America Emboldened

You are driving down the road and your weather app alerts you a storm is approaching. You glance at your phone briefly and see that a severe storm is imminent. You speed up to head home before getting caught in the high winds and heavy downpours. Two weeks later it is time for your insurance renewal. Your rate has gone up and there is no explanation why the increase was placed on your bill. You likely were unaware of the agreement made between many of the apps on your phone and the company "Arity", which is gathering a driver score and sending it to your insurance company without your consent.

In The Life of Reason, author George Santayana wrote, "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Society will often propose a solution to an issue and ignore whether or not the idea has been attempted. In politics, we have an old guard in both the Republican and Democrat parties.  The Libertarian party was founded in 1971, relatively young in the scope of partisan politics. Despite being 53 years old, the party has grown to be the largest 3rd party in America.  A few years ago the Libertarian Party merged with the Ron Paul Revolution movement through what is more formally known as the Mises Caucus. The Mises leadership implemented a robust plan with efficient execution to make an immense impact over the past five years. There are many lessons for all political parties to learn in their growth. That stated, at the most recent convention it looked as if there was also a divide in the room. Leadership is split between the wisdom and history of the past fifty years and the lessons the party has learned. My guest today is the former chairperson of the Libertarian Party and founder of the Libertarian Policy Institute. Nicholas Sarwark was the chair of the Libertarian Party in two states, Maryland and Colorado, before becoming the National chair in 2014 where he continued to serve for three terms, until 2020. We discuss the state of politics, the Libertarian Party, and how a community approach can band all ideologies together for a common cause.

The New York Post and Politico reported a story about Hunter Biden lying on a federal form to purchase a handgun. America Emboldened wanted to see if we could find a first-hand account of the purchase. I was stonewalled with unreturned phone calls. The few I did speak with were fearful of retaliation for sharing their stories. There was one former employee of Star Quest Shooters who was willing to speak on the record. I was able to speak with a Delaware-based firearms dealer, who did not have a Hunter story but was able to share why Hunter’s actions were illegal. This episode highlights those conversations and my conclusions on why this matters to our national security and the judgment of our Commander in Chief.

The verdict heard around the world, "Guilty on all 34 counts." While both Michaels and I were both shocked at the guilty verdict on all counts, we expected this on some of them. The critical thinker would recognize the State of NY chose to take on this case with prejudice. Tonight we begin with processing the conviction but with a twist, our friend Laurie Elizabeth joins us to share the esoteric take on everything. Planets are aligning in a Super Success Aspect, which last happened the year the Constitution was ratified.  We get deep into why astrology matters and who and what you are.  

Remember growing up? Of course, every generation states, "that was a different time." The industrial revolution, the dot com boom, and the rise of electronics morphing our experiences in life each decade. I realized today something has changed that is more dangerous than all of the above. We have destroyed shared experiences in the daily routine.  Radio programs were the only option for decades to disseminate news and information. A new song came out for the summer and the DJ's would spin the record/CD for four months straight. Everyone knew the words to the cultural zeitgeist of the year. We watched television programs together on Must See TV Thursdays, and TGIFriday's. We would gather around at schools and businesses the following day to ask, who shot JR?, Did you see Joe Carter's walk off? Can you believe Seinfeld ended like THAT?! Those experiences shaped a commonality that created empathy and oxytocin in our brains. They strengthened the community bond. They have been replaced with streaming services in both home and car. Seldom have two people listened and experienced the same things over the past two hours. As a result the world is losing connection as media unity disappears.

  The Libertarian Party convention was held in D.C. over the weekend. They made headlines for speeches by Robert F. Kennedy, a debate with Vivek Ramaswamy, and the first time a former president addressed them when Donald Trump spoke on Saturday. By Sunday the party was ready to vote on who would represent them moving forward. After seven rounds of voting the Libertarian Party made their choice.   18 months ago, Rolling Stone magazine dubbed Chase Oliver the most influential libertarian in America. He was recognized after he played spoiler to Herschel Walker and Raphael Warnock. Tonight he stands as the Presidential nominee for the Libertarian Party. His running mate in the national election will be Mike ter Maat, an Austrian school economist and pro-reform police officer who worked in the White House Office of Management and Budget as a financial economist. He was seen as a strong nominee going into the convention and he comes out teamed up with Chase Oliver to begin their national campaign.   In the immediate aftermath of the nomination there were questions regarding whether his stance was too socially left to be libertarian. During our interview I addressed those concerns directly. The presidential race is now a four party event as we march to November. My gratitude to Mr. Oliver and Mr. Ter Maat on joining the show to answer questions many wanted addressed.  

A national embarrassment unfolded at the convention this weekend. A once serious "third" party option relied on social media headlines and attention grabbing guest that did little to advance the message of the party. By the time the final nomination vote was cast, it was too late. Today I dive into how they got there, and what we can learn.

Would you recognize brilliance if it was challenging your conventional thought? Why do we seem to take for granted many things in life? We often only experience the stark contrast of reality when loss and paradigm shifts present in front of us. Terrence Howard may have presented a moment for us to reflect on Joe Rogan.

Do you ever want to “take the red pill” and see the world anew? My guest today wrote a book that is an epic read that will take you through critical thinking in a digestible and friendly manner. Author Feargus O’Connor Greenwood presents a tome of information that I refer to as the bible for skeptics and critical thinkers. 180 degrees: Unlearn the Lies You’ve Been Taught to Believe is one of the most important books assembled in the modern error of information gathering. If you sense something is not quite right in the world, or you noticed that society seems to be inverted over your lifetime, this book dives into the cause and gives a plan of action. I purchased the book several months ago and began my own journey. I found myself at odds with several early chapters before settling in to the content. Throughout the book Mr. O’Connor Greenwood covers many topics that should be familiar to my audience. However, his ability to dive deeper into the resources are the selling point of the information presented. As I began each new chapter I became interested in what sources he would cite and provide QR codes for me to learn more. Each new chapter became a personal journey for me to explore, process, and rationalize. A few months ago I reached out and made the invite to Feargus to join the show. I’m honored that he took me up on the offer and enjoyed our almost two hour conversation. Today I present the first hour of our conversation. I’m certain you will be as interested as the thousands that have read his book already, and I hope I was able to provide further details in my interview for you to process. To purchase the book: https://amzn.to/3UT9Yod To email the author: feargusgreenwood@protonmail.com To watch the full interview (another hour): www.patreon.com/americaemboldened

Information for controlling you is publicly available on all corners of the internet. Innovation for your thoughts, literal thought policing, has been developed by major companies and implemented without your consent. Today I cover the patent by apple to create an EEG wearable AirPods Pro and EarPod to bring thought policing to fruition. Distinguished professor of Law, Nita Farahany, has been presenting for the past two years on this technology. This is not science fiction, this is technology already implemented without your explicit consent and knowledge.    Watch:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfqD5aW0X5U

Two years ago Casey got a diagnosis no one is ready to hear. A doctor walked in and informed him that he had a grade 4 glioblastoma, and surgery needed to happen as soon as possible. Casey had been showing symptoms of the tumor for eight years, but the intensity of his suffering had increased. He immediately made the decision to have surgery to remove the brain tumor. Surgery was complete and the doctor informed Casey that his tumor was one of the nastiest he has seen. He continued, that he believed he may only have 3 months to live and recommended chemo therapy immediately. Understanding what chemo would do to his body, Casey went home resigned to do more research and find his own solution.  Two years later, Casey is cancer free and thriving. He has made drastic changes to his diet, lifestyle, and medical treatment. Over the past year he shares his story on Instagram @transmute_that_innerg During the show today we walk through his treatment protocol that he claims has saved his life and given him a new health outlook. We explore the importance of Methylene blue, vitamin c, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, detoxification, and good metabolic blood work labs in planning how to adjust for wellness.

The sun launched six powerful coronal mass ejections at earth over the past 72 hours. On Friday a severe geomagnetic storm hit the earth and many witnessed the northern lights dancing in the sky in the early morning on Saturday. The auroras are normally only in the northern hemisphere, however, due to the intensity of the storm, the lights appeared in lower latitudes of Puerto Rico and Mexico. The light show was shared and loved by many around the world.   There was a lesson that may have been missed during the beauty. The potential impact of a solar storm on modern technology, including the power grid, GPS, and cell phone networks, as discussed in various articles this past weekend, underscores the need for more robust and resilient infrastructure. This includes developing technologies that can withstand or adapt to the effects of solar storms. As a whole, society seems ignorant to the dangers and scope of crisis that awaits. The global nature of solar storms necessitates international collaboration in predicting and mitigating their effects. The involvement of organizations like NASA, NOAA, and other international bodies in space weather research and prediction demonstrates the importance of such collaborations.   Those collaborations and coverage by the media have gone silent for decades. There are those in the know about these events, but they seldom get the attention they deserve.  Historical solar storms, like the 1921 event and the Carrington Event of 1859, provide valuable lessons on the potential impact of solar storms on our society. These events underscore the need to learn from the past and prepare for future events that could have even more significant consequences due to our increased dependence on technology.   The unpredictability of solar storms and the Sun's activity cycle serves as a reminder of the need for constant vigilance and preparedness. Even with advanced technology and research, the Sun's behavior can still surprise us, and we must be ready for such surprises. Are you prepared for the earth’s weakening magnetic field? And, do you care if there is nothing you can do about it?

American journalist Addy Adds was sent on an assignment to the capital of Brazil to cover the protests. The 2022 election was mirrored with the 2020 American election as there were calls of fraud and election integrity tampering. The National File sent Addy down to embed him in the chaos for stories. When he arrived he noticed that something was off about the people he was speaking with and he felt uncomfortable. He was told people were watching his phone, and in some cases, spoken in code to test to see if he was an intelligence agent.   He began reflecting back on his journey to Brazil and realized that he was likely surrounded by American intelligence agents, perhaps even the CIA. He believed they were upset with his presence because he was not agreeing to be controlled to tell stories they wanted. His new book "Escape from Brazil: Spooks in the Grass" is now available on Amazon. He joins America Emboldened to tell his story and answer our questions about his experiences.

An explosive episode of America Emboldened that was worth the wait. Mike ter Maat, presidential frontrunner for the nomination of the Libertarian party joined the show. We heard about the issues in the first half. In the second half of the show we heard inside info about Robert F. Kennedy Jr's campaign offer, and a challenge sent his way from Mike. Do not miss this show!

Sit down in silence and try to remember something from your past. Take note of the details that you remember, can you pinpoint the day, the time, what happened a week before and after. Focus on the feeling of the moment, what feeling is tied to it and how does that assist in your memory. After this reflection, ask yourself, is this an imprint of my past, or is this an illusion?   The past exists as a collection of memories, experiences, and events that have shaped who we are today. It's important to recognize that our perception of the past is subjective and can be influenced by our memories, emotions, and interpretations. Memories are not perfect recordings of past events; they are reconstructed and can be distorted over time. Therefore, while the past has contributed to our present reality, it's essential not to dwell on it excessively or allow it to dictate our lives. Instead, we can learn from the past, cherish fond memories, and use our experiences to inform our present actions and shape our future.   Living in the present means focusing our attention and energy on the current moment rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. It involves being fully engaged and aware of what is happening right now, appreciating the experiences, sensations, and emotions of the present moment without judgment or distraction. It's about embracing the here and now, letting go of regrets and anxieties, and finding contentment and peace in the present moment.   I offer thoughts on a meditation I completed this weekend and how it assisted in focusing today’s show and looking at the headlines that are in the media landscape. I’m hopeful that this helpful exercise I completed also is of assistance to the listeners of the America Emboldened family.

On Thursday, a rumor spread that Donald Trump would be speaking at the Libertarian national convention in May. America Emboldened quickly reached out to party leadership and affiliates and was able to get an interview to confirm the news as an exclusive to the show. Today we are joined by Project Manager working on the campaign of Mike ter Matt for President, Dr. Irene Mavrakakis. Dr. Mav shares the breaking news that the Libertarian Party is excited to extend invitations to both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. There may also be more news from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., if he decides to attend as well.   This week saw a uni-party vote bi-partisan to rob Americans of their first amendment rights with the vote for HR 6090. The Libertarian party could be poised to leave the children’s table in political circles and move towards having an equal voice in conversations. All eyes will be on D.C. in May when the convention takes place which is a remarkable achievement by the leadership in the party.   HR 6090, officially known as the Antisemitism Awareness Act, is a piece of legislation passed by the United States House of Representatives that aims to expand the federal definition of anti-Semitism. This expansion is intended to help the Department of Education determine if harassment or discrimination against Jewish students on college campuses is motivated by anti-Semitic intent. The bill requires the Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism when making such determinations. The IHRA definition includes examples of anti-Semitism, such as denying Jews the right to self-determination or drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.   When the news broke about the vote results, Michaels and Boulden took to X with a live show blasting the ramifications of the language in the bill. Critics of the bill argue that this could conflate legitimate criticism of the Israeli government with anti-Jewish bigotry, which could potentially chill free speech and violate the first amendment. Using the IHRA definition to determine anti-Semitic incidents could suppress criticism of Israel's policies and actions towards Palestinians, thereby hindering broader efforts to combat true instances of discrimination against Jewish communities.   Additionally, some people, including members of the Jewish community, are concerned that codifying a single definition of anti-Semitism is inappropriate and that the Jewish community has not reached a consensus on the matter.   Learn more on today’s episode.

In 2023 worldwide advertisers spent approximately $30 billion on influencer marketing. The Biden Administration and the political parties have also spent undisclosed millions on this practice with hired employees in charge of procuring results. The practice of social engineering results through influence culture is no longer limited to advertisers. Religion and politics are now reaching out and marketing themselves and their message.   During the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton spent $80 million on social media. Now the Catholic Church and other denominations seem to be joining the trend of marketing to a broader audience to spread their message.  Russell Brand, the English comedian and actor, just publicly stated he was baptized as a Catholic. Candace Owens also posted in the same time frame with positive press for the church. Could this be the price that they are willing to pay for your soul?   The influence culture is not new, advertisers have understood the importance and lobbied for human attention for hundreds of years. The covert nature is now slicker and with more reach. Soros and Rockefeller groups are now allegedly being tied to funding protestors on college campuses. The organic rise of protest and influence cannot be distinguished between paid advertisers and concerned citizens.   There is no price to steep for their agenda, and they believe you can be bought.

Last week the Federal Trade Commission ended Non-Compete clauses with it's "Final Rule". Soon after the filing companies will have 120 days to prepare for the new ruling. If you are like many Americans, you may have never signed a non-compete clause. That stated, companies that handle fast food franchises to media empires have long relied on them to keep talent from leaving and taking trade secrets with them.  Big tech has used non-compete to maintain intellectual properties. The FTC endangers innovation with their latest ruling. Today's show I ask, "How is this Constitutional?" Will this be a positive or a negative for America?

Kenny Biddle is an investigator of paranormal claims. He is chief investigator at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a fellow of the same organization. Initially interested in ghost hunting, UFOs and other fringe pursuits, Biddle gradually adopted a scientifically minded approach to the study of a wide range of paranormal phenomena.

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires that warrants be issued only upon probable cause and supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. The application of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in relation to the Fourth Amendment has been a subject of debate and legal scrutiny. On April 20th H.R. 7888, “Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act” became public law. The bill reauthorizes Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) for another five years, while also enacting important changes under Section 702. Section 702 of FISA is a provision that authorizes the collection of foreign intelligence information on non-U.S. persons located outside the United States, often through the surveillance of electronic communications such as emails and phone calls. It has been a key tool used by the U.S. government to monitor communications involving foreign individuals who are suspected of being involved in terrorism, espionage, or other national security threats. Section 702 evolved in response to the changing nature of global communications and the need for intelligence agencies to adapt to new technologies and threats. FISA was put in place due to several factors in 1978. In the 1960s and 1970s, there were revelations of various government surveillance programs targeting political activists, civil rights leaders, and other individuals deemed as dissenters. One notable example was the FBI's COINTELPRO program, which targeted domestic groups perceived as subversive. These revelations raised concerns about the potential for government overreach and violations of civil liberties. After Watergate and some other abuses of power in government, the Church Committee began investigating intelligence activities of the CIA and FBI. Starting in 1975 the committee would highlight numerous instances of illegal and/or improper surveillance of individuals that needed immense oversight. FISA aimed to strike a balance between national security and safeguarding individual rights. After September 11th, 2001, the Government quickly enacted the Patriot Act a month later. There was a significant expansion of U.S. counterterrorism efforts, including increased surveillance activities by intelligence agencies. This quickly passed act expanded the government's surveillance powers in various ways, including the authorization of roving wiretaps and the use of National Security Letters (NSL). The NSL has been controversial since the introduction of the Patriot Act and the 2008 renewal. The FBI no longer needed prior judicial approval, meaning they can receive customer records, transactional Dara, and other information from 3rd parties while never obtaining a warrant from a court. In the new 2024 renewal, my guest today, Paul Engel, explains that the practice of not needing a warrant continues and is now expanded. According to his research into the new law of the land, Paul discovered a warrant was not needed, simply verbal approval from a superior. We discuss today how Americans continue to allow unlawful bills to be passed and enacted. You can follow Paul Engel on X @cyberengel, and catch his show “The Constitution Study” on the America Out Loud News Talk Radio program.