In this episode, Bob Phipps moderates a fast, messy, human debate where both sides call the other “crazy” and we try to separate heat from light. Bathrooms to January 6, censorship to conspiracies, rainbow crosswalks to welfare and “weaponization” of agencies—nothing stays tidy for long. 
Participating panel: Don Thomas, Stacia Boyd, Zach Cooker, Jeff Barrett 
 Host: Bob Phipps 
Jump in and steer the convo 
 • What’s one “the other side is nuts” belief you’re willing to re-examine? 
 • Should nonviolent Jan 6 attendees have been treated differently from violent offenders? 
 • Public art in crosswalks: harmless expression or misuse of civic space? 
 • Which helps more: expanding welfare or expanding opportunity? Why? 
 • Is “weaponization” actually new or just more visible? 
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Host Bob Phipps turns up the heat with panelists Don Thomas, Jeff Klein, Michelle Walters, and Jeff Barrett. No filibusters—just rapid, sharply argued takes on the culture-war flashpoints dividing America. From transgender participation in women’s sports to crime policy, border enforcement, gun rights, abortion, and the role of faith in government, the crew pressures each other to get specific, cut the slogans, and find any sliver of common ground.
What we dig into
 1.  Trans women in women’s sports: fairness, numbers, and where to draw lines
2. Crime and policing: performative crackdowns vs. prevention and community safety
3. Borders and immigration: “open borders” rhetoric, courts, and catch-and-release reality
4. Guns and the Second Amendment: rights, limits, and what “reasonable” looks like
5. Abortion and bodily autonomy: where policy and personal belief collide
6. Religion in government: Christian nationalism claims vs. constitutional limits
7. Health policy and mandates: lessons learned and where both sides overreached
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This episode goes straight at a messy, important question: who actually controls the National Guard—and what does DC’s deployment really mean? Host Bob Phipps and panelists Joseph Bishop, Jeff Nolan, Eddie Clark, and Larry Haber debate whether the Guard’s presence is public safety, political theater, or a new model of law and order.
In this episode:
1. Who has authority over the National Guard, and how that differs in Washington, DC
2. Are deployments targeting real crime—or creating optics in tourist zones?
3. Public safety vs. performative politics: can both be true at once?
4. Short-term drops in crime vs. long-term displacement
5. Cash bail, class bias, and why more arrests can mean more inequity
6. States’ rights, federal power, and why DC is a special case
7. What success would even look like—and what happens when the Guard leaves?
Join the conversation:
1. Should the National Guard be used for local public safety in DC?
2. Is this approach effective, or just optics that shift crime elsewhere?
3. How do we reduce crime without expanding inequity and incarceration?
Share your thoughts below—disagreeing respectfully is the Third Side way.
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In this episode of Third Side Convo, host Bob Phipps sits down with panelists Ted Johnson, Jeff “Forever in Blue Jeans” Klein, Len Brown, and the ever-controversial Joe Boy to unpack one of politics’ oldest tricks: the art of distraction. 
From Sydney Sweeney’s jeans commercial spiraling into a culture war… to historic moments like the Granada invasion, we ask: 
 👉 Are we falling for shiny objects while real issues hide in the shadows? 
 👉 Do companies and politicians intentionally fuel outrage for profit? 
 👉 Or are we the ones feeding the “attention bank” with every click? 
 Expect heated takes, sharp humor, and a dose of history as the crew dives into whether today’s media circus is accidental chaos—or masterful design. 
 Stick around to hear stories of past political “wag the dog” moments, how the media spins narratives, and why attention has become the most valuable currency of our time. 
✨ Join the Convo: 
 What do you think—are we too easily distracted, or is this all calculated? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 

In this urgent Third Side Convo, the panel takes on one of the defining debates of our time: who should control AI, and what happens if nobody can? What you’ll hear in this episode: 1. The Genie Out of the Bottle: Can AI really be regulated, or has it already outpaced human control? 2. Helper vs. Harm: Is AI empowering us with new tools, or making us dumber and more dependent? 3. The Four “Laws” Problem: Why Isaac Asimov’s famous AI safeguards aren’t laws at all — and why that matters. 4. Environmental Fallout: How the massive energy and water demands of AI may be the hidden cost no one wants to discuss. 5. Global Arms Race: With China and Big Tech pushing ahead, can the U.S. afford to slow down? What do you think?

• Should governments set strict AI regulations, or is that impossible?
• Do the environmental costs outweigh AI’s benefits?
• Is AI the future of human progress — or the beginning of something we’ll regret?

Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know where YOU stand.

In this episode of Third Side Convo, host Bob Phipps sits down with panelists Don Thomas, Jeff Nolan, John Dunn, and Bill Russell for a candid, layered discussion on trust — where it’s been lost, how it was broken, and whether it can ever be rebuilt.
From government systems that change with every administration to the media’s role in shaping narratives, the panel shares personal turning points that shifted their confidence in institutions. We explore the impact of social media, the influence of big money on political agendas, and the deeply personal stories that reveal how distrust grows over time.
But this isn’t just a conversation about problems — it’s about possibilities. The panel tackles tough questions:
1. How do we rebuild trust in a divided nation?
2. Can communities find common ground despite political differences?
3. What small, personal actions can actually move the needle?
We talk about bridging divides at the kitchen table, seeking common ground before politics, and the power of service to others as a starting point for healing. You’ll hear unfiltered perspectives, heartfelt moments, and even a few laughs as we navigate a topic that affects us all.
Tune in, join the conversation, and share your own story of trust — when you lost it, and what you believe it will take to restore it.

In this explosive episode of Third Side Convo, host Bob Phipps is joined by Ted Johnson, Jeff Klein, John Dunn, and Bill Russell to tackle one of the most controversial and elusive topics in modern politics: the Epstein files.
From the names the public has never seen to the promises made (and broken) by multiple administrations, the panel dives deep into the critical question: Should everything be released, or is there ever a valid reason to keep certain names hidden?
We discuss:
1. What “full disclosure” really means—and who’s avoiding it?
2. Why trust in government continues to erode?
3. How Epstein’s ties to both parties complicate the political narrative?
4. The moral and legal implications of blackmail, sex trafficking, and power dynamics
5. What transparency really looks like—and whether it’s still possible today?
This isn’t just about Epstein. It’s about the system, the cover-ups, and what the public has a right to know.

On this episode of Third Side Convo, we dive into one of the most polarizing topics in American politics: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Is ICE a necessary tool for national security, or has it become an unchecked, overgrown agency operating above the law?
Host Bob Phipps moderates a spirited and deeply layered conversation with panelists Stacia Boyd, Brandon Berger, Michelle Walters, and Bill Russell. Each guest brings their unique experiences and perspectives—from national security and legal accountability to humanitarian concerns and firsthand community impact.
Topics we cover include:
•    The expansion of ICE into a paramilitary-scale force
•    Oversight and accountability in enforcement
•    Humanitarian crises and asylum claims
•    Due process and constitutional protections
•    The ethics and logistics of deportation
•    Bipartisan failures and missed opportunities for reform
•    What common ground might actually look like
This episode doesn’t shy away from the hard questions—but it also reveals surprising areas of agreement across the aisle. If you’re ready to explore immigration policy beyond slogans and soundbites, this one’s for you.
Watch, comment, and subscribe to join the conversation. Let’s lean in—not lean out.

Is the “Big Beautiful Bill” genuine welfare reform or just another way to cut off millions who need help the most? In this heated Third Side Convo, the panel tackles one of the most controversial political battles of 2025: the future of Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP benefits.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
•    The $1.02 Trillion Question: Are GOP-led cuts really targeting waste, or are they hurting kids, the elderly, and people with disabilities?
•    The Work Requirement Debate: Does asking people to work or volunteer 80 hours a month empower them or just push them out of the system?
•    Integrity vs. Abuse: Are government bureaucracies helping or trapping people in dependence?
•    The Human Cost: What happens to rural hospitals, disabled Americans, and families already on the edge?
•    The Real Question – Do we ALL want to help people? The panel tries to find common ground before the show wraps.
Key moments include:
•    Heated exchanges over Bible verses and whether they’re being used out of context to justify cutting benefits
•    Stacia’s personal story of how the ACA helped her family, then priced them out
•    Johnny’s call for “teaching responsibility” and his argument that real love means work, not handouts
•    Jeff’s frustration over “solving problems that don’t exist”
•    Bill’s explanation of state “money laundering” and how the bill closes loopholes
This is one of the most intense conversations yet—and we even end with a surprising agreement that, yes, most of us really do want to help people. But the how remains a fight.
What do you think?
•    Are the cuts necessary to stop abuse, or are they punishing people who truly need help?
•    Should work requirements be stricter—or more flexible?
•    Is this welfare reform fair, or just politics as usual?
Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know where YOU stand.

In this eye-opening episode of Third Side Convo, Bob Phipps and our dynamic panel — Don Thomas, Jeff Nolan, Michelle Walters, and Peter Gallo — pull no punches discussing modern slavery in all its forms. From prison labor loopholes in the U.S. to forced labor in global supply chains, sex trafficking, and exploitative working conditions in industries like chocolate, fashion, and electronics — we ask the tough questions: 1. Is slavery really over, or has it just evolved? 2. What can we actually do about it? 3. Are we complicit as consumers when we choose convenience over ethics? Join the conversation! Drop your thoughts in the comments:

• Do you think boycotts or tariffs make a difference?
• What brands or products do you avoid because of these issues?
• What change would YOU like to see?

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