The Retrospective Podcast: Recent Episodes
Joshua Shane Martin
Hosted by Joshua Shane Martin, this show breaks down political issues of the day and explores how and why people take their positions on those issues, as well as explains his position on the issue.
As some Americans falsely claim large-scale fraud in the 2020 election and hope for four more years of Trump, I examine one of the root causes of our uncivil public discourse and offer my critique of the media and the role it plays in our democracy.
President Trump keeps touting the "miracle" COVID drugs he received at Walter Reed last week. The only thing is, those drugs were created with the help of kidney cells from an aborted fetus. This, despite his administration and the Republican party restricting access to the same research, for other illnesses, that allowed his miracle drug to be developed. Hypocrisy much? Also, in this episode, I'll break down the concept of court packing. Politicians keep using the term in debates and in talking points, but not everyone may be familiar with the concept.
The Presidential Debate left many of us shocked and disappointed, but should we really be surprised by the current state of public discourse? And no indictments were handed down last week for the shooting of Breonna Taylor. Is this an issue of race, or is there something more going on?
As the November 2020 election draws near and many areas are beginning early in-person and mail-in voting, now is the time for me to be honest and transparent with you about whom I will be voting for.
With the help of some inside information, I'll identify why the controversy stirred up by the renovations of the White House Rose Garden is unwarranted and unfair. Just why did they remove the trees? In addition, the same devotionalism and tribalism witnessed in that public response will be examined in the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.
Is the Postal Service being sabotaged to slant the election in favor of President Donald Trump? With collection boxes being removed, overtime being eliminated, and funding from Congress being blocked, it would seem that vote by mail in the 2020 Election is in danger. Especially based on President Donald Trump's recent remarks. But what parts of this debate are fact and which are fiction?
Actual individuals are the ones susceptible to politicization during this pandemic, regardless of the federal government's response, which may or may not contribute to politicization. This episode covers the ways in which politicization has crept into the national debate on face masks, as well as COVID-19 naming and origins. Additionally, I'll explore various human behaviors that we can all recognize during political discussions, and introduce you to a concept of human behavior I've learned to recognize, in order to get to the truth in political debates.
Many Americans are dismissive of the COVID-19 pandemic and some parents even want to send their students back to school in the Fall. In this episode, I will discuss some of the reasons behind that, along with the Federal Government's response to this pandemic and what, if anything, could have been done differently. In addition, I will discuss the Federal Government and American Public's response to similar challenges in the past.
Note: Edited and re-published on Aug 3, 2020 for brevity and to improve clarity.
COVID-19 Timeline
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/nation/2020/04/21/coronavirus-updates-how-covid-19-unfolded-u-s-timeline/2990956001/
WWII Rationing and Restrictions
https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/history/info-2020/world-war-ii-rationing.html
https://www.teachinghistory.org/history-content/ask-a-historian/24088
China Builds 1000-Bed Hospital in 10 Days
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-s-coronavirus-hospital-built-10-days-opens-its-doors-n1128531
Operation Warp Speed
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/06/16/fact-sheet-explaining-operation-warp-speed.html
Federal Government Contracts with Pfizer and BioNTech
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-pfizer-idUSKCN24N1I9
Corporations Enforcing Masks
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/07/16/masks-required-shopping-these-stores-walmart-target-costco-coronavirus/5446365002/
Introducing a new podcast that breaks down the political issues of the day to discuss the motivations behind each side of an issue, as well as what my opinion is on the issue and how that opinion developed. First Up: Confederate Monuments and their place in the 21st Century, along with a few more individuals that deserve greater recognition.