The Jess Fields Show

We interview Dr. Ryan Burge again, who raised the prospect of a SCOTUS battle months ago on this very podcast, in the wake of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death and the confirmation battle to replace her.He explains how Democrats could use technicalities to block Trump’s nominee, how the election could be fraught with controversy, and what he sees as the future of American politics.Dr. Burge is a professor or political science at Eastern Illinois University and an American Baptist pastor who frequently writes about the interaction between politics and religion in America.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

*Apologies for the washed out audio on this episode. We had a microphone issue.*We speak with religion journalist Terry Mattingly, who has written the On Religion column for national newspapers for about 32 years and runs GetReligion.org.Mattingly spoke extensively about the Jerry Falwell, Jr. situation and the 2020 election. Falwell recently resigned his position running the university his father founded, Liberty, after a scandal.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We interview veteran storm chaser Jeff Piotrowski as he currently sits in the direct path of Hurricane Laura on the Texas/Louisiana border. What’s the forecast track and how can one be prepared for the hurricane? Jeff is THE guy you want to talk to about big storms, and he gives us a comprehensive update and tips on how to survive a deadly hurricane.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We are joined again by Dr. Ryan Burge, a professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University and pastor who is well known for his commentary on religion and politics.We spoke about how religion plays into the 2020 election, what Dr. Burge expects to happen, and how both candidates could win by using different strategies. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We spoke with Dr. Jennifer Mercieca, Professor of Communications at Texas A&M University, about her new book Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump. The book is out this week from Texas A&M University Press.It aims to study the rhetorical styles of President Trump as used throughout his 2015-2016 presidential campaign, distilling six different techniques used by Trump to win support for his campaign, galvanize existing supporters, and attack opponents.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

***Be advised: this interview contains a lot of profane language used by the guest. Viewer and listener discretion advised. ***We interview John McAfee, the founder of McAfee Antivirus and an extraordinarily unique person who has, in recent years, become something of an international man of mystery. Most recently, he ran for President of the United States. Originally, we were set to discuss cybersecurity — a topic he knows a great deal about. However, the interview quickly went off the rails and became an introspective look at his impoverished childhood, rise to incredible wealth through the sale of McAfee, and how he feels, ultimately, that none of his financial success was worthwhile.McAfee said “I was seduced by power,” and explained that the reason he spent all of the money was “because he could.” He feels that to be financially successful, a person must lose other things that are important to them.Certainly, it is rare for a wealthy person to reflect on their life in this way — and McAfee has not, to our knowledge, ever given an interview quite like this.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We interview Rachel Cooper, Senior Policy Analyst in Health and Wellness at Every Texan, a progressive think tank based in Austin, Texas (formerly the Center for Public Policy Priorities). Every Texan is a nationally recognized progressive think tank that focuses on both state and federal issues.Cooper spoke extensively and frankly about race relations and racial disparities in America, a timely topic given the continued protests and discussions borne out of the deaths of numerous unarmed African Americans in recent months, such as George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.She also gave a detailed view of her view of what it is to be black in America, and where she believes racial bias exists within the nation.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We interview Marc Levin, the Chief of Policy and Innovation for the Right on Crime Initiative at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank. Levin is a nationally-recognized criminal justice reform advocate and researcher who has met with both President Obama and President Trump about his ideas. Levin walks us through an enormous amount of information on criminal justice reform, including a substantial amount of studies and research related to racial disparities in the criminal justice system. This topic could not be any more relevant given the recent calls for reform in the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis.Marc asks the question of what would have happened to George Floyd, or to any other black man without resources, if he had not died? The criminal justice system, as he points out via research, is rife with disparities.For a detailed discussion of the disparities related to race and income after an arrest occurs, go to about 1:01:00 in the interview.He also explains how he has managed to get Republicans and conservatives on board with criminal justice reform, often considered a left-wing issue, and identifies clear opportunities for future reform of the criminal justice system.This interview cites many studies and research papers, allowing for further research on the issue if you are interested.This interview is coming out on Juneteenth, an appropriate time if ever to discuss the state of criminal justice reform and how that affects the black community. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

*** As a disclaimer I put on all of my interviews: I do not necessarily agree with everything, or even anything, that any of my guests say. My goal with this program is to provide good journalism: to bring out the facts about what is going on in our society.This interview undoubtedly has some controversial material. Also, there is some bad language used by the guests during the interview. Please be advised beforehand, and use your best judgment in evaluating whatever any of my guests say or claim. Thank you. ***We interview two Antifa / Anti-Capitalist activists from the Rocky Mountain Youth Liberation Front (YLF) in the area of Denver, Colorado.They are "S", a man in his early 20s and "H", a woman in her early 20s. They self-identify as communists and advocate for a revolution to change the structure of government in the United States.The YLF and other such organizations have been a presence in recent protests stemming from the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. "Antifa" has become a widely-searched term, but few have looked into what these groups are or advocate for.It is important to note that Antifa / anti-fascist / anti-capitalist groups are decentralized and widely distributed, such as YLF groups. "S" and "H" bring to light some of the tactics and views of anti-capitalist, anti-fascist organizations and thus provide a great deal of information about this little-known corner of the political universe.President Trump has recently called for Antifa to be designated a terrorist organization, although no specifics on how that would be done have yet been released.Media inquiries: Please use the email given out in the last minute of the podcast.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We interview 4 Texas Republican state representatives and a Republican state senator who have concerns about Texas' $295 Million contract with MTX Group. Governor Abbott has defended the contract, but some legislative Republicans are beginning to have questions. Because Republicans control both the Texas House and Senate, these interviews may reveal a trend in the Republican caucus about where other legislators may come down on the issue.In order:- Rep. Briscoe Cain- Rep. Valoree Swanson- Rep. Cole Hefner- Rep. James White- Sen. Bob Hall 

We interview Maya Santamaria, a business owner and community leader in Minneapolis who employed both George Floyd and his alleged killer, Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, at the same time in a nightclub she owned.Santamaria gives us her on-the-ground perspective on the violent protests and riots going on in Minneapolis, who she believes is behind them, and how local business owners are responding. She explains that the police have essentially abandoned the Lake Street area of south Minneapolis. For her explanation of how Latino business owners are taking up arms to protect their businesses after the police have abandoned their community, go to approximately 49:30.She explains why she feels that local institutions such as the Minneapolis Police Department and the City of Minneapolis have institutional racism problems, and how that affects people of color in south Minneapolis.For our discussion of her personal experience with George Floyd and Derek Chauvin, go to approximately 20:00 on the video or audio podcast. She explained from her firsthand perspective that, among other things, Derek Chauvin had used excessive force in the past, and seemed to have a particular issue with African-Americans.She also speaks to George Floyd as a person, and how the community can move forward and learn from what has happened.Media inquiries: Please use the email given out in the last minute of the podcast.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

In this special report, we investigate MTX Group and its founder, Dastagir (Das) Nobel, who won a $295 million contract in early May from the State of Texas for contract tracing.We interviewed two Texas State Representatives, Democrat Joe Deshotel and Republican James White, for reaction. Both had concerns about the bidding process and MTX.Among the findings:- Mr. Nobel claims in his LinkedIn to have completed a Doctorate from Colorado Technical University, but the Registrar's Office at CTU says he did not graduate with a doctoral degree.- Mr. Nobel owned a sushi bar in New York.- MTX Group is in court in the Northern District of New York over a compensation dispute with a former employee who claims he was not paid over $189,000 in commissions.Media inquiries: Please use the email given out in the last minute of the podcast.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We interview the Hon. James To Kun-sun, the most senior pro-democracy legislator in Hong Kong.Mr. To is a member of Hong Kong's Legislative Council serving since 1991. Mr. To is also one of the co-founders of the largest pro-democracy party in Hong Kong, the Democratic Party.Mr. To has much to say about how the newly proposed law in China's National People's Congress will affect Hong Kong's place in relation to China and the world. He also has words for U.S. policymakers and the Trump administration in regards to how he would like to see the U.S. handle Hong Kong.He also speaks extensively about the recent history of how China has been restricting freedoms in Hong Kong, as well as what it is like to live in an increasingly frail situation as a voice of opposition.According to his telling, mainland China has used extensive undercover operations to slowly shift Hong Kong society to be more pro-Beijing in the last two decades. Mr. To says he has been followed and is probably monitored at all times.This is the most in-depth interview any Hong Kong legislator has granted about the current Chinese security law situation to any journalist, to our knowledge.Media inquiries: Please use the email given out in the last minute of the podcast.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We interview Dr. Ryan Burge, an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University and and a pastor in the American Baptist denomination.Dr. Burge has become a well-known authority on analyzing the rising trend of the religiously unaffiliated in America, the "nones." This group has become the largest single religious group in America today, and is only expected to increase.Dr. Burge goes in-depth with statistics to explain who the nones are, where they come from, and where religion is going in America in the future. Which religious groups are increasing and which are decreasing? Dr. Burge explains all of this from statistical analysis. We also talked in depth about where religious groups will break out in the 2020 election.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We interview Alison Greene, a progressive grassroots activist and social media influencer with over 80,000 followers on her Twitter, @grassrootsspeak. She talks to us about the rent strikes going on now, the coronavirus pandemic, and Bernie Sanders' role in the 2020 Democratic nomination, as well as several other issues important to progressives. This is part 2 of 2.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We interview Alison Greene, a progressive grassroots activist and social media influencer with over 80,000 followers on her Twitter, @grassrootsspeak. She talks to us about the rent strikes going on now, the coronavirus pandemic, and Bernie Sanders' role in the 2020 Democratic nomination, as well as several other issues important to progressives. This is part 1 of 2.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We interview Idaho State Rep. Ilana Rubel, a Democrat, who is the Minority Leader of the Idaho State House and represents District 18A in the State House. This includes the southeast part of the Boise area. She talks about the coronavirus response in Idaho, responds to comments made by her Republican colleague Rep. Heather Scott previously on this program, and talks about her caucus' legislative agenda going forward.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We interview Terry Mattingly, nationally-syndicated columnist of "On Religion" since 1988, and editor of GetReligion.org, about his career, the status of faith in these times, and how religion and journalism mix.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We interview Bishop David Konderla, the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, about the Catholic Church in the coronavirus age and his own story of becoming a bishop. Bishop David was appointed by Pope Francis in 2016, and prior to that was priest of Saint Mary's Catholic Center in College Station, Texas.Subscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!

We interview Emmy-Award-winning storm chaser Jeff Piotrowski about his decades chasing over 900 tornadoes, 24 hurricanes, and numerous other severe weather events. He recounts how he was on the ground when hurricanes and tornadoes hit, how he finds storms, and what he's thinking in the midst of these events. He also looks ahead to the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, forecasted to be highly active. This interview was so long, it's cut into two parts. This is part 1 of 2.Video courtesy of Jeff and Kat Piotrowski, Tornado Alley Video: https://www.youtube.com/user/TornadoAlleyVideoSubscribe in your favorite podcast app, like our page on Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!