Raised Red, Living Blue

The REAL Story Behind Alabama’s Book Bans

In Episode 53 of Raised Red, Living Blue, we sit down with Angie Hayden, Co-Founder of Read Freely Alabama, and Krysti Shallenberger, Public Policy Director, for an urgent and wide-ranging conversation about the growing censorship crisis facing Alabama’s public libraries.

Read Freely Alabama is a statewide, volunteer-led coalition of concerned citizens pushing back against coordinated efforts to remove books, intimidate librarians, and defund libraries under the guise of “protecting children.” As attacks on libraries escalate across the state, Read Freely Alabama has become a central resource hub—connecting local chapters, library advocates, and national partners to defend intellectual freedom and constitutional rights.

In this episode, we unpack:

— Why books like Sold by Patricia McCormick are being falsely labeled as “pornography”

— How vague, unconstitutional policies are being used to strip libraries of state funding

— The role of political operatives and astroturf groups in driving book bans

— Why librarians are being forced to choose between the Constitution and their livelihoods

— How censorship historically precedes authoritarian control

— The dangerous weaponization of “parental rights” to control everyone’s children

This conversation goes beyond left vs. right. It’s about power, fear, and who gets to decide which stories are allowed to exist in public spaces. From Fairhope to communities across Alabama, citizens are standing up—raising money, organizing locally, and saying enough.

If you care about free speech, libraries, democracy, or the future of education in Alabama, this episode is essential listening.

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Jason WillAlabama NativeProgressive Podcaster Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker BluePrint Realty Co.Licensed Since 2004☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

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Freedom of Speech is NOT Free | The Silencing of Jerry Lee Clarke

In this premiere episode of Alabama Injustice, we sit down with Katherine Shelton, the daughter of Jerry Lee Clarke, to tell the story of how her father’s exercise of free speech turned into a life-altering nightmare.

Jerry Lee Clarke, a 66-year-old Alabama man, placed an anti-Trump sign on his own private property. What followed was months of harassment, vandalism, threats, and escalating pressure from neighbors and law enforcement. Instead of protection, Jerry was arrested, charged, and jailed — where he remains on an extraordinarily high bond, raising serious questions about due process, First Amendment rights, and unequal treatment under the law.

Katherine shares the devastating impact this has had on their family, including concerns about Jerry’s deteriorating health while in custody, limited access to medical care, and the emotional toll on his wife, children, and grandchildren. This episode walks through the events leading up to his arrest, the charges he faces, and why the family believes this case is about silencing dissent rather than public safety.

This series is for educational purposes and relies on publicly available news reporting, court records, and firsthand interviews. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and details may evolve as the legal process continues.

📌 For additional context, read the AL.com article: https://www.al.com/news/2025/12/how-did-an-anti-trump-sign-dispute-escalate-and-send-an-alabama-man-to-jail.html

📌 Jerry Lee Clarke remains incarcerated while legal expenses and daily living costs continue to mount for his family. If you are able and willing to help, Katherine Shelton and her family are accepting support through the following verified donation links:

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/PleasehelpJerryClarkefreethedemocrat

Cash App: $CleanSlateKS

Venmo: @CleanSlateKS

Every contribution — and every share — helps bring awareness, support, and accountability to this case.

If you believe in the Constitution, free speech, and justice for all, this is a story that deserves to be heard.

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📲 Follow the show on social media: @raisedredlivingblue

Jason Will

Alabama Native

Progressive Podcaster

Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker

BluePrint Realty Co.

Licensed Since 2004

☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728

🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com

💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

Wanna Be a Guest on the Show? Connect? Got Feedback?👉 https://forms.gle/1sn85LWHVm22KNMH6

Democracy Is More Than Voting: Inside the Fight for Fair Maps in North Carolina

In this powerful Episode 51 of Raised Red, Living Blue, we sit down with Marques Thompson, Organizing Director at Democracy North Carolina, to unpack what’s really happening to voting rights — and how everyday people can fight back.

With roots in the civil rights movement, Democracy North Carolina works across the state to ensure voters are informed, empowered, and able to access the ballot box. Marques breaks down modern voter suppression tactics — from gerrymandering and photo ID laws to shrinking mail-in ballot windows — and explains why these issues disproportionately impact Black, Brown, rural, and working-class communities.

This conversation goes beyond elections. We explore why so many people feel their vote doesn’t matter, how organizing restores collective power, and why democracy doesn’t stop at the ballot box. Marques also shares his personal journey into organizing, the importance of community-driven leadership, and his vision for a future where the people choose their representatives — not the other way around.

If you care about voting rights, fair representation, grassroots power, and the future of democracy in America, this episode is a must-listen.

Learn more about The Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice (LDSJ), mentioned early in the episode, at https://www.socialjusticeleadership.org

📌 Learn more or get involved: democracync.org

🎧 Listen +. Subscribe on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

📲 Follow the show on social media: @raisedredlivingblue

Jason WillAlabama NativeProgressive Podcaster Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker BluePrint Realty Co.Licensed Since 2004☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

Wanna Be a Guest on the Show? Connect? Got Feedback?👉 https://forms.gle/1sn85LWHVm22KNMH6

Book Bans, Libraries & Liberty: Inside Alabama’s Fight Against Censorship

In Episode 52 of Raised Red, Living Blue, we sit down with Angie Hayden, Co-Founder of Read Freely Alabama, and Krysti Shallenberger, the organization’s Public Policy Director, to examine the growing effort to remove books from public libraries under the banner of “parental rights.”

What began as a handful of book challenges in local libraries has evolved into a coordinated, statewide censorship campaign targeting LGBTQ+ representation, books on race, sex education, and materials that foster empathy and critical thinking. Angie and Krysti break down how these efforts are connected to national organizations, why public libraries—not schools—are being targeted in Alabama, and what’s really at stake when the government decides what information is “acceptable.”

This conversation goes beyond books. It’s about liberty, small government, free speech, and who gets to belong in public spaces.

✨ In this episode, we discuss:

— How book bans spread from local library boards to state-level power

— The weaponization of “parental rights”

— Why censorship disproportionately targets marginalized communities

— The real impact of restricted access on kids, families, and literacy

— Why the freedom to read is a foundational American value

Whether you’re conservative, progressive, or politically exhausted, this episode asks a simple question: Who decides what you’re allowed to read—and what happens when fear replaces freedom?

🎧 Listen +. Subscribe on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts 

📲 Follow the show on social media: @raisedredlivingblue

Jason Will

Alabama Native

Progressive Podcaster 

Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker 

BluePrint Realty Co.

Licensed Since 2004

☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728

🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com

💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

Wanna Be a Guest on the Show? Connect? Got Feedback?

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MAGA Mythbusting 101: Illegal Immigration, Guns, and the Boat Strike Lies

In this solo episode of Raised Red, Living Blue, Jason Will dives straight into the misinformation machine driving today’s MAGA political narrative. From illegal immigration myths to gun law fearmongering to the viral “drug boat” posts spreading across Facebook — Jason breaks down the talking points, exposes the propaganda, and explains what’s actually happening beneath the noise.

This episode covers:

🔹 The truth behind the Venezuelan “drug boat” strikes

🔹 Why blowing up unarmed vessels may violate international law

🔹 The real data on immigrant healthcare and emergency room myths

🔹 Why common-sense gun laws aren’t the slippery slope MAGA claims

🔹 The rise of religious bigotry and misinformation in local communities

🔹 How propaganda spreads unchecked — and why receipts matter

🔹 Why questioning government action isn’t “unpatriotic”… it’s responsible

If you’re tired of echo-chamber politics and want facts instead of rage-bait headlines, this episode is your home base. Jason brings the receipts, calls out the BS, and breaks down MAGA narratives with clarity, humor, and a little unhinged energy.

🎧 Listen +. Subscribe on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

📲 Follow the show on social media: @raisedredlivingblue

Jason Will

Alabama Native

Progressive Podcaster

Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker

BluePrint Realty Co.

Licensed Since 2004

☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728

🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com

💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

Wanna Be a Guest on the Show? Connect? Got Feedback?

👉 https://forms.gle/1sn85LWHVm22KNMH6

A Republican Speaks Out: Case Dixon on Tariffs, War Powers & the Future of Alabama

In this eye-opening conversation, we sit down with Case Dixon, a young Republican congressional candidate who’s breaking from the traditional mold. From tariffs and healthcare to executive war powers and government overreach, Case brings a refreshingly principled, constitutional conservative perspective to some of the most heated issues in America.

This is the FIRST Republican guest in our podcast’s history — and one of the most substantive discussions we’ve ever had.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

✔️ Why Case Dixon entered the race as a working-class conservative father

✔️ Tariffs: why he believes they function as a tax on Americans

✔️ How Congress has surrendered too much power to the executive branch

✔️ Fixing healthcare through transparency, competition & deregulation

✔️ Tackling the $38T national debt without raising taxes

✔️ Epstein files, political elites & the fight for transparency

✔️ Returning power back to states and local communities

Case isn’t afraid to challenge his own party — and in this conversation, he lays out what America First should really look like for everyday Alabamians.

🎧 Listen +. Subscribe on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

📲 Follow the show on social media: @raisedredlivingblue

Jason Will

Alabama Native

Progressive Podcaster

Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker

BluePrint Realty Co.

Licensed Since 2004

☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728

🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com

💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

Wanna Be a Guest on the Show? Connect? Got Feedback?

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A Different Kind of Candidate: Why Hazel Floyd Is Betting on Alabama’s Future at Just 21

Hazel Floyd isn’t running a traditional campaign — and that’s exactly the point. At just 21 years old, she’s stepping into Alabama politics with a message rooted in empathy, inclusion, accountability, and hope for the future.

In this episode, Hazel opens up about what it means to be a young, biracial woman running in a conservative district, how “the collective” became the heart of her campaign, and why she believes Alabama’s future depends on bringing everyone to the table — no matter their background or politics.

We dive into:

✅ Jobs and economic opportunity after graduation

✅ Rural healthcare, maternal mortality & access

✅ Minimum wage, affordability & cost of living

✅ Bridging political divides with curiosity

✅ Being Christian without weaponizing faith

✅ Racism, resilience & leading with grace

Hazel isn’t here for ego — she’s here to serve. And whether you're Republican, Democrat, Independent, or undecided… her perspective may surprise you.

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Instagram: @raisedredlivingblue_pod

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Adam Incrediberry: Living Blue in the Heart of MAGA Country

In this episode of Raised Red, Living Blue, Jason sits down with Adam Incrediberry — the Alabama creator who looks like the perfect MAGA stereotype… but has become one of the loudest, funniest, and most honest progressive voices in the Deep South.

With 400K+ followers on TikTok and 300K+ on Instagram, Adam has gone viral calling out hypocrisy, debunking right-wing talking points, and using humor to connect with people who never expected him to be speaking truth to power.

In this conversation, Adam opens up about:

— What it’s like being a progressive who “looks MAGA”

— The viral moment that exploded his platform overnight— Speaking truth in red Alabama

— even when it costs friends & family

— Preparing the protest speech that made national news— His journey learning, unlearning, and becoming politically outspoken

— Death threats, trolls, and the wild assumptions people make about him

— The broken logic in Alabama politics, immigration myths, gun laws, & more

This is an honest, raw, and hilarious look into what it means to be a blue dot in a red state — and why Adam’s voice is exactly what Alabama (and America) needs right now.

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@raisedredlivingblue

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From Wrongful Arrest to U.S. Senate: Dakarai Larriett on Surviving Injustice & Running for Office

In this powerful episode of Raised Red, Living Blue, host Jason Will sits down with Dakarai Larriett, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Alabama, to unpack his incredible journey from being wrongfully arrested in Michigan to running for public office.

Dakarai shares the shocking story behind his memoir “Don’t Flush”, where he recounts the night he was racially profiled, humiliated, and nearly framed for drug possession — despite testing negative for alcohol and drugs. That night ignited his mission to reform the justice system and fight for equality, accountability, and human rights in Alabama and beyond.

In this conversation:

— The real story behind his wrongful arrest

— The fight against qualified immunity and systemic injustice

— Alabama’s broken prison system & “The Alabama Solution” documentary

— LGBTQ+ rights, faith, and empathy in today’s political climate

— Why he’s running for U.S. Senate — and what he hopes to change

Stay till the end for Dakarai’s six-point plan for reform and how he’s turning trauma into transformation.

📘 Read his memoir: Don’t Flush

🌐 Learn more: dakarailarriett.com

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The Fight for Alabama’s Future: Jeff Alabama's Hard Truth About Organizing in the South

In Part 2 of our conversation with Jeff Alabama — viral TikTok creator with over 100K followers and founding member of the Mobile Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) — we dig deeper into what real change in the South looks like.

Jeff opens up about the hard truths behind organizing in conservative spaces, balancing faith with action, and why love for people means holding systems — and ourselves — accountable. This episode is about courage, compassion, and the kind of leadership that starts from the ground up.

👉 What You’ll Hear:

— The challenges of organizing in Alabama’s political landscape

— How faith and justice can coexist in Southern activism

— Why empathy and truth-telling are both essential to change

— The importance of building solidarity across divides

— Jeff’s message to those ready to stand up and take action

Change doesn’t start in Washington — it starts right here, with people willing to fight for what’s right.

🎧 Listen on:

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

📲 Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @raisedredlivingblue_pod

TikTok: @raisedred_livingblue

Send us your feedback/questions/stories you want to feature on future episodes:

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