Coup Save America

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.

What are the psychological dynamics that make a person susceptible to propaganda? This week, Coup Save America welcomes David Shaw, author of the new book Deplorable Politics: Propaganda for the Brainwashed. David has applied his background in political science and psychotherapy to a career as a consultant for non-profit fundraising, but he joins us today to unravel the mystery of what makes people susceptible to manipulation and outright deception. David defines the term “propaganda” and explains to us how everybody from the media to our political parties will habitually use it to advance their agendas. He maintains that the majority of Republicans are not “deplorable”, and support progressive legislation, but these rational and reachable individuals are internalizing the deceptive messaging that skews their view of the world. He uses the example of the January 6 Capital insurrection to illustrate the four steps that make up an effective propaganda campaign. David bemoans how the word “lie” has morphed into the less accurate term “fact check”, and answers the question “Are far-right wing politics really on the rise?” David and Sean discuss how fiscal Republicans no longer exist, and David shares documented information suggesting that the Republican Party has no interest in addressing societal issues… and Democrats aren’t much better. As always, the conversation turns to the distorted priorities of the mainstream media, and David tells us the tips from his book about how to distinguish propaganda from legitimate journalism and talks about the keywords/terms used in headlines that are purposely designed to mislead. Listen to hear the story of the propaganda surrounding global warming, and how it heavily influenced both sides of the issue…how the tobacco industry taught the world how to propagandize…and find out what area of popular science David debunks, even after his friends and family told him, “Don’t put that in your book, because nobody agrees with you!” To close the interview, David expands upon the psychology behind susceptibility, answering the questions, “What is recipe to create a person who will be easily influenced by propaganda?” and “What we can do as a society to fix people’s brains?” Listen to find out why we should all watch Trump’s final rally speech, and to hear the dangers of Trump’s base transferring over to DeSantis. Other topics include: Crazy Florida laws, how Trump’s campaign pitch is an exact copy of Hitler’s, Chinese spy balloons, and how and when Christian nationalism took a backseat to a more non-conformist attitude.

Should an orca whale be the first non-human person to be granted habeas corpus? We think so. Dr. Jeffrey Ventre is a former orca trainer now turned anti-captivity activist. He joins Coup Save America today to talk about his feature role in the documentary Blackfish, a film that swayed public opinion about using marine mammal as performers for profit. Sean and Jeff compare stories about working for SeaWorld and talk about how they both bought into the company narrative about keeping orca whales in captivity. Jeff gives examples of the erratic behavior often displayed by captive orcas, and aggression which has on several occasions ended with the tragic death of a human. We hear the inside story of Dawn Brancheau, Tilikum the orca, and SeaWorld's lies and cover-ups. Jeff and Sean discuss the intelligence of orcas, how young whales were kidnapped from their pods for human entertainment, and what steps are necessary to get orcas out of captivity and into whale sanctuaries. Jeff hopes everyone will go to Amazon.com to watch the new documentary film, "Corky", about the longest living wildcaught orca still held in captivity, and he invites our audience to visit YouTube for recordings of past speeches given at his annual Super Pod gatherings in the San Juan Islands. Other topics include: Ken Balcomb, how the Avatar sequel is in conflict with marine mammal rights, the evils of river dams, how covid-19 lockdowns compare to keeping orcas in captivity, the American war machine, plus ample discussion on the benefits of Medicare for All.

It’s a longstanding tactic - If you want to pass a policy, weaponize the children! We are joined today by Alex Clark, the CEO of the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association, to talk about vaping – one of the most effective ways to quit smoking tobacco. First up, Alex and Sean compare their personal stories about overcoming a smoking addiction by using electronic cigarettes. Over the course of the show, Alex teaches us the mechanics of vaping, debunks the many myths about vaping, and explains the harm reduction potential of vaping. Alex does not promote vaping as “harmless.” There ARE unknowns and possible health issues with vaping, but not nearly at the levels of harm associated with smoking. He explains the FDA-approved science that backs up the safety of vaping, and he talks about the hysteria drummed up by anti-vaping campaigns, and how so many associations mislead the public and spread irresponsible lies about vaping. There are real ways to dissuade kids from falling into the actual dangers of smokeless nicotine products. Alex dissects the complicated regulations that have throttled the innovation of individuals and have handed the vaping industry over to incumbent tobacco companies. Then we learn that, very surprisingly, big tobacco companies are on the right side of the battle when it comes to promoting vaping and steering the public in the direction of smokeless tobacco products. Listen to find out why there is some good coming from corporate evil. Alex reveals that 95% of the safe vaping products now on the market are being sold in noncompliance with federal law. Listen to find out the reasons why these laws are not being enforced, plus learn the many reasons why the liquid flavors that are so often banned actually contribute to protecting a vapor’s health. To conclude, Alex speculates on what’s next in the agenda against vaping and tells us how we can best contribute to the cause. Listen until the end of the show to find out the “fact” in Sean’s monologue that was very, very wrong! Other topics include: Theatre fog, nicotine pouches, the formaldehyde challenge, Pink Lung Brigade, the heroes and villains of vaping, and the status of vaping in other countries around the world.