Stahl Interview – Podcast March 16, 2025

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

Giving Voice To Rural Districts. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Judy Stahl, president of Arizona Democratic Women and founder of Voice for Values, a progressive non-partisan Political Action Committee that is focused on voter empowerment and government accountability.

After some success in the 2024 election cycle, Stahl says, “Now we are rolling out our Rural Revival Plan…we have thought about this long and hard, and traditionally these are districts that are overlooked by national party organizations and campaigns. They just don’t have the bandwidth; they just don’t have the money to focus on those areas. And it’s rare for rural districts to be targeted for resources for voter engagement efforts in elections. They’re often deemed, sadly, not worthy of investment.”

She explains, “We’re planning on focusing long-term on registering voters in these rural districts and, as our voter base expands, we are going to expand the number of rural districts that we adopt and focus on.”

Posted in Agricultural Policy, Arizona Politics, Autocracy, Compassion, Constitutional Issues, Cultural Diversity, Democratic Governance, Domestic Extremism, Domestic Policy, Elections, Ethics, Government, Health Care, Human Rights, Interviews, Medicaid, Minimum Wage, Morality, National Politics, Native American Issues, Paul Gosar, Political Action Committees, Political Polarization, Public Accountability, Public Education, Public Policy, Social Security, Taxation, Tolerance, Voting, Women's Issues, Women's Rights | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Trump Chaos – Podcast March 9, 2025

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

The Sociopath Continues His Assault On Government. The co-hosts assess the latest actions of the new Trump administration, including its destruction of government institutions and the resulting impact on the economy.

In his attempts to justify a $4.5 trillion tax cut for billionaires and multinational corporations, Trump and his billionaire sidekick have fired thousands of government workers – a large percentage of them are military veterans – who they claim are responsible for waste, fraud and abuse. Most troubling is the fact that the cuts began with Inspectors General and others responsible for investigating and reporting corruption. Of course, that opens the door for the Grifter-in-Chief and Musk to pocket billions in bribes and government contracts.

Posted in Agribusiness, Autocracy, China, Class Conflict, Congressional Oversight, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Constitutional Issues, Corruption, De-regulation, Deficit Reduction, Department of Justice, Department of Veterans Affairs, Domestic Extremism, Domestic Policy, Domestic Terrorism, Economic Policy, Education, Energy Policy, Environmental Issues, Federal Lands, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, Government, Health Care, Human Rights, Immigration, Income Inequality, Inflation, Legal Issues, Medicaid, Medicare, Morality, National Politics, Privatization, Public Accountability, Public Education, Refugees, Regulatory Agencies, Resistance, Russia, Taxes and the Deficit, Trade Policy, U.S. Forest Service, Ukraine, Unemployment, Veterans' Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Trump Effect – Podcast March 2, 2025

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

Switching Sides. On this episode of Democratic Perspective, the co-hosts along with frequent guest Mik Jordahl discuss the Trump administration’s impact on foreign relations. In the first few weeks of Trump’s second term, we have seen Trump shutter USAID, threaten tariffs on our closest allies, increase tariffs on China, and throw Ukraine to Putin and his wolves.

In addition, Trump has demeaned Canada by claiming it could become our 51st state and threatened to take Greenland and the Panama Canal by force, if necessary. In the process, he has abandoned about 80 years of foreign policy that, in the words of NPR’s Anne Applebaum was “based on a network of alliances and institutions that allowed the country to project power, to create zones of prosperity, to enjoy trade with like-minded partners.”

The conclusion: If Trump isn’t a Russian asset, he certainly is acting like one.

Posted in Autocracy, Bigotry, China, Congressional Oversight, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Constitutional Issues, Corruption, Cultural Change, Democratic Governance, Economic Policy, European Union, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Funding, Government, Homeland Security, Human Rights, Immigration, Intelligence Agencies, International Relations, International Terrorism, Israel, Middle East, Middle East Policy, National Politics, Palestinian/Israeli Conflict, Political History, Public Health Policy, Russia, Trade Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jablow, Williamson Interview – Podcast February 23, 2025

Posted on March 1, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

The Battle To Control Short-Term Rentals Continues. Sterve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Sedona Mayor Scott Jablow and former City Councilor Jessica Williamson to discuss the primary issue facing the city.

They begin by reporting on a recent meeting of eight Northern Arizona mayors who came together to discuss the growing problem of short-term rentals that destroy neighborhoods and create housing shortages. Unfortunately, the cities have little to no control over short-term rentals and Republican leaders in the Arizona State Legislature still refuse to even consider bills intended to address the issue.

In Sedona, one of the latest examples of the problem is a company’s plan to evict renters from mobile home parks, replace the mobile homes, and turn them into short-term rentals.

Posted in Arizona Politics, Community, Corporations, De-regulation, Democratic Governance, Development, Government, Housing, Interviews, Jobs and Employment, Legal Issues, Local Politics, Public Accountability, Regulation, Tourism | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Oliphant and Williamson Interview – Podcast February 16, 2025

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

Yavapai College’s Astonishing Lack Of Transparency. Democratic Perspective welcomes Sedona City Council Member, Jessica Williamson, and retired law professor and author, Bob Oliphant, to discuss the latest developments at Yavapai College.

Actually, according to our guests, it’s increasingly difficult to know what the college is up to given that the college president refuses to meet with the Sedona City Council and that she has threatened staff with termination for speaking to members of the college’s Governing Board or the media. In addition, they detail many other actions by the president and the Governing Board that have been shrouded in secrecy.

Posted in Arizona Politics, Community, Community Activism, Continuing Education, Democratic Governance, Education, Education Funding, Education Policy, Ethics, Interviews, Investigative Journalism, Local Politics, Public Accountability, Public Education, Tax Revenues | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Oliphant and Williamson Interview – Podcast February 16, 2025

Trump Regime’s First 20 Days – Podcast February 9, 2025

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

The Felon-in-Chief’s First 20 Days In Office. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Gary LaMaster review the actions of the new Trump Regime and Project 2025. We begin by reminding listeners that many psychologists have diagnosed Trump as a sociopath and malignant narcissist. And how that sociopath is now disassembling our constitutional democracy with the help of the world’s richest man.

We note that, although Trump was elected on the promise of lowering prices in the grocery store, he now says that he can’t. Indeed, his new tariffs and threats of tariffs to come have negatively impacted our economy and will likely raise prices.

Worse, Trump’s many executive orders and Elon Musk’s invasion of federal databases have created a constitutional crisis and compromised the privacy of millions of Americans.

Posted in Agricultural Policy, Anti-Federalism, Autocracy, Bigotry, Civil Liberties, Climate Change, Congressional Oversight, Constitutional Issues, Corporations, Corruption, De-regulation, Democratic Governance, Department of Justice, Domestic Extremism, Economic Policy, Education, Education Policy, Energy Policy, Environment, Ethics, Foreign Affairs, Funding, Government, Health Care, Human Rights, Immigration, Income Inequality, Industrial Policy, Inflation, Intelligence Agencies, International Relations, Judicial System, Legal Issues, Mass Incarceration, Misogyny, Morality, National Politics, National Security, Pandemic, Political Lies, Public Accountability, Public Education, Public Health Policy, Racism, Regulatory Agencies, Resistance, States' Rights, Supreme Court, Trade Policy, Women's Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Trump Regime’s First 20 Days – Podcast February 9, 2025

Kinsella Interview – Podcast January 19, 2025

Posted on February 9, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

Making Representative Government Work. Steve Williamson welcomes Sedona City Councilor Kathy Kinsella back to the show.

Whoever said that you can’t fight City Hall never met Kinsella who claims she actually likes listening to constituents. “I’m a people person,” she says, “So I really like people and knowing what they think.” To that end, she says that she is trying to create additional opportunities for the council to have more dialogue with residents.

Kinsella describes many of the initiatives within the city, ranging from the underpass at Tlaquepaque, which was recently finished, the changes to improve traffic flow, short-term rentals, and emergency evacuation plans.

Regarding traffic, she explains there are not a lot of ways to get around traffic because of the topography, noting that improvements must be incremental. “It’s project after project,” she says. Kinsella also says that new roads require a lot of intergovernmental cooperation. “We have to see ourselves regionally. Not just what happens in Sedona.”

As for short-term rentals, she says that they now comprise more than 17 percent of the city’s housing stock, but she notes, it’s not all bad. “Some of the short-term rentals have taken some depressed properties and improved those properties thereby improving the property values for their neighbors. But at the same time, as those properties go up and up and up, it’s spiraling, and people can’t keep up with the price of housing.”

The City Council is doing what it can to address the issue. But as Kinsella explains. “We’re not a state that allows a lot of local control to municipalities. And, in the case of regulating short-term rentals, we do not have the authorities. I’m a believer in local control. I think the local communities are the most responsive to the people…I would like to see more local control.”

Posted in Arizona Politics, Community, Democratic Governance, Disinformation, Government, Housing, Infrastructure, Interviews, Local Politics, Public Accountability, Public Service, Social Media, Tourism | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Kinsella Interview – Podcast January 19, 2025

Vaughn Interview – Podcast February 2, 2025

Posted on February 4, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

The Southwest’s Increasingly Stressed Water Resources. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Jacqueline Vaughn, a retired Northern Arizona University Political Science professor and community activist. She just published a reference book entitled Water In The West.

Vaughn begins by explaining details about the Colorado River Compact. She describes as “an old, old agreement among the seven states that draw water off of the Colorado.” She continues, “Unfortunately, they were willing to divide up the Colorado with more water than there actually is in the Colorado. And subsequently, the water levels have even drawn down more. And so, what’s happening is the agreement itself will expire at the end of 2026.”

Vaughn continues, “This document is so essential to understanding who’s going to get water. Who’s going to get what share? It’s divided up by state. And, what’s new this time that didn’t happen when the Compact was originally signed is that tribal entities will have a seat at the table.” She adds that’s critical, especially for some of the communities in southern Arizona and the Four Corners region. “This is going to be one of the major water stories of, not only the decade, but probably the next 50 years.”

Of course, the Compact is just the beginning as the Southwest, including Arizona, is facing numerous critical water issues, not the least of which is this year’s low snowpack.

Posted in Agribusiness, Agricultural Policy, Arizona Economy, Arizona History, Arizona Politics, Big Oil, Climate Change, Corporations, Development, Environmental Issues, Global Warming, Government, Interviews, National Politics, Regulation, Water Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Vaughn Interview – Podcast February 2, 2025

Sidhwa Interview – January 26, 2024

Posted on February 2, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

“Trying To Destroy Gaza. Not Just Hamas.” Steve Williamson and guest host Mik Jordahl welcome Feroze Sidhwa to the show. Sidhwa is a trauma surgeon who has served in some of the world’s most extreme trouble spots and situations, most recently, Gaza. He talks about the atrocities he saw during that time as part of the Israeli reprisals, including 13 preteen children as young as two who had been shot in the head – 13 kids in the 14 days he was there.

Sidhwa says, “When I got back, I started talking to other people…we saw some pretty unusual stuff over there. I really wanted to know: Was I the only person who saw these things?”

After reaching out to other physicians who had seen atrocities, he and 44 others signed an open letter to President Biden stating that, based on what they had seen, the Israelis are trying to destroy Gaza. Not just Hamas. He says, “I really thought that there would be media interest in that letter…but there was no corporate media interest whatsoever.” The exception was the New York Times opinion team who wanted to know who exactly saw what. So, they conducted a poll, and 65 volunteer healthcare workers responded.

They were asked: Did you see small children shot in the head or chest? Did you observe severe malnutrition in the population and among their healthcare coworkers and severe psychiatric stress among children, including those who were suicidal? Did you see babies born healthy and returned to the hospital dehydrated and starving? The answers were almost universally yes.

Posted in Bigotry, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Genocide, Health Care, Human Rights, International Relations, International Terrorism, Interviews, Israel, Journalism, Middle East, Middle East Policy, Military, Morality, National Politics, Palestinian/Israeli Conflict, Racial Discrimination, Racism, Refugees, Zionism | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sidhwa Interview – January 26, 2024

Abuseif Interview – Podcast January 12, 2025

Posted on January 26, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

Islamophobia: “The Last Bastion of Tolerable Hate.” Steve Williamson and guest host Mik Jordahl welcome Azza Abuseif, CAIR Arizona’s Executive Director. She came to the U.S. as a refugee in 1999 from Sudan via Egypt. Though CAIR’s focus is clearly on the Muslim community in the United States, she says, “We cooperate with any community fighting injustice and stand against any injustice that occurs regardless of religion.”

Abuseif notes, “The presence of Muslims in the United States pre-dates the Twentieth Century immigration wave. And it has deep historical roots tied to the African diaspora.” (Islam in the U.S. can be traced to the first arrival of African slaves in the 16th Century.)

In reference to the notion that Islamophobia began following 9/11, she says, “It’s not true. Islamophobia has been present way before that…but the history is just not taught.”

Posted in Arizona Politics, Bigotry, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Community Activism, Compassion, Constitutional Issues, Cultural Diversity, Domestic Extremism, Government, Human Rights, Immigration, Interviews, Islamophobia, Legal Issues, National Politics, Racial Discrimination, Racism, Religion, Slavery, Tolerance | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Abuseif Interview – Podcast January 12, 2025