Democratic Perspective » Podcast Feed

The Critical Importance Of School Boards. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome to Devin Del Palacio to discuss his views on education as a long-time volunteer and advocate. He has been a school board member for 8 years, served at … Continue reading → The post Del Palacio Interview – Podcast June 26, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.

Celebrating Our Second Independence Day. Karen McClelland welcomes Coral Evans, former Flagstaff Mayor, legislative candidate and current Northern Arizona Director for U.S. Senator Kelly on our newest federal holiday – Juneteenth. Evans begins by saying, “Juneteenth is a holiday I … Continue reading → The post Evans Interview – Podcast June 19, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.

Making City Government Work. Steve Williamson welcomes Scott Jablow, Mayor of Sedona, to discuss the latest issues and developments in one of the world's most beautiful cities. They begin by talking about problems caused by OHVs (Off Highway Vehicles). The … Continue reading → The post Jablow Interview – Podcast June 12, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.

Arizona Legislature's Anti-Democratic Gamesmanship. Steve and Karen welcome Dianne Post back to the show. Post is an attorney currently working with the AZ Secular Coalition. The discussion regards the unusual reconvening of the AZ legislature from vacation following its passage … Continue reading → The post Post Interview – Podcast June 5, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.

Assessing GOP Presidential Candidates For 2024. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Gary LaMaster analyze the GOP candidates who have announced their run for president against the Democratic incumbent Joe Biden. In many ways, it's a rogue's list headed by twice … Continue reading → The post Podcast May 29, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.

Good News And Bad News From The Arizona State Capitol. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Senator Mitzy Epstein, minority leader of AZ State Senate, to report on this year's legislative session. Epstein begins by detailing the nearly $18 billion … Continue reading → The post Epstein Interview – Podcast May 22, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.

Building The Future Of The Arizona Democratic Party. On Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Steve and Karen welcome Yolanda Bejarano, one of two candidates for chair of the Arizona Democratic Party. She is the current Vice-Chair of the Party. … Continue reading → The post Bejarano Interview – Podcast January 16, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.

Holding Our Government Hostage. Host Steve Williamson reviews the midterm elections and tries to predict what will happen with the slim Republican majority in the US House of Representatives. He compares the situation to the brinksmanship faced by President Obama … Continue reading → The post Podcast January 9, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.

History Of Verde Valley Independent Democrats. The two remaining members of the eight-person group who helped found Democratic Perspective recount the beginnings of our show, its purpose, and who has been involved during its twelve-year history. They also pay homage … Continue reading →

Looking At 2022 In The Rearview Mirror. Co-hosts Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland are joined by contributors Stephen Hanks and Gary LaMaster to discuss what they consider some of the biggest stories of 2022. Topics range from the ethically and … Continue reading →

Going Forward. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Stephen Hanks welcome Myles Taylor, former Chief of Staff of the Department of Homeland Security. In May of 2022, he left the Republican Party over its espousal of the Great Replacement Theory, the … Continue reading →

Analyzing The 2022 Elections And Predicting 2024. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Stephen Hanks welcome our favorite political prognosticator, Dan Singal, back to the show to discuss the midterm elections. As it turned out, his predictions were proven amazingly accurate. … Continue reading →

Building Momentum In Yavapai County. Karen McClelland and Steve Williamson welcome Mike Fogel, the new Chair of the Yavapai Democratic Party, along with newly elected board member, Llama Habern, to provide their perspective on the recent midterm elections in which … Continue reading →

Examining Social Issues Through Art. Steve Williamson and Stephen Hanks welcome Camilla Ross and Ashley Adelman to discuss the Arts Academy of Sedona, the Emerson Theater Collaborative and their upcoming performance, The Great Gatsby, A Radio Play. Ross explains the … Continue reading →

New Obstacles To Peace In The Middle East. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Hadar Susskind, President and CEO of Americans for Peace Now, a 42-year-old organization which, according to its website, is committed to persuading Americans to support policies … Continue reading →

Repudiating Crazy. Stephen Hanks and Karen McClelland welcome Kathy Kinsella to discuss the results of the midterm elections. They begin with a brief celebration of Democrats' surprising success. Notably, Mark Kelly was re-elected giving Democrats control of the U.S. Senate, … Continue reading →

GOP's Fear Playbook. On the day before midterm elections, Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Stephen Hanks address the lack of substance in the campaigns of most Republican candidates, noting that it's easier for candidates to point out problems than it … Continue reading →

A Race That Will Impact The Health Of Your Family, The State, And The Planet. Steve and Karen welcome Lauren Kuby, candidate for Arizona Corporation Commission, a powerful branch of state government that is largely overlooked. Yet it has an … Continue reading →

GOP Derangement Syndrome. Even though I've written three books about Republican lies and disinformation, until the last two years, I could not have imagined that one of our two major political parties would be willing to undermine our democracy through … Continue reading →

Knowledge And Experience Versus Bluster And Questions. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Scott Jablow, Sedona's vice-mayor and finalist in the city's mayoral runoff election. Having worked for Sedona in a number of positions, few know the city's needs as … Continue reading →

The Politics Of Religion And Hate. Democratic Perspective welcomes Peter Montgomery of Right Wing Watch, a project of People For The American Way, to discuss the growing threat of White Christian Nationalism. When asked if the difference between Christian nationalism … Continue reading →

Working To Find Common Ground. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Stephen Hanks welcome U.S. Congressman Tom O'Halleran to discuss the issues and his campaign for re-election in a newly apportioned district in Arizona. The new district stretches from the Tucson … Continue reading →

Investing In Arizona. Not Politics. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Arizona Senator Martin Quezada, candidate for Arizona State Treasurer. Quezada says that treasurer is a much different role than serving in the Senate. “The role of treasurer, ideally, should … Continue reading →

Hyper-partisanship, Polarization, And Political Realignment. Karen McClelland and Stephen Hanks welcome Rachel Bitecover, Political Scientist and Election Analyst, to discuss the upcoming midterms. She begins by noting that the electorate is always in flux driven by changing demographics, geographic allegiances, … Continue reading →

The Yavapai College Curriculum: Addition And Subtraction With An Emphasis On Division. Addition of resources for the Prescott and Prescott Valley campuses. Subtraction of leadership and courses for the Verde Valley campuses. And division between the taxpayers on the east … Continue reading →

Keeping Elections Secure And Transparent. Karen McClelland and Stephen Hanks welcome Emily Levy, founder and director of Scrutineers, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to voting integrity and election transparency. Levy explains that she first got involved in the aftermath of the … Continue reading →

Christian Dominionism: Another Name For Fascism. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland, and Stephen Hanks welcome Jennifer Cohn to the show to discuss a rapidly growing worldwide authoritarian threat posing as Christianity. Cohn is an election security advocate and prolific essayist who … Continue reading →

Optimism For Democrats In Upcoming Elections. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome historian Dan Singal back to the show to give his views on the current state of politic affairs. Asked about Democrats' prospects for the midterms, Singal, who has … Continue reading →

Assessing The Cult Of Trump And Democratic Chances For The Midterms. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Stephen Hanks welcome Tim Miller, former Republican strategist, and author of the best-selling book Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road … Continue reading →

End Of Roe Chaos. Steve Williamson and Stephen Hanks welcome attorneys Holli Ploog and Mik Jordahl back to the show to discuss the aftermath of the US Supreme Court's decision to dismantle the protections of Roe v Wade. Ploog says … Continue reading →

A Lawyer For The People. Steve and Karen welcome Kris Mayes, candidate for Arizona Attorney General. A former Republican turned Democrat, she was born and raised in the Prescott area of Yavapai County. Mayes promises to stand up for the … Continue reading →

A Long-Term Vision For Sedona. Steve and Karen welcome Melissa Dunn and Jon “JT” Thompson (sedonajt.com) who are standing for Sedona City Council. Dunn is an accomplished high-tech professional who has owned a home in Sedona for 14 years, while … Continue reading →

City Council Candidates Address Major Issues Facing Sedona. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Sedona City Council candidates, Brian Fultz and Pete Furman, to discuss their plans for the future of the city. Beginning with the controversy over home rule, … Continue reading →

A Tribute To Our Professional And Patriotic Election Officials. On Independence Day, we are rebroadcasting a show originally recorded in August of 2021. Kathy Kinsella hosts Yavapai County Recorder, Leslie Hoffman, and Lyn Constable, Yavapai County Elections Director to explain … Continue reading →

An Argument For Knowledge, Experience, And Expertise.  Though some believe that governments benefit from electing outsiders, at least one candidate takes issue with that. Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarity explains her view to co-hosts Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland. Moriarity has … Continue reading →

Focusing On Civic Engagement. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Scott Jablow, candidate for Mayor of Sedona. Jablow moved to Sedona in 2010 after a 31-year law enforcement career in New York. In 2012, he was elected to the Fire … Continue reading →

The Origins Of Roe v. Wade And How Overturning It Could Change America. Steve Williamson welcomes two attorneys to the show, Holli Ploog and Mik Jordahl, to discuss what led to Roe v. Wade and the implications of Justice Alito's … Continue reading →

America's Growing Gun Violence Crisis. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Stephen Hanks and Gary LaMaster to the show. After Hanks provides details for the July 9th golf fundraiser for Democrats of the Red Rocks (DORR), they address the most … Continue reading →

Building A Democratic Movement In Rural Arizona. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Jay Ruby, Events Chair of the Yavapai County Democratic Party, to discuss the upcoming Rural Action Summit at the Mile High Middle School in downtown Prescott, Saturday, … Continue reading →

Privatization Of Social Security: The Bad Idea That Won't Die. When President George W. Bush was re-elected in 2004, he claimed that he had earned political capital and he was going to use it to privatize Social Security. It was … Continue reading →

An Egregious Invasion Of Privacy. Steve Williamson and Kathy Kinsella welcome Holli Ploog, Peggy Chaikin, Ellen Ferreira to discuss the looming U.S. Supreme Court decision on abortion and the weekend's women's marches in protest of Justic Alito's leaked majority opinion. … Continue reading →

Keeping Perspective: Looking To The Past And To The Future. As Democratic Perspective celebrates 11 years of programming, Steve Williamson and Gary LaMaster, two of the show's founders, offer a retrospective of the past 11 years. Steve explains how the … Continue reading →

Issues Over Ideology. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Jeanne Casteen, teacher, school board member, and director of the Secular Coalition of Arizona. She is running for the LD2 Senate seat in the Arizona legislature with hopes of reducing the … Continue reading →

The Arizona GOP's Long-Running Plan To Privatize Education. Karen McClelland and Steve Williamson welcome Nicky Indicavitch, Statewide Outreach Director of Save Our Schools Arizona and a self-described angry mother, to discuss why Arizona ranks dead last in per pupil funding. … Continue reading →

Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine. The History And Unseen Consequences. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Andrew Bacevich to the show. Bacevich is a Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History at Boston University as well as co-founder and president of … Continue reading →

No, Inflation Isn't The Biggest Story Of The Biden Economy. Steve and Karen welcome Dean Baker, one of the nation's leading economists, and friend of the show Steve Segner to discuss the economy and inflation. When asked whether inflation is … Continue reading →

A Modern-Day Form Of Slavery. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome international human rights attorney Dianne Post to discuss the abuses and disproportionate cost of for-profit private prisons. Post was first on our show in 2013 to discuss the same … Continue reading →

Critical Race Theory As A Political Weapon. Our guest host, Holli Ploog, welcomes Heather Hermen, Heather Isom, and our own Karen McClelland to discuss their views of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and public education in general. To begin, let's be … Continue reading →

Bridging The Political Divide In Arizona. Co-hosts Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome to the show three well-qualified Democratic candidates for the Arizona State Legislature along with their campaign manager, Jay Ruby. The candidates include Mike Fogel, a school board … Continue reading →

Assessing Putin's War. Steve Williamson welcomes Paul Lenze, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics & International Affairs at Northern Arizona University, to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Asked about the news coverage of the invasion, Lenze responds, “They've done … Continue reading →

Identifying And Addressing The Issues Facing Sedona. Steve Williamson welcomes three candidates for Sedona City Council: Brian Fultz, Pete Furman, and incumbent John (JT) Thompson. Steve leads the candidates in a wide-ranging discussion that addresses many of the most important … Continue reading →