The California Dream

The California Dream

By Darin BrownSociety & CultureGovernmentHistoryPlaces & Travel
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The California Dream episodes

  • Weekly roundup for January 15, 2022
    Weekly roundup for January 15, 2022
    The mainstream media is finally catching up to what many of us in the California independence movement have been saying for years.
    NOTES:
    THE CONSTITUTION ISN'T WORKING -- AMERICA IS BROKEN
    1. "The Constitution isn't working", by John Kenneth White, The Hill, December 28, 2021; https://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/587431-the-constitution-isnt-working
    2. "Republicans Are Moving Rapidly to Cement Minority Rule. Blame the Constitution", by Corey Robin, Politico, January 5, 2022; https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/01/05/democracy-january-6-coup-constitution-526512
    3. "It’s Time to Amend the Constitution", by Sarah Isgur, Politico, January 8, 2022; https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/01/08/scalia-was-right-make-amending-the-constitution-easier-526780
    4. "Our constitutional crisis is already here", by Robert Kagan, Washington Post, September 23, 2021; https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/23/robert-kagan-constitutional-crisis
    FASCISM
    5. "America is now in fascism’s legal phase", by Jason Stanley, The Guardian, December 22, 2021; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/22/america-fascism-legal-phase
    6. "If America really surrenders to fascism, then what? Painful questions lie ahead", by Chauncey DeVega, Salon, December 2, 2021; https://www.salon.com/2021/12/02/if-america-really-surrenders-to-fascism-then-what-painful-questions-lie-ahead
    7. "Timothy Snyder warned us fascism was coming — now he says we can survive it", by Chauncey DeVega, Salon, October 14, 2021; https://www.salon.com/2021/10/14/timothy-snyder-warned-us-fascism-was-coming--now-he-says-we-can-survive-it
    8. "If you’re not scared about American fascism, you’re not paying attention", by Mehdi Hasan, MSNBC, October 31, 2021; https://www.msnbc.com/mehdi-hasan/watch/if-you-re-not-scared-about-american-fascism-you-re-not-paying-attention-125063237821
    9. "We Surveyed Experts on Democracy. They’re Worried About the U.S. Turning Even More Authoritarian", The New Republic, December 31, 2021; https://newrepublic.com/article/164849/democracy-watch-authoritarian-sherrilyn-ifill-mehdi-hasan-aziz-huq-rachel-kleinfeld
    10. "American fascism is still rising. What are you going to do about it, California?", San Francisco Chronicle, January 1, 2022; https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-American-fascism-is-still-rising-What-16739948.php?fbclid=IwAR3HlQ8vQAVAYmTGxVkSmMkJxL8jW8Byx4g0yw2q4pKLdBsyzp_VsXFRXOs
    11. "The American polity is cracked, and might collapse. Canada must prepare", by Thomas Homer-Dixon, Globe and Mail, December 31, 2021; https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-american-polity-is-cracked-and-might-collapse-canada-must-prepare
    SECESSION / INDEPENDENCE / DISSOLUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
    12. "Secession might seem like the lesser of two evils. It’s also the less likely", by Stephen Marche, Washington Post, December 31, 2021; https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/12/31/secession-civil-war-stephen-marche
    13. "Marjorie Taylor Greene, Ted Cruz and the dangerous rhetoric of a national divorce", by Jennifer Graham, Deseret News, December 30, 2021; https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2021/12/30/22859964/marjorie-taylor-greene-ted-cruz-and-the-dangerous-rhetoric-of-a-national-divorce-texit-secession
    14. "How seriously should we take talk of US state secession?", by William G. Gale and Darrell M. West, Brookings, December 13, 2021; https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2021/12/13/how-seriously-should-we-take-talk-of-us-state-secession
    15. "America: Love It Or Leave It", by Kaia Hubbard, US News and World Report, November 5, 2021; https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2021-11-05/americans-eye-secession-amid-intractable-partisan-disputes
    16. "What would it look like if New Hampshire actually seceded from the U.S.?", NH Business Review, January 14, 2022; https://www.nhbr.com/what-would-it-look-like-if-new-hampshire-actually-seceded-from-the-u-s
    17. "Ted Cruz says Texas should secede and 'take the military' if Democrats 'destroy the country'", Salon, November 9, 2021; https://www.salon.com/2021/11/09/ted-cruz-says-texas-should-secede-and-take-the-military-if-democrats-destroy-the-country
    CIVIL WAR AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY
    18. "Democracy is declining in the U.S. but it's not all bad news, a report finds", NPR, December 1, 2021; https://www.npr.org/2021/12/01/1059896434/united-states-backsliding-democracy-donald-trump-january-6-capitol-attack
    19. "3 retired generals: The military must prepare now for a 2024 insurrection", by Paul D. Eaton, Antonio M. Taguba and Steven M. Anderson, Washington Post, December 17, 2021; https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/12/17/eaton-taguba-anderson-generals-military
    20. "The Coming Coup: How Republicans Are Laying the Groundwork to Steal Future Elections", by Ari Berman, Mother Jones, January 13, 2022; https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/01/how-republicans-are-taking-over-election-system-big-lie
    21. "Why An Expert In Political Violence Is Worried About Civil War In The U.S.", FiveThirtyEight podcast, January 13, 2022; https://fivethirtyeight.com/videos/why-an-expert-in-political-violence-is-worried-about-civil-war-in-the-u-s
    22. "Are We Doomed?", by George Packer, The Atlantic, December 6, 2021; https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/01/imagine-death-american-democracy-trump-insurrection/620841
    23. "We Need to Think the Unthinkable About Our Country", by Jonathan Stevenson and Steven Simon, New York Times, January 13, 2022; https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/opinion/january-6-civil-war.html
    24. "Refusal to abide by the results of elections threatens the stability of the US more than at any time since 1860", by Michael Burlingame, Boston Globe, January 1, 2022; https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/01/01/opinion/refusal-abide-by-results-elections-threatens-stability-us-more-than-any-time-since-1860
    25. "Is America heading to civil war or secession?", CNN, January 8, 2022; https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/is-america-heading-to-civil-war-or-secession/vi-AASziTy
    26. "How does this end?", by Zack Beauchamp, Vox, January 3, 2022; https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/22814025/democracy-trump-january-6-capitol-riot-election-violence
    MUSIC CREDIT:
    "Angry Bass Line", by Adigold; elements.envato.com
    IMAGE CREDIT:
    "American protesters in front of White House-11", Tasnim News Agency, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_protesters_in_front_of_White_House-11.jpg
    51 min
  • Weekly roundup for January 8, 2022
    Weekly roundup for January 8, 2022
    We take a closer look at what exactly occurred a year ago. How should we perceive and classify those events? What terminology should we use? And what do those conclusions say about American democracy? Is this the country Californians want to live in?
    NOTES:
    1. Coup D'état Project (CDP), Cline Center for Advanced Social Research; https://clinecenter.illinois.edu/project/research-themes/democracy-and-development/coup-detat-project-cdp
    2. "It Was an Attempted Coup: The Cline Center’s Coup D’état Project Categorizes the January 6, 2021 Assault on the US Capitol", Cline Center for Advanced Social Research, January 27, 2021; https://clinecenter.illinois.edu/coup-detat-project-cdp/statement_jan.27.2021
    3. "The insurrection is only the tip of the iceberg", by Sidney Blumenthal, The Guardian, January 6, 2022; https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/06/capitol-attack-coup-attempt-trump-far-right-republicans
    MUSIC CREDIT:
    "Angry Bass Line", by Adigold; elements.envato.com
    IMAGE CREDIT:
    "Storming of the United States Capitol on 6 January 2021", Tyler Merbler, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Storming_capital_IMG_3519_(cropped).jpg
    30 min
  • Weekly roundup for December 11, 2021
    Weekly roundup for December 11, 2021
    I return to the microphone after a short hiatus. Unfortunately, none of the issues facing America have been addressed in the two months since we last talked, and if anything, the crisis of American democracy has only deepened.
    Two major cases sit before SCOTUS this term. One case, covered extensively in the media, imperils fundamental rights and threatens to tear the country apart. The other case, almost completely ignored by the media, could be the most consequential ruling for federal governance in decades.
    Finally, a few short comments on the F-word. No, not that F-word -- the other F-word.
    NOTES:
    1. "Supreme Court set to take up all-or-nothing abortion fight", PBS NewsHour Weekend, November 28, 2021; https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/supreme-court-set-to-take-up-all-or-nothing-abortion-fight
    2. "Chevron deference at stake in fight over payments for hospital drugs", by Nicholas Bagley, SCOTUSblog, November 29, 2021; https://www.scotusblog.com/2021/11/chevron-deference-at-stake-in-fight-over-payments-for-hospital-drugs/
    3. "The Anatomy of Fascism", interview with Robert O. Paxton, C-SPAN BookTV, May 7, 2004; https://www.c-span.org/video/?181972-1/the-anatomy-fascism
    4. "I've Hesitated to Call Donald Trump a Fascist. Until Now", by Robert O. Paxton, Newsweek, January 11, 2021; https://www.newsweek.com/robert-paxton-trump-fascist-1560652
    MUSIC CREDIT:
    "Angry Bass Line", by Adigold; elements.envato.com
    IMAGE CREDIT:
    "Supreme Court of the United States -- Roberts Court 2020", Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States, public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States_-_Roberts_Court_2020.jpg
    27 min
  • Weekly roundup for October 16, 2021
    Weekly roundup for October 16, 2021
    Why is there so much division in America? How did we get here? And what does it all mean for California? An extended discussion of the historical and economic roots of current American dysfunction.
    NOTES:
    1. "Biden signs bill to avert partial government shutdown", Associated Press, September 30, 2021; https://apnews.com/article/congress-moves-to-avert-partial-government-shutdown-8f5b5b0c6c4cb12af8316ffc0b098771
    2. "Congress Just Voted To Temporarily Increase The Debt Ceiling. Why It Matters For You", by Lisa Rowan, Forbes Advisor, October 12, 2021; https://www.forbes.com/advisor/personal-finance/what-is-the-debt-ceiling/
    3. "Democrats aim to pass infrastructure, social spending bills by the end of October, Schumer says", CNBC, October 4, 2021; https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/04/schumer-aims-to-pass-biden-infrastructure-build-back-better-plans-in-october.html
    4. "U.S. Workers Are Realizing It's the Perfect Time to Go on Strike", by Alana Semuels, Time, October 8, 2021; https://time.com/6105109/workers-strike-unemployment/
    5. "Trump telling Republicans not to vote is the GOP's worst nightmare", by Zeeshan Aleem, MSNBC, October 14, 2021; https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/trump-telling-republicans-not-vote-gop-s-worst-nightmare-n1281613
    MUSIC CREDIT:
    "Angry Bass Line", by Adigold; elements.envato.com
    IMAGE CREDIT:
    "Donald Trump - Caricature", by DonkeyHotey, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Donald_Trump_-_Caricature_(51210156975).jpg
    44 min
  • Weekly roundup for September 25, 2021
    Weekly roundup for September 25, 2021
    Gavin Newsom survived his California gubernatorial recall election, but California itself seemed an afterthought in the media coverage. And as millions of Americans face eviction and a loss of unemployment benefits, the fate of two infrastructure bills in Congress remains uncertain, while the threat of default and government shutdown show that Washington DC is no longer able to perform the most basic tasks of governing.
    NOTES:
    1. "About Our Party", California National Party, accessed September 25, 2021; https://www.californianational.party/about/
    2. "California governor recall election: Voters reject recall of Gavin Newsom", Washington Post, accessed September 25, 2021; https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/election-results/california/governor-recall/
    3. "Understanding the Infrastructure Bills", Investopedia, August 25, 2021; https://www.investopedia.com/here-s-what-s-in-the-usd1-trillion-infrastructure-bill-passed-by-the-senate-5196817
    4. "House passes bill to avoid government shutdown, suspend debt limit — but it faces Senate roadblocks with deadlines near", CNBC, September 21, 2021; https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/21/government-shutdown-house-passes-funding-debt-ceiling-bill.html
    5. "'American democracy will continue to be tested': Peril author Robert Costa on Trump, the big lie and 2024", by David Smith, The Guardian, September 26, 2021; https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/sep/26/robert-costa-interview-peril-donald-trump
    MUSIC CREDIT:
    "Angry Bass Line", by Adigold; elements.envato.com
    IMAGE CREDIT:
    California National Party logo, used with permission
    25 min
  • Weekly roundup for September 4, 2021
    Weekly roundup for September 4, 2021
    The United States is the only country in the world to celebrate "Labor Day". I explain how such a uniquely American holiday came about as a deliberate attempt to stifle radical labor activity and thought. Meanwhile, the draconian Texas abortion law should warn Californians of the threat of American fascism.
    NOTES:
    1. "Labor Day Is a Government Scam", by Kim Kelly, Teen Vogue, August 30, 2019; https://www.teenvogue.com/story/history-labor-day-us-government
    2. "History of Labor Day", U.S. Department of Labor, accessed September 4, 2021; https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history
    3. "After Texas' abortion ban, California must fight like hell to protect reproductive rights", Sacramento Bee editorial, September 3, 2021; https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article253951933.html
    4. "Rep. Cawthorn talks of 'bloodshed' over future elections as he pushes voting lies", CNN, August 30, 2021; https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/30/politics/madison-cawthorn-elections/index.html
    5. "McCarthy Threatens Technology Firms That Comply With Riot Inquiry", NY Times, September 1, 2021; https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/us/politics/mccarthy-capitol-riot.html
    MUSIC CREDIT:
    "Angry Bass Line", by Adigold; elements.envato.com
    IMAGE CREDIT:
    United States Library of Congress's Rare Book and Special Collections Division, public domain; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pamphlet_Haymarket_affair_001da_original.jpg
    20 min
  • Interview with California gubernatorial candidate Michael Loebs
    Michael Loebs is Party Chair of the California National Party and a candidate for governor of California in the upcoming recall election on September 14. Michael joins me to discuss his campaign, his platform, and why he thinks the federal system of the United States does a disservice to the interests and needs of Californians.
    This interview was recorded on August 26, 2021.
    NOTES:
    1. Michael Loebs campaign website; https://www.loebsforca.com/
    2. California National Party website; http://www.votecnp.org/
    3. California National Party YouTube channel; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTPygtBmMuEeZqiFgWmQUQw
    MUSIC CREDIT:
    1. "Sexy Sneaky Cool Groove", by PhilLarson; elements.envato.com
    IMAGE CREDITS:
    1. Michael Loebs, used with permission
    1 hr 24 min
  • Interview with Jeremy Zogby of John Zogby Strategies (part 2)
    This is the second half of my talk with Jeremy Zogby. Jeremy is a partner at John Zogby Strategies, a data analytics firm founded by his father, the famous pollster John Zogby. He is the editor of The Main St./K St. IntelligenSEER, a biweekly report, and co-host with his father of The Zogby Report: Real and Unscripted, a weekly podcast.
    This interview was recorded on August 2, 2021.
    NOTES:
    1. "About Us", John Zogby Strategies; https://johnzogbystrategies.com/about-us/
    2. The Zogby Report podcast; https://johnzogbystrategies.com/zogby-podcast/
    MUSIC CREDIT:
    1. "Sexy Sneaky Cool Groove", by PhilLarson; elements.envato.com
    IMAGE CREDITS:
    1. Jeremy Zogby, used with permission
    51 min
  • Weekly roundup for August 21, 2021
    Weekly roundup for August 21, 2021
    I clarify some previous remarks about Nina Turner's loss and state-based single payer/M4A. Also, the IPCC report indicates the federal government is not doing nearly enough to address climate change. And what does the fall of Kabul mean for the 2024 presidential election?
    NOTES:
    1. "Major climate changes inevitable and irreversible – IPCC’s starkest warning yet", The Guardian, August 9, 2021; https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/aug/09/humans-have-caused-unprecedented-and-irreversible-change-to-climate-scientists-warn
    2. "AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis", Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, August 9, 2021; https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1
    3. "The fall of Kabul: a 20-year mission collapses in a single day", The Guardian, August 15, 2021; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/15/the-fall-of-kabul-a-20-year-mission-collapses-in-a-single-day
    4. "Keys to the White House", PollyVote, accessed August 19, 2021; https://pollyvote.com/en/components/models/mixed/keys-to-the-white-house
    5. "Pattern recognition applied to presidential elections in the United States, 1860-1980: Role of integral social, economic, and political traits", by A. J. Lichtman and V. I. Keilis-Borok, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, November 1, 1981; https://www.pnas.org/content/78/11/7230
    MUSIC CREDIT:
    "Angry Bass Line", by Adigold; elements.envato.com
    IMAGE CREDIT:
    United States Air Force, public domain; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Operation_Allies_Refuge_Image_2_of_10.jpg
    23 min

About The California Dream

From the publisher's feed

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a dream as “a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal”. What is the California dream? And how does it compare and contrast to the American dream, or – as many now understand it – the American nightmare? Can California aspire to reach her dreams within an undemocratic and dysfunctional American system? Or should California chart her own course and determine her own destiny?