Eight-Five Seconds to Midnight

November 3rd, 2026 is election day in the United States. This nation is at an inflection point. Every citizen needs to vote. If you are able, please listen to this episode. It is an update to my essay, "A Government of the People." You can find the written version here. It is my case for democracy. It is my case for why America is in fact a nation of all the people, by all the people, and for all the people. It is my case for isonomy, or equality before the law. It is my case for unalienable rights, Civil Rights, and Human Rights. I hope you find it valuable and enlightening. I hope you vote on November 3rd. You can register to vote at https://vote.gov/. "Citizenship in a democracy is more than a ballot dropped in a box on Election Day. It's a 365-days-a-year job requiring the active participation and best judgement of every citizen in the affairs of [their] community, [their] nation, and [their] country's relations with the world. Fascism thrives on indifference and ignorance. It makes headway when people are apathetic or cynical about their government –when they think of it as something far removed from them and beyond their personal concern…Freedom, like peace and security, cannot be maintained in isolation. It involves being alert and on guard against the infringement not only of our own freedom but the freedom of every American. If we permit discrimination, prejudice, or hate to rob anyone of [their] democratic rights, our own freedom and all democracy is threatened." –Army Talk Orientation Fact Sheet 64, 24 March, 1945 BE COURAGEOUS! BE FREE! BE AMERICAN!

The United States of America turns 250 today. I'd like to offer up a toast. A toast to hope, to Liberty, to our inalienable human rights, and to the promise of democracy. Let us all come together in these trying times. BE COURAGEOUS! BE FREE! BE AMERICAN!

Hey y'all, Happy May Day. We're staring down a major deadline here in the USA. Today (May 1st) marks the day that Preident Trump is required to either end military operations (including his blockade) against Iran or go to Congress to get a formal use of force authorization. In light of this and the myrid other Constituional violations the president is guilty of, I thought now would be a good time to explore what it means to be a patriotic American in this time of crisis. I hope you find it enlightening and encouraging.  BE COURAGEOUS! BE FREE! BE AMERICAN!

Hey y'all, I'm just back from the March 28th No Kings rally. It was fantastic y'all, and very inspiring. Democracy and freedom of speech are both still alive and well in the United States. These rallies are happening literally right now all over the nation. It made me want to record and release a rough draft of an essay I'm working on. I hope you enjoy it and find it inspiring. Now is our time. We can save our democracy! We're all in this together! BE BRAVE! BE FREE! BE AMERICAN!

Hey y'all, this is an important one. This weekend, Saturday, March 28th, is the next No Kings rally. These are happening all over the nation. We need everyone to march. The last ralley was the largest protest in US history at 7 million participants. This Saturday, we're hoping for 12 million. Check out their website: https://www.nokings.org/ and find out where you can go to participate in this vitally important moment to save our democracy. I'll see y'all there! BE BRAVE! BE FREE! BE AMERICAN!

Hey y'all, what a day. I'm tired of waking up to bad news, and today has been another doosy. I hope you find this ramble somewhat encouraging and educational.  We're all in this together, and together we WILL save our American democracy. BE BRAVE! BE FREE! BE AMERICAN!