Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

What challenges does the GOP face in attracting Millennials and younger Americans to the party?  Has Trump permanently changed things?  Are political parties even relevant anymore?

 

Who better to answer such questions than Matt Pinnell, who’s held high profile positions with both the state and national party?  Matt Pinnell was elected Oklahoma’s 17th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma in the 2018 midterm elections.  But prior to winning elected office for himself, he was busy helping others do the same.  Matt met Saving Elephants host Josh when he was managing the campaign for a candidate for Oklahoma Lt. Governor—which is, serendipitously, the office he has just been elected to.

 

But prior to entering political office himself, Matt was instrumental in helping the Republican party recruit, train, and run successful candidates.  Matt took over as the Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party when Gary Jones left that position to run for State Auditor.  At only 29 years old, Matt was the youngest leader of a state party in the country at the time.  He continued the work Gary Jones had begun and oversaw the tremendous shift of power from Democrats to Republicans to the point where all 77 counties voted for the Republican candidate for president in 2008 and again in 2012—earning Oklahoma the title the “reddest state in the nation”.

 

Matt’s work received national attention and he was appointed by Reince Priebus with the RNC to oversee all Republican state parties.  His title with the Republican National Committee was Director of State Parties, and he jokes he now has a doctorate in adult daycare.

 

With his relative youth, Matt has had a passion for involving young Americans in the political process and in sharing the values that conservatism can bring to the next generation of Republicans.  Matt believes millennials are the most caring and purpose-driven generation to come along, and he’s excited about finding ways to tap into that positive energy to restore the republic.

The 2018 midterm elections have come and gone, but there’s still plenty of analyzing and expounding to be done.  And who better than an investigative auditor to get to the bottom of the good, the bad, and the ugly details of 2018?  Joining Josh for this special bonus episode is Mickey Dodson, investigative auditor for the Oklahoma State Auditor’s Office.   Though a Millennial, Mickey has worn a number of hats that take many people a lifetime to achieve.  He’s a former city councilor, former attorney for the Tulsa County DA’s office, and former agent for the FBI.  These days he performs special and investigative audits of public officials and public entities in Oklahoma where he works with Saving Elephants’ host Josh Lewis in the State Auditor’s Office.  In running for office himself and in working in many campaigns over the years, Mickey has gained invaluable insight into the Republican party at a state and national level.   The 2018 midterm election was a mixed bag for both the Republican and Democratic parties.  The real losers in the midterm elections were those who don’t identify with the more radical elements of both parties.  Those who don’t separate the world into warring tribes or factions of good guys vs bad guys are becoming fewer and fewer in election positions, and our nation is all the worse off for it.   What does this mean for the Republican party in the years ahead?  Will the Democrats—emboldened with their new majority in the House—legislate or litigate?  Will the next two years be non-stop investigations and calls for impeachment or will congress find ways to compromise and work out their differences?  And where does this leave the Republican party?  Have they forever solidified themselves as the party of Trump or is he a passing fad?  Join us as we dissect these questions and more.  

 

Destry Edwards, co-host of the Politicide podcast, joins Josh on election day to reflect on the turbulent days that led up to the 2016 elections and how things have changed since then.  Destry hails from South Carolina, which has produced more than its fair share of noteworthy politicians in recent years.  And he offers some thoughts from his front-row-seat vantage point on fellow South Carolinians like Lindsey Graham, Mark Sanford, Jim DeMint, Tim Scott, and Nikki Haley.   Graduating from Bob Jones University with a degree in Cinema Production and a minor in Political Science, Destry has served in a number of political roles.  He interned for Rand Paul's presidential campaign during the 2016 election and then for the Heritage Foundation the following year.  He currently lives in Washington, DC where he works in video production with CRTV (Conservative Review Television).  The views expressed by Destry are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of CRTV.

Beyond expressing and defending conservative values, part of Saving Elephant’s mission is to call out to those conservatives who no longer know where they belong.  In a world where those on the Right are often characterized as populist Trumplicans against the Deep State, it can be challenging to know where you fit if you still believe in traditional conservatism.   So, where does the conservative fit?  What’s wrong with populism?  What’s wrong with establishmentarianism?  How do we rekindle that spirit of inquiry in a free republic?  How do we take back the cultural heritage of debating ideas instead of mindlessly focusing on winning and juvenile social media posts?   Bob Burch joins the podcast once more to delve into these issues and offer some practical solutions.  Ultimately, if conservatives are going to recover the cultural heritage we’ve lost by pulling the debate away from warring populist and establishmentarian mentalities and instead focus on ideas and values, it’s going to take a lot of work.  But that work can be rewarding and enriching.   The most important thing we can do at an individual level is engage and encourage conversations that invite civic debate rather than run from it.  To do that we must first leave the comfort of our political echo chambers and risk engaging with those who may not agree with what we have to say.   If that sounds hollow because it’s “just talk” then I want to challenge you to think differently.  Part of what it means to live in a free society is that we have not only the freedom, but the duty to talk things out.  Part of what gives the United States its uniqueness and its purpose are the stories we tell ourselves.  This isn’t feel-good psychology, this is civics 101.  It does change things when we talk, because we’re forced to interact with our neighbors and reach either consensus or at least a workable compromise.   Shouting at one another on social media isn’t talking.  Donating cash and time to elect people who have little interest in what we have to say or believe isn’t talking.  But working through our differences one by one, first at a local level between friends and neighbors, is precisely what makes our nation exceptional.  Do you want to make America great again?  It’s not going to happen because you elected the right person.  It’s only going to happen when the people begin talking through what’s right.

 

Continuing our discussion with Kerry Baldwin, we cover a wide array of prolife issues such as: how does poverty play a role in the abortion debate, and what might we do to reduce the death toll through better economics?  Does a woman have a right to an abortion?  Are personhood laws the answer the prolife movement has been looking for?  And what can you practically do to impact the prevalence of abortions?   The abortion debate is one that often evokes knee-jerk reactions.  For some, it is THE issue that defines their political biases.  It’s paradoxically of the utmost importance but extremely difficult to have an in-depth, frank discussion about a matter that excites such passions and deep convictions.  As both a protégé and critic of the modern prolife movement, Kerry Baldwin brings a unique perspective to the debate.   Kerry is an independent researcher and writer with a B.A. in Philosophy from Arizona State University.  Kerry grew up closely with the prolife movement and was a strong activist in prolife causes.  However, dissatisfaction with the political realities of the abortion debate and life circumstances made her question the movement’s methods and goals and led to a decade in which she did not participate in prolife rallies or causes.   Earlier this year, Kerry broke her silence when prolife activist Jeff Durbin joined those calling for women who have abortions to be charged with first-degree murder.  You can get a sense of Durbin’s stance in this interview he did of Vice President of National Right to Life Tony Lauinger.   Though she continues to be staunchly prolife, Kerry believes the efforts of many in the prolife movement are counterproductive in ending abortions and ultimately destructive to the women who seek abortions.  She offers an alternative path forward that she believes holds the hope of saving lives of not only the unborn, but those among us who are neglected, abused, and desperate.   Kerry’s website, MereLiberty.com, boasts of two podcasts: Dare to Think and Flashes of Liberty (coming soon).  She is also a regular contributor at the Libertarian Christian Institute.  Her writing focuses on libertarian philosophy and reformed theology, aimed at the educated layperson; challenging readers to rethink prevailing paradigms in politics, theology, and culture.   Kerry is a single, homeschooling mother of three.  She is the librarian for her congregation.  She enjoys outdoor activities in the Jemez mountains near her home, and stereotypically introverted hobbies such as puzzles and brain teasers, reading, and learning more about herbal and nutritional medicine. She enjoys studying Reformational Philosophy by way of Roy Clouser, and appreciates the theology of Meredith Kline, Lee Irons, and Aimee Byrd.

What does it mean to be prolife?  What does it really mean?   The abortion debate is one that often evokes knee-jerk reactions.  For some, it is THE issue that defines their political biases.  It’s paradoxically of the utmost importance but extremely difficult to have an in-depth, frank discussion about a matter that excites such passions and deep convictions.   Joining the podcast today is Kerry Baldwin, an independent researcher and writer with a B.A. in Philosophy from Arizona State University.  Kerry grew up closely with the prolife movement and was a strong activist in prolife causes.  However, dissatisfaction with the political realities of the abortion debate and life circumstances made her question the movement’s methods and goals and led to a decade in which she did not participate in prolife rallies or causes.   Earlier this year, Kerry broke her silence when prolife activist Jeff Durbin joined those calling for women who have abortions to be charged with first-degree murder.  You can get a sense of Durbin’s stance in this interview he did of Vice President of National Right to Life Tony Lauinger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbSHpIEUozs   Though she continues to be staunchly prolife, Kerry believes the efforts of many in the prolife movement are counterproductive in ending abortions and ultimately destructive to the women who seek abortions.  She offers an alternative path forward that she believes holds the hope of saving lives of not only the unborn, but those among us who are neglected, abused, and desperate.   Kerry’s website, MereLiberty.com, boasts of two podcasts: Dare to Think and Flashes of Liberty (coming soon).  She is also a regular contributor at the Libertarian Christian Institute.  Her writing focuses on libertarian philosophy and reformed theology, aimed at the educated layperson; challenging readers to rethink prevailing paradigms in politics, theology, and culture.   Kerry is a single, homeschooling mother of three.  She is the librarian for her congregation.  She enjoys outdoor activities in the Jemez mountains near her home, and stereotypically introverted hobbies such as puzzles and brain teasers, reading, and learning more about herbal and nutritional medicine. She enjoys studying Reformational Philosophy by way of Roy Clouser, and appreciates the theology of Meredith Kline, Lee Irons, and Aimee Byrd.

 

Has American politics always been this divisive?  Would you believe it was once much worse?

 

National Review columnist and visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, Jay Cost joins us to discuss how a difference of opinion in the early days of the American republic led to a fight that can still be felt today.

 

Founding Fathers Alexander Hamilton and James Madison went from being close allies to bitter political opponents shortly after the nation was formed.  Jay Cost’s latest book— The Price of Greatness–tells the story of how this epic rivalry between two great men laid the groundwork for much of our political strife today.  His message is important in understanding part of what makes our politics so divisive and how we can overcome that division.

 

In addition to National Review and the American Enterprise Institute, Jay’s work can be found at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Weekly Standard, and various other notable publications.  Jay has written three books: “The Price of Greatness: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and the Creation of American Oligarchy”(Basic Books, June 2018); “A Republic No More: Big Government and the Rise of Political Corruption”(Encounter Books, 2015); and “Spoiled Rotten: How the Politics of Patronage Corrupted the Once Noble Democratic Party and Now Threatens the American Republic”(Broadside Books, 2012).

 

According to his AEI bio, his interests are broadly focused on civic republicanism in the United States, with emphases on the political theory of James Madison, the problem of political corruption, the role of political parties, the development of civic institutions over time, and the power and responsibility of Congress. He writes and speaks frequently on American elections, with a special attention on placing contemporary trends in historical context.

 

As will be evident throughout the episode—Jay has a commanding knowledge of U.S. history and its impact on our political world.  If you enjoy the discussion but have an unquenchable thirst for more, I’d highly recommend you buy the book and then truck on over to the podcast Jay and his colleague Luke Thompson cohost called Constitutionally Speaking; a show about how the Constitution works and how it was put together.

America’s Judeo-Christian heritage plays a vital role in the survival of American’s form of government.  This is because a Judeo-Christian worldview is unique in that it is a belief system that is compatible with liberal democracy that respects individual liberties while potentially impacting both the people and their leaders in a way that other belief systems—secular libertarianism, stoicism, utilitarianism—cannot.   But it doesn’t follow that all who hold a Judeo-Christian worldview contribute to the American republic in a positive or productive way.  What happens when those who profess a Christian faith fail to recognize the role of the believer in a free society and instead seek to use government to subvert a free society?   Continuing on with their discussion on the role of Christianity in America's form of government, Bob and Josh turn their attention to the state of the American church.  If John Adams was right—if only a moral and religious people are fit for the American Constitution—and if Americans are increasingly less Christian, where do we go from here?  Is it possible to find an alternative to the Judeo-Christian model that existed at the time of the founding?  And, if not, is it possible to revitalize the model of the past?   If religion is to play some role in our society, in what ways should it be separate from the church and the state?  Should Christians seek to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to this earth, using government as a tool to do so?  Or does Christianity and Christian beliefs have no place in the public square?  Would we be better off with a monument to the Ten Commandments on every government building?  Or do many of our fights over the separation of the church and state represent a distraction from the things that matter most?

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other,” wrote America's 2nd president, John Adams.  What exactly does it mean to be a moral and religious people?  Was Adams referring to Christian virtues or just those who are civic minded?  And was he right?  Can our country operate properly, if at all, if we cease to be the sort of people he had in mind?   Lockean liberalism--the belief that humans have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--is a secular enterprise.  Since all humans have spiritual yearnings, a purely liberal worldview is incomplete.  Therefore, those who live in a liberal society will always seek out some transcendental belief system, ideology, religion, or greater purpose.  For centuries the West has turned to the Judeo-Christian faith as the only belief system that doesn’t ultimately undermine society.  Yet today that the Judeo-Christian heritage is quickly becoming nothing more than a footnote in our history books.   Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined again by Bob Burch to discuss what it means for the prospects of American democracy to continue into a post-Christian age.  In full disclosure, Josh and Bob are both professing protestant Christians whose views are biased but fair.  But whether you're a Christian or not, this series is an important discussion for anyone interested in liberal democracy and the long-term viability of our constitutional republic and the American experiment.

Is your newsfeed a teeming cesspool of ignorance and hatred?  Have you taken the time to carefully post your thoughts about some political issue only to be called names that would make a sailor blush with shame?  Are you afraid to even share your political positions on Facebook or Twitter?  How does one keep their sanity on social media?   In this episode, Josh shares two simple principles that's kept him anchored whenever a social media interaction turns nasty.