'Treason Crisis'

'Treason Crisis'

The United States is widely regarded as one of the most powerful nations in history. It possesses one of the world’s most advanced militaries, equipped with sophisticated weapons, technology, and global capabilities. As a result, conquering the United States through a conventional military invasion would present an enormous challenge for any adversary. Additionally, the country’s large and heavily armed civilian population would further complicate such an effort. But an enemy seeking to weaken the United States might find greater success by exploiting internal divisions and undermining national institutions from within. That is why treason has long been viewed as a serious threat to national security. Why does treason represent one of the United States’ greatest vulnerabilities, and what are some examples of actions that might be characterized as treasonous today? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #418. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

'The Carrot'

Many people are unhappy with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) the United States is considering with Iran. They believe the Trump administration is offering too many concessions and would prefer military pressure to continue. However, many of these critics may not fully understand Trump’s strategy. Trump appears to be employing a “carrot-and-stick” approach. After several months of applying pressure—the stick—he is now offering incentives—the carrot. It is up to Iran whether it accepts those incentives or faces additional pressure. President Trump has been clear that the stick, meaning further military action, remains an option. At the same time, he wants to give the carrot an opportunity to work by potentially releasing billions of dollars in Iranian funds and easing sanctions to allow investment and economic growth. Does Trump’s strategy have a chance of succeeding, and what happens if it does not? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #417. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

'Education Crisis'

Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to President Barack Obama and former mayor of Chicago, wrote an op-ed in ‘The Wall Street’ Journal last fall titled “Democrats Need an Education Reset.” Emanuel, who is expected to run for president in 2028, argues that the United States faces an education crisis. He wrote the piece in response to a government report on results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which found troubling levels of student achievement. According to the report, only 31% of eighth-grade students are proficient in science, 22% of high school seniors are proficient in math, and 35% are proficient in reading. In the op-ed, Emanuel writes, “We’ve spent the past five years debating pronouns without noticing that too many students can’t tell you what a pronoun is.” What is the source of the education crisis? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #416. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

'Election Crisis'

The recent California primary election took nearly a week to certify the winners. In an age of modern technology and rapid transportation, that is a considerable amount of time. Many jurisdictions with fewer resources than California, and with similar or even larger numbers of voters, are able to certify their election results within 24 hours of the polls closing. This has caused some people to have argued that California’s election process increases the potential for fraud or other irregularities because of the length of time required to certify the results. President Trump has been among the most prominent voices expressing this concern, but many other California residents have also voiced distrust in the election process. How does California’s mail-in voting system contribute to the time required to certify election results, and is mail-in voting trustworthy? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #415. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

'Heresies'

Over the weekend, a controversy erupted when Utah Senator Mike Lee posted a photo of the Pentagon’s revised list of religions it recognizes for observance. Lee wrote, “Can anyone tell me why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was left out of the list of Christian churches?” The Pentagon had added the word “Christian” to the names of several denominations but listed only The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints without a Christian designation. He argued that the LDS Church should have received the same label. His post sparked widespread discussion and debate over whether the LDS Church should’ve been included with other Christians. What did Joseph Smith teach about other Christian denominations? Did he view the LDS Church as simply another Christian denomination, or did he see it as a distinct, unique, church? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #414. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]