Political Dharma

I talk about the two forms of meditation, concentration and mindfulness, how to practice them, and what to expect from your practice. I also discuss what awakening is and how I have experienced it. (Edited version of livestream.)

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee is questioning Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, about decisions at HHS and the turmoil those decisions are causing. I report on the genesis of the hearing and explain the larger political context, which is that the Trump administration is advancing an American form of fascism, explaining this and giving my take on it.

Updates on non-major party candidates who could make an impact in 2026: independent Dan Osborn for U.S. Senate in Nebraska, Green Party candidate Butch Ware for governor in California, and independent candidate Kshama Sawant for U.S. Congress from Washington state. Also, an update on the court case challenging California's top-two electoral system.

This is an edited version of a livestream I did on my other channel a couple weeks ago. I talk about the concept of manifesting, clarifying intention, dealing with doubt, and being mindful of how much dissonance there is between your goals and the emotional core of your personal story.

A federal appellate court has released its reasoning for allowing states to forbid a candidate from appearing on election ballots as an "independent." I explain its reasoning and offer my view.

I look into "Progressive Christianity," a label being adopted by a number of churches and organizations, and assess the arguments of Michael Kruger, a critic of this movement.

I discuss a Wall Street Journal article indicating that Elon Musk has not followed through with any actions to create a new party as he had announced last month.

Political Dharma is being renamed The Spiritual & Political Podcast, with some slight changes in content. Along with my usual political topics I will be ending my other channel, A Buddhist Christian?, and moving the topics of that channel to this one.

Update on why the court case challenging California's "top-two" election system is being delayed. Minor parties brought the challenge on the grounds that the system prevents them from having a reasonable chance of getting their candidates on the general election ballot.

I discuss Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s denial yesterday that he is running for President in 2028 and what might really be behind this story.

In this episode I announce my plan to combine my two channels, "Political Dharma" and "A Buddhist Christian?", under one new name and somewhat shift its overall orientation. Let me know your feedback and I hope you will stay with me!

01:08: Fox News published a new public opinion poll about views toward having a new major third party;07:44: Green Party candidate for Governor of California is boosted by Kamala Harris dropping out;15:50: What I've been up to lately.

In a recent interview Joe Rogan challenged Bernie Sanders on the topic of climate change. Here I take apart Rogan's arguments to show why he got it wrong. (This is an excerpt from my longer video about the interview, with more of Rogan's comments.)

00:57: Republicans pass Trump's budget bill;03:40: Elon Musk announces new political party;08:39: Green Party endorses Butch Ware for governor;11:38: Libertarian Party woes continue;13:46: Apology for my previous video;16:01: Why I'm taking a break from the show.

Note: I had to severely trim clips from the interview due to a copyright claim.00:28: Intro and preview of topics;05:24: Why are workers worse off?15:51: Climate change;25:42 Automation and job losses;33:41: Trump's lawsuits against media.

00:35: The Republican fight over Trump's budget bill;05:12: Fights within the Democratic National Committee;09:35: Democrats fight over NY mayoral primary;14:06: The continuing saga of the Libertarian Party.

Vice-president J.D. Vance calls himself a "post-liberal Catholic." What the heck is that? In this video I critique a speech by author and scholar Patrick Deneen, one of the chief intellectual voices in the movement.

00:38: Commentary on National Guard in L.A.;03:23: Republican organization opposing MAGA;05:53: New DNC chair complains of internal problem;09:05: Green Party's Butch Ware campaigns for CA governor;13:34: Kshama Sawant runs for Congress;16:24: Elon Musk calls for new centrist party;17:52: Andrew Yang calls for Musk to join Forward Party;19:09: Libertarian Angela McArdle to head Mises Caucus;21:54: No Labels party online "conversation."

I interview Arend Castelein of the Equal Vote Coalition about efforts to change the type of voting method we use in the U.S.: what alternative voting methods are being proposed, how they work, how people are responding to them, and what the current prospects for change seem to be.

Stephen Wolfe gave an interview toTom Sharrouf of the YouTube channel Intercollegiate Studies Institute. I give a critical commentary on clips from that interview.

I present a very convincing case from a recent book by Mary Haverstick of who the actual assassin of President John F. Kennedy was and who was behind it all. I also discuss why this knowledge is important in our current political situation.

The InfluenceWatch website was my source for the info on the President of Open Primaries.02:06: Robert F. Kennedy ballot case;04:38: Green Party CA governor candidate Butch Ware;19:35: Freedom Fest for independents and libertarians

Alan talks about you can participate in implementing the Agenda of a New America.

I give a few brief updates on alternative political parties, then discuss the rising profiles of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the roles they may play in the 2028 Presidential election. I also explain how the recent history of the Republican Party can help us understand what is happening in the Democratic Party and what new possibilities this opens.01:30: The Libertarian Party in danger of collapse;04:40: Update on the Green Party;05:05: Growth of the Forward Party;08:00: RFK's rising profile among Republicans;16:15: Nicole Shanahan expresses doubt about RFK;18:59: AOC's as a possible Presidential contender;26:06: Republicans' history compared to Democrats' current situation.

Alan explains why a system of employee-controlled businesses would solve economic and environmental problems better than either Trump's MAGA agenda or the policy proposals of the Democrats.01:08: The chief problems we face02:23: The MAGA agenda06:29: The Democratic agenda10:41: Why an agenda of worker control would work better13:39: The Mondragon Coops as a real-world example26:11: Initiatives in the U.S.

Alan describes a strategy for advancing the Agenda for a New America into its eventual fulfillment. 

05:04: Brief updates on political parties, RFK Jr., Nicole Shanahan10:12: Review of the Agenda for a New America12:30: Addition regarding sacredness of nature12:57: How Christian culture affects U.S. politics19:07: Moral foundations of rights27:07: Political rights29:58: Do animals have rights?35:06: General moral principles and specific applications42:31: Is eating meat moral?

Alan explains the background of the agenda for a New America and describes its main proposals and principles.00:19: Why I was covering independent and alternative party candidates02:19: The Third Party Project and my change of direction04:49: How my focus will be shifting going forward08:13: Historical background for the agenda for a New America12:08: An overview of the agenda17:21: The economic agenda: voluntary exchanges21:10: The economic agenda: employee control of big businesses24:00: The economic agenda: property rights & responsibilities29:00: The economic agenda: a guaranteed income

01:34: Nicole Shanahan announcement about CA governor's race;03:29: More on Shanahan's conversion to Christianity;10:19: RFK Jr. cuts workforce in Dept. of Health & Human Services;16:54: Recently resigned CDC director criticizes RFK;22:17: TX girl's death claimed not to be due to measles;27:53: RFK pushes ban on using SNAP benefits for soft drinks;31:05: RFK pushes for testing food additives;34:06: Update on my plans for the show.

Alan discusses the current political situation: the actions of the Trump administration, the flailing of the Democrats, and how they both are complicit in where we find ourselves. He then explains his own political activities and motivations over the last few decades, why he created this channel, and where he might go from here.

Alan interviews Desmond Silveiria, an activist in the American Solidarity Party, about the party's principles, platform, strategies and more. Silveira was the party's Presidential campaign manager in 2016 and a candidate for California Governor in 2018, among other roles he has played in the party.

01:08: RFK Jr. pressures food companies about additives;04:08: MAHA commission holds first meeting;05:29: HHS buyout offer to employees;06:30: HHS grants DOGE access to database;07:32: CDC nominee withdrawn due to vaccine positions;09:25: CDC posts vaccine advisor conflict list;16:17: Nicole Shanahan criticizes Trump decision;18:10: Shanahan offers funds for chronic disease research;18:49: revisiting my comments on L.A. wildfires;22:18: revisiting my comments on Shanahan conversion.

01:37: Workers Strike Back first national convention;08:32: Green Party announces national meeting;09:06: state senator switches from Republican to Forward Party;10:15: Forward Party reveals plans for this year;11:05: Democrat Dean Phillips calls for third party;13:56: former Libertarian Party chair to speak at forum;15:12: & a new electoral reform organization.

01:56: RFK Jr. responses to measles criticism;14:33: HHS rescinds public comments rule;20:28: scientists' HHS contracts not renewed;24:25: RFK to meet with food corporations;25:56: Nicole Shanahan funds L.A. mayor recall.

01:26: Green Party vote vs Libertarian Party vote in Presidential race;05:48: Green Party vote in Congressional races;07:22 Working Class Party vote in Congressional races;08:13: Green, Libertarian, independent vote in state legislative races;12:07: Presidential vote for Party of Socialism & Liberation;14:09: Libertarian Party leadership criticized for selling office;18:23: former LP chair Angela McArdle defends her leadership;25:56: Alan's commentary on McArdle interview;30:50: Libertarians losing voters to new parties;33:51: RFK supporters form group to improve ballot access laws.

(Sorry about the occasion sound quality issue)01:39: Another vaccine advisory panel put on hold;06:00: COVID trial also put on hold;08:08: RFK Jr. remarks on measles outbreak;12:42: Supreme Court refuses RFK ballot case;14:23: Nicole Shanahan's geoengineering post;25:14: Shanahan's conversion to Christianity.

01:18: New plan to investigate former Libertarian Party chair,03:18: Another party joins California lawsuit vs top-two voting,07:01: Independent Congressional candidate shares reflections,17:28: Leftist organizers meet in Seattle this weekend.

This weekend I break my update into two videos, this one covering Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a second one covering alternative political parties and independents. In this video I look into Nicole Shanahan's role in the Dept. of Health & Human Services, the mass firings at HHS, RFK's speech to his new colleagues, and the reception to his speech at HHS.

00:52: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. & Tulsi Gabbard confirmed,03:47: Why health care lobby couldn't stop RFK,09:04: Libertarian Party discusses sale of headquarters,09:52: Green Party considers tracking nonpartisan wins,12:16: United Independents' plans in motion,14:22: My plan for endorsement vote in CA governor race.

00:34: Description of the proposed organization02:26: The crisis of the two-party system in the U.S.04:35: Why does the U.S. have a two-party system?07:56: The prospects of change in the major parties12:16: The role of alternative parties in the system13:55: Why an alternative party has not emerged15:53: The problem with voting reform as a solution17:37: The benefits of the proposed new organization20:06: STAR Voting and how it works

00:56: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. & Tulsi Gabbard nominations,05:10: Libertarian Party elects new chair,09:00: Green Party VP candidate Butch Ware to run for governor,16:33: Bernie Sanders consultants to help independents,19:02: more on the Good Party,20:37: more on the Third Party Project.

01:24: Trump sledgehammers bureaucracy, 04:20: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Senate hearings, 05:42: Nicole Shannahan's warning to Senators, 08:22:: Democrats elect new party chair, 08:57: DNC candidate threatens Green Party, 10:15: former Libertarian chair gets new job, 12:08: California responds to top-two lawsuit, 14:24: update on my Third Party project, 15:21: more on the Good Party, 19:11: update on United Independents, 19:49: Jesus and Christian nationalism

01:12: Trump orders release of assassination documents, 04:14: Committee hearing on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nomination, 05:51: Bernie Sanders files to run in 2030, 07:00: Trump nominees confirmed, 09:27: Cornel West's Justice For All Party gets organized, 11:12: Libertarian Party chair resigns, 12:51: The Good Party assists independent candidates, 17:48: United Independents founder explains goals.

I present a model of what the U.S. economy could look like which is different from Trump's economic nationalism, Biden's industrial policy, business conservatism, or progressivism. I also explain the political tradition behind the model and give examples from the policy program which have been instituted in history.

I discuss four potential paths offered in the national discussion to deal with economic issues after the failure of the neo-liberal era. These are Trump's economic nationalism, Biden's industrial policy, progressivism, and economic conservatism. To assess them I point out the main dynamics driving economic and political change across U.S. history and apply them to each of these paths.

00:51: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. accused of voting fraud, 08:19: Trump vote certified and court sentence determined, 11:52: Democrats shun party label to run as independents, 18:04: Libertarian Party judicial committee overturns suspension of Secretary, 20:51: update on my third party project

Alan talks about the interconnection between our political existence and spirituality, defining spirituality as a development of human personhood in its aspects of mind, emotions, and will. He also describes a method of meditation that can help facilitate this development.

02:50: Party composition of the new Congress 08:54: The fight over electing the Speaker of the House 11:43: Elon Musk's influence on Congress 15:25: Splits in the Democratic caucuses 19:43: Ballot access of alternative parties 21:11: FEC inquiry into Kennedy/Libertarian fund 23:34: Two-top voting lawsuit delayed

I reflect on my coverage of the Presidential campaign over the last year and the future of non-major party candidates and parties: 01:48: the major parties rigging their primaries 08:42: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign and prospects for a Cabinet position 18:37: Jill Stein and movements to unify parties and organizations on the left 25:00: the financial problems of the Libertarian Party 28:30: uniting independents and third parties behind a Congressional slate 29:50: other topics I plan to cover in 2025.

I offer more evidence from this Presidential election that the Green Party has displaced the Libertarian Party as the top alternative party in the United States. I also talk some more about how to begin creating a different kind of alternative party that includes multiple ideological perspectives and a fairer voting system.

I report on the states in which non-major party Presidential candidates did better, the fracturing of the Libertarian Party, and the ongoing realignments of the major parties. I also discuss my concept of a "mothership" party for alternative political candidates and my desire for a participating minor party based on a version of libertarian socialism.