Category Archives: Political Polarization

Councilmembers Interview – Podcast April 14, 2024

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Gary LaMaster

The Complexities And Challenges Of Managing A Small City. Steve Williamson welcomes three members of the Sedona City Council: Pete Furman, Melissa Dunn, and Brian Fultz to discuss some of the more controversial issues facing the city. None of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Community Activism, Compassion, Conspiracy Theories, Democratic Governance, Disinformation, Elections, Federal Lands, Government, Housing, Infrastructure, Interviews, Journalism, Labor Shortages, Local Politics, Mass Media, Minimum Wage, Misinformation, Political Polarization, Public Lands, Public Policy, Public Service, Tourism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Podcast March 31, 2024

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Gary LaMaster

Misinformation And Disinformation. Co-hosts Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland take a deep dive into one of the biggest political issues of our time – trying to sort out the truth while being deluged with spin, misstatements, half-truths, fabrications, propaganda, conspiracy … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Politics, Civil Society, Community, Conspiracy Theories, Democratic Governance, Disinformation, Domestic Extremism, Government, Mass Media, Misinformation, National Politics, Political Lies, Political Polarization, Propaganda, Social Media | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Austin Interview – Podcast March 24, 2024

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Gary LaMaster

Saving Democracy From Ourselves. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Michael Austin, Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Snow College in Utah and author of “We Must Not Be Enemies: Restoring America’s Civic Tradition.” The title of his latest … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Civil Society, Compassion, Constitutional Issues, Cultural Diversity, Disinformation, Domestic Extremism, Elections, Government, Interviews, Journalism, National Politics, Political Polarization, Social Media | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Podcast March 17, 2024

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Gary LaMaster

Trump In His Own Words And Actions. Now that Trump has sealed up the Republican nomination, we decided it was time to consider what he might do in a second term in the White House. (Remember, he has already been … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Affordable Care Act, Anti-Gay Discrimination, Autocracy, Bigotry, Capital Punishment, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Class Conflict, Climate Change, Conservative Paranoia, Constitutional Issues, Corporations, Corruption, Criminal Justice Reform, De-regulation, Domestic Extremism, Domestic Terrorism, Education, Elections, Entitlements, Environmental Issues, Foreign Policy, Government, Health Care Policy, Human Rights, Immigration, Inflation, International Relations, Judicial System, Labor Unions, LGBTQ Issues, Mass Incarceration, Medicaid, Medicare, Military Policy, National Politics, Nuclear Weapons, Pandemic, Political Polarization, Presidential Elections, Public Accountability, Racism, Refugees, Russia, Social Security, Ukraine, Voter Suppression, Women's Rights | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Podcast March 17, 2024

Nez Interview – Podcast March 10, 2024

Posted on March 12, 2024 by Gary LaMaster

Representing Constituents. Not An Ideology. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Jonathon Nez, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. He is running against Republican Eli Crane, the extremist incumbent who doesn’t even live in the congressional district he … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Economy, Arizona Politics, Civic Renewal, Cultural Diversity, Democratic Governance, Department of the Interior, Development, Domestic Extremism, Education, Elections, Environment, Environmental Issues, Federal Lands, Government, Health Care, Infrastructure, Infrastructure Investment, Interviews, Jobs and Employment, Justice System, Local Politics, National Politics, Native American Issues, Opioid Epidemic, Pandemic, Political Candidacy, Political Polarization, Public Accountability, Public Lands, Public Service, Small Business, Social Services, Taxation, U.S. Forest Service, Veterans' Issues, Voting, Water Policy, Women's Rights | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Nez Interview – Podcast March 10, 2024

Post Interview – Podcast February 11, 2024

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Gary LaMaster

The Latest Republican Attacks On The Constitution, Diversity, Migrants, Voting And Common Sense. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Dianne Post back to the show. Post is an attorney, activist, author, and teacher who specializes in human rights and women’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Arizona Politics, Bigotry, Civil Liberties, Community, Conservative Paranoia, Constitutional Issues, Corrections Policy, Cultural Change, Cultural Diversity, De-regulation, Domestic Extremism, Education, Elections, Energy Policy, Government, Immigration, Interviews, Legal Issues, LGBT Issues, Misogyny, Political Polarization, Private Prisons, Racism, Regulation, Renewable Energy, States' Rights, Voter Suppression, Voting, Women's Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Post Interview – Podcast February 11, 2024

Ruby Interview – Podcast January 28, 2024

Posted on January 31, 2024 by Gary LaMaster

From Theater To Politics. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Jay Ruby, theater company director, actor, activist, and Democratic candidate for the Arizona State Legislature. Ruby has experience in organizing people, beginning with his efforts to establish a theater company … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Politics, Art, Autocracy, Campaign Finance, Civic Renewal, Civil Society, Community, Community Activism, Elections, Environmental Issues, Fiscal Policy, Government, Health Care, Interviews, Local Politics, Philosophy, Political Candidacy, Political Parties, Political Polarization, Public Education | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Ruby Interview – Podcast January 28, 2024

Podcast December 31, 2023

Posted on December 31, 2023 by Gary LaMaster

Year In Review. On New Year’s Eve, Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Gary LaMaster review some of the biggest news stories of 2023, including Trump’s legal problems, the Israeli-Hamas war, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Bidenomics, and more. They also … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Politics, Autocracy, Bigotry, China, Civil Liberties, Climate Change, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Conspiracy Theories, Constitutional Issues, Corruption, Democratic Governance, Domestic Extremism, Elections, Environmental Issues, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Global Warming, Human Rights, Immigration, Inflation, International Relations, Israel, Legal Issues, Mass Extinction, Mass Migration, Middle East, National Politics, Palestinian/Israeli Conflict, Political Polarization, Racial Discrimination, Religion, Resistance, Russia, Special Counsel Investigation, Supreme Court, Ukraine | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Podcast December 31, 2023

Podcast December 17, 2023

Posted on December 27, 2023 by Gary LaMaster

The “Think Tanks” That Control The Republican Party. Steve Williamson and Gary LaMaster examine the rightwing organizations that hold sway over the GOP by creating policies, selecting judges, and funding candidates. Since the 1970s, these so-called think tanks have grown … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Autocracy, Bigotry, Campaign Finance, Civil Rights, Conservative Paranoia, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Constitutional Issues, Corporations, Corruption, Disinformation, Domestic Extremism, Economic Theory, Education Policy, Energy Policy, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, Front Organizations, Government, Israel, Judicial System, LGBTQ Issues, Middle East Policy, Military Policy, Misogyny, National Politics, Political Action Committees, Political History, Political Polarization, Presidential Elections, Privatization, Public Education, Public Policy, Religion, Supreme Court, Taxation, U.S. Court System, Voting, Women's Rights | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Podcast December 17, 2023

Podcast October 30, 2023

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Gary LaMaster

A Real Fright. On Halloween Eve, host Steve Williamson and contributor Gary LaMaster discuss the scariest development in Washington DC this year – the selection of MAGA Mike Johnson as the 56th Speaker of the US House of Representatives. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Bigotry, Campaign Finance, Civil Rights, Climate Change, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Constitutional Issues, Dark Money, Domestic Extremism, Energy Policy, Foreign Affairs, Funding, Global Warming, Government, Immigration, LGBTQ Issues, Marriage Equality, Medicaid, Medicare, Minimum Wage, Misogyny, National Politics, Political Parties, Political Polarization, Presidential Elections, Religion, Russia, Social Security, Supreme Court, Theocracy, Ukraine, Women's Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Podcast October 30, 2023