New Orleans' officials admit they didn't use everything in their toolbox to prevent the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street. Joe Biden awarded Presidential Citizens Medals to 20 recipients... including Liz Cheney. Her reaction was priceless. Police identified the 57-year-old woman who was the victim of that NYC fatal subway burning. Fingers went on a road trip, and has a story about it you don't want to miss. New Year's Eve TV programming is unwatchable. All that and much more on episode 1406 of The Snark Factor. Fingers Malloy (https://twitter.com/fingersmalloy) and Sarah Smith (https://twitter.com/mamaswati) host The Snark Factor Radio Program on WAAM 92.7FM Ann Arbor, MI. Listen to The Snark Factor Sunday mornings on WAAM (https://www.waamradio.com), Ann Arbor. The Snark Factor is available on your favorite podcast platform. For all things snark, visit www.fingersmalloy.com.

This week on the radio hootenanny: The Biden administration is quietly loosening immigration policies before Trump takes office — including letting migrants skip ICE check-ins in NYC. Four Michigan homes were targeted by South American gangs, police say. The NFL issued an alert to teams and players after recent burglaries. MSNBC viewers are angry with 'Morning Joe.' What will happen to CNBC and MSNBC when they no longer have a corporate connection to NBC News? Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson -- What the hell was that?!? Thanksgiving sides. What should and should not be on your table? All that and much more on episode 1402 of The Snark Factor. Fingers Malloy (https://twitter.com/fingersmalloy) and Sarah Smith (https://twitter.com/mamaswati) host The Snark Factor Radio Program on WAAM 92.7FM Ann Arbor, MI. Listen to The Snark Factor Sunday mornings on WAAM (https://www.waamradio.com), Ann Arbor. The Snark Factor is available on your favorite podcast platform. For all things snark, visit www.fingersmalloy.com.

This week on the radio hootenanny: The Snark Factor is back in podcast form! And the freakout has begun. No, not about the show again being available on your favorite podcast platform. The freakout is over the election. And the fun is just beginning. Also, Fingers wants to start a national conversation about spoiler alerts. A mom tells her daughter she isn’t welcome to visit this Thanksgiving, and it has nothing to do with politics. There will be a major shakeup at CNN. Do we care? All that and much more on episode 1401 of The Snark Factor. Fingers Malloy (https://twitter.com/fingersmalloy) and Sarah Smith (https://twitter.com/mamaswati) host The Snark Factor Radio Program on WAAM 92.7FM Ann Arbor, MI. Listen to The Snark Factor Sunday mornings on WAAM (https://www.waamradio.com), Ann Arbor. The Snark Factor is available on your favorite podcast platform. For all things snark, visit www.fingersmalloy.com.

This week on the radio hootenanny: Fingers visited Springfield, Ohio. Are the immigrants eating the cats? Are they eating the dogs? Did we hear what is going on in this small Ohio community? Fingers didn't want the spin; he wanted the truth. All that and much more on episode 1400 of The Snark Factor. Fingers Malloy (https://twitter.com/fingersmalloy) and Sarah Smith (https://twitter.com/mamaswati) host The Snark Factor Radio Program on WAAM 92.7FM Ann Arbor, MI. Listen to The Snark Factor Sunday mornings on WAAM (https://www.waamradio.com), Ann Arbor. The Snark Factor is available on your favorite podcast platform. For all things snark, visit www.fingersmalloy.com.

This week on the radio hootenanny: Cookie Monster's complaint about "shrinkflation" sparks a response from the White House. The Banking industry erupts over Biden admin's new rule on credit card late fees. Biden admin ramps up criticism of Israel over the Gaza war. Syndicated Radio Host Tony Katz updates us on what's going on in Israel... from Israel. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announces she will not seek re-election. Migrants brawl with boxing gloves in ‘fight club’ near NYC shelter — with onlookers egging them on. Half of men feel pressured to act 'manly.' All that and much more on episode 1399 of The Snark Factor. Fingers Malloy (https://twitter.com/fingersmalloy) and Sarah Smith (https://twitter.com/mamaswati) host The Snark Factor Radio Program on WAAM 92.7FM Ann Arbor, MI. Listen to The Snark Factor Sunday mornings on WAAM (https://www.waamradio.com), Ann Arbor. The Snark Factor is available on your favorite podcast platform. For all things snark, visit www.fingersmalloy.com.