Democratic Perspective: Recent Episodes
Verde Valley Independent Democrats
The Critical Importance Of School Boards. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome to Devin Del Palacio to discuss his views on education as a long-time volunteer and advocate. He has been a school board member for 8 years, served at the National School Board Association for 3 years, and is now the Executive Director of the Arizona School Board Association, a statewide organization dedicated to education development across Arizona.
Del Palacio explains, “I got involved because I have skin in the game. I got involved when I found out I was going to be a father and I sat back and asked myself, ‘What am I going to do to ensure that my daughter could attend and receive a highly equitable quality education?’ And, at the time, I didn’t have an answer. So, I did what any other person would do and hopped on Google and just looked up how to volunteer. Now I have this opportunity to lead the Arizona School Board Association, and our goal there is to empower school board members, equip them with the best information possible so that way they can make the best decisions on behalf of their students.”
He says, “If we have healthy school boards then we’re going to have healthy communities. And, if we have healthy communities, well, we’re going to have thriving neighborhoods. And, if we have thriving neighborhoods, well, I think we’re going to have a thriving Arizona.”
The post Del Palacio Interview – Podcast June 26, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.
Celebrating Our Second Independence Day. Karen McClelland welcomes Coral Evans, former Flagstaff Mayor, legislative candidate and current Northern Arizona Director for U.S. Senator Kelly on our newest federal holiday – Juneteenth.
Evans begins by saying, “Juneteenth is a holiday I had the opportunity to grow up celebrating and I think most African-Americans in the country have celebrated Juneteenth since its inception. But it is somewhat of a newer holiday for some of us who did not know about it, and so I do think it’s important that people understand why we have Juneteenth.”
She goes on to explain that, even after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, many slaves were still not free. It was not until two years later on June 19th, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas that the last slaves were freed. That day became known as Juneteenth by the newly freed people in Texas. “It marks a very important holiday,” says Evans. “It marks our country’s second Independence Day. And it shows the value of never giving up hope in uncertain times. It shows the intention of a country to make sure that everyone has a shot at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Turning to her job for Sen. Kelly, Evans says, “The Senator is very committed to being a senator for all of the people in Arizona. Not just the metropolitan area…I appreciate the opportunity to be out there on his behalf speaking to people, understanding what the issues are, taking those back, and being able to talk to people about the work the Senator is doing.”
The post Evans Interview – Podcast June 19, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.
Making City Government Work. Steve Williamson welcomes Scott Jablow, Mayor of Sedona, to discuss the latest issues and developments in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. They begin by talking about problems caused by OHVs (Off Highway Vehicles). The very name of these vehicles reveals the problems faced by the city – under Arizona law, they are permitted to be driven on Sedona’s streets and public roads.
But, as Jablow explains, “…none of the manufacturers that build OHVs ever designed them or ever tested them and had them approved by the federal government to be on paved and public roads. Because of the way they were designed, they don’t respond to crash avoidance or general driving the same as a sedan or a truck. The biggest issue I have is that they don’t have anti-lock brakes, they don’t have air bags, they don’t have crumple zones…and directional signals.”
Asked what the city is going to do about it, he says there are several things. “We believe we have the right to do this – we’re going to be doing an ordinance to restrict them on state roads as well as our city roads. What I’ve been trying to do is work with the rental companies to find something that will work for everybody. All may not be happy, but we’re trying to work together.”
In addition to dealing with the problem of OHVs, Jablow says the city is currently working on an all hazards safety bill designed to educate the public on what to do in an emergency as well as creating a pedestrian crossing under the Tlaquepaque bridge.
As to criticism he receives, Jablow says, “I try to engage as much as I possibly can. Remember we’re a small town. I think it’s great where me as the mayor can be out engaging people. I don’t mind taking the heat.”
The post Jablow Interview – Podcast June 12, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.
Arizona Legislature’s Anti-Democratic Gamesmanship. Steve and Karen welcome Dianne Post back to the show. Post is an attorney currently working with the AZ Secular Coalition.
The discussion regards the unusual reconvening of the AZ legislature from vacation following its passage of a budget. “The first rumor I heard is that they wanted to prevent Katie Hobbs from making any executive orders while they were gone. So, if she were to issue an executive order for something they didn’t like, if they are not in session, there’s nothing they can do about it,” says Post. “If they’re still in session they can meet and try to overturn the executive orders. But now I’ve heard a second reason: To prevent her from appointing directors to the state agencies. If they can prevent her from appointing directors, that will stymie her from being able to run the government the way she wants to.”
Post says there are other reasons for the GOP-led legislature to remain in session: It can delay any bills signed by the Democratic governor from going into effect. In addition, legislators cannot start working on next year’s bills while the legislature is still in session. Finally, legislators cannot fundraise or campaign until the session ends. All of this is more likely to negatively impact Democrats than Republicans. And next year is likely to be a repeat of the Republican’s reckless behavior of this year with the governor being forced to veto many more crazy bills.
The post Post Interview – Podcast June 5, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.
Assessing GOP Presidential Candidates For 2024. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Gary LaMaster analyze the GOP candidates who have announced their run for president against the Democratic incumbent Joe Biden. In many ways, it’s a rogue’s list headed by twice impeached, indicted felon and sexual assaulter, former president Donald J. Trump.
In many ways, the dilemma facing Republican primary voters is choosing which of the candidates is most cruel.
The post Podcast May 29, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.
Good News And Bad News From The Arizona State Capitol. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Senator Mitzy Epstein, minority leader of AZ State Senate, to report on this year’s legislative session.
Epstein begins by detailing the nearly $18 billion budget that Democratic Governor Hobbs recently signed into law, saying, “The good news is that there are a lot of good projects that will be funded. And the bad news is that they’re all just one time. So, on the one hand there will be a lot of bridges and roads that will be built in various parts across the state. And we will make sure…I personally made sure…that our K12 schools have some inflation funding. The bad news is we don’t have anything next year.”
Despite the giveaways and pet projects the Republican majority included in the budget, Epstein says, “There are some wonderful points of pride in this budget. In addition to the K12 funding for ongoing covering inflation we have another $200 million for school buildings. There’s also unprecedented, historically large amounts of funding invested for affordable housing and homelessness.”
Responding to a question about Governor Hobb’s record-setting number of vetoes, Epstein says, “There was a reporter who said that Governor Hobbs was the veto queen. But I maintain only because our [Republican] Speaker and [Senate] President are the bad bill kings.” She adds, ““As you may know, the House passed 95 bills in one day before we broke for recess. The real tragedy of that is, not only were obviously many of those bills very controversial and…full of hate. In addition to that, 95 bills in just a few hours means that none of them got a full debate. Going through 95 bills all in one day was irresponsible.”
The post Epstein Interview – Podcast May 22, 2023 first appeared on Democratic Perspective.
Building The Future Of The Arizona Democratic Party. OnDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Steve and Karen welcome Yolanda Bejarano, oneof two candidates for chair of the Arizona Democratic Party. She is the currentVice-Chair of the Party. In addition to her work in politics, Bejarano has along history as a steward, organizer, and as National Field Director for the CommunicationWorkers of America labor union.
She says the transition to working for the Democratic Party was a natural progression of her interests in promoting workers’ rights and human rights. Looking at the job as Chair, Bejarano says she would focus on listening to the counties and legislative districts to determine what we do well and what we can do better. She believes there are major opportunities for the Party to improve in a lot of areas. For example, as a Latina, she notes, “We are not communicating with Latinos in a strong way.”
Bejarano has gathered a long list of endorsements from Party leaders.
Holding Our Government Hostage. Host Steve Williamsonreviews the midterm elections and tries to predict what will happen with theslim Republican majority in the US House of Representatives. He compares thesituation to the brinksmanship faced by President Obama led by the same type ofextremists that held hostage the vote for House speaker.
Such extremism could lead to financial disaster by GOP refusal to expand the debt ceiling causing the US to default on its debts. It could also threaten to hamstring the IRS. Other institutions and programs that will be threatened include Social Security, Medicare, and access to healthcare under the Affordable Care Act. In addition, the GOP is likely to tie up Congress with a series of Benghazi-style investigations of President Biden and his son Hunter Biden. Worse, the GOP extremists promise to open investigations into the Department of Justice and its criminal cases involving those who participated in the attempted coup on January 6, 2021.
History Of Verde Valley Independent Democrats. The two remaining members of the eight-person group who helped found Democratic Perspective recount the beginnings of our show, its purpose, and who has been involved during its twelve-year history. They also pay homage to some of the early guests and some of the contributors who make this weekly show possible.
Looking At 2022 In The Rearview Mirror. Co-hosts Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland are joined by contributors Stephen Hanks and Gary LaMaster to discuss what they consider some of the biggest stories of 2022. Topics range from the ethically and morally bankrupt Republican Party to attacks on public education to media bias and disinformation.
Going Forward. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland andStephen Hanks welcome Myles Taylor, former Chief of Staff of the Department ofHomeland Security. In May of 2022, he left the Republican Party over itsespousal of the Great Replacement Theory, the far-right white nationalist beliefthat there is a plot by so-called elites to replace white people with people ofcolor through mass migration and demographic growth.
Since then, Taylor has helped create the Forward Party with the intent of bringing independents, moderate conservatives, and moderate Democrats together. “It’s an experiment,” says Taylor. “Fifty percent of Americans now say they are political independents – the largest that number has ever been since modern polling started. And two-thirds of Americans for the first time ever say they want more choices in the political system.”
Explaining that he believes the GOP is the biggest threat to democracy right now, Taylor says what he hopes to do with Forward is to bring independents and the pro-democracy side together to defeat extremists. “Our whole existence is about trying to make the democratic process more competitive again because when there’s more competition, the extremes tend to do pretty poorly. And sensible, common-sense candidates win.”
“What’s different about what we’re doing with Forward. We’renot just going to support Forward candidates,” he says. “We’re going to supportcommon-sense Democrats. And, hopefully, that handful of common-senseRepublicans becomes more than a handful.”
Analyzing The 2022 Elections And Predicting 2024. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Stephen Hanks welcome our favorite political prognosticator, Dan Singal, back to the show to discuss the midterm elections. As it turned out, his predictions were proven amazingly accurate. He was one of the few political scientists who rejected the idea of a red wave. Indeed, Singal predicted that Democrats would maintain control of the US Senate.
Singal says that independent voters carried the day. He also notes that the Supreme Court decision (Dobbs v Jackson) was extremely important and that things began to shift for Democrats with the improving economy. On the other hand, Singal explains that Republicans’ success in taking control of the House was aided by a massive anti-crime campaign in his home state of New York which saturated the airwaves. And he predicts that we may see more of that strategy going forward as a play for the independent suburban vote.
Looking ahead to 2024, Singal suspects you will see a resurgence of Democrats in congressional races. And he thinks Democrats will take back the House and either hold or pick up some seats in the Senate. “First of all, the economy is going to be much better then. Inflation will be tamed…And the second thing is that I think Joe Biden is going to be pretty popular at that point. You could make a case that Biden is going to go down in history as our best president since FDR.”
Building Momentum In Yavapai County. Karen McClelland and Steve Williamson welcome Mike Fogel, the new Chair of the Yavapai Democratic Party, along with newly elected board member, Llama Habern, to provide their perspective on the recent midterm elections in which Democrats won the U.S. Senate race and the offices of Governor, Secretary of State, and Arizona Attorney General.
Habern begins by noting that Yavapai County had a seventy-five percent turnout – the highest voter turnout in the state. (The statewide turnout was about sixty-three percent.) She says, “Even though we didn’t win some of the local races…the Yavapai County Democratic votes were part of what pushed the statewide candidates over that threshold.”
As for the future, Fogel plans to develop a very broad communications network within the county, build relationships within communities, and work to register and engage people in Democratic activities. He says, “The big challenge is reaching people across the spectrum.” He goes on to state that one of the most important next steps is to work on changing the state legislature.
Examining Social Issues Through Art. Steve Williamson and Stephen Hanks welcome Camilla Ross and Ashley Adelman to discuss the Arts Academy of Sedona, the Emerson Theater Collaborative and their upcoming performance, The Great Gatsby, A Radio Play. Ross explains the … Continue reading →
New Obstacles To Peace In The Middle East. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Hadar Susskind, President and CEO of Americans for Peace Now, a 42-year-old organization which, according to its website, is committed to persuading Americans to support policies … Continue reading →
Repudiating Crazy. Stephen Hanks and Karen McClelland welcome Kathy Kinsella to discuss the results of the midterm elections. They begin with a brief celebration of Democrats’ surprising success. Notably, Mark Kelly was re-elected giving Democrats control of the U.S. Senate, … Continue reading →
GOP’s Fear Playbook. On the day before midterm elections, Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Stephen Hanks address the lack of substance in the campaigns of most Republican candidates, noting that it’s easier for candidates to point out problems than it … Continue reading →
A Race That Will Impact The Health Of Your Family, The State, And The Planet. Steve and Karen welcome Lauren Kuby, candidate for Arizona Corporation Commission, a powerful branch of state government that is largely overlooked. Yet it has an … Continue reading →
GOP Derangement Syndrome. Even though I’ve written three books about Republican lies and disinformation, until the last two years, I could not have imagined that one of our two major political parties would be willing to undermine our democracy through … Continue reading →
Knowledge And Experience Versus Bluster And Questions. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Scott Jablow, Sedona’s vice-mayor and finalist in the city’s mayoral runoff election. Having worked for Sedona in a number of positions, few know the city’s needs as … Continue reading →
The Politics Of Religion And Hate. Democratic Perspective welcomes Peter Montgomery of Right Wing Watch, a project of People For The American Way, to discuss the growing threat of White Christian Nationalism. When asked if the difference between Christian nationalism … Continue reading →
Working To Find Common Ground. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Stephen Hanks welcome U.S. Congressman Tom O’Halleran to discuss the issues and his campaign for re-election in a newly apportioned district in Arizona. The new district stretches from the Tucson … Continue reading →
Investing In Arizona. Not Politics. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Arizona Senator Martin Quezada, candidate for Arizona State Treasurer. Quezada says that treasurer is a much different role than serving in the Senate. “The role of treasurer, ideally, should … Continue reading →
Hyper-partisanship, Polarization, And Political Realignment. Karen McClelland and Stephen Hanks welcome Rachel Bitecofer, Political Scientist and Election Analyst, to discuss the upcoming midterms. She begins by noting that the electorate is always in flux driven by changing demographics, geographic allegiances, … Continue reading →
The Yavapai College Curriculum: Addition And Subtraction With An Emphasis On Division. Addition of resources for the Prescott and Prescott Valley campuses. Subtraction of leadership and courses for the Verde Valley campuses. And division between the taxpayers on the east … Continue reading →
Keeping Elections Secure And Transparent. Karen McClelland and Stephen Hanks welcome Emily Levy, founder and director of Scrutineers, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to voting integrity and election transparency. Levy explains that she first got involved in the aftermath of the … Continue reading →
Christian Dominionism: Another Name For Fascism. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland, and Stephen Hanks welcome Jennifer Cohn to the show to discuss a rapidly growing worldwide authoritarian threat posing as Christianity. Cohn is an election security advocate and prolific essayist who … Continue reading →
Optimism For Democrats In Upcoming Elections. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome historian Dan Singal back to the show to give his views on the current state of politic affairs. Asked about Democrats’ prospects for the midterms, Singal, who has … Continue reading →
Assessing The Cult Of Trump And Democratic Chances For The Midterms. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Stephen Hanks welcome Tim Miller, former Republican strategist, and author of the best-selling book Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road … Continue reading →
End Of Roe Chaos. Steve Williamson and Stephen Hanks welcome attorneys Holli Ploog and Mik Jordahl back to the show to discuss the aftermath of the US Supreme Court’s decision to dismantle the protections of Roe v Wade. Ploog says … Continue reading →
A Lawyer For The People. Steve and Karen welcome Kris Mayes, candidate for Arizona Attorney General. A former Republican turned Democrat, she was born and raised in the Prescott area of Yavapai County. Mayes promises to stand up for the … Continue reading →
A Long-Term Vision For Sedona. Steve and Karen welcome Melissa Dunn and Jon “JT” Thompson (sedonajt.com) who are standing for Sedona City Council. Dunn is an accomplished high-tech professional who has owned a home in Sedona for 14 years, while … Continue reading →
City Council Candidates Address Major Issues Facing Sedona. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Sedona City Council candidates, Brian Fultz and Pete Furman, to discuss their plans for the future of the city. Beginning with the controversy over home rule, … Continue reading →
A Tribute To Our Professional And Patriotic Election Officials. On Independence Day, we are rebroadcasting a show originally recorded in August of 2021. Kathy Kinsella hosts Yavapai County Recorder, Leslie Hoffman, and Lyn Constable, Yavapai County Elections Director to explain … Continue reading →
An Argument For Knowledge, Experience, And Expertise. Though some believe that governments benefit from electing outsiders, at least one candidate takes issue with that. Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarity explains her view to co-hosts Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland. Moriarity has … Continue reading →
Focusing On Civic Engagement. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Scott Jablow, candidate for Mayor of Sedona. Jablow moved to Sedona in 2010 after a 31-year law enforcement career in New York. In 2012, he was elected to the Fire … Continue reading →
The Origins Of Roe v. Wade And How Overturning It Could Change America. Steve Williamson welcomes two attorneys to the show, Holli Ploog and Mik Jordahl, to discuss what led to Roe v. Wade and the implications of Justice Alito’s … Continue reading →
America’s Growing Gun Violence Crisis. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Stephen Hanks and Gary LaMaster to the show. After Hanks provides details for the July 9th golf fundraiser for Democrats of the Red Rocks (DORR), they address the most … Continue reading →
Building A Democratic Movement In Rural Arizona. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Jay Ruby, Events Chair of the Yavapai County Democratic Party, to discuss the upcoming Rural Action Summit at the Mile High Middle School in downtown Prescott, Saturday, … Continue reading →
Privatization Of Social Security: The Bad Idea That Won’t Die. When President George W. Bush was re-elected in 2004, he claimed that he had earned political capital and he was going to use it to privatize Social Security. It was … Continue reading →
An Egregious Invasion Of Privacy. Steve Williamson and Kathy Kinsella welcome Holli Ploog, Peggy Chaikin, Ellen Ferreira to discuss the looming U.S. Supreme Court decision on abortion and the weekend’s women’s marches in protest of Justic Alito’s leaked majority opinion. … Continue reading →
Keeping Perspective: Looking To The Past And To The Future. As Democratic Perspective celebrates 11 years of programming, Steve Williamson and Gary LaMaster, two of the show’s founders, offer a retrospective of the past 11 years. Steve explains how the … Continue reading →
Issues Over Ideology. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Jeanne Casteen, teacher, school board member, and director of the Secular Coalition of Arizona. She is running for the LD2 Senate seat in the Arizona legislature with hopes of reducing the … Continue reading →
The Arizona GOP’s Long-Running Plan To Privatize Education. Karen McClelland and Steve Williamson welcome Nicky Indicavitch, Statewide Outreach Director of Save Our Schools Arizona and a self-described angry mother, to discuss why Arizona ranks dead last in per pupil funding. … Continue reading →
Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine. The History And Unseen Consequences. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Andrew Bacevich to the show. Bacevich is a Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History at Boston University as well as co-founder and president of … Continue reading →
No, Inflation Isn’t The Biggest Story Of The Biden Economy. Steve and Karen welcome Dean Baker, one of the nation’s leading economists, and friend of the show Steve Segner to discuss the economy and inflation. When asked whether inflation is … Continue reading →
A Modern-Day Form Of Slavery. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome international human rights attorney Dianne Post to discuss the abuses and disproportionate cost of for-profit private prisons. Post was first on our show in 2013 to discuss the same … Continue reading →
Critical Race Theory As A Political Weapon. Our guest host, Holli Ploog, welcomes Heather Hermen, Heather Isom, and our own Karen McClelland to discuss their views of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and public education in general. To begin, let’s be … Continue reading →
Bridging The Political Divide In Arizona. Co-hosts Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome to the show three well-qualified Democratic candidates for the Arizona State Legislature along with their campaign manager, Jay Ruby. The candidates include Mike Fogel, a school board … Continue reading →
Assessing Putin’s War. Steve Williamson welcomes Paul Lenze, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics & International Affairs at Northern Arizona University, to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Asked about the news coverage of the invasion, Lenze responds, “They’ve done … Continue reading →
Identifying And Addressing The Issues Facing Sedona. Steve Williamson welcomes three candidates for Sedona City Council: Brian Fultz, Pete Furman, and incumbent John (JT) Thompson. Steve leads the candidates in a wide-ranging discussion that addresses many of the most important … Continue reading →
Critical Race Theory According To The People Who Teach It. Steve Williamson and Sedona City Councilor Holli Ploog welcome Dr. Francis Reimer, Prof. Angelina Elizabeth Castagno, and Dr. Ijeoma Ononuju, all of Northern Arizona University to discuss the now controversial … Continue reading →
On Becoming A Candidate For Public Office. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Sedona City Councilor Kathy Kinsella to discuss how to become a candidate for public office and run a successful campaign. Before moving to Arizona, Kinsella was elected … Continue reading →
GOP Assault On Free Speech. “You must pledge allegiance to Israel and to the corporations for which we stand.” That’s the message given to state contractors by Republican legislatures in the more than 30 states that have passed draconian laws … Continue reading →
Making Sense Of Presidential Elections. Steve and Karen welcome back author and historian, Dan Singal, to discuss Critical Election Theory. If you are unfamiliar with the theory, it holds that, approximately every 36 years, a political realignment occurs in which … Continue reading →
The History Of Trump’s Paranoid Style Of Politics. Friend of the show, author Dan Singal, joins Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland to discuss the rural/urban divide and how Trumpism came about. He explains the phenomenon by referencing Richard Hofstadter, perhaps … Continue reading →
The Importance Of Enacting Voting Rights Legislation. On Martin Luther King Day, Democratic Perspective welcomes Mark Robert Gordon to discuss the ongoing struggle for equal access to voting. Gordon is an attorney who specializes in election law and represents Arizona … Continue reading →
An Enthusiastic Voice For Change. Karen McClelland and Steve Williamson welcome Jevin Hodge, former vice-chair of the AZ Democratic Party and candidate for the congressional seat currently held by the ethically challenged Rep. David Schweikert. He says, “When elected, I … Continue reading →
Sedona 2021: A Year Of Accomplishment. Steve Williamson welcomes Mayor Sandy Moriarty and City Council Members, Kathy Kinsella and Holli Ploog, to discuss the changes that took place last year, and what Sedona residents might look forward to in the … Continue reading →
Putting 2021 In The Rearview Mirror. As always, at the end of the year, our hosts and contributors review the major events and news stories of the past year. In 2021, there were many to choose from: The continuing pandemic, … Continue reading →
Should The Free Speech Rights Of Corporations Outweigh Those Of Citizens? In our upside-down culture, money now equals free speech and corporations are people. And, according to our guests, those beliefs are becoming increasingly apparent in our universities and colleges. … Continue reading →
Defeating Hate. Democratic Perspective welcomes Randy Parraz back to the show to discuss his new book, Dignity by Fire: Dismantling Arizona’s Anti-Immigrant Machine. Parraz is the activist who organized the successful effort to recall Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce, author … Continue reading →
Assessing The Biden Administration. Steve and Karen welcome historian, author, and friend of the show, Dan Singal, for his thoughts on President Biden’s actions so far. He responds by saying, “Well, surprised more than anything because I think he really … Continue reading →
Drawing A Line Between Private And Public Interests. Steve Williamson welcomes Donald Cohen, co-author of The Privatization of Everything. How the Plunder of Public Goods Transformed America and How We Can Fight Back. Over a period of decades, special interests … Continue reading →
A Warning For Democrats From Flyover Country. The Midwest and rural America are often thought of as unimportant. Yet, thanks to the Electoral College, rural voters have an undue influence on national politics. And, increasingly they vote Republican. Partly, that’s … Continue reading →
Fighting For Freedom of Religion And A More Inclusive America. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Rachel Laser, CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Laser begins by noting that Americans United has been around for almost … Continue reading →
A Golden Age For Our Economy. Steve Williamson welcomes back macroeconomist Dean Baker, co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, to discuss the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the Build Back Better bill, and their potential impact on inflation. Baker … Continue reading →
The Danger Of Online Gossip. Steve Williamson welcomes back Democratic Perspective sponsor and contributor, Steve Segner, to discuss the impact of social media in Sedona. One of the most controversial is Nextdoor which ironically bills itself as “an app to … Continue reading →
Prioritizing People Over Corporations. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Lauren Kuby to Democratic Perspective. Kuby is a Tempe City Councilmember who is running for a seat on the Arizona Corporation Commission along with current incumbent Sandra Kennedy. If elected, … Continue reading →
The Complexities And Frustrations Of City Management. Steve and Guest host Karen McClelland welcome Sedona’s Deputy City Manager, Joanne Keene, to discuss what the city can and can’t do to address common complaints and the city’s most pressing issues. They … Continue reading →
“We Must Not Be Enemies.” That is the title of Michael Austin’s latest book based on a quote taken from President Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address. “Lincoln understood that disagreement drives democracy,” says Austin. “So how we disagree becomes really, … Continue reading →
Filling The Need With Food And Shelter. Hava and Steve welcome Laurie Moore and Kathy Wozniak to the show to discuss their approach to helping those who are unsheltered and food insecure. Moore is president of the Sedona Area Homeless … Continue reading →
Prioritizing Lives And Democracy Over The Filibuster. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome back Max Richtman, President of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, to discuss the pending Human Infrastructure bill which is at the heart of … Continue reading →
Replacing Misinformation And Fighting With Dialogue. Democratic Perspective host Steve Williamson welcomes Steve Segner, hotel owner and president of Sedona Lodging Council, to discuss changes in the City of Sedona. Segner begins by announcing an upcoming panel discussion on short-term … Continue reading →
Workers Priced Out Of Sedona. Steve Williamson welcomes Linda Martinez and City Council member Jessica Williamson to discuss a long-standing problem for Sedona – affordable housing. According to Williamson, affordable housing is defined by income based on a household spending … Continue reading →
Fighting The Good Fight. Back from an extended vacation, Steve Williamson welcomes John Lutes and Jay Ruby to the show. Lutes is chair of the Yavapai Democratic Party, a business owner and manager who ran for Yavapai County Supervisor against … Continue reading →
A Master Class On Sedona And Arizona Schools. Guest host Karen McClelland, a former school board member, is joined in the studio by Sedona-Oak Creek School District Superintendent Dennis Deardon and Sedona Red Rock High Junior, Hunter White. Faced with … Continue reading →
Holding Police Accountable. As the next in our eight-part of our series on criminal justice, Hava welcomes attorney Julie Gunnigle to discuss the DOJ investigation of the Phoenix Police Department and a variety of other civil rights issues. Gunnigle begins … Continue reading →
All Things Elections. Guest host Kathy Kinsella welcomes Yavapai County Recorder, Leslie Hoffman, and Elections Director, Lynn Constabile, to discuss election procedures and election security in Arizona. In a few minutes, these experienced professionals explain everything you need to know … Continue reading →
The Importance Of Stewardship. Democratic Perspective co-host Hava welcomes Donna Michaels to discuss her first six months in office as a Yavapai County supervisor. She begins by noting that stewardship is the key to a healthy community. To that end, … Continue reading →
Philosophy And Climate Change. Filling in for Steve and Hava, Holli Ploog welcomes Matthew Goodwin, PhD to the show. Goodwin is a professor at Northern Arizona University, founder of Sedona Philosophy and an activist for addressing the climate crisis. He … Continue reading →
The Impact Of Biden’s Spending Plan On Medicare And Social Security. Democratic Perspective co-host Steve Williamson welcomes back frequent guest Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, to discuss the proposed $3.5 … Continue reading →
Making Sure Voters Select Their Representatives. Not Vice Versa. Democratic Perspective co-host Steve Williamson welcomes Holli Ploog to the show to discuss the once-every-decade redistricting of legislative and congressional districts in Arizona. Ploog is currently a member of the Sedona … Continue reading →
Arizona’s Race To The Bottom. Our co-hosts welcome Karen McClelland and AZ State Representative Mitzi Epstein to the show to discuss the state budget recently passed by a slim Republican majority. Epstein is a Democratic member of the House of … Continue reading →
The Science Behind Our Political Divide. Following a well-deserved tribute to Barbara J. Litrell on her passing, the co-hosts continue their discussion about the unsettling changes to the GOP. Hava points to scientific studies that show there is a physical … Continue reading →
The GOP Attack On Education, Expertise, and Democracy. Karen McClelland, the longest-serving Sedona school board member, and a member of the Democratic State Committee joins Steve and Hava in a lively roundtable discussion on the state of the GOP. Beginning … Continue reading →
Examining The Founding Mythology of Israel. Democratic Perspective welcomes Alice Rothchild back to the show to discuss the recent conflict between Israel and Palestinians. Rothchild is a physician, author, activist and filmmaker who has long served as a volunteer in … Continue reading →
From Plato To Medicine. Democratic Perspective welcomes Dr. Marvin Colvin, DO, to discuss his unique hands-on, relationship style of medical care. After being raised in a fundamentalist Christian church, Colvin was introduced to Plato in high school. The experience caused … Continue reading →
The Infrastructure Of Aging. Steve Williamson welcomes back Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare to discuss the $400 billion for elderly care included in President Biden’s infrastructure bill. Though it’s not … Continue reading →
Troubled Sedona: Rumors, Conflicts And Social Media. Democratic Perspective host Steve Williamson welcomes Al Comello and Steve Segner back to the show to discuss the many issues facing Sedona, one of the world’s premier tourist spots. Comello is Vice Chairman … Continue reading →
Hava And Steve One On One. The co-hosts spend some time chatting with one another to explain their differing approaches to politics and community. As the founder Democratic Perspective, Steve has been involved in politics for many years, while Hava … Continue reading →
Advice From The Distant Past. Democratic Perspective welcomes Juan Cole back to the show to discuss his new book The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam – A New Translation from the Persian. Cole is a professor at the University of Michigan … Continue reading →
Cities In Chains. Democratic Perspective co-host, Steve Williamson welcomes Sedona City Council Members, Holli Ploog and Jessica Williamson, to discuss the Arizona legislature’s attack on the ability of cities to control themselves. As an example, Ploog notes that the Arizona … Continue reading →
Smart On Crime. Not Tough On Crime. Democratic Perspective co-host Hava Derby welcomes Charity Clark, a defense attorney who reached out to Hava following her arrest during last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests in Phoenix. Clark also took on the … Continue reading →
Policing Paradise. Democratic Perspective welcomes Charles Husted, Chief of Police, Sedona, AZ. After 30 years of experience with the Sacramento Police Department, Husted now leads a department of 25 officers and is seeking two more. Asked about his hiring practices, … Continue reading →
Common Sense Capitalism. Steve Williamson welcomes Lane Kenworthy, professor of Sociology at the University of California San Diego, to discuss his latest book, Social Democratic Capitalism. The show begins with Kenworthy being asked to compare the US economy with those … Continue reading →
A More Effective, Efficient Alternative To Policing. Though “defunding the police” has become politically divisive rhetoric, it’s true that the majority of incidents that generate 911 calls are better handled by responders other than the police. Amy Meglio and Sam … Continue reading →
The Future Of Real Estate Development In Arizona’s Verde Valley. Democratic Perspective co-hosts Steve Williamson and Hava Derby engage in a lively discussion with guests, Al Comello and Steve Segner, over some of the area’s proposed developments. Segner is owner … Continue reading →
Restoration Versus Retribution. Co-hosts Hava Derby and Steve Williamson welcome Dustin Gilman Stienstra, Executive Director of Northern Arizona Restorative Justice, to address the failures of our current justice system and how restorative justice can help break the cycle of crime. … Continue reading →
The Impact Of Covid-19 On American Society. Democratic Perspective welcomes back author and journalist Sasha Abramsky to discuss the consequences of the pandemic. He begins by addressing the impact on the economy, saying that those at the bottom of the … Continue reading →
Our Fractured Nation. Co-hosts Hava Derby and Steve Williamson welcome Ross Benes, author of Rural Rebellion, to discuss the urban-rural divide. Benes explains it’s a relatively recent phenomenon and partially the result of political parties targeting voters over geography, noting … Continue reading →
Examining America’s Role In The 21st Century. Democratic Perspective welcomes Andrew Bacevich, Jr., author, historian, professor emeritus at Boston University, and retired military officer to discuss U.S. foreign policy. Bacevich begins with unrealistic expectations following the Cold War, explaining that … Continue reading →
Model For A Reformed Criminal Justice System. Democratic Perspective co-hosts, Hava Derby and Steve Williamson, welcome Mik Jordahl and Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes in the third segment of our continuing examination of the criminal justice system. Jordahl is a … Continue reading →
Assessing Biden’s Pandemic Relief Package. Democratic Perspective welcomes Dean Baker, author, macroeconomist, and co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C. to discuss the $1.9 trillion bill. “It’s a large bill. No two ways about it,” … Continue reading →
Setting The Record Straight. Democratic Perspective co-hosts, Steve Williamson and Hava Derby, welcome Yavapai County Supervisor Donna Michaels to address recent media attacks. Michaels explains her point of view and dismisses the attacks saying, “I’m honored to be in the … Continue reading →
Unequal Under The Law. Steve Williamson, Hava Derby and Gary LaMaster continue the discussion on criminal justice reform. To begin the conversation, they note that the U.S. incarcerates more people than any other nation – 2.1 million as of 2018. … Continue reading →
The Ecological Disasters Created By The Border Wall. Laiken Jordahl, borderlands campaigner for the Center for Biological Diversity, joins Steve Williamson to discuss the devastating ecological impact of the border wall. Jordahl notes that about 450 miles of new border … Continue reading →
Reforming And Restructuring The Police. Democratic Perspective welcomes Jacob Raiford of the W.E. Rising Project in Phoenix to discuss the mistreatment of Black and brown communities by police departments and the rules that allow these departments to commit these acts … Continue reading →
Looking Forward To The Biden Administration. On MLK Day, Professor Daniel Singal remembers meeting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He then offers his expectations for the Biden administration. Singal begins by noting that Biden has assembled an incredibly impressive cabinet … Continue reading →
Trump’s Failed Coup. Democratic Perspective contributors, Steve Williamson, Hava Derby, Klaus von Stutterheim and Gary LaMaster, discuss the violent attack on the Capitol and how it was the inevitable result of an avalanche of lies perpetuated by Trump, the GOP … Continue reading →
A Look Back At One Of The Most Eventful Years In US History. The Democratic Perspective crew recaps some of the biggest stories of 2020. Klaus von Stutterheim covers the COVID-19 pandemic, Steve Williamson wraps up the presidential elections, Gary … Continue reading →
QAnon: Mystery? Treasure Hunt? Game? Political Group? Or Religious Cult? Hava Derby, Steve Williamson, and Gary LaMaster delve into the history, psychology and consequences of the phenomenon known as QAnon. Beginning with a message board post in October of 2017 … Continue reading →
The Key To Successful Government. Michael Austin, one of Democratic Perspective’s favorite guests, returns to the show to discuss his new book We Must Not Be Enemies – Restoring America’s Civic Tradition. He begins by referring to Aristotle’s concept of … Continue reading →
Examining Proposed Developments For The Verde Valley. Steve Williamson, Hava Derby and their guests discuss five controversial developments that have been proposed for the Verde Valley. The projects include a wildlife sanctuary, a large housing development, a bridge and roadway, … Continue reading →
An In-Depth Look At US-Iran Relations. Northern Arizona University Professors, Paul Lenze and Halit Tagma, discuss US-Iran relations in the wake of the assassinations of the Iranian Quds Force commander and Iran’s top nuclear scientist. The timing of these killings … Continue reading →
Planning Sedona’s Future. The Democratic Perspective co-hosts welcome new Sedona City Council members, Holli Ploog and Kathy Kinsella, along with Steve Segner, owner of El Portal and chair of the Sedona Lodging Council. Navigating through the problems of conducting remote … Continue reading →
What Can Biden Do? Now that Biden has won the presidency in a landslide, what will he do? And how will he be able to work with Republicans if they maintain control the Senate? Retired professor and political expert, Dan … Continue reading →
Preserving Wilderness From Inappropriate And Destructive Development. Democratic Perspective co-hosts, Steve, Klaus, and Hava welcome DeAnna Bindley and Charley Pitcher to discuss a California developer’s proposed AutoCamp at Bear Mountain in Sedona. The guests are part of the coalition Save … Continue reading →
Election 2020. What’s Next? Democratic Perspective contributors discuss what they expect to happen now that former Vice-President Joe Biden is president-elect of the United States. Klaus von Stutterheim begins by outlining the many initiatives and plans that will be priorities … Continue reading →
Anonymous No More. Democratic Perspective welcomes Miles Taylor who gained notoriety as “Anonymous” for his op-ed and book criticizing the Trump administration. Taylor is the former Chief of Staff to former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjn Nielsen and Acting … Continue reading →
Running Against Far-Right Extremism. Democratic Perspective welcomes John Lutes, the Democratic candidate for Yavapai County District 1 Supervisor. A moderate Democrat, Lutes is running against someone who supports the armed right-wing extremist group The Oathkeepers. “I would call them vigilantes,” … Continue reading →
Voting Down The Ballot (And On The Back Of The Ballot). In each election, some of the most important races are down ballot. Often these candidates and issues can affect lives more directly than those at the very top of … Continue reading →
Arizona’s Fourth Branch Of Government. Originally broadcast in March, Democratic Perspective revisits an interview with the three Democratic candidates for Arizona’s Corporation Commission. We replay the interview because we feel it important to remind listeners of the importance of looking … Continue reading →
Turning Arizona Blue. Democratic Perspective welcomes former astronaut and US Senate candidate for Arizona, Mark Kelly. Kelly answers questions on a diverse range of topics, such as federal management of public lands, mining, climate science, solar energy, as well as … Continue reading →
Demanding More Of Congress. Democratic Perspective welcomes Congressman Tom O’Halleran in a conversation that covers a wide range of issues, including the upcoming election, the pandemic, healthcare, broadband, public lands, climate change, and the needs of rural America. He begins … Continue reading →
Saving Social Security From Donald Trump And The GOP. Democratic Perspective welcomes back Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. He begins by noting that, for the first time in its history, … Continue reading →
Focus On Accountability. Democratic Perspective welcomes Felicia French, LD6 candidate for the Arizona State Senate. French is a veteran of the Army and the Arizona National Guard serving as a nurse and reaching the rank of full colonel. During her … Continue reading →
Previewing The Presidential Election. Three of the Democratic Perspective contributors analyze the upcoming election. Steve Williamson discusses the possibilities of Arizona turning blue in November. Klaus von Stutterheim discusses the various scenarios of what could happen if the election is … Continue reading →
One Nation Indivisible Against Trump. Democratic Perspective welcomes Sharli Schaitberger, a member of the steering committee for Indivisible Arizona in Phoenix. She recalls that Indivisible was begun by a couple of former congressional staffers who wrote a guide to help … Continue reading →
Future Of The Verde River. There’s a saying in the American West that whiskey is for drinking. Water is for fighting. The issue is especially acute in the Arizona desert. To discuss the current and long-term availability of our most … Continue reading →
Assessing The Economic Impact Of The Pandemic. Democratic Perspective welcomes Dean Baker, co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) in Washington, D.C. to discuss the short-term and long-term effects of the pandemic. He begins by noting that … Continue reading →
Defeating America’s Goofiest Congressman. Democratic Perspective welcomes Delina DiSanto, Democratic candidate running to unseat incumbent congressman Paul Gosar. For those unfamiliar with Gosar, he’s a Trump apologist who uses divisive rhetoric and subscribes to a variety of wild conspiracy theories. … Continue reading →
An Immigrant’s Story. In this age of fear and disdain for immigrants, Democratic Perspective turns to our own Klaus von Stutterheim to illustrate just one example of the many contributions made by immigrants. It’s a story of someone who, as … Continue reading →
Parental Involvement In Public Education. Democratic Perspective welcomes Thomasene Cardona and Monique Prigmore who are campaigning for seats on the Camp Verde School Board in Camp Verde, Arizona. Cardona currently serves as a Tribal Council member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation. … Continue reading →
Meet The Candidates For Sedona City Council. After a brief discussion of a few Arizona statewide races, the co-hosts welcome three candidates who will be on the ballot for the August 4th primary: Holli Ploog, Kathy Kinsella, and Jessica Williamson.
Exposing The Radical Right’s Toxic Plan For America. Nancy MacLean returns to talk more about her book, Democracy In Chains. The book, which was meticulously researched and documented, has deeply angered the Koch-backed Libertarians who have taken over the Republican … Continue reading →
Examining The History Of The Ku Klux Klan. Democratic Perspective welcomes back Fergus Bordewich, historian and author of numerous books, to discuss the three stages of the KKK. He says the original Klan began from a rather inauspicious start with … Continue reading →
For Trump, The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Appears To Be A Train. Democratic Perspective co-hosts discuss the upcoming election with historian and author Dan Singal. Singal predicts a landslide for Biden. He says that it’s showing all … Continue reading →
The Future Of US Healthcare. Democratic Perspective welcomes Dave Kendall, Senior Fellow for Health and Fiscal Policy for the Third Way, to discuss the pandemic and universal healthcare. Kendall was author of most, if not all, of the Affordable Care … Continue reading →
The Future Of Medical Care In Sedona. The Democratic Perspective hosts welcome Neil Singer, MD to address rumors that Northern Arizona Healthcare is prepared to downgrade or close the Emergency Room in Sedona. If true, the impact on Sedona could … Continue reading →
Breaking Our Addiction To Fossil Fuels. Democratic Perspective welcomes Dr. Stefan Sommer, Director of Education, Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research at Northern Arizona University and Director of the Northern Arizona Climate Change Alliance. Sommer begins by noting that awareness of … Continue reading →