Coup Save America

The Civic Cost of Choosing Not to Participate in Politics — Featuring Carl Able

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/] https://www.crayonboxpolitics.com/podcast [https://www.crayonboxpolitics.com/podcast] https://www.facebook.com/crayonboxpolitics/ [https://www.facebook.com/crayonboxpolitics/]

Anti-Black Misandry and the Right-Wing Resurgence - with Martin Henson

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://bmenfoundation.org/] https://x.com//@BMENFoundation [https://x.com/@BMENFoundation] http://facebook.com/BMENfoundation/ [http://facebook.com/BMENfoundation/] https://www.instagram.com/BMENFoundation/# [https://www.instagram.com/BMENFoundation/#] https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmen-foundation [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmen-foundation]

Tell a Better Story: How to Challenge the Narrative and Change Your Life with Bobbi Barrington

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 [http://www.bobbibarrington.com/]

CONEtrolled: Exposing the Systems That Steal Our Freedom

“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.navainc.ca/] https://www.facebook.com/nava.israel.92 [https://www.facebook.com/nava.israel.92]

Deportation Nation: Trump, the Courts, and the Constitution

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 [http://pacelawfirm.com/] https://www.facebook.com/asemotiuk [https://www.facebook.com/asemotiuk] https://www.facebook.com/myworkvisa [https://www.facebook.com/myworkvisa]