A warm lunch table with veterans turns into a hard truth session about the third week of a government shutdown—and who bears the cost when politics stalls. We unpack what missed first-of-the-month payments mean for retirees and VA disability recipients, why many military families face a double hit from “non-essential” base jobs, and how a late surge of back pay could mask deeper harm in the holiday economy. Along the way, we point to real lifelines—Food to Power, Care and Share, and Mount Car...
What if a holiday label could teach you everything about power? We start with the fight over Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day as a living lesson in how culture gets replaced, co-opted, and defended—and why nostalgia is such a potent political tool. From there, we pull back the camera (literally) on protest coverage, showing how tight frames and smoky angles turn a two-block action into a “city on fire.” When fear takes the mic, escalation becomes easy. As veterans, we talk plainly abo...
A community protest with porta-potty “sponsorships” shouldn’t have anything to do with a room full of stone-faced generals at Quantico—but it does. We open on real-world organizing in Colorado Springs, then trace a straight line to a stage where aesthetics and loyalty checks tried to pass for military leadership. When beards become the battleground and “look the part” outweighs mission, you can feel the culture war trying to rewrite standards from the outside. We break down what actually hap...
The specter of authoritarianism looms large in this riveting discussion between veterans Dick Wilkinson and Adam Gillard as they unpack Secretary Pete Hegseth's unprecedented recall of 800 general officers to the Pentagon. What appears to be a simple administrative meeting reveals itself as potentially something far more sinister—a loyalty purge designed to reshape military leadership in the administration's image. Drawing on their military backgrounds, the hosts decode the significance behi...
The constitutional foundations of America are trembling, and the assault on free speech is happening with breathtaking speed. What begins with a comedian being pulled off the air for mild jokes about a politician could end with the complete dismantling of our First Amendment protections. When Jimmy Kimmel made some relatively benign jokes about Donald Trump, the response was swift and chilling. The FCC chair suggested Disney should "buckle down" on Kimmel, advertisers got nervous, and local ...
The shooting of Charlie Kirk sends shockwaves through American political discourse, revealing uncomfortable truths about how we process violence when it strikes close to home. Within minutes of the attack, videos spread across social media platforms with unprecedented speed—former President Trump announced Kirk's death before many news outlets had confirmed it. The tragedy takes on a disturbing dimension as we learn about an emerging pattern: killers writing messages on ammunition as part of ...
When military veterans analyze politics, they bring a unique perspective that cuts through partisan noise. This episode of Left Face offers exactly that as Dick Wilkinson and Adam Gillard engage in a wide-ranging discussion that connects local Colorado politics with global security concerns. The conversation begins with a firsthand account of Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser's town hall event, where both hosts witnessed his commitment to addressing community questions and his track reco...
The line between patriotism and authoritarianism has never been so clearly drawn. As veterans gather at Union Station to stand between ICE agents and American citizens, we're witnessing a powerful example of what it truly means to honor one's oath to the Constitution. This episode explores the psychological processes that enable military personnel to normalize increasingly problematic actions against their fellow citizens. The gradual normalization of troops in civilian spaces creates a dang...
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The battleground for American democracy is shifting from the ballot box to the map room as Texas Governor Greg Abbott's brazen redistricting gambit ignites what could become a nationwide gerrymandering war. What started as a power grab to flip five Democratic seats has triggered an unprecedented response—Democratic lawmakers fleeing the state to prevent a quorum, governors receiving civil arrest warrants, and bomb threats elevating the stakes from political theater to potential danger. The m...
The latest episode of Left Face unveils the exciting formation of the Colorado Democrat Veterans Council, a vital new initiative aimed at advancing veterans' causes through state legislation. Hosts Dick Wilkinson and Adam Gillard share how this council has established a strategic partnership with the thriving New Mexico Veterans Caucus, creating an opportunity to learn from their success and avoid common pitfalls. What makes this initiative particularly significant is its potential impact on...
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Freedom, surveillance, and veterans' unique perspective on democracy collide in this riveting crossover episode featuring hosts from Left Face and Justice with Jax. When progressive activist Jax Armendiaz had their entire digital life confiscated by police following a housing justice protest—despite never being convicted of any crime—it exposed the dangerous erosion of Fourth Amendment protections happening right in our backyard. The conversation takes an unexpected turn when Dick Wilkinson,...
The world watches with bated breath as the Middle East teeters on another precipice of conflict. American B-2 bombers have crossed into Iranian airspace, delivering specialized "bunker buster" bombs to underground nuclear facilities while submarines launched missiles from nearby waters. The operation lasted just 25 minutes but may have consequences that stretch far into our future. Veterans Dick Wilkinson and Adam break down the strategic implications of this dramatic escalation with expert ...
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What happens when military service values collide with partisan politics? Adam Gillard and Dick Wilkinson bring their veteran perspectives to bear on today's most pressing political issues, proving that thoughtful analysis can transcend rigid partisan lines. The hosts kick off discussing their self-identification as "partially progressive," noting how political labels often fail to capture the nuanced views many veterans hold. This frames their ongoing coverage of Kilmar's disappearanc...
How does a democracy collapse? Not always with a bang, but sometimes through bureaucracy and paperwork. When 86 Americans go missing after government raids and the official response is "fill out a form on our website," we've crossed dangerous lines. As veterans who swore oaths to defend the Constitution, we're deeply troubled by what we're witnessing. The suspension of Fifth Amendment rights creates a slippery slope where other constitutional protections become vulnerable, all while official...
The constitutional crisis unfolding at the Supreme Court takes center stage in this thought-provoking episode as we examine the alarming arguments over presidential power and the 14th Amendment. When the Supreme Court heard the administration's case challenging birthright citizenship, the justices cut straight to the heart of the matter: can a president simply override constitutional amendments with executive orders? The implications extend far beyond immigration policy. As one justice point...