Breaking Protocol with Bob Satawake

On this episode my guest is Brian Bond, Executive Director of PFLAG, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents, families, and allies. With over 400 chapters and 200,000 members and supporters crossing multiple generations of families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas across America, Brian leads PFLAG providing support and initiatives to ensure the equality of LGBTQIA persons. Brian is no stranger to being front and center on positions of what some people would identify as controversial, but instead of sidestepping these initiatives he finds himself embracing the opportunities. It's doubtful Brian had much of a choice considering his mother was a notable leader in the Missouri Democratic party and he himself came out publicly to his parents in high school launching him on a path of leadership that he continues forward with to this day. Brian was the former executive director of the Victory Fund, the executive director of the Democratic National Committee Gay and Lesbian Leadership Fund, the National Constituency Director of Obama For America and the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison during the Obama Administration. Anyone in the LGBTQIA community in the United States would be hard pressed not to have benefitted from the life long dedication to equality that Brian has been committed to his entire adult life. https://pflag.org

On this episode Alan Solow a former advisor on Middle East policy to President Obama and the Obama Administration joins me for a dynamic conversation on the current state of affairs in Israel. Mr. Solow is a public affairs consultant, political advisor and notable leader in the U.S. Jewish community. He is the former Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations having met with the leaders of multiple countries around the world. In addition, he served as Chairman of JCC Association of North America, the Chairman of Chicago's Jewish Community Relations Council, President of the Jewish Community Centers of Chicago, President of Young Men's Jewish Council and as a member of the board of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, including on its Executive Committee. He also served as a Trustee of the Jewish Federations of North America and was a Director of Sinai Health Systems. In addition,  Mr. Solow is the former Chairman of Interfaith Youth Core, a national organization promoting interfaith dialogue and service projects on college campuses. He is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Truman National Security Project and is the Vice-Chair of the Israel Policy Forum. He graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and served as a partner at the international law firm of DLA Piper. Mr. Solow was a senior advisor and national co-chair of the 2012 Obama re-elect campaign and accompanied the former President on his first trip to Israel in 2006. 

Jake Kheel joins me to discuss his recent book “Waking The Sleeping Giant, Unlocking The Hidden Power of Business to Save The Planet”. For fifteen years Jake Kheel www.jakekheel.com has confronted social and environmental challenges in the Dominican Republic as Vice President of the Grupo Puntacana Foundation and Vice President of Sustainability for Grupo Puntacana. Under his leadership, the company’s sustainability programs have been recognized with numerous prominent international awards. Jake was instrumental in pioneering one of the Caribbean’s largest coral reef restoration projects, implementing the Dominican Republic’s largest integrated solid waste program known as the Zero Waste initiative and directs the Center for Sustainability, a think tank that works with some of the world’s most notable universities to conduct research and devise experiments related to sustainable development. The Punta Cana development has become a global example of how the private sector can implement sustainability programs and simultaneously turn them into profitable enterprises. 

U.S. Congressman Eric Swalwell who currently represents California’s 15th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and was first elected to Congress in November 2012. His top priorities include national security, intelligence, criminal justice reform, voting rights, LGBT equality, comprehensive immigration reform, and protecting a woman's right to make her own health care decisions and responsible gun registration. His father, a police officer and his mother an administrative assistant raised four sons, Eric being the oldest. He attended public schools and as a result of earning a Division 1 soccer scholarship to the University of Maryland he became the first person in his family to attend college. After completing his education he returned home to serve as the Alameda County district attorney for seven years. The congressman currently serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Judiciary Committee, and the House Homeland Security Committee, in addition to a variety of policy subcommittees and a member of several progressive and bipartisan caucuses. In this episode, Congressman Swalwell discusses the success of passing the Covid Relief Bill and providing opportunity to Americans who are suffering as a result of the global pandemic. Sit back and join our conversation with a glass of wine or take a listen while running, riding your bike or on your drive to work! Subscribe for free to receive notification of all episodes and please leave your comments.

Texas has gone off the grid…. LITERALLY! The week of February 14, 2021 the electrical grid in the State of Texas, it’s independent in case you didn’t know, virtually shut down completely. My guest Craig McCartney breaks down the tragedy that caused millions of Texans to remain without power for days causing people to lose the ability to heat their homes. People died of hypothermia, water pipes busted causing billions in damage, the sewer backed up in the streets, grocery store shelves were completely bare and the so called “rolling blackouts” provided electricity for barely a few. All the while Senator Ted Cruz, #FledCruz, found it all entirely unbearable and fled the country with his family to Mexico leaving his precious poodle home alone. But probably the most devastating thing of all to happen was the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott had to call President Joe Biden and ask for help. In Texas relying on the federal government for anything is looked upon as treason to the Lone Star State. Fortunately the lights came back on after several days, the weather warmed up and now the Texas State Legislature has to decide should they power forward along the status quo or completely deconstruct the isolationist approach that caused all this in the first place.

WELCOME to Breaking Protocol, on this episode we welcome one of the foremost democratic campaign strategists in the United States with an impressive resume of winning elections. Scott Fairchild serves as the Executive Director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. I met Scott Fairchild in 2010 when he arrived in Chicago to run the successful mayoral campaign of Rahm Emmanuel. In addition, Scott has served in the position of Chief of Staff in the U.S. Congress and successfully ran the U.S. Senate Campaign for Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairwoman, Senator Catherine Cortez- Masto later to serve as her Cheif of Staff. In addition, Scott served as the national campaigns director for the League of Conservation Voters. Leading the DSCC to victory in Nevada, Arizona and Georgia we discuss the future of the Democratic Party and what blood red state is next to change. Grab your favorite beverage or take us for a car ride or run and join the conversation. Please subscribe for free to receive notification of future episodes!

Kristin Towers-Rowles is an award-winning singer, actor, director in a world without an audience. Kristin is a third generation Musical Theatre actress from a very musical family. Her grandmother was the MGM Film actress, Kathryn Grayson. Her grandfather was musician, film actor and Broadway leading man, Johnny Johnston. Her mother Patricia Towers, was a stage actress and singer and her father, Robert Towers, is a Film/TV/Stage/Radio veteran of almost 65 years! In this episode we discuss the impact of Covid on the entertainment community and is there an opportunity for a comeback. An extraordinary conversation with an incredible advocate for her industry and humanity. You can read more about Kristin on her website https://www.kristintowers-rowles.com and find up to date information on her new projects and upcoming performances. Grab a coffee or a cocktail and join this insightful conversation or take us for a drive or a run. Please click and subscribe for notification of future episodes and feedback is always welcomed!

Today's guest is U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul an international foreign policy expert who has literally spent a lifetime researching, studying, working on and writing about the importance of international government relationships, specifically the relationship between the United States and Russia. He is the author of several books, most recently the New York Times bestseller From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia. His current research interests include American foreign policy, great power relations, and the relationship between democracy and development. Dr. McFaul was born and raised in Montana. He received his Bachelors in International Relations and Slavic Languages and his Masters in Soviet and East European Studies from Stanford University in 1986. As a Rhodes Scholar, he completed his Doctorate in Philosophy in International Relations at Oxford University in 1991. In this episode he provides his extraordinary insight on the future of international relationships and foreign policy and specifically addresses his experiences as the U.S. envoy to the Russian Federation.

This episode features U.S. Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney D-NY who currently represents New York’s 18th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and was first elected to Congress in November 2012. His top priorities include national security, protecting our environment, ensuring our veterans get the benefits they earned, and combating the heroin and opioid epidemic. Congressman Maloney was on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives inside the U.S. Capitol when a mob of insurrectionists attacked the building, killed a U.S. Capitol Police Officer, destroyed historical architecture, broke windows, injured hundreds of people and attempted to overthrow the government of the United States of America. It was a dark day for global democracy but within a few hours order was returned to the sacred halls of the U.S. Congress and the democracy prevailed and flourished as the elected leaders returned to their positions and carried out the people's business protecting the constitutional freedoms of the American people.

Welcome to Breaking Protocol with Bob Satawake, my guest today is Craig McCartney who has returned for some coffee talk and politics. Craig writes a weekly column entitled “Well, Let Me Say This About That” for He Said Magazine and is joining me today to share some of his colloquial insight on our current state of affairs. The election has taken place and to the chagrin of Donald Trump, Joe Biden IS the n"President-Elect of the United States" winning by a landslide victory exceeding the Trumper by 6 million votes and winning 306 electoral college votes. The social media political pundits on both sides of the aisle are having an extraordinary time pontificating their positions on the outcome and Trump refuses to acknowledge his loss and has Rudy Guiliani filing lawsuits faster than a Republicans can raise the national debt. I am guessing we will not run out of topics to discuss, take us on your walk, run, drive to work or kick back with a glass of wine this one is sure to be insightful!

Natalia Brzezinski is the former CEO of Brilliant Minds Foundation, an initiative focused on bringing together traditional, long-term business families and major tech founders to debate the convergence of humanity and technology. She also served as the CEO for Brilliant Minds annual two-day leadership summit in the creative setting of Stockholm where specifically chosen guests from the worlds of business, technology, art, music and science, meet in a marriage of tradition and disruption, values and innovation, to debate and create. Natalia is an experienced moderator, journalist, and communications strategist focused on building dynamic dialogue across numerous sectors and cultures. She has held cutting-edge roles in the U.S. Senate Press Office for Senator John Kerry, to The Huffington Post, she served as a diplomat alongside her husband the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden from 2011-2015 in addition Natalia served as an advisor to the U.S. Embassy in Sweden focusing on the intersect of digitalization and diplomacy, innovation and leadership. Natalia is also the host of the podcast series, The Brilliant Minds Podcast, a Spotify original and one of Spotify’s earliest pieces of original content. She holds open and honest conversations with leading entrepreneurs, politicians, artists and activists that share a passion for leveraging creativity for impact. She share with me in this episode the value of bridging business and diplomacy creating a global impact on profits and humanity.

On this episode I am joined by Brandon Wolf, he is the Development Officer and Media Relations Manager for Equality Florida. Where he supports initiatives to expand equality to all Americans and ensure future generations are free from discrimination in the workplace, housing and health care, in addition to other platforms. Brandon is a survivor of the Pulse Nightclub massacre where in the early morning hours of June 12, 2016 a domestic terrorist fired over 200 rounds of ammunition into the crowd inside the club killing 49 people and injuring 53 more. Brandon along with those in the club that night were simply doing as millions in this country have been doing for generations, gathering on a Saturday night to enjoy each other’s company and share a drink together. Despite that horrific evening he and so many others experienced, Brandon has moved forward to become a nationally-recognized advocate for LGBTQ issues and gun violence prevention, Brandon found his passion for social change following the shooting at Pulse Nightclub. He is a frequent contributor on state and national media outlets, having published opinion columns in USA Today, CNN digital and Orlando Weekly. He has brought awareness to the issues in HuffPost, Metro Weekly, and has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, and multiple other news outlets. Brandon received the Voice for Equality Award at the 2018 Orlando Gala. In addition, Brandon volunteers with The Dru Project, an organization he founded following the shooting at Pulse Nightclub that sponsors LGBTQ student groups and provides college funding to future leaders. He lives in Orlando.

The final Presidential debate has taken place and one might say it’s all over but the crying, for the loser that is, but before we get to November 3rd there is still a lot of campaigning to take place. We will continue to be bombarded with TV ads, opening our mailboxes to find stacks of campaign literature and opening our front door to campaign lit hanging on our door knobs despite the fact that over one third of the voter population from 2016 has already cast a ballot. On this episode I am joined by political strategist Sonia Van Meter. Sonia is the Managing Partner of Stanford Campaigns, a Democratic Opposition Research firm in Austin TX. she joined Stanford Campaigns in 2009 and quickly found her professional home. Now in her tenth year in the political consulting industry, Sonia has worked hundreds of campaigns all over the country, including city council, gubernatorial and US Senate races. In 2013 Sonia became a Partner of Stanford Campaigns where she continues bringing the good word of opposition research to democratic campaigns and causes up and down the ballot nationwide. Sonia graduated cum laude from Georgia State University with a B.A. in Sociology. When she’s not digging up dirt on politicians, you can find her enjoying a bourbon, playing bass with her band, or marveling at her husband’s latest pun.

In 1992 my guest Jim Obergefell met the love of his life John Arthur and fell in love with him while living in Cincinnati, Ohio. In the early 90’s the gay community all over America lived in secrecy because in that not too distant past LGBTQ people could be arrested, jailed, and of course fired from their jobs for who they were and who they loved. There were no protections under the law for LGBTQ people to be treated equally but despite the hurdles the community faced there were those who continued to live their lives with those they loved and one of those couples was Jim and John. Jim Obergefell is the named plaintiff in the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges that was decided in June 26, 2015 legalizing marriage between same sex couples in the United States and the co-author of the book “Love Wins” The Lovers and Lawyers who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality. There is still so much instability facing the future of the LGBTQ community as it pertains to legal protections in employment, housing, healthcare, jurisprudence and of course marriage and I am happy to explore all of these subjects and Jim’s book on this show. In addition, Jim and I discuss the future ahead and his current initiative Family Equality www.familyequality.org and his passion for wines that includes his current venture Equality Vines equalityvines.com where a portion of the sale of each bottle of these premium wines goes to support multiple humanitarian initiatives including equality. Grab a glass of Equality Vines wine and join us for the enlightening conversation or take us along on your drive to work or a walk or run!

On this show I host two of the most notable political reporters in the state of Texas! Jason Whitely has been honored with 24 Emmy Awards, two Edward R. Murrow Awards, and two dozen others from the Associated Press in Tennessee, Illinois, and Texas. Mr. Whitely won the Emmy for Best General Assignment Reporter in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2010, and 2005. Jason Wheeler has had an amazing career that has taken him on some phenomenal adventures including the Amazon rainforest, the presidential campaign trail, a front-row view of space shuttle launches and to the vortexes of many hurricanes. One might refer to these experiences as grueling, gut-wrenching, but no doubt exciting. Mr. Wheeler has been recognized with three Emmy Awards, two Edward R. Murrow Awards, a State Bar of Texas Gavel Award, an Excellence in Personal Finance Reporting Award and multiple Texas Associated Press Awards.Jason Wheeler and Jason Whitely are the hosts of my favorite podcast, well other than my own I suppose, Y’allitics! The unofficial political podcast of Texas Y'allitics is where Jason Whitely and Jason Wheeler crack open an ice-cold Texas brew and explore a single hot topic affecting Texans as we gear up for the 2020 election. Sit back and enjoy this extraordinary conversation about the behind the scenes demands of professional journalism today and the maneuvering the world of politics as a reporter. Take us along on your drive to work, while walking, running or enjoying a glass of wine!

Maria Hinojosa is an award-winning journalist who has collaborated with the most respected networks and is known for bringing humanity to her reporting. In this beautifully-rendered memoir, she relates the history of US immigration policy that has brought us to where we are today, as she shares her deeply personal story. For thirty years, Maria Hinojosa has reported on stories and communities in America that often go ignored by the mainstream media. Bestselling author Julia Alvarez has called her “one of the most important, respected, and beloved cultural leaders in the Latinx community.”In Once I Was You, Maria shares her intimate experience growing up Mexican American on the south side of Chicago and documenting the existential wasteland of immigration detention camps for news outlets that often challenged her work. In these pages, she offers a personal and eye-opening account of how the rhetoric around immigration has not only long informed American attitudes toward outsiders, but also enabled willful negligence and profiteering at the expense of our country’s most vulnerable populations—charging us with the broken system we have today.This honest and heartrending memoir paints a vivid portrait of how we got here and what it means to be a survivor, a feminist, a citizen, and a journalist who owns her voice while striving for the truth. Once I Was You is an urgent call to fellow Americans to open their eyes to the immigration crisis and understand that it affects us all.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has passed leaving a spirit that will forever remain in the legacy of the United States Supreme Court. There is no replacing her, someone may occupy the seat where she sat but her influence that guided the court over the course of her career can never be duplicated. Craig McCartney joins me for an insightful conversation about the future our our democracy and determines if our arc moving forward will guided by a moral compass as it bends toward justice. Join the conversation while driving, biking, running or a little day drinking, as it does seem that alcohol and politics definitely mix these days. Click and subscribe for notification of future episodes of Breaking Protocol with Bob Satawake.

In the United States of America voting is the ultimate definition of freedom! Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife Vicki Heyman have dedicated themselves to ensure that freedom and democracy live on through advocating that all Americans regardless of where they live in the world exercise their constitutional right to vote. One very simple way for those of you living outside of the United States is to visit the website votefromabroad.org and follow the simple steps to casting your ballot and having your voice heard in the upcoming U.S. elections. There is no better way to honor the millions of men and women who have died protecting the constitutional right to vote. Ambassador Heyman and Vicki are truly passionate about the future of American democracy and in this podcast provide you a very simple solution for participating in the future of the U.S.A. Cast your ballot today, visit votefromabroad.org

Kaivan Shroff is a Democratic political strategist, commentator, and organizer. He serves as Senior Advisor to the Institute for Education, a leading D.C. non-profit, and is a member of the Forbes NY Business Council. Before joining the team at IFE, Shroff worked at Microsoft New York on their Technology and Civic Engagement team, partnering with the NYC government and non-profits to offer data-driven solutions to big social problems. Shroff also worked on the Digital Team at Hillary For America. He holds an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management and a B.A. in Political Science from Brown University. Social media, environmental policy and humanitarian initiatives have driven the under thirty generation to stand up and engage in the political arena. As a result a new generation of leaders are being elected and their positions are changing the face of America's future. Take the time to engage by joining this conversation during your daily run, drive to work or over a relaxing cocktail after work.

In 2018, Gina came within 926 votes of defeating Will Hurd in TX-23. A first-generation Filipino American, Gina was raised by a single mother who came to the United States because she believed in the promise of a better future. After graduating from Boston University on a four year R.O.T.C. scholarship, Gina was commissioned as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force and served tours of duty in Iraq under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Gina returned home to San Antonio following her deployment to help care for her mother who was fighting cancer. Gina has built a career in national security, with a focus on defense intelligence and economic security. This includes serving as the Director for Investment at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative under President Obama. Gina knows that we need a leader standing up for the issues that can make a real impact on people’s lives. That’s why she’s stepping up to serve her country and her community again by running for Congress addressing important issues such as health care, education, trade and unemployment. If you would like to know more about Gina and her campaign you can visit ginaortizjones.com for more information and become a supporter. If you enjoyed this podcast please click and subscribe for notification of future episodes, and if you haven’t had an opportunity to read my book, Breaking Protocol Forging A Path Beyond Diplomacy it is available at your favorite online retailer or for download to your kindle, table or smart phone. Stay safe, stay healthy and many blessings.

Alex’s story in the 1st congressional district of Massachusetts starts in a Holyoke housing project where his parents met and fell in love. Both his mother and father grew up in poverty. Alex’s parents started a family as teenagers and neither had a chance to attend college. They worked tirelessly with what they had, struggling from job to low-wage job on public assistance in public housing. Over time they were able to make their way into the working class. Now 33 years down the road, Alex’s father heads to the same meat packing company in Springfield every day of the week for work. And Alex still recalls the neighborhood family daycare his mom ran at his childhood home.Alex’s parents worked hard to provide opportunities for their children — Alex and his two older brothers — that they didn’t have. Alex’s gratitude for his parents, and for the city of Holyoke, led to his passion for public service. At 16, Alex came out to his parents, and their response of unconditional love and support gave him the courage to bring his whole self into this life, and into this work.His interest in public service brought him to Brown University, and led him to become the first member of his family to earn a college degree. While a student, he spent his summers in Holyoke, coming back to his hometown to serve under-resourced youth like himself learn skills for future success. Back at school, Alex’s vision for organizing and helping his hometown only grew deeper. He announced his candidacy for mayor of Holyoke at age 21, while still a senior at Brown. He has served as Holyoke’s mayor since 2012, winning 4 elections during his time in City Hall. Elected at 22, Alex is the youngest and first openly gay mayor in the history of the city of Holyoke.

Clayton Tucker is a new generation leader who is running the Texas State Senate in District 24. TuckerForTexas.com From the moment Clayton Tucker could wear his own pair of boots, which was necessary as a 5th generation Texan, his grandfather put him to work at his family’s ranch in Lampasas. Clayton hauled hay, fed cows and goats, and such. Once, when he was 9 or so, there was a field fire at a neighbor’s ranch. His grandfather and Clayton grabbed two burlap sacks, a barrel of water, and took off towards the smoke. When Clayton asked why they were going to help instead of just waiting for the fire department, his grandfather told him something he would never forget: "Neighbors help neighbors." Clayton worked at the Texas State Capitol, where he researched bills and advised Rep. Helen Giddings of their effects. Clayton lived in Shanghai, where he studied Mandarin, diplomacy, and worked for an environmental compliance firm. After college, Clayton spent several years in Taiwan. He studied Mandarin at National Chengchi University and traveled throughout most of East and Southeast Asia. What Clayton learned from this experience shook him to his core. The USA is falling behind. Healthcare in Taiwan cost him $30 a month (1.5% of his salary!) and that allowed him to see any doctor with no out-of-pocket costs. Rural towns had great infrastructure and each farm had solar panels to make them fully self-sufficient. Teachers were paid extremely well, enough to provide for their entire family, no second or third job required. Clayton couldn’t stand to see his county falling behind, so he changed course again and returned home. After hearing so many healthcare horror stories, with some affecting his own family, Clayton knew he had to do something more. Advocacy from the sidelines wasn’t, by itself, going to be enough to win healthcare for all Texans. Clayton threw his hat into the ring for Texas State Senate District 24. Clayton is running to be the voice of the everyday working Texans. Clayton will fight to guarantee healthcare as a human right, to stop climate change by creating green jobs, and will fight for education.

There are approximately forty-five elected state representatives in the United States under the age of thirty and they are a new generation of leader. Margaret Croke won her Illinois State Representative seat on March 17, literally days before the United States was overtaken by a global pandemic, now she is faced with guiding the State of Illinois through the worst economic recovery that the United States has experienced since the Great Depression. But Representative-Elect Croke didn't just win her election, she was the only woman running against four men, she was eight months pregnant and she was knocking on doors in the middle of winter and standing for hours at a time outside coffee shops and voting stations shaking hands and asking for votes. There may be a new generation of leaders in the United States but their experience is beyond their years. Enjoy our conversation as Margaret walks all of us through an experience by which you will be astonished.

Mayor Crystal Wagar is the first black woman to be elected as the Mayor of Miami Shores in the eighty-seven-year history of the city and she not only got elected but elected by a historical margin and turnout! No one runs for elected office thinking "what do I do in the event of a global pandemic", but that is exactly what America's mayors are doing now. Without a national protocol and in many cases a state protocol the decisions on policy and guidance has fallen on the desks of those in many cases without the financial resources to execute effective plans for their constituents. Mayor Wagar has faced this challenge along with many other mayors around the country and is effectively guiding her city and its constituents through this global pandemic. Covid-19, the coronavirus, is wreaking havoc on our nation’s municipalities, creating financial instability and forcing local officials to make very unfavorable decisions, but Mayor Wagar is leading boldly, leading with compassion and empathy, and leading for the future. Insightful and gracious join me for my conversation with Miami Shores Mayor Crystal Wagar.

In this episode of Breaking Protocol I speak with three leading experts of global industry who possess a keen understanding of globalization and insight on leading in the private sector during a global pandemic. The Right Honourable Ruby McGregor-Smith from the UK and a member of the House of Lords, Colin Morton from Italy and Terry Michael from Australia are extremely knowledgeable on the subject matter of the impact of geopolitical policies on international trade and the future of global business. Is your company prepared for the future hurdles you will face during this global crisis? Our conversation will provide you with perceptions to consider are you make daily decisions to stay ahead of the competition and what to expect as the global community wrestles with the instability ahead.

This week Craig McCartney author of the column "Well Let Me Say This About That" for HeSaid Magazine speaks about Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana comments where he told the American people to kiss his "A" during a press interview concerning the opening of public schools and indicated that it is safer for kids to be in school despite being exposed to coronavirus. Are face masks and PPE effective for limiting the spread of the coronavirus, apparently some politicians are not so sure as they are flip flopping on regulations faster than a fish out of water. Governor Greg Abbott has found himself in quite a pickle over his inconsistent policies around the spread of coronavirus in Texas and no one really knows what the rules are! Michael Cohen has gone back to jail and Trump is militarizing the country! On a good note Craig has determined what the new name for the NFL Washington Redskins now that they need a marketing makeover. Last but not least, our democracy is still in danger! Grab an adult beverage or take us for a drive, this conversation covers it all and you are sure to be informed and entertained!

Philip Kingston is a former elected member of the Dallas City Council and corporate attorney. A foremost expert in municipal politics Philip discusses the importance of voter participation, why gerrymandering is killing democracy and the cost of inconsistent policy at all levels of government. Voting during a global pandemic is a hurdle for everyone but a hurdle we must cross. Why is policy so difficult and why can't agreements be reached in the current political environment? Philip provides the answers to these questions and the solutions necessary to drive democracy forward. Join the discussion and listen now. Click and subscribe for notification of future podcasts.

We are experiencing a global pandemic and it has taken foothold in the United States during an election year. Simply being in public spaces despite wearing a mask and keeping our distance from one another can cost us our lives or the lives of those we love. Despite the risks involved voting is the only way we can have our voice heard in a democracy and we all are faced with the choice of how and when we vote. Voting by mail is an option in many states and clearly is the safest and simplest option. Chris Hollins, Harris County Clerk discusses the importance of voter participation and the safety of voting by mail. In addition to voting procedures and participation Chris discusses the changing demographics of Texas and the statistical opportunity of turning Texas Blue! Can the Texas Democratic Party motivate it's base and get their voters to the polls? What does voter turnout look like in 2020? Why is Texas unique? What is the Harris County Clerk responsible for and is it safe to Vote By Mail? All of these questions and more insight from Chris Hollins is available in this podcast. Register and VOTE! Click and subscribe for notifications of future podcasts!

Ambassador Bruce Heyman served as the United States Ambassador to Canada under President Barack Obama from 2014 until 2017. He appears regularly on CBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg, CTV, CNBC, and other media outlets as an expert on trade and bilateral issues. Ambassador Heyman and his wife Vicki Heyman served as diplomatic envoys to Canada and authored the #1 Best Seller “The Art of Diplomacy Strengthening the Canada-U.S. Relationship in Times of Uncertainty”."Donald Trump doesn't view relationships as being important, it's all about me" - former U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce HeymanIn this podcast, Ambassador Heyman draws a direct association between foreign policy and the private sector, proving how bilateral relationships impact your business through trade and other cooperative global initiatives. It is during turbulent times these relationships matter most. Canada has always stood solid with the United States and strategically there is not a better global partner to the USA than Canada!

Hello and welcome to Breaking Protocol and this special edition of Fridays Thoughts, I am your host Bob Satawake.This past Wednesday United States Congressman Louie Gohmert showed up to a committee hearing where Donald Ayer would be giving testimony on the actions of Attorney General William Barr, apparently Mr. Gohmert didn’t appreciate the information being disseminated by Mr. Ayer and in an effort to show his displeasure he tapped loudly with a wood gavel on his desk the entire time Mr. Ayer was talking, clearly indicative of a third grade school boy who was displeased with his selection rank in kickball and instead of playing, took the ball and went home. Remember Mr. Gohmert is a sixty-six-year-old elected member of the United States Congress not a ten-year-old child, though Wednesday it was difficult to tell the difference. The United States economy is in the toilet, forty million people are out of work, unemployment is unattainable for most and the twelve hundred dollars some people received a few months back, it’s long gone by now, and not the least of which we are dealing with a pandemic! Yet Mr. Gohmert’s reaction to testimony is to behave like a petulant child instead of an adult male. And Sticking with our Texas theme for the moment, Mayor Richard Newton of Colleyville who is highly educated man maintaining a PHD in electrical engineering and according to the first sentence in his mayoral bio claims he will put Colleyville’s citizens best interest first, yet he refuses to enforce or even recommend wearing a mask in public and tonight is holding a city wide fireworks celebration, so for those of you who are chasing the virus, you might want to add that one to your schedule. As for the actions of Donald Trump this week, he says testing is causing the increase in the number of coronavirus cases, so he reasons that we shouldn’t test or at least slow down testing so the cases will go away. Now think about that for a moment, if we don’t test then we don’t have record of anyone with coronavirus ,meaning the number of confirmed tests will go down, I suppose that is a bit like asking if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a noise? I am pretty sure we all know the answer to that one.The political divide over masks has heated up beyond anything imaginable, primarily because Donald Trump refuses to wear one as he clearly has no respect for the safety and security of anyone, including himself, because as of today the United States has had 2,470,000 people infected with coronavirus and 1,300,000 people have yet to recover, but most tragically 126,000 people have diedOn April 22 Donald Trump claimed we had flattened the curve and on June 18, just 2 weeks ago, the Vice President of the United States Mike Pence claimed we have slowed the spread and flattened the curve when the number of infections continue to increase in the United States and we are responsible for 25% of all deaths from coronavirus in the world, well I am sorry to tell you Donald Trump and Mike Pence that is NOT flattening the curve, and you can slow down testing or eliminate it all together but I can assure you and your fellow Republican Governors that is not going to make it magically disappear.Florida’s cases have exploded along with Texas, Arizona and many other southern states, and it’s worth noting that Governor Ron de Santis of Florida refused to close the beaches over spring break to avoid an economic impact despite proof that the coronavirus was spreading at a record pace and a state employee of Florida was fired from her job due to her refusing to alter the numbers of deaths related to coronavirus so the state would look good heading into the July 4th holiday.But it’s not only Florida that has avoided measures to slow the spread, in Texas don’t forget Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick was promoting that people should be willing to die so his grand

Are you misinterpreting the word of Christ as it pertains to LGBTQ inclusion? In this episode of Breaking Protocol Dr. George Mason of Wilshire Baptist Church walks us through equality of all human beings and why his church opens its doors to everyone! Dr. Mason is a Christian Theologian and Baptist Pastor in Dallas. He is a nationally recognized leader among Baptists, serving the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, New Baptist Covenant, Duke Divinity School, along with other local and global ecumenical and interfaith endeavors. He is a frequent op-ed contributor to The Dallas Morning News on subjects of public interest that intersect religion, such as public education, race relations and predatory lending. He writes a monthly column on public theology for the Lakewood/East Dallas and Lake Highlands editions of the community news magazine The Advocate. His sermons have been the highest rated program on the Sunday morning worship line up on WRR radio in Dallas for many years. George earned a bachelor of business administration degree in 1978 from the University of Miami (Florida), where he was a quarterback on the football team. He also holds both the master of divinity (1982) and doctor of philosophy (1987) degrees.

Welcome to Breaking Protocol and this special edition of Fridays Thoughts, I am your host Bob Satawake. Today is Juneteenth, a day millions of Americans do not know about primarily because they were never taught about what took place on this historic day in American history. Juneteenth marks a day in America that every child in this country should be taught about in school. This is the day when a Union Army General named Gordon Granger made his way to Galveston, Texas to inform black Americans that they had been freed. Most of us were taught that the Emancipation Proclamation signed January 1, 1863 ended slavery in the United States, it didn’t, it took two and half years before slaves in Texas were freed. June 19, 1865, 155 years ago today, that was the day slaves were freed and that is the purpose of celebrating, a day when our country began its’ path toward equality of all Americans. I was raised in a small town near Tulsa, Oklahoma and never once were we taught the history of the Greenwood massacre that took place 99 years ago this month, 56 years after the true emancipation of black Americans. To this day black Americans are still enduring the bonds of slavery as a result of the inequities in our judicial system, housing, employment, health care and many other institutional and systemic racism barriers. I suspect there are those who feel exposing the shame of our historical narrative is comparable to airing one’s dirty laundry for all the neighbors to see but hiding your laundry doesn’t make it any less dirty. And speaking of dirty laundry, Donald Trump who has made claims he has done more for black Americans than President Abraham Lincoln had decided to hold a celebration in his honor, otherwise known as a campaign rally, in Tulsa, the site of the Greenwood massacre, one of, if not the most horrific acts of violence against black Americans in our nations history. Yes, the rally was moved and will be held tomorrow, but let there be no mistake, this was only a result of the pleading by Oklahoma state and elected officials. Donald Trump’s only recognition of Juneteenth as of this recording is a tweet praising a racist post by a senior editor at Breitbart News! But I digress, as today is not about Donald TrumpJuneteenth is either a state holiday or ceremonial holiday, a day of observance in 49 of the 50 states of our country and the District of Columbia. The only state that does not recognize Juneteenth is Hawaii. U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee says, "The potential of having this national holiday opens a whole world of discussion for America, a whole reckoning with racism and the systemic racism that permeates the nation," she has been working to have Juneteenth declared a national holiday for 20 years! Isn’t it time we recognize our past transgressions and celebrate the end of slavery? Yet our country honors those who we pretend were heroes, the men who perpetrated slavery, who declared war on our country to retain the right to own black Americans are honored with statues and national holidays and their names mark the entrances to our schools and government institutions. We are not there yet; we face many hurdles and we must continue to pursue justice. But for today let’s celebrate and be hopeful. As Gayle King of CBS This Morning indicated, everyone should be celebrating the end of slavery. Despite our labored path on human rights, it’s never too late to do the right thing despite how many transgressions our past may hold. And those are my Fridays Thoughts. Thank you for listening to Breaking Protocol with Bob Satawake, please click and subscribe to receive notification of my future podcast and if you have not had the opportunity to read my book Breaking protocol forging a path beyond diplomacy it is available at your favorite online retailer and can be download to your kindle, tablet or smartphone. Take care and many

U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) discusses the inequality in health care, human rights, racial prejudice, and current legislation proposed to protect marginalized communities and minorities in America. What is a public option? The Congresswoman addresses this need and the benefit it will provide to those who can't afford insurance or doesn't have access to health care. The Democratic leaders have taken a knee and introduced "The Justice in Policing Act", legislation that will make illegal the use of choke holds and other reforms to protect the American people and establish a "police misconduct registry" and eliminate qualified immunity. Congresswoman Schakowsky has been on the forefront of equality for women, minorities, LGBT and has been providing progressive leadership for over four decades. Listen to this extraordinary woman, an extraordinary leader who fights every day for ALL Americans!

"No more can we move forward claiming to be a noble people, supporters of democracy and a shining beacon of hope and humanity while bestowing honor on those who have left a soiled and disgraceful legacy on our history. We must stop pretending they are worthy, for they are not and it is time we accept our truths. Columbus Day must be abolished and the statues honoring those confederate anarchists must be removed from our city squares and hallowed halls of our government buildings. Doing so is not erasing our past transgressions, it is simply not honoring those who disgraced us."

Jimmy Williams began his career in politics as a Republican, working for the Bush-Quayle ’92 re-election effort, before coming to the realization that his politics didn’t align with the party he was working to support. He spent five years working for my good friend U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, ultimately serving as his senior economic policy advisor. Following his tenure on Capitol Hill he became a full time lobbyist until his moral compass became so conflicted with the process that he quit his half million dollar a year job and walked away. Today a journalist focused on the political arena, he founded the media organization Blue Nation Review that was ultimately responsible for exposing the lavish and illegal spending by closeted gay Congressman Aaron Schock of Illinois. For several years he hosted the podcast DecodeDC and today he serves as a freelance political analyst appearing on MSNBC and other media outlets. Currently he is the senior advisor to the Lindsey Must Go PAC, a grassroots movement to unseat Senator Lindsey Graham. Jimmy and I are both convinced that bourbon makes our politics more tolerable.

"We are broken. We have a complete and total failure of leadership at all levels in the Trump administration and our country is in free fall. This statement may sound a little dramatic, and subjectively I suppose it can be interpreted that way. But take a deep breath in, breath out and lets objectively review where we are today." The United States and the American people are suffering, they are angry and have every right to be, we can as a nation do better and we will do better. Register and VOTE, our democracy depends on all of us to hold elected leaders accountable.

Listen to my latest podcast "Breaking Protocol with Bob Satawake" featuring a conversation with Karine Jean-Pierre, author of "Moving Forward a Story of Hope, Hard Work and the Promise of America", MSNBC Political Analyst and MoveOn Cheif Public Affairs Officer. One of the foremost political strategist in America, Karine takes you on her journey as a young immigrant woman growing up in NYC, finding her passion, embracing mentors and overcoming everyday challenges to land a prominent position in the Obama White House! Enjoy the incredible insight Karine shares in our conversation on my podcast about all things politics while walking, running, driving or enjoying a glass of wine! Download to your laptop, tablet or smartphone and click subscribe for notification of future episodes.

How does a candidate for public office effectively campaign, raise money and find their path to victory during the coronavirus pandemic? Mayor Annise Parker, the former Mayor of Houston enlightens us on the future of the political landscape during the 2020 election cycle and specifically addresses the challenges and opportunities for LGBTQ candidates. Victory Fund and Victory Institute President & CEO Annise Parker is the first former elected official to lead the organizations, having served six years as a Houston City Council member, six years as City Controller, and six years as Mayor of the city. She is one of only two women to have been elected mayor, and is the only person in Houston history to have held the offices of council member, controller and mayor. She was the first openly LGBTQ mayor of a major American city.She currently serves on the Policy and Global Affairs Committee of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and the boards of Houston Botanic Garden, Houston BARC Foundation, Patient Care Intervention Council, and the Climate Disclosure Project (CDP).Our conversation highlights the history of her successful political career, insight on how to successfully run a campaign and the path to victory! Mayor Parker is a true leader on the landscape of global equality and we can all look forward to the many successes ahead as she leads Victory Fund on a path to developing and electing LGBTQ leaders.

My good friend Craig McCartney returns for some light hearted and occasional serious banter on the current state of affairs with Trump's latest missteps in developing a strategy for dealing with this global pandemic and protocol treatments for COVID-19. You would think it would go without saying that bleach is not an ingestible product, but then again maybe not?

In this podcast I discuss the rumors that are circulating on social media and various opinionated websites throughout the internet. What can America expect from our government? Will we overcome this pandemic? Why do we not have a national protocol? Are you quarantined at home and should we be? There is so much confusion and contradictions being disseminated throughout our media and in this podcast I clear up some of those concerns.

Today I am joined by Dr. David Brehm of Dallas, Texas to discuss the impacts of the Coronavirus on your day to day life. Dr. Brehm discusses the importance of staying informed through legitimate sources and implementing certain protocols into your daily life to provide you some comfort as we all endure this global pandemic, in addition to treatment protocols and policies Dr. Brehm is implementing in his medical practice.

Craig joins me for an afternoon of day drinking and a lively discussion about Super Tuesday and the ongoing presidential campaign. We talk about the resurgence of Joe Biden's #Joementum progress for the nomination, Jill Biden's spicy side, former DNC Chair Donna Brazile's faux pas on Fox News, Aaron Schock's "coming out", which wasn't shocking to anyone and how will the coronavirus impact you, or not impact you. Can the Democrats win the White House in November 2020!? https://bobsatawake.com