Jonathans Verdicts: Recent Episodes
Jonathan Simeone
The verdict for this episode is: I'm still not voting. In this episode, I discuss why Kamala Harris joining the race will have no affect on my decision to not vote for any candidates.
In this episode, I discuss how the Democratic Party's lack of commitment to democracy resulted in Trump having a great chance to win the election.
The title of this episode is: More Debt Ceiling Nonsense. The verdict for this episode is: talk of the mythical debt means the American people will lose again. Joe Biden and Kevin McCarthy are meeting Wednesday to discuss the debt ceiling and spending cuts. While Biden and White House staff are talking tough, the ending here is so predictable. Biden and the Democrats will cave. Republicans will raise the debt ceiling in exchange for spending cuts that hurt the American people. As always, those spending cuts will be deliberately targeted to hurt people with disabilities, people of color, people living in poverty, and the future of our planet.Ukraine will soon have its tanks. Later, it will get long range missiles. The Pentagon will continue getting record breaking budgets even though it can't account for huge sums it previously got. Police will keep getting more money. Corporations will keep making record profits. The rest of us will get even more screwed than we are already being screwed.This outcome is predictable not because similar things have happened regularly over the last several decades. This is predictable because the politicians and their corporate masters created the debt ceiling to ensure the wealthy could keep getting rich off of government debt and then the debt could be used to scare the uninformed into believing that a looming fiscal crisis necessitates sacrifice. Meanwhile, the same people will continue getting richer and more powerful. The same people will continue being hurt. And the same people will be comfortable enough and scared enough to hide from the truth of what America has always been.Thank you for listening to this episode of Jonathan's Verdicts. I appreciate your support.
In this episode, I make the case for abolishing the Senate.TranscriptThe Title of this episode is: the Senate should be abolished. The verdict for this episode is: the Senate's purpose is to prevent progress and maintain systems of oppression.I do not call for the abolishment of the Senate lightly. I realize limiting political processes will result, when the right has power, in terrible consequences. But the Senate still must be abolished in order for their to be any chancce at real progress.The Senate, as people who know American history understand, , was designed to prevent politics from actually reflecting the will of the people and to ensure the wealthy maintained all of the real power. Under the Constitution, tmembers of the Senate were chosen by individual state legislatures, not the people.. Each state was given two senators specifically to ensure the small slave states had more power than their populations should have allowed. This problem still plagues American politics today.How often in recent times have issues supported by a majority of Americans been stopped by the undemocratic Senate and its rules, especially the filibuster, designed to prevent the majority from governing. That shameful reality leads to what should be an obvious conclusion: as long as America has a senate progress will be incremental and never sufficient.As long as small, white states can dominate what becomes law in America, their agenda will continue being the American agenda. Even when they lack the power, because they Don't have the House, Senate, and/or the presidency, they can use the Senate and its undemocratic rules and nature to ensure the will of the majority is thwarted and progress dies. It's true that majority rule will not always be a good thing. But Constant minority rule is a terrible thing that is only supported by those who want to prevent progress and uphold systems of oppression.Again, I understand abolishing the Senate will sometimes lead to negative results. But if the lack of a Senate enabled the House and the president to actually govern more for the benefit of the people, fewer people would be inclined to vote for the right because they would see actual benefits in their lives from a government that sometimes worked for their benefit.Abolishing the Senate would not be a political cure-all, but it would be a step in the right direction. Yes, we need campaign finance reform, true voting rights, and more, but abolishing the Senate would be an important part of making America a more democratic country.Thank you for listening to this episode of Jonathan's Verdicts. I appreciate your support.
Show NotesIn this episode, I give examples and highlight how continuing to vote for Democrats will never result in meaningful change.TranscriptThe title of this episode is: Democrats never do anything. The verdict for this episode is: Nothing will fundamentally change until people stop voting for Democrats.As someone who supported Bernie Sanders in both 2016 and 2020, it hurts me to say this: but no Democrat actually fights for workers, people of color, people with disabilities, seniors, or all the people historically and continuously oppressed to make wealthy white people more wealthy.I want to walk through some examples to highlight this point: Democrats stabbed railroad workers in the back forcing them to take a contract with no actual sick days. Democrats never tried to raise the minimum wage. During the campaign, Biden talked about the weak public option for health insurance but has never raised it as president. Democrats talked about raising the minimum wage but never have tried. Almost every Democrat talked about some kind of student loan relief but pretended to do it n a way that would be struck down in a court.Sadly, I could continue. The unfortunate truth is that voting for Democrats never results in any kind of fundamental change; in fact, the only campaign promise Biden has fought hard to deliver on is the idea that nothing would fundamentally change.All of this means that if you continue voting for Democrats, you are unfortunately part of the problem. As long as Democrats can maintain some degree of power by talking a lot about change and continuing to harm people for the benefit of their corporate masters, the rest of us will continue suffering.Sure, the Republican Party is worse. But the Democratic Party isn't meaningful opposition. The Democratic Party has never been meaningful opposition.Even if you believe the Democratic Party can be reformed, your best course of action is to stop voting for Democrats until Democrats start doing something for you.Thank you for listening to this episode of Jonathan's Verdicts. I appreciate your support.
This is the first episode of a new podcast I have started to teach people with disabilities about their legal rights and how to access them. I'm posting this here to share what I have been up to recently. Future episodes will be published to the Demand Our Access website.
The verdict for this episode is: Joe Manchin is worth all 100 progressives.
Rough Transcript
Hello, and welcome to Jonathan's Verdicts. I'm Jonathan Simeone.
The title of this episode is: Congressional Progressives are Useless. The verdict for this episode :is Joe Manchin is worth all 100 congressional progressives.
As always, I don't edit these podcast episodes, and I don't have a script. They are just a chance for me to talk about whatever is on my mind.
I decided to record this episode after reading about the latest iteration of the build back agenda plan that Biden has put forth. And the reason I want to record this is it shows us how useless congressional progressives really are.
There are 100 or so people in the House who come to the Progressive Caucus, who say they are progressives and we know there are a few in the Senate, who also say they are progressives. And none of these people accomplish very much. And as a collective, they accomplish way less than Joe Manchin and Kiersten Sinema.
I want to give some examples. When progressives first started talking about their goals for this Congress, they had a $10 trillion package. Then it went down to 6 trillion. Then with Biden they had a 3.5 trillion dollar package. Now, reports are the final cost will be somewhere around $1.75 trillion. That cost is over 10 years, and it is divided between priorities like climate change, family medical leave, health insurance, and all kinds of things that benefit most, if not all Americans.
But I want to put the cost in comparison. Recently, the Congress adopted a one year defense budget of $778 billion. That means that since the Pentagon gets an increase basically every year Over the next 10 years we will be spending roughly $8 trillion dollars on the Pentagon.
If this bill passes, we will be spending 1.75 trillion over 10 years on all of these things from climate change, to family medical leave, to health care, prescription drug coverage, all of these things.
And we will be spending less than a quarter on all of those things than we will be spending on bombs, missiles, and killing people. Less than a quarter.
So the priorities of this country are totally screwed up.
But here's the point. The point is we have come from 10 trillion to 3.5 trillion to 1.75 trillion, because the progressives in Congress are useless.
Biden did a town hall last night and acknowledged that the original 12 weeks of family medical leave would be cut to four. There's another report that says that won't even begin until 2024. The child tax credit the democrats gave themselves so much credit for, they were lifting half the children out of poverty and all that will be extended by one year in this bill. According to the report, one year. And we went, during the campaign, from some people saying we 'll forgive all of your student loan debt. Some people were saying $50,000. Some people were saying $10,000. Some people were saying free college. Some were saying free community college. Now, we're getting a few more Pell Grants.
A few more Pell Grants. Why, because Manchin and Sinema don't want to pay for these programs.
Bernie Sanders went on and on about, we're gonna get dental and vision coverage into Medicare. Know they're not
.
When Biden told us during the campaign that we couldn't have Medicare for All, he said we're going to have a public option. No we're not.
Then they talked about maybe we're going to lower the Medicare age to 60 or 55. No they're not.
all of this stuff has come out of the bill entirely or has been dramatically reduced because Manchin and Sinema insist on it.
How do they insist on it? They insist on it because they say we won't vote for the bill unless you take all of these things that help the American people out of the bill.
And what do the progressives say? The progressives say we'll vote for anything. Just give us anything. It doesn't even have to be close to what we started out asking for. We'll vote for anything.
The verdict for this episode is: we must strike at capitalism first.
Loose Transcript
Hello, and welcome to Jonathan's Verdicts. I'm Jonathan Simeone
.
The title of this episode is: capitalism needs brutal policing. The verdict for this episode is: wee must strike at capitalism first.
As always, I don't edit these podcast episodes, and I don't have a script. They are just a chance for me to talk about whatever is on my mind.
We will soon, or already do have more police on the streets than we did the day George Floyd was murdered. The months of nationwide protests did not result in the defunding of police. They did not result in abolishing police. They did not even result in any meaningful police reform. Sadly, they accomplished nothing. And now we are at a point where in response to the protesting and in response to escalated violence many communities have more police on the streets than they did the day Mr Floyd was murdered. And the sad part of this is it was all very predictable.
And the reason is very simple: the biggest driver of crime, as anyone who thinks about this stuff honestly and intelligently knows, is desperation and lack of opportunity. People are desperate. People are hungry. People are being evicted. Record numbers of people are relying on food banks for meals. Sure, there will always be crime legitimate, horrific crime. But the truth is that most crime would be eliminated if every person had a decent place to live, a decent income, felt like they truly had opportunity to advance in life, and that their children had fair, equitable opportunity to advance in life.
But capitalism is diametrically opposed to equity and equality. Capitalism cannot survive without people to exploit. Capitalism cannot survive without cultural division. So capitalism needs brutal policing. Because the truth is capitalism can only deter and punish.
It cannot provide.
And so, when some communities did remove a fraction of money from the police, without a real effort to invest in community, without an effort to provide the American people the basic necessities of life, there was always going to be an increase in crime.
The capitalist class was always going to use that increase in crime to scare people, to foment division, and to further indoctrinate racism. And yes, to hire more police
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You see, we can't defund police, we can't abolish the current form of policing without actually investing in communities and providing opportunities. Capitalism will not allow for those things. This country will never do those things.
Capitalism needs brutal policing.
As a result, America now has more police and nothing has been done to rein in the racism and the brutality that are hallmarks of policing.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Jonathan's Verdicts. I very much appreciate your support.
The verdict for this episode is: nothing else will work.
In this episode, I discuss how our only shot at a government that works for us is through civil disobedience.
Rough Transcript
Hello, and welcome to Jonathan's Verdicts. I'm Jonathan Simeone.
The title of this episode is: It's Time for Civil Disobedience. The verdict for this episode is: nothing else will work.
I really hate to say this, but it's true.
I have been following politics since 1988. Over the years, I have become increasingly concerned with the lack of representation, a lack of equity, And, frankly, the lack of compassion for the people demonstrated by our elected officials. But now I feel more hopeless than I've ever felt about things
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The lack of compassion is at an all time high. The lack of empathy is at an all time high. The lack of spirit and cooperation is at an all time high. And, sadly, selfishness and greed, are at an all time high.
The truth is so many of the problems we face were avoidable. Many of them, except for maybe climate change, can still largely be mitigated. But we simply don't have enough people who care
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That is especially true for the people we have elected to represent us. Neither party cares. No politician truly cares. It is all about special interests. It is all about money. And it is entirely corrupt.
As I have said before, protests have been shown to be irrelevant. They simply don't work any longer. In the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, Democrats are now calling for more police. In the aftermath of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, Democrats in the House, at least in the House Armed Services Committee, want to give the Pentagon $24 billion more than even Biden requested.
We are on an endless loop of war, savagery, discrimination, inequity, and oppression.
And if we don't engage in civil disobedience, the kinds of civil disobedience that will really get their attention, I don't think there is reason for optimism. And I truly Hate--hate saying that.
So what kinds of civil disobedience should we engage in? Honestly, I don't know right now. Civil disobedience, is a personal thing. I think we have to be very strategic about what we as individuals and what we as a collective could do to engage in the appropriate amount of civil disobedience. I don't know what my contribution to a future of civil disobedience will look like. But I do know I'm ready.
Because I do care about other people. I do care about the world. I care about the animals. I want our air and water to be clean. I want all of the stuff that so many pay lip service to to actually matter
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So, I'm ready. I will engage in civil disobedience. Once I figure out how I can best do so. I'm open to ideas. Please contact me. And in your own lives, I hope many of you will look at how you can contribute. Because this won't be fixed through voting. It won't be fixed through protesting. If we continue to do the things that they expect from us, if we continue to play within the rules that they have rigged, we're doomed.
So with that, good luck. Because I think we're going to need it in the next few months. And here's to a future of civil disobedience
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Thank you for listening to this episode of Jonathan's Verdicts
The verdict for this episode is: if the left doesn't have better messaging, the left will never win.
Transcript
Below is my latest effort to produce a textual representation of my podcast episodes. It's not where I want it to get, but it's better than my previous effort.
Hello, and welcome to Jonathan's Verdicts. I'm Jonathan Simeone.
The title of this episode: is The Left is Losing. The verdict for this episode is: If the left doesn't have better messaging, the left will never win.
As always, I don't edit these podcast episodes, and I do not have a script. They are just a chance for me to talk about whatever is on my mind
.
Before getting into the substance of this episode, I want to discuss my attempts to create a transcript. So folks who are deaf or hard of hearing can follow along. I would give last week's effort, a solid b minus. Recording without a script, and then turning that into a transcript, even with the captions from Zoom, is not particularly easy. I think I have to have a more realistic goal, at least for now. I hope to find a better solution to this than I'm doing now, but for now, my goal is simply going to be to take the captions and turn them into a usable piece of text.
With that being said, let's get into the substance of the podcast.
The left is losing. As a leftist, it hurts me to say that. But we have to be honest. And the reality of it is Joe Biden's approval ratings are around 60% in most, if not all of the major polls. In some of them he's over 60%.
About a third of the country would still vote for Donald Trump.
Maybe one or 2%, if that, would vote for a Green Party candidate or some other real leftist candidate.
So, the left is taking a beating.
The reason we are taking a beating is the messaging. And I'm going to be really blunt here. The vast majority of Americans have health insurance. Maybe they don't like it. Maybe it doesn't meet all their needs. Maybe they know it's too expensive. But they have health insurance.
They don't care about Medicare for All in the way it is being sold to them by the left. They have insurance. They're afraid of higher taxes. They're afraid of losing what they have.
If the messaging doesn't encompass what they get from Medicare for All, and that is insurance not being tied to their jobs, cheaper, insurance, potentially more money in their pocket, if their employer chooses to reinvest some of that money in the workforce. There are many other benefits. No deductibles, not really very many copays, and more services and benefits.
But that is the message that has to be sold in a country where 30 or 40 million people are uninsured and roughly 300 million people are insured.
Even if most of it is crappy.
You have to speak to the insured population to sell the idea of completely overhauling the health care that people have come to know. It's that simple.
The same thing is true with things like student loan forgiveness. You know even Biden is out there talking about forgiving Ivy League debt. Just total nonsense. So many of us, including me, did not go to an Ivy League school. We racked up 10s of thousands in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debt to better ourselves. The messaging has to change on that.
We have to figure out how to sell these ideas to a much cross section of society. The left has to imagine the leftist coalition, as being broader and more inclusive than it does today. What that means is we have to look at not just including people who want to do things because the changes we are talking about benefit them directly or because the changes we want to see make society a better place. The left has to understand that most people are motivated by fear and by selfishness, way more than they are motivated by altruism and doing the right thing. The messaging from us has to acknowledge and address that reality.
The Democrats and the Republicans are spectacular at this. The republicans sell irrational fear better than anyone coul...
The verdict for this episode is: corporate profits matter more than lives.
Transscript
Below is my first attempt to use Zoom to help me create a transcript for a podcast episode. Obviously, I need more practice.
Hello, and welcome to Jonathan's verdicts. I'm Jonathan Simeone.
The title of this episode is: Biden ignores science too. The verdict for this episode is: corporate profits matter more than lives.
Before getting into the substance of this podcast, I want to address a long standing issue that I have talked about before.
And honestly, one that has prevented me from recording more podcast episodes than I have. That is a way to make the podcast episodes accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing
.
It has really frustrated me that I have never been able to solve that problem. So today, I'm trying something new. I'm using the Zoom platform to record this podcast, and also to make a transcription of what I'm saying.
My plan is to then edit the transcription file and post it to my website with the podcast episode. If this works, it will solve my problem and make the podcast episodes accessible to more people.
So if you have any comments about this new way I'm doing the podcast, please let me know.
You can contact me at Jonathan@JonathanSimeone.com. Or you can find me on Twitter at Jonathan_Ufi.
As always, I don't edit these podcast episodes, and I don't have a script. They are just a chance for me to talk about whatever is on my mind.
So to refresh, the title of this episode is: Biden ignores science too. The verdict for this episode is: corporate profits matter more than lives.
Now, obviously, people who are at all familiar with my content know that corporate profits mattering more than lives is a constant theme in my communication. Because I truly believe it.
That being said, I think what happened this week really highlights how true that is. Because here's the straight up truth.
There is no scientific justification to advise vaccinated people to stop wearing masks. There is no rational reason to do that, especially if your primary concern is saving lives and keeping people from getting sick.
Because here's the thing. There are breakthrough cases, people who become vaccinated, And then get the virus. An interesting case was reported this week where New York Yankee shortstop Gleyber Torres, had the virus last year, became fully vaccinated, and now has the virus again.
So, this is a person who's fully vaccinated, whose body presumably generated antibodies from his first infection, and yet he's infected again. Although the chances are much smaller, it is undeniably true that vaccinated people can get, can transmit, and can even become sick and die from the virus.
So why is this happening? Why is someone who ran on we respect science, I'm going to listen to the scientists. Why is this happening?
There's a very simple reason. Companies are having trouble making money. Businesses are having trouble staying open. Yes, there's the political concern that people really are tired of this, and they just want to go about what they remember as their lives. That's true. But this is about money. Offices need to open up. People need to go back to work. People need to earn money so they can buy stuff and pay their rent.
And because the government has adopted a vaccine or bust strategy, it must get as many people vaccinated as possible. That's just the truth of it.
But again, if you are truly interested in keeping yourself safe. If you are truly interested in protecting the people around you.
Whether you are vaccinated or not, whether you have waited two weeks past your second dose or not, you really should wear a mask.
Yeah, it sucks. It's not the most comfortable thing. I don't like doing it either. But that's the reality of it. Biden's CDC is ignoring science because it puts profits over the value of our lives. That's just a fact. It may be an uncomfortable fact for people.
But here's the bottom line.
The verdict for this episode is: the deficit of the United States doesn't matter.
I discuss how each president for the last 92 years with the exception of Clinton has added to the deficit. I also show how the drivers of deficits are military spending and tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations.
The verdict for this episode is: since they are Democrats, House progressives will not use the power they have.
In this episode, I discuss how House progressives could remove Pelosi choose the next speaker, and get real benefits for using their power to choose the next speaker.
I also discuss why this option is much better than forcing a vote on Medicare for All.
The verdict for this episode is: no one in Congress is really fighting for the people.
In this episode, I discuss how no one on the left fights with the skill and determination as McConnell. Yes, he is unethical and immoral. But he delivers for the wealthy and corporations way better than anyone thinks of delivering for the people.
The verdict for this episode is: unity will not result in change.
In this episode, I discuss how Biden's focus on unity is promoting the status quo, refusing to change, and upholding systemic oppression.
The verdict for this episode is: Biden will win, but will he win?
In this episode, I make all kinds of predictions related to the 2020 election and explain my reasoning for those predictions.
The verdict for this episode is: I now support packing the Supreme Court.
In this episode, I discuss the historical support for court packing, and I propose a constitutional amendment.
The verdict for this episode is: be honest about why you're voting for Biden.
In this episode, I discuss those who say they are voting because they want to remove Trump, but who are promising to move Biden to the left.
The verdict for this episode is: if I had one or two reasons, I would vote for Biden.
In this episode, I discuss the fact that Biden and I agree on no important policy issues. Since we don't, I don't have a reason to vote for him.
The verdict for this episode is: I really hate Joe Biden.
In this episode, I discuss how Biden's Keep America Great website helped me figure out why I hate him.
The verdict for this episode is: police buy sneakers too.
In this episode, I discuss the recent NBA players decision to skip some games and why it's not that important. By discussing their commitment to capitalism, I show how NBA players cannot lead social change.
The verdict for this episode is: UBI is too simplistic to work.
While I understand a universal basic income is needed during the pandemic, it is not an equitable solution to our long-term economic discrimination. In this episode, I discuss some of the reasons why.
The verdict for this episode is: the aftermath of George Floyd's murder shows why voting blue is a waste of time.
In this episode, I show how the response to George Floyd's murder by Democratic politicians demonstrates why voting blue is a waste of time.
The verdict for this episode is: the political parties only care about Karen.
In this episode, I use Biden's recent comments about black voters and the House bill to show how the Democratic Party only cares about Karen.
The verdict for this episode is: Democrats care more about politics and power than people.
I discuss the lack of real opposition to the Electoral College, Biden's support of people voting during a pandemic, Pelosi's disinterest in providing oversight of the money being spent by the Treasury, how little Congress has done for people, and the reality that only AOC voted against the last bill.
The verdict for this episode is: coronavirus has shown why Biden is a terrible candidate.
In this episode I discuss a number of the ways coronavirus has shown the weakness of Biden's proposals and the failures of his record.
The verdict for this episode is: I won't discuss politics or the economy in this episode.
I almost got through the episode honoring its verdict, but I slipped up in the last minute.
While acknowledging I was speculating, I discussed the potential waves of virus and what the next year or more could look like.
The verdict for this episode is: none of the plans proposed in Congress are good enough.
In this episode, I discuss ways to get government assistance to those most needing it during the pandemic. Specifically, I address getting cash to people who really need it, health care for everyone, rent and mortgage relief, student loan assistance, and more.
The verdict for this episode is: Joe Rogan says terrible things. Joe Biden destroys lives.
In this episode, I demonstrate how Biden voted against a woman's right to choose, voted to discriminate against same-sex couples, regularly voted with Wall Street and against the American people, and lied about his record.
The verdict for this episode is: Congress has once again failed the American people.
In this episode, I discuss how the bill being sold by Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats fails America. Topics covered include: the tying of benefits to inadequate testing; cutting people's pay because they need to care for someone who is sick; and the bill's failure to address predictable shortcomings in available hospital beds and medical equipment.
The verdict for this episode is: Bernie can still win.
In this episode, I admit my thoughts on South Carolina's impact were off, I demonstrate how the race is far closer than the media wants you to believe, I talk about Biden's endorsements, and Warren's campaign.
The verdict for this episode is: when we go to bed on Tuesday, no one will be talking about South Carolina.
In this episode, I discuss Biden's small coalition, Bernie Sanders's wide, diverse coalition, and demonstrate how South Carolina is not an indication of what is to come.
The verdict for this episode is: can you imagine what would happen if Bernie Sanders lied about meeting Martin Luther King?
In this episode, i demonstrate how Joe Biden has been lying about getting arrested in South Africa on the way to meet Nelson Mandela. I also highlight the unwillingness of many in the media to ask Biden about his lies. I conclude the media would act very differently if Bernie Sanders had lied about a meeting with Martin Luther King.
The verdict for this episode is: nothing happened during the debate to change the trajectory of the race.
In this episode, I discuss the lie that Bernie Sanders wanted to primary Obama, Sanders's great answers on foreign policy, and add a few general comments about the race.
The verdict for this episode is: Bernie Sanders will be the next president of the United States!
In this episode, I discuss Bernie's path to the nomination, how no one else has a path to the nomination, why the media doesn't understand why we don't care about the stock market the way they do, and how poverty is calculated to underestimate the number of Americans living in poverty.
The verdict for this episode is: that was quite a night!
In this episode, I discuss the Nevada debate and its aftermath. Topics include: choosing a nomination through the delegate process; Elizabeth Warren's changing positions; Bloomberg's terrible night; Bloomberg's racism and sexism; and what the pundits don't get about Bernie Sanders's message.
The verdict for this episode is: mean tweets are not the story!
In this episode, I use my own story of not having health insurance, being unable to pay for regular heat, and being on SNAP to show how the media's focus on tweets demonstrates their elitist privilege.
The verdict for this episode is: nothing the centrists can say will make me vote for Bloomberg.
In this episode, I discuss the racism, sexism, and the purchasing of the election by Mike Bloomberg.
The verdict for this episode is: we can do this!
In this episode I look forward in the Democratic Party race. I discuss A Nevada Union's wrong decision, Mike Bloomberg's racism, Biden's collapse, and Bernie's path to the nomination.
The verdict for this episode is: Medicare-for-all is the only option.
In this episode, I demonstrate how the health care plans of Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg will fail the American public.
The verdict for this episode is: we won't let Trump Win.
In this episode, I discuss the fear mongering on the part of those bought and paid for by corporations on the prospect of Trump winning again.
The verdict for this episode is: no candidate who wants Republican votes should be the Democratic nominee.
In this episode, I discuss reasons why Wall Street Pete is the choice of billionaires.
The verdict for this episode is: now is the time!
In this episode, I remind everyone that now is the time for the revolution America has needed for 250 years.
The verdict for this episode is: the media is lying about those of us who support Bernie Sanders.
In this episode, I discuss my personal history, why I support Bernie, and I demonstrate how the media is lying about those of us who support Bernie. I also include a history lesson for those who attack populist candidates.
The verdict for this episode is: our politics will not work until the two-party system is abolished.
In this episode, I use the impeachment trial to demonstrate how the two-party system is broken beyond repair.
The verdict for this episode is: the Republican's defense of Trump is embarrassing.
In this episode, I discuss the arguments made by Trump's defense team.
The verdict for this episode is: the criticism of political endorsements is becoming absurd.
In this episode, I discuss the aftermath of Joe Rogan endorsing Bernie Sanders.
The verdict for this episode is: age, disability, and religion also matter.
In this episode, I discuss the sad reality that many voters still consider things like gender, age, and disability when considering who to support for president.
The verdict for this episode is: Uncle Sam isn't always the devil.
In this episode, I discuss how some on the left, whom have taught me a lot, have to stop seeing America as always wrong. Sure, America has done loads of terrible things. But America isn't always wrong.
The verdict for this episode is: I will not unite behind a centrist candidate.
In this episode, I discuss how the Democratic Party has never cared about progressives and progressive values, but the Democratic Party blames progressives when the Democratic Party's centrist candidates lose.
The verdict for this episode is: we don't have universal health care because we choose not to have universal health care.
In this episode, I discuss how the politicians and media owned by corporations lie about the cost of Medicare For All.
The verdict for this episode is: Western democracies don't represent the will of the people.
In this episode, I discuss how the results in the recent UK election and those in some recent American elections don't reflect the votes cast by the people.
In this episode, I demonstrate why it's absurd to believe Trump and the GOP care about Corruption in Ukraine.
The verdict for this episode is: the public option for health care will not allow people to keep their private health insurance.
In this episode, I discuss why claims that people would be able to keep their private health insurance if a public option was added allowing them to buy into Medicare are false.
Transcript of Corporate Joe and the Electoral College
Welcome to Jonathan's Verdicts. I'm Jonathan Simeone.
The title of this episode is: Corporate Joe Biden and the Electoral College.
The verdict for this episode is: Corporate Joe Biden is only a serious candidate because of the Electoral College.
Lots of people, including me, regularly, rightly accuse Republicans of supporting the Electoral College because it's the best way a party that offends much of the electorate can win elections. But there is another part of the Electoral College story that must be told. I'm speaking about the reality that the Electoral College leads to discussions of electability that have nothing to do with the will of the people.
According to the corporate-run media and their polls, Corporate Joe Biden is the leader in the nomination battle in the Democratic Party. The story the corporate-run media is spinning is Democrats need to nominate someone who is electable in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, all important states Trump narrowly won in 2016.
The electability story centers around the idea that Democrats have to nominate someone who can win back some of the working-class white men who left the Democratic Party for Trump. This story fails to remind people that Clinton won the popular vote by roughly three million votes. If it weren't for the Electoral College, not only would Clinton be president, but no one would be talking about the need to have an election that revolves entirely around placating thousands of working-class white men in three states.
Truthfully, the Electoral College is not only good for Republicans, it's good for corporations and the Democrats they have bought. They can't win the hearts and minds of a majority of the American public. They don't want to give up some of their purchased power so we can have health care, better wages, and free college. So, they leave in place an antiquated system designed to support slavery so they can scare people into supporting someone like Corporate Joe who has a long history of supporting corporations over the working-class voters he really hopes you think he cares about.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Jonathan's Verdicts.
Transcript
Welcome to Jonathan's Verdicts. I'm Jonathan Simeone. The title of this episode is: Democrats Ignore People With Disabilities: The verdict for this episode is: no Democratic candidate for president talks about people with disabilities.
I have seen most of every town hall candidates have done on television, I haven't seen them asked one question about people with disabilities. I haven't seen one candidate include people with disabilities in a single answer.
While the candidates trumpet the diversity of their staffs, I note they never discuss staffers with disabilities.
The House resolution condemning hatred against every group Congress could imagine condemning acts of hatred against, didn't include people with disabilities. Articles about the increase in diversity of Congressional staff positions, don't include people with disabilities being hired to work in Congress.
The Democratic Candidates and the Democratic Party are so diverse and supposedly commited to diversity that their dismissal and rejection of people with disabilities is noteworthy. Sadly, it won't be noted by anyone who doesn't have a disability.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Jonathan's Verdicts. I will be back next weekend with another episode.
Transcript of the Podcast Episode
Welcome to Jonathan's Verdicts. I'm Jonathan Simeone. The title for this episode is: A Jobs Guarantee Makes Sense. The verdict for this episode is: guaranteeing every American who wants a job a job isn't radical.
Some of the benefits of everyone who wants a job having one include:
Fewer people getting government benefitsGovernment collecting more taxesMore projects getting doneMore Americans having the dignity that comes with work
There are two factors that must also be considered:
There are currently about seven million jobs in the American workforce that employers want filled that aren't filled.Only about 75 percent of the working-age population is working.
So, we have millions of jobs unfilled. We have a crumbling infrastructure. Large areas lack broadband. Millions of Americans aren't working.
Given those realities and the benefits that would come from a guaranteed jobs plan, how can you intelligently argue against a guaranteed jobs plan?
During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt introduced a host of jobs programs. Those programs created new roads and parks, brought electricity to millions and did much to modernize America. All of that while providing millions of Americans decent jobs.
After the Great Depression, the will for government-provided jobs through projects that invest in America disappeared. Over time, our infrastructure began crumbling, areas of our country fell further behind, and good working-class jobs became much harder to find.
If America adopted a guaranteed jobs plan that promised a living wage and union protection, millions of working-class people would find the kind of work they want, our communities would revitalize and modernize, fewer people would need benefits, and America would be a much better place to live.
Oh yeah, millions of Americans would choose these good government jobs over the low-wage, little to no benefit jobs offered by corporations. Oops, I think I answered my question. The idea of a guaranteed jobs plan is regularly criticized because corporations want to continue exploiting American workers.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Jonathan's Verdicts. I appreciate your support.
The verdict for this episode is: I don't care.
In this episode, I discuss the tragic mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue. I point out that I don't care about your objections, or what history may or may not say about the right to bear arms. America will have gun control. When America has gun control, everyone will be safer.
The verdict for this episode is: if the citizens of Washington, DC and Puerto Rico were overwhelmingly white evangelical Christians, they would have Congressional representation.
In this episode, I discuss how DC and Puerto Rico compare with some states in terms of population. I then discuss how different things would be if DC and Puerto Rico were granted statehood. I finish by discussing how DC and Puerto Rico could be granted statehood.
The verdict for this episode is: in America, minority rules.
In this episode, I discuss the real problem destroying American politics--the reality that an illegitimate government is enacting policies opposed by a majority of the American public.
The verdict for this episode is: Brett Kavanaugh is a liar.
In this episode, I discuss several lies Brett Kavanaugh told during his testimony on Thursday. I conclude with the idea that if you support Kavanaugh, you support putting a perjurer on the Supreme Court.
The verdict for this episode is: Trump should be removed from office, but won't.
In this episode, I briefly explain the impeachment process. I next say why I believe Trump should be impeached. But I point out reasons why the Democrats shouldn't pursue impeachment.
The verdict for this episode is: the process for confirming people to the Supreme Court is broken.
In this episode, I discuss changes to the constitution that I would like too see made, because I am sure they would improve both our judicial and political processes.
The verdict for this episode is: for many American workers, wages are not keeping pace with the cost of living.
In this episode, I discuss a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that demonstrates how the real wages of many American workers were lower in 2017 than 2016. Here is a Washington Post story about the report.
I demonstrate the impact of decreasing real wages with a report from The National Low Income Housing coalition that shows there isn't a single state where someone earning a minimum wage can afford a two-bedroom apartment. The Washington Post details the findings.
The verdict for this episode is: I miss blogging and podcasting.
In this episode, I very briefly describe my new job and how I have been having trouble establishing a good balance in my life since getting it. I finish by hoping to more regularly blog and podcast.
The verdict for this episode is: dozens of other countries have violent video games.
This episode is my response to the tired, ridiculous idea that America's mass shooting epidemic can be blamed on something other than guns.
The verdict for this episode is: arming teachers only makes sense if you're willing to have your child shot.
Honestly, this episode resulted from the frustration I'm feeling around the idea that arming teachers is a practical way to defend against school shootings.
The verdict for this episode is: everyone is a law abiding citizen--until they aren't.
In this episode, I discuss one of the most unfortunate statements heard after every American mass shooting.
The verdict for this episode is: everyone involved with the disability community should learn about ABLE accounts.
In this episode, I discuss what I have learned about ABLE accounts. ABLE accounts are tax-free financial accounts that people with disabilities can use to pay qualified disability expenses.
After learning about ABLE accounts, I opened my own and have begun spreading the word about ABLE accounts. I believe ABLE accounts are one of the best things that has happened to the disability community in a long time.
The verdict for this episode is: Republicans care way more about corporations than people.
In this episode, I explain the provisions of the Republican tax bill you may want to know about.
This post details the changes to tax law and provides links to resources.
This page has links to all of the content I have produced about taxes.
The verdict for this episode is: Flynn's guilty plea proves the so-called fake news is right a lot of the time.
In this episode I briefly recap Michael Flynn's guilty plea. After that, I describe the timeline of events that demonstrate Flynn's involvement with Russia.
This post has information about Flynn's guilty plea.
Here's a post with links demonstrating the timeline of Flynn's involvement with Russia.
The verdict for this episode is: Republicans don't care about the debt.
In this episode, I show you how Republicans are using tricks to hide the true cost of their tax proposals. I also discuss some of the problems created by the Senate's proposal to eliminate the individual mandate that requires people to have health insurance.
This post demonstrates how GOP tax plans could result in billions of dollars being cut from Medicare.
Here's information about the repeal of the individual mandate.
Here's more information about the ways the Senate's plan lies about the debt.
Here's a review of what's in the House tax plan for individuals.
The verdict for this episode is: Hillary Clinton did not trade uranium for donations to the Clinton Foundation.
In this episode, I detail the transaction behind the sale of a company named Uranium One to the Russian government. I demonstrate why Hillary Clinton couldn't have approved the sale on her own. I also show how the Clinton Foundation's failure to properly disclose donations added to the conspiracy.
The articles from Snopes and Factcheck have a lot of information about the issues discussed in this episode.
The verdict for this episode is: John Kelly's press briefing was not only dishonest, but it was evidence of his outdated beliefs.
In this episode, I discuss Kelly's press briefing about the phone call between Trump and the family of La David Johnson (a soldier slain in Niger). The focus of the episode is Kelly's words about the days when women, religion, the military, and Gold Star families were considered sacred. I conclude that Kelly's words demonstrate that he wants a society where Christian white men reign supreme.
The verdict for this episode is: my Facebook post about all lives matter was wrong.
In this episode, I discuss a Facebook post I wrote as a response to the messages that black lives and blue lives matter. I describe how I didn't realize that many white Americans are racist. I point out how Donald Trump has shown me that to far more whites than I knew black lives don't matter nearly as much as white lives do.
The verdict for this episode is: reducing the number of tax brackets makes things far more unfair than simple.
In this episode, I explain the current tax brackets. Next, I describe how Donald Trump's tax plan would decrease the number of tax brackets, giving the wealthy a huge tax cut.
Here's a post I wrote explaining tax brackets.
The verdict for this episode is: class action lawsuits are easily the best way to protect consumers cheated by financial institutions.
In this episode, I show how Republicans are trying to eliminate a rule that prevents financial institutions from forcing customers to arbitrate claims against them. Next, I demonstrate how class actions are far better for consumers than is arbitration.
The verdict for this episode is: Jemele Hill's conduct is not akin to that of Curt Schilling or Linda Cohn.
I begin this episode with a description of the incidents that led to Hill,Schilling, and Cohn attracting attention for comments that had nothing to do with sports. After that, I describe how their roles with ESPN at the time of their controversial comments makes a huge difference in what opinions they were able to share.
Jemele Hill's tweets about Trump can be found in the above article.
This article describes why Schilling was fired.
Here's a story about an offensive tweet Schilling shared.
Here's a piece detailing Linda Cohn's criticism of ESPN.
The verdict for this episode is: we shouldn't have to agree to share respect.
In this podcast, I discuss how I was kicked out of a Facebook group of Trump supporters when I discussed Trump's pardon of Joe Arpaio. I compare that with the negative responses I got when I criticized those on the left who were distorting Mike Pence's vote on funding for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
In the podcast, I discuss the sad reality that dozens of Republicans, including many from Texas, voted against funding for the victims of Sandy.
The verdict for this episode is: the words of the treasonous states demonstrate that slavery was the reason for secession.
Four states: Georgia; Mississippi; South Carolina; and Texas published documents explaining their reasons for Secession. As you will see, their words prove that they seceded to maintain slavery.
Slavery and Secession has links to the information discussed in this podcast.
The verdict for this episode is: it is more acceptable to declare Muslims terrorists and kill them than it is to build hospitals and schools in impoverished, Muslim-majority countries.
I recorded this podcast the morning after Donald Trump pretended to give America a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan. The main idea presented in this podcast is that America needs a new strategy for resolving the problems of Afghanistan. America must recognize that the war for Afghanistan is a battle for the hearts and minds of the Afghan people. Very few people living comfortable lives will trade their comfort for life as a terrorist.
The verdict for this episode is: if you still support Donald Trump, you are a racist.
In this episode, I discuss the march through the streets of Charlottesville the night before the so-called Unite the Right rally. I also describe some of the symbols warn by the protestors, some of the chants yelled, and a little of the history behind both.
I also discuss Donald Trump's sad and changing reaction to the hate and violence. After discussing Trump's performance, I conclude that Donald Trump is a racist.
I finish with a message to those still supporting Trump.
This article describes some of the symbols used in the rally.
This post describes the symbols of the Confederacy in America today.
Here's some information about impeachment.
This post describes obstruction of justice.
The verdict for this episode is: insulting the intelligence of those in the Trump administration isn't helping.
I begin this episode by discussing how often I see progressives and Democrats using stupid, moron, idiot, and the like when referring to Trump and his team. After acknowledging that I've been guilty of this too, I explain how Trump has been playing us. I close by making the case that we must reach Trump voters from a place of love--not fear.
The verdict for this episode is: Trump's immigration plan is racist.
In this episode, I explain diversity visas, refugee visas, the family-based system of immigration, and the employment-based system of immigration. I then show how eliminating diversity visas and reducing refugee visas by more than half will greatly restrict the ability of people of color to immigrate to America. Adding the ability to speak English as a critical component of the employment-based system of immigration will, on the other hand, greatly increase the number of white people immigrating to America.
This episode is a response to listener feedback I got about episode 12: Discussing Trump's Immigration Plan.
The information in this podcast comes from a post called: Trump's Immigration Plan Explained.
The verdict for this episode is: America must not embrace its much more racist past.
In this episode, I give a brief description of the history of America's immigration law. I then demonstrate how Trump's immigration proposal is rejecting the progress we've made and returns us to the days when America's immigration policy was based on racism and resentment.
The post entitled American Immigration has links to the information discussed in this podcast.
The verdict for this episode is: Trump won't defund the individual insurance marketplaces.
In this episode, I explain cost sharing reduction payments. I show what they do and who qualifies for them. I also let you know who will be hurt if the cost sharing reduction payments end. I finish by telling you why I don't believe Trump will stop making the cost sharing reduction payments.
This post contains links to more information about cost sharing reduction payments.
The title of this episode is: Explaining Some of the Terms Around the Health Care Debate. The verdict for this episode is: budget reconciliation and the Byrd Rule make health care reform even more difficult.
In this episode, I walk you through the process known as budget reconciliation and the Related Byrd Rule. Also, I explain why the Senate is having to use budget reconciliation in its efforts to reform health care. Lastly, I demonstrate how the Byrd Rule has already affected those efforts.
This is the post I wrote called The Byrd Rule Explained.
This link goes to a post called Budget Reconciliation Explained.
All of the content I've produced about health care is on this page.
Here's a post called The Individual Cost of Medicare. This post has links to the information about Medicare discussed in this podcast.
The post called Health Care in Canada discusses Canada's government-run system of health care.
Here's a link to all of the content I've produced about Medicare.
This podcast is based on a post I published to friends on my personal Facebook page. I was inspired to write it after reading a number of comments critical of the government made by people who once relied on government assistance.
The verdict for this episode is: the Emoluments Clause should cover elected officials.
After discussing arguments against and for the proposition that the Emoluments Clause should cover elected officials, I come to a conclusion that I feel is hard to argue against.
Here's a post I wrote about the Emoluments Clause. It has links to resources about the Emoluments Clause and the arguments against and for the notion that it covers elected officials.
This article describes the killing of Kathryn Steinle.
Here's a post I wrote explaining mandatory minimum sentences.
Here's a look at prison populations by country.
This is the text of Kate's Law.
Here's a link to all of the content I've produced about health care. This page automatically updates every time I produce another post about health care.
This post addresses the alternative way the Senate wants to fund the federal government's portion of Medicaid. It has links to the material discussed in this podcast.
This page updates with all of my content about Medicaid.
This page has links to all of the health care-related content I have produced.
Explaining Essential Health Care Benefits talks about the coverage options that must be offered under Obamacare.
The post entitled The State of American Health care contains all the information discussed in the podcast. The links to the relevant sections of the CIA's World Factbook can be found in this post too.
My health care tag lists all the health care content I have produced. Every time I blog or podcast about health care, the page associated with my health care tag will update.
In episode 002 of Jonathan's Verdicts, I demonstrate why America needs a complete gun ban.
I acknowledge that until I began researching the affect guns are having on society, I believed a ban on assault weapons would be sufficient. I then go through all the evidence that changed my mind.
Here's the article from Politifact that demonstrates more Americans have been killed by guns since 1968 than have died in war.
This article from Politifact shows that way more Americans die from gunshots than die in acts of domestic terror.
My post called Gun Deaths in America details the number of people who died from gunshot wounds in 2014.
In Mass Shootings in America, I discuss the number of mass shootings that have taken place in America.
The post Mass Shootings Around the World compares the number of mass shootings in America with the number of mass shootings in other nations.
The Gun Owners of America have a factsheet discussing lives saved by guns.
The Daily Caller News Foundation also made the case that guns save lives.
This episode begins with a brief timeline of events from Jeff Sessions's confirmation hearing to James Comey being fired. I then discuss Session's decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation and his involvement in Comey's firing.
This video is from NBc. It contains Session's entire testimony before the Senate's Intelligence Committee.
This page is from C-Span and has links to