Category Archives: Political Polarization

Consequences of Trump – Podcast August 10, 2025

Lasting Consequences Of The Trump Regime. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Gary LaMaster examine the consequences of a president who blithely violates the Constitution, who uses tariffs (quite literally a tax on consumers) to shake down allies and other nations, … Continue reading

Posted in Affordable Care Act, Agribusiness, Autocracy, Bigotry, Civil Liberties, Class Conflict, Climate Change, Constitutional Issues, Corporations, Corruption, Democratic Governance, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Domestic Extremism, Economic Policy, Economic Theory, Education, Education Policy, Ethics, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Affairs, Government, Health Care Policy, Human Rights, Hunger, Immigration, Inflation, International Relations, Justice System, Mass Incarceration, Mass Media, Medicaid, National Politics, National Security, Policing, Political Polarization, Propaganda, Racism, Religion, Rural Politics, Taxation, Taxes and the Deficit, Tourism, Unemployment, Voter Suppression, Women's Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Consequences of Trump – Podcast August 10, 2025

Cosentino Interview – Podcast July 20, 2025

Welcome Back, Coz! After a multi-year absence, Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome back Michael Cosentino, co-founder and longtime co-host of Democratic Perspective, to discuss developments with Verde Valley Democrats, Indivisible, and a new nonpartisan organization: the Rural Organizing Initiative.

Posted in Arizona Economy, Arizona Politics, Civic Renewal, Community Activism, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Democratic Governance, Domestic Extremism, Education, Elections, Government, Innovation, Interviews, LIberals and Conservatives, Local Politics, National Politics, Political Clubs, Political Polarization, Resistance, Rural Politics, Social Media | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Cosentino Interview – Podcast July 20, 2025

Lenze Interview – Podcast June 15, 2025

Global Monsters. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Paul Lenze, the popular Professor of Political Science at Northern Arizona University to discuss international affairs and current issues in the Middle East. They begin with reference to Lenze’s upcoming book, Searching … Continue reading

Posted in China, Corporate Welfare, Corporations, Economic Policy, European Union, Eurozone, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Genocide, Government, Human Rights, Inflation, International Relations, International Terrorism, Interviews, Iran, Israel, Middle East, Middle East Policy, Military, National Politics, Palestinian/Israeli Conflict, Political Polarization, Russia, Taxation, Technology, Trade Policy, Ukraine | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Lenze Interview – Podcast June 15, 2025

Putsova Interview – Podcast June 8, 2025

Healing Fractures Within The Democratic Party. Steve Williamson and guest host Mik Jordahl welcome Eva Putsova to report on the recent Arizona Democratic Party State Committee meeting. Putsova is a member of the State Committee, former Democratic candidate, and co-founder … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona Politics, Autocracy, Campaign Finance, Citizens United, Class Conflict, Climate Change, Community Activism, Corporations, Dark Money, Democratic Governance, Demographic Trends, Domestic Policy, Economic Policy, Education, Elections, Foreign Affairs, Front Organizations, Funding, Housing, Immigration, Income Inequality, Innovation, Interviews, Israel, Labor Movement, Minimum Wage, National Politics, Political Action Committees, Political Contributions, Political Gaffes, Political Parties, Political Polarization, Polling, Presidential Elections, Regulation, Taxes and the Deficit | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Putsova Interview – Podcast June 8, 2025

Rise of Fascism – Podcast May 11, 2025

Scapegoats, Discrimination And Greed. We begin the episode by discussing the continuing ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the Trump regime’s scapegoating of minorities, including pro-Palestinian protesters who have been labeled as antisemites in an obvious attempt to control universities and … Continue reading

Posted in Autocracy, Bigotry, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Constitutional Issues, Corporations, Corruption, Cultural Diversity, Disinformation, Domestic Extremism, Education, Ethics, Foreign Affairs, Genocide, Government, Human Rights, Immigration, International Relations, Israel, Judicial System, Mass Media, Middle East, Misinformation, National Politics, Palestinian/Israeli Conflict, Political Lies, Political Polarization, Propaganda, Racial Discrimination, Religion, Trade Policy, Zionism | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Rise of Fascism – Podcast May 11, 2025

Dictator’s Playbook – April 27, 2025

How To Destroy Democracy In Less Than A Hundred Days. Steve and Jessica Williamson along with Gary LaMaster recount the Trump regime’s first hundred days of chaos. We’ve previously established that Trump is a malignant narcissist with sociopathic tendencies. And … Continue reading

Posted in Autocracy, Bigotry, China, Civil Liberties, Constitutional Issues, Corruption, Cultural Diversity, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Domestic Extremism, Economic Policy, Education Policy, Farm Subsidies, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Founding Fathers, Funding, Government, Immigration, Inflation, International Relations, Journalism, Judicial System, Mass Incarceration, National Politics, Nuclear Weapons, Political Lies, Political Polarization, Propaganda, Public Education, Public Policy, Racism, Refugees, Russia, Social Psychology, Supreme Court, Tourism, Trade Policy, U.S. Court System, Ukraine, Voter Suppression, Women's Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Dictator’s Playbook – April 27, 2025

Lewis Interview – Podcast April 20, 2025

Save Our Schools! Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Beth Lewis to the show. Lewis is a mom, former public-school teacher, and founding member and Executive Director of Save Our Schools Arizona. Lewis says, “Arizona is the tip of the … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona Budget, Arizona Politics, Constitutional Issues, Domestic Policy, Education, Education Funding, Education Policy, Funding, Government, Interviews, Legal Issues, LGBTQ Issues, National Politics, Political Lies, Political Polarization, Privatization, Propaganda, Public Education, Racism, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Lewis Interview – Podcast April 20, 2025

Ginzel Interview – Podcast April 13, 2025

Saving Democracy One Conversation At A Time. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome activist Kat Ginzel to discuss her success in organizing Democrats in a rural, red district. After Ginzel became a Precinct Captain, she learned that, despite appearances, many … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona Politics, Autocracy, Civil Liberties, Civil Society, Community, Community Activism, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Constitutional Issues, Democratic Governance, Disinformation, Domestic Extremism, Education, Elections, Foreign Affairs, Government, Interviews, Local Politics, Mass Media, Misinformation, National Politics, Philosophy, Political Clubs, Political Parties, Political Polarization, Propaganda, Public Policy, Social Contract, Social Media, Tolerance, Voting, Women's Rights | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Ginzel Interview – Podcast April 13, 2025

Stahl Interview – Podcast March 16, 2025

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 … Continue reading

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 , , , , | Comments Off on Stahl Interview – Podcast March 16, 2025

Singal Interview – Podcast September 29, 2024

Analyzing The 2024 Elections. Steve and Jessica Williamson welcome our favorite political prognosticator, Dan Singal, back to the show. Singal is Emeritus Professor of History and Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. Singal has a history of … Continue reading

Posted in Abortion, Arizona Politics, Civil Liberties, Democratic Governance, Elections, Government, Immigration, Initiative and Referendum, Interviews, Morality, National Politics, Political History, Political Lies, Political Parties, Political Polarization, Political Theory, Polling, Presidential Elections, Public Policy, Religion, Voting, Women's Issues, Women's Rights | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Singal Interview – Podcast September 29, 2024