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In this deeply personal episode of Off the Record, I open up about what it’s really like to walk into a program that’s been through years of high turnover — the exhaustion, the rebuilding, and the resistance that comes when you try to bring structure and consistency back to a place that’s lost both.But let me be clear — this episode isn’t about one person, one school, or one situation. It’s about the bigger issue that thousands of teachers across America are living through right now: how hard it is to rebuild culture in a system that’s been broken by instability, burnout, and mistrust.I talk about what happens when students stop believing adults will stay.When parents unintentionally make the job harder by not trusting the experts.And when teachers — who genuinely care — start to wonder if doing the right thing is even worth it.This is a message to educators who are fighting to rebuild, to parents who want the best for their kids but might not realize how much trust matters, and to anyone who believes in the power of consistency, accountability, and genuine care.Over the course of this extended, four-part reflection, I’ll share what it feels like to:Step into a program that’s been reset too many timesFace pushback for doing what’s right for the studentsCarry the emotional weight of rebuilding people, not just systemsAnd find hope again when the culture finally starts to healIf you’re an educator, this episode is for you.If you’re a parent, this episode is for you.And if you’ve ever wondered what teachers really go through — the unseen emotional labor behind the classroom walls — this episode is especially for you.Because this isn’t about blame.It’s about trust, collaboration, and the belief that rebuilding is possible when we choose to work together.

In this Off the Record update, I return from a short break to dive headfirst into the chaos consuming both Oklahoma and Washington, D.C.We start local with Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s scandal-plagued Superintendent of Public Instruction, whose latest controversy — a TV in his office allegedly flashing nude images during a board meeting — has spiraled into investigations, denials, and finger-pointing. But that’s just one entry in his long rap sheet: rewriting curricula to push Trump’s 2020 election conspiracies, mandating Bibles in public schools, banning LGBTQ+ books, mishandling the Nex Benedict tragedy, misusing pandemic relief funds, and cozying up with far-right influencers like Libs of TikTok.Then we zoom out to the national stage, where Donald Trump is running the same playbook on a much bigger scale. In just one week, he seized control of Washington D.C.’s police force despite crime being at historic lows, deployed the National Guard, held a failed “peace summit” with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, pulled Melania into billion-dollar lawsuits tied to the Epstein saga, and backed a Texas redistricting scheme designed to hand Republicans five new congressional seats before 2026.Different scale, same playbook: create a crisis, distract from the truth, consolidate power.And in the final reflection, I break down why this is dangerous territory for all of us — because democracy doesn’t collapse with one scandal, it erodes piece by piece, while we shrug and call it normal.If Walters is the warm-up act, Trump is the headliner — and together, they’re rewriting the rules.News 9 — “Timeline of events in Walters’ TV controversy investigation” 【news9.com】19th News — “Oklahoma schools superintendent Ryan Walters under investigation over explicit images” 【19thnews.org】KJRH — “Walters denies allegations amid ongoing investigations” 【kjrh.com】The Daily Beast — “MAGA schools boss Ryan Walters fumes at nude office TV claims” 【thedailybeast.com】People — “Oklahoma will require schools to teach disproven Trump conspiracy theory” 【people.com】The Guardian — “Oklahoma high schools to teach 2020 election conspiracy theories as fact” 【theguardian.com】Them — “He pushed LGBTQ+ book bans and religion in schools. Now Ryan Walters is mired in scandal” 【them.us】Wikipedia (Ryan Walters entry) — for verified background on curriculum mandates, Bible requirements, Nex Benedict case, and pandemic relief misuse.The Guardian — “Trump slammed for unjustified power grab as he seizes control of D.C. police and deploys National Guard” 【theguardian.com】AP News — “Trump declares crime emergency in D.C.” 【apnews.com】The Daily Beast — “Trump circles drop F-bomb after ‘failure’ Putin summit” 【thedailybeast.com】The Guardian — “Trump news at a glance: Putin plan for Ukraine peace; WV to send National Guard” 【theguardian.com】People — “Trump encouraged Melania to pursue billion-dollar defamation suit tied to Epstein rumors” 【people.com】Wikipedia (Trump legal affairs entry) — for lawsuits, inspector general purge, Epstein details.The Guardian — “Thousands join US ‘Fight the Trump Takeover’ protests against redistricting” 【theguardian.com】AP News — “Trump-backed Texas redistricting push sparks national backlash” 【apnews.com】The New Yorker — “Texas Democrats’ remote resistance” 【newyorker.com】Wikipedia (2025 Texas proposed redistricting) — for verified background on mid-decade redistricting push.📚 Sources Used in This EpisodeWalters’ ScandalsTrump’s Latest MovesTexas Gerrymandering Crisis

In this emergency episode of Off the Record, we take on the firestorm ignited by Donald Trump's claim that he would consider pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell — the convicted sex trafficker at the center of the Epstein scandal. But that’s only the beginning.We dive into the media spin, the normalization of abuse, and the calculated distractions meant to protect the powerful. Then, we turn our focus to Jubilee — a popular YouTube platform now under fire for giving actual fascists a national spotlight while ambushing respected journalist Mehdi Hasan in a room full of extremists. We name names, we expose strategies, and we ask the hard question: How much longer are we going to pretend this isn’t deliberate?This isn’t a debate. This is a warning.MSNBC – Trump says he’d consider pardoning Ghislaine Maxwellhttps://www.msnbc.comCNN – Trump’s history with Epstein and Maxwell resurfaceshttps://www.cnn.comWall Street Journal – The lingering influence of Jeffrey Epstein’s networkhttps://www.wsj.comMehdi Hasan’s public response – via @mehdirhasan on X (Twitter)Time Magazine – Jubilee faces backlash for platforming fascismhttps://time.comThe New Republic – Jubilee’s false neutrality is dangeroushttps://newrepublic.comMedia Matters – The weaponization of “debate” on YouTube platformshttps://mediamatters.org🧾 Referenced Sources:

In this episode of Off the Record, we go deep into the story the media won’t stay on — and the distractions they use to keep us from looking.Segment 1 unpacks how President Donald Trump was formally briefed in May 2025 that his name appears in the Epstein files — and how his legal team, the DOJ, and even corporate media are doing everything possible to bury it.Segment 2 turns to Oklahoma, where State Superintendent Ryan Walters is waging war on public education: pushing illegal Bible mandates, immigration profiling in schools, censorship of racial justice, and handing education over to unaccredited private virtual programs.Segment 3 exposes the latest distraction campaign — from Stephen Colbert’s surprise cancellation, to South Park’s brutal satire of Trump and the weaponized outrage cycle that’s drowning real accountability.Finally, in Segment 4, we reflect on the cost of silence. If we keep letting them distract us, we will lose the truth — and the future.This is not just an episode. It’s a wake-up call.

They told us that if we worked hard, we’d succeed. That grit beats luck. That poverty is a personal failure.But that was never true. And in this episode, we rip the mask off the most toxic lie in American culture: the myth of the bootstrap.Over five in-depth segments, we break down the history, the policies, and the human cost of a system built not to reward hard work—but to protect wealth, punish the poor, and distract us with blame.We walk through redlining, racist education policy, student debt, corporate bailouts, and billionaire handouts. And we close by calling out the cowards in Congress who ran off on vacation instead of voting to release the Epstein files that could implicate Donald Trump and others in sex trafficking.This isn’t about left or right. This is about truth vs. survival theater. And this time, we name the lie.Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2022EdBuild, “$23 Billion” Report – https://edbuild.org/content/23-billionMapping Inequality Project, University of Richmond – https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/Economic Policy Institute, Wage Stagnation Report – https://epi.orgPew Research Center, “Americans and Social Mobility” – https://pewresearch.orgSAT Income Gap Report – College Board Data via Washington Post“Legacy and Athlete Preferences at Harvard” – Nature (2023): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06374-9ProPublica: “The Ivy League’s Billionaire Booster Pipeline” – https://propublica.orgGood Jobs First: Subsidy Tracker – https://www.goodjobsfirst.org/subsidy-trackerProPublica: “The Secret IRS Files” – https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/irs-nonprofit-tax-dodgeGAO Report on PPP Loan Fraud – https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-22-105715.pdfLevy Economics Institute (TARP + Fed Bailouts) – https://www.levyinstitute.org/publications/SBA PPP Loan Forgiveness Records – https://projects.propublica.org/coronavirus/bailouts/AP News: “House GOP Leaves Early as Epstein Vote Looms” – https://apnews.com/article/congress-jeffrey-epstein-trump-f2a03eca247268b14a9e38858338ededPBS: “Speaker Ends House Session Early Over Epstein Records Vote” – https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/speaker-ends-house-session-early-as-gop-clashes-over-epstein-files-voteTIME: “FBI Flagged Mentions of Trump in Epstein Files” – https://time.com/7303673/donald-trump-epstein-files-fbi-durbin/Axios: “Massie’s Push to Release Epstein Records” – https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-hill-leaders-d23d62d0-63ee-11f0-851d-91b354bf947aThe Daily Beast: “The Epstein Files Are Forcing MAGA to Eat Their Own” – https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-epstein-files-are-forcing-maga-faithful-to-eat-their-own#TheLiesWeTell #BootstrapLie #WealthGap #EpsteinFiles #CongressionalCowards #StudentDebtCrisis #Redlining #CorporateWelfare #EndTheMyth🔎 Sources Cited in This Episode:🏛️ Structural Inequality & Wealth Gaps:📚 Education & Testing:💰 Corporate Welfare & Tax Evasion:📰 Epstein Files & Congressional Cowardice:🟡 Suggested Hashtags for Posting:

For decades, we've been told to fear the wrong people.In this explosive, five-part deep dive, we uncover the origins of the “groomer” smear — a lie born in bigotry, repackaged through fear, and weaponized by both church leaders and Republican politicians to silence victims and protect abusers.We expose the real statistics around child sexual abuse. We break down how religious institutions like the Catholic Church and Southern Baptist Convention systemically covered up decades of crimes. We shine a light on missionaries who assaulted children abroad with impunity. And we draw a clear line from the Church’s tactics of denial and deflection… straight to Donald Trump and the GOP’s response to abuse scandals, including Trump’s disturbing ties to Jeffrey Epstein.This episode is not about scandal. It’s about survivors, systems, and truth. And it’s about ending the lie — once and for all.Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse, religious trauma, and survivor testimony. Listener discretion is advised.Here is a full list of news articles, reports, and statistics cited throughout the episode:RAINN: Statistics on Children & Teens and AbuseU.S. Department of Justice: Child Sexual Abuse Data Summary (2021)Boston Globe Spotlight Team: Clergy Sex Abuse ReportsWikipedia summary of the Boston Archdiocese scandalYouTube: Spotlight Retrospective – Boston Globe InvestigationAP News: “Top Southern Baptists Stonewalled Sex Abuse Victims”Houston Chronicle: “Abuse of Faith” Investigative SeriesThe Guardian: “Christian Missionary Group Accused of Public Shaming and Sexual Abuse”NBC News: “Daniel Pye Convicted of Sexually Abusing Girls at Orphanage in Haiti”The Guardian: “Trump and Epstein’s Friendship: A Timeline”The New Yorker: “Behind Trump’s Jeffrey Epstein Problem”YouTube: “Trump and Epstein — A Timeline of Denial”Politico: “Trump’s Birthday Card to Epstein Released in DOJ Filing”YouTube: “Phil Saviano, Survivor and Whistleblower”Christianity Today: “Jules Woodson’s Journey After Confronting Her Abuser”📚 Sources & References🔹 General Statistics & Abuse Data🔹 Catholic Church & Spotlight Reporting🔹 Southern Baptist Convention Abuse Cover-Up🔹 Missionary Abuse Cases🔹 Trump, Epstein, and GOP Projection🔹 Survivor Testimonies

This episode kicks off our deep dive into the slow dismantling of American public education — not by accident, but by design. We explore how a 1983 report, A Nation at Risk, triggered a nationwide panic that turned classrooms into testing centers, teachers into proctors, and students into data points.We examine how policies like No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top created a culture of compliance, narrowed the curriculum, and fueled burnout across the profession. Along the way, I share personal experiences from the front lines — including what it felt like to work under a principal who cared more about daily attendance numbers than the actual lives of her students and staff.This episode is not just about policy. It’s about people. It’s about the joy that was stripped away from learning. And it’s about the belief we’ve lost — that teaching is a profession worth respecting, protecting, and rebuilding.In the next episode, we’ll tackle what happened when funding cuts collided with test-driven education, turning a rigid system into one that’s now falling apart.National Commission on Excellence in Education (1983). A Nation at Risk.https://www2.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/index.htmlEconomic Policy Institute (2022). The teacher pay penalty has hit a new high.https://www.epi.org/publication/teacher-pay-penalty-2022/American Statistical Association (2014). Statement on Value-Added Models.https://www.amstat.org/asa/files/pdfs/POL-ASAVAM-Statement.pdfNational Education Association (2022). Survey: Educators say burnout is a serious problem.https://www.nea.org/about-nea/media-center/press-releasesCowen Institute, Tulane University (2015). The State of Public Education in New OrleansU.S. Department of Education (Archived). No Child Left Behind Overview.https://www2.ed.gov/nclb/overview/intro/execsumm.htmlBrookings Institution (2013). The Misuse of Standardized Testing in American Educationhttps://www.brookings.edu/articles/standardized-testing-and-the-common-core-standards/Referenced Sources:

In 2003, Donald Trump wrote a birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein. That’s not speculation. That’s what the Wall Street Journal just reported, backed by documents from Epstein’s own archive.This isn’t just a polite note. It’s a window into a relationship Trump pretended didn’t exist. A relationship with a man who, by 2003, was already known in elite circles for trafficking girls. Trump knew. He had hosted Epstein. He’d been photographed with him. He’d even joked about his taste in “younger” women.So why write him a birthday card?In this episode of Off the Record, we break down the timeline, the article, and the disgusting hypocrisy of a political machine that still props up a man who was friendly with a known predator — and who wants to call everyone else a groomer.We connect the dots the media won’t. Because Trump didn’t just look the other way. He picked up a pen and said “Happy Birthday” to a monster.

They say the Republican Party freed the slaves.They say Democrats are the real racists.They say Lincoln would vote red today.But while they hide behind 1865, they're banning books about Black history in 2025.They’re gutting voting rights, erasing DEI, mocking Juneteenth, and protecting a rapist named Trump.In this episode, we tear down the myth that Republicans are the party of racial justice.We walk you through the party switch — not just in names, but in values.We expose the Southern Strategy, the dog whistles, the classroom bans, and the deadly consequences of their fake patriotism — from Texas flood deaths to school shootings they refuse to stop.We call out the GOP’s rebranded racism — and we hold establishment Democrats accountable too. Because failure isn’t the same as sabotage. And silence isn’t neutrality.Sources & References:Party Realignment & Southern StrategyKevin M. Kruse & Julian Zelizer, Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974Rick Perlstein, Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of AmericaLee Atwater interview (1981), via Rick Perlstein archives / CNNJoseph Crespino, Strom Thurmond’s AmericaPew Research: “The changing face of the Democratic and Republican parties”Voter SuppressionBrennan Center for Justice: “Voting Laws Roundup” (2023–2025)Shelby County v. Holder, 570 U.S. 529 (2013)U.S. Commission on Civil Rights: “An Assessment of Minority Voting Access” (2021)Book Bans & Curriculum CensorshipPEN America: “Banned in the USA” Reports (2023–2025)Florida Dept. of Education, 2023 curriculum guidelinesTexas Tribune: “Greg Abbott blocks AP African American Studies course”NBC News: “DeSantis defends new slavery standards”Trump’s Legal & Racial HistoryE. Jean Carroll case (Trump found liable for sexual abuse and defamation)NYT: “A Running List of Trump’s Accusers”Washington Post: “Trump’s use of racist rhetoric”BBC News: “Trump and the Proud Boys — ‘stand back and stand by’”ACLU: “The Muslim Ban: Timeline of Discrimination”Gun Violence & Republican InactionEverytown for Gun Safety: “Tracking State Gun Laws”CDC: Firearm death statistics by state (2020–2024)Texas Tribune: “Despite mass shootings, Texas GOP loosens gun laws”Texas Floods (2025 Disaster)Houston Chronicle (July 2025): “Record Floods Kill Over 120 — Emergency Response in Crisis”Climate Central: “Texas floodplain risk worsens as regulations stall”FEMA Funding Rollbacks (2023–2024) and Congressional Budget DataGeneral Context & Historical AnalysisMichelle Alexander, The New Jim CrowIsabel Wilkerson, CasteJames Baldwin, The Fire Next Time1619 Project by The New York Times

We’ve all heard the story. Work hard, follow the rules, and you’ll make it in America. But what if the American Dream was never meant for everyone? In this episode of The Lies We Tell, we break down how the myth of the American Dream has been used to justify inequality, mask systemic failure, and keep working people chasing something that was never real in the first place.We look at who profits from keeping the dream alive—from politicians who blame poverty on personal failure to corporations selling hustle culture while hoarding wealth. We examine how debt, discrimination, and stagnant wages have made upward mobility nearly impossible for millions. We talk about immigrants sold a lie before they ever arrive, and we dig into the media machine that turns this illusion into a national gospel.It’s not about hard work. It’s about power. And it’s time we told the truth.Sources cited and discussed in this episode:Pew Research Center: "Americans’ Challenges with Income Inequality and Economic Mobility" (2023)Economic Policy Institute: "The State of American Wages 2024"Federal Reserve Bank: "Survey of Consumer Finances — Racial Wealth Gap Analysis"Brookings Institution: "How the American Dream is Failing Middle-Class Families"National Consumer Law Center: "Medical Debt and Student Loan Crisis Reports"Call to Action:If you're tired of being gaslit by slogans and bootstraps, call your local reps and demand policies that reflect reality. Start with tools like 5calls.org, and let’s build something better than a dream. Let’s build something

This isn’t just a bad week for red states — it’s a blueprint for how the GOP destroys lives and then calls it leadership.In this extended reflection, we take on Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Education, who just promised free school lunches — but with zero new funding. Districts are now being forced to choose between feeding children or firing teachers. We break down his dangerous, racist crusade against public education and explain why Walters is part of a larger white conservative agenda to suppress and control educated, empowered minority communities.Then we head south to Texas, where over 120 people died and hundreds more are still missing after one of the worst floods in state history. But this wasn’t just a natural disaster — it was manufactured through years of deregulation, climate denial, and Trump-era federal cuts to emergency infrastructure. We name names: Greg Abbott, Kristi Noem, and Donald Trump. We demand federal investigations and even impeachment.Two stories. One theme:When public goods are treated like enemies, the people drown — in debt, in lies, and now, in literal floodwaters.🎧 Featuring quotes from James Baldwin, Linda Darling-Hammond, Pedro Noguera, and real survivors on the ground.📢 Action steps included. We’re done asking nicely. It’s time to organize, resist, and remove the people who are profiting off death.

Years later, they’re still lying about what happened on January 6.In this episode of The Lies We Tell, we walk through the truth of that day — the planning, the violence, the cover-up, and the dangerous rewrite happening in real time. From Trump’s “Will be wild” tweet to the gallows outside the Capitol, from Proud Boys and Oath Keepers to politicians minimizing it as a “tourist visit,” we expose the lie that the insurrection was anything less than an attack on democracy.We break down the weak accountability that followed, the delayed justice, the politicians who still defend the rioters, and the disturbing way the media — even on the left — continues to treat this like a political footnote instead of the warning it was.We also give an urgent update on the deadly floods in Texas, made worse by Trump-era budget cuts and state-level neglect. And we end with a call to action for those tired of clickbait outrage and ready to actually show up — in city halls, in classrooms, and in their communities.The truth matters. And so does what we do next.Sources (cited or referenced in this episode):Department of Justice Capitol Breach Caseshttps://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/capitol-breach-casesHouse Select Committee Final Report on January 6https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GPO-J6-REPORTProPublica timeline of Capitol Riothttps://www.propublica.org/article/us-capitol-riot-timelineFBI Arrest Statistics and Court Documentshttps://www.fbi.gov/wanted/capitol-violenceTexas Flood Updateshttps://www.texastribune.orghttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/us/texas-flooding-weather.htmlNPR Coverage on Capitol Officer Testimonyhttps://www.npr.org/2021/07/27/1021274810/jan-6-police-testimony-house-hearingCoverage of Trump’s “Justice For All” Anthemhttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/trump-jan-6-choir-justice-for-all-anthem-1234693139Florida and Texas Textbook Censorshiphttps://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/textbooks-in-texas-and-florida-erase-january-6-and-racial-justice-protests/2025/06Call to Action:This isn’t over. It won’t be unless we make it.Call your representatives at 5calls.org. Demand accountability for every official who supported or excused the insurrection. Demand protection for educators, students, and journalists telling the truth.And if you’re tired of the same political commentary saying “this is the end for Trump,” ask what they’re actually doing. Are they organizing? Are they showing up in person? Or are they just chasing algorithms?Be the difference. Wherever you are. However you can. Show up.

What happens when the war machine runs out of foreign enemies?In this special multi-segment deep-dive, we trace how the logic, tools, and propaganda of America’s endless wars have been turned inward — weaponizing our classrooms, protests, borders, and even identities.From the militarization of public schools and police forces to the abuse of emergency powers and the corporate surveillance economy, The War That Came Home exposes how war never ended — it just got rebranded.You’ll hear personal reflections from a Marine-turned-educator, historical context, and the stories our leaders don’t want told.We explore:How institutions built for foreign conflict now target American civiliansHow JROTC and military recruitment exploit working-class studentsHow war profiteers like Palantir and GEO Group shifted focus to domestic controlHow emergency powers bypass democracy and normalize authoritarianismAnd why the true cost of war is paid not just overseas, but in our homes and schoolsThis isn’t just a critique — it’s a call to action. Because the battlefield is here. And so is our power to change it.Brennan Center for Justice – "National Emergency Powers: What They Are and How They Work"The Intercept – “The U.S. Military Is Using Clearview AI”ProPublica – “How JROTC Took Root in American High Schools”Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) – "Surveillance in Schools and Facial Recognition Risks"Department of Veterans Affairs – 2024 Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual ReportNaomi Klein – The Shock DoctrineShoshana Zuboff – The Age of Surveillance CapitalismCenter for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) – Reports on AUMF and Emergency PowersCongressional Research Service – “Emergency Powers of the U.S. President”Pew Research Center – “Public Perceptions of Patriotism and Protest”Howard Zinn – A People’s History of the United StatesQuotes and testimonies from veterans, students, and scholars (see episode for context)We can’t end the war machine without political pressure.📱 Download the 5 Calls app — it shows you who your local and federal representatives are and gives you scripts to make quick, effective calls on issues that matter, like:Ending emergency powers abuseDemilitarizing schools and local policeExpanding VA mental health servicesProtecting civil liberties and protest rightsCall. Share. Organize.Because if we don’t speak, the machine keeps running.📌 Sources & Research References:📲 Take Action: Call Your Reps Now

Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” just passed — and behind the flashy name is a brutal truth: this bill guts Medicaid, slashes food assistance, and explodes the national debt… all while handing massive tax breaks to the rich.In this episode of Off the Record, we break down exactly how this bill got its votes, who benefits (spoiler: it’s not you), and why this is the biggest wealth transfer since Reagan.We also expose the silence — and cowardice — from the very media voices who should be raising hell.This isn’t policy. It’s class warfare. And we need to talk about it.Sources / References (for Description, Podcast Notes, or Video Caption):AP News – “House Passes Trump’s Tax and Immigration Bill”Washington Post – “Trump’s Tax Bill Passes the House After Backroom Negotiations”TIME – “GOP Budget Undeniably Takes from the Working Class”CBS News – “What’s Really in the Senate Version of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill”Wikipedia – One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Legislative Breakdown)

In this episode of The Lies We Tell, I break down one of the most dangerous myths in America: that universal healthcare is impossible here.We expose the truth behind rising medical bankruptcies, the illusion of "choice" under private insurance, and the hypocrisy of military personnel and politicians who benefit from government-funded healthcare — while denying it to the rest of us.We compare the U.S. with other developed nations, dive into the tax math, and ask: if every other modern country can do it, why can’t we?Hint: it’s not about cost. It’s about power.🔍 Topics covered:Military and Congressional healthcare hypocrisyHow much we actually pay for private insuranceMyths about "waiting times" and rationingThe deadly cost of tying healthcare to jobsThe moral failure of the U.S. healthcare system🧠 The pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness? Not when getting sick means going broke.🎙️ Full podcast available on all platforms.Subscribe, share, and join the fight for real change.#UniversalHealthcare #HealthcareIsAHumanRight #TheLiesWeTell #MedicareForAll #AmericaVsTheWorld #HealthJustice #PodcastClipKFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) –Average annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage in 2023: $24,000+www.kff.orgAmerican Journal of Public Health –Study estimating ~45,000 deaths annually from lack of healthcare access (pre-ACA)National Library of Medicine / NIH –Study on medical bankruptcies in the U.S.: over 500,000 per yearwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.govThe Commonwealth Fund –International comparisons: U.S. ranks last among high-income nations in healthcare outcomeswww.commonwealthfund.orgCongressional Budget Office (CBO) –Estimated costs of Medicare for All vs. private systemwww.cbo.govMilitary Health System (TRICARE) –Details on government-funded healthcare for military familieswww.tricare.milU.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) –Healthcare benefits for Congress and federal employeeswww.opm.govOECD Health Statistics –International health spending comparisons (U.S. spends the most by far)www.oecd.orgPhysicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) –Advocacy and research on Medicare for Allwww.pnhp.orgMichael Moore’s Sicko (Documentary) –Critique of U.S. healthcare compared to other nations📚 Sources Used in the Episode

What makes an immigrant “good”? Is it a clean record? A full-time job? English without an accent? A smile that never complains?In this episode of The Lies We Tell, I take you on a deep, personal, and political dive into one of the most dangerous myths in American life: the myth of the good immigrant.We’ll trace the origins of this narrative—from Ellis Island to the modern border, from sitcoms to ICE raids—and expose how it's used to divide communities, justify injustice, and punish people just for surviving. I also share my story—how I came here as a kid, changed my name to fit in, served in the Marines, and still got profiled, doubted, and disrespected.This isn’t just about immigrants. It’s about what happens when a country demands silence instead of justice.So ask yourself: Could you survive the system you defend?Because a lot of us already have. Barely.🎧 Topics include:The “good immigrant vs. bad immigrant” binaryHollywood and news media narrativesThe racism hiding behind “speak English”Why respectability is a trapWhat the immigration process actually costsPersonal reflection from my time in school, the Marines, and beyond📌 Available now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and wherever you get your truth.USCIS Fee Schedule (as of 2024): https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-feesNational Immigration Law Center: https://www.nilc.orgAmerican Immigration Council – The U.S. Immigration System Is Complex and Antiquated: https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.orgMigration Policy Institute: “U.S. Naturalization Trends” (2023): https://www.migrationpolicy.orgGovernment Accountability Office – Delays in naturalization processing: https://www.gao.govCenter for Media and Social Impact – “Race and Immigration in Prime-Time TV”Media Matters: “Fox News Obsession with Immigrant Crime” (2019)University of Illinois Study (2019): Disproportionate Crime Coverage of Immigrants in Local NewsPBS/FRONTLINE – Lost in Detention“The Problem of the Good Immigrant” – The Atlantic, by Jia Tolentino“Model Minority Myth” – Teaching Tolerance/SPLCErika Lee, The Making of Asian AmericaYalidy Matos, Brown Threat: Identification and the Latino Threat Narrative in News MediaOECD Migration Reports (2023): https://www.oecd.org/migrationCanada’s Language Instruction for Newcomers: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrantsGermany’s Integration Course Program: https://www.bamf.deAustralia Citizenship Cost Info (gov.au)Sweden Migration Agency Fee Chart: https://www.migrationsverket.se“What It’s Like to Be a Brown Veteran in America” – personal commentaryDACA & TPS summaries – National Immigration Forum: https://immigrationforum.orgPublic Charge Rule Overview – Protecting Immigrant Families: https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org📚 SOURCES & REFERENCES🔍 Immigration Data & Policy📺 Media Analysis🌍 International Comparisons👁️ Personal Experience & Analysis

This week on Off the Record, we dive into the real stories behind the headlines — and the ones they’re trying to bury.From the Islamophobic attacks launched at New York City’s rising progressive star to the Supreme Court gutting civil rights protections, this episode exposes the growing playbook of fear and distraction being used across the country. We also unpack Ryan Walters' latest crusade to censor public education, a quiet but dangerous federal decision that could derail hurricane forecasts, and the return of reckless trade war tactics under the guise of strength.This isn’t just dysfunction. This is design.And we need to call it what it is — before they rewrite the whole story.🎧 Topics covered:– NYC’s progressive mayoral shift and the GOP’s racist backlash– SCOTUS rulings on LGBTQ+ rights, nationwide injunctions, and civil liberties– Ryan Walters' classroom censorship ramp-up in Oklahoma– The hidden risk behind hurricane forecasting data cuts– Trump-era tariff expansion and its economic fallout🔊 Tune in and stay loud — because fear shouldn’t be national policy.NYC Mayoral Race & GOP ResponseReuters – Mamdani’s NYC primary win sparks surge in anti-Muslim postsSupreme Court RulingsWGBH – SCOTUS limits nationwide injunctionsTheM.us – SCOTUS rules in favor of LGBTQ+ curriculum opt-outsAP News – Tennessee gender-affirming care ban upheldRyan Walters’ Censorship CampaignOklahoma Voice – Walters targets teachers and libraries againHurricane Forecasting Data CutsWESH 2 – Government cuts key hurricane forecast dataTrump 2.0 Tariff TrackerTrade Compliance Resource Hub – Trump-era tariff expansion overview📚 Source List:

What if the enemy was never who they said it was?In this third installment of The American War Machine series, we unpacks how the United States systematically creates, recycles, and weaponizes enemies to keep the war machine running. From Cold War fear-mongering to post-9/11 Islamophobia, from the media's role in propaganda to the racial coding of domestic threats—this episode breaks down how fear is manufactured, sold, and monetized.We talk about Saddam Hussein, the Mujahideen, "weapons of mass destruction," and how politicians and corporations profit while everyday people pay the price. We explore how racism plays a central role in war rhetoric, how the military budget starves communities, and why calling it out isn’t anti-American—it’s necessary.Because when you stop believing the lie, the whole machine starts to fall apart.Brown University’s Costs of War Project – https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwarStockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database – https://sipri.orgFBI Uniform Crime Reporting: Hate Crimes StatisticsWashington Post / ABC News Poll (March 2003) – Public opinion on Saddam Hussein and 9/11U.S. Senate Committee on Banking Report (1994) – Exports of biological agents to IraqNational Security Archive – CIA support for Mujahideen (Operation Cyclone)C-SPAN Archives – Reagan, Bush Sr., Bush Jr., and Trump speechesFAIR.org: “WMDs and the Media” Report, 2003Eisenhower’s Farewell Address, 1961 – “Military-industrial complex”Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speech: “Beyond Vietnam” (April 4, 1967)NAACP Criminal Justice Fact SheetsHuman Rights Watch: Civilian casualties in Iraq and AfghanistanCongressional Budget Office Reports on U.S. defense spending (2001–2024)Noam Chomsky: Manufacturing ConsentFrederick Douglass and Malcolm X speeches on propaganda and powerNew York Times: Judith Miller and WMD coverage retractionsPew Research Center: U.S. public opinion and media trust levels

They say public schools are failing — and teachers are to blame. But that’s a lie, and it’s one that’s being weaponized.In this episode, we break down how politicians are deliberately destroying public education by underpaying teachers, overloading classrooms, and flooding schools with culture-war legislation designed to silence and scare educators out of the profession. From crumbling buildings to book bans, this isn’t an accident — it’s a blueprint.With updated 2025 stats, real teacher voices, and deep historical context, we expose how lawmakers are gutting schools, pushing out qualified educators, and handing the pieces to private interests.Because teachers aren’t the problem.They’re the last defense against a system built to fail.

A week of political hypocrisy: ICE raids, protest crackdowns, and veterans thrown to the curb.