“Voters are looking for an economy that works. From anyone…even an orange-haired reality host.”

Sean’s Monologue: An Empire in Peril

Today Sean talks with Cameron Cowan of The Cameron Journal. Cameron is joining us to promote his new book America’s Lost Generation and to discuss various current events. He launches right with telling us how there really is no hope for Millennials, the Americans born between 1980 and 1996. Sean and Cameron discuss the possibility of Social Security collapsing in 2035, micro-transition generations, and how Millennials don’t deserve the bad reputation that the media likes to promote. What will our country look like when all of our politicians are Millennials?

Cameron points out that progressives urgently need better PR. As time passes, will they return to center or go for broke? He uses the example of fascist Italy to explain how the right-wing is realigning itself with the economic populist message. Cameron goes on to answer questions about what AI could do to our workforce and whether we can still use the old paradigm to build an economy that works for everyone. He talks about how young men are being left behind in current society…and what the heck is happening now in Japan?

Cameron explains how WE are the ones paying the cost of tariffs and tells the story of how America lost its manufacturing power. Could massive government subsidies restore our working force and economy? Learn how the Boomer generation benefited from an older system and how our country accidentally destroyed its own steel industry.

Cameron uses the universal healthcare debacle as an example of how we can’t make major changes because just enough Americans are doing okay, so there’s not enough push to upset the apple cart. Just wait until a few more of us hit bottom. Cameron tells us how and why inflation became the biggest issue for the last election, then he talks about the need for progressives to find the right message to make people who are not affected care about social problems. The concept of individual exceptionalism makes it necessary to keep your message “personal and local.”

Sean and Cameron discuss the ever-popular topic of corporate influence on elections. Listen to learn what quietly happened during Trump’s first term to help the rich get richer while keeping the poor down in the muck. And how did Joe Biden help facilitate the 2008 financial crisis? Cameron talks about going around state capitals to get things done, how owning assets gets you ahead while labor no longer can, and that crypto currency is a Ponzi scheme that our society embraces out of desperation. Is there anything we can do to save the middle class? Cameron says, “Well, disenfranchise the rich -but good luck with that!”

This leads to remembering the revolutions in Russia and France. Cameron tells us about the acute devastation that had to occur before suffering people rose up against the wealthy and reiterates that our system “still works enough” to keep revolution at bay. “The collapse has to get a whole lot more collapse-y,” he explains, but it will happen very soon. Maybe by 2032, the 100th anniversary of America’s last economic upheaval – which was heartbreaking but left us with a functional society in the end.

Who will be our next FDR? Could it be Zohran Mamdani? Would the democrats allow that now that the whole party is so gun shy? Cameron talks about the importance of securing the black vote and how leftist progressives should start hobby podcasts so they can slip in political topics. Finally, he ends the episode by sharing his own life story.

Hear and connect with Cameron Cowan:

http://cameronjournal.com

http://cameronjournal.com/podcast

http://instagram.com/cameroncowan

http://tiktik.com/cameronjournal

http://twitter.com/cameroncowan

https://linkedin.com/in/cameroncowan

Have you ever noticed how the word “outrage” is so close to the word “outrageous”?

Sean’s Monologue: The One Big Ugly Bill

Today Coup Save America welcomes Scott Grace – an uplifting song writer, comedian, author, and public speaker. Scott is not on the show to “get political”, but to teach us: “How to Evolve During the Trump Experience Whether Humanity Joins You or Not.”

Scott begins with a quick run-through of his life story and how he developed his entertainment (and cop dodging) skills working as a street vender in NYC…which led to him opening as a comedian for the likes of Robin Williams and Dana Carvey.

Once a self-proclaimed “MAGA Liberal”, Scott explains his disenchantment with being a member of the “Outrage Olympics” and talks about what inspired him to start his Beyond Red and Blue project, where he blends humor, music, story, and spiritual insight to help people feel less polarized, rise above outrage and reconnect—with themselves and with people with different points of view, and, dare I say it, people who voted differently.

Next, Scott tells us how nonviolent communication can be used to address political polarization and reads us a poem by his alter-ego, The Spiritual Dr. Suess. He goes on to talk about two world views – “survival of the fittest” and “we’re all in this together.” And he brings up that dirtiest of words – socialism.

Scott believes that outrage without action can be crippling, so what do we actually do with problems like The Big Beautiful Bill. He reminds us about times of change in history and points out how there is opportunity in crisis. Is it time for the American empire to die?

Scott tells us his story of meeting a MAGA couple on a plane & what he discovered about them and their hopes for the future. Then he answers Sean’s question about how he remains politically neutral while still honoring his true values. Then Scott brings out his guitar to play a little John Lennon and illustrate how music changed the world back in the 60’s and continues to do so today. There’s a shout out to Randy Rainbow as Scott entertains us with his own satirical cover – what Kenny Loggins’ Danny’s Song would sound like if Donald Trump had written the lyrics.

Scott tells us about his career as a musician, doing opening acts for a variety of celebrity public speakers, and in the process learning how to be a public speaker himself. Then Scott needs a bathroom break, so we play the trailer for Beyond Red and Blue.

When Scott returns, he and Sean discuss the history of polarization in politics and how to conquer social fears – both real and imagined. Scott uses the example of experiencing No Kings Day in Mexico to describe the power of social action, and when Sean presses him to come up with solutions beyond public protests, Scott plays us an awesome improvised song about Sean and his ideals. One thing Scott learned while working with famous changemakers is that “passion is messy.”

Scott tells us about the intuitive training involved in improvised comedy, the effects of AI on the economy, and why speaking with people who are ideologically different has been both encouraging and disheartening. He talks with Sean about wars, people who see Trump as a conduit to destruction, and is it for real that the NYT reports a global trend of less war and poverty?

Listen to hear about Scott’s “commit, don’t criticize” philosophy (but don’t commit suicide yet!), his book about mindful masculinity, the takeaway from the emergency meeting Scott attended after Trump’s first presidential victory, and another Suess-esque poem about peace and Trump.

Connect with Scott Grace at:

https://www.scottsongs.com

https://www.facebook.com/scottkgrace

“From each according to his ability to each according to his need – that’s communism. That’s also a potluck.

Sean’s Monologue: The Case Against Capitalism

Today Coup Save America talks with Beth Green, a fascinating and intelligent woman who wears the many hats of author, intuitively-guided counselor, teacher, spiritual activist, composer, workshop leader, original thinker, and a catalyst for change.

According to Beth, “My life is full of horrors and miracles – there is no in-between.” She introduces herself by sharing her early experiences as a tiny activist, who, despite the setback of a serious illness continued to make political waves throughout her youth. Listen to learn about Beth’s letter to the New York Times that got her expelled from an Ivy League college.

Sean and Beth discuss the differences in activism between now and the 1960’s and the stigma associated with the label “socialism.” Beth attests that we are brainwashed from an early age and trained to compete for everything. She explains The Ego – an awareness of the individual existence – and how we must shift our consciousness before we can effectively mobilize for change. We need an inner revolution based on oneness, accountability, and mutual support. Beth sums it all up in one sentence when she says: “The purpose of the economy and society is to meet the needs of the people and the Earth.”

Beth talks about “The New Declaration of Independence” that can be found on Change.org and reminds us that it is American to abolish our government. She and Sean talk about how “It’s a lonely soul that’s caught up in competition” and “You cannot clean the air over one home in Los Angeles.” They give a shout out to mutual aid organizations.

Beth offers her insight on why people are depressed and explains more about how the ego has an infantile consciousness that needs to be taught better. She speculates with Sean about the positive roles that our egos might play, then she shares a simple question we can ask ourselves to help us make good life decisions. Beth also describes how to truly make an amend to someone you’ve wronged.

Beth goes on to explain about the spiritual awakening that completely changed her understanding of a higher power and her approach to activism. Listen to the story of her “inner voice” that even Beth admits that most people will not believe. In the end, she tells us, “Beliefs are just beliefs. They aren’t reality.” A person’s belief system changes as they grow and evolve as a person, and “we co-create reality in a subtle dance of intention and allowance.” How do we build a new consciousness? By talking to everybody and questioning everything, of course!

To conclude the show, Beth reminds us that “If you are not well, you don’t think straight – If you’re stressed, then you’re frantic.” She reiterates the many FREE resources that she offers the world for hope, healing, and a path to a better humanity.

Learn more about Beth at:

Bethgreen.org

Co-create with Beth at:

https://thestream.info/

Experience Beth’s music and books at:

https://healingartsnetwork.org/

http://facebook.com/GrannyRocksOn

View Beth at:

https://www.youtube.com/@BethGreenTV

“We went from killing for peace to caring for peace. We’re already doing it.”

Sean’s Monologue: The Ongoing Problems We Face in Our World

As we launch our fourth season of Coup Save America, Sean interviews Jeffrey Charles Hardy, founder and president of the non-profit organization Care for Peace and author of the brilliant book To Care for Peace – A Global Mandate to Secure the Second Human Evolution in Perpetuity.

Jeff begins this interview by telling the story of how a childhood trip to Tijuana shocked him into an awareness of world conditions just beyond his own comfortable life in California, then he talks about how his later work in the U.S. Coast Guard helped him to define the true meaning of peace. This leads to an explanation of Jeff’s concept around “caring for peace.”

Jeff tells us about his lifelong career in healthcare and hospitals both domestically and abroad. He shares the successes and struggles of setting up his prototype tele-connected Care for Peace Community Development and Health Center in Myanmar, then he and Sean discuss what our society needs to change to help people “care for peace” in our hateful and divided world. Can global change agents propel the agenda by creating a new language with words that we already have?

Jeff explains that his book does not contain templates for change, but templates for considering change. We are in a pre-planning stage for evolving the human condition. He talks about the three stages of the second human evolution and describes the ways humankind is moving in the right direction during this time of suspended human evolution. But what factors are holding us back? Getting administrations to come to the right mindset is crucial to progress. Listen to learn how hospitals are like stadium bathrooms, why Jeff enjoys working with Muslim professionals, and how dictators can be beneficial to society.

Sean asks Jeff if capitalism is compatible with his vision and - spoiler alert - The Monty Python song is speaking truth when it calls Finland “the country where I’d like to be.” Jeff gives us a teaser about his new book in progress, then we hear more about Jeff’s Care for Peace clinics and learn why the individual members of Al-Qaida are probably are not as bad as we think they are.

To learn more about Jeffrey Hardy’s work and book, please visit:

https://www.CareforPeace.org

https://www.facebook.com/Care4Peace/

The more you know about the U.S. criminal justice system, the more you realize how many innocent people are being incarcerated.

Sean’s Monologue: The Power of Presidential Pardons

For this special episode of Coup Save America, we are joined by Shannon Lynch, the producer and host of The Alley: DC's 8th and H Case, a podcast dedicated to telling the story of six men who were falsely accused of murder and who are now seeking presidential pardons after serving long prison terms for a crime they did not commit.

On October 1st, 1984, Catherine Fuller was murdered in an alley near the intersections of 8th and H streets northeast in Washington, DC. Shannon begins by telling us the background of this brutal case and how a miscarriage of justice resulted in the arrest of eleven young black people who were falsely accused of committing a vicious gang rape. Shannon and Sean discuss the possible reasons why police and prosecutors might latch onto an incorrect theory of the crime and pursue it so doggedly despite evidence that pointed to more logical explanations of what happened that afternoon. Shannon lists the many reasons why law enforcements’ narrative of the event makes little sense, and she explains the problems posed by tunnel vision and confirmation bias.

Most people are surprised to learn that the police are allowed – and even encouraged – to lie to citizens during interrogations. Shannon sheds light on the many tactics used to obtain confessions and how these practices can destroy the accuracy of the acquired information. She talks about the evidence that was withheld during the 8th and H Case and how difficult it is to prove that prosecutors have committed a Brady violation. Why did the Supreme Court wrongly decide that the nine men ultimately charged with Catherine Fuller’s murder had received a fair trial?

Shannon goes on to explain why having eleven defendants in one case meant that the accused young people did not receive adequate representation. Why were two of the accused acquitted while the other nine were found guilty?

What is the process of applying for a presidential pardon? Shannon describes the complexities and required details that result in these petitions being upwards of 400 pages long. She walks us through what happens after your application is submitted, talks about the power of sole discretion that the president wields, and tells us why it’s so difficult for a person charged in Washington DC to receive a pardon for their crime. Listen to learn why the falsely accused men chose to remain in prison when they could have been released years earlier.

Why seek a presidential pardon? What are the potential benefits? Shannon tells us what makes her feel so hopeful that Biden will grant clemency to the six petitioners from the 8th and H Case.

We hear about the longstanding involvement of The Innocence Project in this case, then Shannon tells us what inspired an audio engineer to step out of her comfort zone and host her own podcast about the 8th and H murder. She talks about how her impressions of our country’s criminal justice system have changed and what she has learned from her experience. Shannon plans to continue The Alley with episodes featuring the current lives of the falsely accused survivors so the whole world can be as impressed as she is by their attitudes, resilience, kindness, and their many contributions to their communities and society as a whole.

We conclude our show with a call-to-action, hoping our listeners will be inspired to spread the word and to sign the petition that might help six men receive the presidential pardons they so badly deserve.

To learn more about the 8th and H case and to sign the pardon petition, visit:

https://8thandhjustice.org

To hear the full story and connect with Shannon Lynch, visit:

https://www.newamerica.org/the-alley/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonleighlynch/

“There will be a lot of dead people, but politicians don’t tend to care about dead people.”

Sean’s Monologue: Israeli-Palestinian Relations Recap

On today’s episode of Coup Save America, Robert Cook joins us to talk about the conflict in the Middle East. Robert is a US Veteran, Western Civilization Expert, public intellectual historian and the author of "The Mahdi," a timely thriller novel which explores geopolitical tensions through a fictional lens.

The episode opens with Robert telling us about his series of national security thrillers starring a modern, liberal Muslim character, Alex Cuchulain or “Cooch.” In previous novels, Cooch has proven his heroism in Colombia, Yemen, and Iran … but in this latest installment – The Mahdi – he returns to his Bedouin homeland and finds himself mixed up in a clash between Jewish and Islamic ideologies. Can technology and enlightened thinking prevail over entrenched dogma?

Robert talks about how his military experience has shaped his perceptions of Middle Eastern conflicts and how writing fiction allows an author certain liberties with the storytelling. As for the harsh realities of the situation between Israel and Palestine, although he “doesn’t have a dog in the fight” Robert would like the Middle East to be a good place for children to grow up. Is a US war with Iran inevitable? Listen to find out what Robert means when he says that problems in the Middle East will not be solved by politicians or by warfare – they will be solved by religion.

Sean and Robert go on to discuss “unintended consequences”, quantum computers, and how AI chatbots could be used to educate children. On the topic of innovative styles of teaching, Robert tells us about the Cook Honors College he launched at the University of Alabama in Pennsylvania.

On the topic of America’s impending regime change, Robert feels that Trump will “really break a lot of glass” but will ultimately make our country better in the end. Listen to learn why Robert feels we are better off funding the government with tariffs rather than with tax revenues. He also explains the diversity of opinions across the MAGA movement and tells us how to listen through the noise for the real message.

The conversation turns back to the implications of AI in modern warfare, along with the genocide & the future of the Palestinian State. We conclude the show with Robert’s advice for people wanting to remain informed about current events – Keep an open mind and listen to reliable voices on both sides. Don’t just be a viewer, be a thinker.

Follow Robert Cook and buy his books at:

https://x.com/robertcooknovel

http://www.robertcooknovels.com

Cook Honors College:

https://www.iup.edu/honors/index.html

If kindness doesn’t benefit us personally, should there be an obligation to pursue kindness without reward?

Sean’s Monologue: The Myth of Rugged Individualism

Our guest this episode is Damien Dubose, author of the book America's Ethical Archetype: Establishing the Psychology of Moral Authority and Correcting our Country’s Politics. We go into the show acknowledging that Damien’s subject matter goes against Coup Save America’s core beliefs, but we hope that he and Sean will find some common ground. We start by listening to Damien tell us what inspired him to write his book and to Sean marveling that it took only two years to write a book he describes as “in depth and intellectual.”

Damien defines moral authority and explains why it’s so critical in modern politics. He talks about using the philosophies of Ayn Rand and Carl Jung as tools to interpret different people’s approaches to reason. Sean wonders if individualism and collectivism are incompatible, so Damien explains the individualistic approach described in his book.

Sean and Damien discuss “group think” and “cancel culture”, then they find out that they agree about some of the flaws in our education system. Damien worries that America is not developing individuals. He feels that people will solve the world’s problems by pursuing their own values. He and Sean talk about exploitation of others and factors that contribute to a person having the ability to make decisions that are in their best interest.

While admitting that it is not his area of expertise, Damien tells us that he is opposed to social safety net programs and he feels they should be phased out. Listen to learn why he doesn’t apply the same principles to collective social systems such as military and emergency services. The discussion turns to problems that are collective in nature and how why Damien is not in favor of using collective means to solve them. It all comes down to a question of conscious consent. Damien’s main fight is for an individualist approach in politics, so he talks about our need for better leaders.

Sean and Damien discuss how too much technology and media might lead to a collective way of thinking, then Damien explains his philosophy that people create their own circumstance by going about their lives more intentionally. He talks about why it is important to defend individualism through philosophy rather than through tradition or religion and about how individualism is imbedded into America’s founding. Damien gives us a teaser for his book - creating a better nation would start with the legislative branch of government.

Damien makes his case for why there should not be a negative connotation to selfishness, then Sean points out a portion of America's Ethical Archetype that he found particularly compelling. What role does emotional intelligence play in making moral decisions? Why is some outside force controlling Damien’s 401K? What does it mean that “nothingness is the villain of the story”?

The episode ends as Damien talks about the intended audience of his book, and Sean challenges listeners to read the book even if they are NOT the intended audience.

You can find America's Ethical Archetype: Establishing the Psychology of Moral Authority and Correcting our Country’s Politics on Amazon or by visiting Damien Dubose on social media: https://x.com/US_eleader

https://www.instagram.com/damientdubose/

http://www.linkedin.com/in/damientdubose

“There’s the law…then compassion. And the law and compassion don’t always see eye to eye.”

Sean’s Monologue: Barriers to Birthing

Today we welcome Mark Bello - attorney, civil justice advocate, and an award-winning legal-themed novelist.

Mark opens the with the story of why he became an attorney, what turned him to social justice, and what inspired him to write his first novel based on his own experience as one of the first people to sue the Catholic Church over sexual abuse by clergy. He tells us why he chose to write fiction rather than a factual account when penning his debut novel, Betrayal of Faith, thirty years after his groundbreaking litigation. Mark goes on to tell us how the 2016 election turned a single book into a series that now contains nine titles, then laughs about how Trump unwittingly turned fiction into fact. This leads to a discussion with Sean about how America shoots itself in the foot by voting against its own self-interest.

Mark is of Jewish heritage, and he shares his fears about mass deportation by saying “Yesterday’s Jew is today’s Haitian.” He bemoans a political swing to the right that he really didn’t expect, then he and Sean talk about what went wrong in the 2024 election. Mark had promised himself that he wouldn’t be bitter on our show…but, you know.

The conversation turns to how America’s justice system has proven that some people are simply above the law. Did Trump reach the legal standard for a felony murder charge following the January 6th insurrection? A viewer of the show writes in to assure us that “Trump is working for Jesus.”

As an attorney, Mark is all too aware that justice is not always equal and blue-collar criminals are not able to hire the best lawyers. He and Sean chat about other American inequalities, money in politics, the perception that the Far Left is controlling the country, campaigning on immigration, and what went wrong with trickle-down economics.

The conversation takes a less frustrated turn as Mark tells us about his “Justice Counts” podcast, which allows him to vent with like-minded guests about the shit going on in the world and the legal issues of the day. Sean brings up one of the “Justice Counts” episodes, then they discuss the US probation system and how it needs reform. Mckenzie reluctantly comes on air to talk about participatory photography.

Mark hints about the adventures of his lawyer hero, Zachary Blake, along with his pornography-addicted P.I. as they fight for social justice in his latest legal thriller, The Anti-Semite Next Door. He tells us about his children’s books and lists off the topic of each book in his Zachary Blake series. Mark explains that after writing books for others, The Anti-Semite Next Door is the book he finally wrote for himself, then he takes a few minutes to share his views as a Jewish American on the Gaza-Israel conflict.

To learn more about Mark’s books, podcast, and more, visit: https://markmbello.com