Podcasts about many republican

Part of President Trump's self-described big, beautiful bill includes congressional Republicans' plans to change Medicaid. The proposal would cut billions from the safety net program. Many Republican lawmakers see this as a needed savings to slash what they see as waste in the system, but recent estimates show millions of Americans stand to lose their health insurance, including in Republican health districts like Kern County. (Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a link post. The AI safety community has grown rapidly since the ChatGPT wake-up call, but available funding doesn't seem to have kept pace. However, there's a more recent dynamic that's created even better funding opportunities, which I witnessed as a recommender in the most recent SFF grant round.[1] Most philanthropic (vs. government or industry) AI safety funding (>50%) comes from one source: Good Ventures. But they've recently stopped funding several categories of work (my own categories, not theirs): Many Republican-leaning think tanks, such as the Foundation for American Innovation. “Post-alignment” causes such as digital sentience or regulation of explosive growth. The rationality community, including LessWrong, Lightcone, SPARC, CFAR, MIRI. High school outreach, such as Non-trivial. In addition, they are currently not funding (or not fully funding): Many non-US think tanks, who don't want to appear influenced by an American organisation (there's now probably more [...] The original text contained 2 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. The original text contained 1 image which was described by AI. --- First published: December 21st, 2024 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/s9dyyge6uLG5ScwEp/it-looks-like-there-are-some-good-funding-opportunities-in --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO. ---Images from the article:Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try Pocket Casts, or another podcast app.

As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, Blonde & Blind is amplifying the voices of a group often overlooked—students with disabilities. Olivia O'Connell, a dedicated disability rights activist, joins Marissa to talk about how the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Department of Education ensure that students get the accommodations they need. Magnifiers, extended time, and teachers of the visually-impaired (TVIs) don't come from the kindness of a school district's heart; they are federally-mandated tools and services that are critical for student success. Olivia shares how her Individualized Education Plan (IEP) supported her and why funding IDEA ensures students have access to a free appropriate public education. With Donald Trump proposing to close the Department of Education, Marissa and Olivia highlight how dissolving the agency responsible for ensuring equal access to education would negatively impact students across the country. Olivia O'Connell is a senior at the University of Michigan studying Political Science and History. She is currently an At-Large Presidential Fellow with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, where she is conducting research on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, its funding, and its impacts on students with disabilities at the local level. She also has experience working on Capitol Hill, at nonprofit organizations, with government relations firms, and in community-based advocacy groups. She is dedicated to protecting democracy and championing the rights of historically marginalized communities, especially students and young adults with disabilities. Connect with Blonde & Blind! Website  - https://www.blondeblind.com/  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/blondeblindgirl/  Facebook - https://m.facebook.com/legallybb/?locale=sq_AL  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blonde-blind  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJz_ng0bHVm0s33plEl5Kpg  X - https://twitter.com/marissa_nissley  Connect with Olivia!  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oliviaelizao/  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviaelizabeth  Key Points: 00:00 - Introduction and Background 05:25 - What sparked your interest in politics and disability advocacy? 06:49 - What is IDEA? 08:15 - How has IDEA impacted your life? 11:15 - What is the concept of "Least Restrictive Environment" and why is it important for students with disabilities? 12:52 - Why does IDEA need funding? Where does that money go? 16:03 - What does "full funding" for IDEA mean and why is it important? 19:21 - Many Republican politicians, including Donald Trump, have explicitly proposed eliminating the Department of Education and redirecting all IDEA funding to states with no strings attached. How do you think this could impact students with disabilities? 23:19 - What should people do if they want to take action? Resources & Transcript - https://www.blondeblind.com/post/34-your-iep-didn-t-fall-out-of-a-coconut-tree-feat-olivia-o-connell

This Vermont Conversation with Jackson Beecham originally aired in July 2022.When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade on June 24, it left each state to decide its own abortion laws. Many Republican-led states are reverting to the anti-abortion laws that were on the books before 1973 when Roe legalized abortion.Vermont legalized abortion a year before Roe. In 1972, the Vermont Supreme Court overturned a 122 year-old law that made it a crime for a doctor to perform an abortion, though it was not against the law for someone to have one. In practice, this meant that someone could legally self-abort at their own peril, but a doctor who performed an abortion could be arrested and imprisoned for up to 20 years.The case that legalized abortion in Vermont featured “Jacqueline R.,” an unmarried server who wanted to end her pregnancy, and an OB/GYN resident at the University of Vermont named Jackson Beecham. After New York legalized abortion in 1970, Beecham, a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, joined a small group of women's health advocates in Burlington who were exploring ways to legalize abortion in the Green Mountain State. Attorney Willis “Woody” Higgins, a lawyer for IBM who volunteered to argue the case, advised the group that they needed two plaintiffs: a pregnant person who wanted an abortion and “a courageous doctor.” The prosecutor they faced was a young state's attorney, Patrick Leahy, and the landmark case that legalized abortion in Vermont was known as Beecham vs. Leahy.“I didn't even think about winning or losing,” Beecham said of the case. He just felt “this is the right thing to do.” When the Vermont Supreme Court ruled for Beecham in January 1972, Beecham said, “I was floored.” Within a few months, legal abortions were being performed in Vermont.Beecham went on to a distinguished medical career as a gynecologic oncologist and cancer surgeon. He founded two gynecologic oncology programs at the cancer centers of the University of Rochester and at Dartmouth College, and he was a longtime associate professor at Dartmouth Medical School. Beecham, who is now 80 and lives in Shelburne, retired from practicing medicine in 2008. He continues to be a champion of reproductive rights and is a strong advocate for Proposal 5, which would make Vermont the first state in the country to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution if it is approved by voters in November.Beecham reflected on his role in legalizing abortion in Vermont.“I was honored to spend four decades in women's health as a cancer surgeon. But I think … getting this law changed is the single most important thing I ever did. I'm still moved by it. I'm very, very grateful that I could be part of helping others,” he said.He said that he is “just horrified” that the U.S. Supreme Court has returned the country to where it was before Roe vs. Wade. “I'll be on the sidelines, fighting like everyone else that feels in support of women,” Beecham said.

In the episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Tia Mitchell and Bill Nigut share the mic with retired AJC Political Insider Jim Galloway.  You'll hear from Quentin Fulks, the Georgia native who is President Biden's principal deputy national campaign manager. He'll explain why he thinks for President Donald Trump is “unpalatable” to many Republican voters. Later, now that Nikki Haley has said she'll vote for Donald Trump, the podcast welcomes her national campaign co-chairman Eric Tanenblatt to get his views on whether Haley supporters will now switch their own votes to Trump. Plus, Tia, Bill and Jim answer questions from the listener mailbag and then give their picks for who's up and who's down this week. Have a question for the show? Call the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode.    Link to topics NYTimes poll: Is Biden really trailing by double digits in Georgia? Will Haley supporters now vote for Trump? Quentin Fulkes brings swing state insight to Biden campaign Quentin Fulkes biography       Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at ApplePodcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many Republican politicians were complicit in the Jan 6th insurrection. They should all be removed from their respective ballots. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/politicsdoneright/message

Traditionally, New Hampshire is the proving ground for presidential hopefuls, with most spending major time and money in the Granite State. But many 2024 Republican presidential candidates — so far — are bypassing New Hampshire on their way to Iowa. "It's more expensive to run in New Hampshire than it is in Iowa. It's definitely a bit of a mistake in terms of trying to capture 2024," Erin O'Brien, associate professor of political science at UMass Boston, told Under the Radar. "But Republicans know, to beat Trump, they're betting down on the idea you have to 'out-Trump' him or 'out-conservative' him, and you're more likely to be able to do that in Iowa." Plus, Republican Senator Mitt Romney announced he will retire at the end of his term, saying it's time for the "next generation" of leaders. The former Massachusetts Governor's remarks re-energized the debate about the age of elected officials. "I don't want to say that any particular individual ... should retire," said Luis Jiménez, director of the international relations major at UMass Boston. "But the question we should be talking about is, why is it that people stay in Congress that long? Why is it that people stay in politics that long? And a big reason why has to do with the way that we're doing politics these days and the power of incumbency, the power of money and so on." And the U.S. Senate has gone “business casual." A change in dress code means one Democratic Senator can officially ditch his suit and tie for a hoodie. Jerold Duquette, professor of political science at Central Connecticut State University, argues "this is sort of a gift in terms of authenticity. These people want conformity. ... Politically, a dress code in the Senate as an issue is to the great advantage of those rebelling against the establishment tie, or whatever the case may be." Those stories and more during our full hour with the Mass Politics Profs. GUESTS Erin O'Brien, associate professor of political science at UMass Boston Jerold Duquette, professor of political science and director of the Public Policy and Management Program at Central Connecticut State University Luis Jiménez, associate professor of political science and director of the international relations major at UMass Boston

We speak with the first Democrat delegation to travel to Eagle Pass, Texas to see firsthand the governor's actions to protect the border. Many Republican delegations have traveled to this area of the border in the past, so the trip by Democrats, led by San Antonio Representative Joaquin Castro, was long overdue according to some.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Although a record turnout is expected on Nov. 8th, opinion surveys show many Americans no longer trust U.S. elections nor their government. Many Republican voters still embrace the “Big Lie” that President Trump had the 2020 election stolen from him. So what does the growing mistrust, President Joe Biden's low ratings and the worst inflation in four decades mean for the midterm elections and American democracy in general? In this episode of Transatlantic Takeaway by Common Ground Berlin and the German Marshall Fund of the United States, host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson explores the controversial elections with: Sudha David-Wilp, GMF's Senior Transatlantic Fellow and deputy director of the Berlin office. Jeremy Shapiro, research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations and a former advisor to the State Department during the Obama administration. Anna Sauerbrey, foreign editor of the weekly Die Zeit and a contributor to the New York Times op-ed section. Produced by Dina Elsayed.

[Explicit Content] Trump arrested in DC today on federal criminal charges. The Republicans can't defend Trump on the charges themselves. Many Republican meltdowns including Rudy, Charlie, Hannity, Cotton, Eric Trump, and Liddle Marco. Mike Pence finds his balls. Bill Barr destroys Trump in two parts. 78 felony charges and a maximum sentencing of 74 years. Trump allies charged with election fraud. Rudy Giuliani's gross sexual harassment transcripts. DeSantis vows to slit the throats of American workers. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Marina Rocks, Luna Blu, and more!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Lindell Report - July 24th 2023

Many Republican presidential candidates are in Iowa today for a summit thrown by an influential evangelical leader. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains the significance of this event, which is happening on the same day the Republican governor signed a 6-week abortion ban into law. Plus, President Joe Biden's latest fundraising numbers don't seem to be helping some Democrats' anxiety over the slow start of his campaign thus far.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

What if Hollywood actors go on strike too? It could happen soon. We go In Depth.   You may know the band Maroon 5. But you probably haven't yet heard the story of its founding drummer. Ryan Dusick is with us to share how he struggled with addiction and depression and is now using that battle to help others avoid what he went through.   

On Midday today, guest host Ashley Sterner spotlights some of the legislative, health policy and spiritual developments in transgender rights here in Maryland. Democratic leaders in the General Assembly have made strengthening abortion rights in Maryland a top priority.This session, they're expected to approve a bill that would create a state constitutional right to abortion access. If the amendment passes, voters will decide its fate next fall. This comes as abortion rights are being restricted in many states, following last year's Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe V. Wade.Governor Wes Moore wants Maryland to stand against this tide and be what he calls a “safe haven for abortion rights.” Abortion rights aren't the only rights under assault in many parts of the country. Many Republican-led state legislatures are also working to strip rights from transgender people. More than 150 anti-trans bills have been proposed around the country, many focused on younger trans people… but not exclusively. There are bills restricting and criminalizing crucial medical care for youths and adults, bills preventing trans people from performing in public, and more. Some Maryland leaders are working to shore up the rights – and protect the dignity – of trans people here in our state. And this hour, we'll be taking a look at two pieces of legislation that would do just that.A We'll start with the Trans Health Equity Act, which got its first hearing before a House of Delegates committee on Tuesday. Ashley's first guests are Democratic Del. Anne Kaiser (District 14 -Montgomery Co.), who is sponsoring the bill in the Maryland House, and Dr. Helene Hedian, director of Clinical Education at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's Center for Transgender Health, and Assistant Vice Chair for LGBTQ+ Equity and Education. Studies show that transgender people suffer significantly higher rates of violence while incarcerated than the rest of the prison population.And members of the General Assembly are looking to address that, with a bill called the Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act. It'll get its first hearing in the House Judiciary Committee next week. Earlier, Ashley spoke with the co-conveners of the Trans Rights Advocacy Coalition: Jamie Grace Alexander, a Black trans woman activist and multidisciplinary artist who also serves as policy coordinator for Free State Justice, and the community director of the Baltimore Trans Alliance; and Margo Quinlan, a trans woman activist and the director of Youth & Older Adult Policy at the Mental Health Association of Maryland. In today's final segment, Ashley speaks with Pastor Emily Scott. Pastor Emily currently serves two congregations who have formed a unique partnership: St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church and Dreams and Visions, in Baltimore. These two congregations, one old, one new, are sharing a building, pastoral staff, and a commitment to their neighborhood and the LGBTQ+ community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 20 Republicans who are opposing Kevin McCarthy are getting so much flack for it. Many Republican commentators are demonizing them. Rep. Dan Crenshaw went as far as to call these 20 Republicans ‘terrorists'. Mike takes all your calls to get your perspective on the House Speakership debate. Also, Director of International Affairs for the City of David Foundation, Ze'ev Orenstein, joins Mike to discuss the historic biblical site where Jesus 'healed the blind' fully opening for the first time in 2,000 years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 * Guests: Bryan Rust, Kelly Finnegan, Over the past 50 years, Rust Coins has been working to educate customers about precious metals – RustCoinAndGift.com * Shame: Milo Yiannopoulos said he arranged the dinner between former President Donald Trump and white nationalist Nick Fuentes in order to make Donald “life miserable,” according to NBC News. * Nicholas J. Fuentes – Who is Nick Fuentes? – An American live-streamer, news commentator, and host of America First – NicholasJFuentes.com * According to Fuentes, he is of Mexican descent via his paternal ancestors. * Honest Money Report: Gold: $1803.10 Silver: $22.71. * Former crypto billionaire and Democratic Party megadonor Sam Bankman-Fried revealed he gave large sums of “dark” money to Republicans in a Nov. 29 interview. * He told crypto YouTuber Tiffany Fong that “all my Republican donations were dark” because “reporters freak the f**k out if you donate to a Republican” and that he “didn't want to have that fight” with “super liberal” journalists. * He claimed he was the third largest Republican donor and gave “about the same” to both parties. He did not specify how much he donated to Republicans or which GOP politicians he supported. * George Soros contributed over $128 million to Democrats this cycle. * Before Bankman-Fried's net worth collapsed, he raised the possibility of spending $1 billion on the 2024 election during a podcast interview, CNBC reported. * Criminal IRS forks over Trump's tax returns to Congress! Hour 2 * Guest: mary tocco, International speaker, author, independent researcher, natural health coach and the Vice President of The Foundation for Pediatric Health – MaryTocco.com * Mary is considered an expert on the dangers of vaccines. * Dr. Amandha Dawn Vollmer: A new buzz word: “Quackseen”. * House Republicans sent a letter to the NIH, demanding that the body not destroy any materials concerning the origins of COVID-19, and urging further transparency of the NIH's knowledge of the origins. * The Committee on Energy and Commerce sent 12 letters to the NIH between March 18, 2021, through October 31, 2022, asking for information regarding the origins of COVID-19 and NIH's grant to EcoHealth Alliance, among other topics. * The 12 letters have gone “largely unanswered,” and the Wednesday letter urges the NIH to respond to the “longstanding” requests “immediately, but no later than December 16, 2022. * New York Court Strikes Down NYC COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates. * We Must Take America Back – Steve Vaus, The OFFICIAL music video. * ‘We Must Take America Back' – a song to inspire all patriots – Exclusive: Joseph Farah recommends tune to Donald Trump as the perfect campaign rally anthem – Joseph Farah, WND.com * Sadly There's a price to pay for doing what Steve Vaus did. Besides being gagged by his own record company, he's been targeted by threats and abused and harassed by the Internal Revenue Service. * It's time for all of us to take a stand as Steve Vaus did, not just in the voting booths, political soapboxes, in social-media posts, but behind the cultural barricades – where the real struggle for our nation's future is being waged by talented, gifted and freedom-loving guerrilla fighters! * Many Republican and independent voters are either moving or planning on moving to states that align with their beliefs, according to a new poll. Of 1,084 respondents, 10.4% of Republicans and 9.6% of independents said that they plan on moving to an area that aligns with their beliefs in the next year – According to a Trafalgar Group/ Convention of States Action poll. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loving-liberty/support

* Guest: mary tocco, International speaker, author, independent researcher, natural health coach and the Vice President of The Foundation for Pediatric Health - MaryTocco.com * Mary is considered an expert on the dangers of vaccines. * Dr. Amandha Dawn Vollmer: A new buzz word: "Quackseen". * House Republicans sent a letter to the NIH, demanding that the body not destroy any materials concerning the origins of COVID-19, and urging further transparency of the NIH's knowledge of the origins. * The Committee on Energy and Commerce sent 12 letters to the NIH between March 18, 2021, through October 31, 2022, asking for information regarding the origins of COVID-19 and NIH's grant to EcoHealth Alliance, among other topics. * The 12 letters have gone "largely unanswered," and the Wednesday letter urges the NIH to respond to the "longstanding" requests "immediately, but no later than December 16, 2022. * New York Court Strikes Down NYC COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates. * We Must Take America Back - Steve Vaus, The OFFICIAL music video. * 'We Must Take America Back' – a song to inspire all patriots - Exclusive: Joseph Farah recommends tune to Donald Trump as the perfect campaign rally anthem - Joseph Farah, WND.com * Sadly There's a price to pay for doing what Steve Vaus did. Besides being gagged by his own record company, he's been targeted by threats and abused and harassed by the Internal Revenue Service. * It's time for all of us to take a stand as Steve Vaus did, not just in the voting booths, political soapboxes, in social-media posts, but behind the cultural barricades – where the real struggle for our nation's future is being waged by talented, gifted and freedom-loving guerrilla fighters! * Many Republican and independent voters are either moving or planning on moving to states that align with their beliefs, according to a new poll. Of 1,084 respondents, 10.4% of Republicans and 9.6% of independents said that they plan on moving to an area that aligns with their beliefs in the next year - According to a Trafalgar Group/ Convention of States Action poll. * The San Francisco Police Department has proposed authorizing robots to use deadly force in certain situations, the Verge reports. * The city's police department currently has 17 remotely operated robots in its inventory - One of them has a tool that can load shotgun shells and others can be adapted to hold weapons. * Tifanei Moyer, who leads work on police misconduct and militarization at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, says debating the use of killer robots isn't normal and residents shouldn't act like it is. "We are living in a dystopian future, where we debate whether the police may use robots to execute citizens without a trial, jury, or judge"

Although a record turnout is expected on Nov. 8th, opinion surveys show many Americans no longer trust U.S. elections nor their government. Many Republican voters still embrace the “Big Lie” that President Trump had the 2020 election stolen from him. So what does the growing mistrust, President Joe Biden's low ratings and the worst inflation in four decades mean for the midterm elections and American democracy in general? In this episode of Transatlantic Takeaway by Common Ground Berlin and the German Marshall Fund of the United States, host Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson explores the controversial elections with:Sudha David-Wilp, GMF's Senior Transatlantic Fellow and deputy director of the Berlin office.Jeremy Shapiro, research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations and a former advisor to the State Department during the Obama administration.Anna Sauerbrey, foreign editor of the weekly Die Zeit and a contributor to the New York Times op-ed section.Produced by Dina Elsayed. 

The penchant for many Americans to virtually worship a would-be strong-man leader, Donald J. Trump, and for much of the Republican Party to defer to him, has taken our nation to the precipice of a constitutional crisis that could mean an end to liberal democracy. And the upcoming mid-term elections could send us over the cliff."We are big two centimeters from the precipice," warns political scientist Daniel Drache on the Lean to the Left podcast. Here's why:Many Republican candidates are election deniers and "maybe half...believe that Biden is not the legitimate president.Hate speech has increased enormously since 2016 when it played a major role in Trump's election, and studies show that five times more Republicans are using hate speech than Democrats.Large numbers of Independents have moved into the Republican column.The Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade abortion ruling will fail to turn the tide for Democrats."I think the Republicans have an edge and that we're going to see a fundamental change in both the House and the Senate," he says. "That's why I think it's on the precipice. And then, of course, what is the Republican agenda? "Impeachment. Change fundamentally the civil service, loyalty oaths; there's a whole variety of things that the Republicans, vengeful seeking, could believe that it is their term to swing the wrecking ball on the Democratis. So I don't think this is a panic or an overstatement. We're just entering into a very different world Where the hard right really will be in charge of both houses and the conservatives own the judiciary." Drache and fellow political scientist Marc D. Froese have written a riveting book, “Has Populism Won? The War on Liberal Democracy”. It's a brilliant account of the global upsurge of right-wing populism, what's behind it, how Donald Trump tapped into the latent anger of voters, and what might lie ahead. Their book examines exactly how populist leaders like Trump reach into peoples' fear of being left behind, using it as a lever to power by promising to look out for the little person and to return to national greatness. Has Populism Won? is written as a warning about the toxic impact of hate speech and the big lie on liberal democracy.Drache has documented and mapped hyper-globalization and its consequential impacts on communities and peoples for more than two decades. He has published over 20 books on the global political economy, Canada-US relations, NAFTA, social movements, defiant publics, trade governance, and social media. A professor emeritus and Department of Politics and Research fellow at the Robert Centre for Canadian Studies at Toronto's York University, Drache has also taught in France, India, Argentina, South Korea, Australia, Brazil and China.Here are questions we asked Drache:First, let's define what we mean by populism, and how that differs from authoritarianism, nationalism, and even nativism.How is it that people like Trump are able to tap into the anger and fears of so many people?Does Trump pattern himself after other authoritarian leaders, like Putin, for example?In your book, you point out that Trump loves to use “dog whistles” to rally his troops. What were some examples? Does that continue to this day? You also write that Trump was willing to endanger the national rule of law if the system did not deliver an electoral victory. Do you believe he will pay the price for these actions?You also note the rise of conspiracy theories that continue to this day, even to the point of the Q-Anon craziness. How does this play into populism and its growth?Donald Trump loves to call the media “the enemy of the people.” He attacks immigrants warning of rapes and murders, in fact, virtually anyone who is outside the mainstream of white, male America. What is the danger here…will this continue…what will it do to our country?You write the following: “How can we maintain democracy when it caters to the basest impulses of society?” That is a great question. What's the answer?Do you believe that the authoritarian right could become more extremist and politically powerful in the United States? If so, why, and what would that mean for our country?Do you see the possibility of a new civil war in America?What must opponents of right-wing populism do to regain power and restore democracy?How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact populism?The other day someone asked on Twitter who else plans to move to Canada if Trump should be re-elected. Would that do any good?Drache is the second Lean to the Left podcast guest in recent months to suggest that political extremism would propel the U.S. into an authoritarian form of government. "I think at this point we all need to be concerned about political fanaticism, at the moment on the right as opposed to the left," warned Tom Davis, a retired Operation Desert Storm commander and former adviser to the Secretary of the Army.His comments followed those of Bill Kuhn, author of a new book, "Facts & Fury…An Unapologetic Primer on How the GOP has Destroyed American Democracy," and co-founder of Fight for a Better America, an organization that invests in key battleground districts and states throughout the US."If Republicans gain control of the House and the Senate, God help us," he said.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

The penchant for many Americans to virtually worship a would-be strong-man leader, Donald J. Trump, and for much of the Republican Party to defer to him, has taken our nation to the precipice of a constitutional crisis that could mean an end to liberal democracy. And the upcoming mid-term elections could send us over the cliff."We are big two centimeters from the precipice," warns political scientist Daniel Drache on the Lean to the Left podcast. Here's why:Many Republican candidates are election deniers and "maybe half...believe that Biden is not the legitimate president.Hate speech has increased enormously since 2016 when it played a major role in Trump's election, and studies show that five times more Republicans are using hate speech than Democrats.Large numbers of Independents have moved into the Republican column.The Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade abortion ruling will fail to turn the tide for Democrats."I think the Republicans have an edge and that we're going to see a fundamental change in both the House and the Senate," he says. "That's why I think it's on the precipice. And then, of course, what is the Republican agenda? "Impeachment. Change fundamentally the civil service, loyalty oaths; there's a whole variety of things that the Republicans, vengeful seeking, could believe that it is their term to swing the wrecking ball on the Democratis. So I don't think this is a panic or an overstatement. We're just entering into a very different world Where the hard right really will be in charge of both houses and the conservatives own the judiciary." Drache and fellow political scientist Marc D. Froese have written a riveting book, “Has Populism Won? The War on Liberal Democracy”. It's a brilliant account of the global upsurge of right-wing populism, what's behind it, how Donald Trump tapped into the latent anger of voters, and what might lie ahead. Their book examines exactly how populist leaders like Trump reach into peoples' fear of being left behind, using it as a lever to power by promising to look out for the little person and to return to national greatness. Has Populism Won? is written as a warning about the toxic impact of hate speech and the big lie on liberal democracy.Drache has documented and mapped hyper-globalization and its consequential impacts on communities and peoples for more than two decades. He has published over 20 books on the global political economy, Canada-US relations, NAFTA, social movements, defiant publics, trade governance, and social media. A professor emeritus and Department of Politics and Research fellow at the Robert Centre for Canadian Studies at Toronto's York University, Drache has also taught in France, India, Argentina, South Korea, Australia, Brazil and China.Here are questions we asked Drache:First, let's define what we mean by populism, and how that differs from authoritarianism, nationalism, and even nativism.How is it that people like Trump are able to tap into the anger and fears of so many people?Does Trump pattern himself after other authoritarian leaders, like Putin, for example?In your book, you point out that Trump loves to use “dog whistles” to rally his troops. What were some examples? Does that continue to this day? You also write that Trump was willing to endanger the national rule of law if the system did not deliver an electoral victory. Do you believe he will pay the price for these actions?You also note the rise of conspiracy theories that continue to this day, even to the point of the Q-Anon craziness. How does this play into populism and its growth?Donald Trump loves to call the media “the enemy of the people.” He attacks immigrants warning of rapes and murders, in fact, virtually anyone who is outside the mainstream of white, male America. What is the danger here…will this continue…what will it do to our country?You write the following: “How can we maintain democracy when it caters to the basest impulses of society?” That is a great question. What's the answer?Do you believe that the authoritarian right could become more extremist and politically powerful in the United States? If so, why, and what would that mean for our country?Do you see the possibility of a new civil war in America?What must opponents of right-wing populism do to regain power and restore democracy?How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact populism?The other day someone asked on Twitter who else plans to move to Canada if Trump should be re-elected. Would that do any good?Drache is the second Lean to the Left podcast guest in recent months to suggest that political extremism would propel the U.S. into an authoritarian form of government. "I think at this point we all need to be concerned about political fanaticism, at the moment on the right as opposed to the left," warned Tom Davis, a retired Operation Desert Storm commander and former adviser to the Secretary of the Army.His comments followed those of Bill Kuhn, author of a new book, "Facts & Fury…An Unapologetic Primer on How the GOP has Destroyed American Democracy," and co-founder of Fight for a Better America, an organization that invests in key battleground districts and states throughout the US."If Republicans gain control of the House and the Senate, God help us," he said.

Chad has a question for Trump supporters after today's news that New York's Attorney General is suing Donald Trump and his children: why are some Republicans still behind him when there are other people from his wing of the party to support?

New polling this week shows a very tight race for the Republican nomination for Michigan governor. It also shows Many Republican voters are undecided, and there's just one thing that will likely make all the difference in this race. Political strategist John Sellek is breaking down the race with 9&10's Eric Lloyd.

When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade on June 24, it left each state to decide its own abortion laws. Many Republican-led states are reverting to the anti-abortion laws that were on the books before 1973 when Roe legalized abortion.Vermont legalized abortion a year before Roe. In 1972, the Vermont Supreme Court overturned a 122 year-old law that made it a crime for a doctor to perform an abortion, though it was not against the law for someone to have one. In practice, this meant that someone could legally self-abort at their own peril, but a doctor who performed an abortion could be arrested and imprisoned for up to 20 years.The case that legalized abortion in Vermont featured “Jacqueline R.,” an unmarried server who wanted to end her pregnancy, and an OB/GYN resident at the University of Vermont named Jackson Beecham. After New York legalized abortion in 1970, Beecham, a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, joined a small group of women's health advocates in Burlington who were exploring ways to legalize abortion in the Green Mountain State. Attorney Willis “Woody” Higgins, a lawyer for IBM who volunteered to argue the case, advised the group that they needed two plaintiffs: a pregnant person who wanted an abortion and “a courageous doctor.” The prosecutor they faced was a young state's attorney, Patrick Leahy, and the landmark case that legalized abortion in Vermont was known as Beecham vs. Leahy.“I didn't even think about winning or losing,” Beecham said of the case. He just felt “this is the right thing to do.” When the Vermont Supreme Court ruled for Beecham in January 1972, Beecham said, “I was floored.” Within a few months, legal abortions were being performed in Vermont.Beecham went on to a distinguished medical career as a gynecologic oncologist and cancer surgeon. He founded two gynecologic oncology programs at the cancer centers of the University of Rochester and at Dartmouth College, and he was a longtime associate professor at Dartmouth Medical School. Beecham, who is now 80 and lives in Shelburne, retired from practicing medicine in 2008. He continues to be a champion of reproductive rights and is a strong advocate for Proposal 5, which would make Vermont the first state in the country to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution if it is approved by voters in November.Beecham reflected on his role in legalizing abortion in Vermont.“I was honored to spend four decades in women's health as a cancer surgeon. But I think … getting this law changed is the single most important thing I ever did. I'm still moved by it. I'm very, very grateful that I could be part of helping others,” he said.He said that he is “just horrified” that the U.S. Supreme Court has returned the country to where it was before Roe vs. Wade. “I'll be on the sidelines, fighting like everyone else that feels in support of women,” Beecham said. 

Joe Biden tells a confounding story about wanting to "pop people" when he gets angry. Also, the country is continuing to fall apart under his administration. More illegal immigrants are streaming into America, with thumbs up and big smiles on their faces. Biden's still blaming Putin for the gas prices. Many Republican senators have agreed to work with the Democrats and their gun control bill. Is there a looming tampon shortage? Just how bad is inflation? Joe Biden continues to push the "Putin price hike" narrative. It sounds like even AOC doesn't support Joe Biden any more. The Left wants Jack Del Rio fired for calling out the George Floyd riots. A woman sues a car insurance company because she contracted an STD in a car. Why is the attempted assassination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh not getting more news coverage? Schools are now asking students to question their heterosexuality. Kirk Cameron joins the show to talk about homeschooling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As televised hearings about the Capitol attack begin, Bloomberg examines primary results and polling data that show many politicians who embraced Trump’s election lies have public support. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, experts warn there could be major impact on access to IVF. Stat has the story. Saudi Arabian money is funding a controversial upstart golf tour, and despite the country’s poor human-rights record, some big-time golfers are taking the cash. Slate takes a look at what’s going on. These are the most overpaid CEOs in the Fortune 500.

As televised hearings about the Capitol attack begin, Bloomberg examines primary results and polling data that show many politicians who embraced Trump’s election lies have public support. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, experts warn there could be major impact on access to IVF. Stat has the story. Saudi Arabian money is funding a controversial upstart golf tour, and despite the country’s poor human-rights record, some big-time golfers are taking the cash. Slate takes a look at what’s going on. These are the most overpaid CEOs in the Fortune 500.

Many Republican representatives are democrats. Charlie expresses his disgust for Republican leaders who lie to us just to be voted in to office. Charlie talks discusses the rhino issue with callers. He advocates for clearing the swamp and getting real conservatives in office.

The right to an abortion in the United States appears closer than ever to being eliminated, after a draft of a majority opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked. Should it stand, the court's ruling wouldn't ban abortion nationwide, but would leave the decision up to individual states. Many Republican-led states are ready to enact their own bans, should Roe v. Wade be overturned, which could leave tens of millions of people without access to abortions.NPR congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell, national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and national correspondent Sarah McCammon explain the far-reaching effects this draft could have on abortion-rights advocates, as well as its potential impact on the midterm elections later this year.In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

The congressional select committee investigating the Capitol attack just announced that public hearings will begin on June 9. In the meantime, the panel continues to investigate the insurrection. Journalist Hugo Lowell of the Guardian reported that the J6 panel is seeking the voluntary interviews of as many as a dozen members of Congress to testify about their knowledge of the insurrection. This raises what has become the usual series of questions: 1. if the republican politicians refuse to agree to voluntary interviews, will the committee subpoena them 2. if so, will they comply with the subpoenas or will they join The Cover Up Club with the likes of Bannon, Meadows, Navarro and Scavino 3. if so, will they be voted in contempt and referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution 4. if so, will DOJ indict them And one of the most important questions of all, if they chose to cover up the crimes of Donald Trump, will DOJ hold them accountable as accessories after the fact to Trump's crimes. This video discusses all of those questions and more. Because #JusticeMatters. For our Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise shop, please visit: https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkirschner/ Please consider becoming a #TeamJustice patron at: https://www.patreon.com/glennkirschner My podcast, "Justice Matters with Glenn Kirschner" can be downloaded where you get your podcasts. To subscribe to the podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/JusticeMatters Follow me on: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/glennkirschner2 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirschner2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The congressional select committee investigating the Capitol attack just announced that public hearings will begin on June 9. In the meantime, the panel continues to investigate the insurrection. Journalist Hugo Lowell of the Guardian reported that the J6 panel is seeking the voluntary interviews of as many as a dozen members of Congress to testify about their knowledge of the insurrection. This raises what has become the usual series of questions: 1. if the republican politicians refuse to agree to voluntary interviews, will the committee subpoena them 2. if so, will they comply with the subpoenas or will they join The Cover Up Club with the likes of Bannon, Meadows, Navarro and Scavino 3. if so, will they be voted in contempt and referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution 4. if so, will DOJ indict them And one of the most important questions of all, if they chose to cover up the crimes of Donald Trump, will DOJ hold them accountable as accessories after the fact to Trump's crimes. This video discusses all of those questions and more. Because #JusticeMatters. For our Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise shop, please visit: https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkirschner/ Please consider becoming a #TeamJustice patron at: https://www.patreon.com/glennkirschner My podcast, "Justice Matters with Glenn Kirschner" can be downloaded where you get your podcasts. To subscribe to the podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/JusticeMatters Follow me on: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/glennkirschner2 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirschner2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BlackFacts.com presents the black fact of the day for April 13.The Colfax Massacre.During the Reconstruction era following the American Civil War, the South was in turmoil. Many Republican politicians, who controlled the federal government, wanted equality for African Americans.In 1872 a bitterly contested election for Louisiana governor left both Republicans and Democrats declaring their candidate the winner.Federal troops and a Black militia supported the Republicans, while the Democrats formed a militia made up of local white residents including members of the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist organizations.A Black armed militia unit occupied the Grant Parish courthouse to prevent the Democrats from overthrowing the local Republican government. The white militia surrounded the courthouse, fired a cannon, and forced a Black man to set the courthouse on fire. As many as 150 African Americans and three white people died during and immediately after the incident.The Colfax Massacre was more or less ignored until the 1920s, when local officials raised a monument honoring the three white men who died in the attack on the courthouse, which called the massacre a “riot.”The marker was removed on May 15, 2021, for eventual placement in a museum.Learn black history, teach black history at blackfacts.com

The midterm elections are just over nine months away. What will Democrats run on? What will Republicans run on? One hint came at a Houston-area Trump rally Saturday night. “If I run and if I win,” the former guy said, referring to 2024, “we will treat those people from January 6th fairly.” He then added, “and if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons, because they are being treated so unfairly.” Trump went on to demand "the biggest protest we have ever had" if federal prosecutors in Washington or in New York and Atlanta, where cases against him are moving forward, "do anything wrong or illegal." He then called the federal prosecutors “vicious, horrible people” who are “not after me, they're after you." Trump's hint of pardons for those who attacked the Capitol could affect the criminal prosecution of hundreds now facing conspiracy, obstruction and assault charges, which carry sentences that could put them away for years. If they think Trump will pardon them, they might be less willing to negotiate with prosecutors and accept plea deals. His comments could also be interpreted as a call for violence if various legal cases against him lead to indictments.But if Trump keeps at it — and of course he will —he'll help the Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections by reminding the public of the attempted coup he and his Republican co-conspirators tried to pull off between the 2020 election and January 6. That would make the midterm election less of a referendum on Biden than on the Republican Party. (Don't get me wrong. I think Biden is doing a good job, given the hand he was dealt. But Republicans are doing an even better job battering him — as his sinking poll numbers show.)Last week, Newt Gingrich, who served as House Speaker from 1995 to 1999, suggested that members of the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol should face jail time if the GOP returns to power. "The wolves are gonna find out that they're now sheep, and they're the ones who—in fact, I think—face a real risk of jail for the kind of laws they're breaking," Gingrich said on Fox News. Gingrich's remark prompted Representative Liz Cheney, Wyoming Republican and vice-chair of the select committee, to respond: "A former Speaker of the House is threatening jail time for members of Congress who are investigating the violent January 6 attack on our Capitol and our Constitution. This is what it looks like when the rule of law unravels."Trump and Gingrich are complicating the midterm elections prospects for all Republicans running or seeking reelection nine months from now. Many Republican leaders believe they don't need to offer the public any agenda for the midterms because of widespread frustration with Biden and the Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, recently asked what the Republican party's agenda would be if it recaptured Congress, quipped “I'll let you know when we take it back.”But if Republicans fail to offer an agenda, the Republican party's midterm message is even more likely to be defined by Trump and Trumpers like Gingrich: the big lie that the 2020 election was stolen along with promises to pardon the January 6 defendants, jail members of the select committee investigating the attack on the Capitol, and other bonkers claims and promises. This would spell trouble for the GOP because most Americans don't believe the big lie and remain appalled by the attack on the Capitol.House minority leader Kevin McCarthy (who phoned Trump during the attack on the Capitol but refuses to cooperate with the House's January 6 committee investigation) will have a major role in defining the Republican message for the midterms. And whom has McCarthy been consulting with? None other than Newt Gingrich. The two have been friends for years and McCarthy's current chief of staff in his leadership office, Dan Meyer, served in the same role for Gingrich when he was the speaker. McCarthy knows Gingrich is a master huckster. After all, in 1994 Gingrich delivered a House majority for the Republicans for the first time in 40 years by promising a “contract with America” that amounted to little more than trickle-down economics and state's rights.But like most hucksters, Gingrich suffered a spectacular fall. In 1997 House members overwhelmingly voted to reprimand him for flouting federal tax laws and misleading congressional investigators about it — making him the first speaker panned for unethical behavior. The disgraced leader, who admitted to the ethical lapse as part of a deal to quash inquiries into other suspect activities, also had to pay a historic $300,000 penalty. Then, following a surprise loss of Republican House seats in the 1998 midterm election, Gingrich stepped down as speaker. He resigned from Congress in January 1999 and hasn't held elected office since. I've talked with Gingrich several times since then. I always come away with the impression of a military general in an age where bombast and explosive ideas are more potent than bombs. Since he lost the House, Gingrich has spent most of his time and energy trying to persuade other Republicans that he alone possesses the strategy and the ideas entitling him to be the new general of the Republican right.Gingrich has no scruples, which is why he has allied himself with Trump and Trump's big lie — appearing regularly on Fox News to say the 2020 election was rigged and mouth off other Trumpish absurdities (such as last week's claim that members of the House select committee should be jailed).  Gingrich likes to think of himself as a revolutionary force, but he behaves more like a naughty boy. When he was Speaker, his House office was adorned with figurines of dinosaurs, as you might find in the bedrooms of little boys who dream of becoming huge and powerful. Gingrich can be mean, but his meanness is that of a nasty kid rather than a tyrant. And like all nasty kids, inside is an insecure little fellow who desperately wants attention.Still, as of now, the best hope for Democrats in the midterms lies with Trump, Gingrich, and others who loudly and repeatedly remind the public how utterly contemptible the Republican Party has become. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

The Line opinion panel takes a closer look at the implications of a predicted $1.4 billion surplus in the state's next budget year. Lawmakers and the governor are already rolling out ideas to spend it, while others caution against yet another ratcheting up of the state's baseline costs. The group weighs the likelihood that crime legislation – and funding – will be a centerpiece of the 2022 legislative session. New Mexico in Focus searches for perspective on the end of the war in Afghanistan and the resulting humanitarian crisis as tens of thousands of Afghans look to flee Taliban rule. Gene Grant speaks with local café owner Mula Akbar, a refugee from Afghanistan who came to the U.S. in the late ‘80s. He also talks to Jeff Hall, the economic development programs manager of Lutheran Family Services. Both men are working to connect incoming Afghans with needed support as they relocate to New Mexico. An uncertain future faces New Mexicans who have benefited from additional federal unemployment money. The boost runs out Saturday, and The Line discusses what workers and employers can expect. Many Republican-led states have already ended additional federal benefits in an effort to jumpstart the job market. But they've seen modest gains, if any, and a notable drop in consumer spending. This round of cutoffs is likely to impact Democratic-led states. We also had the chance this week to ask U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh about whether or not the state should use other pandemic relief funds to extend those benefits. New Mexico in Focus continues its examination of how different groups view the end of the war in Afghanistan. For many in the Southeast Asian community, images of the mass exodus from Kabul bring to mind the end of the war in Vietnam. Matt Grubs speaks with software developer and Vietnamese immigrant Tam Le about parallels between the ends of the two conflicts. Le came to the United States of America as a child in the early 1980s. His family split up to make the arduous journey, and it was more than a decade before they were reunited. The Line opinion panel digs into a draft plan to address educational disparities raised in the Yazzie-Martinez lawsuit as a state District Court continues to urge reform. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the plan, which some education advocates say is too vague for a developing state response 3 years after a court decided New Mexico's public schools aren't providing an equitable education to vulnerable students. A major issue is the lack of reliable broadband internet service across the state, brought to light during the pandemic. Line Guests: Rebecca Latham, CEO, Girl Scouts of NM Sophie Martin, attorney Edmund Perea, attorney & public safety consultant Guests: Mula Akbar, owner, Café Istanbul Jeff Hall, Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains Tam Le, software developer and Vietnamese immigrant Nicole Maxwell, Alamogordo Daily News Marty Walsh, Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor Resources: New Mexico Flush With Cash as Revenues Climb, Oil Recovers – Associated Press Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains Some don't know what they'll do when federal unemployment assistance ends – NM Political Report New Mexico Asian Family Center

Pandemic-Era Expanded Government Benefits Drive U.S. Poverty Rate Down Roughly 20 million people in the U.S. are expected to be brought out of poverty this year, according to a recent Urban Institute research report. Advocates Win Unemployment Case in Arkansas as Republicans Try to Strip Benefits Many Republican-led states have halted the extra $300 per month unemployment insurance payments, but lawsuits around the country might change that. House of Representatives Holds First Hearing on Insurrection Attack On Tuesday, the House of Representatives held its first hearing on the January 6th insurrection. Should We Kill or Reform the Filibuster? This week, the Senate voted to move forward with a bipartisan infrastructure deal. However, it faced the threat of a filibuster just a week ago.

Pandemic-Era Expanded Government Benefits Drive U.S. Poverty Rate Down Roughly 20 million people in the U.S. are expected to be brought out of poverty this year, according to a recent Urban Institute research report. Advocates Win Unemployment Case in Arkansas as Republicans Try to Strip Benefits Many Republican-led states have halted the extra $300 per month unemployment insurance payments, but lawsuits around the country might change that. House of Representatives Holds First Hearing on Insurrection Attack On Tuesday, the House of Representatives held its first hearing on the January 6th insurrection. Should We Kill or Reform the Filibuster? This week, the Senate voted to move forward with a bipartisan infrastructure deal. However, it faced the threat of a filibuster just a week ago.

Pandemic-Era Expanded Government Benefits Drive U.S. Poverty Rate Down Roughly 20 million people in the U.S. are expected to be brought out of poverty this year, according to a recent Urban Institute research report. Advocates Win Unemployment Case in Arkansas as Republicans Try to Strip Benefits Many Republican-led states have halted the extra $300 per month unemployment insurance payments, but lawsuits around the country might change that. House of Representatives Holds First Hearing on Insurrection Attack On Tuesday, the House of Representatives held its first hearing on the January 6th insurrection. Should We Kill or Reform the Filibuster? This week, the Senate voted to move forward with a bipartisan infrastructure deal. However, it faced the threat of a filibuster just a week ago.

Episode Notes [00:00] [Intro Music] [00:09] Jimmy: Hello! Welcome back to NBN Politics. This year we’re changing it up and giving you only the essentials. For those of you that don’t want to scroll through 1,000 Google pages on the latest political news, we’re here to give you the SparkNotes version.  [00:25] I’m Jimmy. [00:27] Ali: And I’m Ali. [00:28] Jimmy: And we’re your co-hosts. This week we are tackling the SECOND impeachment of Donald Trump. Yep, there’s two. So what exactly is impeachment? [00:36] Ali: Well, impeachment in the constitution is actually really simple. If the president commits a high crime or misdemeanor, then the House has a huge vote to impeach, and then the Senate does a trial.  [00:45] Now, the House only has power of impeachment. That means everyone in the House of Representatives votes on the Articles of Impeachment, and the trial gets passed onto the Senate, which can convict the president.  [00:57] Impeachment has been used really rarely in the past and no president has ever been removed from office. But a lot of lawmakers are arguing that during the Trump administration, the process of impeachment has become a political strategy.  [01:09] The tricky part of impeachment is the “high crime or misdemeanor.” So it’s on the burden of the Senate to prove whether or not a high crime or misdemeanor was actually committed by the president.  [01:18] Now, the big question is, didn’t Trump already get impeached?  [1:21] Jimmy: Well yes Ali, Trump already got impeached for a first time on December 18, 2019. The issue concerning the first impeachment started once a whistleblower accused Trump of withholding aid to Ukraine in order to pressure the Ukranian leader to investigate Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Trump was trying to get an advantage in his reelection, and further evidence included a phone call of Trump requesting the investigation.  [01:45] Now, the House of Representatives voted on two Articles of Impeachment: Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress. And since at this time, the House was predominantly Democrats, both articles passed. The Abuse of Power article passed with a 230-197 vote while the Obstruction of Congress article passed with a 229-198 vote. Thus, Trump was impeached, making him the third president in history to get impeached.  [02:09] Now, once the articles moved onto the Republican controlled Senate neither of them were able to be passed. You need a two thirds majority in order to convict and that capacity was not reached. The Abuse of Power article failed to pass by a 48-52 vote while the Obstruction of Congress article failed to pass by a 47-53 vote.  [02:26] But now Donald Trump is on trial again. What does this mean? What's he on trial for? Can he even be impeached or convicted if he’s not president anymore? [2:34] Ali: Well, these are all good questions. Trump is accused of treason for inciting violence against the federal government. This is all in reference to the riots that occured on January 6. After the presidential election, many Trump supporters didn’t believe the election results. They agreed to a mass protest at the capital and ended up turning violent.  [02:55] Now, this became a huge issue of contention between the Democrats and the Republicans, with the Democrats saying that the denial of the results by Trump, him pressuring the Georgia Secretary of State to "find" additional votes and encouraging protesters, endangered the security of the government.  [03:08] Thus, the Article of Impeachment that was introduced was based on Incitement of Insurrection. Now the exact Article of Impeachment reads, quote, “He reiterated false claims that we won this election and we won it by a landslide. He also willfully made statements that, in context, encouraged and foreseeably resulted in lawless action at the capital such as ‘If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.’”  [03:33] Now, the Senate has the power to convict Trump, which means he would be removed from office. However, this is not normal circumstances. Trump isn’t actually a sitting president. Many Republican senators are arguing that this trial was unconstitutional because Trump is a former president. This was a huge voter for Republicans because it meant they didn’t have to cast an opinion on Trump’s conduct due to the January 6 riots.  [03:57] So, what exactly were the results? What happens next? [3:57] Jimmy: Now this time around, the House and the Senate were both controlled by Democrats. The Article of Impeachment passed in the House by a 232 yes vote to a 197 no vote and four abstains.  [04:09] Once the article moved into the Senate, even though Democrats controlled the Senate they did not reach the two thirds capacity in order to convict. There were 57 yes votes and 43 no votes with 50 Democrats all voting yes and seven Republicans switching to a yes vote.  [04:24] Now, because Trump was not convicted, he still has the ability to run for office in 2024. He gets to keep his pension, his secret service detail for life and up to $1.5 million in travel expenses a year.  [04:36] However, Trump may still face legal challenges once out of the White House. According to the Justice Department, a sitting president cannot be indicted. But now that he’s out of office, Trump can now be prosecuted.  [04:47] There is investigation into possible insurance and financial fraud. New York is investigating Trump’s business in the state and we still have yet to receive Trump’s tax returns. Furthermore, prosecutors in Georgia opened a criminal investigation into the phone call Trump made to the Secretary of State to “find more votes.”  [05:04] Some lawmakers suggested censure, which is a formal statement of disapproval, but Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was not on board and thought that it would be just a slap on the wrist and not harsh enough.  [05:14] Now, Trump is not happy with the impeachment at all, especially with Mitch McConnell, who despite voting not guilty, said directly after that Trump is, quote, “practically and morally” responsible for the insurrection. Trump said in a statement released by his Political Action Committee that, quote, “Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again.” According to Politico, an earlier draft even mocked Mcconnell for having too many chins. Ali: [05:42] This impeachment marks the end of four years of Trump in office, but without a conviction, there’s no telling what will happen in 2024. Tune in next week to learn more dummy politics and not be clueless at the dinner table.  [5:54] Ali Bianco and Jimmy He, reporting for NBN. [05:57] [Outro Music] This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Dana Hepper, director of policy and advocacy at Children's Institute, and James Barta, strategic director at Children First for Oregon, provide a timely policy update on the current legislative session.Key takeaways: -The Senate vote on HB 3427, which has passed the House and allocates $2 billion to education, continues to be delayed. -Approximately $400 million in this package is dedicated to early childhood. -Oregon Business and Industry is neutral on the bill. -Many Republican senators are pushing for further negotiations. -If the bill secures 18 votes in the Senate it will become law; it's likely it will then be referred to voters. -Your voice matters!