Zipcode Zero

Voices of CPAC

The Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, meets annually, usually in Washington DC, and is a key gathering of conservative policymakers, media and officials from all over the country. Over the last decade it has also become ground zero for the Trump wing of the Republican Party. This year the line-up of speakers included Trump himself, JD Vance, Elon Musk, Steve Bannon, various Republican elites of the MAGA stripe. But CPAC is more than just its speakers, its also its devoted attendees – the thousands of every day activists fly from all over the country to make connections, share ideas and – this year, relish in the restoration of Donald Trump and buz with excitement over what he might do over the next few years.I was interested in talking to those people to learn more about what it is that interests them about trump and what specifically they want to see out of a Trump presidency. I heard a lot of different answers, with consensus on issues like immigration, DEI and humor over Trumpian theatrics. There were also some divisions among attendees, particularly on the topic of Ukraine and Trump’s approach to foreign policy.I found it all fascinating. Whatever one’s views – and mind tend to be more on the left – I think its important and enjoyable to listen to other people’s perspectives and get a better understanding of what inspires their activism. The people I met at CPAC were friendly, chatty  and open to sharing their views – and this episode contains excerpts from a range of conversations I had while on the ground.  I hope you enjoy the show, if so – please make sure to subscribe and share. Enjoy  Show Info-----Twitter@KevinAMaley-----EmailZipcodeZeroPodcast@gmail.com -----MusicUrban Deer Hunt: https://linktr.ee/urbandeerhunt

Assessing the Early Days of Trump 2.0

Famed libertarian activist and author Sean Dempsey returns to discuss early takes on Trump 2.0. We discuss Trump's attempts to sledge-hammer parts of the government (CFPD, U.S.AID, Dept of Education), potential attempts to cut military spending, assessments of Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr., the legacy of COVID, Ukraine, Gaza, trilateral talks with China and Russia, and more.You can find Sean's latest book "Trump Again!?" on Amazon. Chapters00:00Libertarian Perspectives on Government and Corporations00:00Corporate Influence and Consumer Protection00:18The Debate on the Department of Education05:01Cultural Wars and Political Divides15:55The Culture War Distraction17:31Government Spending and Military Accountability20:59The Illusion of Change in Politics24:12Surveillance and Whistleblowers29:55Health Care and the Role of Bobby Kennedy36:01Nuance in Political Discourse48:47Pandemic Response and Historical Context49:58Lab Leak Theory and Censorship51:17Polarization and Nuance in Society52:30Political Accountability and Historical Reflection54:09Foreign Policy and Military Spending56:00Ukraine Conflict and Diplomatic Solutions58:10Trump's Approach to Foreign Relations59:29Hypocrisy in International Relations01:01:41Free Speech and Political Hypocrisy01:04:29Trump's Controversial Statements on Gaza01:06:12European Free Speech Standards01:08:04Final Thoughts on the Trump AdministrationShow Info-----Twitter@KevinAMaley-----EmailZipcodeZeroPodcast@gmail.com -----MusicUrban Deer Hunt: https://linktr.ee/urbandeerhunt

Why Everyone Should Oppose How The Jan. 6 Protesters Were Treated

Today I'm joined by John Strand, a man who participated in the January 6 protests on Capitol Hill. John committed no violence nor was he ever *charged* with any violence. Prosecutors don't dispute that he simply walked in and out of the building that day. For that offense he was facing almost a quarter century in prison. Is that justice?I hope everyone, especially those who are on the political left or otherwise not Trump supporters, will consider this question with an open mind.There was indisputable violence on January 6 and most people can agree those who physically attack another human being should face legal consequences. But for the millions of Americans who have been conditioned to despise January 6 protesters as domestic terrorists or insurrectionists, there is little attention paid to what happened to the hundreds of non-violent protesters that went in and out of the Capitol that day. Many of those protesters were not only charged with misdemeanor offenses, like unlawful entry, but also found themselves facing felony charges that were pulled from 2002 financial accounting law in order to give the Department of Justice the ability to seek up punishment of up to 20 years in prison.No matter what you think of the protesters themselves or what they were protesting, it is important to ask oneself this:  For those who were non-violent, should they face 20 years in prison? And would then fairly apply this principle to *any* other protester?After listening to the show you can learn more about John's story:Website: https://www.johnstrand.com/Twitter: @JohnStrandUSABook: @PatriotPlea00:00Understanding January 6th: Myths and Realities01:54The Role of the Justice System04:10Personal Background and Political Awakening06:54The Freedom Rally and Activism09:30January 6th: The Day of the Capitol Incident12:18The Narrative of the Rally and March14:40Government Response and Security Failures17:29Reflections on Accountability and Future Implications21:39The Super Bowl Analogy: Crowd Dynamics and Expectations23:09Chaos at the Capitol: The Columbus Doors25:19Inside the Capitol: A Bystander's Perspective27:47The Aftermath: Realization of Legal Consequences30:07FBI's Most Wanted: The Unexpected Turn31:41The SWAT Team Assault: A Terrifying Experience34:38Four Days of Silence: Detention Without Charges36:26Common Treatment: The Reality for January 6 Protesters38:11Weaponization of Government: A Call to Awareness42:35Weaponization of Government Power46:58The January 6th Protests: A Double Standard47:30Legal Charges and the Justice System01:01:07Sentencing and Political Critique01:03:10Exoneration and Moving ForwardShow Info-----Twitter@KevinAMaley-----EmailZipcodeZeroPodcast@gmail.com -----MusicUrban Deer Hunt: https://linktr.ee/urbandeerhunt

The Biden Legacy in Foreign Affairs

As the Biden administration winds down, the mainstream/corporate media is assessing the impact of his presidency and the legacy he leads. Unfortunately, the media is largely whitewashing that legacy - largely concluding that Biden may have made mistakes but was always acting with noble intentions to promote freedom and a "rules based order" around the world. Substack writer "The Dissident" had a different take and joins Zipcode Zero to discuss the legacy Biden leaves. "A Retrospective on the Biden Administration's Foreign Policy" https://the307.substack.com/p/a-retrospective-on-the-biden-administrationsSubstackhttps://the307.substack.com/Twitterhttps://x.com/leftist_news12Timestamps00:00Introduction and Background of The Dissident01:38Biden's Foreign Policy Legacy04:30The Ukraine War: A Deep Dive17:29The Impact of the Ukraine Conflict24:02Future Predictions and Trump's Role28:39Disillusionment with American Politics29:14The Legacy of Cold War Mentality31:12NATO Expansion and Its Consequences32:56The Ongoing Crisis in Israel and Gaza37:04The Role of the Israel Lobby43:38Biden's Foreign Policy Legacy50:39Future Global Hotspots and ConcernsShow Info-----Twitter@KevinAMaley-----EmailZipcodeZeroPodcast@gmail.com -----MusicUrban Deer Hunt: https://linktr.ee/urbandeerhunt

The State of U.S. Foreign Policy with Connor Echols

Connor Echols is the managing editor of NonZero. Connor came to NonZero by way of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, where he worked as a reporter covering global conflicts, the arms trade, and other fun stuff. His work has also appeared in the New Arab, the Intercept, and Injustice Watch, among other outlets. Based in Washington, DC, Connor writes about the people and ideas that drive American foreign policy. Today we talk about the current situation in Ukraine - including the impact of President Biden's decision to approve Ukraine's use of long raise missiles into Russia - the Israel/Gaza conflict, U.S. relations with China, what a Trump approach to international relations, and the prospects for a better approach to the world.You can find Connor's work at https://nonzero.substack.com and follow him on X at @connor_echols.Chapters:03:10The Current State of the Ukraine Conflict06:10Trump's Potential Influence on Ukraine09:08Impacts of the Ukraine Conflict on U.S. Interests15:09The Situation in Gaza and Israel's Actions20:55The Future of Gaza Post-Conflict27:01The Role of Arab States in the Israel-Palestine Conflict37:01The Palestinian Rights Dilemma39:18Iran-Israel Relations and U.S. Involvement46:06The China Challenge: U.S. Foreign Policy Dynamics53:15Trump's Foreign Policy: A Balancing Act01:00:06Democratic Foreign Policy: Continuity or Change?Show Info-----Twitter@KevinAMaley-----EmailZipcodeZeroPodcast@gmail.com -----MusicUrban Deer Hunt: https://linktr.ee/urbandeerhunt