When people don’t engage in politics, they are giving those in power permission to do whatever they want. Silence is consent.

Sean’s Monologue: Political Polarization and Disillusionment

Today, Coup Save America is joined by Carl Able, the founder of Crayon Box Politics - a civic-tech and media initiative dedicated to making political information accessible, transparent, and engaging for the public.

Sean and Carl begin the episode with a discussion about what it means to be politically disengaged. Carl draws examples from over two decades of service in the marines to show how participating on a community level can be so much more impactful and fulfilling than putting energy into national politics.

Does voting really matter? Carl uses the Trump vs. Harris campaign to assure us that turnout makes all the difference. He and Sean talk about barriers to voting. While reluctant to point fingers, Carl does admit that a certain group of people seems “more oriented on election security as a means of election suppression.” They discuss whether voter fraud is really a problem, how voting should ideally happen, and the opposite messages of 1984 and A Brave New World.

Carl and Sean go on to talk about the difficulties of ousting an incumbent local politician. Carl points out the problems that occur when our two-party system “holds a death grip” on the state election board. They talk about the Articles of Federation and how our nation’s founding fathers knew that governance could not always be held at an elite level. Carl points out how the states are now stepping up to balance out the current overstepping of the federal government.

The conversation returns to the cost of civic non-participation. We hear about healthy skepticism versus lack of engagement, and Carl tells us how he responds to people who say, “But there’s no candidate on the ballot who aligns with my ideals.” He also dispels the idea that we should simply give up the fight since both parties are corrupt. Carl tell us about politicians, such as Jasmine Crockett, who have gone a long way after starting with very little…and those who have increased their net worth via politics without any intention to fight for the people. Listen to hear about his awesome idea for politician baseball cards.

Carl and Sean struggle with the dilemma of maintaining neutrality in today’s ultra-polarized political climate. Carl bemoans how Crayon Box Politics can sometimes come across as partisan because his organization takes “a hardline stance on any policies that are written/enacted in such a way that they infringe on the human rights of any individual.” He uses ICE attacks on undocumented citizens as an example.

As the episode continues, Carl tells us about his weekly podcasts and how a little bit of “butt breathing” is a good way to take a break from the stress of current events. They talk about the decline of civil education in school, the No Kings protests, neoliberalism, countering disinformation, and much, much more about the many aspects of voting – including (but not limited to) how the people of Colorado voted to raise taxes so kids could eat, why we use the Australian voting system, and how voters used to get shot for choosing the ‘wrong’ candidate.

Carl also shares information about his upcoming project – The Archivist – and AI tool to help with civil engagement. He and Sean talk about campaign finance reform and how information needs to be more accessible to the average user.

Carl’s overlying message is one of empathy and caring about issues that don’t directly affect you. He closes the show by telling us what serving in the military taught him about transparency and giving us more information about Crayon Box Politics (including where the name came from).

To find out more, visit:

https://www.crayonboxpolitics.com/

https://www.crayonboxpolitics.com/podcast

https://www.facebook.com/crayonboxpolitics/

We get so committed to what we see as progressivism that we forget the primary stance of what we’re fighting for – what’s the humanity of these people?

Sean’s Monologue: What is Misandry?

This episode brings us a conversation with Martin Henson, the executive director of the BMEN Foundation and one of the few voices talking about how identity framing within America creates misandry/racism that is specifically targets Black men, separating them from the larger Black community. Martin uses the examples of police violence, the prison industrial complex, and actions of the Trump administration to illustrate his point.

Martin shares his views on the Obama administration, both positive and negative, then shines more light on the myth that Black men in the U.S. are hyper-violent and hyper-sexual. Why has this misandry endured for so long? Martin tells us two definitions of male patriarchy and talks about the divestment of Black men and communities through policy.

Speaking from his position as an organizer, Martin provides context for Black Lives Matter and shares some criticisms of the movement. He tells us how the post-Obama rise of the conservative far-right actually began in 2008. What did white culture fear so much, and how did this affect the BLM message? Are people burdened with the trifecta of being Black, male, and poor even invited into the spaces that are meant to advocate for their survival? Martin talks about the fallacy of equating comfort with success, warning us that feeling comfortable in a space doesn’t necessarily mean that we are doing something well.

Why is anti-Black misandry one area where LGBTQ+ and other diverse communities share equality? Why might a far-right viewpoint become appealing to a Black man? Martin speaks to the responsibilities of being male and stresses the importance of Black men having a space to talk about this reality, so they can be better to themselves and better to the world around them. Listen to learn how and why women have become curators of Black male hardship. And what’s the persistent question that gets asked again and again each political season?

Martin tells us how the context of “respectability discourse” has shifted over the decades, then shares his views on why the Internet and social media has made it harder to exist. He talks about Candace Owens and George Floyd, how the alt-right is better than we are at making their message accessible, and how there seems to be a resurgence of each historical cause about every twenty years.

Martin and Sean discuss the cultural impact of accepted ideas about how Black men think and feel, and Martin asks why people don’t see Black men as legitimate authors of their own experience. He speaks to the challenges for Black boys in America, restorative justice, and whether Trump has caused a resurgence of racism or is simply allowing us to be what we’ve always been. Martin shares the danger he fears when traversing rural communities.

Why does Martin think we have “a hard twenty years ahead of us”? He and Sean talk about the current Democratic establishment, the impact of a third Trump term on political organizers, the importance of churches within our communities, and whether or not the Internet has caused as much harm for social movements as it has good.

Martin concludes by telling us about his non-profit, BMEN Foundation.

You can learn more and connect with Martin Henson at:

https://bmenfoundation.org/

https://x.com//@BMENFoundation

http://facebook.com/BMENfoundation/

https://www.instagram.com/BMENFoundation/#

https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmen-foundation

What is the cost to the world when we live in a truth created by others?

Sean’s Monologue: Charlie Kirk and Domestic Terrorism

Today we have a conversation with Bobbi Barrington, an inspiring Australian woman who lived for 26 years in the wrong marriage, 40 years in the wrong career, and 59 years in the wrong body. Bobbi’s goal is to help motivate people to make the positive changes they need in their lives, but what does it take to change and where does change begin? Bobbi is here to guide us on the path to “telling a better story.”

Are our life stories true or have we been born into them and embodied them just because they are the stories thrust upon us? It all starts with awareness, so Bobbi begins by talking about self-awareness. She tells us about growing up in a hostile household and the strategies she developed to keep herself safe. Then she shares her journey of self-discovery – allowing her extroverted personality to shine through and giving herself permission to return to childhood and learn to play as an adult.

Over the course of this episode, Bobbi teaches us to shift our mindsets from “I can’t” to “I can.” Listen to hear her Michelangelo metaphor, to learn why discomfort is sometimes good, and how to use ChatGPT as a guide to self-discovery. Bobbi also tells us how a “fake” story about yourself can be turned into reality.

Bobbi talks about how culture shapes our gender identities. She tells us that many of the changes we make for ourselves transcend gender. After experiencing life from both sides, Bobbi has come up with two simple yet important pieces of advice to offer to men and to women.

Sean and Bobbi conclude by discussing the similarities and differences between Australia and the United States in terms of political problems. Bobbi tells us about her personal political views and how her beliefs have been influenced and changed thanks to her international travels. She leaves us with the question – “This belief…does it serve? Am I sure? Am I really sure?”

You can Live Your Truth with Bobbi at:

www.bobbibarrington.com