Christian nationalism is a problem in this nation. No, I didn’t say Christianity. I said specifically Christian nationalism. There are those who would impose their interpretation of Christian religious doctrine upon the rest of us, and the alarming thing is that we have one of these ideologues now 2nd in line to the presidency. Nothing seems to sway them from their self-destructive path, and they seem intent on bringing the rest of the country with them into Gilead.

When you see them, vote against them. A true leader must be willing to and able to put the society above their personal held beliefs.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one. A buddhist, a priest, and a rabbi walk into the United States Congress in 1789. They are unceremoniously escorted out as the first twelve amendments to the Constitution of the United States are adopted, the first of which very clearly states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Notice the part in bold. That’s the part we’re talking about during this podcast episode. You know who directly opposes that clause in the constitution? Anyone who says that they need to bring the United States government under the Bible. Like the person who said this:

“the founders wanted to protect the church from an encroaching state, not the other way around.” - Mike Johnson, as quoted in the New York Times

As you can see with the two phrases here, they are in direct opposition to each other. “No law respecting an establishment of religion” means exactly that. Think deeply. What does “an encroaching church” look like in national politics? It looks like bending the will of the people to the dictates of a specific church. And with Mike Johnson’s Southern Baptist views, what does that church look like? Well, it sure isn’t the Church of Satan.

Think about this when you elect your representative. Anyone who puts religion first is out to gut our collective rights. Period.

"Problem is the human heart, not guns" - Mike Johnson (courtesy of AXIOS)

That’s your new Republican Speaker of the House, and what he thinks about gun control Asked about additional legislation, he pulled out the old tried-and-true Republican rebuttle: now is not the time. When is the time?

We started this podcast project in response to the shootings at Black Live Matter rallies a few years ago. As a group, collectively we three former Marines would much rather complain about issues that require long-term focus and concentration. We’d prefer not to talk about issues for which there exist commonsense solutions that over 70% of Amerians agree with, yet are still being blocked by petty wannabe tyrants.

What else can you call people who openly subvert the will of the people? In Oregon, we’re only finally clearing a legislative battle of almost two years just to try to get folks to register their firearms and create more rigorous background checks. Guess who is holding that law up? You got it. You’re same folks who, somehow, think that doing nothing about an issue is the same thing as doing something about it (yes, that’s exactly as stupid as it sounds).

Do you remember, in the Transformers franchise, when the main villian Megatron died? Well, the many times that Megatron died? I bring this up because right now, the Republican leaders in the House of Representatives share a lot in common with the Decepticons, from their inability to actually function as a team, to their ineptitude when they actually do try to work together. My point here is a simple one though. Every time Megatron died, either he came back to life as himself or as his extremely similar counterpart, Galvatron who was…let’s face it…Megatron with a slightly updated look.

Cue in Kevin McCarthy, the inept leader beholden to MAGA extremists who tried to govern, but couldn’t without Democratic support…