The American Media Crisis

For years we've heard from the Trump campaign that the 2020 election was stolen via an elaborate scheme of coordinated voter fraud. On today's show, we speak with Ken Block, author of "Disproven: My Unbiased Search for Voter Fraud for the Trump Campaign." Block shares his experiences as a data analyst tasked by the Trump campaign to investigate claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Throughout the discussion, Block details his rigorous process of vetting various allegations, revealing the baselessness of the claims and the internal dynamics among Trump's legal team. He also discusses the broader implications of election denialism and the troubling divide in media coverage. This episode provides a deep dive into the chaotic aftermath of the 2020 election and the challenges of combating misinformation within political and media landscapes. Ken's book "Disproven: My Unbiased Search for Voter Fraud for the Trump Campaign", available now. Timestamps: [00:01:43] Disproven [00:05:46] Donald.win [00:14:44] The math isn't there Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democracy will be won or lost in America's exurbia. In today's episode, Rick speaks with author David Masciotra, discussing his new book "Exurbia Now! The Battleground for American Democracy." The conversation dives into the transformation of American political life influenced by the migration from urban to suburban and ultimately to exurban areas. Masciotra sheds light on how these shifts reflect broader societal changes, contributing to the rise of authoritarian right-wing ideologies in less densely populated exurbs. They explore historical factors like white flight and infrastructure developments that spurred suburban growth post-World War II and discuss the current political dynamics where exurbs play a pivotal role. Timestamps: [00:01:57] A battleground for American democracy [00:10:11] Generica [00:17:12] Where do they run to next?  Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American political discourse has become more toxic than ever. In today's episode, Rick speaks with Frank Bruni, author of the new book "The Age of Grievance," which examines the pervasive culture of outrage and grievance driving contemporary American politics. Together, they analyze the roots of this phenomenon, tracing it back to historical and media influences, such as the rise of conservative media figures like Rush Limbaugh and Fox News. They explore how social media has intensified this culture, rewarding anger and performative outrage over substantive dialogue. They reflect on the decline of civility and compromise in political discourse, the rise of apocalyptic partisanship, and the erosion of trust in institutions. Timestamps: [00:01:30] The Age of Grievance [00:16:22] Pessimism sells [00:15:46] Breaking the spell [00:24:40] Strategies for governing Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump will be the next president, according to today's guest, if we do not learn the lessons of the past. On this episode Rick connects with author of the book Blowback and a vocal critic of Donald Trump, Miles Taylor. They dive into the potential dangers of a second Trump presidency, particularly focusing on the drastic changes he could impose on American democracy and government functionality. Taylor elaborates on his concerns about Trump's vindictive use of power, the politicization of civil services, and the shift in foreign policy towards autocratic regimes. The episode serves as a warning and a call to action, urging us to recognize and respond to the threats posed by a possible Trump re-election to our democracy. Timestamps: [00:01:26] Blowback [00:12:04] Schedule F [00:15:46] Breaking the spell [00:20:05] Foreign policy Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the event of a Republican victory in the 2024 presidential election, there potential implications for the country are darker than you may imagine. Project 2025 is one such outcome. In this episode, Rick is joined by author Andra Watkins to discuss her Substack publication, "How Project 2025 Will Ruin Your Life." Watkins, a former Christian nationalist, dives into the details of Project 2025, a hypothetical policy proposal she believes could dramatically alter American society through strict, moralistic governance. She highlights how the project's definitions of pornography could lead to severe restrictions on various forms of expression and details how its economic policies might adversely affect the middle class. Watkins also addresses the potential rollback of civil liberties, including gay marriage, and the imposition of religious conditions on social assistance. Timestamps: [00:01:38] Inspiration for Project 25 [00:04:50] Christian nationalists and their urges [00:10:47] Economic ideas of Project 25 [00:15:12] Schedule F Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republican party has changed. On this episode Ricks sits with Isaac Arnsdorf, a Washington Post reporter and author to discuss the profound transformation within the Republican Party instigated by the MAGA movement. Arnsdorf shares insights from his book, revealing how grassroots activism, led by figures like Steve Bannon, has reshaped the party from the bottom up. The episode explores the strategic takeovers of local party positions by MAGA supporters, the creation of a new political narrative surrounding the 2020 election, and the broader implications of this shift on American politics. Timestamps: [00:02:06] Who's running the new revolution? [00:05:54] Karizona [00:10:10] A foundational conspiracy [00:16:34] No enemies to my right Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conservatives in America are not typically known as lovers of environmental advocacy. Well, our guest bucks that trend. Benji Backer, an environmental advocate and author of "The Conservative Environmentalist" joins Rick to discuss the urgent need for practical and innovative solutions to environmental challenges, critiquing both extreme denial and radical approaches currently dividing the political landscape. Backer emphasizes a historical bipartisan approach to environmental issues and proposes a balanced pathway that leverages American ingenuity and respects local knowledge. Timestamps: [00:01:54] Green new deal vs. denial [00:19:09] Becoming a conservative environmentalist Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It feels like all anyone wants to talk about these days is how AI is taking over. Well, we thought it time to have an expert on to break it all down. In this episode Rick speaks with AI expert Daniel Faggella in a comprehensive discussion on the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. They speak to the implications of AI on the workforce, economy, and society, examining both the current state and future possibilities. Faggella brings insights from his experience in market research, discussing how AI is reshaping industries from legal to entertainment. They explore the concept of artificial general intelligence (AGI), its accelerated timeline, and potential societal impacts. The conversation also touches on the role of AI in politics, the concept of a political singularity, and the ethical considerations of AI development. Timestamps: [00:01:18] What we're missing with AI [00:10:48] How AI will impact politics [00:21:04] AI exceeding expectations Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The participation of talented young people is a critical element in a functioning democracy. On this episode, Rick sits down with Gevin Reynolds, a rising figure in Democratic politics with experience in the Biden White House. They dive into the 2024 campaign landscape, focusing on Biden's presidency and the strategic positioning of the Democratic party. Reynolds shares insights on the administration's handling of crises like COVID-19, economic challenges, and racial justice issues. The discussion also touches on Vice President Harris's role and public perception, the impact of recent State of the Union addresses, and the evolving political dynamics among young and minority voters. Timestamps: [00:01:40] Perspective on the race [00:07:03] An underpriced political stock [00:16:02] The case of young voters [00:20:00] Mitigating the drift towards Trump Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From polls and pundits to dramatic headlines, sorting through the chaos of the presidential election is no easy task. To help parse madness, Rick had a conversation with Elaine Kamarck, political expert and senior fellow at the Brookings Institute. The two give their view of the current state of American politics and the presidential election. They discuss the dynamics of the primary elections, voter demographics, and the strategic approaches of both political parties. The discussion also touches on the influence of third-party candidates, the role of money in political campaigns, and the changing landscape of voter behavior. Timestamps: [00:02:00] Surveillance capitalism [00:14:22] Where does RFK play into the election? Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices