They Want to Track Every Mile You Drive? | The Truth About the VMT Tax | Seasoned & Unfiltered Ep. 19

They Want to Track Every Mile You Drive? | The Truth About the VMT Tax | Seasoned & Unfiltered Ep. 19

What if paying for the roads meant giving up your privacy? This week on Seasoned & Unfiltered, Steve O takes a closer look at the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Tax—a proposal that could fundamentally change how Americans pay for highway infrastructure. With gas tax revenues shrinking due to electric vehicles and increasingly fuel-efficient cars, lawmakers are exploring a mileage-based tax that charges drivers for every mile they travel. While supporters say it's a fair way to fund America's roads, critics argue it opens the door to unprecedented government tracking and raises serious questions about privacy, fairness, and taxation. Steve breaks down how these programs work, why several states are already testing them, and what it could mean for your daily commute, your wallet, and your personal freedom. Whether you're skeptical, supportive, or hearing about the VMT tax for the first time, this episode provides the context you need to understand one of the least-discussed policy proposals currently being explored. In this episode: *  Why the Highway Trust Fund is running out of money  *  How a Vehicle Miles Traveled tax works  *  Why electric vehicles have changed transportation funding  *  Pilot programs already underway across the country  *  Privacy concerns surrounding mileage tracking  *  Could Americans end up paying both gas taxes and mileage taxes?  *  What this proposal could mean for rural drivers and long-distance commuters  Stay informed. Ask questions. And decide for yourself. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome & Sponsor Message 01:52 – Why We're Revisiting the VMT Tax 02:22 – What Is the Vehicle Miles Traveled Tax? 03:09 – Why the Highway Trust Fund Is Running Out of Money 03:50 – The Gas Tax Hasn't Changed Since 1993 04:34 – Would the Government Track Every Mile? 05:17 – What a Mileage Tracking System Could Know 06:05 – States Already Testing VMT Programs 06:54 – The EV Funding Problem Explained 08:51 – Are EV Owners Paying Their Fair Share? 10:10 – Why This Isn't About Electric Vehicles Alone 11:24 – The High Cost of Collecting Mileage Taxes 12:18 – Privacy vs. Infrastructure Funding 13:35 – Could Location Data Be Misused? 14:15 – Why Every Driver Should Know About This 15:27 – Tracking, Privacy & Government Oversight 18:02 – The 2028 Highway Funding Deadline 18:41 – Colorado, Oregon & California Pilot Programs 20:53 – Fuel Efficiency and the Funding Gap 21:37 – Will the Gas Tax Ever Disappear? 22:21 – Voluntary Today… Mandatory Tomorrow? 23:46 – How We Got Here 24:28 – Understanding Road Usage Fees 25:12 – How the Pilot Programs Actually Work 26:42 – Could States Add Their Own Mileage Tax? 27:17 – The Impact on Rural America 27:57 – What About Farmers and Long-Distance Drivers? 28:39 – Final Thoughts & What Comes Next 29:18 – Like, Subscribe & Join the Conversation

He Protects America… But Isn't Allowed to Become an American | DeputyDreamer Edgar Vasquez

What if you spent nearly your entire life in America… Served your community. Wore the badge. Protected your neighbors. …and still weren't allowed to become an American citizen? In Episode 2 of Pull Up a Chair, Steve sits down with Edgar Vasquez, a Mississippi deputy sheriff, DACA recipient, and proud patriot whose dream is simple: To become a United States citizen. Brought to America from Mexico at just three years old, Edgar shares the deeply personal story of discovering he wasn't a citizen, pursuing a career in law enforcement, and navigating an immigration system he believes is broken—but still deserves respect. Whether you agree or disagree with immigration policy, Edgar's story challenges assumptions and reminds us that behind every headline is a human being. This is a conversation about service, identity, sacrifice, family, and what it truly means to love a country. Pull up a chair. Chapters 00:00 – Meet Deputy Edgar Vasquez 01:44 – Growing Up American Without Citizenship 04:26 – The Day He Learned He Wasn't a U.S. Citizen 08:58 – Why He Chose Law Enforcement 12:21 – Serving Without Full Certification 14:37 – What People Get Wrong About DACA 17:13 – Support From Fellow Deputies 21:50 – Respecting the Law While Seeking Change 23:21 – Why He Refuses to Marry for Citizenship 25:42 – His Message to Congress 27:56 – Serving the Country That Raised Him 28:21 – Racism, Identity & Finding Acceptance 31:45 – Social Media vs. Real Life 33:31 – Politics, DACA & Common Ground 36:18 – What He Would Say to President Trump 37:38 – Honoring His Mother's Dream 40:40 – Lessons From a Life of Service 42:52 – Steve's Message to America 45:21 – Edgar's Final Plea to Americans

They Want to Tax Every Mile You Drive?! | The Hidden Cost of America’s Road Crisis | Seasoned & Unfiltered Ep 17

The gas tax isn't enough anymore... So what's the government's next idea? Charge you by the mile. This week on Seasoned & Unfiltered, Steve O takes a deep dive into the growing push for a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Tax, a policy that could fundamentally change how Americans pay for the roads they drive on.  With electric vehicles becoming more common and gas tax revenues shrinking, states across the country are experimenting with mileage-based fees that could eventually replace—or possibly be added on top of—existing fuel taxes. But there's a bigger question: How much information should the government collect just to tax you for driving? Steve explores: *  Why the Highway Trust Fund is running out of money  *  How VMT programs work  *  Privacy concerns surrounding GPS tracking  *  Double taxation fears  *  The impact on EV owners and everyday commuters  *  Whether this is a reasonable solution—or government overreach  Is this the future of transportation funding... or the beginning of something much bigger? Chapters 00:00 – They're Tracking Your Miles 00:50 – Why the Gas Tax Is Failing 02:19 – What Is a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Tax? 03:12 – The Original Highway Funding Model 04:27 – Why the Highway Trust Fund Is Running Dry 05:31 – The 2028 Funding Crisis 06:14 – How Electric Vehicles Changed Everything 07:04 – Inflation & The Shrinking Gas Tax 08:02 – Is the Government Fixing Its Own Mistake? 08:36 – Why VMT Requires Tracking Your Vehicle 09:24 – Privacy Concerns & Government Surveillance 10:53 – What Your Car Could Reveal About You 11:40 – Is This "Big Brother" for Drivers? 13:57 – States Already Testing Mileage Taxes 15:01 – California & Colorado's Pilot Programs 15:50 – The Risk of Double Taxation 16:49 – The $20 Billion Collection Cost 17:23 – Voluntary Today… Mandatory Tomorrow? 18:57 – The Case FOR a Mileage Tax 20:27 – Can Privacy Actually Be Protected? 22:33 – Will Gas Taxes Ever Go Away? 23:23 – Are Americans About to Pay Even More? 24:39 – Final Thoughts & Audience Discussion

What’s on the Biden Tapes? | The DOJ Fight That Could Change Everything | Seasoned & Unfiltered Ep 16

A former President is suing the Department of Justice. Let that sink in. This week on Seasoned & Unfiltered, Steveo dives into one of the most controversial legal and political battles of the year: former President Joe Biden filing a lawsuit to stop the release of roughly 70 hours of audio recordings known as the Ghostwriter Tapes.  The recordings were made during Biden's post-vice presidency years while working on his memoir and later became part of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s classified documents investigation. Now, with a June 15 release date looming, the question isn't just whether the tapes should be released… It's why they're being fought over so aggressively. Steveo examines: *  The classified documents investigation  *  The role of the DOJ under two administrations  *  Privacy vs public accountability  *  Allegations involving classified information  *  Questions surrounding transparency and presidential leadership  If the tapes are released, they could reshape how history remembers an entire presidency. Or they could remain locked away forever. Chapters 00:00 – Biden Sues the DOJ 01:03 – What Are the Ghostwriter Tapes? 03:48 – How the Recordings Were Made 05:52 – Classified Documents Resurface 06:26 – Special Counsel Robert Hur's Investigation 07:10 – The Classified Information Allegations 08:46 – The DOJ's Sudden Reversal 10:10 – Privacy Rights vs Public Accountability 11:10 – Are There Political Double Standards? 12:10 – Angel Pillow Sponsor Break 13:53 – Why the DOJ Changed Course 15:46 – The June 15 Deadline Approaches 16:35 – Biden's Legal Strategy Explained 18:03 – The Judge Who Will Decide 19:45 – Should the Public Hear the Audio? 20:25 – Is This About Damage Control? 21:19 – The Fallout From the Hur Report 21:58 – Questions About Biden's Cognitive Decline 23:21 – Why Steve Says Americans Need to Hear It 24:21 – Comparing Biden and Trump Document Cases 25:53 – Public Interest or Political Theater? 26:43 – What Happens If the Tapes Confirm the Allegations? 27:33 – Countdown to the Court's Decision 29:15 – Final Thoughts & Audience Reactions

You Can’t Become a Billionaire… Really? | AOC, Capitalism & America’s Border Crisis | Seasoned & Unfiltered Ep 15

This week on Seasoned & Unfiltered, Steveo takes aim at one of the most viral political claims making the rounds: “Nobody earns a billion dollars.” Using names like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and the Walton family as examples, Steve breaks down how modern billionaires actually built their wealth—and why capitalism, technology, and risk-taking still matter in America. Then things shift to the border. Steve dives into immigration enforcement operations across Texas and Arizona, discussing: Illegal crossings Human smuggling Sanctuary city policies And why he believes agencies like ICE and Border Patrol are being unfairly attacked But it’s not all black and white. The episode also tackles the broken immigration system itself—especially the complicated reality surrounding DACA recipients and legal immigration delays. Money. Power. Politics. Immigration. Nothing stays filtered for long. Chapters 00:00 – “You Can’t Make a Billion Dollars” 02:11 – Steve Reacts to AOC’s Comments 05:53 – America’s Billionaire Boom Explained 07:55 – Elon Musk, Tech Wealth & Capitalism 11:23 – Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos & The Tech Empire Era 15:42 – Should Billionaires Be Taxed More? 17:22 – Redistribution vs Hard Work 20:11 – Which Billionaires Lean Left or Right? 26:44 – Tax Cuts, Corporations & Economic Reality 29:41 – George Soros, Politics & Billionaire Influence 32:26 – Operation Take Back America 34:24 – Illegal Entry vs Felony Reentry 36:51 – Human Smuggling Cases Exposed 39:30 – Why Steve Supports ICE & Border Patrol 40:18 – Arizona Border Enforcement Operations 43:00 – The Immigration System Is Broken 44:14 – DACA, Citizenship & The Human Side of Immigration 45:57 – Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks