We lost our kings, and democracy can't replace what they gave us.What do post-war Georgia, rebellion-era Mali, and modern America have in common? Nobody trusts their leaders.After hosting supra tables across the country, I started noticing a pattern. The common denominator at every table was the same: a deep, shared distrust in democratic leadership.But this isn't a new problem. In the Caucasus and in West Africa, people once had kings — not politicians. Kings like Tamar of Georgia and Mansa Musa of Mali didn't earn loyalty through policy alignment or marketplace transactions. They held their people's interests as a father holds a child's — in their royal hands, as blood. And that bond was something people would die for.Democracy replaced that bond with a transaction: you give me what I want, I pull a lever for you. But a transaction isn't loyalty. It's not honor. And it's certainly not love.This is a 9-minute riff on what we lost when we traded kings for ballots — and why the spiritual profit of loyalty can't be bought at the marketplace of democracy.--- 🎙️ This podcast directly supports the work of First Things Foundation: https://first-things.org🏷️ Sponsored by Conrad's Beef Jerky — loyalty not guaranteed.Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have ➜ https://conradsdeli.com/ ⭐ Use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.--- ⏱️ Chapters0:00 - The Pattern at the Table0:50 - Africa, the Caucasus, and Us1:45 - Why "Caucasian" Misses the Point2:40 - What Georgia and Mali Share3:15 - Kings Who Held Their People4:15 - The Marketplace vs. Loyalty5:10 - Spiritual Profit, Material Deficit5:50 - The Sponsorship Paradox6:35 - All Mixes at the Supra Table8:10 - Everybody Doubts Their King8:50 - Something Is Afoot

Welcome to HTL's THE RIFF. Hosted by John Heers and always cut off by our editor in Buenos Aires at 9 minutes - HTL's THE RIFF is the quick take on current events, cultural moments, and things you might want to know a little more about.Links to Videos Used:

✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf

Welcome to HTL's THE RIFF. Hosted by John Heers and always cut off by our editor in Buenos Aires at 9 minutes - HTL's THE RIFF is the quick take on current events, cultural moments, and things you might want to know a little more about.✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf

Welcome to HTL's THE RIFF. Hosted by John Heers and always cut off by our editor in Buenos Aires at 9 minutes - HTL's THE RIFF is the quick take on current events, cultural moments, and things you might want to know a little more about.

✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf

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Welcome to HTL's THE RIFF. Hosted by John Heers and always cut off by our editor in Buenos Aires at 9 minutes - HTL's THE RIFF is the quick take on current events, cultural moments, and things you might want to know a little more about.✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf

Welcome to HTL's THE RIFF. Hosted by John Heers and always cut off by our editor in Buenos Aires at 9 minutes - HTL's THE RIFF is the quick take on current events, cultural moments, and things you might want to know a little more about.

✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf