The Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, meets annually, usually in Washington DC, and is a key gathering of conservative policymakers, media and officials from all over the country.

 Over the last decade it has also become ground zero for the Trump wing of the Republican Party. This year the line-up of speakers included Trump himself, JD Vance, Elon Musk, Steve Bannon, various Republican elites of the MAGA stripe.

 But CPAC is more than just its speakers, its also its devoted attendees – the thousands of every day activists fly from all over the country to make connections, share ideas and – this year, relish in the restoration of Donald Trump and buz with excitement over what he might do over the next few years.

I was interested in talking to those people to learn more about what it is that interests them about trump and what specifically they want to see out of a Trump presidency. I heard a lot of different answers, with consensus on issues like immigration, DEI and humor over Trumpian theatrics. There were also some divisions among attendees, particularly on the topic of Ukraine and Trump’s approach to foreign policy.

I found it all fascinating. Whatever one’s views – and mind tend to be more on the left – I think its important and enjoyable to listen to other people’s perspectives and get a better understanding of what inspires their activism. The people I met at CPAC were friendly, chatty  and open to sharing their views – and this episode contains excerpts from a range of conversations I had while on the ground. 

I hope you enjoy the show, if so – please make sure to subscribe and share. Enjoy  

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Famed libertarian activist and author Sean Dempsey returns to discuss early takes on Trump 2.0. We discuss Trump's attempts to sledge-hammer parts of the government (CFPD, U.S.AID, Dept of Education), potential attempts to cut military spending, assessments of Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr., the legacy of COVID, Ukraine, Gaza, trilateral talks with China and Russia, and more.

You can find Sean's latest book "Trump Again!?" on Amazon. 

Chapters

00:00
Libertarian Perspectives on Government and Corporations

00:00
Corporate Influence and Consumer Protection

00:18
The Debate on the Department of Education

05:01
Cultural Wars and Political Divides

15:55
The Culture War Distraction

17:31
Government Spending and Military Accountability

20:59
The Illusion of Change in Politics

24:12
Surveillance and Whistleblowers

29:55
Health Care and the Role of Bobby Kennedy

36:01
Nuance in Political Discourse

48:47
Pandemic Response and Historical Context

49:58
Lab Leak Theory and Censorship

51:17
Polarization and Nuance in Society

52:30
Political Accountability and Historical Reflection

54:09
Foreign Policy and Military Spending

56:00
Ukraine Conflict and Diplomatic Solutions

58:10
Trump's Approach to Foreign Relations

59:29
Hypocrisy in International Relations

01:01:41
Free Speech and Political Hypocrisy

01:04:29
Trump's Controversial Statements on Gaza

01:06:12
European Free Speech Standards

01:08:04
Final Thoughts on the Trump Administration

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Today I'm joined by John Strand, a man who participated in the January 6 protests on Capitol Hill. John committed no violence nor was he ever *charged* with any violence. Prosecutors don't dispute that he simply walked in and out of the building that day. For that offense he was facing almost a quarter century in prison. Is that justice?

I hope everyone, especially those who are on the political left or otherwise not Trump supporters, will consider this question with an open mind.

There was indisputable violence on January 6 and most people can agree those who physically attack another human being should face legal consequences. 

But for the millions of Americans who have been conditioned to despise January 6 protesters as domestic terrorists or insurrectionists, there is little attention paid to what happened to the hundreds of non-violent protesters that went in and out of the Capitol that day. Many of those protesters were not only charged with misdemeanor offenses, like unlawful entry, but also found themselves facing felony charges that were pulled from 2002 financial accounting law in order to give the Department of Justice the ability to seek up punishment of up to 20 years in prison.

No matter what you think of the protesters themselves or what they were protesting, it is important to ask oneself this:  For those who were non-violent, should they face 20 years in prison? And would then fairly apply this principle to *any* other protester?

After listening to the show you can learn more about John's story:

Website: https://www.johnstrand.com/
Twitter: @JohnStrandUSA
Book: @PatriotPlea

00:00
Understanding January 6th: Myths and Realities

01:54
The Role of the Justice System

04:10
Personal Background and Political Awakening

06:54
The Freedom Rally and Activism

09:30
January 6th: The Day of the Capitol Incident

12:18
The Narrative of the Rally and March

14:40
Government Response and Security Failures

17:29
Reflections on Accountability and Future Implications

21:39
The Super Bowl Analogy: Crowd Dynamics and Expectations

23:09
Chaos at the Capitol: The Columbus Doors

25:19
Inside the Capitol: A Bystander's Perspective

27:47
The Aftermath: Realization of Legal Consequences

30:07
FBI's Most Wanted: The Unexpected Turn

31:41
The SWAT Team Assault: A Terrifying Experience

34:38
Four Days of Silence: Detention Without Charges

36:26
Common Treatment: The Reality for January 6 Protesters

38:11
Weaponization of Government: A Call to Awareness

42:35
Weaponization of Government Power

46:58
The January 6th Protests: A Double Standard

47:30
Legal Charges and the Justice System

01:01:07
Sentencing and Political Critique

01:03:10
Exoneration and Moving Forward

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As the Biden administration winds down, the mainstream/corporate media is assessing the impact of his presidency and the legacy he leads. Unfortunately, the media is largely whitewashing that legacy - largely concluding that Biden may have made mistakes but was always acting with noble intentions to promote freedom and a "rules based order" around the world.

Substack writer "The Dissident" had a different take and joins Zipcode Zero to discuss the legacy Biden leaves.

"A Retrospective on the Biden Administration's Foreign Policy" https://the307.substack.com/p/a-retrospective-on-the-biden-administrations

Substack
https://the307.substack.com/

Twitter
https://x.com/leftist_news12

Timestamps

00:00
Introduction and Background of The Dissident

01:38
Biden's Foreign Policy Legacy

04:30
The Ukraine War: A Deep Dive

17:29
The Impact of the Ukraine Conflict

24:02
Future Predictions and Trump's Role

28:39
Disillusionment with American Politics

29:14
The Legacy of Cold War Mentality

31:12
NATO Expansion and Its Consequences

32:56
The Ongoing Crisis in Israel and Gaza

37:04
The Role of the Israel Lobby

43:38
Biden's Foreign Policy Legacy

50:39
Future Global Hotspots and Concerns

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Connor Echols is the managing editor of NonZero. Connor came to NonZero by way of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, where he worked as a reporter covering global conflicts, the arms trade, and other fun stuff. His work has also appeared in the New Arab, the Intercept, and Injustice Watch, among other outlets. Based in Washington, DC, Connor writes about the people and ideas that drive American foreign policy. 

Today we talk about the current situation in Ukraine - including the impact of President Biden's decision to approve Ukraine's use of long raise missiles into Russia - the Israel/Gaza conflict, U.S. relations with China, what a Trump approach to international relations, and the prospects for a better approach to the world.

You can find Connor's work at https://nonzero.substack.com and follow him on X at @connor_echols.

Chapters:

03:10
The Current State of the Ukraine Conflict

06:10
Trump's Potential Influence on Ukraine

09:08
Impacts of the Ukraine Conflict on U.S. Interests

15:09
The Situation in Gaza and Israel's Actions

20:55
The Future of Gaza Post-Conflict

27:01
The Role of Arab States in the Israel-Palestine Conflict

37:01
The Palestinian Rights Dilemma

39:18
Iran-Israel Relations and U.S. Involvement

46:06
The China Challenge: U.S. Foreign Policy Dynamics

53:15
Trump's Foreign Policy: A Balancing Act

01:00:06
Democratic Foreign Policy: Continuity or Change?

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Donald Trump and the Republican Party pulled off a pretty remarkable win on Tuesday. Not only did Trump sweep almost every swing state and clinch a popular vote win, he made substantial gains or outright victories with almost every demographic group in the country.

How did Trump do it? Or to put it another way, how did Democrats fuck this up?

There are a lot of different explanations being bantered - so allow me to jump in with my take. I think it largely comes down to five key issues:

1. The Economy
2. Immigration
3. Woke Bullshit
4. Foreign Policy - Gaza and Ukraine
5. The Messaging Sucked

Today we are joined by political analyst Jake Morgenstern to break it all down.

Twitter: @morgenstern2112

Original post: https://kevinmaley.substack.com/p/five-reasons-why-democrats-lost

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Michael Baharaeen is the chief political analyst at The Liberal Patriot Substack as well as writer of the Checks and Balances Substack. He's recently published two posts on things to look out for this election, including major trends and key races, which you can find at: 

https://www.liberalpatriot.com/p/the-trends-im-watching-during-election

Michael and I delve into the significance of Ann Selzer's polling, the evolving gender gap among young voters, the impact of class and cultural issues on voting behavior, and the shifting dynamics of racial depolarization. The conversation also touches on predictions for key states and the overall landscape of political alignments in the United States.

Liberal Patriot: https://www.liberalpatriot.com/

Checks and Balances: https://michaelbaharaeen.substack.com/

Twitter: @mbaharaeen

00:00
Introduction to Political Analysis and Polling Trends

04:04
The Impact of Ann Seltzer's Polling on Election Day Predictions

08:26
Gender Gap Among Young Voters: Shifts and Trends

13:50
The Growing Class Divide in American Politics

18:10
Cultural Issues vs. Economic Policies in Voter Behavior

23:09
Racial Depolarization and Its Effects on Voting Patterns

33:21
Shifting Dynamics of Minority Votes

40:54
Gender and Race in Voting Patterns

44:31
Class Divisions and Political Polarization

47:48
Election Predictions and Polling Insights

58:12
State-Specific Race Analysis and Trends

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Dr. Zachary Foster is a historian of Palestine, having gotten his PhD in Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University. He’s a distinguished fellow at the Rutgers Center for Security, Race and Rights. He also runs the PalestineNexus.com, which offers an invaluable newsletter, accessible research and even courses you can enroll to learn more. He returns to Zipcode Zero to talk about where things stand in Gaza and the historical context needed to understand the present conflict.

Website
PalestineNexus.com

Twitter
@_ZachFoster

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to the Conflict

03:09
Current Situation in Gaza

05:53
Israel's Goals and Strategies

09:11
US Involvement and Influence

12:07
The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

15:04
The Nature of Cruelty in Warfare

17:59
The Role of the US in Supporting Israel

21:10
The Israel Lobby and Political Dynamics

24:05
Historical Context of Peace Efforts

26:59
Conclusion and Future Implications

46:40
The Oslo Accords: A Complicated Legacy

49:47
Colonialism and the PLO's Role

52:11
Negotiation Failures and the Road to Violence

55:11
Taba Talks: Progress Amidst Stalemate

57:23
The One-State vs. Two-State Debate

01:01:41
The Settler Movement and Ethnic Cleansing

01:03:45
The Future of Israel-Palestine Relations

01:11:26
The Generational Shift in Public Opinion

01:24:15
Conclusion: Hope and Challenges Ahead

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Sean Dempsey is an acclaimed author, entrepreneur and Libertarian Party activist. 

In this conversation, Sean Dempsey discusses his background in the Libertarian Party, his views on the current political landscape, and the moral framework of libertarianism. He expresses disenchantment with the political choices available, particularly in the context of the upcoming elections. Dempsey emphasizes the importance of free speech and the dangers of censorship, particularly in relation to recent political events. He critiques both major political parties for their roles in curtailing individual liberties and discusses the insidious nature of corporate cronyism in America. The conversation also touches on employee rights, corporate control, and the historical context of child labor laws, ultimately advocating for a free market approach to these issues. In this conversation, Sean Dempsey and Kevin Maley explore the unintended consequences of legislation, the evolving nature of the security state, and the political polarization surrounding it. Finally, they make predictions for the upcoming election, highlighting the potential outcomes and implications for the future.

You can find Sean's new book "The Investor's Warp Whistles" at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Investors-Warp-Whistles-Financial-Investing-ebook/dp/B0DFW58HNS

Twitter: @realseand

Chapters:

00:00
Introduction to Sean Dempsey

02:08
Political Disenchantment and Voting Decisions

04:35
Understanding Libertarianism

09:33
Libertarian Perspectives on Foreign Policy

14:31
The Importance of Free Speech

19:30
Censorship and Its Implications

24:20
Corporate Power and Libertarian Views

35:08
Corporate Power and Freedom of Contract

35:59
Free Speech and Employment Rights

38:58
Corporate Surveillance and Employee Rights

41:09
The Evolution of Labor Rights

45:53
The Role of Government in Labor Relations

48:02
Child Labor and Economic Policies

54:44
The Security State and Political Shifts

01:10:26
The Importance of War Declarations

01:12:10
The Consequences of War Authorizations

01:15:54
Historical Context of War Declarations

01:18:03
The Role of the Federal Reserve in War

01:21:56
The National Security State and Proxy Wars

01:25:02
The Nature of International Relations

01:27:19
The Future of American Politics

01:29:45
Predictions for the Upcoming Election

01:40:13
Closing Thoughts and Book Promotion


Transcript:

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Clinton Friedrichs is a former Republican Hill staffer who worked for Representative Will Hurt (R-TX), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE). He joins Zipcode Zero to talk about his perspective on the presidential and down ballot elections.

Topics include: 
- JD Vance and a (possibly) changing GOP
- Kamala Harris's strategy and vision vs. that of Donald Trump
- The impact of immigration
- Races to look out for in Ohio and Texas
- Possible election outcomes in Congress and what that means for either candidate's legislative agenda
- When we can expect to know the results of the election

And much more.

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