Episodes

“Growing up, there was an idea that some people just were not going to serve in public office,” says Sam Jean, who returns to resume the discussion about the results of the US midterm elections. This week, he and Michael discuss the “celebrification” of American politics. It’s evident in candidates like former football player and recent Republican candidate for the state of Georgia, Herschel Walker, and former news anchor Kari Lake who recently ran on the Republican ticket for Governor of Arizon...

“I told you that you can’t pay attention to certain narratives,” says returning guest Sam Jean on this episode of Cuckoo 4 Politics. As it turns out, Sam was correct about his midterm predictions, and that the much-publicized Republican Red Wave turned out to be a drip. Sam attributes this and other false beliefs to fake news and fear campaigns put out by the Republican Party. Many people also believed that their hometowns would reach crime levels comparable to major cities like New York and Chi...

“It’s complicated,” says Geoffrey Gordan who, along with his wife Elizabeth, returns to the show to discuss contemporary politics from the point of view of residents of hotbed states like Arizona. The question of the day is what compels Latinos to vote for either Republicans or Democrats. Right away, as he explains, there is the difference between Hispanic and Latino. Elizabeth points out the difference between Latinos who have lived in America for generations and those who have recently arrived...

“We don’t like to talk about these things because they’re not sexy,” says Elizabeth Coleman Gordan, of the work required to actually implement change in communities. She and her husband Geoffrey, join Michael for part two of their conversation about the political climate in Arizona as the mid-term elections approach. Michael and Geoffrey both agree that too many people expect instant gratification, and aren’t realistic about the political process. Several of the most pressing issues of the day ...

“There are significant concerns with respect to our democracy,” says Geoffrey Gordan, on this episode of Cuckoo for politics. This episode begins a new series where Michael talks to residents of state’s to get their take on the political climate. Today, he welcomes Geoffrey and his wife Elizabeth Coleman Gordan, residents of Arizona, a state with a large independent base. They explain there is ‘a trifecta’ of elections that will take place in November: governor, senator, and secretary of state. ...

“This is why I’m becoming more and more cynical every day. Because none of it is making any sense to me,” says Sam Jean, Michael’s friend, and frequent guest, about the constant hypocrisy and double standards practiced in the world today, by Republicans in particular. Republicans only need one example to paint all Democrats with the same brush, but the same rules never apply to them. Republican sex offenders in high political positions are the quickest to call other people sexual predators or da...

“I thought we understood that a woman had the right to access an abortion,” says Sam Jean, longtime friend of Michael’s, who returns to the podcast to discuss the recent ruling by the US Supreme Court to overturn abortion rights at the federal level. Sam believes that Republicans are using the issue of abortion as a fundraising tool because this resonates with a large portion of their fanbase. Michael raises the question whether this issue is the last stronghold available to men as a means to co...

On this episode of Cuckoos 4 Politics, Sam Jean returns for the second half of the conversation about the many issues currently going on in the state of Florida. Conservative canvassers are going around to elderly and Hispanic communities, changing their party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. This leads to further discussion about how Republicans project their machinations onto Democrats as part of a strategy, including assuming that any election loss is a result of voter fraud, or of fl...

Florida has long been known for its sunny weather and hot climate, but as the midterm elections approach, things are really heating up. But are these issues that are putting Florida “on the map” really issues at all? Sam Jean, argues that Conservatives are creating false struggles in order to create a false sense of victory. Michael argues that as America evolves and changes, Conservatives are shadowboxing in a fight to keep it the same. At best, argue Michael and Sam, Governor Ron DeSantis’s “...

“Racism is not just the product of individual bias or prejudice,” explains Sam Jean Esq., “racism can be embedded in legal systems and policies.” Sam, a former classmate of Michael’s when they both completed their undergraduate degrees at Eastern Nazarene College, also teaches graduate school and has made several media appearances on the subject of U.S. policy. Critical race theory continues to ignite heated debate not only for its content and merits, but whether or not it should be taught in s...

In a country that has recently seen a lot of political conflicts, many people wrongly believe their right to vote doesn’t matter. While political frustration is understandable, the reality is that no change could ever happen without voters. In today’s episode, host Michael Desrosiers and guest Sam Jean discuss the history of voting and why we need to protect voting rights for all Americans. Even though the right to vote is protected under the 15th amendment of the constitution, there have been ...

Historically, Black Americans voted Republican. Originally founded as a party of diverse political beliefs, the Republican Party has recently converted into an immoral and corrupt organization. In today’s episode, host Michael Desrosiers and guest Sam Jean sit down to discuss the aggressive transformation of the Republican party. According to Michael, the Republican party was founded in 1792 by supporters of Thomas Jefferson. This particular group was in favor of a decentralized government with...

Currently, the Democratic Party has control over the White House, both houses of Congress, and the Senate. While they seem to be the majority party, why do they have limited success when it comes to legislation? In today’s episode, host Michael Desrosiers invites guest Sam Jean back to discuss gridlock and how it impacts the life of the average citizen. According to Michael, gridlock occurs when one party controls the executive branch and the other controls one or both houses of Congress. Since...

What do we actually understand about our country’s current political status? After a tiresome four years of the Trump administration, America had high hopes for the next president. While the two administrations are vastly different, why are so many Americans still disappointed with the current state of affairs? In today’s episode, host Michael Desrosiers sits down with long-time friend and political expert Sam Jean to discuss the state of our union. According to Sam, most Americans are taught t...