According2Sam Podcast

The City of Los Angeles was forced to issue a curfew this week in the downtown area following three consecutive nights of violent protests, looting, and vandalism. Mayor Karen Bass announced the curfew on Tuesday, reporting that 23 businesses had been looted, with extensive additional property damage and destruction. Similar demonstrations—and accompanying violence—have spread to other cities, including Seattle, Chicago, and Atlanta, where clashes between protesters and police have also occurred. The unrest is reminiscent of the nationwide protests and riots during the summer of 2020, which began in Minneapolis and quickly spread across the country. What is driving this new wave of demonstrations and civil unrest, and who is organizing and funding them? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #319.

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The state of California has operated as a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants for nearly two decades. They have extended benefits to these individuals, including access to driver's licenses, healthcare services, and protections from federal immigration enforcement. However, this arrangement has been mutually beneficial to the Democratic Party in California, which has championed these policies. They get to maintain unchallenged power in the state and increase the power of their party at the national level. This explains why Democrat leaders in California resist stricter federal immigration enforcement, and why they are obstructing the Trump administration. How do illegal immigrants help Democrats stay in power in California and increase their representation in Washington? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #318.

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Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced this week that she is leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent. She also revealed that she is writing a book titled 'Independent’, which will explain her decision. The book will focus on the three weeks between the presidential debate between President Biden and President Trump—a period she previously described as a “firing squad” within the party aimed at pushing Biden out. Since her announcement, she has faced harsh criticism from Democrats, including some of her former colleagues in the Biden administration. In addition, rumors have begun circulating about a fractured White House marked by growing animosity. What are we learning now about the Biden administration that was kept from the public before last year’s election? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #317.

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One of the most surprising revelations from the 2024 presidential election is how Donald Trump managed to win with what was once considered the "Obama Coalition." When Barack Obama won in 2008 and 2012, he did so with the support of a younger, more diverse electorate. President Trump also won with significant support from young voters and people of color—an outcome that runs counter to the prevailing narrative that his message only appeals to White voters resentful of demographic change. Trump secured support from one in every three voters of color and outperformed President Biden among Latino and Asian women. This is especially notable given that his opponent was the first woman of color on a major party ticket, with Asian heritage. How does the 2024 election signal the end of the Obama-era, and raise questions about Obama’s legacy? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #316.

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The progressive voter data firm Catalist recently published its comprehensive analysis of the 2024 presidential election, titled "What Happened in 2024." The report provides a detailed picture of how Kamala Harris lost and how Donald Trump won. Trump won by assembling a broad coalition of voters across age groups, genders, races, education levels, and income brackets. Compared to the 2020 election, he gained support among nearly every demographic, while Harris saw declines across almost every group. The only demographics where she held steady were Black and White women. How is the Democratic Party’s focus on identity politics and demographic targeting contributing to its loss of support among key voter groups it has traditionally relied on? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #315.

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Former First Lady Jill Biden told The Washington Post—in her final sit-down interview while in the White House—that she was disappointed in Nancy Pelosi for her role in pressuring President Biden to withdraw from his 2024 reelection campaign. "We were friends for 50 years," she said. She clearly viewed the move as a betrayal, especially given the long-standing nature of their relationship. The Bidens maintain that the president could have won reelection and insist he stepped aside only due to pressure from Pelosi and other so-called friends. How did the Biden's get their revenge for this betrayal, and what is their relationship like with those friends today? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #314.

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During the early stages of the 2020 Democratic primary, Joe Biden pledged to choose a woman as his running mate if he secured the nomination. After winning the nomination, many Black activists within the Democratic Party demanded Biden select a Black woman. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was being vetted, as her selection could have helped in a key swing state. However, these Black activists warned that failing to choose a Black woman would lead to a lack of enthusiasm among Black voters, and Trump's reelection. In response to this pressure, Biden ultimately selected Kamala Harris as his running mate. Why was it a mistake for Biden to cave to this pressure, and how did it embolden these activists, and pave the way for Trump to win in 2024? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #313.

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The belief that a woman cannot be elected President of the United States is often supported by pointing to the losses of Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris. However, both were among the most unpopular presidential candidates in recent history. Clinton not only lost to Donald Trump in the 2016 general election, but she was also defeated by Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary. Similarly, in 2020, Kamala Harris ended her presidential campaign before the primaries started, failing to secure a single delegate. She was polling in fifth place in her home state of California. Is it fair to conclude that a woman cannot win the presidency based on these two examples, or is it more accurate to say the Democratic Party erred in nominating these particular women? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #312.

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With several books now being released about President Biden’s cognitive decline during his presidency, the blame game has begun. It’s becoming increasingly clear that there was a conspiracy to cover up and hide his condition —yet no one wants to take responsibility for being part of that effort. President Biden and his wife deny any conspiracy, claiming the anonymous sources cited in these books are mistaken. Biden insists he simply had a bad debate, and that had he stayed in the race, he would have won. The media, meanwhile, refuses to accept blame, instead pointing fingers at Biden’s inner circle and Democratic Party leadership. When those leaders are asked what they knew, their response is, “We’re looking forward, not backward.” Why are Biden, his inner circle, the media, and Democratic leaders all complicit? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #311.

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When President Clinton signed the Telecommunication Act that deregulated corporate media and allowed ownership to concentrate in the hands of just a few companies, critics warned of potential dangers. They feared that as media ownership became concentrated among a few large corporations, the public would increasingly perceive news outlets as serving corporate interests rather than the public good, thereby eroding trust in the media. They also warned that with large corporations owning both media outlets and other business interests, investigative journalism might be stifled. Additionally, they argued that profit-driven media would prioritize attention-grabbing stories over serious journalism, leading audiences to view the media as shallow, unreliable, or manipulative. After three decades, how accurate were these critics in their assessment of the impact of deregulation? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #310.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com