According2Sam Podcast

The roots of modern populism in America go back to the early 1990s with rightwing populist leaders such as Pat Buchanan and Ross Perot. There were many issues driving these movements, but the biggest was the issue of trade. Move forward to the end of the decade when leftwing populism manifested itself during the World Trade protest in Seattle in 1999, and then in the Ralph Nader campaign a year later. Today populism in America is reflected in the Trump movement from the Right, and the movement being lead by Bernie Sanders on the Left. How are these two movements different and what do they have in common? What is the consistent theme from early populism in the 90s that still exist today? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #25.

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This Jussie Smollett story has a lot of angles, but essentially it’s a story about a troubled man who wanted to be seen as a victim of a hate crime by a Trump supporter. He gave it two attempts, and became angry when the first attempt to mail himself a threating letter didn’t received the attention he hoped. He then planned the more elaborate scheme to pay two men to attack him, pour bleach on him, and tie a rope around his neck, all while berating him with racist and gay slurs, and of course the important line, “this MAGA country”. What are the facts surrounding this story, and how does Jussie’s account of the story differ from the story Cook County prosecutor’s? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #23.

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No one can deny that the Grand Ole Party has gone through a transformation in the past decade, from the neoconservative movement to the Republican Party currently being lead by President Trump. Yet, the vestiges of the neocon faction remain and they are actively working to subvert the current republican movement. It started with the ‘Never Trump’ call to prevent him from winning the nomination, and many prominent ‘Never Trump’ republicans publicly announced their support for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in the 2016 election. How are they currently trying to undermine Trump’s agenda and possibly prevent his reelection? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #22.

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When Fareed Zakaria released his book “Post America World” at the end of the of the Bush administration in 2008 the nation was at the beginning of the Great Recession. The nation was engaged two wars, both with no end in sight. Meanwhile, as he writes, the rest of the world was advancing, and becoming more modern and competitive. Countries such as China, India, and Brazil seem do be going in opposite directions than the United States, according to Zakaria, and they would soon be a challenge to America’s global hegemony. Why has America declined in the past 20 years, while competing nations have advanced? Were the issues that led to this decline unavoidable, or self inflicted? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #21.

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When Donald Trump launched his campaign for president with the slogan ‘Make America Great Again (MAGA)’ it was like a beacon of light to Americans who believed the nation was on the wrong track. Many of these people were the same Americans who believed the nation was on the wrong track in 2008, when they voted for Obama who ran on the campaign slogan ‘Change you can believe in’. However, the MAGA slogan, and especially the red MAGA hat, has been an emotional trigger for many of President Trump’s detractors. Why did the MAGA slogan resonate so intently with Trump’s voters, and why does it conjure such intense disdain from his detractors? When was America great? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #20.

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Roger Stone has been indicted and arrested by the Grand Jury in the Mueller investigation. In the early morning a 29-man swat team with automatic weapons, boats, and a helicopter raided Stone’s home and took him into custody. The entire spectacle was captured by CNN, who just happened to be at Stone’s house to document the arrest for the world. Stone was later released on a signature bond. He maintains his innocence and remains defiant. He says he plans on mounting an aggressive defense. Why was Roger Stone indicted, and what does it have to do with the President and the Russia collusion investigation? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #19.

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The key to understanding the significance of John Podesta’s emails, from his personal Gmail account, being leaked to the world by WikiLeaks, is understanding who John Podesta is. He was the Chief of Staff to President Clinton, and a chief advisor to President Obama. He was the Chair of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, and was on track to become Chief of Staff in the Hillary Clinton administration. He and his brother Tony Podesta started as lobbyist, and they have been major political influencers in Washington D.C for 40 years. The leaked emails from Podesta’s Gmail account were a treasure trove of insider information and more. What are some of the things we learned from Podesta’s emails and what impact did it have on the 2016 election? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #18.

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The digital information age has made it easier for governments to spy on their people. It has made it easier for corporations to track us and sell us products. Yet, the technological advancements of the information age have also made it easier for average everyday individuals to fight back against corrupt and unjust people in power. Hackers from around the world, whistleblowers who leak from within, information that could take down the masters of the universe can be placed on a thumb drive and slipped into a pocket. Since 2007, WikiLeaks has been the equalizer in this endeavor as a platform for sharing this powerful information with the world. What significant leaks has WikiLeaks shared with the world, and how have those leaks made WikiLeaks and Julian Assange the enemy of many governments and people in power? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #17.

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It is a common belief among less cynical people that the 2003 invasion of Iraq was an intelligence blunder, a mistake. They believe President Bush was just trying to protect America after the September 11 attacks, and he was acting on faulty intelligence. Nothing could be further from the truth. The push to war in Iraq was a diabolical and cleverly crafted scheme. President Bush wasn’t acting on faulty intelligence. His Vice President and the Neocons in his circle were crafting intelligence and propaganda to sell the Iraq WMD threat to the American people and world. How was the intelligence community used to sell the Iraq invasion, and how are they being used again today to sell the Russia meddling narrative? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #16.

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Unfortunately, corruption and malfeasance is endemic in human institutions and organizations. Perhaps it has something to do with humanity. However, it is also human to have a conscience, and to want to expose corruption and abuses of power when you are in a position to do so, and for a greater human good. This is the role of the whistleblower. There are many examples of corporate and institutional corruptions that have been exposed by brave souls who risks everything to blow the whistle. The whistleblower has been viewed as such an essential part of our society that they have been given the same rights and protections as the press. How has one American president gone beyond others in prosecuting whistleblowers? How has WikiLeaks helped whistleblowers stay anonymous? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #15.

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