Podcasts about Strom Thurmond

As Donald Trump continues to launch unprecedented and innovative attacks on immigrants, civic institutions, and the rule of law, the Democratic response has been—in the eyes of many observers—tepid and inadequate. One answer to the sense of desperation came from Senator Cory Booker, who, on March 31st, launched a marathon speech on the Senate floor, calling on Americans to resist authoritarianism. Booker beat the record previously held by Senator Strom Thurmond's twenty-four-hour-long filibuster of the Civil Rights Act, in 1957, and he spoke in detail about Americans who are in desperate straits because of federal job cuts and budget slashing. “We knew . . . if I could last twenty-four hours and eighteen minutes, that we could potentially command some attention from the public,” Booker tells David Remnick. “That's the key here . . . to deal with the poverty of empathy we have in our nation right now.” Yet Booker bridles as Remnick asks about Democratic strategy to resist the Administration's attacks. Instead, he emphasized the need for “Republicans of good conscience” to step up. “Playing this as a partisan game cheapens the larger cause of the country,” he argues. “This is the time that America needs moral leadership, and not political leadership.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

As Donald Trump continues to launch unprecedented and innovative attacks on immigrants, civic institutions, and the rule of law, the Democratic response has been—in the eyes of many observers—tepid and inadequate. One answer to the sense of desperation came from Senator Cory Booker, who, on March 31st, launched a marathon speech on the Senate floor, calling on Americans to resist authoritarianism. Booker beat the record previously held by Senator Strom Thurmond's twenty-four-hour-long filibuster of the Civil Rights Act, in 1957, and he spoke in detail about Americans who are in desperate straits because of federal job cuts and budget slashing. “We knew . . . if I could last twenty-four hours and eighteen minutes, that we could potentially command some attention from the public,” Booker tells David Remnick. “That's the key here . . . to deal with the poverty of empathy we have in our nation right now.” Yet Booker bridles as Remnick asks about Democratic strategy to resist the Administration's attacks. Instead, he emphasized the need for “Republicans of good conscience” to step up. “Playing this as a partisan game cheapens the larger cause of the country,” he argues. “This is the time that America needs moral leadership, and not political leadership.”

Send us a textJudy Rodman was a towering figure in the history of the city of Myrtle Beach. Starting as the Horry County Co-Chair for the Bob Dole for President campaign in 1988, then serving three terms, in two different eras, on the Myrtle Beach City Council, and then serving as a member of the City owned Myrtle Beach Sheraton Hotel Board, and throughout her entire tenure the city's representative on the South Carolina Hall of Fame Board, Judy Rodman maintained a dominant presence in the growth and success of the city of Myrtle Beach S.C. It cannot be overstated the powerful role she has played in turning this once sleepy, seasonal, tourist destination for North and South Carolina residents into an international tourism powerhouse. Through it all, Judy Rodman was there and her influence is literally everywhere you look as you drive down any road in the city she called home. Judy Rodman led initiatives to put utilities underground, protect trees, limit the number of billboards, build a Convention hotel, improve the cities recreation facilities, and look out for the growing senior population that has now grown to be the majority of the residents that have made the Myrtle Beach area their home. Judy Rodman did it all in her quiet, intelligent, understated way, often overshadowed by the more boisterous personalities of the Mayors and council people she served with in her decades of service to the city of Myrtle Beach in several different capacities.  In this special edition of our podcast we try to capture some of the magic that was always present whenever Judy Rodman entered the room, as our community,  Myrtle Beach,  says farewell to , as Senator Ernest Hollings once said of Senator Strom Thurmond upon his passing, " A Mighty Oak in the world of public service"  Boundless Insights - with Aviva KlompasIn depth analysis of what's happening in Israel—and why it matters everywhere.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyQuestions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

Cathy and Troy break down a disastrous week for the U.S. economy after Trump's Liberation Day unveiling of tariffs on the entire world. The U.S. has declared economic warfare, and countries are responding in kind. In response, the markets are in free fall. This is not a normal stock correction; investors are terrified of the instability of Trump and the looming recession. Stock futures reveal that more drops may be coming as the American economy teeters on a 1929 styled cliff, completely created by Donald Trump, as the seeds of MAGA fascist chaos bloom into full on class warfare of billionaires on workers. Retirement accounts are being wiped out and companies are preparing to lay off workers as Trump is unapologetic.Meanwhile, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker breaks the record for longest Senate floor speech; raging for 25 hours against the corruption, incompetence, and cruelty of the Trump administration, breaking the previous record set by racist senator Strom Thurmond who filibustered the Civil Rights act of 1957.Performative? Or inspirational and effective? Booker's speech is the first major act of a Democrat fighting back against Trump in Congress while in the minority.All for less than the price of a cup of coffee...For more exclusive content, subscribe here.

00:00 Introductions03:30 Morgan Wallen06:27 Pete Hegseth12:16 Tariffs!17:53 Tush Push29:00 Pat McAfee37:06 Cory Booker41:00 Quittin' Time—Technical issues abound… YouTube says that if you tap “horizontal display” on your live cast, you'll be able to broadcast in a way that befits the standard 16:9 ratio.Sadly, YouTube lies.For reasons no one understands, if you tap “horizontal display,” you'll be horizontal… but YouTube will broadcast you sideways.So.Very.Dumb.—Did'ja see the headlines? “MORGAN WALLEN STORMS OFF SNL STAGE!”Or, you know… He hugged the host, and sort of just sauntered off. “Show's over. Time to go home.”People will make a big deal over anything they can these days, because manufactured outrage sells.What a time to be alive.—Speaking of manufactured outrage, the dumbest of the dumb people on the planet got mad at SNL writer Colin Jost for insinuating alcoholic Pete Hegseth was drunk on the job.These, of course, are the exact same people who were extremely forgiving of Hegseth using a non-secure app to share war plans, and having a reporter in on the chat with him and his idiot coworkers.(These dumb people, the outraged, are also fine with people lying under oath. Funny, that.)A side discussion involves the fact Saturday Night Live has always been consistently average. Never great, never awful, just… “there.”—They're here! They're ruining the economy! Something that rhymes here and that's pithy and catchy!(Forgive me, I was trying to do a play on the whole, “We're here, we're queer, get used to it!”)Well, Donald “I bankrupted multiple businesses, and a casino” Trump is doing his best to bankrupt America.Anyone with an IQ above that of a turnip can see it, which is why you see his minions defending the loss of trillions of dollars in the stock market.—Because no one in the NFL seems able to duplicate the “tush push” as well as the Eagles, several teams are trying to have it banned.Because that's easier than drawing up a plan to defend against it, apparently.What a sissy nation we're in… football is supposed to be a combination of rough and tumble manliness, and strategy.And yet, here we are, with the Green Bay Packers (my team!) leading the charge to go crybaby over it.Boo, I say. Boo.Side discussion: a very clever (sarcasm) commenter tries calling us “groomers,” which leads to a discussion on what the term even means anymore.(Also: nathan's son pops in to talk about going swimming.)—What is the difference between slander/libel, and free speech?Pat McAfee might be finding out, soon.Mary Kate Cornett, of Mississippi, is suing McAfee, because he told the story of an internet rumor on air.McAfee never named Mary Kate, but she says the sheer fact he brought up the rumor associated with her was enough.Fascinating stuff… What will the courts say?—Corey Booker breaks records!Good on Booker for standing up for the people of America, and putting to rest a record previously held by Strom “Biggest racist, ever” Thurmond.I'm not sure if it's funny, sad, or both, that the two longest speeches in the Senate were by a-holes trying to keep the country crappy.Strom Thurmond wanted a more racist America, and Ted Cruz didn't want people to get healthcare.Well, Booker is the new winner, and he did it better than either of those other two idiots.—Connivence Store chain Quik Trip is getting into the alcohol game. Specifically, the beer market.Given that Miller seems to have given up the catchphrase, “It's Miller time,” regarding the beer you drink once you're off work, Quik Trip is going sideways with, “Quittin' Time.”You're done with work, so grab a brew to forget about how much you hate your job.Idiots on Parade: we mock the news, so you don't have to.Tune in and get your giggle on.Find Jake at @jakeveveraFind nathan at nathantimmel.com

How will this week be remembered in the history books? Will it be the week that Trump's tarrifs changed everything, or the week in which Democrats found some new energy? Jody shares his thoughts as part of our "Some Sunday Context" series -- and then we take a listen to our archive episode about Strom Thurmond's fillibuster. This was, of course, the week that New Jersey Senator Cory Booker broker Thurmond's record.Sign up for our newsletter! Find out more at thisdaypod.comThis Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winning stories.If you want to support the show directly, you can do so on our website: ThisDayPod.comGet in touch if you have any ideas for future topics, want merch, or just want to say hello. Our website is thisdaypod.com Follow us on social @thisdaypodOur team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Brittani Brown, Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Julie Shapiro and Yooree Losordo, Executive Producers at Radiotopia Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Congressional Hearing: The CEOs of NPR and PBS faced tough questioning from Congress, reminiscent of previous hearings involving Ivy League presidents on anti-Semitism. Catherine Maher, the CEO of NPR, was particularly criticized for her past tweets and statements, which were scrutinized by Brandon Gill, a freshman House member from Texas. Key Exchanges: Maher was questioned about tweets related to white supremacy, reparations, and looting. She often claimed not to recall the context or denied the implications of her tweets. Gill highlighted contradictions in Maher's statements, pointing out her previous calls for reparations and her views on looting. Maher's Background: Maher has a history of working with various organizations, including the Council on Foreign Relations, UNICEF, the National Democratic Institute, the World Bank, Access Now, and the Wikimedia Foundation. Her testimony was seen as evasive and out of touch, drawing parallels to past controversial testimonies by other leaders. Filibuster Record: We also mention Senator Cory Booker's record-breaking filibuster, surpassing Strom Thurmond's previous record. Senator Ted Cruz shared his experience and advice on filibustering, including practical tips like wearing comfortable shoes and drinking minimal water. Tariffs and Economic Policy: We discuss President Trump's use of tariffs as leverage and economic policy, highlighting the immediate and long-term impacts on the economy. The Tax Foundation's analysis predicts significant revenue from tariffs but also potential negative effects on GDP and household income. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and the Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. Thanks for Listening #seanhannity #hannity #marklevin #levin #charliekirk #megynkelly #tucker #tuckercarlson #glennbeck #benshapiro #shapiro #trump #sexton #bucksexton#rushlimbaugh #limbaugh #whitehouse #senate #congress #thehouse #democrats#republicans #conservative #senator #congressman #congressmen #congresswoman #capitol #president #vicepresident #POTUS #presidentoftheunitedstatesofamerica#SCOTUS #Supremecourt #DonaldTrump #PresidentDonaldTrump #DT #TedCruz #Benferguson #Verdict #justicecorrupted #UnwokeHowtoDefeatCulturalMarxisminAmericaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Corinne Fisher talks Cory Booker's historic filibuster speech railing against the Trump administration, why it's meaningful that he beat Strom Thurmond's record and more, Eric Adam's getting his charges dropped as he looks to run indipendent in this years mayoral race, a long op-ed on the plight of Palestinians living under the rule of Israel, the rights seeping influence into sports, comedy and late night talk shows, Elon attempting to buy a supreme court seat in Wisconsin, Kristi Noem's tone deaf and possibly illegal photo op in front of jailed Venezuelans and so much more!Original Air Date: 04/02/25You can watch Without A Country LIVE every Wednesday at 9PM on our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjP3oJVS_BEgGXOPcVzlpVw!**PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW ON iTUNES & SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL**Link To The Brand New Patreon!https://patreon.com/WithoutACountry?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkThis week Corinne takes a look at the MAHA's coming after Girl Scout CookiesWHERE YOU CAN ANNOY US:Corinne Fisher:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhilanthropyGalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philanthropygalExecutive Producer: Mike HarringtonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/themharrington/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMHarringtonTheme Song By Free VicesWebsite https://www.freevices.com/Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/free-vices/1475846774Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fUw9W8zIj6RbibZN2b3kP?si=N8KzuFkvQXSnaejeDqVpIg&nd=1&dlsi=533dddc8672f46f0SoundCloud https://on.soundcloud.com/5sceVeUFADVBJr4P7YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCOsgEoQ2-czvD8eWctnxAAw?si=SL1RULNWVuJb8AONInstagram http://instagram.com/free_vicesNOT ENEMY OF THE STATE: Cory BookerWhat is a filibuster: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FilibusterWhat Did Cory Booker do?https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5227988-senator-cory-booker-record-speech/MAYOR CHAThttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/nyregion/eric-adams-mayor-election.htmlNYC SUBWAYhttps://www.thefp.com/p/new-york-times-subway-crimeMEDIA BIAShttps://www.mediamatters.org/google/right-dominates-online-media-ecosystem-seeping-sports-comedy-and-other-supposedlyBuying a Supreme Court Seat in Wisconsinhttps://www.teenvogue.com/story/elon-musk-buy-wisconsin-supreme-court-seatTariffshttps://www.foxnews.com/media/treasury-secretary-bessent-tells-countries-not-retaliate-after-sweeping-liberation-day-tariffsKristi Noemhttps://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/donald-trump-kristi-noem-abu-ghraib-el-salvador-1235308041/Are the Venezuelan Deportations unconstitutional?https://www.thefp.com/p/are-the-venezuelan-deportations-unconstitutionalYou Can't Run the Government via Retributionhttps://www.thefp.com/p/donald-trumps-revengeIsrael/Gazahttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/03/23/israel-gaza-war-plans/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F41bce01%2F67e028bae630c35b0faa13e7%2F5ec96d569bbc0f3a782c9dfc%2F12%2F54%2F67e028bae630c35b0faa13e7See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Friday, April 4th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Chinese Communists sentence pastor to 5-year prison sentence The Chinese Communists have sentenced Pastor Wan Changchun of Living Stone Reformed House Church to a five-year prison sentence, reports International Christian Concern. The church is located in the city of Bengbu in the Anhui Province in Eastern China, As reported by Bitter Winter Magazine, Pastor Changchun was arrested in April 2023 for alleged fraud connected to the operation of his house church. However, Chinese communist officials often falsely use fraud allegations and charges to accuse, harass, arrest, and ultimately imprison Christians, especially pastors, to attempt to shut down their unregistered house churches. The pastor was one of the house church leaders who signed the statement against the repressive 2017 Regulation on Religious Affairs. The Chinese government has long considered religion an existential threat to the state's authority. Despite the unjust punishment, Pastor Changchun has echoed the words of Peter who said in Acts 5:29, “We must obey God rather than men.” Democrat Sen. Cory Booker's record-breaking speech championed the Left Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey officially broke the record previously held by the late Republican Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina by delivering the longest continuous floor speech in Senate history, reports The Epoch Times. He began his speech at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 31st.   Here are some highlights. BOOKER: “I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able.” The Senator talked about how liberals, who have believed the lies of the mainstream media, are quaking in their boots about Trump's re-election. BOOKER: “They're writing me letters with words like ‘fear' and ‘terror.' They're talking about staying up at night and not being able to sleep because they don't have a president that comforts them.” Senator Booker took a page from Republican candidate Ronald Reagan, who asked the American people this question in 1979 in his race against Democratic President Jimmy Carter. REAGAN: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” After only two months into Trump's second term, following four years of Joe Biden, Booker asked this ridiculous question. BOOKER: “I ask you, ‘Are you better off than you were 72 days ago economically?' Prices are up. Stock markets down. The risk of recession is climbing. Consumer confidence is in the gutter.” Like most of the Leftists in the Democratic Party today, Booker played the class warfare card. BOOKER: “We have more billionaires than any other country. Does that speak to the greatness of our nation? No. I think the things that speak to the greatness of a nation is how do we take care of each other?” And, by taking care of each other, he was not referring to the Christian concept of helping one another out of one's own resources, but the idea of redistributing wealth of other people with tax money. BOOKER: “I've had farmers from New Jersey to Texas coming to my office about this president freezing contracts that we approved in a bipartisan manner, putting them in financial crisis. It's not right or left. It's right or wrong. It's not a partisan moment. It's an American moment. It's a moral moment.” Rejecting the premise that Americans can better determine how to spend their own heard-earned money, Booker advocated for at least maintaining the high rate of taxation. BOOKER: “You don't need more tax cuts. And we, as a society, have an obligation to each other.” As of 7:19 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 1, Booker had spoken for 24 hours and 19 minutes, a minute longer than Strom Thurmond's 1957 filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Most filibusters on the Senate floor are motivated by opposition to a proposed bill. In this case, he used his time to object to the entirety of the Trump agenda. Booker finally yielded the floor at 8:05 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1st, with his time on the floor clocking in at a total of 25 hours and 5 minutes. Not only had he stood the whole time, but he never took a restroom break by fasting ahead of time and by dehydrating himself.  Throughout his Senate filibuster, he took some occasional sips of water. Dow Jones drops 1,100 points a day after Trump tariff announcement The three major U.S. stock indexes dropped on the morning of April 3 after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs of 10 percent or higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging by 1,100 points by noon yesterday, reports The Epoch Times. Aside from the Dow Jones tumbling, the S&P 500 Index dropped by 3.5 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite slid by more than 4.7 percent at about 9:35 a.m. EST. However, advocates of the Trump tariffs believe the economic pain will be momentary, as he uses them as leverage to achieve fair trade long-term. Trump's ban on trans troops halted A three-judge panel on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a request from President Donald Trump's administration to pause a lower court's decision blocking enforcement of a ban on trans-identified military service members, reports The Christian Post.    The Pentagon argued that trans-identified soldiers compromise "military readiness." By denying the administration's request, the appellate court left in place the preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, late last month. In essence, the 9th Circuit Court ruling prevented the Trump administration from removing trans-identifying service members. ‘Angel Eye Camera' lets parents of premature babies check-in And finally, 1 in every 10 women in the United States will experience the premature birth of their child. A heroic organization is helping these women keep two eyes on their baby in the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit, even if they are miles away, reports GoodNewsNetwork.org. Called the AngelEye System, developed by the firm of the same name, it's a camera with a remotely-accessible 24-hour feed that's mounted via a boom arm onto any of the beds or tables an infant may be placed on. It allows the parents, who may not always be able to stay with their child, to keep an eye on them whenever nerves or separation anxiety strike. Thanks to advances in medical science, premature birth is a challenge that can be reliably overcome.  Philadelphia's Lauren Walsh had to face this exact situation when her third baby, John, was born prematurely at 32 weeks, not even weighing two pounds. John required a 61-day stay in the NICU. The AngelEye Camera was a lifeline for his mom and dad who could check up on him at any point by switching the camera feed on from their phones or computers. No doubt, the presence of the AngelEye Camera lowered the parents' anxiety, making it easier to abide by the counsel of 1 Peter 5:7 which says, “Cast all your anxiety on God, because He cares for you." Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, April 4th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Matt and Angela begin the segment by highlighting Senator Cory Booker's extraordinary 25-hour speech on the Senate floor. While some critics have dismissed it as mere performance, the speech tackled several significant issues. Booker's lengthy address, which set a new record for the longest speech in the chamber, was bolstered by many Senate Democrats who asked questions to help share the speaking burden. This new record surpassed the previous one held by segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond, who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes in 1957 in opposition to the Civil Rights Acts. Matt characterizes Trump as an egotistical maniac and con artist, claiming he is steering the country toward poverty and ruin. They also take calls from frustrated citizens who express their discontent with the Trump administration and the financial strain caused by his tariffs. The Earl Ingram Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 8-10 am across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with Earl and the show! Guests: Angela Lang, Matt Rothschild

April is here. Spring is here. And some days you just need to go for a walk. To blow off steam. To get away from the office. You name it. There's never a bad reason to go for a quick walk. But spring isn't the only thing that's here. President Mayhem is back. And he is not slowing down. From talking about invading Greenland and Panama and Canada to raising tariffs on all of our trade partners, to alienating our allies in NATO, Mayhem is back and the bullshit is piling up. And as it piles up, the need for helpers increases daily. And things seem desperate, but if you look real hard, you'll see the helpers are out there. Mr. Rogers wasn't lying. Over there on the sidelines. It's Senator Ruben Gallego, putting VA appointments on hold until Collins answers for the DOGE cuts to VA. Or maybe it's Senator Cory Booker filibustering for 25 hours breaking famous bigoted relic Strom Thurmond's former record. It's a time for heroes. We need them. People to step up and do the thing that needs to be done. People like today's guest. Pete Buttigieg is a hero and a helper and he's setting a tone the country desperately needs. He's one of the most important voices in American politics–and a leader that's had unique appeal for independent Americans. He's a veteran, a former Cabinet secretary, a former serious contender for President and a current serious contender for President. But most importantly he's a steady voice in the storms of chaos Trump is inflicting on the entire country. It's an important conversation. One we hope will bring you some hope, some inspiration and a little fight in your spirit. Welcome to another important conversation with another iconic American shaping the future. Welcome to episode 327. Be sure to check it out on our YouTube page here. -Get extra content, connect with guests, attend exclusive events, get merch discounts and support this critical show that speaks truth to power by joining our IA community on Patreon.  -NEW! Watch the video version of the entire podcast here. -Find us on social media and www.IndependentAmericans.us. Where you can also get some very cool IA merch in time for Easter, Mother's Day or Father's Day.  -Wanna advertise on the show and support the independent movement? Hit us up! -Also check out new episodes of other Righteous Media podcasts including the B Dorm Podcast, The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra and Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed.  Ways to listen: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0F1lzdRbTB0XYen8kyEqXe Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff/id1457899667 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/49a684c3-68e1-4a85-8d93-d95027a8ec64/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff Ways to watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@independentamericans Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IndependentAmericansUS/ Social channels: X/Twitter: https://x.com/indy_americans BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/indyamericans.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndependentAmericansUS/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to USA Today, New Jersey Democratic Senator Cory Booker on Tuesday delivered the longest recorded floor speech in Senate history, breaking the record set by segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond in 1957. Senator Booker’s 25-hour speech criticized Trump’s whitewash policies and his administration...Steve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thank you Gayla Kunis, Marie Lachat, Suzette Jensen, Katharine Hill, Linda Goes, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.* The most critical segment of Cory Booker's underreported record-setting filibuster touches all: Cory Booker's filibuster was substantive throughout. It beats record holder Strom Thurmond without the racist evil the latter represented. [More]* Neil … To hear more, visit egberto.substack.com

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (04/02/2025): 3:05pm- At 4:00pm today, from the White House Rose Garden, President Donald Trump will hold a “Liberation Day” presentation where he will announce new, reciprocal tariffs on imported goods. 3:10pm- In their new book, “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House,” reporters Amie Parnes and Jonathan Allen reveal that when Joe Biden made his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, Kamala Harris pleaded for an immediate endorsement. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi were fighting for an abbreviated primary—fearing that Harris was incapable of winning a presidential election. Parnes and Allen report that Obama's ideal ticket would have featured Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Maryland Governor Wes Moore. 3:30pm- Hollywood actor Val Kilmer has died at the age of 65 from pneumonia. Kilmer starred in Tombstone, Batman Forever, The Doors, Top Gun, and most recently, in 2022, Top Gun: Maverick. Amazingly, Kilmer was never nominated for an Oscar—not even for his performance as Doc Holiday in Tombstone. Justin points out that Kilmer was nominated for an MTV Movie Award—but, somehow, he didn't even win that despite the incredible performance! 3:50pm- On Monday night at 7:00pm ET, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) began a speech from the Senate floor to protest the Trump Administration and its policies—claiming the administration has “inflicted pain” and rejected “common decency.” The speech ended 25-hours later—breaking Strom Thurmond's 24 hour and 18-minute record set while filibustering the Civil Rights Act of 1957. In preparation for the speech, the New York Times reports that Booker hadn't eaten since Friday and hadn't had anything to drink since Sunday—as he wasn't permitted to leave the Senate floor to use the restroom during his speech. The Times also noted that Booker's marathon speech actually delayed a planned vote on a Democrat-led bill reversing President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian imports. 4:05pm- President Donald Trump, speaking from the Rose Garden, announced “Liberation Day” and pledged to “make America wealthy again”—explaining that for decades the United States economy has been punished by onerous tariffs placed on American-made goods being exported internationally. Trump signed an executive order which would place “reciprocal tariffs” on foreign nations and will serve as America's “Declaration of Economic Independence.” The tariffs will take effect at midnight on April 5th. The reciprocal tariffs will be half of what trading partners are currently charging the U.S. An additional 10% universal baseline tariff will be applied to all countries considered to be acting in bad faith. Will the Trump Administration remove tariffs on countries that remove tariffs on American-made goods? Trump stated: “To all foreign presidents, prime ministers, kings, queens, ambassadors, and everyone else who will soon be calling to ask for exemptions to these tariffs, I say—terminate your own tariffs, drop your barriers, don't manipulate your currencies…and start buying tens of billions of dollars of American goods.” 5:05pm- In response to President Donald Trump's tariff announcement, futures on the S&P 500 are initially down just over 1%. Notably, Canada and Mexico—two of the United States' top trading partners—were not explicitly mentioned for new tariffs. 5:15pm- Will the Trump Administration remove tariffs on countries that remove tariffs on American-made goods? Trump stated: “To all foreign presidents, prime ministers, kings, queens, ambassadors, and everyone else who will soon be calling to ask for exemptions to these tariffs, I say—terminate your own tariffs, drop your barriers, don't manipulate your currencies…and start buying tens of billions of dollars of American goods.” 5:20pm- Listeners call into the show and react to President Donald Trump's executive order establishing new tariffs on foreign nations. Will this mo ...

Weekday afternoons on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, Rich Zeoli gives the expert analysis and humorous take that we need in this crazy political climate. Along with Executive Producer Matt DeSantis and Justin Otero, the Zeoli show is the next generation of talk radio and you can be a part of it weekday afternoons 3-7pm. The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: 3:05pm- At 4:00pm today, from the White House Rose Garden, President Donald Trump will hold a “Liberation Day” presentation where he will announce new, reciprocal tariffs on imported goods. 3:10pm- In their new book, “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House,” reporters Amie Parnes and Jonathan Allen reveal that when Joe Biden made his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, Kamala Harris pleaded for an immediate endorsement. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi were fighting for an abbreviated primary—fearing that Harris was incapable of winning a presidential election. Parnes and Allen report that Obama's ideal ticket would have featured Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Maryland Governor Wes Moore. 3:30pm- Hollywood actor Val Kilmer has died at the age of 65 from pneumonia. Kilmer starred in Tombstone, Batman Forever, The Doors, Top Gun, and most recently, in 2022, Top Gun: Maverick. Amazingly, Kilmer was never nominated for an Oscar—not even for his performance as Doc Holiday in Tombstone. Justin points out that Kilmer was nominated for an MTV Movie Award—but, somehow, he didn't even win that despite the incredible performance! 3:50pm- On Monday night at 7:00pm ET, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) began a speech from the Senate floor to protest the Trump Administration and its policies—claiming the administration has “inflicted pain” and rejected “common decency.” The speech ended 25-hours later—breaking Strom Thurmond's 24 hour and 18-minute record set while filibustering the Civil Rights Act of 1957. In preparation for the speech, the New York Times reports that Booker hadn't eaten since Friday and hadn't had anything to drink since Sunday—as he wasn't permitted to leave the Senate floor to use the restroom during his speech. The Times also noted that Booker's marathon speech actually delayed a planned vote on a Democrat-led bill reversing President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian imports.

Today's Headlines: Senator Cory Booker set a new record for the longest Senate speech at 25 hours, surpassing Strom Thurmond's filibuster against civil rights. In election news, Republicans won both Florida special elections, though by smaller margins than Trump's 2024 victory. A Washington Post report revealed that members of Trump's National Security Council used personal Gmail accounts for sensitive military discussions. Meanwhile, 23 states and D.C. are suing the administration over its attempt to cut $11 billion in COVID-era federal funding. A federal appeals court blocked Trump's transgender military ban while the case continues. The administration admitted to mistakenly deporting a Maryland resident with legal status to El Salvador and claims courts lack jurisdiction to order his return. An Indiana University cybersecurity professor mysteriously disappeared following an FBI raid. Princeton University saw multiple federal grants suspended, and Trump's administration struck a deal with law firm Wilkie Farr & Gallagher, requiring $100 million in pro bono services. Finally, Attorney General Pam Bondi will seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione if convicted of murdering United Healthcare's CEO. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NBC News: Cory Booker sets record for longest Senate speech in marathon anti-Trump remarks that exceeded 24 hours NY Times: Wisconsin Spring Election Results 2025 NY Times: Florida Sixth Congressional District Special Election Results 2025: Weil vs. Fine  WA Post: Waltz and staff used Gmail for government communications, officials say The Guardian: Florida stays Republican as US House seats go to Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis – live Yahoo: Trump's transgender military ban dealt legal blow after appeals court ruling  The Atlantic: An ‘Administrative Error' Sends a Maryland Father to a Salvadoran Prison - The Atlantic  Wired: FBI raids home of prominent computer scientist who has gone incommunicado - Ars Technica  NY Times: Trump Pauses Dozens of Federal Grants to Princeton  NY Times: Trump Announces Deal With Doug Emhoff's Law Firm  ABC News: Attorney General Pam Bondi directs prosecutors to seek death penalty for Luigi Mangione Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cory Booker goes beyond Strom Thurmond's Senate record. The vegan New Jersey senator spoke on the Senate floor for over 25 hours after days of fasting. Also devious Donald demonstrates how full-on authoritarian fascism starts. Particularly if people don't demand a stop. Elon Musk poured money into Wisconsin in an effort to handpick a state Supreme Court justice, but voters rejected his candidate and, with that, sent a clear signal: the morbidly rich don't own us. Not yet, anyway.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Senator Cory Booker stood up yesterday - actually, the day before - an made history. Not only did he break former senator and lifelong racist Strom Thurmond's record for the longest senate speech in history, he also used it to denounce Thurmond's racism and the shameful chapter in American history he tried to prolong. Booker's speech and feats of strength also seems to have breathed new life into dejected Democrats, as he implored each of us to do what we can to save our nation from the ravages of Dump and his army of magats.When Senator Booker ended his historic speech, the special election returns began rolling in. Florida disappointed us again, eventhough the margin of the GOP victory shrunk by half in the two districts that went to the polls. But Wisconsin showed up to save democracy, as the Musk/Dump-endorsed candidate for that state's Supreme Court was soundly defeated by Susan Crawford, with a 10 point victory. For once, Elmo's millions couldn't buy that election...As I'm prepping for today's show, we're awaiting word from the orange man about how much more pain and suffering he'll inflict on the America people today as he declares it "liberation day" and announces yet more tariff's to cripple our economy and our spending power. The always amazing Lisa Graves joins us today in her personal capacity to share her legal expertise on all that's going on, especially the big WIN in Wisconsin, where she lives.

Wisconsin voters tell Trump and Musk—stay out of our business. Ben riffs on Judge Crawford's big win. Delmarie Cobb congratulates Wisconsin voters for doing the right thing and breaks down why they did it. In no particular order—can't stand Musk, support abortion rights and in general think Trump's gone too far. Also, a shoutout to Senator Booker for breaking Strom Thurmond's record. And a history lesson or two about Thurmond and Jesse Jackson. Delmarie is a political strategist.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tonight on GeekNights, we review Heat: Pedal to the Metal (2022). It's a car racing game with well-tuned push-your-luck mechanics that is definitely worth a play. It's even better over multiple races. In the news, Cory Booker heroically and historically holds the Senate floor for over 24 hours in a powerful rebuke of Donald Trump's fascism (beating Strom Thurmond's vile "record"). Also torpedo bats are a deeply baseball thing to happen, Nintendo Direct number 1 brings virtual game cards and a bunch of games, and Nintendo Direct 2 will announce the Switch 2.Related LinksForum ThreadHeat: Pedal to the Metal (2022)Discord ChatHeat: Pedal to the Metal (2022)Bluesky PostHeat: Pedal to the Metal (2022)Things of the DayRym - Behind-The-Back SaveScott - Famicom 3D System

Cory Booker's filibuster was substantive throughout. It beats record holder Strom Thurmond without the racist evil the latter represented.Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://politicsdoneright.com/newsletterPurchase our Books: As I See It: https://amzn.to/3XpvW5o How To Make AmericaUtopia: https://amzn.to/3VKVFnG It's Worth It: https://amzn.to/3VFByXP Lose Weight And BeFit Now: https://amzn.to/3xiQK3K Tribulations of anAfro-Latino Caribbean man: https://amzn.to/4c09rbE

According to CNN, Sen. Cory Booker has broken the record for the longest floor speech in Senate history, surpassing the 24-hour, 18-minute mark set by Strom Thurmond in 1957. Thurmond's speech famously opposed the Civil Rights Act, while Booker's protest targets policies under President Donald Trump. Beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, Booker vowed to speak as long as physically possible, voicing concern over Medicaid cuts, attacks on democratic norms, and billionaire influence in government. Throughout the night, fellow Democrats, including Chuck Schumer and Chris Murphy, supported him. Though not a filibuster, Booker's speech delayed Senate proceedings and served as a symbolic stand, calling the current political moment a “crisis” and invoking John Lewis for moral inspiration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Results from party primaries, confirmed run-offs, and election day issues and Sen. Corey Booker breaks Strom Thurmond's record with at 25 hour speech to Congress protesting Trump Administration and DOGE cuts which have led to chaos in some sectors.

After more than 25-hours with no sitting down and no eating, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker just finished a record-breaking speech protesting the Trump administration's agenda. Booker surpassed the length of Senator Strom Thurmond's historic speech in 1957 opposing Civil Rights to become the new record holder.

New Jersey se Demokratiese senator, Cory Booker, het die langste toespraak ooit in die Amerikaanse Senaat gelewer. Hy het 25 ure en vier minute gepraat wat langer is as wyle senator Strom Thurmond se toespraak in 1957 teen die Wet op Burgerregte wat 24 ure en 18 minute geduur het. Booker het die poging as ʼn betoging beskou en die hele tyd president Donald Trump se administrasie gekritiseer. Hy noem dit ʼn ernstige en dringende oomblik in Amerikaanse geskiedenis.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (04/01/2025): 3:05pm- On Monday night, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) began a filibuster to protest the Trump Administration and its policies—claiming the administration has “inflicted pain” and rejected “common decency.” Booker is now on his 20th hour of speaking from the Senate floor and has vowed to speak “for as long as I am physically able.” While filibustering the Civil Rights Act of 1957, then-Senator Strom Thurmond set the record for longest speech on the Senate floor at 24 hours and 18 minutes. Is this Booker's way of keeping his name in the news so he can set himself up for yet another presidential run? 3:30pm- Senator Dave McCormick—United States Senator from Pennsylvania—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his new bipartisan bill to “combat the scourge of fentanyl.” Sen. McCormick also talks about his efforts to place term limits on House and Senate members, President Donald Trump's expected tariff adoption, and politicized district court judges doing their best to upend Trump Administration policies. 3:50pm- Approaching his 21st continuous hour of speaking from the Senate floor, Sen. Cory Booker conceded that “the Democratic Party has made mistakes.” Rich notes that Booker is not even filibustering a specific policy—he just doesn't like the president and won't stop talking about it. 4:00pm- On Monday night, The Atlantic published an article erroneously claiming the Trump Administration “mistakenly” deported a Maryland father to a terrorism confinement center in El Salvador. During Tuesday's press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the magazine's story is not true and that the individual in question is, in fact, a member of the MS-13 gang—which has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization. Leavitt explained: "If you just saw the headline from…The Atlantic magazine this morning, you would think this individual was father of the year." 4:30pm- On Monday, the House Oversight Committee's Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets held a hearing on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy—which included testimony from filmmaker Oliver Stone. Stone—the Director of the 1991 movie “JFK”—implored Congress to “reopen what the Warren Commission failed miserably to complete.” 4:50pm- At 4:00pm on Wednesday, President Donald Trump is expected to announce “reciprocal” tariffs on imports from foreign nations. What impact will this have on the American economy? 5:00pm- Susan Crabtree—RealClearPolitics National Political Correspondent & Author of the book, “Fools Gold: The Radicals, Con Artists, and Traitors Who Killed the California Dream and Now Threaten Us All”—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss Gavin Newsom's appearance on Bill Maher where the California Governor continued to falsely portray himself as a political moderate despite historically embracing far-left policies. During the interview, Gov. Newsom refused to confirm his intent to run for president in 2028—but we all know he's going to! Plus, Crabtree talks about a disturbing new report she broke indicating Secret Service failed to respond to insider threat complaints. You can find the book here: https://a.co/d/1g9qLKf. 5:30pm- On Monday night, The Atlantic published an article erroneously claiming the Trump Administration “mistakenly” deported a Maryland father to a terrorism confinement center in El Salvador. During Tuesday's press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the magazine's story is not true and that the individual in question is, in fact, a member of the MS-13 gang—which has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization. Leavitt explained: "If you just saw the headline from…The Atlantic magazine this morning, you would think this individual was father of the year." 5:40pm- On Tuesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on the “Censorship Industrial Complex”—where Nina Jankowicz, the former Executive Director of th ...

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: 3:05pm- On Monday night, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) began a filibuster to protest the Trump Administration and its policies—claiming the administration has “inflicted pain” and rejected “common decency.” Booker is now on his 20th hour of speaking from the Senate floor and has vowed to speak “for as long as I am physically able.” While filibustering the Civil Rights Act of 1957, then-Senator Strom Thurmond set the record for longest speech on the Senate floor at 24 hours and 18 minutes. Is this Booker's way of keeping his name in the news so he can set himself up for yet another presidential run? 3:30pm- Senator Dave McCormick—United States Senator from Pennsylvania—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his new bipartisan bill to “combat the scourge of fentanyl.” Sen. McCormick also talks about his efforts to place term limits on House and Senate members, President Donald Trump's expected tariff adoption, and politicized district court judges doing their best to upend Trump Administration policies. 3:50pm- Approaching his 21st continuous hour of speaking from the Senate floor, Sen. Cory Booker conceded that “the Democratic Party has made mistakes.” Rich notes that Booker is not even filibustering a specific policy—he just doesn't like the president and won't stop talking about it.

Send us a textThis might be the most fun episode we ever produced. As we look back at George H. W. Bush , Pro wrestling fan. With the help of Charleston Post and Courier articles written by their star reporter Mike Mooneyham, we will examine the Bush connection to the world of Professional wrestling and especially his fondness for wrestling's greatest athlete, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. We will hear about Bush's friendship with promoter Paul Boesch, his lifelong connection to "Chief" Ed "Wahoo" McDaniel, and his later friendship with "The Big Cat" Ernie Ladd. We will also hit the trail , in 1992, on the whistlestop tour that took George Bush through the Carolinas, with the biggest sports star of them all, Ric Flair. It was at a rally in Spartanburg S.C. where our Host, Randal Wallace, was able to maneuver himself up near the front with a little help from Martha Bishop, the sister of our Senator Strom Thurmond, so he would be nearly front row for the rally at the Train Depot, that would feature not only the President, but Governor Carrol Campbell, Lieutenant Governor Bob Peeler, Senator Strom Thurmond, Congressional Candidate Bob Inglis, and our host's childhood sports hero, Ric Flair. To this day, as you will hear, it remains Wallace's favorite memory of any in his over 45 years in politics. Unfortunately, we couldn't find any footage from the Spartanburg rally, but we do have some examples of George Bush out on his 1992 whistle-stop tour, and we do have some later moments from the 2008 Presidential campaign where Ric Flair would return to the trail to campaign for Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. It was at the event for Huckabee in Myrtle Beach that our host again became the focus of attention as he stood with a folder full of wrestling magazines hoping to get them autographed by Ric Flair, at the Huckabee rally, while serving as the Rudy Giuliani Horry County Chairman. It made the news, in two articles in the Sun News political blog Poli-tick-Tock. We will look back at that blog too, and feature the Columbia Mike Huckabee Rally with Chuck Norris and Ric Flair. As you will hear, Hulk Hogan and Donald Trump were actually not the first Pro wrestler and President to headline a Presidential campaign event!!  Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

Send us a textOn this final day of the administration of the 46th President of the United States, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr, we will look back at his Life and Career, and his final week as President of the United States. It began in 1972, when our Host Randal Wallace, was only a year and a half old, and it would continue unabated for the next 52 years. A remarkable run for any political figure in either party. We start the episode with a phone call from President Richard Nixon on a tragic day in the life of Joe Biden, just after his wife and daughter are killed, and his two other sons, are injured in a horrific automobile accident in December of 1972, and we end the episode with his farewell address on January 15, 2025.  In between, our nation saw Vietnam come to an end, Watergate, the Iranian Hostage crisis, the height of the Cold War, the fall of communism, the Gulf War, the dot com boom, the second Gulf War , the War on Terror, a war in Afghanistan, the first African American President, the passage of Universal Healthcare, the rise of Donald Trump, three impeachments and one near impeachment,  and Joe Biden's own election as President. It is a remarkable and long career. Joe Biden was there through an amazingly long consequential period of American History. We try to capture some of that while also chronicling his final week in the White House. Plus near the end of the episode, our Host, Randal Wallace, a lifelong Republican,  will share with you his own experiences dealing directly with the President and share his final thoughts on the man, that in the ultimate irony of life, is the only President of the United States our Host has ever worked directly with on one occasion, Joe Biden, a Democrat.  Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

Greg Davis and Nate Williams talk about President Trump's earlier news conference, where he talks about changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America (among other things). They also discuss President Biden's comments praising the late segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond. They then bring up the mainstream media's double standard relating to President Jimmy Carter's faith and political activism. Finally, Greg Davis talks about political possibilities in Alabama's upcoming 2026 elections.

The Katherine Massey Book Club @ The C.O.W.S. hosts the second study session on the late Dr. Maya Angelou's The Heart of A Woman. This is a rare "double dip" for the book club, as we read I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings in the summer of 2014 just after the transition of the famed author and Wake Forest scholar. Ironically, when The C.O.W.S. last read Dr. Angelou, she was frolicking as a young lady in San Francisco. Gus T. was inundated with the life and literary work of Dr. Angelou during his recent Golden State sojourn. And it took Gus seeing the documentary film Soundtrack to a Coup d'État three times to accurately write down the title Heart of a Woman. The extraordinary film on the assassination of Patrice Lumumba is "receipt-heavy," and Andrée Blouin and Dr. Angelou's respective memoirs are just two of the many books in the project. Last week, we heard Dr. Angelou use a myriad of confusing metaphors to describe the System of White Supremacy in 1957. She minimized the abuse tennis champion Althea Gibson experienced and elided US Senator J. Strom Thurmond raping a black child in South Carolina while filibustering against niggras. The young Dr. Angelou fried chicken for and entertained Billie "Lady Day" Holiday and sat while the jazz legend sang "Strange Fruit" to her 9-year-old son, Guy. It was a traumatizing event for the little guy. Then the Race Soldier White teachers went to work on him. #SoundtrackToACoupdÉtat #TheCOWS16Years INVEST in The COWS – http://paypal.me/TheCOWS Cash App: https://cash.app/$TheCOWS CALL IN NUMBER: 605.313.5164 CODE: 564943#

Famed Beverly Hills attorney Frank Wheaton has represented many famous people including Milton Berle and Essie Mae Washington-Williams, the Black daughter of the late segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond from South Carolina. But you will have the pleasure of learning about his truly inspiring different careers. Dr Robert Jamison, Phd, story is about the exhilaration of overcoming one's negative environment and climbing the ladder of success; only to fall to the depths of despair and prison for a charge he says he did not commit;  come even bigger and more successful that before. A wonderful episode produced, directed and host by Stephen E Davis. 

Send us a textOn the 33rd anniversary of the address to the Kennedy Political Union at American University by Senator Strom Thurmond, we thought we would rebroadcast it here for you. In this address, Senator Thurmond will talk about various issues of the day from the recently concluded Clarence Thomas Hearing, to military preparedness, to politics, Thurmond discusses it all and then takes questions from the students at American University. Thurmond was a former school teacher and this Q&A segment is an excellent tutorial on Government and politics from a master of the craft, a man who served in South Carolina in one capacity or another for 74 years. Here is Strom Thurmond and this is an excellent speech and presentation.  Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

Send us a textIn this episode we hear directly from the accuser and the accused just as if it happened yesterday. This episode will also have both of the people involved give addresses and opening comments from both the Chairman , Joe Biden, and the ranking member, Strom Thurmond. It is a fascinating look back at  tumultuous times and you will get to hear both sides of the argument as we feature both the accuser, Anita Hill, and the accused Clarence Thomas as they open up their lives for close examination  .   Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

Send us a textIn this episode we get to listen in on various panels both in favor of Judge Clarence Thomas and opposed to Clarence Thomas testify in front of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee. You will hear the senators raise issues from Affirmative Action, to Civil Rights, to the Judges opinion on the South African Government. You will hear from a former Attorney General , Griffin Bell, some Georgia State Senators, a State Judge, the President of the American Bar Association, and several College Professors who taught Thomas at Holy Cross University. This is an excellent opportunity for many of our listeners to hear the U. S. Senate at work debating and discussing issues in a civil manner about the qualifications of a Supreme Court Nominee. Things don't get ugly until our next episode. You will hear some of the giants of the Senate in this episode asking questions and gathering information and it will give you some insights into why Clarence Thomas was picked to be on the Supreme Court in the first place, before the debate of race and sexual harassment over shadowed everything.  Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

Send us a textIn this episode we see the Senators as they discuss this appointment of Clarence Thomas to Supreme Court. We begin with a meeting of three of the most powerful Republican Senators on Capitol Hill , John Danforth, Bob Dole, and Strom Thurmond. They will discuss the qualifications of Judge Thomas and the strategy for getting him through the confirmation process. Then Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell comes out and you will hear the arguments against Thomas that the Democrats are planning to make in the hearings to come. They will question his commitment to Civil Rights, Affirmative Action, and what they feel his position on abortion rights are all going to be. Then they try to sneak in some attacks based on race. But Senator Strom Thurmond will step up to counteract that attack by inviting several leaders in South Carolina to come to the Judge's defense and show there support for Thomas. It is all here in this episode along with the opening questions that will begin with the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware.  Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!It's August 27th. This day (technically the 28th) in 1957, Senator Strom Thurmond embarks on what would be the longest filibuster in Senate history, arguing against civil rights legislation that would expand the vote for Black americans.Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why Thurmond decided to take his stand, how he filled the 24 hours and 18 minutes of talking, and answer the all-important question of how he went to the bathroom.This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winning stories.If you want to support the show directly, you can do so on our website: ThisDayPod.comGet in touch if you have any ideas for future topics, or just want to say hello. Follow us on social @thisdaypodOur team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Brittani Brown, Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Audrey Mardavich is our Executive Producer at Radiotopia

Communications expert Tucker Eskew has been a participant in some of the most seminal moments in American political history over the course of the past 30+ years...a protege of the famed Republican strategist Lee Atwater, senior aide to the Bush 2000 win over John McCain in the fractious South Carolina primary, working in the White House the morning of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a stint representing the Bush Administration at 10 Downing Street in London, one of Sarah Palin's lead handlers during her whirlwhind 2008 VP experience...among many other momentous experiences during his decades in and around politics. In this conversation, Tucker talks his path to politics and his time as both observer and player in some of the most important moments in recent American history.IN THIS EPISODETucker's roots as the son of a journalist growing up in the Southeast...The DC internship that set him on a path toward working in politics...A couple of his favorite Strom Thurmond stories...Tucker, in his mid 20s, becomes Press Secretary for South Carolina Governor Caroll Campbell...Tucker remembers lessons learned from his mentor - the famed GOP operative, Lee Atwater...Tucker's role on the ground during the bruising, fractious 2000 South Carolina primary between Bush and McCain...Tucker talks the strategic acumen of Karl Rove...Tucker's role as a Bush spokesman in West Palm Beach during the 2000 post-election chaos...Tucker recounts his amazing story of working in the White House on the morning of the 9/11 terrorist attacks...Tucker works out of 10 Downing Street for months, partnering with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in the aftermath of 9/11...Tucker's stint as one of the senior handlers for Sarah Palin during her tumultuous 2008 VP experience...Why John McCain had a sense of relief after losing the 2008 presidential race...Lessons learned from 19 years as a partner at the corporate comms firm Vianovo...AND Whit Ayres, the BBC, Doug Bailey, James Baker, Dan Bartlett, John Buckley, Blaine Bull, Alistair Campbell, Chad Man, Lon Chaney, Dick Cheney, Bill Clinton, the Coalition Information Center, Candy Crowley, Matthew Dowd, emergency bunkers, Ray Eskew, flashbulb moments, fog of war, Gerald Ford, Michael Gerson, the Greenville News-Piedmont, Albert Hawkins, Karen Hughes, Jesse Jackson, Greg Jenkins, Lafayette Square, Jim Lake, Joe Lieberman, Larry Lindsey, low bono, Mary Matalin, Bob McAllister, Anita McBride, Tim McBride, mimeographs, next man up, the News Literacy Project, Richard Nixon, Bob Novak, pocket doors, the Presidential Campaign Hotline, the Reagan/Bush 1984 war room, red light moments, Condaleeza Rice, the Roosevelt Room, Mark Sanford, South Lawn moments, sucker optimists, James Taylor, UPI, The University of the South, ugly babies, George Wallace, Jim Wilkinson & more!

On today's episode, Jonathan and Sy have a catch-up conversation on the assassination attempt, the Vance VP pick, Biden stepping down, and Harris stepping up. Then they talk with UCLA professor Robert Chao Romero about:-        What everyday life was like for immigrants during Trump's administration-        How MAGA Christians' treatment of immigrants reveals a lack of spiritual discernment-        What Professor Romero would say to immigrants who think voting won't make a difference-        And the complicated, diverse politics of Latine voters in AmericaMentioned in the Episode-            Our anthology, Keeping the Faith-            Tamice Spencer-Helms reading an excerpt of Faith Unleavened-            Professor Romero's Instagram-            And his book, Brown ChurchCredits-            Follow KTF Press on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Subscribe to get our bonus episodes and other benefits at KTFPress.com.-        Follow host Jonathan Walton on Facebook Instagram, and Threads.-        Follow host Sy Hoekstra on Mastodon.-        Our theme song is “Citizens” by Jon Guerra – listen to the whole song on Spotify.-        Our podcast art is by Robyn Burgess – follow her and see her other work on Instagram.-        Editing by Multitude Productions-        Transcripts by Joyce Ambale and Sy Hoekstra.-        Production by Sy Hoekstra and our incredible subscribersTranscriptIntroduction[An acoustic guitar softly plays six notes in a major scale, the first three ascending and the last three descending, with a keyboard pad playing the tonic in the background. Both fade out as Jonathan Walton says “This is a KTF Press podcast.”]Robert Romero: In the context of the life of worship, we are to reflect upon scripture, upon the 2000-year-old tradition of the church, and to add Latino theology, en conjunto, or in community, with the local church, with the global church, with the church that's there with Jesus right now, even. And there has to be a continuity, a harmony between new scriptural interpretations and our ancestors that have gone before us. And so if you just run that test [laughs], that criteria, the MAGA movement through that doesn't make any sense.[The song “Citizens” by Jon Guerra fades in. Lyrics: “I need to know there is justice/ That it will roll in abundance/ And that you're building a city/ Where we arrive as immigrants/ And you call us citizens/ And you welcome us as children home.” The song fades out.]Jonathan Walton: Welcome to Shake the Dust, seeking Jesus confronting injustice. I'm Jonathan Walton.Sy Hoekstra: And I am Sy Hoekstra. This is gonna be an interesting episode. Today we're breaking our format a little bit because just so many things have happened since the last time that we recorded. I don't know if you've noticed, Jonathan, a couple of things happened in the news [laughs] since the last time we recorded this show.Jonathan Walton: A few historical events.Sy Hoekstra: Just a few historical events. So we're still gonna have an interview with one of the authors from the anthology that we published on Theology and Politics. This week it will be Robert Chao Romero, who is a lawyer, history PhD, professor, pastor, activist. No big deal, the usual combination of the regular career path that everyone takes. But before we do that, we are going to spend some time talking about the assassination attempts on Donald Trump, the JD Vance pick for Vice President, Joe Biden stepping down, the almost certain nomination of Kamala Harris. And while we will probably talk about a couple of the resources that we've highlighted in our newsletter on those subjects, we're not gonna formally do our Which Tab Is Still Open this time around. There's just too much…Jonathan Walton: There's a lot. There's a lot.Sy Hoekstra: …to talk about, and we wanted to get all that in. Plus the really, really great interview with Professor Romero. But before we get into all of that, Jonathan.Jonathan Walton: Hey, if you like what you hear and read from KTF Press and would like for it to continue beyond the election season, please go to KTFPress.com and become a paid subscriber, and encourage others to do the same. We've got a ways to go before we're going to have enough people to sustain the work we're doing after the election. So if that's you, go to KTFPress.com, sign up, become a paid subscriber, and then tell a friend to do the same thing. That gets you all the bonus episodes of this show, access to our monthly Zoom chats with the two of us and some other great subscribers. And so go to KTFPress.com and subscribe.The Assassination Attempt on Donald TrumpSy Hoekstra: Alright Jonathan. Let's start with the big one. Well, no, they're all big ones.Jonathan Walton: No, they're all big for different people, for different reasons [laughs].Sy Hoekstra: For very different reasons.Jonathan Walton: Yeah.Sy Hoekstra: The assassination attempt in Pennsylvania at the rally, just before the RNC. The media reaction to this, Jonathan, has struck me as a little bit odd. I don't know what you've been thinking, but let's hear what you're thinking, what your reaction to the assassination attempt was and to the conversation around it.Not Taking Part in the News Spectacle of the AssassinationJonathan Walton: Yeah. So my immediate reaction was, okay, if this had happened in 2016, I think I would've pulled my phone up and writing things, processing, trying to figure things out, all those kinds of things. When I heard this news, I was on the beach in California with my family, and I honestly was not troubled. And that was weird to me. I was not worried, I was not concerned. I thought to myself, “Man, if I was orienting my life around the decisions of Donald Trump and the Republican Party, I would probably be losing my insert word [laughs], but I'm not.” And I also thought about, oh, if I am someone on the quote- unquote left, my brain would be spinning. How is this gonna be politically, what's the impact? Blah, blah, blah. And I just wasn't. And so in that immediate moment, I felt empathy for folks that were feeling that type of dissonance.And the way that I felt towards Donald Trump actually came from a conversation I had with Priscilla, because she was sharing and just the reality that we don't want to participate in the spectacle of it. Reality in TV is an oxymoron that shouldn't exist. Our lives are not entertainment. The intimacies of life should not be broadcast and monetized and commented on as though all of us are all of a sudden now in a glass, I mean [laughs], to reference not the book, but just the image. But that all of us are now like a glass menagerie that we can just observe one another and comment as if we're not people. Those are the initial feelings that I had.Why Wasn't the Shooter Considered Suspicious?Jonathan Walton: The last feeling that I had was actually highlighted by someone from our emotionality activist cohort. He said that he felt angry because the shooter was labeled as suspicious, but not dangerous. And he said, if this had been a BIPOC person, Black, indigenous person of color, there would've absolutely been a response.Sy Hoekstra: Especially at a Trump rally.Jonathan Walton: At a Trump rally, there would've been a response to a suspicious person of color. That would've been fundamentally different place as evidenced by the very real reality, I think a few days later at an event where there was a Black person that was killed by the police [laughs] near a political rally. So I think there, no, there was an altercation, there was a very real threat of violence between these two people, but the responses to Black people and people of color and the impoverished and all these different things that it, it's just a fundamentally different thing because they saw this 20-year-old kid who isn't old enough to buy alcohol, but old enough to get his hands on an AR-15 to scope out a place and shoot someone wasn't seen as a threat. And I think that is a unique frustration and anger, because I hadn't thought about that, but I hold that too.Sy Hoekstra: Just to emphasize that he was, the local police officers actually did try and flag this person as someone who was suspicious. They didn't do anything about it, but they noted it. You know what I mean?Jonathan Walton: Yeah, yeah, yeah.Sy Hoekstra: Which is even more… Like his behavior was suspicious enough for him to be noticed by law enforcement, but they didn't actually do anything, and then they reported it to whoever was running campaign security, and they didn't do anything about it either.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: And I don't know. Yes, that is a good and sad point, and I appreciate you bringing it up.We Have to Insist on the Value of Trump's LifeJonathan Walton: Well, what about for you?Sy Hoekstra: I mean, I guess my response to, two different angles of response to it. One is to anybody, I know there are people out there who are like, “Trump is a fascist, Trump is a threat to democracy, I just wish he'd been hit in the head.” And I don't think anyone in, I haven't heard anybody in the mainstream media or politicians or anyone saying that, because that would be too far for them in their [laughs] policies and their politeness and all that. But there are people thinking it, and I just, I don't know. I just have to say that we can't do that.Jonathan Walton: Absolutely not.Sy Hoekstra: We can't be the people who dehumanize somebody to that degree. I agree that he's a fascist and that he wants to, and that he is a huge threat to our democracy and all of that. But to then say, “I wish he was dead,” that puts you on his level. That makes you like him, the person who mocks when other people have had assassination attempts on them, like Nancy Pelosi or Gretchen Whitmer. Or who encourages and stands behind all the people who were in the January 6th riot that did actually kill people, right?Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: You don't become him, is what I'm saying to anybody who's thought or been tempted to have those thoughts. We still have to stick to the image of God and everybody as a principal. Even when it's genuinely tempting not to, because there are serious considerations on the other side of that argument [laughs] if that makes sense.Jonathan Walton: Yes, yes.Sy Hoekstra: It's a terrible thing to talk about, but it's, I think it's worth addressing.Jonathan Walton: Absolutely.We Do Not Need to Tone Down Our Rhetoric about Trump's Threat to DemocracySy Hoekstra: But I also have to say the opposite side of like, we must call for unity. We must call to lower the political rhetoric and the political temperature. When it comes to Donald Trump, that is ridiculous.Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: That is a, you can't do that [laughter]. And the reason is, first of all, he's the one mocking other people's attempts that have happened on their lives, or riots that actually led to people dying, right?Jonathan Walton: Yes. Yes.Sy Hoekstra: So for him or the people who support him to say, “Oh, now we need to call for unity or rhetoric to come down,” it's hypocritical on their part. Now, that doesn't matter. I'm not trying to just be like whatabouting the Republicans. But the issue is like, there's different kinds of heated political rhetoric. When you obviously accuse somebody of being a threat to democracy, that's a charged statement for sure that you shouldn't say lightly. However, the people who are arguing it now are arguing it on the basis of Donald Trump's words and actions [laughs]. They're making a real good faith argument based on actual evidence. It's heated nonsense political rhetoric when Donald Trump says that there's an invasion at the southern border…Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: …and you're just painting poor people who are fleeing violence, trying to find safety in an opportunity in America as invaders who are here to, well, like he said, killers and rapists and drug dealers and whatever.Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: When you're just painting with a broad brush, when you're creating stereotypes, when you're just trying to slide people into a category, that's dehumanization and that's what can lead to violence. When you're actually making an argument against something that people have actually done, like words that people have said and actions that they have taken, that's a different story. And it is true that in a country of 320 million people, even if you make a good faith argument based on facts, that somebody's a threat to democracy, somebody might take that as a reason to shoot at them. But that's not anything over which we have any control.Jonathan Walton: No.Sy Hoekstra: That doesn't mean you stop saying things that are true because they're… you know what I mean? That then I wouldn't say anything about anybody. I would just keep my mouth shut all the time. I can't make any arguments about anything because what if somebody just happens to at the wrong moment take that as license to go attack somebody?Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: So all of that stuff seemed like nonsense to me. And then people were like, “Oh, don't talk about how it's gonna help his campaign.” Of course, it's gonna help his campaign. And of course the Republicans are going to use it to help his campaign. We need to be realistic about what we're talking about here [laughs] in the context of our conversation. So I think those were my reactions to all of this. I think because as soon as he was shot at, I, because he wasn't hit, I knew he was fine. So I wasn't particularly scared about it. I didn't have like a lot of emotions around the thing itself, because the guy missed him [laughs].Americans Condemning Political Violence is HypocrisyJonathan Walton: Yeah. I think I'll also say too, it's the idea that all of a sudden, we are gonna step out and condemn political violence, let's be clear. There's an exceptional level of political violence enacted by the United States every single day against its own people, against people around the world. There are 900 bases where political violence is happening. We tried to assassinate a leader a few months ago in the Congo. Let's be clear that the reality of that statement too is just ridiculously hypocritical and ignorant.Sy Hoekstra: Yep.Jonathan Walton: Right. Like just Biden did rattle off some political violence that I think we, the quote- unquote dominant cultural narrative is okay with calling out, but we also have to just name the reality that we are actively participating in things that are politically violent.Sy Hoekstra: All the time.Jonathan Walton: Yeah [laughs] all the time. For example [laughs], Biden said, oh, yeah, we're not gonna ship bombs to Israel anymore, and the reality is we shipped thousands of bombs.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah. Yeah.Jonathan Walton: That level of comfort with ignorance and hypocrisy and the dissemination, or just sharing that widely, is also something not about the event itself, but our dominant narrative response and the legacy media's response was just, that was disheartening to say the least.Sy Hoekstra: It's a very good point. And I would point out that Trump himself had a general in Iran assassinated [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Right. Yes.Sy Hoekstra: It's just like, it's complete nonsense.Jonathan Walton: He did. Yeah.Sy Hoekstra: For us to be like, “Where does political violence come from in America? I don't know.”Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: The many presidential assassinations and lynchings and pogroms and everything else. Like what? I don't know.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: We should note, by the way, as I'm listening to you talk, Jonathan's at home and children are not in school, they're home from daycare [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Oh, yes. Yes. Our house is very full. Thank you for being gracious.Sy Hoekstra: You'll hear some adorable little voices in the background. I'm sure everyone will enjoy it all.The VP Pick of J. D. VanceSy Hoekstra: Jonathan, let's talk JD Vance. What are you thinking about this pick [laughs]?Vance Is Everything Trump Wishes He Was, and Could Lead for a Long TimeJonathan Walton: Oh, Lord! I think the thing that bothers me about JD Vance, as my daughter screams [laughs], is Donald Trump picked someone who reflects all of the values that he has and wants to espouse.Sy Hoekstra: Yep.Jonathan Walton: So Donald Trump would love to say that he grew up poor and is a working class man, all those things. He's not, but JD Vance, quote- unquote, is. He desperately wants to say he made it and served his country and all the… No, he didn't.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah.Jonathan Walton: But JD Vance is a Marine and quote- unquote actually built a business. Now, JD Vance is also exceptionally misogynistic, exceptionally patriarchal, exceptionally individualistic in the way that Bootstrap Republicanism tries to embody itself. And so he chose someone at the same time that did not have the apprentice. That did not go on reality television. That did not spend his life entertaining people, so I think he is going to be taken seriously, which is why he's dragging Donald Trump in the polls. I think what happened is the wholesale remaking of a section of the Republican party that has now taken it over, and he chose a leader that could be the voice of that for the next 25 years. And that I think is sad [laughs] because I do believe in a pluralistic society where people can share ideas and wrestle and make good faith arguments and argue for change and all those things.So I don't want some one party event that happens. At the same time, I think it is exceptionally unnerving and unsettling and destabilizing for someone who holds such views against women that we will absolutely see, obviously when we talk about Kamala Harris. But what he, what Donald Trump blessed and sent out, JD Vance will now bless and send out for the next few decades at least. And that if you wanted to give a new, like a reiteration of Strom Thurmond, here we go. He's 38, he could be talking and on TV and doing things for the next 50 years, and that is deeply unsettling for me.Vance Is a Sellout, but That Probably Won't Matter MuchSy Hoekstra: It's also interesting that he's someone who's doing it as a sellout.Jonathan Walton: Oh, yeah. A thousand percent.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah. Meaning he was not… he was a never Trumper for a while. He called Trump possibly America's Hitler at one point. And now he totally turned around once he ran for Senate because he saw where the wind was blowing.Jonathan Walton: Exactly.Sy Hoekstra: If nothing else, his Silicon Valley background lets him understand disruption and how to capitalize on uncertainty and when things are changing [laughs]. So yeah, that's an interesting one to me. I kind of wondered if that would make Trumpers not trust him or even not trust Trump, because he isn't… So much of the Trump worldview that he tries to inculcate in people is us versus them, and we need to demand loyalty because there's so much danger out there coming at us. And so a guy who flip flops to become a pro-Trump person, like a lot of… I don't know, there have been a lot of politicians like that who have been distrusted, but maybe he's just famous enough that it doesn't matter. I'm not sure. We'll see as it goes on. There's a possibility that he weakens the enthusiasm of Trump voters, but I don't actually know.Jonathan Walton: They chanted “Hang Mike Pence.” So I don't put that beyond them, beyond anybody.Sy Hoekstra: I see. They can always separate Trump from anybody else, basically.Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: He's the exception no matter what [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Right, right, right.Vance Helps with the Tech World, but He's Unexperienced and Hasn't Accomplished MuchSy Hoekstra: Another thing about him is, well, there's a couple of things. One is he is, he was a pick, at least in part to court tech billionaires. He's a Peter Thiel protege. He's basically promising to deregulate all kinds of tech related things. He is helping Trump secure the support of Musk and Zuckerberg and everybody else.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: So, I don't know. He was a strategic pick in that sense, I guess. He's also one that was a strategic pick when they were facing Joe Biden.Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: Which they're not anymore, and it's an interesting, I don't know, it'll be a different kind of calculation. Now, I've heard some rumblings that some Republicans kind of regret the choice at this point because [laughs] it's gonna be such a different race.Jonathan Walton: Yeah, yeah. Yeah.Sy Hoekstra: It's also incredible to me that the entire Republican ticket now has a total of six years of government experience [laughter]. It's just like, so Trump has done it for four years. Vance has done it for two, that's all we got. Six years.Jonathan Walton: Right, right.Sy Hoekstra: Kamala's got that beat like by multiples, by herself with no running mates [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Yeah. Right, right, right.Sy Hoekstra: So anyways, that's just kind of a remarkable thing. Vance is also totally, he hasn't done much in the Senate in terms of bills that he's introduced, but he has introduced things that haven't gone anywhere that are just like a bunch of transphobic and anti-DEI and all that kind of legislation. So he's been not doing much, but ideologically on doing the kinds of things that Trump wants a senator to do. So that's another part of the pick, which is also depressing. But let's move on from that sad one.Jonathan Walton: [laughs].Biden Stepping Down, Harris Taking OverSy Hoekstra: Jonathan, what are we thinking about Biden stepping down and the almost certain, possibly the only legal available nomination of [laughter] Kamala Harris to be the President of the United States?The Dynamics of White Boomers Passing Power to Younger BIPOCJonathan Walton: So, yeah, the first thing that I thought of when Biden said he was stepping down was that I knew he was gonna step down when he got COVID.Sy Hoekstra: Huh.Jonathan Walton: I think that's a very interesting thing because when we were in California traveling this past few weeks, we knew four families that got COVID. And then I checked the numbers and I realized, oh, like the numbers in cities are going up because they're still testing water, right? And obviously the most susceptible people are older people and people with chronic health problems. And he is an older person [laughs]. Like, it was another thing…Sy Hoekstra: I don't know if you noticed.Jonathan Walton: …that says you're old, right? Like, and that, that Steve Bannon was right. He started the old train a long time ago, and it has run its course and run him out of the election. So I was not surprised that he was dropping out. The second thing about it though is, and I don't know if there's more writing about this. If you're listening to this and you have read some analysis or commentary, I'd love to read it. But I wonder how boomers are transitioning from positions of power, and if they are or not [laughs]. Because Joe Biden, I think, signifies a generation of people that don't know how to let go of power. And he said that in his speech. He said like, “I have to give up ambition.”And so I think that was an interesting, that's just an interesting thing to think about as there is a very significant, I think in the trillions of dollars' worth of transfers of wealth from that generation to their children and grandchildren. The billionaires that have been minted in the United States are just people inheriting money. So it's just a fundamentally different thing around wealth and power that's happening, I think, as it is power quote- unquote, is given from one older White man to a middle aged Black woman. Right? Black and South Asian. And so the other thing I thought about with Joe Biden is that he also was on the ticket that coordinated Obama.And so he's the meat in the middle of this sandwich that I think is also very interesting [laughs], that he leveraged his power to effectively potentially elect the first two Black presidents of the United States.Sy Hoekstra: Now, to be fair, he did run against the first one in the primary [laughs].Jonathan Walton: He did, and he lost, and then he joined a ticket, right?Sy Hoekstra: Yeah.What We Can and Can't be Grateful to Biden ForJonathan Walton: And so, I think it's interesting that that's a thing. I will also say, for all the people, left, right, center, wherever you place yourself, thanking him and praising him and all these different things, I'm just not on that train.Sy Hoekstra: Huh? Why?Jonathan Walton: I've thought a little bit about this, and I'm continuing to think about this, but there's a tension that I feel generally for the processes and the participation and the hard decisions that we have to make every day that require necessary compromise and then violence as a result. And so when we talk about being grateful for things, like, “Oh, Jonathan, aren't you grateful for like soldiers, or grateful for America?” And it's like, the first thought that I have is, thankful to who for what? Who am I thanking, what am I thanking them for? And I think it's because I just have this resistance, and I desire this purity that only is found in Jesus. This purity, this wonder, this beauty, this justice, this love that is blemishless, right? So I find myself, it's very difficult for me to be like, “Thank you Joe for this work that you did 10 years ago, this work you did five years ago.” It's hard. I'm just like, you know, thanks.Sy Hoekstra: Oh, I see.Jonathan Walton: Blessings on you on the rest of your life. I hope that you are able to flourish and receive all the things that God has. It's very general, very cursory. I don't carry this deep respect, appreciation or anything like that. And I think that just comes from like, I attach people to institutional violence and he represents a lot, a staggering amount of institutional violence. Even though he fought for lots of good things, it's like, yeah, it's hard for me to get on that appreciation bandwagon of the last 50 years of service.Sy Hoekstra: I totally understand that. I thought you were talking about, because a thing that I think you can acknowledge is difficult to do is to step down.Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: In the situation that he's in, there are so many people telling him not to. It's so easy, especially if you have that ambition that he's obviously had his whole life.Jonathan Walton: For his whole life, yeah.Sy Hoekstra: Decades, he has wanted to be president, right?Jonathan Walton: [laughs]. Right.Sy Hoekstra: And he just wants to hang onto it and…Jonathan Walton: Let me into the sandbox! Let me in [laughs].Sy Hoekstra: And it's hard to just admit, “I'm tapped out guys. I can't do this anymore.”Jonathan Walton: Yeah.Sy Hoekstra: That is not an easy thing to do. And I do, in spite of all the criticisms that I a hundred percent agree with you with about the time that he spent in the presidency and in Congress and everything else, that's hard. And I can acknowledge when somebody did something hard that is helpful for the country [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Yeah. Exactly. Exactly.Sy Hoekstra: And because it is hard, I did not expect it. It's interesting that you did, but I didn't know that was coming.Harris and Why Representation is ImportantSy Hoekstra: I also, when it comes to Harris, who by the way, I said Kamala earlier. I'm trying not to do that, because it can't be that the two, Hillary and Kamala, we use their first names. Everybody else we use their last names [laughs].Jonathan Walton: The soft misogyny. I hear you, you're right.Sy Hoekstra: Everybody calls her Kamala though. It's like hard not to.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: So I'm not the guy to explain why her running is so historically important in any detail, and there's gonna be a lot of very shallow attempts at talking about representation in the mainstream media. Which is why in the newsletter, I pointed people back to Tamice's book, because in the book that we published, Faith Unleavened, Tamice Spencer-Helms, the author, has a really great excerpt that we published and actually put as a episode of this podcast feed. I'll have the link in the show notes where she talks about, like Kamala Harris just comes at the end of the excerpt, but it's in the context of her talking about the stories of generations of women in her family and how they've served as a barrier or a bulwark against White religion and Whiteness destroying their lives.Jonathan Walton: Yeah.Sy Hoekstra: And the story ends in a scene that has never once failed to make me tear up [laughs] even though I edited it like 15 times [laughter] when we were making the book. It ends with her and her grandmother, and her grandmother's basically on her deathbed watching Kamala Harris get sworn in as vice president. And she does an incredible job of emphasizing the power and meaning of something like that happening without really talking about it. You know what I mean? It just is because it's part of her story as she puts it, like the story that Blackness is telling in America. So it's very, very good. If you haven't read it, I would go back and just grab a couple of tissues.And for me, I won't just let that story sit there, and the fact that it is important to sit there, because look, I have a lot of criticisms of Kamala Harris' policies [laughs] as a former prosecutor, as her foreign policy, as all those kinds of things, and I am willing to let all of that sit in tension together. And I will move on with my life, but I don't know if you have more thoughts about that, Jonathan.Resisting the Bigotry that Is Coming for HarrisJonathan Walton: Yeah. The only thing that I would say, and actually it's already happening. But the level of anti-Black, anti-woman, racist, misogynistic, patriarchal flood that is about to happen, will be unprecedented.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah.Jonathan Walton: Online right now, even on Fox News, like on Fox News this morning, one of their commentators said, “Kamala Harris is the original ‘hawk tuah girl,' that's how she got to where she is.” Now, if you don't know what that is, I'm gonna explain it very quickly in ways that I hope are not dehumanizing to the person that actually did this and the people that it was said about. But there was a young woman who was taped on TikTok, who was asked about how to get a man more aroused. And she said, you gotta do that Hawk Tua, and that really gets them going. There's a slice of the internet, which we are all becoming more familiar with if you're online, that still desires the Girls Gone Wild videos of the 1990s, the centering of men constantly in sexual pleasure and relationships, and the picture of women only being able to succeed or excel if they are in service to men, and absolutely never achieving anything or earning anything on their own merit.And so I think Ketanji Brown Jackson, when she was certified and confirmed as a Supreme Court nominee, I think will give a slice of the anti DEI, anti CRT, anti-Black female, anti-female narrative, but that will pale in comparison to what we are about to see. And I think followers of Jesus need to resist that at every single level. At every single level if we can. Individual, in our own hearts, like us saying “Vice President Harris” is a way not to participate. Right? Like in an interpersonal level, like not… we have to check other people with this nonsense. And then in an institutional and ideological level, we actually need to communicate as followers of Jesus, that there is no place in the kingdom of God… and I would want to it to be nowhere in the world, for misogyny and misogynoir. Like this mix of anti-Blackness and anti-feminism and patriarchy. So that's the only other thing that I would say, is I just strongly desire in the most emphatic terms I can without using profanity that  [Sy laughs] we need to stand against them. We need to stand against that as followers of Jesus and people invested in the flourishing of other people and ourselves.Sy Hoekstra: It's going to happen. Like you said, it will be a ton. And just thinking back on all the absolute nonsense that was said about Obama over the eight years that he was president. I don't know how much we've progressed from there.Jonathan Walton: No.Sy Hoekstra: And so I just, it will be even worse…Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: As we've already seen, like you've said.Jonathan Walton: With all of that, there's a lot of things to process. There's frustration, anger, numbness, curiosity. Maybe some people are feeling peace. I don't know anybody who's feeling joyful about our political process right now. And so, as we are processing and trying to find hope in times of crisis and things that are difficult, I really want to commend to our listeners the resource that we created called Pace Yourself. So to pray, assess, collaborate, and establish, like to actually engage as a follower of Jesus in community for the long term.Sy Hoekstra: Yep.Jonathan Walton: If you are someone who's sitting here listening and thinking to yourself, “I need a resource like this, I want community like this, I want to engage in this way,” if you're a subscriber already, it's in your inbox. Just search [laughs] in your KTF Press and look through your newsletters that you've received every Thursday. Also, if you are not a subscriber, you could get it for free. Just go to KTFPress.com and become a free subscriber. And it'd be better if you became a paid subscriber, but [laughs] I understand if you don't wanna do that right now. But go to KTFPress.com, become a free subscriber and get that resource. And I also want to comment to you like, we do not have to do these things alone. And so if you are a paid subscriber, you could also join our monthly chats and conversations so that there's a space. It may not be at your church, it may not be at your job, it may not be at your kitchen table. You'll at least have a one-hour Zoom call to talk with some people who want to be redemptive forces in the world. So we'll lay that out there as well.Sy Hoekstra: Absolutely. We've had two of them and they've been really great.Jonathan Walton: Amazing.Sy Hoekstra: And we hope we see you all at the next one.Introducing the Interview Guest, Robert Chao RomeroJonathan Walton: Now we're gonna get into our great interview with Robert Chao Romero. Professor Romero is an associate professor in the UCLA departments of Chicano and Chicana studies. Also, the Central American Studies Department and the Asian American Studies Department. He received his PhD from UCLA and Latin American History. He's also a lawyer with a JD from UC Berkeley. Romero is the author of several books, including Christianity and Critical Race Theory: A Faithful, Constructive Conversation, Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology and Identity, and The Chinese in Mexico: 1882-1940. The Chinese in Mexico received the best book award in Latino/ Latina studies from the Latin American Studies Association, and Brown Church received InterVarsity Press' Reader's' Choice Award for the best academic title.Romero is also an ordained minister and a faith rooted community organizer. Now, we talked to him about the everyday reality of the lives of immigrants under the Trump administration, what those lives tell us about the spiritual state of the MAGA movement, and the diverse and complicated politics of Latine voters in America. And guys, a lot more. Alright, let's get into the interview.[the intro piano music from “Citizens” by Jon Guerra plays briefly and then fades out.]Sy Hoekstra: Robert, thank you so much for joining us on Shake the Dust today.Robert Romero: It's great to reconnect after a while.The Everyday Suffering of Immigrants under TrumpSy Hoekstra: Yeah, thank you. Just to get started, let's take a… I don't know, a kind of sad walk down memory lane [laughs]. Thinking back to the Trump administration, obviously you have a lot of experience both in immigration, the immigration law world, and in just the world of immigrant churches. And I'm wondering if you could give people a reminder or a picture of what the immigration world was like during the Trump administration.Robert Romero: Sure, I can share a story of one of my students. So in the beginning of the Trump administration, I was teaching a big lecture class, like 400 students. And there was a young woman who came up to me after class one day and said, “Professor Romero, can I get the lecture slides from the last few classes?” And I'm like, “Yeah, sure. What's happening?” And she said, “My mom has papers, she has legal documentation, but she was swept up by an immigration raid in her workplace, and I had to go home and watch my kids, and it took six days before we could find her.”Sy Hoekstra: Oh, wow.Robert Romero: And that's when I knew, oh my gosh, this is gonna be really bad. And so one of the things that launched things off in the Trump world with regards to immigration was an executive order that he passed, which took away any type of prioritization with regards to deportation. Now, the Obama administration was no friend to immigrants, and that's another conversation. But in theory, at least the Obama administration had a prioritization as to kind of who immigration would target as priorities for deportation. And on top of that list before was people with serious criminal convictions, who were undocumented with serious criminal convictions, and then families were at the very bottom. And there was kind of this internal policy. What the Trump administration did through that executive order is take away any type of prioritization, as imperfect as that prioritization was.So my student's mother and the people at her workplace, families, people who had worked in the US for 30 years, they were put on the same level and prioritization as someone who had many serious criminal offenses, for example. And I can tell you that also happened with Pastor Noe Carias that we worked with. He was an Assemblies of God pastor who came to the US in the eighties fleeing civil war. He had his own business, US citizen wife and two US citizen kids, and he was threatened to be deported. So many stories like that, it just created chaos and pain throughout the lives of millions of people.Sy Hoekstra: I'm glad that you brought up that one executive order deprioritizing things, because that's not something that made the headlines. And I know because my wife who listeners to the show would be familiar with, was an immigration attorney at the time, and she was dealing with all these tiny little things that did not make the headlines or whatever, that the Trump administration would just adjust, that would just make things that much harsher and that much more cruel on immigrants. And the result was like the human cost that you were just explaining. And then on the service providers on top of that, it was like if you have to drop everything you're doing and spend a bunch of time making new arguments or appealing cases, or in some cases dropping everything to bring a big class action lawsuit to try and stop some rule change or whatever, that is a decrease in your capacity, that then means you can't work with more people.Like my wife spent a lot of time where she was just taking no new cases on, she was just appealing all the cases that had been denied because of ridiculous rule changes that eventually got overturned. But in the meantime, a whole bunch of clients that would've been eligible for green cards lost the opportunity or whatever. And so I very much appreciate you bringing that perspective.Robert Romero: I remember another example. I remember at the time, the Diocese of San Antonio, Texas, that's one of the largest Catholic diocese in the whole country. They were trying to sponsor a special religious worker and [laughs] their application got denied because ICE wanted proof that they were a legitimate 501 C3 corporation [laughs] the Diocese of San Antonio.Sy Hoekstra: The Catholic church?Robert Romero: The Catholic church, yeah [laughs]. And it's like those kinds of shenanigans.Sy Hoekstra: Oh my gosh.MAGA's treatment of Immigrants Reveals a Lack of Spiritual DiscernmentJonathan Walton: Wow. Oh man. I'm gonna attempt to ask this question without going down too many rabbit trails because that just sounds ridiculous [laughs]. But in your essay, you said, “Jesus warns us soberly in Matthew 25, that our response to immigrants and the poor is a barometer of the sincerity of our relationship with God,” end quote. To you, what does all that stuff we just talked about reveal spiritually about the MAGA movement?Robert Romero: So that interpretation of Matthew 25, that our response to the poor and immigrants reflects our heart with God, that's an ancient tradition. Ancient Christian interpretation, thousands of years. And I think that what that reveals about the MAGA movement, it shows how much the culture of US nationalism that's embedded within MAGA has become so conflated with Christianity in the US that people have lost discernment. They've lost discernment. In other words, this is one of my reflections over the last couple of months. When you really get down to it, these issues that we're talking about, it's a discernment process, spiritual discernment process between what is culture, what is the gospel, what happens when the gospel becomes invited into a culture, and how do you distinguish between the gospel and culture?And now here's the tricky part [laughs]. The gospel has only expressed itself and always only expresses itself through culture. First the gospel came through the Jewish people, enculturated in that context, then became enculturated in the Greco-Roman Hellenistic context among Turkish people, among North Africans [laughs] among Persian people, among all these people. Then it became enculturated later on in more Western Europe, and then in about a thousand AD, like the Vikings, and Christianity becomes enculturated. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's just the reality. And theologians talk about a process though of discernment with regards to enculturation. What is a biblical contextualization of the gospel in a local culture and what's not.And what they say is that the way that you discern, is that in the context of the life of worship, we are to reflect upon scripture, upon the 2000-year-old tradition of the church. And to add Latino theology, en conjunto, or in community, with the local church, with the global church, with the church that's there with Jesus right now, even. And there has to be a continuity, a harmony between new scriptural interpretations and our ancestors that have gone before us. And so if you just run that test [laughs], that criteria, the MAGA movement through that doesn't make any sense. And we can talk more about that, but that's what I've been… thank you for giving me the chance to just throw that out on you, because that's what I've been thinking about. I've been dying to share it and to process it with people.Sy Hoekstra: The immediate response from people in the MAGA movement is, well, from Christians in the MAGA movement at least, would be, we're the orthodox ones and the people who oppose us are the ones with the new interpretations of scripture that are going off the rails and trying to destroy American culture and et cetera, et cetera.Robert Romero: Sure.Sy Hoekstra: So why are you coming to such a radically different conclusion?Robert Romero: So first of all, orthodoxy means right praise, correct praise. That's what it means. So, as we said, this criteria, the context of the life of worship. So as people are worshiping Jesus, we're bearing one another's burdens, we're taking communion, we're praying to God. That's the context first of all that this discernment takes place. And you look at scripture, 2000 verses of scripture that talk about God's heart for the poor, and the marginalized and immigrants, Matthew 25, among about a hundred other verses. So first of all, MAGA would've to contend with that. Tradition, the tradition of the church for 2000 years from the earliest church records where they said it in the Greco-Roman world. “These Christians are so strange. They worship this…” I'll just paraphrase, “They worship this Jesus, but they belong to every culture.You cannot distinguish them by their dress or their language or their clothing, but by the way, they love one another, and they care for those that are poor and marginalized.” And there is a historical record of 2000 years of the church. And what MAGA is doing, it is not in continuity with that 2000 years of church tradition en conjunto, in community, because as Americans, we're so individualistic. People think, I'm gonna go into my prayer chamber, I'm gonna pray for two days and whatever I come out thinking about immigrants, God spoke to me. Doesn't work that way. It's like in community, all these things, the context of the life of worship, scripture, tradition of 2000 years in community with the local church, the global church, and also what theologians talk about is like another principle of continuity again.Whatever MAGA is saying has to… MAGA Christians, at least, there has to be continuity with 2000 years. And if you look at the history, I challenge anybody, there's no continuity there. Anti-immigrant sentiment, there's no continuity. And so that's what I would say first and just to kind of throw out a big concept there, the major concept that we're talking about, it's called inculturation. Inculturation. And how does the gospel enter a culture and transform it? How does a gospel enter a culture and heal it? But sometimes what happens is that a culture can become so culturally Christian that people confuse just the culture with the gospel. And if you run through this criteria, this ancient criteria of discernment, you'll find that's why prophets arise. And that's what's happened with MAGA.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah. That's a helpful distinction, I think. Because you could also say, well, there's another tradition starting with the eastern half, the Roman Empire becoming Christian and creating Christian empires for a couple thousand years, right? But I think you're saying that just the phrase, “that's why prophets arise” [laughs], I think is the helpful distinction for me. Yeah.Jonathan Walton: You write about this a little bit in Brown Church, your other great book. There's this unhealthy syncretism, this marriage that has happened. And when you said the word “Orthodoxy” I immediately thought of a conversation I had with a wonderful person on Instagram. I am being facetious. But she said Israel is a nation ordained by God to exist in all these different things around 1948. And then and she said that's the orthodox view, is what she said. What would be your response to someone who divorces their belief in Jesus from the scriptural basis of Jesus and the tradition of, that missión integral, the conjunto that you're talking about, when they make that divorce, what do you do besides go to your prayer closet and pray for them [laughter]?Robert Romero: Yeah. I think that you go to the roots. If those of us who call ourselves Christians, we follow Jesus, and Jesus lived in history in a very specific moment in time, and he had 12 disciples and apostles, and he shared a message with them that he was the Messiah expected by the Jewish community. And that through this Messiah, the whole world would be transformed and saved and redeemed, there's a core message that was passed on from Jesus to the 12, to the leaders, the bishops that they appointed, to established churches. And there was, for the first 300 years of the church, lots of writings, lots [laughs] that established orthodoxy.So there was a core orthodoxy that Jesus established to use that term. I mean, it's anachronistic. Core message. That core Christian message was passed on to the 12. The 12 passed it on a majority consensus as to what that core was, to leaders that they appointed in Egypt, in Turkey [laughs], in Persia, in North Africa. And they had people that they appointed, and there were writings that developed. So, in other words, what I'm saying is you can trace what this major consensus of orthodoxy was pretty clearly through the historical record. And this is what I'm saying about history [laughs]. If you put MAGA through that, it's not in harmony with it.I'll say this though, if you use this criteria, this healthy criteria that have been established by theologians over the millennia, Christianity is not the same as the left either. I wanna make that clear as possible [laughs]. There are lots of Christians who make the same mistake and conflate Christianity with the cultural left, and it's not the same either. So there's room for abundant nuance and complication, but at the same time, there is a complicated, thoughtful process. And one of the things that disturbs me so much is that for the last five or 10 years, with all of the social disruptions in every arena of society, you have this positive desire to try to figure it out. Like what's right, what's wrong? And you have some people who are just holding on to this cultural Christianity, this cultural nationalism as indistinguishable from Christianity.You have some folks who are at the same time going the other extreme and throwing away 2000 years of very imperfect, but still the Christian movement. And things are just so disruptive, this process, I would hope this criteria again, and this is a work in progress for me, of we discern the difference between Christ and culture. We discern what aspects of culture are positive reflections of the gospel or not, or what's represents cultural impurity and what represents the unique reflection of the image of God through culture. We discern that. And I wanna share a quote that I think expresses the mess of the last 500 years. This is from an article by a Filipino theologian, José De Mesa. He's one of my favorite theologians.He is citing missionaries who were going to go to China in 1659. The quote again from 1659, “Can anyone think of anything more absurd than to transport France, Italy, or Spain or some other European country to China? Bring them your faith, not your country.”Jonathan Walton: There you go.Robert Romero: That's it [laughs].Sy Hoekstra: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Bring them your faith, not your country.Robert Romero: Bring them your faith, not your MAGA movement.Reacting to People Who Think Voting Won't Make a Difference for ImmigrantsSy Hoekstra: I wanna transition a little bit because everything we've talked about so far is a little bit aimed at the MAGA movement, or at White Christians in America. But again, talking about my wife, her family is from Haiti, and during the 2020 election, she made some calls for the Biden campaign down to Miami and to, there's a lot of Haitian voters there, it's a swing state, they needed people calling. So she called potential Haitian American voters and was talking to them about the election. And she had some fascinating conversations [laughs]. But she had a couple people in particular who I think represent a certain segment of immigrants or the one or two generations after immigrants to the US who are not White.And they basically said, what on earth is the point of voting for Biden versus Trump? You were talking before about the Obama administration, and they were just like, Trump, Obama, Bush, we get treated the same. We get deported, we get forgotten, we get left behind. We get approached every four years to put somebody in power who then doesn't really do anything for us. What do you say to that kind of hopelessness?Robert Romero: Yeah. First of all, I totally get it and understand it, because it feels that way so much, so often. So I would first approach it on that level of like, okay, let's process. What are we feeling here? I get it. And then I would say, well, I guess I have a response just as a human being, and then a response as a Christian. So those are kind of related, but different things. I mean, just as a human being, as a US citizen, there was a substantial difference in the treatment of immigrants under the Trump administration. It was just like, it made people suffer. Millions of more people suffered in very specific ways when the policies changed under Trump. Again, under Obama, again, I don't think that he is perfect either, and he caused a lot of harm, but things were way worse. They got way worse.We didn't think they could be, but they got in very practical, specific ways under Trump. So depending upon who we vote for with respect to this topic of immigration, it makes a difference. It makes a huge difference. And that's because every president has the constitutional authority to set immigration policy on their own. They can't pass immigration laws, that's Congress's job, but they can pass hundreds of policies carte blanche, which is what Trump did, at their own discretion and mess people's lives up. That's what I would say. Like just as a human being, and in terms of Trump's potential to come back into office. Just as a human being, oh my gosh, I want our democracy to just survive.And he's signaled so many times that he's willing to just overturn the rule of law, and we can talk about that too. So that's just as a human being. Now, as a Christian [laughs], it's like, I know that there's no perfect candidate, and Jesus is not a Republican or a Democrat. And I know people go off the rails on both sides. At the same time, Christians, I think in good faith, can hold some different political perspectives. If we do that, run through that discernment process that I mentioned, we can come to good faith differences of opinion. We really can. That's just a hundred percent true.Jonathan Walton: I like how you said good faith differences.Robert Romero: Yeah.Jonathan Walton: That feels very [laughs] very important.Robert Romero: [laughs] Yes.Jonathan Walton: [laughs] Because I'm thinking to myself, I'm like, I would love to see an experience like good faith differences, where the other person isn't just dehumanized to the point of like, it's okay to do violence. That the reality that the first step towards violence against someone is dehumanization.Robert Romero: Yeah.The Diversity of Latine Voting and Politics in the USJonathan Walton: And so can we have good faith disagreement. And going along with that, I listen to a lot of podcasts, read a lot of news, sometimes healthily, sometimes to just cope, I think the information [laughs]. But a lot of media outlets like The Run-Up on the New York Times, or Politico, or NPR, they make a big deal out of polling, saying Latine voters, particularly men, are somewhat more pro-Trump than they have been in recent years. And like, what are your thoughts on that talking point? And the diversity of Latin experiences and political thought in America?The Effect of Latin America's Racist History, and its Leftist DictatorshipsRobert Romero: Yeah. I mean, I don't doubt that those stats are somewhat true. I mean, I don't know. I haven't studied them. But I think that within, again we talk about this inculturation process, and how the gospel gets interwoven with bad aspects of culture, sinful even. And, but how the gospel also at the same time, when it engages a culture, it transforms the culture and heals the culture too. And our diverse Latin American Latino peoples, we've got both [laughs]. We have the sin [laughs] and our own colonial history of 500 years that is just as racist as the US history. Just as racist. And so I think that when it comes to more people supporting Trump, and I want to distinguish the support of Trump from a pre-Trump Republican party.Again, not that it was perfect or anything, but I wanna make that distinction [laughs], because there are some Latinos who just feel more aligned with again, the Republican party 15 years ago or something, for some reasons that are not entirely bad. Now, the folks that support Trump and Trump's racism, again, we're super, the Latino people are so diverse in every way imaginable. Politically, socially, economically, racially, ethnically, culturally, religiously. So I wanna make that disclaimer. But at the same time, we have our own 500 years of racism and colonial racist values that are within us. And so if a Latino male voter says, I like Trump because he's just, because I wanted to kick out all the immigrants or something like that, [laughs] then that's where that comes from.And it also comes from holding racist values in Latin America, bringing it here and wanting to fit into the racial system here. I'll say one last example. So in Latin America, for 500 years to this present day, there's a legacy of everybody wants to be called Spanish, quote- unquote.Jonathan Walton: Yeah.Robert Romero: Because you had a racial hierarchy and caste system officially for about… let's see, 1492 to 1820 officially, this caste system. And just like in the US, you had a certain legal caste system, these terms of White, which was a legal category, Black, Indian and so forth. In Latin America you had the same thing, but the different terms. They were like Spanish and Black and Indian and Mestizo and Mulatto. And at one point they had dozens of terms. But that created the society in which people who were social climbers wanted to be considered Spanish. And to this day, some people will say that I'm Spanish. And doesn't mean… it's fine if someone's like, if someone immigrated from Spain to Mexico that's great. But we're not talking about that. We're talking about like, no one in their family has been to Spain like in 400 years.So Spanish is sort of, saying I'm Spanish is like a MAGA person saying, “Well, I'm White,” or something. It's like this, it can be. Not always so extreme, but now imagine someone that comes from that context in say Mexico, I can speak for my own context. They come to the US, they find a different racial hierarchy, and they wanna fit in with power. So you become Ted Cruz.Jonathan Walton: [laughs]. This is true.Robert Romero: You become Marco Rubio. Where you're willing to sort of just like… Actually, this is the term, this is another use of the term enculturation. You enculturate yourself fully to the dominant White racist narrative so that you can gain acceptance. And that's what happens. And so I think that some of those Latino Trump voters, again, if they're doing it, I mean, there's other reasons too. But if they're doing it because as an explicit endorsement of anti-immigrant policies, then I would say this is a lot of what's going on. Now, to be fair, some Latinos, and not without reason, are kind of scared off by, like they come from socialist countries that have really in a lot of pain and hurt. And they hear someone on the extreme left of the Democratic party reminding them too much of what it was like in Nicaragua [laughs].Sy Hoekstra: Or Cuba or whatever.Robert Romero: Or Cuba. Yeah, I mean, I remember I was talking to a Cuban taxi driver who had just come to the US five years ago, and he said, “I'd rather someone shoot me than send me back to Cuba.” That's what he said. So it's like, I think there's that going on too. Again, not that that's a hundred percent right or whatever, but it's understandable and I get it too.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah, right.Robert Romero: So yeah. Some people just vote Republican no matter what, because of those reasons, and those are not just for no reason.Jonathan Walton: Right. Right, right. There's a history and a context there too that all, all that makes sense. All that makes sense.Outro and OuttakeSy Hoekstra: Thank you so much for that question and all the other insight you've given us. If people want to follow you online or see some of your work, where would you point them?Robert Romero: Sure. So my full name is Robert Chao Romero, C-H-A-O. And if you use that name, you can find me in all the usual places.Jonathan Walton: There aren't a lot of Chao Romeros out there, you sure? [laughs].Robert Romero: Yeah [laughs]. There was one. One person wrote me actually [laughs], but other than him, I think I'm the only one. [laughter].Sy Hoekstra: A guy wrote you just to say we have the same name, I can't believe it [laughter]?Robert Romero: Yeah He was in Brazil or something and he is like, “Is this a coincidence?” But anyways, it's neither here nor there, but, so if you look up my name, you can find me in the usual places, social media.Sy Hoekstra: Great.Jonathan Walton: Nice. Nice.Sy Hoekstra: They'll find all your books [laughs]. And we've put some of them in our newsletter and some of the other stuff, and we highly recommend all of it.Robert Romero: Thank you.Sy Hoekstra: So thank you so much for being with us on the show today. We really appreciate it.Jonathan Walton: Yeah, thank you so much.Robert Romero: It's my pleasure.[the intro piano music from “Citizens” by Jon Guerra plays briefly and then fades out.]Sy Hoekstra: Thank you all so much for listening. Please remember to support what we do and keep this work going beyond this election season. Go to KTFPress.com and become a paid subscriber. Get all the bonus episodes of this show, access to those monthly subscriber chats we were talking about earlier and a lot more. You can also get the anthology and read Professor Romero's essay and everybody else's essays at keepingthefaithbook.com. Alright. Our theme song as always is “Citizens” by Jon Guerra. Our podcast Art is by Robyn Burgess, transcripts by Joyce Ambale, editing by Multitude Productions. We thank you all so much for being here, and we will see you in two weeks.[The song “Citizens” by Jon Guerra fades in. Lyrics: “I need to know there is justice/ That it will roll in abundance/ And that you're building a city/ Where we arrive as immigrants/ And you call us citizens/ And you welcome us as children home.” The song fades out.]Jonathan Walton: Welcome to Shake the Dust, sheaking Jesus... What? Sheaking?Sy Hoekstra: Sheaking Jeshush.Jonathan Walton: I don't even know what that means. Okay, [Sy laughs]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ktfpress.com/subscribe

Episode 229 is the seventh  in a series of episodes where we begin to explore the radical right groups of the 1960's that clearly had great motive to murder president Kennedy. Emerging, alongside civil rights leaders, as a prime target for ire of white racists,  anti-communists, and and a wide variety of other conservative groups, President Kennedy was a a target among them all. This aspect of the assassination and the connection of the radical right is little explored.  We started  many episodes back, with the story of Joseph Milteer but its rather easy to pull on that string and find much more underneath the covers. Today's episode Part 7 explores the Constitution Party Meeting in Indianapolis in October 1963 where Milteer  was a material player. Ths meeting was a consortium of sorts where many of the most prominent members of the radical right underground were further bound together and found an environment to further collaborate. A rift developed over the support of Strom Thurmond versus Barry Goldwater and Milteer is admonished for certain activities and nearly expelled from the party.  There story brings together a greater element of societal underground. We hear of the traditional groups and study them including the KKK, the John Birch Society, the White Citizens Councils, The National States Rights Party and the Minutemen. These handful of groups were intertwined with men who weaved their way in and out of the shadowy existence of this intense resistance to societal change. This meeting included those elements but it was more than that...it included other elements of society with means  The story is not faceless, and we will introduce many of the key characters in this series of episodes that were key to understanding how the radical right may have participated in the JFK Assassination. But first lets explore a bit about this meeting the Congress of Freedom as we go deeper  to connect the players and provide context. Even as early as 1964, rumors and serious concerns over  the lone gunman theory and the evidence that might contravene it,  were becoming a major concern for the government and the commission. Conspiracy theories were contrary to the government's stated narrative from the very beginning. This  real-life story is more fascinating than fiction.  No matter whether you are a serious researcher or a casual student, you will enjoy the fact filled narrative and story as  we relive one of the most shocking moments in American History. An event that changed the nation and changed the world forever.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit wethefifth.substack.comEvery second Sunday of the month, the lads fire up Zoom and do a (mostly) Q&A show for subscribers only. It's very fun, often a bit messy and chaotic, and full of listeners expressing love, disbelief, dismay, and often delivering Strom Thurmond- like filibusters. So for you subscribers who couldn't make it on June 9, we revive the Zoom recording just to…

Yusuf Dahl is founder of the Real Estate Lab in Allentown, Pennsylvania and Director for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Lafayette College. He was also sentenced to ten years for dealing drugs at the age of eighteen.  To this day, he can still be legally discriminated against in the housing market, which he recently discovered when attempting to rent a home. We speak about his fight to overturn this measure. Plus, 25 years ago the Santana song "Smooth" went to #1. Would you believe It was the last Billboard #1 single to feature a guitar solo? Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Subscribe to The Gist Subscribe: https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ Follow Mikes Substack at: Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Give a little to help support the Truce Podcast When did Republicans, the party of Abraham Lincoln, start courting the American South? It's a big question! For decades, Republicans were known as the party that helped black people (except, you know, for ending Reconstruction to help gain the White House). Then, with the nomination of Barry Goldwater, the tide turned. Goldwater's team promoted him as a racist when he toured the South. And... he won some ground in the traditionally Democratic region. So when it came time for Richard Nixon to run in 1968, his team decided to court the South. Not out in public like Goldwater had. Instead, they decided to operate a campaign of "benign neglect" where they would not enforce existing laws meant to protect African-Americans. Our special guest this week is Angie Maxwell, author of The Long Southern Strategy. Discussion Questions: What caused the rift in the Democratic Party that made Strom Thurmond leave (hint: it has to do with Truman)? What was the Democratic Party like before Truman? What influence did Strom Thurmond have on Nixon? Who was Barry Goldwater? How did he change the Republican Party by courting white Southerners? How might the idea of the South being "benighted" impact them as a people? Why do so many evangelicals see themselves as "benighted"? Sources: "The Long Southern Strategy" by Angie Maxwell and Todd Shields. "Reaganland" by Rick Perlstein YouTube clip of Nixon not wanting "Law and Order" to mean "racist" Nixon talking about "law and order" in a speech Nixon's campaign ad about protests and tear gas Article about Nelson Rockefeller Nixon's civil rights ad Helpful Time Magazine article "These Truths" book by Jill Lepore Bio on Strom Thurmond Article about Reconstruction "The Evangelicals" book by Frances Fitzgerald Truman's speech to the NAACP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

[This blog will always be free to read, but it's also how I pay my bills. If you have suggestions or feedback on how I can earn your paid subscription, shoot me an email: cmclymer@gmail.com. And yes, I am available for Pride Month speaking engagements. And if all this is too big a commitment, I'm always thankful for a simple cup of coffee.]This past weekend, I was invited to deliver the keynote speech at the Bonneville County Democratic Party's annual Truman Dinner in Idaho Falls, Idaho. It was my first time visiting the Gem State, and I was captivated by both the gorgeous scenery and the warmth of Idahoans. When I was invited to the Truman Dinner a few months ago by Chairwoman Miranda Marquit, I accepted immediately. And I'll tell you why.Idaho is a deeply conservative state. It has not gone for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964; that year, Lyndon B. Johnson, despite trouncing Barry Goldwater—winning 44 states (and D.C.), 486 electoral votes, 61 percent of the popular vote—won Idaho by less than two percent.Idaho has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1974, a Democratic governor since 1990, and with the exception of a single term served by Mr. Walt Minnick in the 111th Congress (2009-2011), it has not otherwise elected a Democrat to the U.S. House since 1994.Idaho is among those states that actually increased their support for Trump from 2016 to 2020, despite his loss to President Biden.Abortion was formally banned in the state two months after the Supreme Court's Dobbs ruling (except in cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother during the first trimester), and LGBTQ rights in the state are abysmal, although public polling of Idahoans illustrates a more complicated picture (about 70 percent of Idahoans support LGBTQ non-discrimination laws).So, yes, it is accurate to say that Idaho is deeply conservative.But I spent the entire weekend with Idaho Democrats, and I found myself in awe of their dedication, kindness, and unyielding pride in Democratic values. They did not feel sorry for themselves. They did not make excuses. They had no time for pity.I was in the company of so many wonderful people who get up every day and fight the good fight for their families, their neighbors, and their state. I wish that so many Democrats living in solidly progressive areas of this country had a tenth of the courage and commitment demonstrated by the Democrats I met in Idaho.I am so tired of some Democrats living in solid blue parts of the country looking down their noses at folks putting in the work in conservative swaths of our nation, questioning their sanity in living where they do, as though uprooting one's family from the only home they've ever known is a feasible option for most people.The unflappable worth ethic of these Idaho Democrats reminded me of how proud I am to be a progressive from Texas and how much I bristle when someone who lives in a solidly blue state condescends to Democrats living in conservative areas.Anyway, the full remarks of my speech are below, and if you would be so kind, I highly encourage donating to the Bonneville County Democratic Party. Please help them build the future of Democratic politics in the state.FULL REMARKSGood evening!My name is Charlotte Clymer, and I am proud to be a member of the Democratic Party.It's an honor to join y'all tonight. When your chair Miranda Marquit extended an invitation to me a few months ago, I immediately agreed. You see, I've never been to Idaho, and every person I've ever met from Idaho has said to me: “Oh, don't come here. You'd hate it. Nothing to see at all. No gorgeous scenery. No nature. It's so boring. And tell your friends not to come here, either!”Idaho is a wonderfully kept secret. So, I knew I had to come for that reason, alone.But I also accepted the Chairwoman's invitation because I know what it's like to be a proud Democrat in an area of the country where Democrats aren't so plentiful. Because let's face it: I know that there are a lot of folks in this county, maybe even some folks in this room, who look at me and only see a trans woman, a progressive trans woman, who has flown in from Washington, D.C.What could I possibly know about what it's like to live in a conservative area? What could I possibly know about having a lot of conservative friends and neighbors and constantly being in spaces with people who are not gonna see the world as I do?This is what I call box thinking. It's become one of the biggest problems for our country: this relentless need to place everyone we know in a box and call it a day. There are a lot of folks who live their lives believing there are only two boxes and you need to belong to only one of those two boxes and it had better be their box.And if you chose to place me in a box before getting to know me, you'd miss out on a lot.You'd never find out that I served in the U.S. Army for six years and I am very proud of my service. You'd never find out that my Christian faith is one of the most important things to me and that I go to church every Sunday. You'd never find out that I'm very proud to be from the South, that I come from two lines of family raised in the South. You'd never find out that I played high school football, that I grew up around firearms, that I was raised on country music, and I am proud of all these aspects of who I am.I know what it's like to be from a part of the country that people living in more progressive areas look at and say: “Oh gosh, I'm so sorry,” as though I've just told them my dog died.Actually, that's not entirely true. If I told them my dog had died, they would probably have asked about South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's whereabouts.But it's true. We live in a nation of people who insist that there are only two boxes. And I'm not just talking about people on the right. I'm talking about people on the far-left, too. So much of the far-left can't stand me because I defy their box theory. They believe that I, as a trans woman, am not supposed to be proud of our military, that I am not supposed to go to church, that I am not supposed to disagree with them.That's the thing they still don't realize. The brutal truth is that the far-right and far-left have one thing in common: they both live in fear of talking with a reasonable adult who disagrees with them.Well, folks, here's my message to them: this country is a whole lot damn bigger than two boxes.I have not come this far in life to allow myself to be defined by strangers who are scared of reasonable disagreement. Who I am is between me and God, and no one else gets a say in that.And this goes for geography, too. I'm from the great state of Texas, and if all you knew about Texas were our state's political leadership and their incessant irresponsibility and selfishness and cruelty—if that's all you knew about Texas—you probably wouldn't want to visit.But you see, I'm very proud to be from Texas, probably for the same reasons that all of you here are proud to be from Idaho. And you should be. Because this is home. This is where you first learned about community. It's where you first understood what it means to live alongside others and take care of your neighbors and work hard to ensure that no one gets left behind.It hasn't surprised me one bit to find out that folks in Idaho are kind, hardworking, empathetic, and resilient. And I think that goes double for Idaho Democrats. It takes guts to walk up to door after door and knock on it, knowing that the person behind that door is more than likely going to be resistant to your message, knowing that you're going to have to do the thankless work of communicating a vision of solidarity and progress with your neighbor, who may have been fed a lot of disinformation and hateful propaganda.I hope you'll hear what I'm saying: it takes courage to be an outspoken Democrat in a place where few exist, but more than that, in states like Idaho and Texas, it takes courage to swallow your pride and meet people where they are and get them to see how the Democratic Party has their best interests at mind. It takes courage to do the hard and necessary work of constantly extending a hand to folks who don't agree with you on most things.But it is necessary. It is absolutely necessary. You are doing the work that needs to be done, and thank god for that.I think it's quite appropriate that we're gathered this evening at a dinner named for a president who understood, better than most presidential candidates of the 20th century, what it means to be the underdog.Harry Truman was not supposed to win the 1948 presidential election. The winner that year was supposed to be New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, who was very popular with his base and very charismatic. Of the 500 newspapers in the country at that time, nearly 80 percent endorsed Dewey. One famous pundit said two months before Election Day that the race was basically over.Most of that campaign can be summed up this way: the press thought Dewey was going to win, the pollsters and pundits thought Dewey was going to win, and Dewey thought Dewey was going to win. In fact, even President Truman's closest aides and his wife Bess privately thought Dewey was likely to win. So, it was clear that Dewey was going to win. It seems the only person who thought Truman could win was Truman.You see, President Truman was an incredibly capable commander-in-chief. He had successfully led the United States out of World War II and began the process of rebuilding Europe. He had common sense and stood up for working class families. He was a great chief executive.But he wasn't flashy. Many folks didn't find him very exciting. Around this time that year, in mid-May, his approval rating was 36 percent. He was challenged by people in his own party. He was doubted by the press. There were some folks who openly wondered if it wouldn't be a bad idea for Mr. Truman to drop out of the race and give another Democrat a shot.There were third party candidates like vicious racist Strom Thurmond, who threatened to take votes from President Truman and weaken him against Dewey.And meanwhile, Thomas Dewey was saying nothing much at all. He wasn't articulating any new or interesting policy ideas. He wasn't laying out a vision for all Americans. He was pandering to his base and playing it safe otherwise.So, an incumbent who's a great leader but isn't considered very exciting, a challenger who isn't saying anything new but is considered by many to be charismatic, a bunch of third party clowns mucking up the process, and a political press that seems to be asleep at the wheel.Does any of this sound familiar?President Truman went on aggressive whistle stop tours of the country, giving speeches at train stations all over, hammering the GOP and Dewey, refusing to back down, refusing to give up, and absolutely certain he was gonna win.I want to read you a quote from a speech President Truman delivered by radio in St. Paul, Minnesota about three weeks before the election:“Republicans approve of the American farmer, but they are willing to help him go broke. They stand four-square for the American home--but not for housing. They are strong for labor--but they are stronger for restricting labor's rights. They favor minimum wage--the smaller the minimum wage the better. They endorse educational opportunity for all--but they won't spend money for teachers or for schools. They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine--for people who can afford them. ...They think the American standard of living is a fine thing--so long as it doesn't spread to all the people. And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.”You could take that quote and put it in a speech by President Biden now, and you wouldn't miss a beat. Mr. Truman didn't play it safe. He didn't hesitate to fight for his values. He didn't try to pander to zealots and clowns. He was a warrior for democracy and working families.Three weeks after that speech, President Truman won. The pundits were apoplectic. All night, radio announcers told the public that Truman's lead in the national vote was temporary. There's no way he could win. Political reporters said he couldn't win, so how could this happen?The day after the election, President Truman held up the front page of the Chicago Tribune that had been printed and distributed erroneously, with that iconic headline in big bold letters:DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMANAnd he didn't just win. He got two million more votes than Dewey and trounced him in the Electoral College.I want to be very clear about something tonight. If you walk away with anything from this event, I want you to walk away with this: Joe Biden is going to be reelected President of the United States. We are gonna win in November. And it's not just because our party has ideas that actually help working class families. It's not just because President Biden's policies have saved our economy. It's not just because Republicans don't have any new ideas or new solutions.No, here's why President Biden is going to win: because he trusts the American people to understand what's at stake.We don't want to live in a country where any elected official believes he's above the law and should be treated like a king. We don't want to live in a country where the state gets to decide what women do with their bodies. We don't want to live in a country where politicians get to tell parents what health care they're allowed to provide their children. We don't want to live in a country where the richest people still get unfair tax breaks while working families struggle to provide for their children. We don't want to live in a country where those in power turn their backs on the labor movement and working class families.We don't want to live in a country in which life-saving and comprehensive health care is only accessible to those earning six figures or more.That's it. That's all that matters. And the leadership of the Republican Party lives every day in fear that more and more working families are gonna realize that.The polls don't matter. Listen, y'all, I've been following politics all my life and working in politics for most of my career, and I can tell you beyond the shadow of a doubt that polls don't worry me.What did the pollsters say in 2018? That Democrats were right to be anxious. What happened? Democrats took back control of Congress in an enormously embarrassing defeat for Trump.What did the pollsters say in 2020? That Democrats were headed for a catastrophic defeat at the polls. What happened? President Biden was elected, and Democrats took back control of Congress.What did the pollsters say in 2022? Do y'all remember? They said a “red wave” was coming and Democrats were about to be wiped out in Congress. What happened? President Biden had the best midterms performance of any first term Democratic president in six decades. The red wave turned out to be a red trickle.Folks, I say again: there is no doubt in my mind that we are going to win in November. President Biden and Vice President Harris will be reelected, we will take back the House, and you know what? I'm feeling cautiously optimistic that we'll hold the Senate, too.And when this all happens, the pundits and pollsters will make excuses like they always do. And the Republican Party will make excuses like they always do. And the press will make excuses like they always do.Let it be known right now: the Democratic Party ain't got time for excuses.There are working families to support, homeless veterans to house, minimum wage workers to be helped, children to be fed and educated, and a country, a proud country, to believe in.That starts right here in places like Bonneville County. It starts in places like my home state of Texas. It starts in the places in this country most in need of building bridges by folks like yourselves who are doing that thankless work because it needs to be done.I am grateful for you, and I want you to know there are Democrats all across this country who are grateful for you.Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your hospitality. Have a wonderful evening.Charlotte's Web Thoughts is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Charlotte's Web Thoughts at charlotteclymer.substack.com/subscribe

Whit Ayres, founder and president of North Star Opinion Research, has been a leading GOP pollster for more than 30 years. First a high school teacher then an academic, he cut his political teeth as state Budget Director for South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell. As a pollster, upset Senate victories for Georgia Senator Paul Coverdell in 1992 and Tennessee Senator Bill Frist in 1994 put Whit and his firm on the map. And since then he's worked for some of the biggest names in GOP politics: Strom Thurmond, Lamar Alexander, Marco Rubio, Bob Corker, Lindsey Graham, Ron DeSantis, among others. In this conversation, Whit talks his path to politics, favorite campaign stories, most famous clients, best polling practices, thoughts on the trajectory of the GOP and much more.IN THIS EPISODEWhit's interest in politics sparks in an Ames, Iowa high school classroom...The "searing experience" that influenced him in 1970s Berlin...What Whit learned teaching 8th grade public school for three years...Whit's gets his start in politics working for future South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell...How a vetoed pay raise encouraged Whit to take up political polling...Whit's first big client, Paul Coverdell, wins an upset Georgia Senate race in 1992...Whit's role in Lamar Alexander's insurgent 1996 GOP Presidential Primary campaign...Whit helps re-elect South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond at age 94 to his last term in the Senate...Whit polls for Marco Rubio's underdog first US Senate race in 2010 over Florida Governor Charlie Crist...Whit talks his role working for Ron DeSantis in 2018...and his take on the DeSantis 2024 presidential...Whit remembers the 1994 Bill Frist upset Senate win in Tennessee...Whit's take on the evolution of the GOP over the last decade...Whit on what makes for an effective pollster...Whit talks his time as active airplane pilot...AND academic towns, ballistic donors, Bob Barr, the Bernoulli Principle, bionic men, Brexit, Pat Buchanan, William Jennings Bryan, Checkpoint Charlie, Chris Christie, Bill Clinton, commuting marriages, Bob Corker, Steph Curry, Davidson College, Bob Dole, Mr. Enquist, flaming underdogs, Wyche Fowler, Cheryl Glenn, hail fellow well mets, Alex Haley, Nikki Haley, Tom Ingram, Dan Judy, Ted Kennedy, Rush Limbaugh, Huey Long, Dick Lugar, mainframe computers, Jon McHenry, Mike Murphy, Barack Obama, plaid work shirts, Adam Putnam, Dick Riley, Ronald Reagan, Jim Sasser, Floyd Spence, the Tea Party, totalitarian regimes, Donald Trump, two scrubs, Vanderbilt Hospital, George Wallace, Susie Wiles, Joe Wilson, & more!

We talked about putting a wheelchair on a buffalo and Strom Thurmond's reddit account and GamerGate 2 being boring and getting shocked by 120 volts and radio contests where you hold your shit and piss for a game console and teachers who get bullied and James Somerton

The famous image of a victorious Harry Truman holding up a newspaper headlined “Dewey defeats Truman” is clear evidence that the 1948 Presidential election did not turn out the way many people had expected. That April, Truman's approval rating had sunk to 37%, causing even many in his party to consider dumping him from the ballot. That summer, a rebellion by southern Democrats led by South Carolina segregationist Strom Thurmond promised to deny Truman electoral votes that his Democratic predecessors could have counted on for a century. Yet, despite all this, Truman didn't just win, he won big- finishing 4.5 points and 114 electoral votes ahead of Dewey.   How did Truman manage to turn it all around in six months? Who was Thomas E. Dewey and why couldn't he deliver a win with the wind blowing so hard at his back? And what did southern democrats hope they'd get by giving 39 electoral votes to Strom Thurmond even when he had no chance of winning the national election? Let's find out.   In the fourth installment of our Third Party Elections Series, we talk the election of 1948 w/ Jefferson Cowie.   Dr. Jefferson Cowie is James G. Stahlman Professor of History at Vanderbilt University. His most recent book, Freedom's Dominion, A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power (Basic Books) was awarded the 20203 Pulitzer Prize in History. You can hear Jeff discussing Freedom's Dominion in RTN #255 and his other episodes on the 1970s (#115) and The New Deal and its Legacy (#24).     This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

On this day in 1917, the U.S. Senate adopted a rule that allowed a two-thirds majority to cut off debate and force a vote.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brush up on your knowledge of Senatorial history on IP…Frequently, including legendary figures like John C. Stennis, Strom Thurmond, and an articulate 80s-era Joe Biden. Also in this episode, another errant “weather balloon” travels through U.S. airspace, and a new list of gender identity best practices gets released.

President Biden discusses serving in the Senate fifty years ago and working with racist colleagues like Strom Thurmond of South Carolina— Problem: Biden eulogized the late Senator. Bethany Mandel, co-founder of RightBooks4Kids and co-author of Stolen Youth: How Radicals Are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation, joins Seth by phone to talk about her run for school board in Montgomery County, Maryland. Get involved today at https://www.bethany4boe.com/! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.