Notes of the Week

Notes of the Week | E33 - Candidate Carousel #2 with Ericka and Abel

Candidate Carousel #2 puts one Courage for Democracy congressional candidate — Ericka Kopp [https://erickakopp.com/], running in Virginia’s 1st District — and Progressive congressional candidate Abel Chavez [https://www.abelchavezforcongress.com/], running in California’s 48th — across a panel of Nick Paro [https://substack.com/@nickparo] and Walter Rhein [https://substack.com/@walterrhein], with guest co-hosts Lisa Gonzalez [https://substack.com/profile/282557101-lisa-gonzalez] and Ellie Leonard [https://substack.com/@thepanickedwriter]. Kopp, a practicing healthcare attorney and caregiver to a disabled combat veteran, opens by pulling apart the Virginia Supreme Court’s reversal of the state’s redistricting referendum — the same court that had told the people to vote, then overturned the result by a single justice’s vote — and connects it to Louisiana v. Callais, which gutted the Voting Rights Act and led directly to Louisiana cancelling its US House primary. Kopp’s institutional argument is procedurally sharp. She agrees for the need to move the US Marshals Service out of the Executive branch and under the Judiciary so that federal judges can actually enforce contempt against ICE — which, by her count and Lisa’s, has violated roughly 10,000 court orders. She commits, on day one of her term, to filing articles of impeachment against Donald Trump under Rule 9 to force every member of Congress on the record, followed by articles against the rest of the regime — and to backing a Speaker of the House who is not Hakeem Jeffries. She frames continuous impeachment as Congress’s constitutional duty, not a one-shot political maneuver. On the Epstein files, Kopp signs on — explicitly, on this record — to collaborate with Ellie Leonard and other independent researchers from a House seat, calling the missed statutory release deadline its own impeachable obstruction. Ellie pulls the conversation through US Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan and the 134 unsigned bank accounts, the Einstein visa pipeline as a trafficking funnel, and the DOJ’s deliberately obstructed search system. Both candidates agree: the people in those files cannot continue to be the people investigating them. Chavez’s pitch starts at the school board he won in an all-red California district against a Republican incumbent with ten times his funding. From that seat he secured $30M in funding, built early-college high school pathways, and implemented trades programs — and that record is the spine of his federal platform: trades buildings and business pathways in every high school, STEM to STEAM funding restored where districts have stripped arts to pay for whiteboards, hard separation of church and state in publicly funded schools, no books banned in libraries, and a discussion into regulatory needs and practical implementations around Artificial Intelligence (AI). He grounds the AI urgency in concrete cases — the documented 450+ AI-induced suicide guidance incidents (the Last Week Tonight ChatGPT segment), the use of AI to deny Medicare and Medicaid claims with no human oversight, the DOGE grant-defunding fiasco, and Ellie’s reporting that teachers in her district are generating and grading assignments with AI while students do the work with ChatGPT teams. The throughline of the full two hours: institutional capture is solvable from the local rung up — Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, State Corporation Commission [https://scc.virginia.gov/] — but only if voters fund grassroots candidates who refuse the corporate lane and refuse to flinch at the word “impeachment.” Key Takeaways * Show up to local meetings before the vote. Lisa and Ericka are blunt: Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, town council, and city council meetings are where data centers, ICE facilities, and rezonings get decided. Virginia’s State Corporation Commission [https://scc.virginia.gov/] is taking public comment on the NextEra–Dominion Energy merger right now — submit one. Hanover County’s planned ICE concentration camp was stopped by a standing-room-only Board of Supervisors meeting. * Check your voter registration monthly, not seasonally. Lisa Gonzalez was purged off the Ohio rolls after a DMV name change under a state “election integrity” program; she only caught it because the validation postcard listed the wrong name. Verify yours from Ericka Kopp’s “I Will Vote” widget at erickakopp.com [https://erickakopp.com/] or directly through your state Secretary of State, and put it on a recurring schedule — not just before primaries. * Treat impeachment as a continuous practice, not a one-shot. Kopp commits to Rule 9 forced votes against the entire regime, citing prior filings by Al Green, Shri Thanedar, and John Larson as evidence the procedural path exists. Track which member of your delegation will file, and which is hiding behind “decorum.” Citizens’ Impeachment [https://citizensimpeachment.com/] is organizing the constituent side of that pressure. * Fund grassroots candidates who refuse corporate, foreign-lobby, and AIPAC money. Both Kopp and Chavez are running 100% grassroots against well-funded primary fields. Donate directly: erickakopp.com [https://erickakopp.com/] and abelchavezforcongress.com [https://www.abelchavezforcongress.com/]. The full Courage for Democracy [https://couragefordemocracy.com/] slate is 150+ candidates organized to take a Democratic House majority without the corporate-PAC lane. * Pressure school boards on STEAM and on AI use. Ellie reports teachers in her district are generating and grading assignments with AI while students complete them with ChatGPT teams, and that arts and special-ed programs are being cut to pay for whiteboards. Ask your district two specific questions: who actually reads the work, and which line items in next year’s budget protect arts, music, theater, and special-education electives. * Demand an AI oversight regime with teeth. Chavez’s proposal: a cabinet-level AI regulator whose officials cannot take industry money — past, present, or for ten years after — with chain-of-custody auditability in any system touching healthcare claims, education, or the military kill chain. Lisa’s anchor cases: AI-denied Medicaid claims, the 450+ AI-induced suicide guidance incidents, and the DOGE grant-defunding fiasco. Sources & References * Ericka Kopp for Congress (VA-01) [https://erickakopp.com/] — Campaign site, policy priorities (A-Z order), voter registration widget, and donation page. * Abel Chavez for Congress (CA-48) [https://www.abelchavezforcongress.com/] — Campaign site, bilingual policy pages, and grassroots donation page. * Courage for Democracy [https://couragefordemocracy.com/] — The 150+ candidate slate organizing the grassroots House majority push. * Citizens’ Impeachment [https://citizensimpeachment.com/] — Constituent-side organizing for continuous Rule 9 impeachment pressure. * US Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase — Civil litigation referenced for the 134 trafficking-linked bank accounts. Thank you Evan Fields [https://substack.com/profile/12442489-evan-fields], Letters from a Feminist [https://substack.com/profile/436405643-letters-from-a-feminist], Beth Cruz [https://substack.com/profile/178744313-beth-cruz], Chris Resists [https://substack.com/profile/315050911-chris-resists], Education is a lamp [https://substack.com/profile/379513971-education-is-a-lamp], and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein [https://substack.com/profile/15113701-walter-rhein]! Join me for my next live video in the app. Actions You Can Take * Check out the new: Sick of this Shop! [https://shop.sickofthisshitpublications.com/] * Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBanner [https://www.broadbanner.com/] Submit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter: * Sick of this Shit Community Comment Form [https://forms.gle/4WSu8qGkSA7Wxbh98] Call your public servants on important issues: * 5calls.org [https://5calls.org/] Join the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States: * deflock.me [https://deflock.me/] Service members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders: * Orders Project [https://www.ordersproject.com/] * Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76 Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals: * B. Cognition Labs [https://www.bcognitionlabs.com/] Nick’s Notes I’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community! Join the uncensored media at the 1A Collective [https://1acollective.com/] Support as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you * Forever at 50% off [https://sickofthis.substack.com/50forever] * Forever at 60% off [https://sickofthis.substack.com/60saver] A special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All ~ Soso [https://substack.com/profile/309303179-soso] | Millicent [https://substack.com/profile/5428714-millicent] | Courtney 🇨🇦 [https://substack.com/profile/136249074-courtney] | Eric Lullove [https://substack.com/profile/66521654-eric-lullove] | Terry mitchell [https://substack.com/profile/32751953-terry-mitchell] | Carollynn [https://substack.com/profile/301213629-carollynn] | Julie Robuck [https://substack.com/profile/208030486-julie-robuck] | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 [https://substack.com/profile/356845797-masonsheher] | Kimmy Win [https://substack.com/profile/180488664-kimmy-win] ~ For support, contact us at: info@sickofthisshitpublications.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe [https://sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Notes of the Week | E32 - A Candidate Carousel

Notes In Review This special episode of Notes of the Week is structured as back-to-back interviews with two progressive congressional candidates: Chris Armstrong [https://armstrongforwisconsin.com/], running in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District against incumbent Tom Tiffany, and Abel Chavez [https://abelchavezforcongress.com/], running in California’s 48th — the seat just vacated by 26-year incumbent Darrell Issa after the passage of Prop 50. Nick Paro [https://substack.com/@nickparo] and Walter Rhein [https://substack.com/@walterrhein] host alongside guest co-host Eevie Bateman, a former early-childhood-education director and full-time writer who joined to help boost grassroots candidates. The through-line of the conversation is the same in both halves: the Democratic Party’s “electability” frame is broken, the new generation of candidates wins by being present and direct with voters, and the existing legacy media will not give that work oxygen — independent media has to. Armstrong, an enterprise architect and IT consultant from St. Croix County, makes the technocracy fight personal. He argues for federal-level taxation on tech billionaires (“let me hold the door open” if they threaten to leave), for permitting regulations that ban data center NDAs after Wisconsin municipalities discovered local councils were being kept in the dark on multi-billion-dollar deals, and for treaty-law-based environmental protection citing the 1854 ceded territories and the seven federally recognized tribes inside CD7. Armstrong is running as part of a collaborative slate with Ginger Murray and Fred — explicitly refusing to attack his primary opponents because the goal is to flip the seat. Eevie introduces a Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath finding that Gen Z is the first generation in 60+ years to underperform their parents cognitively, with the inflection point at the 2010 introduction of classroom technology, and Armstrong agrees regulation is essential — particularly around children, data centers, and the AI bubble. Chavez’s pitch is procedurally specific in a way most candidates never get to. He won an all-red school board seat against a GOP incumbent who outspent him 10-to-1 by sending color-coded mailers (red for Republican households, blue for Democratic, identical message), then was elected school board president by his four Republican colleagues by picking battles strategically. He passed the first school bond in 17 years — tens of millions of dollars — by running a community survey first so residents themselves asked for the increase. His congressional platform is concrete: cap class sizes at 24, build a trades building in every high school, fund schools by federal allocation tied to enrollment with rich-district property tax overflow funding poor-district baselines, hire school psychologists instead of school resource officers, and refuse all corporate, foreign-lobby, and AIPAC money. Both candidates close on the same point: this is winnable if the party stops protecting incumbents who can fundraise but won’t fight, and if independent media keeps building the coverage legacy outlets refuse to provide. Key Takeaways * Visit and support both campaigns directly. Chris Armstrong’s site is armstrongforwisconsin.com [https://armstrongforwisconsin.com/]; Abel Chavez’s site is abelchavezforcongress.com [https://abelchavezforcongress.com/]. Both candidates are funded primarily by small-dollar grassroots donations and refuse foreign-lobby money. If you can’t vote for them, you can fund them, share them, or volunteer remotely — Armstrong’s 7th District covers ~57% rural northern Wisconsin and Chavez is running in CA-48 with a Spanish-bilingual platform. * Track the Wisconsin data center NDA fight.Armstrong reports that Wisconsin municipalities entered non-disclosure agreements with data center developers without informing local councils or residents, that legislation is moving through the still-Republican state legislature to ban this practice, and that many proposed developments have been paused or canceled after public pushback. This is a bipartisan issue — verify how it’s playing in your state and demand the same prohibitions on local-government NDAs with private developers. * Read the Horvath testimony on classroom technology and Gen Z cognition. Eevie cites Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath’s congressional testimony documenting a sharp 2010 inflection point in cognitive measurements for children — attention, memory, literacy, numeracy, executive functioning — correlating with the introduction of classroom devices. Look up the testimony, compare it against your own school district’s tech-in-classroom policy, and bring it to your next school board meeting. * Push school board meetings toward citizen-initiated agenda items. Chavez points out that school board members are barred by procedure from responding to public comment, which makes the three-minute public-comment slot largely performative. Advocate for a community-petition pathway — a fixed signature threshold (30, 40, 50) that forces a board vote on a constituent-proposed item — as a structural reform in your district. * Stop accepting “but they can win” as a Democratic primary argument. Both Armstrong and Chavez are running against opponents — and against an internal party logic — that treats fundraising totals as proof of electability. Armstrong’s response is collaborative slates that don’t attack each other; Chavez’s response is refusing AIPAC, corporate PAC, and stock-trading money entirely while still raising near $480,000. Pressure your local Democratic Party to evaluate primary candidates on platform and proximity to voters, not on the size of their super PAC. People, Organizations, and Terms People: * Chris Armstrong — Democratic candidate, Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District. IT consulting company owner, enterprise architect with 30+ years in the field, University of Minnesota astrophysics graduate. Running on transparency, environmental protection, taxing tech billionaires, treaty-law enforcement, and a six-step “resistance, retake, remove, restore, reimagine, reconcile” framework. First candidate to enter the race in February 2025. * Abel Chavez — Democratic candidate, California’s 48th Congressional District. High school chemistry and physics teacher, business broker who helps small-business owners retire ethically by placing local entrepreneurs as buyers, current school board president. Won his school board seat by 10x outspent margin in an all-red district. Running on Medicare for All, working-family childcare, ICE accountability, immigration humanity, and refusal of AIPAC and corporate money. * Eevie Bateman — Guest co-host. Former early-childhood-education director, now full-time writer and blogger based in Texas. Joined the show after Stephanie Hernandez asked her to vet and boost Chavez. Writing memoir and a novel; topical focus on feminist cultural criticism, religion, and “fuck the patriarchy, and if y’all would have just listened to Black women.” * Tom Tiffany — Current Republican incumbent in Wisconsin CD7, now also running for governor of Wisconsin. Armstrong’s argument: flipping CD7 simultaneously denies Tiffany the gubernatorial pipeline. * Darrell Issa — Outgoing 26-year Republican incumbent in CA-48 who dropped out following Prop 50, opening the seat Chavez is contesting. * Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath — Cognitive neuroscientist who delivered congressional testimony documenting a generational inflection point in cognitive measurements aligning with 2010 classroom-tech adoption. Organizations / Programs: * Courage for Democracy — Candidate group Armstrong is part of. Hosts have previously interviewed Brittany Jones (Oregon gubernatorial candidate) and reference the network’s united-front principles. Chavez is not currently a member; the hosts encourage him to join. * Indivisible — Sponsor of the April 5, 2025 “Hands Off” protests. Armstrong organized a CD7 event via Mobilize that drew 250 people including Republicans and independents. * The SAVE Act — Republican legislation Armstrong cites as voter-disenfranchisement legislation requiring ID-name matching that primarily harms married women who changed names. * Enbridge Line 5 — Canadian oil pipeline currently being rerouted around (but still through the ceded territory of) the Bad River Band Indian Reservation. Wisconsin DNR comment period closed the Saturday before recording. * AIPAC — American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Chavez explicitly refuses its donations and frames refusal as proof of independence. * Bluebonnet Program — Texas curriculum initiative Eevie cites as inserting religious indoctrination into public schools. Terms / Concepts: * Technocracy / Technofascism — The framing Nick uses for the Thiel/Karp/Palantir-aligned tech-billionaire push toward post-constitutional governance, data privatization, and unregulated AI/data-center expansion. The hosts also produce a separate show, Palintalk, on the topic. * Ceded Territory — Land covered by 1854/1842 treaties that retain tribal hunting, fishing, and gathering rights even outside modern reservation boundaries. Armstrong argues these treaties are an underused legal mechanism against extractive development in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. * ADA (Average Daily Attendance) Funding — California’s per-student-day school-funding formula (~$92/day per Chavez) that incentivizes schools to focus on attendance over learning outcomes. Chavez argues this drives the bloated administrator-to-teacher ratio. * Tiered Mental Health Support — Chavez’s school-psychologist model, which sorts students into needs tiers (1 through 4) for proactive support. He argues this is the actual mechanism for reducing school violence — not a school resource officer. Sources & References * Chris Armstrong for Wisconsin (CD7) [https://armstrongforwisconsin.com/] — Campaign site, policies, and donation page. * Abel Chavez for Congress (CA-48) [https://abelchavezforcongress.com/] — Campaign site, bilingual policy pages, and donation page. Thank you Margaret Williams, MS, ACC [https://substack.com/profile/12044824-margaret-williams-ms-acc], Lori Modafferi [https://substack.com/profile/385631085-lori-modafferi], the real pambo [https://substack.com/profile/63449719-the-real-pambo], ArleneMach [https://substack.com/profile/11289996-arlenemach], Acejonesz [https://substack.com/profile/287704978-acejonesz], and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein [https://substack.com/profile/15113701-walter-rhein], Chris Armstrong for Congress [https://substack.com/profile/151039348-chris-armstrong-for-congress], Abel Chavez [https://substack.com/profile/415454879-abel-chavez], and A. Eevie Bateman [https://substack.com/profile/443649430-a-eevie-bateman]! Join me for my next live video in the app. Actions You Can Take * Check out the new: Sick of this Shop! [https://shop.sickofthisshitpublications.com/] * Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBanner [https://www.broadbanner.com/] Submit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter: * Sick of this Shit Community Comment Form [https://forms.gle/4WSu8qGkSA7Wxbh98] Call your public servants on important issues: * 5calls.org [https://5calls.org/] Join the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States: * deflock.me [https://deflock.me/] Service members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders: * Orders Project [https://www.ordersproject.com/] * Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76 Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals: * B. Cognition Labs [https://www.bcognitionlabs.com/] Nick’s Notes I’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community! Join the uncensored media at the 1A Collective [https://1acollective.com/] Support as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you * Forever at 50% off [https://sickofthis.substack.com/50forever] * Forever at 60% off [https://sickofthis.substack.com/60saver] A special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All ~ Soso [https://substack.com/profile/309303179-soso] | Millicent [https://substack.com/profile/5428714-millicent] | Courtney 🇨🇦 [https://substack.com/profile/136249074-courtney] | Eric Lullove [https://substack.com/profile/66521654-eric-lullove] | Terry mitchell [https://substack.com/profile/32751953-terry-mitchell] | Carollynn [https://substack.com/profile/301213629-carollynn] | Julie Robuck [https://substack.com/profile/208030486-julie-robuck] | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 [https://substack.com/profile/356845797-masonsheher] | Kimmy Win [https://substack.com/profile/180488664-kimmy-win] ~ For support, contact us at: info@sickofthisshitpublications.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe [https://sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Notes of the Week | E31 - Religious Patriarchy

Notes In Review This episode argues that the central failure of the political left in the United States is asking permission to defend itself. Nick Paro [https://substack.com/@nickparo] and Walter Rhein [https://substack.com/@walterrhein] open with the asymmetry that has defined the Trump era: Republicans wield power to its maximum reach, Democrats wield it to the minimum out of fear of overreach, and the public has been conditioned to victim-shame the candidates and movements who try to push back. Walter’s framing — quoted later in his Substack note — applies the same logic to sexual violence: “Let’s hunt down all the men in the Rape Academy. Let’s invade their privacy. Let’s make them fearful wherever they go.” The episode’s title topic, religious patriarchy, sits underneath all of this as the operating system: a worldview that frames any defense of the marginalized as an offense against the powerful, and that has trained both women and men to wait for permission they will never be given. Letters From A Feminist [https://substack.com/@lettersfromafeminist] — a Substack writer who joined Substack in February 2026 and writes from Uzbekistan — joins roughly halfway through. Her view from outside the U.S. confirms what the hosts have been saying: the manosphere is not an American problem, it is a Western problem, and her cousins and nephews in Central Asia know who Andrew Tate is. She gives Nick the cleanest version of his own working definition of intelligent masculinity — “men have to finally choose to be better than the system that protects them, because the system is supposed to be built to benefit them, but patriarchy consumes them as fuel” — and confirms from the Gen Z dating market that women are leaving men in numbers, not because of theory but because dating young men has become “insufferable” when basic emotional and physical self-maintenance is missing. The hosts respond by naming what men have to do: stop asking other men’s permission, stop centering their own egos in conversations about assault, and stop waiting for women to do the work of policing patriarchy. The conversation closes with community art — Walter’s daughter’s digital illustration for his unpublished children’s book Cosette and the Secrets of the Tooth Fairy, Nick’s daughter’s looping anime-style animation, and Lufina’s selection of the 1957 Uzbek painting Girl Calling to Tea by Zakir Inogamov — and a final political coda. Nick demands a single male member of Congress put his career on the line and out every member who has used the taxpayer-funded sexual assault hush money settlement system. Walter closes with the show’s recurring message: support working-class independent media, because the robber barons are deliberately working to silence the voices that threaten them. Key Takeaways * You never need consent from your oppressors to defend yourself. Walter’s framing is the spine of the episode. Whether the issue is feminism, fascism, sexual violence, or political accountability, the left has been conditioned to ask permission from the right before it acts — and the right will never grant it. The work is to act anyway, and to recognize that the request for consent is itself part of the system being defended. * Innocent until proven guilty is a courtroom standard, not a social one. Nick draws a line that the episode keeps returning to: legal innocence is not the same as social culpability. The patriarchal system uses the criminal-justice frame to immunize abusers from social accountability, and pairs it with victim-shaming so that anyone who names harm becomes the aggressor. Refusing that frame — naming abusers and demanding accountability outside the courtroom — is part of breaking the system. * The manosphere is a Western export, but it’s a global problem now. Letters From A Feminist confirms from Uzbekistan that Andrew Tate, Nick Fuentes, and the broader manosphere have penetrated Central Asia through social media. The fight against it is not American-specific work — and one of the most useful things American men can do is provide an audible, visible alternative model that travels alongside the toxic one. * Patriarchy hurts men, and women are not waiting around for them to figure it out. Lufina, speaking from Gen Z, says directly that women are leaving men because dating young men who can’t do dishes, can’t take care of themselves emotionally, and have no interior life is not worth the cost. Walter and Nick agree: this is a men’s problem to fix, alongside the women already doing the work, not in front of them. The trap for “good men” was the silence — the assumption that not being part of the problem was sufficient. It isn’t. * Primaries are a performance review, and the Democratic Party suppressing them is anti-democratic. Nick’s note this week names primary suppression — pressuring challengers to withdraw, making ballot access functionally impossible — as a form of fascism on the supposed-left. The structural answer is the work the show keeps doing: candidate interviews, coalition building, refusing to wait for big-name permission to platform progressive challengers. In some districts it only takes 10,000 votes to defeat an incumbent, and the corrupt media is deliberately distracting from that math. Terms and Concepts * Religious Patriarchy — The episode’s title concept. The system in which patriarchal social control derives its legitimacy and emotional weight from religious framing — defining defense of the marginalized as an offense against the divinely-ordained order. Operates upstream of party politics; it is the conditioning that makes Democratic Party restraint feel like virtue and Republican Party aggression feel like nature. * Intelligent Masculinity — Nick’s working definition: the refusal to outsource accountability onto others, and the discipline to live with the consequences of one’s values and actions. The episode functions as a real-time confirmation, with Lufina arriving at the same definition from a feminist starting point. * The Sexual Assault Hush Money Fund — The taxpayer-funded settlement system used by members of Congress to silence sexual assault complainants. Nick’s call to action: a male member of Congress must put career on the line and out every colleague who has used it. * Robber Barons (vs. “Oligarchs”) — Nick’s preferred term for the U.S. ultra-wealthy class. Argues “oligarch” is a Russified import that softens the visceral charge; “robber baron” is the historically American framing and lands harder in English. * The Trap for Good Men — The conditioning that taught well-intentioned men that not being part of the problem was sufficient. The episode’s argument: silence was the failure mode, and visibility — being loud, being audible, modeling the alternative — is the corrective. Notes of the Week * Walter’s Note — “Let’s hunt down all the men in the Rape Academy” [https://substack.com/@walterrhein] * Nick’s Note — Primaries as performance review / Democratic primary suppression as anti-democratic [https://substack.com/@nickparo] * Letters From A Feminist’s Note — On gender-based violence and feminism’s necessity [https://substack.com/@lettersfromafeminist] ~ Nick Paro, Walter Rhein Actions You Can Take * Check out the new: Sick of this Shop! [https://shop.sickofthisshitpublications.com/] * Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBanner [https://www.broadbanner.com/] Submit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter: * Sick of this Shit Community Comment Form [https://forms.gle/4WSu8qGkSA7Wxbh98] Call your public servants on important issues: * 5calls.org [https://5calls.org/] Join the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States: * deflock.me [https://deflock.me/] Service members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders: * Orders Project [https://www.ordersproject.com/] * Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76 Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals: * B. Cognition Labs [https://www.bcognitionlabs.com/] Thank you Amy Gabrielle [https://substack.com/profile/5498662-amy-gabrielle], A. Eevie Bateman [https://substack.com/profile/443649430-a-eevie-bateman], LeftieProf [https://substack.com/profile/116079548-leftieprof], Skutt Hope [https://substack.com/profile/26188583-skutt-hope], Farmers AGAINST trump. [https://substack.com/profile/277849637-farmers-against-trump], and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein [https://substack.com/profile/15113701-walter-rhein] and Letters from a Feminist [https://substack.com/profile/436405643-letters-from-a-feminist]! Join me for my next live video in the app. Nick’s Notes I’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community! Join the uncensored media at the 1A Collective [https://1acollective.com/] Support as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you * Forever at 50% off [https://sickofthis.substack.com/50forever] * Forever at 60% off [https://sickofthis.substack.com/60saver] A special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All ~ Soso [https://substack.com/profile/309303179-soso] | Millicent [https://substack.com/profile/5428714-millicent] | Courtney 🇨🇦 [https://substack.com/profile/136249074-courtney] | Eric Lullove [https://substack.com/profile/66521654-eric-lullove] | Terry mitchell [https://substack.com/profile/32751953-terry-mitchell] | Carollynn [https://substack.com/profile/301213629-carollynn] | Julie Robuck [https://substack.com/profile/208030486-julie-robuck] | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 [https://substack.com/profile/356845797-masonsheher] | Kimmy Win [https://substack.com/profile/180488664-kimmy-win] ~ For support, contact us at: info@sickofthisshitpublications.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe [https://sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Notes of the Week | E30 - What is Conscientious Emigration?

Notes In Review This episode centers on a profound, practical question: if you’re going to leave the United States, what does it mean to do that well? Attorney and emigration consultant Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq. [https://substack.com/@elizabethsillecklarueesq], joins Nick Paro [https://substack.com/@nickparo] and Walter Rhein [https://substack.com/@walterrhein] to define conscientious emigration — the discipline of leaving with intentionality about the environmental, cultural, and economic impact you have on the country you move to. Elizabeth founded Conscientious Emigration in January 2024, originally as a side project born from decades of environmental justice work, but after November 2025 gutted all nonprofit funding in that space, she pivoted to it full time. Her filter is explicit: she is not interested in helping Americans export colonial behaviors abroad. That principled self-selection means her clients tend to be remarkable — archaeologists, retired doctors, lifelong social justice advocates, people who’ve already done the work of understanding their own conditioning. The episode covers hard practical ground: which countries are actually viable destinations for which people (visa qualification is always the first limiting factor), how to spot bad information from location-specific influencers who profit from steering you to one place regardless of fit, why Europe has declined in Elizabeth’s recommendations due to right-wing spread, and how U.S. imperialism toward Latin America is actively shrinking the list of safe options. Chile dropped off entirely — “there’s a literal Nazi running the country.” Walter speaks from nine years of experience being deconitioned by Peruvian culture; Nick shares the painful story of nearly joining an anti-vax, anti-LGBTQ cult-adjacent community in Panama. The cult experience becomes a teaching case: Americans are uniquely poorly equipped to identify cults because American society is itself organized as one. Elizabeth adds the professional lens — her legal training means she looks for the question not being asked, the answer being buried, and she applies that rigor to every apartment walkthrough and emigration plan she’s part of. The episode ends with community art — Nick’s daughter’s digital animation work, Walter’s daughter’s Star Wars figures made from toilet paper rolls, Elizabeth’s husband’s photograph of an endemic emerald hummingbird from their yard in Mexico — and a political coda. Walter is actively working to get progressive primary challengers elected in Wisconsin. Elizabeth makes the point that leaving is not cowardice: not everyone’s role is to stay and fight on the front lines. She is doing significant work for U.S. communities from Mexico. Nick closes with the show’s through-line: the cultural shift is upstream from politics, and that work happens in communities like this one. Key Takeaways * Leaving is not cowardice — and staying isn’t mandatory heroism. Elizabeth is explicit: if you need to leave for your safety, your family’s wellbeing, or your mental health, go. She is doing more to help U.S. communities from Mexico than she could have done from Southwest Florida. Not everyone has the same role in this fight, and that’s not abandonment. * Visa qualification is always the first variable. Before aspirational destination lists, before cost-of-living comparisons, before culture fit — ask where you can legally qualify for a residency visa based on your age, income, savings, and identity. That is the binding constraint. Everything else is secondary. * The expat bubble is not just aesthetically unpleasant — it causes measurable harm. Gentrification in Lisbon, Mexico City, and Barcelona is directly linked to expats who pay far above local market rates. Conscientious emigration means, over time, integrating economically with local standards — not maintaining a dollar-denominated lifestyle in a peso economy. * “The race starts the second you land.” Walter’s framing: either you begin immediately adopting better cultural habits, or you calcify into another miserable expat in a bubble. There is no neutral. The deconditioning that took Walter nine years in Peru is available to anyone willing to learn the language, follow cultural cues, and show up as a learner rather than a customer. * Due diligence is part of conscientious emigration. The MAGA family that signed up for Russian military social media influencing and got conscripted to the front lines; the Panama eco-community that turned out to be anti-vax, anti-LGBTQ, and spiritually hierarchical; the Honduras gated community that was a cult — these are what happens without careful, skeptical vetting. Elizabeth applies legal-grade scrutiny: check the apartment, read the contract, question the deal that sounds too good, and be especially suspicious of destination-specific influencers whose income depends on steering you to one place. People, Organizations, and Terms People: * Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq. — Attorney, founder of Conscientious Emigration (January 2024), based in Mexico after emigrating from Southwest Florida in 2022. Former environmental policy and justice advocate. Works primarily with people from marginalized groups navigating values-aligned emigration from the U.S. Writes on Substack and Medium. * Walter Rhein — Co-host of Notes of the Week, based in Peru (his wife is Peruvian), currently building on land with his family. Former tech worker. Writes on Substack; actively helping progressive primary challengers get elected in Wisconsin. * Nick Paro — Host of Notes of the Week and Sick of This Shit Publications. Nearly emigrated to Panama with his family; the experience ended when they encountered an anti-vax, anti-LGBTQ eco-community operating as a cult. Father of two neurodivergent children. Organizations / Programs: * Conscientious Emigration — Elizabeth’s consulting practice. Helps people leave the U.S. with intentionality about environmental, cultural, and economic impact on destination countries. Explicit filter against colonial behaviors and mentalities. Clients find her via Substack and Medium. * The Panama group — Unnamed eco-community that love-bombed Nick and his family, turned anti-vax and anti-LGBTQ after close contact, and engaged in spiritual hierarchy. A cautionary case study in cult-adjacent expat communities. Terms / Concepts: * Conscientious Emigration — Leaving one’s home country with active awareness of and responsibility for one’s environmental, cultural, and economic impact on the destination country. Encompasses both values-led behavior and methodical due diligence. * The Expat Bubble — Self-segregating communities of U.S. expats abroad who refuse to learn the local language, maintain dollar-economy spending, expect English-language service, and reinforce each other’s sense of exceptionalism. Causes measurable harm through gentrification and cultural erasure. * The Ugly American — Coined cultural archetype of the U.S. traveler or expat who demands exceptionalist treatment abroad: expecting English, refusing to adapt, and behaving as royalty in countries they’ve chosen to inhabit. Not exclusively white or Christian — it’s a conditioned mindset. * Gentrification by Expats — The inflationary effect on local housing and goods markets when expat spending power sets a new price floor. Documented in Lisbon, Mexico City, Barcelona. Elizabeth’s recommendation: short-term leases on arrival, eventual full economic integration. * Love Bombing (cult context) — Intensive, overwhelming affection used by cult-adjacent communities to recruit new members before revealing incompatible values. Nick’s Panama experience is a direct case study. Notes of the Week * Elizabeth’s Note [https://substack.com/profile/89121070-elizabeth-silleck-la-rue-esq/note/c-245383585] * Nick’s Note [https://substack.com/profile/189675044-nick-paro/note/c-246649315] * Walter’s Note [https://substack.com/profile/15113701-walter-rhein/note/c-246799771] Art of the Week * Nick’s daughter’s eyeball animation * Elizabeth’s husband’s hummingbird photo * Walter’s daughter’s collection of toilet paper roll Star Wars characters ~ Nick Paro, Walter Rhein Actions You Can Take * Check out the new: Sick of this Shop! [https://shop.sickofthisshitpublications.com/] * Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBanner [https://www.broadbanner.com/] Submit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter: * Sick of this Shit Community Comment Form [https://forms.gle/4WSu8qGkSA7Wxbh98] Call your public servants on important issues: * 5calls.org [https://5calls.org/] Join the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States: * deflock.me [https://deflock.me/] Service members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders: * Orders Project [https://www.ordersproject.com/] * Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76 Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals: * B. Cognition Labs [https://www.bcognitionlabs.com/] Thank you Mack Devlin [https://substack.com/profile/369418191-mack-devlin], Letters from a Feminist [https://substack.com/profile/436405643-letters-from-a-feminist], LeftieProf [https://substack.com/profile/116079548-leftieprof], Samantha Paige (she/they) [https://substack.com/profile/289433434-samantha-paige-shethey], the real pambo [https://substack.com/profile/63449719-the-real-pambo], and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein [https://substack.com/profile/15113701-walter-rhein] and Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq. [https://substack.com/profile/89121070-elizabeth-silleck-la-rue-esq]! Join me for my next live video in the app. Nick’s Notes I’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community! Join the uncensored media at the 1A Collective [https://1acollective.com/] Support as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you * Forever at 50% off [https://sickofthis.substack.com/50forever] * Forever at 60% off [https://sickofthis.substack.com/60saver] A special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All ~ Soso [https://substack.com/profile/309303179-soso] | Millicent [https://substack.com/profile/5428714-millicent] | Courtney 🇨🇦 [https://substack.com/profile/136249074-courtney] | Eric Lullove [https://substack.com/profile/66521654-eric-lullove] | Terry mitchell [https://substack.com/profile/32751953-terry-mitchell] | Carollynn [https://substack.com/profile/301213629-carollynn] | Julie Robuck [https://substack.com/profile/208030486-julie-robuck] | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 [https://substack.com/profile/356845797-masonsheher] ~ For support, contact us at: info@sickofthisshitpublications.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe [https://sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Notes of the Week | E29 - Nat-Cs and the Micro Men

Notes In Review This episode dissects nationalist Christian ideology and its role in normalizing male sexual violence. Hosts Nick Paro and Walter Rhein engage guests Andra Watkins and Frederic Poag in hard conversations about Christian nationalist theology that treats dominion over women as biblical mandate. The core argument: America’s crisis of male accountability stems from theological permission structures combined with feminization anxieties. Watkins, a survivor of Christian nationalist upbringing, argues that without institutional accountability systems — DNA testing for officials, rape kit processing, belief of accusers — abusers operate with impunity. Fred Poag speaks from military experience on why individualistic “alpha male” posturing fails compared to collective vulnerability and respect. The stakes: toxic masculinity is not nature; it’s trained, reproduced, and reversible. Key Takeaways * Demand institutional accountability mechanisms. DNA databases for elected officials, mandatory rape kit processing, and presumption of witness credibility are not hypothetical — implement them now at state level. Political careers should end on first credible accusation of sexual misconduct, not after vetting delay. * “Anything but yes means no” is foundational. Enthusiastic, continuous consent is the baseline for respectful sexuality. Watkins reframes this as basic reciprocal respect: if you demand people listen when you say no, enforce the same for others. * Call out the “micro men” pattern. Christian nationalist theology manufactures male entitlement (“dominion” over women from Genesis). Progressive men must name this in peers, in institutions, and in political recruitment — don’t normalize it as cultural difference. * Primaries matter more than generals. Democratic establishment abandonment of primaries (moving to assemblies, blocking progressive candidates) guarantees two bought candidates. Fund and promote progressive candidates in early stages, not post-primary damage control. * Intelligent masculinity is learned, not lost. Both Fred and Nick model accountability, vulnerability, and respect for expertise. This is not weakness; it produces better operations, stronger teams, and safer communities. Train it systematically. Orgs and Terms Organizations / Programs: * Christian Nationalism (NAT-Cs) — Theological framework claiming Genesis grants men dominion over women; provides moral justification for sexual entitlement and political control. * Democratic National Committee (DNC) — Criticized for replacing primaries with assemblies in Colorado District 4, avoiding grassroots accountability, and backing centrist candidates over progressives. Terms / Concepts: * “Anything but yes means no” — Consent framework emphasizing that ambiguous responses, silence, and hedging do not constitute permission. * Dominion theology — Christian nationalist interpretation of Genesis 1:28 as divine mandate for male rule over women, family, and society. * Micro syndrome vs. macro syndrome — Nick Paro’s framing: individualistic posturing vs. collective belonging. Micro syndrome reproduces entitlement; macro builds community resilience. Sources & References * Jess Craven’s investigation of Ruben Gallego’s misogynistic texts toward Democratic women. * CoffeeZilla’s exposé of Andrew Tate’s ghostwriting and course-selling schemes. * Greta Thunberg’s 2022 tip to Romanian authorities on Tate’s location, leading to his arrest on sex trafficking charges. * Colorado District 4 primary interference — DNC blocking Tricia Calvary, backing Eileen Laubacher. Notes of the Week * Andra’s Note [https://pages.broadbanner.com/sick-of-this-shit-publications/notes-of-the-week/episode-reviews/URL] * Fred’s Note [https://pages.broadbanner.com/sick-of-this-shit-publications/notes-of-the-week/episode-reviews/URL] * Nick’s Note [https://pages.broadbanner.com/sick-of-this-shit-publications/notes-of-the-week/episode-reviews/URL] * Walter’s Note [https://pages.broadbanner.com/sick-of-this-shit-publications/notes-of-the-week/episode-reviews/URL] * Operation Epically FUBAR — a poem by Nick Paro [https://pages.broadbanner.com/sick-of-this-shit-publications/notes-of-the-week/episode-reviews/URL] Actions You Can Take * Check out the new: Sick of this Shop! [https://shop.sickofthisshitpublications.com/] * Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBanner [https://www.broadbanner.com/] Submit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter: * Sick of this Shit Community Comment Form [https://forms.gle/4WSu8qGkSA7Wxbh98] Call your public servants on important issues: * 5calls.org [https://5calls.org/] Join the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States: * deflock.me [https://deflock.me/] Service members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders: * Orders Project [https://www.ordersproject.com/] * Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76 Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals: * B. Cognition Labs [https://www.bcognitionlabs.com/] Thank you Mack Devlin [https://substack.com/profile/369418191-mack-devlin], LeftieProf [https://substack.com/profile/116079548-leftieprof], Noble Blend [https://substack.com/profile/21659563-noble-blend], the real pambo [https://substack.com/profile/63449719-the-real-pambo], Liza Hameline [https://substack.com/profile/5798468-liza-hameline], and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein [https://substack.com/profile/15113701-walter-rhein], Andra Watkins [https://substack.com/profile/101595169-andra-watkins], and Frederic Poag [https://substack.com/profile/253267248-frederic-poag]! Join me for my next live video in the app. Nick’s Notes I’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!. Support as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you * Forever at 50% off [https://sickofthis.substack.com/50forever] * Forever at 60% off [https://sickofthis.substack.com/60saver] For support, contact us at: info@sickofthisshitpublications.com [info@sickofthisshitpublications.com] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe [https://sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]