The Cerf Report

The Cerf Report delivers clear, critical analysis of issues that often lack depth or rigor. Each episode examines the forces shaping economic power, public policy, technology, and institutional change — separating signal from noise. Audio editions are adapted from written research published on Substack, preserving the original analysis in a format designed for listening. thecerfreport.substack.com

The Cerf Report is a business podcast hosted by David Cerf, with 26 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

David Cerf hosts The Cerf Report, a business show with 26 episodes published.

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  Episode #17

  Trial by Accusation

  Jun 4, 202612 minS1

  <p>Margaret Chase Smith, “Declaration of Conscience,” delivered on the floor of the U.S. Senate, June 1, 1950. Full text and audio: American Rhetoric, https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/margaretchasesmithconscience.html</p><p>U.S. Senate historical account of the speech and McCarthy’s subway exchange with Smith: https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Speeches_Smith_Declaration.htm</p><p>Joseph McCarthy’s Wheeling, West Virginia speech (February 9, 1950) and the shifting number of named “communists”; Senate censure of McCarthy (December 2, 1954).</p><p>The Army-McCarthy hearings (1954) and Joseph Welch’s “Have you no sense of decency” exchange.</p><p>Roy Cohn served as chi...

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  Episode #16

  The 1.776 Billion Dollar Question

  May 18, 202612 minS1

  <p>Sources and Further Reading</p><p>The Anti-Weaponization Fund settlement (announced May 18, 2026)</p><p>DOJ press release on the $1.776 billion fund and Trump's IRS lawsuit dismissal — primary source for the settlement structure https://www.justice.gov/</p><p>ABC News: "DOJ announces $1.7B 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' as part of Trump IRS lawsuit settlement" — fund details, eligibility, $1.776B figure https://abcnews.com/US/trump-court-filings-plans-drop-10b-lawsuit-irs/story?id=133066043</p><p>Roll Call: "DOJ announces $1.8 billion fund as part of Trump settlement with IRS" — Acting AG Blanche statement, fund administration structure https://rollcall.com/2026/05/18/trump-seeks-to-drop-10-billion-lawsuit-against-irs/</p><p>CNBC: "U.S. creates $1.8B 'lawfa...

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  Episode #15

  Jimmy Lai and the Limits of Flattery

  May 17, 20268 minS1

  <p>Show Notes</p><p>Topic: Hong Kong's One Country, Two Systems framework; the detention of Jimmy Lai; Trump-Xi diplomacy and the limits of leader-to-leader relationship building.</p><p>Key figures referenced:</p><p>Jimmy Lai: founder of Apple Daily, Hong Kong pro-democracy media figure, convicted under National Security Law, imprisoned; age 78 at time of this episode</p><p>One Country, Two Systems: the framework under which Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997, guaranteeing autonomy through 2047</p><p>National Security Law: enacted by Beijing in 2020, used to prosecute Lai and others</p><p>Background reading:</p><p>Wall Street...

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  The Cerf Report

  Where Is Our Daniel Ellsberg?

  May 12, 202616 minS0

  <p>For more articles, visit TheCerfReport.comHistorical sources:</p><p>Truman's commitment of U.S. forces to Korea, June 25-30, 1950: Council on Foreign Relations, "TWE Remembers: Truman's Decision to Intervene in Korea"; Lawfare, "The Korea War Powers Precedent"; Truman Library, "The United Nations in Korea"</p><p>Truman "police action" press conference, June 29, 1950: Honor Flight Chicago, "June 27, 1950: Truman calls for police action"</p><p>Truman's legal theory (UN Charter, UN Participation Act, Security Council resolutions as authorization): Louis Fisher, "The Korean War: On What Legal Basis Did Truman Act?"; Mary L. Dudziak, "The Gloss of War: Revisiting the Korean War's...

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  Episode #13

  The Word “86” Isn’t the Threat — The Reaction Is

  Apr 30, 20266 minS1

  <p>86 isn’t a threat. It’s slang. So why is it suddenly being treated like a crime?In this episode of The Cerf Report, we examine the history of the word “86,” the legal standard for true threats, and how ambiguous language can be reframed to create fear. When words are treated as weapons, the real casualty may be the First Amendment.</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to The Cerf Report at thecerfreport.substack.com/subscribe

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