Coup Save America

When people don’t engage in politics, they are giving those in power permission to do whatever they want. Silence is consent. Sean’s Monologue: Political Polarization and Disillusionment Today, Coup Save America is joined by Carl Able, the founder of Crayon Box Politics - a civic-tech and media initiative dedicated to making political information accessible, transparent, and engaging for the public. Sean and Carl begin the episode with a discussion about what it means to be politically disengaged. Carl draws examples from over two decades of service in the marines to show how participating on a community level can be so much more impactful and fulfilling than putting energy into national politics. Does voting really matter? Carl uses the Trump vs. Harris campaign to assure us that turnout makes all the difference. He and Sean talk about barriers to voting. While reluctant to point fingers, Carl does admit that a certain group of people seems “more oriented on election security as a means of election suppression.” They discuss whether voter fraud is really a problem, how voting should ideally happen, and the opposite messages of 1984 and A Brave New World. Carl and Sean go on to talk about the difficulties of ousting an incumbent local politician. Carl points out the problems that occur when our two-party system “holds a death grip” on the state election board. They talk about the Articles of Federation and how our nation’s founding fathers knew that governance could not always be held at an elite level. Carl points out how the states are now stepping up to balance out the current overstepping of the federal government. The conversation returns to the cost of civic non-participation. We hear about healthy skepticism versus lack of engagement, and Carl tells us how he responds to people who say, “But there’s no candidate on the ballot who aligns with my ideals.” He also dispels the idea that we should simply give up the fight since both parties are corrupt. Carl tell us about politicians, such as Jasmine Crockett, who have gone a long way after starting with very little…and those who have increased their net worth via politics without any intention to fight for the people. Listen to hear about his awesome idea for politician baseball cards. Carl and Sean struggle with the dilemma of maintaining neutrality in today’s ultra-polarized political climate. Carl bemoans how Crayon Box Politics can sometimes come across as partisan because his organization takes “a hardline stance on any policies that are written/enacted in such a way that they infringe on the human rights of any individual.” He uses ICE attacks on undocumented citizens as an example. As the episode continues, Carl tells us about his weekly podcasts and how a little bit of “butt breathing” is a good way to take a break from the stress of current events. They talk about the decline of civil education in school, the No Kings protests, neoliberalism, countering disinformation, and much, much more about the many aspects of voting – including (but not limited to) how the people of Colorado voted to raise taxes so kids could eat, why we use the Australian voting system, and how voters used to get shot for choosing the ‘wrong’ candidate. Carl also shares information about his upcoming project – The Archivist – and AI tool to help with civil engagement. He and Sean talk about campaign finance reform and how information needs to be more accessible to the average user. Carl’s overlying message is one of empathy and caring about issues that don’t directly affect you. He closes the show by telling us what serving in the military taught him about transparency and giving us more information about Crayon Box Politics (including where the name came from). To find out more, visit: https://www.crayonboxpolitics.com/ https://www.crayonboxpolitics.com/podcast https://www.facebook.com/crayonboxpolitics/

We get so committed to what we see as progressivism that we forget the primary stance of what we’re fighting for – what’s the humanity of these people? Sean’s Monologue: What is Misandry? This episode brings us a conversation with Martin Henson, the executive director of the BMEN Foundation and one of the few voices talking about how identity framing within America creates misandry/racism that is specifically targets Black men, separating them from the larger Black community. Martin uses the examples of police violence, the prison industrial complex, and actions of the Trump administration to illustrate his point. Martin shares his views on the Obama administration, both positive and negative, then shines more light on the myth that Black men in the U.S. are hyper-violent and hyper-sexual. Why has this misandry endured for so long? Martin tells us two definitions of male patriarchy and talks about the divestment of Black men and communities through policy. Speaking from his position as an organizer, Martin provides context for Black Lives Matter and shares some criticisms of the movement. He tells us how the post-Obama rise of the conservative far-right actually began in 2008. What did white culture fear so much, and how did this affect the BLM message? Are people burdened with the trifecta of being Black, male, and poor even invited into the spaces that are meant to advocate for their survival? Martin talks about the fallacy of equating comfort with success, warning us that feeling comfortable in a space doesn’t necessarily mean that we are doing something well. Why is anti-Black misandry one area where LGBTQ+ and other diverse communities share equality? Why might a far-right viewpoint become appealing to a Black man? Martin speaks to the responsibilities of being male and stresses the importance of Black men having a space to talk about this reality, so they can be better to themselves and better to the world around them. Listen to learn how and why women have become curators of Black male hardship. And what’s the persistent question that gets asked again and again each political season? Martin tells us how the context of “respectability discourse” has shifted over the decades, then shares his views on why the Internet and social media has made it harder to exist. He talks about Candace Owens and George Floyd, how the alt-right is better than we are at making their message accessible, and how there seems to be a resurgence of each historical cause about every twenty years. Martin and Sean discuss the cultural impact of accepted ideas about how Black men think and feel, and Martin asks why people don’t see Black men as legitimate authors of their own experience. He speaks to the challenges for Black boys in America, restorative justice, and whether Trump has caused a resurgence of racism or is simply allowing us to be what we’ve always been. Martin shares the danger he fears when traversing rural communities. Why does Martin think we have “a hard twenty years ahead of us”? He and Sean talk about the current Democratic establishment, the impact of a third Trump term on political organizers, the importance of churches within our communities, and whether or not the Internet has caused as much harm for social movements as it has good. Martin concludes by telling us about his non-profit, BMEN Foundation. You can learn more and connect with Martin Henson at: https://bmenfoundation.org/ https://x.com//@BMENFoundation http://facebook.com/BMENfoundation/ https://www.instagram.com/BMENFoundation/# https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmen-foundation

What is the cost to the world when we live in a truth created by others? Sean’s Monologue: Charlie Kirk and Domestic Terrorism Today we have a conversation with Bobbi Barrington, an inspiring Australian woman who lived for 26 years in the wrong marriage, 40 years in the wrong career, and 59 years in the wrong body. Bobbi’s goal is to help motivate people to make the positive changes they need in their lives, but what does it take to change and where does change begin? Bobbi is here to guide us on the path to “telling a better story.” Are our life stories true or have we been born into them and embodied them just because they are the stories thrust upon us? It all starts with awareness, so Bobbi begins by talking about self-awareness. She tells us about growing up in a hostile household and the strategies she developed to keep herself safe. Then she shares her journey of self-discovery – allowing her extroverted personality to shine through and giving herself permission to return to childhood and learn to play as an adult. Over the course of this episode, Bobbi teaches us to shift our mindsets from “I can’t” to “I can.” Listen to hear her Michelangelo metaphor, to learn why discomfort is sometimes good, and how to use ChatGPT as a guide to self-discovery. Bobbi also tells us how a “fake” story about yourself can be turned into reality. Bobbi talks about how culture shapes our gender identities. She tells us that many of the changes we make for ourselves transcend gender. After experiencing life from both sides, Bobbi has come up with two simple yet important pieces of advice to offer to men and to women. Sean and Bobbi conclude by discussing the similarities and differences between Australia and the United States in terms of political problems. Bobbi tells us about her personal political views and how her beliefs have been influenced and changed thanks to her international travels. She leaves us with the question – “This belief…does it serve? Am I sure? Am I really sure?” You can Live Your Truth with Bobbi at: www.bobbibarrington.com

“We can only operate from what we know and what we have. And when we learn something new, we operate from that new place. Judging ourselves backward? Futile, right?” Sean’s Monologue: The Impact of Social Construct Today’s episode features the amazing Dr. Nava Israel, author of the award-winning book CONEtrolled: How We've Lost our Freedom and How to Reclaim It. Nava begins by defining the idea of “core certainties”, a term she herself coined during the conception of her CONE theory. And, would you believe it, they are very much like dog shock collars! Listen to hear why Dr. Israel feels we are teetering on a worldwide tipping point. Next, using religion as an example, Nava talks about how oppressive constructs can fizzle out, but then laments that humanity tends to build new constructs on the ashes of the old ones. Find out Nava’s hope for her book and learn how people often react in their lives after learning the concepts of CONE theory. Nava tells us about the structure of CONES, citing examples, and explains how a person can become their own CONE after internalizing a set of beliefs. We learn what it’s like to discover your own neurodivergent thinking structure later in adulthood, as Nava tells us a little of her life story. Spending her early childhood in the Soviet Union, young Nava avoided indoctrination by simply not buying into the propaganda they fed her in school – as Nava puts it, “people with autism see beyond the bullshit.” Soon after, as an immigrant to Israel, she couldn’t comprehend the country’s strong national pride. As adult – now in Canada – Nava earned her PhD in epidemiology and began to understand more about the patterns she’d been noticing her whole life. Finally, the pieces fell into place and left her with a simple model to share with the world. Sean talks about how Nava’s book has changed the way he sees himself and his own ideas, while Nava disputes the concepts of shame and guilt. She tells us about “social lynching” and “moral homelessness”, then she walks us through each layer that creates a CONE of core certainties. Listen to learn why marriage is a solution to a very persistent problem and how something that is inanimate – a system – can be self-conscious. Sean asks Nava to tell the “Listerine story”, which leads to a discussion of manufactured needs & climate crisis (which is NOT manufactured). Then Nava explains how the illusion of choice creates dependency, using the example of modern medicine. She tells us how CONEs operate and reincarnate with two different types of CONE masters. During this topic, Nava speaks about communism with the authority of a person born in the Soviet Union. As horrible as many aspects of her childhood may have been, she can acknowledge the good features of communism, and she warns us how CONEs can cause harm by promoting a ‘burn it all down’ philosophy, rather than observing, learning, contemplating, and creating something better. Then Nava shares a wonderful story of collaborative and communal living in Sri Lanka. What is the takeaway? How do we change our thinking to create the best solutions to our problems? Listen to find out! You can learn more about Dr. Nava Israel and CONEtrolled: How We've Lost our Freedom and How to Reclaim It by visiting: https://www.navainc.ca https://www.facebook.com/nava.israel.92

It is a time of unprecedented confusion and chaos in immigration. Where are the oversight agencies that should be enforcing “the rule of law”? Sean’s Monologue: Illegal Detention & Deportation Today Coup Save America invites Andy Semotiuk, a highly experienced immigration attorney, to talk about the deportation debacle that is erupting so fanatically in Trump’s second term. Andy is quick to assure us that the vast majority of immigrants are NOT criminals, but simply people attempting to survive as they escape dire circumstances in their home countries. He explains that the main category of illegal immigrants are folks who have simply overstayed their visitors’ visas. “What I see is martial law in slow motion,” Andy tells us, as he and Sean wonder if all of this immigration chaos is a part of an agenda to prepare for the midterm elections. Andy defines a country’s “rule of law” as “a predictable state of existence in society”, then he goes on to explain the set-up of powers in the United States that is responsible for enforcing this rule of law. Where are the checks and balances now? Andy talks about how attempting to deport a plane full of children in the middle of the night on Labor Day weekend is a litmus test of where our country is trying to take us. Andy goes on to blame the problems in our nation on its disparity of wealth, echoing a common theme of Coup Save America. He wonders why the cluster of “progressive” oligarchs surrounding Trump aren’t calling him out. Wouldn’t it be in their best interest to be leaders in the fight for freedom of speech and liberalism? And has America decided that we no longer need allies? Sean and Andy discuss the culture of fear that keeps everyone quiet, and Andy expresses horror at the recent attacks on our most prestigious educational institutions. They talk about the people who still won’t acknowledge that Trump lost the election in 2020, the tragedies of the Ukraine and Gaza, and if the Democratic Party is complicit in democracy’s decline. Are the people who do speak out being genuine or merely pandering for political leverage? Switching gears, Andy and Sean discuss the general state of America. With his experience living in both CA’s – Canada and California – Andy can speak with authority about the “checkerboard quality” of both education and healthcare in the United States. He feels that we should do better at teaching children to be critical thinkers, we should admit to our mistakes instead of doubling down on stupidity, and we should read more books and listen to fewer podcasts – hypocrisy fully acknowledged! Returning to the show’s main topic, Andy explains to us that the plight of immigration, much like climate change, is a bigger problem than the United States can handle on its own. There is a world refugee crisis, and it requires a world solution. However, Andy feels hopeful about our future. Listen to hear why he has optimism and for his wild guess on when things will get better in the world. Andy talks about why it’s false to believe that illegal residents have no rights, and he tells us that comprehensive immigration reform should be the number one target for Congress. He goes over the problems we currently face when it comes to immigration law, and he gives his recommendations for people who are approached by I.C.E. or the police. We conclude the episode by hearing stories of Andy’s most shocking immigration cases, talking about non-binary and trans immigrants, and discussing the impact of removing temporary protective statuses. Andy Semotiuk can be reached by visiting: http://pacelawfirm.com https://www.facebook.com/asemotiuk https://www.facebook.com/myworkvisa

The truest things that are said today are said by comedians. Sean’s Monologue: Where’s the Democracy? Today on Coup Save America, Sean has a conversation with Paul Greenberg, author of seven books, including the New York Times bestseller Four Fish. Paul’s most recent book, A Third Term is a work of satirical fiction, in which Paul explores what might happen if a sitting president were to finagle an extra four years from the American people – and could this problem be solved by resurrecting George Washington and bringing him to the 21st century? Paul starts by sharing his childhood passion for the environment, which moved him to become an author. His disgust for the theatrics of politics inspired him to make a shift from non-fiction and pen a novel based on the ultimate theatrical president (guess who?). Paul answers the question of why satire is an effective method of making a point. He tells us about his friendship with his cover designer, Barry Blitt, artist of The New Yorker fame. Paul goes on to explain why he chose not to use Trump’s name in A Third Term, although the book’s antagonist is blatantly based on our current president. How does Hollywood contribute to public awareness and opinion? Was the movie Jaws a political allegory? Without revealing the twist ending, Sean and Paul discuss whether the events of A Third Term are really so absurd as to be impossible – aside from resurrecting dead presidents, of course. Paul disagrees with Sean’s belief that America was intentionally built and designed to disenfranchise the poor, and he shares his opinions on the founding father’s potential motives. And what would George Washington have thought about Donald Trump? Is there anything about “the tyrant” that may have impressed him? What’s the deal with presidents who have served in the military vs. those who did not? Paul shares personal stories about other podcast appearances and his work with a non-profit in Russia. He and Sean wonder if Al Franken could have defeated Trump – and was that why he got cancelled? – and they discuss the hypocrisy of the Epstein files controversy. They talk about how politicians use distraction to cover up what really going on (with RFK being one of those distractions), then Paul turns the tables and asks Sean to answer a few questions about his own belief system. Paul tells us what he’s found to be the most surprising thing about the first six months of the second Trump administration, and he shares some interesting ideas about making it illegal to be a lawyer and designing “MAGA goggles.” Then he talks about how autocracies work, using examples from his time in Russia, the book 1984, Croatia, and South Park. Sean and Paul then focus on the story elements of A Third Term. Paul tells us how term limits began in the first place and explains a workaround used in Serbia to bypass term limit laws. He tells a story about bumping in Chuck Schumer one Christmas Eve. Paul asks the question, “Why must our politicians be so darn old?” He and Sean talk about how Zohran Mamdani is actually seeing problems and proposing solutions, and they look again at the debacle of Boomers vs. Millennials and how the latter get a bad rap simply for growing up in a society that worked differently from previous decades. Finally, we listen to an excerpt from A Third Term, and we find out something that Sean has in common with George Washington. Paul talks about how America is in literal physical pain, and what that does to a nation. He discusses the historical and scientific accuracy of his book, and he tells us how AI helped him with the 2024 rewrite. Paul concludes with a brief overview of his previous works, and he promises to come back on the show to discuss other important matters he’s studied. You can learn about Paul and his many books by visiting: www.paulgreenberg.org You can connect with Paul at: https://bsky.app/profile/4fishgreenberg.bsky.social

“We need human contact to help people succeed.” Sean’s Monologue: Epstein, Espionage, and Inconvenient Truths Today, Coup Save America has a conversation with Lance Hillslinger, a veteran social worker and author of the advocacy books: Build a Better Bridge: Social Policy for the 21st Century and In Place of the Parent: Inside Child Protective Services. The episode begins as Lance describes his career as a Child Protective Services agent in the state of California and shares a bit about how the system works. He talks about how his experiences inspired him to write books that will educate and advocate for change. Lance briefly addresses the Jeffrey Epstein controversy and asks the question, “Where were the parents of the girls on Epstein’s island?” Lance and Sean discuss the correlations between poverty and our country’s various social problems, talk about the governmental standards that define poverty, and decide that the War on Poverty has only made things worse. Lance tells us that the most common reason why children are removed from homes is because their parents neglect to care for them because of drug use. He expresses empathy toward these parents, pointing out the underlying causes of drug addiction, how drugs can alter a parents’ perception of what a child needs, and the roadblocks these parents face while living in poverty, such as the difficulty of securing things like affordable dental care for their children. Do poor people have more children? Why has poverty increased? And is homelessness a gender inequality issue? Lance talks about how our government is “pennywise and pound foolish” when it comes to funding social services. He shares how child support works when the non-custodial parent is low income, goes through the history of social services, then describes the shortages of resources and how the decline in home ownership rates is detrimental to future generations. Lance and Sean go on to discuss the importance of education. What can be done to increase the graduation rate for boys? Would adjusting our methods of teaching English be helpful? Lance shares a couple of cost-free changes that California has made in their school systems to increase attendance and academic success. Sean asks Lance about the intent of the War on Poverty and why it didn’t succeed. They discuss issues such as age-adjusted food stamp benefits, public transportation, job availability, and metrics to measure the success of anti-poverty programs. Lance stresses the importance of the government supporting outdoor recreation and schools doing a better job of encouraging music and sports. Are men being left behind in current society? Gender disparities in education and the work force seem to suggest so. Lance opines on the importance of a social network for parenting, developing morality in kids, and the strengths/weaknesses of Child Protective Services. As always, Sean brings up the Nordic model of social safety, and he and Lance discuss why politicians demonize any systems – working or not – that suggest any level of “socialism.” Could a Universal Basic Income make a difference? Lance points out the misunderstandings and misinformation about welfare programs, and then shares ideas about how to combat chronic unemployment. You can find Lance’s books at: http://lancehillisnger.net For every book purchased, Lance donates money to Razom, a humanitarian program in Ukraine.

“Voters are looking for an economy that works. From anyone…even an orange-haired reality host.” Sean’s Monologue: An Empire in Peril Today Sean talks with Cameron Cowan of The Cameron Journal. Cameron is joining us to promote his new book America’s Lost Generation and to discuss various current events. He launches right with telling us how there really is no hope for Millennials, the Americans born between 1980 and 1996. Sean and Cameron discuss the possibility of Social Security collapsing in 2035, micro-transition generations, and how Millennials don’t deserve the bad reputation that the media likes to promote. What will our country look like when all of our politicians are Millennials? Cameron points out that progressives urgently need better PR. As time passes, will they return to center or go for broke? He uses the example of fascist Italy to explain how the right-wing is realigning itself with the economic populist message. Cameron goes on to answer questions about what AI could do to our workforce and whether we can still use the old paradigm to build an economy that works for everyone. He talks about how young men are being left behind in current society…and what the heck is happening now in Japan? Cameron explains how WE are the ones paying the cost of tariffs and tells the story of how America lost its manufacturing power. Could massive government subsidies restore our working force and economy? Learn how the Boomer generation benefited from an older system and how our country accidentally destroyed its own steel industry. Cameron uses the universal healthcare debacle as an example of how we can’t make major changes because just enough Americans are doing okay, so there’s not enough push to upset the apple cart. Just wait until a few more of us hit bottom. Cameron tells us how and why inflation became the biggest issue for the last election, then he talks about the need for progressives to find the right message to make people who are not affected care about social problems. The concept of individual exceptionalism makes it necessary to keep your message “personal and local.” Sean and Cameron discuss the ever-popular topic of corporate influence on elections. Listen to learn what quietly happened during Trump’s first term to help the rich get richer while keeping the poor down in the muck. And how did Joe Biden help facilitate the 2008 financial crisis? Cameron talks about going around state capitals to get things done, how owning assets gets you ahead while labor no longer can, and that crypto currency is a Ponzi scheme that our society embraces out of desperation. Is there anything we can do to save the middle class? Cameron says, “Well, disenfranchise the rich -but good luck with that!” This leads to remembering the revolutions in Russia and France. Cameron tells us about the acute devastation that had to occur before suffering people rose up against the wealthy and reiterates that our system “still works enough” to keep revolution at bay. “The collapse has to get a whole lot more collapse-y,” he explains, but it will happen very soon. Maybe by 2032, the 100th anniversary of America’s last economic upheaval – which was heartbreaking but left us with a functional society in the end. Who will be our next FDR? Could it be Zohran Mamdani? Would the democrats allow that now that the whole party is so gun shy? Cameron talks about the importance of securing the black vote and how leftist progressives should start hobby podcasts so they can slip in political topics. Finally, he ends the episode by sharing his own life story. Hear and connect with Cameron Cowan: http://cameronjournal.com http://cameronjournal.com/podcast http://instagram.com/cameroncowan http://tiktik.com/cameronjournal http://twitter.com/cameroncowan https://linkedin.com/in/cameroncowan

Have you ever noticed how the word “outrage” is so close to the word “outrageous”? Sean’s Monologue: The One Big Ugly Bill Today Coup Save America welcomes Scott Grace – an uplifting song writer, comedian, author, and public speaker. Scott is not on the show to “get political”, but to teach us: “How to Evolve During the Trump Experience Whether Humanity Joins You or Not.” Scott begins with a quick run-through of his life story and how he developed his entertainment (and cop dodging) skills working as a street vender in NYC…which led to him opening as a comedian for the likes of Robin Williams and Dana Carvey. Once a self-proclaimed “MAGA Liberal”, Scott explains his disenchantment with being a member of the “Outrage Olympics” and talks about what inspired him to start his Beyond Red and Blue project, where he blends humor, music, story, and spiritual insight to help people feel less polarized, rise above outrage and reconnect—with themselves and with people with different points of view, and, dare I say it, people who voted differently. Next, Scott tells us how nonviolent communication can be used to address political polarization and reads us a poem by his alter-ego, The Spiritual Dr. Suess. He goes on to talk about two world views – “survival of the fittest” and “we’re all in this together.” And he brings up that dirtiest of words – socialism. Scott believes that outrage without action can be crippling, so what do we actually do with problems like The Big Beautiful Bill. He reminds us about times of change in history and points out how there is opportunity in crisis. Is it time for the American empire to die? Scott tells us his story of meeting a MAGA couple on a plane & what he discovered about them and their hopes for the future. Then he answers Sean’s question about how he remains politically neutral while still honoring his true values. Then Scott brings out his guitar to play a little John Lennon and illustrate how music changed the world back in the 60’s and continues to do so today. There’s a shout out to Randy Rainbow as Scott entertains us with his own satirical cover – what Kenny Loggins’ Danny’s Song would sound like if Donald Trump had written the lyrics. Scott tells us about his career as a musician, doing opening acts for a variety of celebrity public speakers, and in the process learning how to be a public speaker himself. Then Scott needs a bathroom break, so we play the trailer for Beyond Red and Blue. When Scott returns, he and Sean discuss the history of polarization in politics and how to conquer social fears – both real and imagined. Scott uses the example of experiencing No Kings Day in Mexico to describe the power of social action, and when Sean presses him to come up with solutions beyond public protests, Scott plays us an awesome improvised song about Sean and his ideals. One thing Scott learned while working with famous changemakers is that “passion is messy.” Scott tells us about the intuitive training involved in improvised comedy, the effects of AI on the economy, and why speaking with people who are ideologically different has been both encouraging and disheartening. He talks with Sean about wars, people who see Trump as a conduit to destruction, and is it for real that the NYT reports a global trend of less war and poverty? Listen to hear about Scott’s “commit, don’t criticize” philosophy (but don’t commit suicide yet!), his book about mindful masculinity, the takeaway from the emergency meeting Scott attended after Trump’s first presidential victory, and another Suess-esque poem about peace and Trump. Connect with Scott Grace at: https://www.scottsongs.com https://www.facebook.com/scottkgrace

“From each according to his ability to each according to his need – that’s communism. That’s also a potluck. Sean’s Monologue: The Case Against Capitalism Today Coup Save America talks with Beth Green, a fascinating and intelligent woman who wears the many hats of author, intuitively-guided counselor, teacher, spiritual activist, composer, workshop leader, original thinker, and a catalyst for change. According to Beth, “My life is full of horrors and miracles – there is no in-between.” She introduces herself by sharing her early experiences as a tiny activist, who, despite the setback of a serious illness continued to make political waves throughout her youth. Listen to learn about Beth’s letter to the New York Times that got her expelled from an Ivy League college. Sean and Beth discuss the differences in activism between now and the 1960’s and the stigma associated with the label “socialism.” Beth attests that we are brainwashed from an early age and trained to compete for everything. She explains The Ego – an awareness of the individual existence – and how we must shift our consciousness before we can effectively mobilize for change. We need an inner revolution based on oneness, accountability, and mutual support. Beth sums it all up in one sentence when she says: “The purpose of the economy and society is to meet the needs of the people and the Earth.” Beth talks about “The New Declaration of Independence” that can be found on Change.org and reminds us that it is American to abolish our government. She and Sean talk about how “It’s a lonely soul that’s caught up in competition” and “You cannot clean the air over one home in Los Angeles.” They give a shout out to mutual aid organizations. Beth offers her insight on why people are depressed and explains more about how the ego has an infantile consciousness that needs to be taught better. She speculates with Sean about the positive roles that our egos might play, then she shares a simple question we can ask ourselves to help us make good life decisions. Beth also describes how to truly make an amend to someone you’ve wronged. Beth goes on to explain about the spiritual awakening that completely changed her understanding of a higher power and her approach to activism. Listen to the story of her “inner voice” that even Beth admits that most people will not believe. In the end, she tells us, “Beliefs are just beliefs. They aren’t reality.” A person’s belief system changes as they grow and evolve as a person, and “we co-create reality in a subtle dance of intention and allowance.” How do we build a new consciousness? By talking to everybody and questioning everything, of course! To conclude the show, Beth reminds us that “If you are not well, you don’t think straight – If you’re stressed, then you’re frantic.” She reiterates the many FREE resources that she offers the world for hope, healing, and a path to a better humanity. Learn more about Beth at: Bethgreen.org Co-create with Beth at: https://thestream.info/ Experience Beth’s music and books at: https://healingartsnetwork.org/ http://facebook.com/GrannyRocksOn View Beth at: https://www.youtube.com/@BethGreenTV

“We went from killing for peace to caring for peace. We’re already doing it.” Sean’s Monologue: The Ongoing Problems We Face in Our World As we launch our fourth season of Coup Save America, Sean interviews Jeffrey Charles Hardy, founder and president of the non-profit organization Care for Peace and author of the brilliant book To Care for Peace – A Global Mandate to Secure the Second Human Evolution in Perpetuity. Jeff begins this interview by telling the story of how a childhood trip to Tijuana shocked him into an awareness of world conditions just beyond his own comfortable life in California, then he talks about how his later work in the U.S. Coast Guard helped him to define the true meaning of peace. This leads to an explanation of Jeff’s concept around “caring for peace.” Jeff tells us about his lifelong career in healthcare and hospitals both domestically and abroad. He shares the successes and struggles of setting up his prototype tele-connected Care for Peace Community Development and Health Center in Myanmar, then he and Sean discuss what our society needs to change to help people “care for peace” in our hateful and divided world. Can global change agents propel the agenda by creating a new language with words that we already have? Jeff explains that his book does not contain templates for change, but templates for considering change. We are in a pre-planning stage for evolving the human condition. He talks about the three stages of the second human evolution and describes the ways humankind is moving in the right direction during this time of suspended human evolution. But what factors are holding us back? Getting administrations to come to the right mindset is crucial to progress. Listen to learn how hospitals are like stadium bathrooms, why Jeff enjoys working with Muslim professionals, and how dictators can be beneficial to society. Sean asks Jeff if capitalism is compatible with his vision and - spoiler alert - The Monty Python song is speaking truth when it calls Finland “the country where I’d like to be.” Jeff gives us a teaser about his new book in progress, then we hear more about Jeff’s Care for Peace clinics and learn why the individual members of Al-Qaida are probably are not as bad as we think they are. To learn more about Jeffrey Hardy’s work and book, please visit: https://www.CareforPeace.org https://www.facebook.com/Care4Peace/

We are no longer relying on Bernie Sanders; we’re relying on the movement that Bernie has asked us to build. Sean’s Monologue: America the Militarized Today Sean speaks with author and campaign activist Kacey Carpenter about the grassroots fight for progressive change. First, Kacey tells us his story of meeting Bernie Sanders and explains the event that helped him realize that the privilege he’d enjoyed in life was tenuous and the fight for democracy belongs in the hands of the people. With his eyes open to the problems in the world, Kacey was inspired to become a campaign volunteer and to write the book My Journey with Bernie: The Revolution Starts with Us. Sean shares the moment when Bernie Sanders won his heart, and he talks with Kacey about Bernie’s policies, how Bernie prevented Trump from winning the 2020 election, and overcoming the neoliberalism of the DNC. “The solution to the corruption of the Democratic Party is to literally stop taking the money,” Kacey says, a concept that he expands upon in his book Ready, Set, Go! Playbook for Campaigns, Candidates, and Causes. Sean asks Kacey about his biggest fear for Donald Trump 2.0, and Kacey warns about the biggest obstacle Trump will face in his second term. Kacey tells us about his involvement in local government elections, supporting corporate-free candidates, building a coalition independent of the 2-party system, rank choice voting, and “Bernie math.” After discussing the possibility of AOC as president, Sean and Kacey talk about the playbook for building a successful movement, then Kacey shares a pivotal moment while canvassing for Bernie in rural Pennsylvania that taught him how to talk effectively with people and convert them to action. Now that he has shifting his focus from running for office to supporting and mentoring other candidates, Kacey has plenty of insight to share about sustaining momentum in the face of setbacks and the power of different generations coming together to teach each other new skills. Listen to find out an easy way to get a free hour of campaign coaching from Kacey! Next, Kacey talks about separating your personal life from your political life, the power of storytelling in effecting change, and what it means to be a “conservative progressive.” He tells us about his support of local organizations that don’t take corporate money (for example – fruit gleaners) and he gives tips for organizations forming partnerships. Kacey talks about finding commonality with your enemies and how being open to others’ beliefs is the way to dial back the MAGA movement and create a People’s Movement in its place. He and Sean discuss how misinformation has divided us and how we can find truth despite obstacles like AI and a mainstream media with corporate interests. After Kacey tells us about his experiences as a union organizer, he and Sean end the episode by talking about the time they met in person. Subscribe to Kacey Carpenter’s free weekly newsletter at: https://lifeisajourney.substack.com/ Learn more about Kacey’s books: READY, SET, GO! Playbook for Campaigns, Candidates, and Causes My Journey with Bernie Connect with Kacey on social media: https://www.facebook.com/kacey.carpenter.104/ https://www.instagram.com/kaceycarpenter1/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaceycarpenter/ https://x.com/kaceycarpenter https://bsky.app/profile/kaceycarpenter.bsky.social

The more you know about the U.S. criminal justice system, the more you realize how many innocent people are being incarcerated. Sean’s Monologue: The Power of Presidential Pardons For this special episode of Coup Save America, we are joined by Shannon Lynch, the producer and host of The Alley: DC's 8th and H Case, a podcast dedicated to telling the story of six men who were falsely accused of murder and who are now seeking presidential pardons after serving long prison terms for a crime they did not commit. On October 1st, 1984, Catherine Fuller was murdered in an alley near the intersections of 8th and H streets northeast in Washington, DC. Shannon begins by telling us the background of this brutal case and how a miscarriage of justice resulted in the arrest of eleven young black people who were falsely accused of committing a vicious gang rape. Shannon and Sean discuss the possible reasons why police and prosecutors might latch onto an incorrect theory of the crime and pursue it so doggedly despite evidence that pointed to more logical explanations of what happened that afternoon. Shannon lists the many reasons why law enforcements’ narrative of the event makes little sense, and she explains the problems posed by tunnel vision and confirmation bias. Most people are surprised to learn that the police are allowed – and even encouraged – to lie to citizens during interrogations. Shannon sheds light on the many tactics used to obtain confessions and how these practices can destroy the accuracy of the acquired information. She talks about the evidence that was withheld during the 8th and H Case and how difficult it is to prove that prosecutors have committed a Brady violation. Why did the Supreme Court wrongly decide that the nine men ultimately charged with Catherine Fuller’s murder had received a fair trial? Shannon goes on to explain why having eleven defendants in one case meant that the accused young people did not receive adequate representation. Why were two of the accused acquitted while the other nine were found guilty? What is the process of applying for a presidential pardon? Shannon describes the complexities and required details that result in these petitions being upwards of 400 pages long. She walks us through what happens after your application is submitted, talks about the power of sole discretion that the president wields, and tells us why it’s so difficult for a person charged in Washington DC to receive a pardon for their crime. Listen to learn why the falsely accused men chose to remain in prison when they could have been released years earlier. Why seek a presidential pardon? What are the potential benefits? Shannon tells us what makes her feel so hopeful that Biden will grant clemency to the six petitioners from the 8th and H Case. We hear about the longstanding involvement of The Innocence Project in this case, then Shannon tells us what inspired an audio engineer to step out of her comfort zone and host her own podcast about the 8th and H murder. She talks about how her impressions of our country’s criminal justice system have changed and what she has learned from her experience. Shannon plans to continue The Alley with episodes featuring the current lives of the falsely accused survivors so the whole world can be as impressed as she is by their attitudes, resilience, kindness, and their many contributions to their communities and society as a whole. We conclude our show with a call-to-action, hoping our listeners will be inspired to spread the word and to sign the petition that might help six men receive the presidential pardons they so badly deserve. To learn more about the 8th and H case and to sign the pardon petition, visit: https://8thandhjustice.org To hear the full story and connect with Shannon Lynch, visit: https://www.newamerica.org/the-alley/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonleighlynch/

“There will be a lot of dead people, but politicians don’t tend to care about dead people.” Sean’s Monologue: Israeli-Palestinian Relations Recap On today’s episode of Coup Save America, Robert Cook joins us to talk about the conflict in the Middle East. Robert is a US Veteran, Western Civilization Expert, public intellectual historian and the author of "The Mahdi," a timely thriller novel which explores geopolitical tensions through a fictional lens. The episode opens with Robert telling us about his series of national security thrillers starring a modern, liberal Muslim character, Alex Cuchulain or “Cooch.” In previous novels, Cooch has proven his heroism in Colombia, Yemen, and Iran … but in this latest installment – The Mahdi – he returns to his Bedouin homeland and finds himself mixed up in a clash between Jewish and Islamic ideologies. Can technology and enlightened thinking prevail over entrenched dogma? Robert talks about how his military experience has shaped his perceptions of Middle Eastern conflicts and how writing fiction allows an author certain liberties with the storytelling. As for the harsh realities of the situation between Israel and Palestine, although he “doesn’t have a dog in the fight” Robert would like the Middle East to be a good place for children to grow up. Is a US war with Iran inevitable? Listen to find out what Robert means when he says that problems in the Middle East will not be solved by politicians or by warfare – they will be solved by religion. Sean and Robert go on to discuss “unintended consequences”, quantum computers, and how AI chatbots could be used to educate children. On the topic of innovative styles of teaching, Robert tells us about the Cook Honors College he launched at the University of Alabama in Pennsylvania. On the topic of America’s impending regime change, Robert feels that Trump will “really break a lot of glass” but will ultimately make our country better in the end. Listen to learn why Robert feels we are better off funding the government with tariffs rather than with tax revenues. He also explains the diversity of opinions across the MAGA movement and tells us how to listen through the noise for the real message. The conversation turns back to the implications of AI in modern warfare, along with the genocide & the future of the Palestinian State. We conclude the show with Robert’s advice for people wanting to remain informed about current events – Keep an open mind and listen to reliable voices on both sides. Don’t just be a viewer, be a thinker. Follow Robert Cook and buy his books at: https://x.com/robertcooknovel http://www.robertcooknovels.com Cook Honors College: https://www.iup.edu/honors/index.html

If kindness doesn’t benefit us personally, should there be an obligation to pursue kindness without reward? Sean’s Monologue: The Myth of Rugged Individualism Our guest this episode is Damien Dubose, author of the book America's Ethical Archetype: Establishing the Psychology of Moral Authority and Correcting our Country’s Politics. We go into the show acknowledging that Damien’s subject matter goes against Coup Save America’s core beliefs, but we hope that he and Sean will find some common ground. We start by listening to Damien tell us what inspired him to write his book and to Sean marveling that it took only two years to write a book he describes as “in depth and intellectual.” Damien defines moral authority and explains why it’s so critical in modern politics. He talks about using the philosophies of Ayn Rand and Carl Jung as tools to interpret different people’s approaches to reason. Sean wonders if individualism and collectivism are incompatible, so Damien explains the individualistic approach described in his book. Sean and Damien discuss “group think” and “cancel culture”, then they find out that they agree about some of the flaws in our education system. Damien worries that America is not developing individuals. He feels that people will solve the world’s problems by pursuing their own values. He and Sean talk about exploitation of others and factors that contribute to a person having the ability to make decisions that are in their best interest. While admitting that it is not his area of expertise, Damien tells us that he is opposed to social safety net programs and he feels they should be phased out. Listen to learn why he doesn’t apply the same principles to collective social systems such as military and emergency services. The discussion turns to problems that are collective in nature and how why Damien is not in favor of using collective means to solve them. It all comes down to a question of conscious consent. Damien’s main fight is for an individualist approach in politics, so he talks about our need for better leaders. Sean and Damien discuss how too much technology and media might lead to a collective way of thinking, then Damien explains his philosophy that people create their own circumstance by going about their lives more intentionally. He talks about why it is important to defend individualism through philosophy rather than through tradition or religion and about how individualism is imbedded into America’s founding. Damien gives us a teaser for his book - creating a better nation would start with the legislative branch of government. Damien makes his case for why there should not be a negative connotation to selfishness, then Sean points out a portion of America's Ethical Archetype that he found particularly compelling. What role does emotional intelligence play in making moral decisions? Why is some outside force controlling Damien’s 401K? What does it mean that “nothingness is the villain of the story”? The episode ends as Damien talks about the intended audience of his book, and Sean challenges listeners to read the book even if they are NOT the intended audience. You can find America's Ethical Archetype: Establishing the Psychology of Moral Authority and Correcting our Country’s Politics on Amazon or by visiting Damien Dubose on social media: https://x.com/US_eleader https://www.instagram.com/damientdubose/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/damientdubose

“There’s the law…then compassion. And the law and compassion don’t always see eye to eye.” Sean’s Monologue: Barriers to Birthing Today we welcome Mark Bello - attorney, civil justice advocate, and an award-winning legal-themed novelist. Mark opens the with the story of why he became an attorney, what turned him to social justice, and what inspired him to write his first novel based on his own experience as one of the first people to sue the Catholic Church over sexual abuse by clergy. He tells us why he chose to write fiction rather than a factual account when penning his debut novel, Betrayal of Faith, thirty years after his groundbreaking litigation. Mark goes on to tell us how the 2016 election turned a single book into a series that now contains nine titles, then laughs about how Trump unwittingly turned fiction into fact. This leads to a discussion with Sean about how America shoots itself in the foot by voting against its own self-interest. Mark is of Jewish heritage, and he shares his fears about mass deportation by saying “Yesterday’s Jew is today’s Haitian.” He bemoans a political swing to the right that he really didn’t expect, then he and Sean talk about what went wrong in the 2024 election. Mark had promised himself that he wouldn’t be bitter on our show…but, you know. The conversation turns to how America’s justice system has proven that some people are simply above the law. Did Trump reach the legal standard for a felony murder charge following the January 6th insurrection? A viewer of the show writes in to assure us that “Trump is working for Jesus.” As an attorney, Mark is all too aware that justice is not always equal and blue-collar criminals are not able to hire the best lawyers. He and Sean chat about other American inequalities, money in politics, the perception that the Far Left is controlling the country, campaigning on immigration, and what went wrong with trickle-down economics. The conversation takes a less frustrated turn as Mark tells us about his “Justice Counts” podcast, which allows him to vent with like-minded guests about the shit going on in the world and the legal issues of the day. Sean brings up one of the “Justice Counts” episodes, then they discuss the US probation system and how it needs reform. Mckenzie reluctantly comes on air to talk about participatory photography. Mark hints about the adventures of his lawyer hero, Zachary Blake, along with his pornography-addicted P.I. as they fight for social justice in his latest legal thriller, The Anti-Semite Next Door. He tells us about his children’s books and lists off the topic of each book in his Zachary Blake series. Mark explains that after writing books for others, The Anti-Semite Next Door is the book he finally wrote for himself, then he takes a few minutes to share his views as a Jewish American on the Gaza-Israel conflict. To learn more about Mark’s books, podcast, and more, visit: https://markmbello.com

You are not responsible for the circumstances of your birth, but you are responsible for what you do with your life. Sean’s Monologue: Post Election Reflections Coup Save America welcomes the remarkable John David Graham, founder of the Good Samaritan Home, a non-profit agency helping people restart their lives after prison. John is also the author of Running as Fast as I Can, a loosely autobiographical, fictionalized story of one man’s journey to overcome an abusive background to find forgiveness and love. John begins the episode by sharing his incredible life story and the events that led him to open up his home to ex-offenders. Listen to hear how John’s life was turned around when he attended a protest just to meet girls. Next, John talks about the project he launched in 2001 that has since expanded from his own residence to 19 facilities spanning over 3 counties in Ohio and is helping thousands of men and women reintegrate back into society. John explains post-release control of offenders and how the Good Samaritan Home plays a role with what he calls “habilitation” skills. He describes how he has dealt with the challenge of the “Not in my backyard” mentality, and how it took seven years and a snow blower to get the local community to start waving at them with a whole hand instead of just one finger. Sean and John discuss the recent election and the concept of hating the system while still loving your neighbor. John, who received a doctorate of Applied Theology late in life, tells us “It has been my work in the street helping broken people restart their lives that has allowed me to maintain my faith.” He talks about Christianity, and how “morality cannot be legislated.” Later in the episode, our “minister without a portfolio” speaks more about his faith and the importance of a religious community vs. his disillusionment with the church. John shares success stories of the people who have benefited from the services of Good Samaritan Home, and he tells us about his partnerships in the re-entry coalition. He chuckles at how the Good Samaritan Home project is appealing to Democrats because it is morally responsible, but it is appealing to Republicans because it is fiscally responsible. John tells us about the long process of writing his novel. We watch the trailer for his book, and John describes how he took marketing and promotion into his own hands after old-style publishing failed him. He talks about the theme of his novel – self-forgiveness - and how his main character must be reminded again and again that life is written in pencil and gives us many opportunities to erase and start again. John goes on to talk about the biggest challenges for people coming out of prison, the power of the Civil Rights movement, and why Texas is a good state to start over. He talks about acceptable vs. unacceptable crimes and tells us that his “you’re here, you need help, how can I help?” philosophy guides him to overlook the “unforgiveable sin” and reach out to everyone equally. John explains how family structures influence a person’s future and how our family structures have changed over time. What are the differences between younger and older people who come out of the prison system? What does “normal” really mean? And could the 60’s generation be to blame for our current high incarceration rate? John concludes by sharing his continuity plan for Good Samaritan Home. Will his project be able to weather the oncoming political storm? John is very much aware that “the state giveth & the state taketh away.” To learn more about Good Samaritan Home and the book Running as Fast as I Can, visit John’s website & read his thoughts on Substack: https://johndavidgraham.com https://johndavidgraham.substack.com/ Follow John on social media: https://www.facebook.com/JGrahamAuthor https://www.instagram.com/JGrahamAuthor https://www.tiktok.com/@jgrahamauthor

Is it possible to know the nature of humans without the benefit of religion or philosophy? Sean’s Monologue: The 2024 Election Today Coup Save America welcomes Anne Riley, author of the upcoming book The Human Idea: Nature's Newest Ecosystem and the brilliant mind behind the “ideasphere.” Ideas are a human concept, and Anne is confident that we can design collaborative systems – such as governments, institutions, and tax and elections systems – that will serve our country better if we use similar structures to the ones nature uses to keep her own long-lasting and proven collaborative systems functioning. Anne talks about the fifty years she’s spent pondering the question of where human beings fit into the scheme of nature and how Michael Rothschild’s book Bionomics, Economics as Ecosystem helped her to think in a new direction and solidify her own ideas. Anne describes government as a coordinating mechanism in both humans and nature, how that works, and why it’s important. Anne explains the deceptively simple nature of life & how it complies with the ecosystem around it, then goes on to tell us that “choice” is the human superpower – both for better and for worse. Anne and Sean discuss how choice is different from free will and they explore the reasons why people hang on to bad ideas. Anne believes that the whole job of young adulthood is to unlearn everything we’ve learned and figure out which human ideas actually work for us. Anne helps us to understand that our government does not function well because it defies the rules of nature. She tells us how democracy came about, why it was such a great idea, and what other ideas have gotten in the way of it. Anne’s one basic tenant for having healthy societies is “Hey, do what you want, but don’t harm others in the process.” What is harm and how can harm be regulated? And how does AI fits into the ideasphere? Anne shares her vision of the “idealsphere” – the perfect combination of nature’s systems with an ability to make choices. If society could work in a way similar to how the human body functions, how would this address issues like education and income inequality? Listen to Anne’s well thought out proposal for a 4th branch of government & how it would work to improve democracy. Unlike many Coup Save America guests, Anne is a proponent of capitalism. Listen to hear her reasons for supporting capitalism and why she feels this system can maximize choice while minimizing harm. Anne explains how institutions evolved within the ideasphere, then the conversation turns to some of Sean’s favorite subjects - hunter/gatherer societies and life in Nordic countries. The episode concludes with a discussion of the “wild west” we’ve been haplessly thrown into – the Internet and social media. Anne cringes at how humans were not prepared for an informational tool so vast, and she talks about how we as a society need help learning how to manage and navigate the Internet, and especially tools to help us discern lies from the truth online. The Human Idea: Nature's Newest Ecosystem will be available soon wherever books are hold + you can learn more about the ideasphere by following Anne on social media: https://www.facebook.com/anne.riley.16144606/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-riley-656b0125a/ https://www.instagram.com/anne_riley_ideasphere/?hl=en

Today on Coup Save America, producer Mckenzie guest hosts a special pre-election episode: The Battle of the Books!!! Coup Save America invites two authors – Dan McCrory and William R. Douglas to talk about their polar-opposite political polarization novels. What could happen if a Republican president refused to concede the Whitehouse? What if left-wing extremists took hold of power and ran with it? Could our country survive the tyranny if either political party were to go hurtling off the rails? Our guest authors have explored the possibilities in their respective novels, and now, on the eve of a pivotal presidential election, they are both coming to Coup Save America for a three-way discussion with Sean about the potential problems posed in their books. With a cast of over-the-top characters placed into hair-raising situations, are these novels satire or a looming reality? You be the judge… After each author talks about his book with Mckenzie, all three guests come together to show how people with starkly different viewpoints can engage in a productive conversation about our country by listening and learning from each other. From Dan McCrory, author of Worst Case Scenario: Election Night: “In this satirical thriller that strikes uncomfortably close to real life events, President Adolf Wallace declares martial law and accuses the Democrats of rigging the election. Native Americans decide to band together and take back their country. Ensuing incidents call for an assessment of loyalties that could mean life or death. An EMP detonated by North Korea only makes matters worse. At times funny and sometimes deadly serious, Worst Case Scenario shows what could happen in this nightmarish state of affairs.” From William R. Douglas, author of The Sum of All Our Anger: Civil War 2.0: “What if our present-day polarizations and anger go unchecked? What if they continue to simmer and intensify with no relief? Award-winning author William R. Douglas’ takes the reader into the realm of the unthinkable with his gripping and sweeping new novel, The SUM of ALL OUR ANGER. In 2061, new President Devin Cyrus is determined to sweep away the Old Way in America to pave the way for a Socialist utopia under his New Way policy. First, he must deal with renegade states by whatever means necessary. Oklahoma Governor Mary Whitfield, a patriotic supporter of the Old Way, rallies like-minded Governors and citizens to keep a remnant of the Old Union intact by opposing the New Way at all costs. Military, National Guard, Militia, and Civilian leaders must choose sides as events escalate. Our Union and way of life hang in the balance as the two opposing world views collide head-on in a final showdown. Which one will triumph?” To learn more about these authors and their political novels, visit: https://www.facebook.com/dan.mccrory.1650 https://www.youtube.com/@writingbiz1 http://tiktok.com/@danmccrory https://www.authorwilliamrdouglas.com https://x.com/authorwilliamr

Are the American people desperate enough for change to embrace a few all-new solutions? Sean’s Monologue: The Two-Party Cartel Evan Jaqua, founder of The Solutions Party, joins us today to talk about real, functional remedies to the shortcomings of government and to the social issues plaguing both sides of our political aisle. Evan launches the episode by describing what he believes is the crux of our country’s woes – our politicians’ addiction to power – which then leads to prioritizing corporate interests, the spread of misinformation, and other weaknesses in democracy. The Solutions Party has a plan that could end lobbying, lying, and expensive “razzle-dazzle” campaigning. Listen to Evan’s well-thought-out ideas for ending re-election and bringing accountability back into government. Could such an ambitious plan ever come to fruition while the powers-that-be cling so ferociously to the status quo? The main things holding us back from solving our country’s problems are a lack of political will and a lack of fresh ideas. Sean and Evan go on to discuss political tribalization by design, creating all-new, revolving political parties, and reforming the electoral college. Evan doesn’t just complain about the decline of journalistic integrity and the media’s use of emotional manipulation, he lays out a workable plan to fix the problems. We hear about Evan’s life experiences that inspired him to envision The Solutions Party. He goes on to share his ideas about creating a path to pay off college loans, improving efficiency in government jobs, empowering informed voters, supporting immigration, and ending the war on drugs. As a conservative Republican, Evan might have different reasons for wanting the same things that liberal progressives want, but his solutions to our society’s problems will make us ALL winners in the end. And, as expected, Sean and Evan talk about our impeding presidential election…which not-so-expectedly leads to a discussion on nuclear proliferation and a transcontinental bikeway. Evan Jaqua believes that “the way forward for our country is through honest debate and civility.” If you are ready to embrace some fresh ideas for a better future, check out: http://www.solutionsparty.org http://www.facebook.com/TheSolutionsParty

Why rein in radicalism when you can use it to make a profit? Sean’s Monologue: Republican Extremism: A Manufactured Reality For today's show, we have invited back David Shaw, author of the book Deplorable Politics: Propaganda for the Brainwashed, to talk about the direction of the current Republican Party and, more specifically, the MIS-direction of presidential candidate Donald Trump. David begins by using examples from the rapidly approaching presidential election to showcase how his book is even more relevant today than it was when he published it last year. He explains the characteristics of malignant narcissism and poses the question: Does Trump lie because he believes what he says is true… or because he knows that lying will work? Why do Trump’s followers refuse to recognize his lies? Sean and David chat more about “Teflon Don” and why he’s been so hard to prosecute, then call out the Democratic Party for their lack of a progressive agenda. They dive deep into the history of the Dems, and David explains how the Christian Right is a small group that the Republican Party blows up to a big group. Our host and guest speculate about the biggest threats of a second Trump presidency and what it might do to democracy. They agree about the dangers of the Supreme Court immunity ruling and how propaganda and the corporate media are the biggest influences on public opinions. And is Trump really threating to take over the media??? David lists the various rationales of the Trump voters he’s spoken with, highlights some common propaganda terms, and points out that we essentially have a three party system – Republicans, Democrats, and MAGA. He and Sean discuss how difficult it is for Dem politicians to navigate the crisis in the Middle East, plus ponder the feasibility of holding control of the House and Senate. They talk about the role that fear plays in Trump’s messaging, and David scoffs at how easy it would be to solve our country’s border problems, except the Republicans want to keep campaigning on those issues. David tells us about his “Defend Democracy” Facebook sharing campaign, then answers questions like – Why hasn’t Kamala Harris come out with a more populist campaign? – “What other radical right politicians are currently on the international stage? – Why won’t psychological experts call out craziness in politicians? – and the biggest question of all – Is J.D. Vance more dangerous than Donald Trump? Learn more about David Shaw and his book at: https://www.facebook.com/deplorablepolitics.org http://Deplorablepolitics.org

Politicians think: “If we keep you focused on fighting for that emotionally triggering issue over there, you won’t notice this bill we’re passing over here.” Sean’s Monologue: The Outrage Economy Today’s guest, David Beckemeyer, is the host of "Outrage Overload," a podcast dedicated to exploring the outrage industry and finding solutions to toxic polarization. David begins the show by telling us a story of watching relationships erode around him, which led him to launch his podcast. Sean and David discuss the many pieces that work together to cause US citizens such high levels of outrage, plus talk about how politicians on both sides use polarization to simplify their jobs and shrug off accountability. David warns about the inherent danger of people thinking they are on the “right” side, which can justify actions that they would otherwise never perform or accept. He sheds light on the reasons why people feel they can’t have meaningful conversations with people they disagree with, then he tells Sean which intellectual groups feel safe from the possibility of a civil war and which groups fear that our outrage could lead to violence. There are so many news sources out there these days – it’s a wide-open playing field and very difficult to navigate. David talks about strategies that can help us consume news without giving in to emotions, find news sources that are less biased, and become more comfortable with delving into nuance. He warns us that reading only the headline is never enough because the story beneath it might be completely different. We are ignoring HALF of the first amendment! David feels confident that while there is no magic bullet to fix our nation’s outrage economy, there are enough smart people working on the problem to give us hope for our future. He talks about how we must overcome the fundamental psychology of being human and develop critical thinking skills that are not innate to our survival. Remember that Trump is proof that a bottom-up strategy can influence the elites and be satisfied by doing small things that work will toward changing the system. Developing real human connections will help our political identities become less important. Why are humans so good at grouping up? Sean and David discuss the ramifications of another Trump presidency, ways to protect our own mental health, and the idea of adding “media literacy” to curriculums. David tells us the steps for avoiding outrage overload and turning our passion into action (sending a Tweet is NOT action!). Sean asks David to think of examples of time when outrage has led to positive outcomes, then the two ponder the question of whether voters are becoming cynical and tuning out due to our climate of outrage. David stresses the importance of primary voters and their influence on candidates, then shares his tips for having healthy political conversations with family and friends. Listen to David’s podcast by visiting: https://outrageoverload.net

To break our cycle of chaos, we need to understand how we got here. Sean’s Monologue: Free Speech Arrests Via Anti-Terrorism Laws Our guest today is Matthew Warshauer, professor of history at Central Connecticut State University and author of the book Creating and Failing the 9/11 Generation: The Real Story of September 11. Matthew begins the interview by talking about the history of the 9/11 attacks and how the aftermath of this event affected Generation Z, more aptly called “The 9/11 Generation.” Matthew goes on to talk about The Patriot Act, George W. Bush’s infamous “Axis of Evil” State of the Union Address, and other American reactions to 9/11 that blew our nation’s opportunity to improve international relations at a time when the whole world was reaching out to embrace us. He and Sean discuss what led up to the 9/11 attacks and Matthew shares the current reactions of his university students when they read the Declaration of Jihad. Do other countries have a right to exist and to reasonably defend themselves? How does the US project its power? How does “othering” and xenophobia fuel the extreme right? Matthew shares the story behind writing his book and talks about the tightrope of examining such a difficult topic with honesty, but also with respect for the American people who were harmed in so many ways. His book strives to delve past “the tragedy and triumph narrative of 9/11” which only covers what Matthew refers to as the “102 minutes” – from the time that the first plane struck the first tower to the time when that tower fell – which is only a small fraction of the full story. Sean and Matthew talk about the pervasive distrust that young people feel toward government, the upcoming presidential election, and how the Republican Party will look after Trump - ultimately ending the conversation on an optimistic note for the future. To learn more about Matthew Warshauser, his books, and his fantastic Halloween decorations, visit: www.themindfulprofessor.org

“Are Progressives like 8-bit robots walking into walls when it comes to understanding economics?” Sean’s Monologue: Kamala Harris & Healthcare Today we welcome special guest Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action. Steve is here to tell us how Modern Monetary Theory could benefit the working class American – and why it doesn’t. If you think a podcast on economics will be dry and dull, you’ve never heard Steve’s animated and passionate viewpoints on the subject. Steve and Sean start the episode by reflecting upon the most recent presidential debate, then Steve launches right into the truth about our nation’s economy. While explaining the term “austerity” as it relates to macroeconomic models, Steve dispels the myth that if a government spends money on its people, it will cause inflation. We learn about the history of the federal reserve and how it works, what the federal deficit actually means, and what taxes really are and why they exist. Steve teaches us the difference between a “currency user” and a “currency issuer”, along with explaining how inflation works and why he hates using the term Modern Monetary Theory. What would an idealistic economic system look like? It comes down to understanding class, power, and the average working man’s lack of agency. As Progressives, we sabotage our own agenda by not understanding how economics work. Steve describes our movement’s ignorance as a “self-inflicted gunshot wound to the junk,” and he tries to clear up some of the more common misunderstandings. He talks about the history of capitalism and how the system is now eating itself alive. When you pay interest rates, where does that money go? Is the middle class even a real thing? Steve attests that Modern Monetary Theory could contribute to fixing our society’s problems, but MMT can’t do it alone. How do we make our progressive goals actionable and not just theoretical? Why do progressives go to sleep whenever Democrats are in power rather than demanding real change? Steve does a brilliant “Trumper” impression as he explains how we need to create working class awareness. We (as Progressives) need to accept that Medicare can’t work on a state-by-state level, and Steve calls out our dreams of a Universal Basic Income as being “batshit, bullshit crazy” (although there is still hope in the idea of Universal Basic Services). So, how do we solve our economic problems? Listen to learn about “outside the nine dots”, “creating dual power”, and how “education and awakenings are two different things.” Other topics include: Giving Biden credit for the CHIPS Act, price gauging during the pandemic, Dude, Where’s My Car, and the economic theories of Clara E. Mattei and Jason Hickel. To understand more about how economics can realistically work to create a more equitable society, visit Steve Grumbine’s website: http://realprogressives.org Listen to Steve’s podcast: https://macroncheese.captivate.fm

It’s hard to criticize any state these days when they ALL have skeletons in their closets. Sean’s Monologue: The US-China Relationship Today Sean is joined by Coup Save America’s good friend Toufic Sarieddine, a PhD graduate from Nagoya University whose research focuses on the hegemonic impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative on US hegemony around the developing world. Toufic is the author of the book A Tale of Rice and Copper: A World-Systems Analysis of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The episode begins with an unexpected topic – the Lebanese political party Hezbollah and their exploding pagers – an event that occurred only hours before our weekly broadcast went live. This attack hits close to home for Lebanese national Toufic – VERY close to home, as he is visiting family in Beirut as he joins us on the show. What does this attack mean for Lebanon’s relationship with Israel? What prevents US politicians from taking an anti-Israel stance? Toufic tells us that Arabs like himself are not taught or trained to be anti-Jew, and they realize that most of the animosity between their nations comes from government actions and not the beliefs of the actual people going about their lives in the Middle East. But he does see hypocrisy in what some nationals are allowed to say about their fellow humans, while other nationals are not granted the same leniency. Did you know that it’s illegal in Israel to test your DNA for ethnicity? Toufic explains how the US prevents Middle Eastern countries from being truly democratic, and he talks about the extent of Israel’s control over the Gaza Strip and its inhabitants – even banning pasta from the region for a long period of time. Why does the United States fund both Israel and Lebanon? Toufic feels that if Israel was not written a blank check to do whatever they wish, the leaders would cultivate better relations with their neighbors…”Because If you have endless resources, you’re going to have endless ambition.” As the conversation continues, we learn some interesting facts about religions in the country of Lebanon, and why the militant movement Hezbollah has gained popularity amongst the people since October 7th, 2023. Toufic speculates on what action Hezbollah might take in response to the pager attack. We move on to discuss the Pakistani-Chinese relationship as Sean asks to hear the inspiration behind Toufic’s new book. Why is China now so interested in Pakistan, and what is the benefit to cost ratio of this alliance? Toufic explains the difference between humanitarian aid and developmental aid. Returning to hostilities in the Middle East, Toufic calls out celebrities who stay silent rather than using their platforms to draw attention to the genocide in Palestine. He gives shout outs to Macklemore, The Weeknd, and Shea Couleé for their bravery. Sean asks Toufic who will be better for the Middle East, Trump or Harris? Then they talk about the possibility that we are currently engaged in a very subtle WW III. But overall, Toufic tells us that despite the intense seriousness of our political situations, sometimes you must laugh at things – like blown up pagers - just to get through them. “You have to laugh about this because, you know, there’s no more tears to shed. And if you laugh at something, you conquer it.” You can find info on Toufic Sarieddine’s book, read his articles, and learn more about World Systems Analysis framework by visiting his social media sites: Book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-97-3508-2 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Geopolitics-with-Toufic/61565186018387/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/profile/in/toufic-sarieddine-42067b6b?originalSubdomain=jp Academia.org: https://nagoya-u.academia.edu/TouficSarieddine

“We’re stuck with Trump because the United States created Trump.” Sean’s Monologue: From Neoliberalism to Trump Today, Coup Save America speaks with social philosopher Dr. Douglas Giles, the author of Why Trump? Why Some People Support Him—How the Rest of Us Can Respond. Dr. Giles is an assistant professor at Elmhurst University, where he researches the root causes of bigotry and injustice and their role in political action. Douglas launches straight into explaining how Donald Trump is more of a symptom than a cause – a conman and a “useful figurehead” for the Republican Party to rally the disaffected white working class. Douglas points out how Trump gained popularity because “This guy hates the same things I hate”, and he discusses “ressentiment” – a French term used by philosopher Max Scheler to describe a particular form of hatred that arises from beliefs that one is lacking recognition and thus is socially impotent. Douglas and Sean chat about the immigration controversy and how much resistance to difference plays into the myth of American exceptionalism. Do we really have a border crisis? How about JD Vance & those pet-eating Haitian immigrants? And what about that term “woke”? In getting to the bottom of the problem, Dr. Giles gives us an overview of Calvinism, discusses Lewis Charles Levin and nativism, then explains why the MAGA feels new to us – and yet it isn’t. Douglas goes on to compare the novel The Turner Diaries to Project 2025, and then describes how Bill Clinton changed the operation of the Democratic Party and how the Democratic Party changed Obama. Is Donald Trump a fascist? Dr. Giles does not think so. He believes that the new name for fascism should be “concentration of power.” And what’s the difference between “deliberate democracy” and “open democracy”? Sean and Douglas talk about the usual subjects – how the term socialism has become corrupted, how Americans give in to media control, and how the “fake Left” is only interested in opposition, not equality for all humans. They conclude the conversation with thoughts on the Trump/Harris debate and speculations about the upcoming presidential election. You can find Douglas Giles’ books on Amazon & his thoughts at: https://dgilesphilosopher.medium.com/ https://www.youtube.com/insertphilosophyhere https://www.instagram.com/dgileswriter

If we stop using the “S” word, will more people embrace socialist ideals? Sean’s Monologue: The Neoliberal-Fascism Connection In this episode, Sean interviews Dan McCrory, an author of extraordinary diversity and depth. Dan has published books in many genres, but today we focus on his powerful work of non-fiction: Capitalism Killed the Middle Class, which tells the story of how corporate greed has dismantled the middle class in America. Drawing on his long history of labor activism, Dan talks about the pros and cons of breaking up monopolies and 1980’s strategies for successful management of unions. He and Sean touch on Reagan’s theory of trickle-down economics, the evils of the American Legislative Exchange Council, the Powell Memorandum, and how to navigate the threat of AI to our work force. Dan explains how the Green Party clashes with labor issues, discusses “Right to Work” trends, and talks about fusion voting and 5-time presidential candidate Eugene Debs. He tells us how large companies avoid paying taxes, gives us examples of fascism around the world, and addresses the question, why wasn’t Trump more prepared for Biden to leave the race? Sean and Dan go on to discuss the caste system in America, how our Social Security system is designed to benefit the rich, the militarization of US police forces, and predatory lending schemes. Dan leaves us with a prescription to “Buy local, buy American, buy union, and exercise your right to vote.” To learn more about Dan and his books, visit his social media sites: http://tiktok.com/@danmccrory https://www.youtube.com/@writingbiz1 https://www.facebook.com/capitalismkilledthemiddleclass

“Can actions with ulterior motives benefit everybody in the end?” Sean’s Monologue: Bully Pulpit International Our guest today is internationally-recognized author, presenter, and volunteerism expert Karen Knight. With nearly three decades of experience mentoring and advising social impact organizations, Karen is a leading voice in challenging conventional ideas about volunteerism and driving creative solutions to long-standing issues. Karen begins the show by explaining the importance of volunteerism and how our society could not function without non-profit organizations. She and Sean go on to discuss the hardships for NGOs when it comes to recruiting and retaining volunteers – especially in our current times of emotional and financial stress. Karen defines the true value of volunteering, both in hypothetical dollar amounts and in the benefits to society, such as combating the fierce sense of polarization that plagues the United States these days. Karen reveals to us the most common reasons why people choose to volunteer their time and energy to non-profit organization…and her answer might surprise you. Then she lends us her expertise by sharing tips on how to keep volunteers engaged and feeling valued. She divulges her favorite four types of “perks” to reward volunteers and lays out her rules for giving “tangible gratitude.” Sean asks Karen about the lessons that the covid-19 pandemic taught us about volunteerism, then the two brainstorm ideas on how governments could support the volunteer efforts that their countries rely upon – and they come up with an excellent idea! I hope someone with this power to act upon their idea might be listening…? Karen loves to help social impact organizations overcome their challenges! Learn more about her services at: https://karenknight.ca/

“The systems were designed without love in mind.” Sean’s Monologue: The Case Against Kamala In this profound episode of "Coup Save America," host Sean St. Heart delves into the crucial topic of healing the deep-seated racism and other cultural harms that plague our society. Joining him is Jesse Mass (JD), an acclaimed author, and expert in organizational psychology, who shares insights from his latest book, Race for What? A White Man’s Journey & Guide to Healing Racism From Within. JD's compelling narrative begins with his childhood, shaped by his parents' decision to raise him within the Black community, providing him with a unique perspective on the origins and impacts of racism. His journey takes a fascinating turn as he collaborates with the renowned artist Nelly, where he experiences firsthand the cultural differences in business and legacy building. JD’s path then leads him to a significant community-building initiative focused on health, service, and mutual support. JD's quest for understanding and dismantling systemic racism propels him into the study of organizational psychology, and his work with white antiracism groups inspires him to create his own programs. These initiatives aim to address and heal the pervasive harms of colonization, racism, and competitive culture. In the second part of his book, JD introduces his "Seven Steps to Healing," a transformative guide designed to foster cultural change. These steps encourage a deep examination of our emotions, intentions, and psychological developments over centuries, advocating for a shift towards a more humane and inclusive cultural evolution. JD has taken a step of his own by launching the Same Difference podcast with co-host Kory May. As a white man raised in a black community and a black man raised in a white community, JD and Kory discuss life as they each see it through the prism of race – they celebrate diversity, debunk stereotypes, and showcase the beauty of their differences. Join Sean and JD for an enlightening conversation that explores personal stories, historical contexts, and practical steps towards a more just and compassionate society. This episode is a must-listen for anyone committed to understanding and healing the wounds of our culture. Listen to JD’s podcast at: http://samedifference.life Learn more about JD’s book at: https://raceforwhat.com

The only way to get ahead of a destructive evolution is to change the rules of the game. Sean’s Monologue: Slavery as the Root of Black Disparity Today we welcome award-winning journalist and social documentarian, Paula Lehman-Ewing. Amongst her many journalistic accomplishments, Paula earned a SPJ Silver Heart award for relaunching the defunct newspaper for All of Us or None, a nationwide grassroots organization vying for the restoration of human and civil rights for formerly and currently incarcerated individuals. Paula has come on our show to talk about the power of racial and social justice organizations and to share the launch of her debut book Reimagining the Revolution: Four Stories of Abolition, Autonomy, and Forging New Paths in the Modern Civil Rights Movement. Paula begins her interview by sharing the reasons why it was so important to publish a book that amplifies the voices of the actual individuals affected by inequality. She acknowledges the difficulty of her and Sean – two white people – having a conversation about racial disenfranchisement and she emphasizes our need as a society to really listen to those who are suffering the consequences of inequality. Paula tells stories of her activist friends living behind bars, and she explains how prison abuses are all part of a scheme to control certain groups and ideas. Listen to find out why Paula is not a fan of proposed “prison reforms” and why she considers herself to be an abolitionist – a term we only wish could remain archaic. Paula goes on to talk about restorative justice – what it is, the satisfaction levels it brings for both criminals and victims, how it promotes accountability, and how our society would benefit if we used restorative justice in place of prisons. When Sean mentions that “slavery never ended, it moved from the plantations to the prison yards”, he and Paula discuss the historical basis surrounding the concept of race and the “evolutions” that have brought about systemic inequality in America. They both agree that capitalism leads to exploitation, despite the views of other like-minded activists who look to capitalistic approaches as a pathway to change. They discuss Greenwood District and the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. The conversation turns to politics and the idea that there really are no political solutions to societal problems. The members of both major parties are focused on individual rather than humanistic approaches to reform. Sean stresses the large role that the Democratic Party played in constructing the prison industrial complex, and they both talk about being momentarily swept away by optimism during the Bernie Sanders campaign, only to conclude that “the status quo will do anything it has to do to maintain itself.” Paula’s advice to those of us who sincerely care about changing society is to ignore the orchestrated performance that is politics and not get distracted by the current dramatic chaos that is really of very little consequence. She points out that a presidential administration has only a 4-to-8-year shelf-life before the whole structure changes again and policies are reversed and restructured. Salvation lies in activist movements that are long established and far-reaching. Paula and Sean conclude the episode by talking about effective ways to challenge the system and how to construct a social movement with long-lasting impact. To learn more about Paula Lehman-Ewing’s book and the organizations she supports, please visit: https://reimaginingtherevolution.com

Modern Americans are “swimming in a toxic pool.” Could this be an underlying cause of the rapidly increasing rates of autism in today’s kids? Sean’s Monologue: Navigating Autism in Our Workforce Join us as Sean St. Heart interviews Tracy Slepcevic, author of the bestselling book Warrior Mom: A Mother’s Journey In Healing Her Son with Autism. Tracy is a Certified Integrative Health Practitioner with years of experience in the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine – just the expertise needed to shed light on the problem of environmental toxins and how they affect our physical and mental health. Tracy shares some of her background as she recalls the shock she felt when learning that her young son had autism. She tells us about her struggles getting help, information, and service within our broken healthcare and education systems, but she also gives ample hope to parents embarking on their own autism journey. Early intervention is key. Tracy explains the process of getting a child clinically evaluated for autism, discusses biomedical interventions, and talks about the resources – both good and bad – that exist for parents. And, of course, Sean and Tracy reveal misconceptions about people on the autism spectrum. Throughout the conversation, Tracy tells us about many lifestyle changes that are beneficial to humans with or without autism. We learn about the gut-brain connection and hear a few of the many ways we are all being poisoned. As an example of how these environmental and dietary conditions affect us all, the episode goes off-track for a bit to delve into producer Mckenzie’s Stage 4 cancer diagnosis. While responding to a heckler from YouTube, Tracy explains the difference between saying that vaccines cause autism and saying that a child has suffered a vaccine-injury. She stresses that vaccine controversy is not the focus of the show, and she urges people to read the book Turtles All the Way Down if want to learn more about the autism-vaccination connection. Tracy and Sean agree that it is counterproductive to attack doctors for exploring unconventional theories – given that exploration and experimentation is literally what science is all about.

Vote for a “liberal” or vote for a terrorist – what’s a staunch Republican to do? Sean’s Monologue: How Conservatism Shapes Policy This week on Coup Save America, Sean speaks with Russell Jack, a former U.S. Air Marshal and the author of Is MAGA a Terrorist Movement? With a combination of inside knowledge and meticulous research, Russell’s book presents a solid warning about a threat to our democracy as we know it. Russell begins by breaking down how the Make America Great Again movement meets the definition of a terrorist organization with its fascist desire to have one-party control with a powerful leader at the top. He explains how MAGA relies on the use of intimidation to achieve political goals, how their agenda clashes with the 12th amendment, and how their beliefs contradict a pro-American stance. Russell is careful to distinguish between ‘regular Republicans’ and those who actively support MAGA. He tells us that the Republican party is in a difficult position after being co-opted by MAGA. Is Russell catastrophizing a relatively benign situation? He explains his fear that infringement upon America’s freedoms could easily be escalated by the compliance of law enforcement agencies if a MAGA-led government enacts unconstitutional policies. Drawing from his inside experience, Russell tells us that while law enforcement has always been a conservative-leaning profession, he has seen far too many people in authority who seem too willing to fall in line with an extremist government. Enforcement will be the key to the erosion of our freedoms. Nobody wants to live in a fascist country, yet nobody recognizes it coming and stops it. Sean and Russell address many questions during their conversation…Can the MAGA movement still take hold without Trump as a figurehead? How can a person be charged in one state for something that is illegal in different state? Why is the electoral college so outdated? Why wasn’t Trump impeached for insurrection? How do the characteristics of MAGA align with other terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaeda? Why ISN’T the Black Lives Matter movement a terrorist operation? And does it even matter if Trump’s felony charges are politically motivated? Russell and Sean discuss how various things that were once automatic disqualifiers in our society have now become accepted, projection vs. deflection, and (as always) the unreliability of mainstream media. Finally, Russell offers us advice on what we can do to fight against the MAGA movement. To learn more & to purchase Russell Jack’s book, visit: https://www.magaterrorism.com

What happens when addiction becomes the rule rather than the exception for most Americans? Sean’s Monologue: Is a Utopian Society Possible? Today on Coup Save America we welcome guest Jeff Einstein, a digital media pioneer who has taken a critical stance on how the digital age has negatively impacted our quality of life. Jeff begins by explaining how a state-sponsored default addiction to digital media began to develop in the early 21st century. He professes that the rise of runaway digital scale has given all the institutions in our life more power with less accountability. We can’t walk away or opt out from this institutional tyranny, and the resulting addiction has led to a decline in our spiritual, social, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Jeff describes his theory of “Huxwell”, the current totalitarian dystopia that combines elements of Alex Huxley’s A Brave New World with George Orwell’s 1984. He tells us about the 3 mass formation psychosis that have gripped American society in the first two decades of the 21st century. Jeff goes on to confess his professional history, including his creation of many “firsts” in the field of digital media – contributions that he is no longer proud of and that he now feels he must distance himself from by blowing the whistle on the harm his former industry has caused to our country. Jeff is the founder of “The Quality of Life Resistance Movement”, which creates a road map for individuals and families to escape our state of default media addiction. He gives us his three primary calls to action for inserting “meaningful ritual” back into our lives, and he explains why he feels this is the only statistically viable way to fight addiction. Sean and Jeff spend the second hour of the interview chatting about various topics such as the history of the surveillance state, the democratization of media, Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan, “Trump derangement syndrome”, giving up our civil liberties out of fear, the industrialization of liberation movements, Palestine and cultures of victimhood, and, of course, the irony of promoting an anti-digital media campaign using digital media. It is an insightful conversation even if the two participants don’t always agree. We conclude the episode by watching a promo video for Jeff’s documentary film-in-progress – The Rise of Huxwell. Learn about and donate to the movie at: https://riseofhuxwell.com Discover The Quality of Life Resistance Movement, the antidote to Huxwell at: https://qolrm.substack.com

How can someone being banned from marching in a parade lead to everyone being legally censored online? Sean’s Monologue: Censorship Industrial Complex Our guest today is here to tell us about a secret form of online censorship that is happening every day to people like you and me – and we don’t even know it. Robert Hawkins is a social entrepreneur and founder of Reveddit, a website that shows people where they have been censored on Reddit’s media platform. Robert became passionate about restoring free-speech values online after discovering his own comments from past years had been secretly removed, and he’s here now to blow the whistle on a practice called “shadow banning." Robert explains how shadowing banning is a person-to-person form of censorship, not a silencing imposed by a company or a government, then he walks us step-by-step through what a person sees – or rather, DOESN’T see – when their comment has been shadow-banned. Sean and Robert talk about what Reddit promotes itself to be vs. what Reddit actually is. They go on to discuss the intent behind shadow banning, who does it, and why. Are there good uses for shadow banning? What type of content is most frequently shadow banned? Robert tells us the justifications used to perpetuate this practice that Sean describes as “counterintuitive to democracy.” Are these justifications valid? Robert argues that they are not and tells us why. Robert describes how bots are created, how they operate, and how they are (in some ways) smarter than humans. He tells us that he does support “transparent content moderation”, and he explains the difference between shadow banning and censorship practices that actually help users learn the rules of the platform where they are posting. What happens when a user discovers they are being shadow banned? This practice has gone largely unchallenged, so is there any recourse to fight against it? Robert explains why there is a lack of awareness surrounding shadow banning. He tells us about his experiences at LibertyCon, and his attempts to bring shadow banning into the light. What about enacting laws against online censorship? Is it a good idea to involve our government? Robert talks about legislation that is currently in the works … in places like Texas and Florida. Robert shares practical tips for what everyday people can do to save America from the complexities of censorship. Should people who don’t even use social media be concerned? Robert feels that even those who understand the scale of online censorship don’t acknowledge the harm it can do. He tells a story of a hidden government practice was eventually revealed to the world, and he hopes the same will be true of shadow banning. Sean and Robert conclude the episode chatting about why political figures are unlikely to have censored comments on Reddit, which social media platforms don’t permit shadow bans, and wondering if decentralization is a potential solution. Will Robert expand his Reddit tool to encompass other social media platforms? And what was it like living in Taiwan for the past ten years? Listen to find out! Check your Reddit account for shadow banned content at: https://www.reveddit.com/ Check out Robert’s newsletter at: https://RemovedNews.com Watch more about shadow banning videos at: https://www.youtube.com/@robert.hawkins

When a fundamentalist Christian is preaching against abortion, don’t point out how many babies God killed in the Bible! Sean’s Monologue: Book Banning in America Our guest today is Mark Alsip, a computer scientist, freelance science writer, and the founder of Bad Science Debunked, a skeptical science blog. Mark is here with us today to talk about a personal history that is quite unexpected for a man of his profession - being raised in and indoctrinated into a fundamentalist Young Earth Creationist sect. He went through decades of trauma due to the conflicts between pseudo-scientific church teachings and the world of reality that was revealed to him through his love of science. After Mark left religion completely, he thought he’d be able to leave his past behind him and move on, but then fundamentalists insisted on forcing religious dogma into our government, our laws, our schools, and other secular places. Mark felt it was his duty to fight back, so he wrote the book Journey to Reason: Walking Away From Young Earth Creationism and Religious Fundamentalism. In this episode, Mark and Sean discuss critical thinking vs. religious thinking as they swap amusing stories about growing up under the tutelage of Bible-thumping adults. They talk about how prayer is like “flipping a coin and calling it after it lands” and how religions quell logical questioning when they label disagreement with doctrine as a “sin.” Mark explains the beliefs of his childhood religion and how it sucked him in with scare tactics, such as a propaganda movie that made a whole audience of little kids cry. Sean and Mark agree that religion is not abusive in general, and that there are many wonderful and compassionate believers in the world. They share Mark’s assertion that religion is fine, but “we just don’t need it” and people should not push it on one another. They talk about how the religious and non-religious could live together in peace and harmony if the fundamentalists weren’t such a fundamental threat to our democracy. The conversation turns to impending legislation that supports narrow Christian viewpoints, and how such influence has come about. Mark and Sean wonder where religion is headed in America and speculate on what our future will look like if Trump wins the presidency. Mark talks about his professional history and how it taught him critical thinking skills, he explains the relationship between capitalism and religion, and bemoans the hypocrisy of Christians who claim to believe in love for mankind while exhibiting little actual compassion for their fellow human beings. His conclusion is that we should focus on the good parts of religious teachings and reject the parts that hurt and condemn others. You can find Mark Alsip’s book Journey to Reason: Walking Away From Young Earth Creationism and Religious Fundamentalism on Amazon, and follow him on social media: www.facebook.com/BadScienceDebunked www.twitter.com/markaaronky

Is economic disenfranchisement the main force fueling toxic Internet subcultures and online movements? Sean’s Monologue: The Phenomenon of QAnon We are joined today by Mike Trigg, a former Silicon Valley start-up guru now turned accomplished writer. Mike’s first corporate thriller Bit Flip was lauded with 5-star reviews, and now he’s on our show to talk about his newest novel, Burner, available on April 16th, 2024. Billed as a "fascinating thriller in which an online movement swallows up the person who started it" by Foreword Clarion Reviews, the novel dives headfirst into political disinformation, toxic internet subcultures, and our need for belonging and purpose in an age of distorted online personas. Sean and Mike discuss the creation of Burner, and how it is written from a centrist point of view (even though the author is left-leaning). The stock manipulation and kidnapping elements of the book were inspired by news headlines like GameStop and January 6th. Sean praises the likability of the lead character, Shane, who Mike has dubbed “the Forest Gump of the Internet generation.” The rest of the conversation centers around how online movements take flight – the use of Internet algorithms to normalize beliefs, the self-reinforcement, and actions driven by the underlying idea of “I am a victim, now who do I blame?” Mike and Sean talk about their election concerns and how to deprogram someone once they have been sucked into a toxic movement. The end conclusion is that – both on the Internet and in politics – people behave much better when others know who they and there is some level of accountability. Other topics include: Mike’s time on Capitol Hill, elected officials as Internet trolls, how the Democratic Party disenfranchised blue collar America, ID verifications online, the impossibility of the TV show The Last of Us, the looming threat of AI, and the fun of recording audio books. Find Mike on his website and all social media platforms: https://www.miketrigg.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MikeTriggAuthor https://www.linkedin.com/in/triggmike/ https://www.instagram.com/mike_trigg254/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVvHXnTHvExzKghoWXejT9w https://twitter.com/mike_trigg https://podmatch.com/guestdetailpreview/17027555998711651707240ae

Did the act of dreaming bring about religion? Sean’s Monologue – “The Poor People’s Campaign” Tune in today to learn that everything you’ve heard about dreaming is true…sort of. Benjamin Davidson – The Dream Wizard – joins us to unravel the mystery of dreams and other human “thought experiences.” With two decades of work in the mental health field behind him, Benjamin has turned his attention to everything dreaming – from acting as a curator, collector, and publisher of historical dream research to recording his podcast of dream analysis – Dreamscapes. Benjamin talks about what got him interested in dreams, why we dream, strangers in dreams, and what is the definition of a “dream.” He tells us about different states of consciousness, why he doesn’t believe in dream dictionaries, and why some people – like The Dream Wizard himself – seldom remember their own dreams. Sean and Benjamin discuss how a person can stop reoccurring nightmares, and they look back on Benjamin’s career as a mental health professional in the emotionally challenging field of emergency room intake. Then the two discuss the future of brain science, bringing up both exciting and dangerous ideas about how humans might one day be able to change their own brains. Benjamin talks about the proven scientific way of looking at dreams vs. what he affectionately calls the “Spooky-woo side”, ultimately defining himself as a “credulous skeptic” when it comes to prophetic dreams and other unknowns. Sean brings up the question of whether a person’s dreams can diagnose a physical or mental disorder. Finally, Coup Save America producer, Mckenzie, joins the conversation as Benjamin helps her analyze a dream about reptiles and a serial killer. Visit www.BenjaminTheDreamWizard.com for episodes of the Dreamscapes Podcast and to explore the many book titles Benjamin has published on Amazon.

How do our government’s efforts to ban TikTok circle back around to the crisis in Gaza? Sean’s Monologue: The USA Titanic Today we bring back our friend Christina Khalil for an update on her New Jersey race for Senate. Running on genuine concern, compassion, and policy ideas that might actually heal our country has forced Christina to abandon the Democratic Party in favor of the Green Party. She gives us a rundown of the current situation in New Jersey – “possibly the hub of corruption in the United States” – as she describes how incumbent Democratic leaders are failing the people they claim to represent, especially in the areas of affordable housing and ending genocide in Palestine. Christina describes the actions of the Democratic Party in general as “Donald Trump wearing blue”, as she poses the question, “What does ‘progressive’ even mean anymore?” Sean and Christina briefly break down the historical events that led up to Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. The United States created this monster, and why are they now trying to demonize the Jewish people who have nothing to do with the decisions made by governments who have betrayed their voters? What’s the difference between a Zionist and an ordinary Jewish citizen? Why are the very families who have been harmed by violence coming out to denounce their leaders for spreading misinformation? Christina spells out the steps she would take as a member of Congress to protect and heal Gaza while at the same time creating jobs for the Palestinian people. The discussion the genocide evolves into an examination of the Democratic so-called progressives failures in areas such as humanitarian efforts, currency, and mainstream media control. Did you know that “The Green New Deal” was designed after ideas posed by The Green Party? We hear how President Biden’s version of this deal is manipulated in favor of destroying the planet. The sad truth is that we have the solutions, we have the resources, we just don’t have the right people in leadership who care enough to move our nation forward. We need new leadership options, so Sean and Christina talk about the crucial 5% threshold and the “uncommitted vote” movement – both pros and cons. Christina issues a plea for people who care about honesty and integrity to run against the incumbents in their state offices – The Green Party will give resources and support to candidates with progressive ideals. She talks about the benefits of “rank choice voting”, New Jersey’s “Green Thirteen”, and how the policy changes she wants for our country will focus on people above profits and politics. Learn more about Christina’s campaign at - https://Khalilforsenate.com

Could “complexity, cost, and risk of change” be the three main factors holding back healthcare reform in the United States? Sean’s monologue topic: The State of Healthcare in the States Today on Coup Save America, our guest comes to us with a unique and creative way to spread awareness about our failing healthcare system. Greg Vigdor is the author of The Irv Tinsley Health Policy Detective series, a two-book collection of thrilling medical espionage that teach vital lessons while also entertaining their audience. Greg has the necessary expertise to write medical fiction with authority. He brings over four decades of experience to the table with a distinguished career spanning various leadership roles, from CEO to policy expert, advocate, manager, and consultant. Greg is the founder and president of the Washington Health Foundation and has served as President/CEO of the Arizona Hospital & Healthcare Association. Greg introduces us to some of the themes from his two health detective novels, The Theory of Irv and The Covid Murders, that highlight the very non-fictional problems that exist in America’s real world healthcare system. He and Sean discuss talk about how the “MakeMost Health Corporation” in his second novel is an exaggeration of the reality we see when the pursuit of profits overrides adequately serving the health needs of a population. They discuss the benefits of the fictional “National Health Challenge”, and Greg describes his foundation implemented a real-world version of this event in his home state of Washington. They also discuss the viability of Irv’s 10-point “Federal Health Care Revival Act” outlined in the first novel. As the conversation continues, Greg pulls from his lifetime of personal experience in healthcare reform to tackle Sean’s questions about common challenges to improving healthcare, disparities of care within marginalized communities, the national response to the covid-19 crisis and how that it could impact the next pandemic, the key lessons we can learn from past attempts at healthcare reform, plus so much more. How can we strike a balance between personal choice and government intervention in healthcare reform policies? Listen to hear Greg’s opinion on this dilemma, as well as his examples of successful local and global healthcare systems that could work at a national level. Tune in to Coup Save America and join the conversation on how we can heal America's health care system for the better.

Did you know that Soviet spies will turn into ash like vampires if forced to say the words “under God”? Sean’s monologue topic: Reparations for Africa Americans Fayge Horesh is a public historian, tour guide, and freelance writer. They have always wanted to share their passion for history with others, so they created the podcast “D Listers of History,” where Fayge brings their research skills, curiosity, and irreverence to discuss important but mostly forgotten historical figures. Fayge begins the interview by admitting that “‘Facts’ in history are tough, because what we ‘know’ is from whatever sources we have, and what are those sources?” They tell us stories of their tour guide experiences and how guests in recent years are more prone to disagree with the established narrative…or to not even want to talk about certain subjects at all! How has America’s newfound access to learning about history changed our overall attitudes? During the episode, Sean and Fayge explore misunderstood historical topics of their Philadelphia base city - such as how taxation worked in colonial America, the full story of the Boston Tea Party, the fascinating life of Betsy Ross, and good and bad sides of founding father George Washington. When discussing how the history of marginalized groups is gaining attention amidst both celebration and backlash, Fayge’s message to our audience is that everyone should be allowed to have their culture, and new traditions don’t negate or detract from our old traditions. Sean and Fayge go on to talk about how dehumanizing any group of people can (and will) lead to catastrophe. Genocide doesn’t just happen; it’s a slow process. Is Trump the next Adolf Hitler? What do you know about American hero Tunis Campbell? French engineer Augustin-Jean Fresnel? Probably nothing, but you can learn about them right here on Coup Save America! In all the work Fayge does, their primary goal is to make both historical stories and the study of history accessible to everyone. History is crucial to understanding where we are now and how we can build a better world in the future. Other topics include: Nikki Haley, Juneteenth, who pays for Holocaust museums, the FBI tweeting about MLK, and what Bill Clinton should really be famous for.

“Aging is tough, but it beats the alternate.” – Morrie Schwartz Sean’s monologue topic: How Ageism negatively impacts America Today we are joined by Rob Schwartz, an Award-Winning Music/Film Producer, journalist and entrepreneur with 20+ years of entertainment experience. He is also the son of Morrie Schwartz, one of our culture’s most celebrated senior citizens and the subject of the best-selling book and Emmy award-winning movie Tuesdays with Morrie. (And also a play that is extremely popular in China and Japan). Rob starts by telling the story of why, how, and when his father wrote the not-so-new book, The Wisdom of Morrie: Living and Aging Creatively and Joyfully, and how he found the completed manuscript decades later. To avoid confusion, Rob points out the distinction between this new book and Tuesdays with Morrie, which was written by his father’s former student, Mitch Albom. Tuesdays was published first, but Wisdom was written first, before Morrie was facing a fatal illness. The two books share a similar theme, but with a different presentation. When asked “What are your favorite parts of your father’s book?”, Rob replies “The times that he mentions me!” Sean and Rob discuss the content of Morrie’s book, which Sean describes as “life affirming” and “a manifesto of living.” Rob affirms that his father’s book is not just for older people but is a roadmap to a happy life. The book teaches readers to take what you’ve learned in life and decide how you can move forward and be better. While telling full of stories about other people and their personal burdens, traumas, and anxieties, The Wisdom of Morrie, addresses negative aspects of aging as well as the positive. Ultimately, Morrie’s advice to older people is “You need to engage.” Whether that be with family, community, or interests. Don’t withdraw. Pursue interests. Make connections with new people. Engage with the world both emotionally and intellectually, at whatever level you find comfortable. Later on in the discussion, we learn about the academic book that Morrie wrote as a precursor to this more widely accessible version. “What does it mean to be human?” is the basis of all Morrie’s Schwartz’s research and investigation. Rob shares details of his father’s fascinating life - like how the university where he worked tried to force him into retirement, and how Morrie was so concerned about the poor accessibility of mental health care in the 70’s that he helped found a clinic to provide free or low-cost therapy to those who couldn’t afford to pay. Long before the America was acknowledging the concept of ageism, Morrie coined the term “age-casting” with the theory that if you can name a concept, you can analyze it and find ways to deal with it. Rob shares examples of age-casting, and he compares and contrasts how American and Asian cultures view the elderly. Finally, Sean and Rob address the question of what will happen with ageism in our society as the large “Baby Boomer” population continues to grow older? Listen as Rob shatters all of Sean’s optimism.

In the fight for social justice “Our greatest weapons are our voices and our passion - Let us wield these tools with courage and conviction, for the sake of our present and for the promise of our future.” In this opening episode of Coup Save America’s third season, host, Sean St. Heart, is out sick with covid. His producer, Mckenzie, also has covid, but she valiantly (and awkwardly) manages to record an introduction to the show, as she talks about why we felt it important to air our first episode of 2024 on the United Nations’ World Day of Social Justice. Theme: “Bridging Gaps, Building Alliances.” Before airing a pre-recorded conversation between Sean and a valued former guest, Mckenzie plays us a music video to the title track of Paul Hayward and The Cides new album The Rebel. Inclusion and diversity consultant Sedruola Maruska joins Sean St. Heart to talk about social justice and to teach us what individual citizens can do to end the cycle of racism in America. According to Sedie, it all comes down to "Seeing humans as human and treating them as such." Don't look at the big picture and think there's nothing you can do. Self-examine, take your power, speak up, and do whatever you can to affect change in your own space. Don't look at the big picture and think there's nothing you can do. Self-examine, take your power, speak up, and do whatever you can to affect change in your own space. Small acts have a huge impact.

“I want to reason like an anarchist…There’s a rebel inside me, and it’s coming to play.” – The Cides, “The Rebel” Can music amplify the reach and impact the of a social movement? Today’s Coup Save America guest is a musician and anarchist who is passionate about social justice. Paul Hayward, a former Molester, is the founder of the UK punk rock group The Cides. Paul lives off the grid, so we are grateful that he was willing to travel to a Paris hotel with strong enough Wi-Fi to stream his interview, which was recorded on October 4th, 2023. This episode is, in Paul’s words, “a picnic basket of topics.” With no set agenda, Sean and Paul launch into a random and impromptu conversation on whatever current social issues spring to mind. They begin with the story of Paul’s troubled childhood in the UK and his early history as a student and budding punk artist, squatting with both friends and strangers in an abandoned Brighton hotel. Sean and Paul then talk about anger at the status quo, the history of UK’s monarchy and the influence of the Magna Carta on the formation of the United States, and what the heck is the World Economic Forum? We also hear discussions about Israel and broad definitions of antisemitism, mass psychology, the monetization of The Guardian and BBC, the pros and cons of sex education in schools, Bill Gates and digital avatars, mislabeled conspiracy theorists, transhumanism, and where the terms Left Wing/Right Wing came from. Throughout today’s broadcast, we hear “This Being Human” and other tracks from The Cides new album The Rebel, coming out on World Social Justice Day in February of 2024. And as a nod to the freedom fighters here in the United States, The Cides recorded an alternate version of their song “Wake Up, England” retitled…you guessed it,”Wake Up, America.” Listen closely to hear the moment during the recording where Paul’s doorbell rings and integrates perfectly into the song!!! Other topics include: Steve Biko, the Extinction Rebellion movement, Guy Fawkes, “factory cities” in China, humans being chipped like pets, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and how the television has become one large pharmaceutical ad.

Are American voters suffering from Stockholm Syndrome? Today on Coup Save America, we are delighted to speak with Christina Khalil, future senator of New Jersey. Christina overcame her disadvantaged childhood to become a social scientist, with a B.A. in psychology and a master’s degree in social work. She is ready to give even more of herself in a campaign for a senate seat, as she runs to lower taxes, end the failed war on drugs, amend the 13th amendment, provide clean water to every resident of this country, redesign immigration, universal healthcare, and so much more, in her goal to rebuild the world through common sense legislation. Christina Khalil is truly grassroots and a genuine candidate of the people. In her own words, “I am running to rebuild trust in politics and start the generation of healing.” Christina first shares with us her struggles to establish her campaign in New Jersey, “the hub of corruption.” She talks about her departure from the centrist and insular Democratic Party to the Green Party, where her ideas were embraced and respected. Christina and Sean discuss how the only way to uplift our communities and rebuild our country is to separate corporate interests from politics. We need actual solutions rather than just Band-Aids on problems. They move on to discuss the privatization of prisons in New Jersey and beyond, the failed War on Drugs, how legislature in New Jersey changed non-profit organizations to “pay for service”, why only rich people are worthy of rehab programs, barriers to (professionals) seeking treatment for addiction and mental health disorders, and ways to tackle police brutality at its roots. Listen to find out why Christina thinks Americans are like cattle in a slaughterhouse, and why she is against abortion. Sean and Christina also contemplate the power of the American people striking, how RFK could shine a light on corruption in the Democratic Party, plus they wonder if Cornell West’s departure from the ticket will weaken the Green Party. Christina talks about her plans to create trust when it comes to medicine, sharing how the FDA only just approved a non-mRNA covid vaccine that has existed since all the other vaccines came out. Finally, Christina shares her life story of growing up in foster care and how nobody thought she would survive to adulthood, let alone go to college. She tells us how she managed to achieve an education being homeless and having no family and few available resources. Christina also describes the positive aspects of the youth center she was placed in as a teenager. “I never thought I’d have a life like this. I want to give this kind of life to everyone.” https://christinakhalilfornewjersey.com

“Transparency is for governments and privacy is for individuals.” – Julian Assange Today Coup Save America welcomes Kim Stanton, the founder and director of Films for Change, a project that brings documentaries to the public through both in-person and online screenings. Coming to us all the way from Australia, Kim is here to promote his own award-winning feature-length documentary, The Trust Fall: Julian Assange. After giving us a brief background of Julian Assange and the arbitrary detainment for his whistle blower actions, Kym talks about the lack of support that Assange has received from the Australian government in fighting his extradition to the United States for prosecution. Kym describes for us the harrowing truth behind the “Collateral Murder” videos that raised the ire of the US government when it appeared on the WikiLeaks website. If you are wondering how a non-US citizen can be prosecuted for crimes against national security, Kym explains the antiquated Espionage Act which has been used to charge not only Assange, but other courageous whistleblowers such as Daniel Ellsburg and Chelsea Manning. Sean and Kym discuss the physical and psychological stress that Assange has been through, and the signs that he might possibly have suffered a stroke. They lament how the media is ignoring Assange’s situation and why journalists are dropping the ball of support. They explain how Julian Assange’s situation is “a canary in the coal mine for the state of press freedom,” and talk about how the citizens of the world are granted less and less privacy with CTV cameras everywhere, being spied on through our laptops and cell phones, and companies selling our information. In what new ways are our governments plotting to surveil and control the population? Kym tells us about the success and valuable contributions of WikiLeaks, the brilliance of the anonymous Dropbox, and the elaborate systems established to keep WikiLeaks from ever being taken down or erased. Listen to find out why, when 99.9% of the population are crying out for transparency, we are being undermined by the few who are benefiting financially and politically from keeping the secrets of military motivations and war crimes.

Today on Coup Save America, Sean has a conversation with Peter B. Collins, a former talk radio host with a long resume in the media field, spanning from his coverage of the Watergate scandal in the 1970’s to hosting his own podcast from 2009 through the 2020 covid-19 pandemic. Peter walks us through a history of devolving political regimes, covering topics such Ronald Reagan and the October Surprise, how Newt Gingrich developed the concepts of political language and talking points, how Clinton repositioned the Democratic party away from social justice, and why Trump is such a “useful idiot.” Peter joins the show to tell us about Project 2025, a Republican plan to reshape the U.S. federal government to support a conservative agenda. He encourages our audience to visit the website Project2025.org and read the proposed policies for themselves, as he and Sean bemoan how only the wrongdoers in our government seem to possess the drive and organizational skills necessary to set up think tanks and achieve their goals by playing a long game. Listen to hear parallels between the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Dick Cheney’s Project for the New American Century, and to learn how reforming campaign finance laws could be the most effective path for giving government back to the people – but how difficult that is to achieve and at what risk? As Peter points out about left-wing and right-wing political ideals - “We used to have a four-lane highway, and then they moved the double yellow line to the center of the right lane.” Peter and Sean both agree that the mainstream media is a “willing lapdog” to spout the propaganda of the political elite. For people seeking genuine objectivity from their news sources, our hosts recommend independent outlets such as Consortium News and Scheer Post.

Step One, Storm the Capital. Step Two, America is saved! Let’s take a closer look at the events of January 6, 2021. Today on Coup Save America, we are joined by history teacher Ben Hamilton, founder of the Chasing History Project. Ben was present as a neutral observer during the infamous invasion of the capital building in Washington DC, and he interviewed many of the key players. He is the author of the book Sorry Guys, We Stormed the Capital: Eyewitness Accounts of January 6th. What really happened at the capital that day? Why did it happen and what does it mean? In his conversation with Sean, Ben shares his observations and the opinions he formed “fresh out of the building” before the participants’ motivations were misinterpreted and the narratives were rewritten. The main point of this interview is that ACCURACY MATTERS. Lies are not okay, even if it feels like the lies are accomplishing good things, so Ben is justifiably critical of the media companies that capitalized on the iconic photos from January 6th and did not tell the truth about events. In a quote his book, we live in a culture where “…narratives are pushed so enthusiastically that accuracy is a distant afterthought. These are not people I trust to leave accurate history lessons for future generations…” Ben and Sean discuss how the left-wing narrative changed the wording from “insurrection” to “Capital riots.” “It drives me crazy,” Ben says. “There were so many actual crimes committed that day, and actual bad things. Why make them up? Why lie and invent fake accusations? That just makes [the participants] seem innocent when you finally get around to accusing them of what they really did.” During his interview, Ben reveals what Donald Trump DID NOT say in his speech preceding the invasion of the capital, and he describes the pockets of violence and pockets of peace scattered throughout the crowd of insurgents. Was there simply a widespread cognitive dissonance about what constitutes a “peaceful protest?” Ben provides a closer examination of the key elements of the day, then he explains how the whole debacle could have been prevented with a few moments of pre-thinking and planning. You know an event is poor planning when there are no Port-a-Potties. Listen to hear stories about nooses and gallows, to learn the definition of a “flag club”, and to laugh at death threats against Ben as he fed the hungry. What’s the future hold? Where is our democracy headed? What could instigate a civil war? Other topics include: Seattle’s Demilitarized Zone, why the Left is so disappointing, the lame prosecution attempts against Donald Trump, and what killed the great Roman republic.

Are American voters really stuck choosing between a Giant Douche and a Turd Sandwich? Today’s Coup Save America guest is Lloyd McNeil, the moderator for a series of Facebook groups to encourage open dialogue about the issues that keep voters disillusioned and disfranchised. Sean and Lloyd talk about the duopoly of our current political system, which offers only an illusion of choice, and discuss the need for progressive voters to hash out their minor differences and come up with a war strategy to take back the narrative from the corporate media and find a way to gain influence over the general public. After talking about the various methods Republicans and Democrats use to keep 3rd party candidates out of the election process, Sean and Lloyd brainstorm ways to create active strategies to counter the social media blockades that prevent messaging from being heard. They exchange ideas about what type of marketing plan could actually reach progressive-minded people and give them a sense of identity. Is creativity more effective than the typical rational arguments? What is “The Tragedy of the Commons?” There is ample discussion about the rise of neoliberalism within the Democratic Party, and the travesties committed by democratic presidents of the past. The person we most need in the Whitehouse is a person who’s never wanted to be there. We talk at length about Cornel West’s campaign for president, running as a Green Party candidate, discussing topics ranging from the pros and cons of his manager Peter Daou to the idea that Cornel’s political platform is irrelevant. And does he or does he not pay his taxes? Today’s conversation includes the 911 narrative, political influence over police departments, imprisoned Americans, Obama shooting 3 pointers, Keanu Reeves for President, the definition of ‘fascism’, the US national debt, a Central Bank, Medicare for All, the Maryann Williams campaign, and dropping “ism’s” from our arguments.

When you pay regularly into an insurance program, the benefits should be there for you when you need them…right? Today Coup Save America welcomes Spencer Bishins back to the show for a second look at the difficult process of applying for Social Security Disability Insurance. Mr. Bishins is an attorney, author, and former employee of the Social Security Administration. He recently acted as a consultant for a Washington Post Article titled “Judges Rebuke Social Security for Errors as Disability Denials Stack Up.” In this episode, Mr. Bishins tells us that the Social Security Administration is not inherently evil; they are simply underfunded and doing the best they can with the resources at their disposal. He poses the question, why does SSDI operate like a private insurance company when it is actually a federal program? He goes on to explain the many types of benefit claims that the SSA funds “from one bucket”, from which SSDI is the only claim that can be denied. Sean and Mr. Bishins talk about how easy it is for Americans to find themselves disabled, even when we least expect it, and they discuss how our system of capitalism is very hard on the American worker. Government resources are not allocated in a way that is conducive to a healthy economy. Mr. Bishins explains how funding is wasted on “just in case” scenarios when our communities could see sure and immediate benefit from putting money into workers instead, for example, the way that disability payments go straight back into the economy and how assisting disabled workers in the short term can help them return to gainful employment and boosting our economy in the long term. Mr. Bishins tells us how the Baby Boomer generation has affected our country’s ability to adequately fund many entitlement programs, and he explains why Congress does not care about solving problems related to the Social Security Administration. And considering how the SSDI situation is not headed in an optimistic direction, Mr. Bishins once again shares tips about the ins and outs of applying for SSDI that will give people the best chance at being approved. This advice and much more can be found in Spencer Bishin’s book Social Security Disability Revealed: Why it’s so hard to access benefits and what you can do about it – available in paperback, digital, and audio formats. Other conversation topics include: How disabled non-workers receive support, the increasing problem of homelessness, continuing disability reviews, Universal Basic Income, and the various sports teams of Seattle.

What do peace, prayer, and porn all have in common? We are delighted for the return of the Reverend Barry Lynn to our show, as he joins us to talk about his marvelous three-volume memoir, Paid to Piss People Off. On today’s Coup Save America, Reverend Lynn, dedicated defender of the Constitution, regales us with humorous stories of using his wit and sense of humor to debate with right-wing conservatives. In the Reverend’s opinion, Right wingers see their fight as a war of good vs. evil, and they are the good, which gives them the righteous duty to go forth into battle with firm convictions. While sharing his stories of testifying in congress, Rev. Lynn speaks of the need for progressive to put effort into to rebutting right-wing policies rather than focusing solely on promoting the Left’s agenda. He reveals the some of the mistakes politicians on the Left make that the politicians on the Right have figured out. He explains the difference between Creative Compromises and Idiot Compromises, and he talks about how our country is long overdue to reform veteran’s rights. Sean and Rev. Lynn discuss issues and solutions within the Supreme Court, the ridiculous arguments against TikTok, the two justifications that are applied to everything politicians seek to ban, the FCC’s Fairness Doctrine, and, of course, pornography and sex toys!!! Other topics include: Ralph Nader, military policy vs. The Bee Gees, why talking vegetables are more acceptable than talking animals, and the evils of the pharmaceutical industry.