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Episode #203: 'Class'
The United States is intensely divided these days, and it seems like there are many issues separating us. Racial issues have played a large role, but there are also issues like gender fluidity, sexual orientations, abortion, and many other issues that are driving a wedge in this nation. However, there is one issue that divides America more than any other, and that issue is class. The gulf between working/middle class Americans and the elite upper-class has been growing wider and wider over the past two decades. It has created a populist, anti-establishment, uprising that explains the rise of Donald Trump. The evidence of this is that Donald Trump is doing better with working-class voters of color than any Republican candidate since Richard Nixon. These voters find more commonality with other working-class voters voting for Trump, than they do with upper-class voters supporting Biden. How did Trump make the Republican Party the party of the working class? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #203.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
Episode #202: 'Money'
The recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers prove what everyone already knew, inflation is still a huge drag on American consumers. Joe Biden and his surrogates have given us every excuse in the book and blamed everyone but themselves for causing the inflation. First it was supply-chain shortages and the pandemic. Then it was "Putin's Price Hike" that was caused by the war in Ukraine. Now they are blaming "shrinkflation" and "greedflation", saying that corporations are raking it in at the expense of consumers. They have not taken a single bit of personal responsibility for the persistent, chronic, inflation that they first told us would be "transitory". How can we believe anything that they tell us? What is the real cause of inflation, and why is it going to get much worse? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #202.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) Biden claims inflation was 'skyrocketing' when he took office, despite data showing opposite
2) Bipartisan group in Congress pushes $908 billion Covid-19 relief bill
3) What is Core Inflation and Why Doesn’t It Include Food and Energy?
4) The Ascent of Money A Financial History of The World by Niall Ferguson
5) Modern Monetary Theory explained
Episode #201: 'The Mikes'
Micheal McCaul and Mike Turner are the biggest proponents of more Ukraine aid in the Republican caucus of the House of Representatives. McCaul is from Central Texas, and he is the Chair of the House Foreien Relations Committee. Turner is from Dayton, Ohio, and he is the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee. Both of these Mikes are putting a lot of pressure on the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, to bring a bill that funds Ukraine up for a vote. Speaker Johnson is under so much pressure, because although he may personally support aid to Ukraine, he knows many in his party don't. McCaul recently said, "I think Russian propaganda has made its way into the United States, unfortunately, and it's infected a good chuck of my party's base." Is it true that Republicans who are opposed to more Ukraine aid are infected with Russian propaganda, or are they just immune to American propaganda? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #201.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) Lawsuit Against (Kaparot) Slaughter of Chickens for Hasidic Jewish Ritual in New York City
2) Inside Donald Trump’s secret, long-shot plan to end the war in Ukraine
4) 2024 Russian presidential election
5) Ukraine’s election day dawned with no vote in sight and little appetite for one – for now, anyway
6) Biden restates commitment to ‘One China’ policy on Taiwan in call with Xi
7) Boris Johnson Pressured Zelenskyy to Ditch Peace Talks With Russia: Ukrainian Paper
Episode #200: 'Isolationists'
The Republican Party has made a lot of changes over the past 20 years. It used to be Republicans that were more susceptible to war propaganda, and it took little convincing to get them to support military interventions abroad. It was Republicans that supported Bush's invasion of Iraq, and without the support within his own party it is unlikely that he would have had the political will to do it. However, since then the Republican Party has become less hawkish, and more doveish, when it comes to foreign policy and war. This is most clearly seen in the debate within the party over whether or not to continue supporting Ukraine. The vast majority of Republican voters don't want another dime to go to Ukraine, and this is a huge problem for the Speaker of the House, who is stuck between the war hawks and the 'isolationists' in his party. What has happened to the Republican Party? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #200.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) George Washington’s 1796 Farewell Address
2) George Washington’s 1796 Farewell Address
3) Interview: Donald Trump at Republican National Convention on CNN - August 17, 1988
4) Did Bush's Grandfather Steal Geronimo's Skull?
5) How Bush's grandfather helped Hitler's rise to power
6) Russ Baker talks about his book Family of Secrets
Episode #199: 'Protect the Children'
The numbers of children in America claiming to be transgender are increasing at an alarming rate, and we should be asking why. It used to be maybe one or two transgender kids in an entire school, if any. Now you find two or three transgender kids in each classroom. The numbers are higher in some areas, such as liberal areas opposed to more conservative areas. This suggests it may be an issue of 'social contagion', and it spreads like a virus within groups and networks. Another factor to consider is the number of teachers who now identify as transgender. Are they bringing their gender ideology and sexuality in the classrooms and exposing students to it? Perhaps these teachers are influencing kids to believe they are transgender, or at least to consider the possibility. Whatever is causing this rapid rise in transgender kids we should figure out what it is and protect the children. What other problems might an increased focus on gender and sexuality be causing in schools? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #199.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) Damasus I
3) A Proclamation on Transgender Day of Visibility, 2024
4) 'I Didn't Do That': Biden Gaslights America On 'Trans Day of Visibility'
Episode #198: 'Christ is King'
The phrase ‘Christ is King’ became the focus of conversation this week, not because it is Holy Week and millions of Christians around the world are celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but because some people claimed the phrase was antisemitic and offensive to Jews. It caused a big controversy, but why? Jesus spoke more about His Kingdom than any other topic while He walked the earth, and He did claim to be a King. The Romans even mockingly fashioned Him a crown of thorns, which they placed on His head while He was executed on a crucifix. There were many Jews that were offended by His claim to be King over 2000 years ago, and it’s not surprising that many of the same kind of Jews would be offended by His Kingship today. However, the fact that some Jews are offended doesn't change the fact that He is King, and it has never stopped Christians from saying He is King. Why is the phrase ‘Christ is King’ offensive to some Jews? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #198.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) The Antisemitism Lurking Behind George Soros Conspiracy Theories
2) Ukraine Is Now 'Holy War,' Russian Church Declares
3) Ukraine Passes Law to Ban Russia-Linked Orthodox Church
4) Why do some Ukrainians want to be part of Russia? Children chant 'hang the Russians".
Episode #197: 'Push'
We've been told over and over again that Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was "unprovoked", and that Putin just wanted to take Ukraine in an effort to reestablish the glory of Mother Russia. We were told the people of Ukraine had done nothing, and Russia bares all of the blame. However, this is not true. Beginning in the fall of 2013, nationalist groups from western Ukraine, backed by the Obama administration and NGOs, such as George Soros's Civil Society, started making moves in Ukraine that would make Russia's invasion eventually inevitable. They pushed and pushed until Russia was left with no other option. It is almost like they wanted Russia to invade Ukraine. Members of the U.S. Congress, such as Senator John McCain and others, went to Ukraine and encouraged them to antagonize Russia, and they promised America's full support when Russia retaliated in response. What are some examples of how Russia was pushed into the war in Ukraine? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #197.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) Joe Biden's lies are legendary. He's still the same dishonest plagiarist he was 33 years ago.
2) Forget the Gaffes, What About Biden's Lies?
3) Trump: Is There a Way We Can Do Something With Disinfectant?
4) Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych agrees to early election
5) Breakthrough? Ukrainian President, Opposition Leaders Reach Deal
6) Ukraine president announces early elections
Episode #196: 'Elon's Peace Plan'
About a year ago Elon Musk tweeted out his plan for a peace deal in Ukraine. He was excoriated for it by the Biden administration, by the Ukrainian government, and by everyone who had no interest in peace. The tweet had a poll included and before Elon deleted it more than 1.5 million tweeter users had voted. Nearly 70 percent had voted no to the peace proposal. It included just 4 issues. Redo the elections in the regions that had voted for their independence and bring the UN in to oversee the referendums. If the people want to be part of Russia that's what happens. If the people don't want to be part of Russia, they leave. Crimea remains part of Russia, and their water is assured. Last, but likely most important, Ukraine remains neutral and will never join NATO. Why did so many people have a problem with Elon Musk's plan for peace, and is his plan looking better to them as the war drags on? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #196.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) That 1% cut in federal spending in the debt limit law? It’s complicated.
2) On Omnibus, Chip Roy Warns a 'Vote for This Bill Is a Vote Against America'
4) 2014 Donbas status referendums
5) Russian annexation of Donbas
8) Sweden officially joins NATO
Episode #195: 'Bloodbath'
The credibility of the media in the United States is at an all-time low and few Americans feel they can't trust any information that they get from mainstream outlets. Ever since the 1996 Telecommunications Act and the deregulation that led to ownership of media platforms being consolidated into fewer and fewer hands trust in the media has been on a steady decline. Today 90% of the nation's media is controlled by less than 10 corporations and they all seem to have the same agenda driven and biased reporting. It has been a problem for a long time. However, in the era of Donald Trump it seems the media is working overtime to destroy any of the remaining credibility they have, which isn't much. In an obsessive attempt to destroy Trump they have abandoned all of their integrity and journalistic ethics. It's a crisis. How does the recent "bloodbath" hoax further discredit the media and provide the latest example of this crisis? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #195.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) Trump Didn't Call Neo-Nazis 'Fine People.' Here's Proof.
2) Donald Trump's 'bloodbath' usage in context
3) Lenin Monuments Toppled In Ukraine
4) Ukrainian Forces Kill 3 Pro-Russian Demonstrators
5) Russia has achieved at least 1 of its war goals: return Ukraine's water to Crimea
Episode #194: 'Endless War and Massive Debt'
The relationship between America’s wars and America’s debt cannot be denied. In the 1990’s after the Cold War ended, the United States experienced a decade of peace and prosperity that only ended when the War on Terrorism started. In the final years of the 20th century the United States had balanced our budgets and even ran surpluses. There were several factors that contributed to this success, but peace is the most significant. We were able to make investments, pay off debt, cut taxes, and do many other things that we could not have done if we were fighting costly foreign wars. Since then, we have added $30 trillion to the national debt, and we have a trillion-dollar deficit and growing. There are several factors that contributed to this massive debt, but it’s no coincidence that the deficits started at the same time the wars started. How did we go from peace and prosperity to endless wars and massive debt? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #194.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) Robert Sterling chart on US National Debt
2) Trump: "I will never sign another bill like this again"
3) What If We Paid Off The Debt? The Secret Government Report
4) Base Realignment and Closure
5) Johnson says he expects to take up Ukraine aid with Democratic votes
6) How did Odessa's fire happen?
Episode #193: 'Domino Theory'
The main reason we are being given for the need to continue supporting Ukraine is that if Ukraine doesn't stop Russia, Russia will invade Poland next, and other Eastern European counties after that. They say if Ukraine falls, the other counties in Europe will fall like dominos to Putin. It's ridiculous if you think about it. On one hand they want us to believe that Russia is so weak that Ukraine can defeat them, but they are also so strong that they can conquer all of Europe. It's also ironic that Joe Biden would make this accusation. Over the past two decades no nation has invaded more countries than the United States, and Joe Biden approved of every domino that fell. He played major roles as either Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, or as Vice President. He was at the center of every disastrous foreign policy decision of the 21st century. What is the 'domino theory', and which country is a better example of it, Russia or the United States? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #193.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) Billy Crystal and Bill Kristol compete to endorse Biden
2) Project for the New American Century: a new Pearl Harbor
3) Were 1998 Memos a Blueprint for War?
4) Obama receives request for more Afghanistan troops
5) Obama's Afghan War Decision: A Team Of Rivals
6) Obama Promised to End America’s Wars—Has He?
7) Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US
Episode #192: 'Christian Nationalism'
'Christian Nationalism' is a relatively new term in our society. It is not a religious or spiritual term, but a political one. The term seems to have developed in the era of Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, and it is being used to shame Christian voters into not voting for President Trump. There are many critics, pundits, and academics warning about the dangers of 'Christian Nationalism' right now. They are writing books, making movies, booking speaking gigs, and they all seem to eventually make their way onto MSNBC, where the fear of "Christian Nationalism' is a prominent part of their daily programing. Again, it is a political term, and besides being very lucrative for those selling this fear, it serves a political agenda as well. It is also often referred to as 'White Christian Nationalism', which better illustrates the political agenda. What is the political agenda of the people warning about the threat of 'Christian Nationalism'? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #192.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) Who is Russell Moore and why is he interviewing Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio today?
2) Russell Moore Defends Jeb Bush's Remarks on Women's Health Funding
3) Russell Moore interview with George Bush
4) George Bush says that Christians and Muslims worship the same God
5) Bradley Onishi - The Authoritarian Turn in White Christian Nationalism
6) Democrats itching to take down Biden over free-trade past
Episode #191: 'Democracy'
Have you ever noticed that the people who scream the loudest about saving democracy are the people who hate democracy the most? For example, the people who claim President Trump is a threat to democracy are the same people who support removing his name from ballots so people cannot vote for him. Another example can be found in Ukraine. Ukraine hasn't held elections in 5 years, and 10 years ago there was a coup d'etat in the country. The democratically elected president was removed in a violent overthrow. Despite these antidemocratic issues, we are told we have to defend Ukraine to defend democracy. On the other hand, we are told the people in the East and in Crimea, who voted to separate from Ukraine are the ones who are antidemocratic. How did the referendums in these regions demonstrate a greater commitment to democracy than those who staged the coup d'etat in Kiev? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #191.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) Putin's suggestion of Ukraine ceasefire rejected by United States, sources say
2) Ukraine separatists declare independence
3) Crimeans vote overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine, join Russia
5) US cited controversial law in decision to kill American citizen by drone
6) How Team Obama Justifies the Killing of a 16-Year-Old American
7) Yushchenko Grants Hero Status To Controversial Ukrainian Nationalist
8) Ukraine's Yanukovich to repeal Bandera hero decree
9) Agreement on settlement of political crisis in Ukraine
10) Soros says ready to invest $1 billion in Ukraine if West helps
Episode #190: 'Freedom Fighters'
The war in Ukraine has been going on for 10 years, and over that decade many Russians and Ukrainians have lost their lives. The loss has been immense on both sides. The loss increased when Russia moved in 2 years ago, but there were a lot of people dying in Ukraine long before Russia invaded. The area where people were dying most before Russia invaded was Eastern Ukraine, the Donbas. The people in this region declared their independence in 2014, after the violent overthrow of the government in Kiev. The new government called these people "separatist" and went to war with them to force them to remain part of Ukraine. These separatist in Eastern Ukraine were much like the American Patriots who declared their independence from the British Empire in 1776. Thousands had shed their blood for freedom years before Russian moved in. Who are the freedom fighters in Ukraine, and is America supporting the freedom fighters? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #190.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
7) S14 / C14 (Ukrainian group)
10) Right Sector
11) Crimeans vote overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine, join Russia
Episode #189: 'Dualling Anniversaries'
For 2 years the Biden administration and NATO alliance has been telling us the war in Ukraine started 2 years ago when Russia launched an "unprovoked" invasion of the country. However, many people, including the Presidents of the European Union and Ukraine, paid tribute this past week to the 10-year anniversary of the start of the war, on February 20th. Then 4 days later they all commemorated the start of the war again on the 2-year anniversary, on February 24th. It was all very confusing. If the war started 10 years ago, how can it also have started 2 years ago? The interesting thing about these dualling anniversaries is that Vladimir Putin has always said the war in Ukraine started long before his army entered, and his justifications for invading 2 years ago trace back to what happened 10 years ago. How do these dualling anniversaries support his claims? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #189.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) What are the Minsk agreements on the Ukraine conflict?
3) The prospect of a second Trump presidency has the intelligence community on edge
4) The Spy War: How the C.I.A. Secretly Helps Ukraine Fight Putin
5) White House confirms CIA director's trip to Kiev
Episode #188: 'Russiagate 2.0'
If you thought that the Russiagate scandal was over, think again! By popular demand, just in time for another presidential election, the Russians are back with Russiagate 2.0. This time they are using an FBI informant that has been working with the FBI for over a decade. He was such a reliable and useful source for the FBI that they paid him hundreds of thousands of dollars for information. However, all of a sudden, this week, we learned that the Russians were using this trusted FBI informant to help Donald Trump steal the 2024 election from Joe Biden. It's all very reminiscent of Russiagate, the original, when the Russians helped Trump steal the 2016 election from Hillary Clinton. The same people who believed Russiagate, the original, are ready to buy it again, from the same people who sold it to them the first time. You'd think they would learn. How is Russiagate 2.0 exactly like Russiagate, the original, when it comes to evidence? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #188.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) How a trusted FBI source became the center of a Washington scandal
2) Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections
Episode #187: 'The First Shot'
The 'shot heard around the world' is a phrase that pertains to the first shot fired in the American Revolution, or to be more precise, the first shot fired in the battles of Lexington and Concord. To this day, we have no idea who fired that first shot, or if they were patriots or redcoats, but whoever fired that shot kicked off a war that would change the world. The current war in Ukraine started similarly. Tens of thousands of protestors had gathered in Maidan, the central square of Kiev, to protest then President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych. These demonstrators stayed in the square for weeks, peacefully, until one morning someone started shooting. That is when the violence started that kicked off this war. That was on February 20, 2014, exactly ten years ago, and the war is still hotter than ever. Who fired those first shots, and is it possible that it was neither the demonstrators, nor the Ukrainian government? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #187.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) White House rejects Johnson's requests to meet with Biden: 'What is there to negotiate?'
2) Biden willing to meet with Republican US House speaker over Ukraine aid
3) Russia takes Avdiivka from Ukraine, biggest gain in nine months
4) Boris Johnson warns against a Ukraine-Russia peace deal
5) Boris Johnson Pressured Zelenskyy to Ditch Peace Talks With Russia: Ukrainian Paper
6) When Veterans clashed with the U.S. Military | 1932 Bonus Army March
7) Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Catherine Ashton discuss Ukraine over the phone
Episode #186: 'What Happened to the Nazis'
In 2015, Democratic Congressman from Michigan, John Conyers and Republican Congressman from Florida, Ted Yoho proposed an amendment to the military budget banning funding and support for Neo-Nazi groups in Ukraine. It was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives. Back then it was common knowledge in the United States Congress that Ukraine had a Neo-Nazi problem, but for some reason the policy of funding and training Neo-Nazis was reversed and the ban was lifted. It is an alarming fact that the ban was lifted, but when the ban was lifted is even more shocking. The policy was reversed in January of 2016, just days before Donald Trump was sworn in as President. Now everyone is acting like there are no Nazis in Ukraine and there never were. What happened to the Nazis, and why did Congress change the policy to fund and support the Neo-Nazis just as a new administration was coming in? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #186.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
3) CIA Had Foreign Allies Spy On Trump Team, Triggering Russia Collusion Hoax, Sources Say
5) Ukraine's Neo-Nazis Won't Get U.S. Money
6) Congress Has Removed a Ban on Funding Neo-Nazis From Its Year-End Spending Bill
Episode #185: 'Political Philanthropy'
George Soros is a billionaire hedge fund manager who made his money investing in nations, more specifically, their currencies. For example, he made billions investing in European currencies before the creation of the Euro, by leveraging the currency of one country against another. He made a billion dollars buying and devaluing the British Pound in the 1990's and he almost collapsed their economy. Soros has used his wealth over the years since becoming a billionaire to also invest in the politics of certain nations, such as the United States. His Open Society Foundation has worked to organize communities, grant scholarships to under privileged students, elect district attorneys, and much more. Soros calls this work, "political philanthropy". How does Soros's political philanthropy and a billion-dollar investment he made in Ukraine relate to one another, and what role did he play in the current war in that country? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #185.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) With eyes on Trump, Senate votes to make NATO withdrawal harder
2) Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US
4) U.S. Says Anthrax Germ In Mail Is 'Ames' Strain
5) Angela Merkel duped by Russian pranksters pretending to be Ukraine’s Poroshenko
Episode #184: 'Priorities'
For three years the Biden administration has been saying the southern border is secure and there was no migration problem. However, now they are saying the border is not secure, there is a migrant crisis, and it's all Donald Trump's fault. Why is the border a priority for Joe Biden now, just months before his reelection? The truth is that the border is not a priority for Joe Biden, or the Democratic Party, technically. Their priority is funding for the war in Ukraine. Many Republicans have the same priority. The problem for those Republicans is that Republican voters place Ukraine funding, if not at the very bottom, very close to the very bottom of their priorities. The border, on the other hand, is at the top of Republican voter's priorities, and that's how the border became priority for Joe Biden. It's all about Ukraine. How did Ukraine become such a huge priority for America? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #184.
* Host, Producer, Engineer: Samuel C Winchester
Shownotes
1) Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas tells lawmakers ‘the border is not open’ amid migrant surge
2) Mayorkas claims southern border 'is secure' as historic migrant crisis rages
3) Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas won't call immigration at southern border a crisis
5) European Parliament proposes to ban Tucker Carlson from EU over Putin interview
6) Liberals Call for Tucker Carlson’s ARREST over Putin Interview