Coup Save America

You are not responsible for the circumstances of your birth, but you are responsible for what you do with your life.

Sean’s Monologue: Post Election Reflections

Coup Save America welcomes the remarkable John David Graham, founder of the Good Samaritan Home, a non-profit agency helping people restart their lives after prison. John is also the author of Running as Fast as I Can, a loosely autobiographical, fictionalized story of one man’s journey to overcome an abusive background to find forgiveness and love.

John begins the episode by sharing his incredible life story and the events that led him to open up his home to ex-offenders. Listen to hear how John’s life was turned around when he attended a protest just to meet girls.

Next, John talks about the project he launched in 2001 that has since expanded from his own residence to 19 facilities spanning over 3 counties in Ohio and is helping thousands of men and women reintegrate back into society. John explains post-release control of offenders and how the Good Samaritan Home plays a role with what he calls “habilitation” skills. He describes how he has dealt with the challenge of the “Not in my backyard” mentality, and how it took seven years and a snow blower to get the local community to start waving at them with a whole hand instead of just one finger.

Sean and John discuss the recent election and the concept of hating the system while still loving your neighbor. John, who received a doctorate of Applied Theology late in life, tells us “It has been my work in the street helping broken people restart their lives that has allowed me to maintain my faith.” He talks about Christianity, and how “morality cannot be legislated.” Later in the episode, our “minister without a portfolio” speaks more about his faith and the importance of a religious community vs. his disillusionment with the church.

John shares success stories of the people who have benefited from the services of Good Samaritan Home, and he tells us about his partnerships in the re-entry coalition. He chuckles at how the Good Samaritan Home project is appealing to Democrats because it is morally responsible, but it is appealing to Republicans because it is fiscally responsible.

John tells us about the long process of writing his novel. We watch the trailer for his book, and John describes how he took marketing and promotion into his own hands after old-style publishing failed him. He talks about the theme of his novel – self-forgiveness - and how his main character must be reminded again and again that life is written in pencil and gives us many opportunities to erase and start again.

John goes on to talk about the biggest challenges for people coming out of prison, the power of the Civil Rights movement, and why Texas is a good state to start over. He talks about acceptable vs. unacceptable crimes and tells us that his “you’re here, you need help, how can I help?” philosophy guides him to overlook the “unforgiveable sin” and reach out to everyone equally. John explains how family structures influence a person’s future and how our family structures have changed over time. What are the differences between younger and older people who come out of the prison system? What does “normal” really mean? And could the 60’s generation be to blame for our current high incarceration rate?

John concludes by sharing his continuity plan for Good Samaritan Home. Will his project be able to weather the oncoming political storm? John is very much aware that “the state giveth & the state taketh away.”

To learn more about Good Samaritan Home and the book Running as Fast as I Can, visit John’s website & read his thoughts on Substack:

 https://johndavidgraham.com

https://johndavidgraham.substack.com/

Follow John on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/JGrahamAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/JGrahamAuthor

https://www.tiktok.com/@jgrahamauthor

Is it possible to know the nature of humans without the benefit of religion or philosophy?

Sean’s Monologue: The 2024 Election

Today Coup Save America welcomes Anne Riley, author of the upcoming book The Human Idea: Nature's Newest Ecosystem and the brilliant mind behind the “ideasphere.” Ideas are a human concept, and Anne is confident that we can design collaborative systems – such as governments, institutions, and tax and elections systems – that will serve our country better if we use similar structures to the ones nature uses to keep her own long-lasting and proven collaborative systems functioning.

Anne talks about the fifty years she’s spent pondering the question of where human beings fit into the scheme of nature and how Michael Rothschild’s book Bionomics, Economics as Ecosystem helped her to think in a new direction and solidify her own ideas. Anne describes government as a coordinating mechanism in both humans and nature, how that works, and why it’s important.

Anne explains the deceptively simple nature of life & how it complies with the ecosystem around it, then goes on to tell us that “choice” is the human superpower – both for better and for worse. Anne and Sean discuss how choice is different from free will and they explore the reasons why people hang on to bad ideas. Anne believes that the whole job of young adulthood is to unlearn everything we’ve learned and figure out which human ideas actually work for us.

Anne helps us to understand that our government does not function well because it defies the rules of nature. She tells us how democracy came about, why it was such a great idea, and what other ideas have gotten in the way of it. Anne’s one basic tenant for having healthy societies is “Hey, do what you want, but don’t harm others in the process.” What is harm and how can harm be regulated? And how does AI fits into the ideasphere?

Anne shares her vision of the “idealsphere” – the perfect combination of nature’s systems with an ability to make choices. If society could work in a way similar to how the human body functions, how would this address issues like education and income inequality? Listen to Anne’s well thought out proposal for a 4th branch of government & how it would work to improve democracy.

Unlike many Coup Save America guests, Anne is a proponent of capitalism. Listen to hear her reasons for supporting capitalism and why she feels this system can maximize choice while minimizing harm. Anne explains how institutions evolved within the ideasphere, then the conversation turns to some of Sean’s favorite subjects - hunter/gatherer societies and life in Nordic countries. The episode concludes with a discussion of the “wild west” we’ve been haplessly thrown into – the Internet and social media. Anne cringes at how humans were not prepared for an informational tool so vast, and she talks about how we as a society need help learning how to manage and navigate the Internet, and especially tools to help us discern lies from the truth online.

 The Human Idea: Nature's Newest Ecosystem will be available soon wherever books are hold + you can learn more about the ideasphere by following Anne on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/anne.riley.16144606/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-riley-656b0125a/

https://www.instagram.com/anne_riley_ideasphere/?hl=en

Today on Coup Save America, producer Mckenzie guest hosts a special pre-election episode: The Battle of the Books!!!

Coup Save America invites two authors – Dan McCrory and William R. Douglas to talk about their polar-opposite political polarization novels. What could happen if a Republican president refused to concede the Whitehouse? What if left-wing extremists took hold of power and ran with it? Could our country survive the tyranny if either political party were to go hurtling off the rails? Our guest authors have explored the possibilities in their respective novels, and now, on the eve of a pivotal presidential election, they are both coming to Coup Save America for a three-way discussion with Sean about the potential problems posed in their books. With a cast of over-the-top characters placed into hair-raising situations, are these novels satire or a looming reality? You be the judge…

After each author talks about his book with Mckenzie, all three guests come together to show how people with starkly different viewpoints can engage in a productive conversation about our country by listening and learning from each other.

From Dan McCrory, author of Worst Case Scenario: Election Night:

“In this satirical thriller that strikes uncomfortably close to real life events, President Adolf Wallace declares martial law and accuses the Democrats of rigging the election. Native Americans decide to band together and take back their country. Ensuing incidents call for an assessment of loyalties that could mean life or death. An EMP detonated by North Korea only makes matters worse. At times funny and sometimes deadly serious, Worst Case Scenario shows what could happen in this nightmarish state of affairs.”

From William R. Douglas, author of The Sum of All Our Anger: Civil War 2.0:

“What if our present-day polarizations and anger go unchecked? What if they continue to simmer and intensify with no relief?

Award-winning author William R. Douglas’ takes the reader into the realm of the unthinkable with his gripping and sweeping new novel, The SUM of ALL OUR ANGER.

In 2061, new President Devin Cyrus is determined to sweep away the Old Way in America to pave the way for a Socialist utopia under his New Way policy. First, he must deal with renegade states by whatever means necessary.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Whitfield, a patriotic supporter of the Old Way, rallies like-minded Governors and citizens to keep a remnant of the Old Union intact by opposing the New Way at all costs.

Military, National Guard, Militia, and Civilian leaders must choose sides as events escalate.

Our Union and way of life hang in the balance as the two opposing world views collide head-on in a final showdown. Which one will triumph?”

To learn more about these authors and their political novels, visit: https://www.facebook.com/dan.mccrory.1650 https://www.youtube.com/@writingbiz1 http://tiktok.com/@danmccrory https://www.authorwilliamrdouglas.com https://x.com/authorwilliamr 

Are the American people desperate enough for change to embrace a few all-new solutions? 

Sean’s Monologue: The Two-Party Cartel

Evan Jaqua, founder of The Solutions Party, joins us today to talk about real, functional remedies to the shortcomings of government and to the social issues plaguing both sides of our political aisle. Evan launches the episode by describing what he believes is the crux of our country’s woes – our politicians’ addiction to power – which then leads to prioritizing corporate interests, the spread of misinformation, and other weaknesses in democracy. The Solutions Party has a plan that could end lobbying, lying, and expensive “razzle-dazzle” campaigning. Listen to Evan’s well-thought-out ideas for ending re-election and bringing accountability back into government. Could such an ambitious plan ever come to fruition while the powers-that-be cling so ferociously to the status quo?

The main things holding us back from solving our country’s problems are a lack of political will and a lack of fresh ideas. Sean and Evan go on to discuss political tribalization by design, creating all-new, revolving political parties, and reforming the electoral college. Evan doesn’t just complain about the decline of journalistic integrity and the media’s use of emotional manipulation, he lays out a workable plan to fix the problems.

We hear about Evan’s life experiences that inspired him to envision The Solutions Party. He goes on to share his ideas about creating a path to pay off college loans, improving efficiency in government jobs, empowering informed voters, supporting immigration, and ending the war on drugs. As a conservative Republican, Evan might have different reasons for wanting the same things that liberal progressives want, but his solutions to our society’s problems will make us ALL winners in the end.

And, as expected, Sean and Evan talk about our impeding presidential election…which not-so-expectedly leads to a discussion on nuclear proliferation and a transcontinental bikeway.     

Evan Jaqua believes that “the way forward for our country is through honest debate and civility.” If you are ready to embrace some fresh ideas for a better future, check out:

http://www.solutionsparty.org

http://www.facebook.com/TheSolutionsParty

Why rein in radicalism when you can use it to make a profit?

Sean’s Monologue: Republican Extremism: A Manufactured Reality

For today's show, we have invited back David Shaw, author of the book Deplorable Politics: Propaganda for the Brainwashed, to talk about the direction of the current Republican Party and, more specifically, the MIS-direction of presidential candidate Donald Trump.

David begins by using examples from the rapidly approaching presidential election to showcase how his book is even more relevant today than it was when he published it last year. He explains the characteristics of malignant narcissism and poses the question: Does Trump lie because he believes what he says is true… or because he knows that lying will work? Why do Trump’s followers refuse to recognize his lies?

Sean and David chat more about “Teflon Don” and why he’s been so hard to prosecute, then call out the Democratic Party for their lack of a progressive agenda. They dive deep into the history of the Dems, and David explains how the Christian Right is a small group that the Republican Party blows up to a big group.

Our host and guest speculate about the biggest threats of a second Trump presidency and what it might do to democracy. They agree about the dangers of the Supreme Court immunity ruling and how propaganda and the corporate media are the biggest influences on public opinions. And is Trump really threating to take over the media???

David lists the various rationales of the Trump voters he’s spoken with, highlights some common propaganda terms, and points out that we essentially have a three party system – Republicans, Democrats, and MAGA. He and Sean discuss how difficult it is for Dem politicians to navigate the crisis in the Middle East, plus ponder the feasibility of holding control of the House and Senate. They talk about the role that fear plays in Trump’s messaging, and David scoffs at how easy it would be to solve our country’s border problems, except the Republicans want to keep campaigning on those issues. 

David tells us about his “Defend Democracy” Facebook sharing campaign, then answers questions like – Why hasn’t Kamala Harris come out with a more populist campaign? – “What other radical right politicians are currently on the international stage? – Why won’t psychological experts call out craziness in politicians? – and the biggest question of all – Is J.D. Vance more dangerous than Donald Trump?

Learn more about David Shaw and his book at:

https://www.facebook.com/deplorablepolitics.org

http://Deplorablepolitics.org

Politicians think: “If we keep you focused on fighting for that emotionally triggering issue over there, you won’t notice this bill we’re passing over here.”

Sean’s Monologue: The Outrage Economy

Today’s guest, David Beckemeyer, is the host of "Outrage Overload," a podcast dedicated to exploring the outrage industry and finding solutions to toxic polarization. David begins the show by telling us a story of watching relationships erode around him, which led him to launch his podcast.

Sean and David discuss the many pieces that work together to cause US citizens such high levels of outrage, plus talk about how politicians on both sides use polarization to simplify their jobs and shrug off accountability. David warns about the inherent danger of people thinking they are on the “right” side, which can justify actions that they would otherwise never perform or accept. He sheds light on the reasons why people feel they can’t have meaningful conversations with people they disagree with, then he tells Sean which intellectual groups feel safe from the possibility of a civil war and which groups fear that our outrage could lead to violence.

There are so many news sources out there these days – it’s a wide-open playing field and very difficult to navigate. David talks about strategies that can help us consume news without giving in to emotions, find news sources that are less biased, and become more comfortable with delving into nuance. He warns us that reading only the headline is never enough because the story beneath it might be completely different. We are ignoring HALF of the first amendment!

David feels confident that while there is no magic bullet to fix our nation’s outrage economy, there are enough smart people working on the problem to give us hope for our future. He talks about how we must overcome the fundamental psychology of being human and develop critical thinking skills that are not innate to our survival. Remember that Trump is proof that a bottom-up strategy can influence the elites and be satisfied by doing small things that work will toward changing the system. Developing real human connections will help our political identities become less important. Why are humans so good at grouping up?

Sean and David discuss the ramifications of another Trump presidency, ways to protect our own mental health, and the idea of adding “media literacy” to curriculums. David tells us the steps for avoiding outrage overload and turning our passion into action (sending a Tweet is NOT action!). Sean asks David to think of examples of time when outrage has led to positive outcomes, then the two ponder the question of whether voters are becoming cynical and tuning out due to our climate of outrage. David stresses the importance of primary voters and their influence on candidates, then shares his tips for having healthy political conversations with family and friends.

Listen to David’s podcast by visiting: https://outrageoverload.net

To break our cycle of chaos, we need to understand how we got here.

Sean’s Monologue: Free Speech Arrests Via Anti-Terrorism Laws

Our guest today is Matthew Warshauer, professor of history at Central Connecticut State University and author of the book Creating and Failing the 9/11 Generation: The Real Story of September 11. Matthew begins the interview by talking about the history of the 9/11 attacks and how the aftermath of this event affected Generation Z, more aptly called “The 9/11 Generation.”

Matthew goes on to talk about The Patriot Act, George W. Bush’s infamous “Axis of Evil” State of the Union Address, and other American reactions to 9/11 that blew our nation’s opportunity to improve international relations at a time when the whole world was reaching out to embrace us. He and Sean discuss what led up to the 9/11 attacks and Matthew shares the current reactions of his university students when they read the Declaration of Jihad. Do other countries have a right to exist and to reasonably defend themselves? How does the US project its power? How does “othering” and xenophobia fuel the extreme right?

Matthew shares the story behind writing his book and talks about the tightrope of examining such a difficult topic with honesty, but also with respect for the American people who were harmed in so many ways. His book strives to delve past “the tragedy and triumph narrative of 9/11” which only covers what Matthew refers to as the “102 minutes” – from the time that the first plane struck the first tower to the time when that tower fell – which is only a small fraction of the full story.

Sean and Matthew talk about the pervasive distrust that young people feel toward government, the upcoming presidential election, and how the Republican Party will look after Trump - ultimately ending the conversation on an optimistic note for the future.

To learn more about Matthew Warshauser, his books, and his fantastic Halloween decorations, visit: www.themindfulprofessor.org

“Are Progressives like 8-bit robots walking into walls when it comes to understanding economics?”

Sean’s Monologue: Kamala Harris & Healthcare

Today we welcome special guest Steve Grumbine, founder and CEO of the nonprofits Real Progressives and Real Progress in Action. Steve is here to tell us how Modern Monetary Theory could benefit the working class American – and why it doesn’t. If you think a podcast on economics will be dry and dull, you’ve never heard Steve’s animated and passionate viewpoints on the subject.

Steve and Sean start the episode by reflecting upon the most recent presidential debate, then Steve launches right into the truth about our nation’s economy. While explaining the term “austerity” as it relates to macroeconomic models, Steve dispels the myth that if a government spends money on its people, it will cause inflation. We learn about the history of the federal reserve and how it works, what the federal deficit actually means, and what taxes really are and why they exist. Steve teaches us the difference between a “currency user” and a “currency issuer”, along with explaining how inflation works and why he hates using the term Modern Monetary Theory.

What would an idealistic economic system look like? It comes down to understanding class, power, and the average working man’s lack of agency. As Progressives, we sabotage our own agenda by not understanding how economics work. Steve describes our movement’s ignorance as a “self-inflicted gunshot wound to the junk,” and he tries to clear up some of the more common misunderstandings. He talks about the history of capitalism and how the system is now eating itself alive. When you pay interest rates, where does that money go? Is the middle class even a real thing? Steve attests that Modern Monetary Theory could contribute to fixing our society’s problems, but MMT can’t do it alone. How do we make our progressive goals actionable and not just theoretical? Why do progressives go to sleep whenever Democrats are in power rather than demanding real change?

Steve does a brilliant “Trumper” impression as he explains how we need to create working class awareness. We (as Progressives) need to accept that Medicare can’t work on a state-by-state level, and Steve calls out our dreams of a Universal Basic Income as being “batshit, bullshit crazy” (although there is still hope in the idea of Universal Basic Services). So, how do we solve our economic problems? Listen to learn about “outside the nine dots”, “creating dual power”, and how “education and awakenings are two different things.”

Other topics include: Giving Biden credit for the CHIPS Act, price gauging during the pandemic, Dude, Where’s My Car, and the economic theories of Clara E. Mattei and Jason Hickel.  

To understand more about how economics can realistically work to create a more equitable society, visit Steve Grumbine’s website: http://realprogressives.org

Listen to Steve’s podcast: https://macroncheese.captivate.fm

It’s hard to criticize any state these days when they ALL have skeletons in their closets.

Sean’s Monologue: The US-China Relationship

Today Sean is joined by Coup Save America’s good friend Toufic Sarieddine, a PhD graduate from Nagoya University whose research focuses on the hegemonic impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative on US hegemony around the developing world. Toufic is the author of the book A Tale of Rice and Copper: A World-Systems Analysis of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The episode begins with an unexpected topic – the Lebanese political party Hezbollah and their exploding pagers – an event that occurred only hours before our weekly broadcast went live. This attack hits close to home for Lebanese national Toufic – VERY close to home, as he is visiting family in Beirut as he joins us on the show.

What does this attack mean for Lebanon’s relationship with Israel? What prevents US politicians from taking an anti-Israel stance? Toufic tells us that Arabs like himself are not taught or trained to be anti-Jew, and they realize that most of the animosity between their nations comes from government actions and not the beliefs of the actual people going about their lives in the Middle East. But he does see hypocrisy in what some nationals are allowed to say about their fellow humans, while other nationals are not granted the same leniency. Did you know that it’s illegal in Israel to test your DNA for ethnicity?

Toufic explains how the US prevents Middle Eastern countries from being truly democratic, and he talks about the extent of Israel’s control over the Gaza Strip and its inhabitants – even banning pasta from the region for a long period of time. Why does the United States fund both Israel and Lebanon? Toufic feels that if Israel was not written a blank check to do whatever they wish, the leaders would cultivate better relations with their neighbors…”Because If you have endless resources, you’re going to have endless ambition.”

As the conversation continues, we learn some interesting facts about religions in the country of Lebanon, and why the militant movement Hezbollah has gained popularity amongst the people since October 7th, 2023. Toufic speculates on what action Hezbollah might take in response to the pager attack.

We move on to discuss the Pakistani-Chinese relationship as Sean asks to hear the inspiration behind Toufic’s new book. Why is China now so interested in Pakistan, and what is the benefit to cost ratio of this alliance? Toufic explains the difference between humanitarian aid and developmental aid.

Returning to hostilities in the Middle East, Toufic calls out celebrities who stay silent rather than using their platforms to draw attention to the genocide in Palestine. He gives shout outs to Macklemore, The Weeknd, and Shea Couleé for their bravery.

Sean asks Toufic who will be better for the Middle East, Trump or Harris? Then they talk about the possibility that we are currently engaged in a very subtle WW III. But overall, Toufic tells us that despite the intense seriousness of our political situations, sometimes you must laugh at things – like blown up pagers - just to get through them. “You have to laugh about this because, you know, there’s no more tears to shed. And if you laugh at something, you conquer it.”

You can find info on Toufic Sarieddine’s book, read his articles, and learn more about World Systems Analysis framework by visiting his social media sites:

Book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-97-3508-2

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Geopolitics-with-Toufic/61565186018387/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/profile/in/toufic-sarieddine-42067b6b?originalSubdomain=jp

Academia.org: https://nagoya-u.academia.edu/TouficSarieddine 

“We’re stuck with Trump because the United States created Trump.” 

Sean’s Monologue: From Neoliberalism to Trump

Today, Coup Save America speaks with social philosopher Dr. Douglas Giles, the author of Why Trump? Why Some People Support Him—How the Rest of Us Can Respond. Dr. Giles is an assistant professor at Elmhurst University, where he researches the root causes of bigotry and injustice and their role in political action.

Douglas launches straight into explaining how Donald Trump is more of a symptom than a cause – a conman and a “useful figurehead” for the Republican Party to rally the disaffected white working class. Douglas points out how Trump gained popularity because “This guy hates the same things I hate”, and he discusses “ressentiment” – a French term used by philosopher Max Scheler to describe a particular form of hatred that arises from beliefs that one is lacking recognition and thus is socially impotent.

Douglas and Sean chat about the immigration controversy and how much resistance to difference plays into the myth of American exceptionalism. Do we really have a border crisis? How about JD Vance & those pet-eating Haitian immigrants? And what about that term “woke”?

In getting to the bottom of the problem, Dr. Giles gives us an overview of Calvinism, discusses Lewis Charles Levin and nativism, then explains why the MAGA feels new to us – and yet it isn’t.

Douglas goes on to compare the novel The Turner Diaries to Project 2025, and then describes how Bill Clinton changed the operation of the Democratic Party and how the Democratic Party changed Obama. Is Donald Trump a fascist? Dr. Giles does not think so. He believes that the new name for fascism should be “concentration of power.” And what’s the difference between “deliberate democracy” and “open democracy”?

Sean and Douglas talk about the usual subjects – how the term socialism has become corrupted, how Americans give in to media control, and how the “fake Left” is only interested in opposition, not equality for all humans. They conclude the conversation with thoughts on the Trump/Harris debate and speculations about the upcoming presidential election.

You can find Douglas Giles’ books on Amazon & his thoughts at:

https://dgilesphilosopher.medium.com/

https://www.youtube.com/insertphilosophyhere

https://www.instagram.com/dgileswriter