The Chauncey DeVega Show

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Ep. 180: The Racial Wealth Gap is a Threat to American Prosperity Mar 17, 2018

Show notes

Dedrick Asante-Muhammad is the guest on this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. He is Senior Fellow, Racial Wealth Divide at Prosperity Now and one of the principle authors of the much-discussed report, The Road to Zero Wealth: How the Racial Wealth Divide is Hollowing Out America's Middle Class. Dedrick has also held senior leadership positions with the NAACP and the National Action Network. On this week's podcast Dedrick and Chauncey share their personal reflections on race, family, and upward mobility, how class identity is incorrectly depicted in American popular culture as well as the perils and allure of TV programs such as Blackish and The Cosby Show. Dedrick also explains how the racial wealth gap is a threat to American prosperity (and democracy) for all people on both sides of the color line. In this week's episode, Chauncey advises caution for all the Democrats who are celebrating a win in the Pennsylvania special election and warns the public to not buy into the silly narrative that Donald Trump is somehow weakened by all of the supposed "chaos" in the White House. During this week's podcast Chauncey also reads a story about the working poor and a wonderful woman who worked for Disney World and could not afford a proper place to live--she was found dead in the car which served as her home. At the end of this week's podcast Chauncey shares some fun and bizarre stories about a gang of little people who robbed homes in Boston and how a man tried to seduce a gorilla named "Big George" at a zoo. And of course, Chauncey laments the end of Toys R Us.

Ep. 179: CIA Veteran Melvin Goodman on the Perils of the Trump Administration Mar 10, 2018

Show notes

Melvin Goodman is the guest on this week's special fundraising month episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. He served in the Central Intelligence Agency for 24 years as an intelligence analyst where he specialized in U.S.-Soviet relations. Dr. Goodman is also the author of several books on national security and international relations including the most recent Whistleblower at the CIA: An Insider's Account of the Politics of Intelligence. He and Chauncey discuss what likely transpired with Donald Trump and Russia's efforts to undermine the 2016 presidential election, the so-called "deep state", Putin's real plans, and how Trump's failures will help China's rise to become the world's dominant power. Melvin also reflects on the nuclear perils of the Cold War and how America would be a much better place if the misadventures in Iraq and the Middle East had been avoided.

In this week's episode, Chauncey continues to document Trump's and the GOP's war on the American people and is sickened by the professional smart people in the so-called "liberal news media" who laugh at the Great Leader's dangerous antics. Chauncey also shares a story about sexual psychology and Trump's alleged pee pee fetish. At the end of this week's podcast Chauncey is bored by the 2016 Oscar's and decides to share some white supremacist movie reviews about The Shape of Water and other Hollywood films.

Ep. 178: Donald Trump is the Leader of a Political Cult Mar 03, 2018

Show notes

Steven Hassan is the guest on this week's special fundraising month episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. He is one of the world's foremost experts on cults and mind control.

Steven Hassan is the author of several bestselling books including Combating Cult Mind Control: The #1 Best Selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults, Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves, and Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults & Beliefs.

He and Chauncey discuss how Donald Trump is a political cult leader and if it is possible to free Trump's followers from his thrall. Steven also shares his thoughts on the power of social media and advertising over free will. He also offers up some information that may be new to many people: as a child Donald Trump was raised in a church whose leaders used mind control techniques against their followers.

In this week's episode, Chauncey highlights how Trump's White House is corrupt and likely a criminal enterprise. The most recent example? Jared Kushner receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in loans from Citibank and Apollo Global Group. Chauncey also connects the dots between Trump's abuse of power as a means to make money from the presidency, the latest revelations about Kushner and the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and General Smedley Butler's warnings about war profiteers and other gangster capitalists.

At the end of this week's podcast Chauncey also wonders if the ammosexuals who go to church to get their AR-15 assault rifles "blessed" are somehow related to the underground mutants who worship a neutron bomb in the movie Beneath the Planet of the Apes.

Ep. 177: Is the "Black Panther" Movie Disrespectful to Black Americans? Feb 28, 2018

Show notes

This is part 2 of the special fundraising month all things Black Panther episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. It is also Chauncey DeVega's way of saying thanks to all of the kind folks who have put some gold, silver, paper, or other monies into the donation bucket over at chaunceydevega.com

There is approximately one more week left in the fundraiser. We are close to the goal. Any help would be appreciated in help us cross the finish line so that this fundraiser can be a success. One very kind donor or a few generous folks could mean the goal is met.

There are two great guests on this week's very special surprise episode.

In the first conversation, Chauncey spoke with Adilifu Nama about the new Black Panther movie. In that episode of the podcast, Chauncey also chimed in with his brief thoughts about the movie after viewing the movie the night of the debut. After that first viewing--and yes after seeing the movie a second time--Chauncey feels that it is very problematic and its "progressive" bonafides are much overrated, especially in terms of how it treats black Americans.

Adilifu Nama is an Associate Professor of African American Studies at Loyola Marymount University and the author of the new book Super Black: American Pop Culture and Black Superheroes. Adilifu feels that the new Black Panther film is a "flawed masterpiece". He and Chauncey have a friendly debate about the movie, its cultural politics, the Black Atlantic, the problems with the character "Killmonger", and how Black Panther could have benefited from having some experts on African-American history and culture consult on the film.

Chris Lebron also stops by the virtual bar and salon. He is a professor of philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. He is also the author of the very controversial and much-discussed essay "'Black Panther' is Not the Movie We Deserve" which was featured over at the Boston Review. There, Lebron offers a sharp intervention about the politics of Black Panther and how the latter is extremely problematic and conservative in terms of its understanding of the black freedom struggle. Professor Lebron is also very critical of how Black Panther depicts black men as well as working class and poor black communities.

And in the spirit of the Marvel Cinematic Universe there is also a post-credits "stinger" (i.e. Easter egg) at the very end of the podcast.

Ep. 176: Timothy Snyder Warns That Trump Could Cancel the 2018 Midterm Elections Feb 22, 2018

Show notes

There are two guests on this week's special fundraising month episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show.

Jared Yates Sexton is the author of The People Are Going to Rise Like the Waters Upon Your Shore: A Story of American Rage. He is also a professor in the Writing and Linguistics Department at Georgia Southern University. Jared is a fellow traveler and friend of The Chauncey DeVega Show. He and Chauncey sit down at the virtual bar and salon and catch up on recent developments about the Mueller investigation, Trump's vileness, the horrible things lurking in the shadows, Trump and the Republican Party's treason, and of course professional wrestling.

Timothy Snyder makes a return appearance on The Chauncey DeVega Show. He is one of the world's foremost experts on fascism, authoritarianism, and the rise of Donald Trump. He is a professor of history at Yale University and the author of the New York Times bestselling book On Tyranny. This is Professor Snyder's third appearance on The Chauncey DeVega Show. On this week's podcast he reflects on the state of American democracy after one year under Trump, cautions us all to be mindful of how the rule of law is being eroded, and warns about how Trump and his allies may try to stop the 2018 Congressional elections.

In this week's episode, Chauncey connects the dots between Trump's sociopathic behavior and the Parkland, Florida massacre. Chauncey also highlights the dangers of the Culture of Cruelty and how Trump's sociopathy is revealed in the broader war on so-called "illegal immigrants" in America. And at the end of this week's special fundraising month installment of the podcast, Chauncey shares a wonderful story about one of our doggie friends who decided to run for public office.

Ep. 175: "Black Panther" and Questions of Diversity and Representation in Comic Books and Graphic Novels Feb 16, 2018

Show notes

There are two guests on this week's special fundraising month all things Black Panther episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show.

Adilifu Nama is an Associate Professor of African American Studies at Loyola Marymount University and the author of the new book Super Black: American Pop Culture and Black Superheroes. Adilifu and Chauncey discuss the cultural politics surrounding Black Panther, what the movie and graphic novel are trying to communicate about the Black Diaspora, and how the white gaze will be challenged by Black Panther's depiction of black folks' humanity.

Ramzi Fawaz also stops by the virtual bar and salon. He is an assistant professor of English at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the author of The New Mutants: Superheroes and the Radical Imagination of American Comics. Ramzi explains how questions of inclusion and representation are central to comic books and graphic novels and the rich history of mutants in the genre. Ramzi also shares some powerful stories about the role that the "Letters to the Editor" page played in creating a sense of community for comic book fans--especially black and brown folks, gays and lesbians, women, and those readers who are not white, straight, and male.

In this week's episode of the podcast Chauncey offers an extensive meditation on why Americans love guns more than their children and how the gun god Moloch was fed new bodies and blood by the mass gun murder Nikolas Cruz this week in Parkland, Florida.

And at the end of this week's special fundraising month installment of the podcast, Chauncey shares his review of the movie Black Panther.

Ep. 174: Yascha Mounk on the Rise of Trump and the Decline of Western Democracies Feb 10, 2018

Show notes

The Chauncey DeVega Show is supported by its kind and good and generous listeners. There are no advertisements on the podcast. I have been offered that opportunity many times but have always said no. But twice a year, I put out the old begging bowl and ask the listeners--if they are able--to offer up a donation. The Paypal link can be found on the right-hand side of the screen at the website chaunceydevega.com

Yascha Mounk is the guest on this week's special fundraising month episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. He is a Lecturer on Political Theory at Harvard University's Government Department, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Transatlantic Academy of the German Marshall Fund, and a Nonresident Fellow at New America's Political Reform Program. Yascha has also written three books including the forthcoming The People versus Democracy – Why Our Freedom Is in Danger and How to Save It.

He also writes a column at Slate in addition to hosting The Good Fight podcast. Yascha and Chauncey discuss how Trump rode a wave of global discontent about liberal democracies into the White House, how a lack of faith in democracies is spreading around Europe and other parts of the world, right-wing authoritarian populism, what can be done to save democracy, the responsibility of teachers and other educators in this moment of crisis, as well as what we know and don't know about how and why democracies succeed or fail. In this week's episode of podcast Chauncey shares how the Trump administration is now trying to kick immigrants out of the country if they dare to use public services such as Head Start or food stamps. Chauncey also reminds folks about the human cost of Trump's white supremacist war on black and brown immigrants by sharing a story about home healthcare workers and their importance to the most vulnerable Americans. And at the end of this week's special fundraising month installment of the podcast, Chauncey reads some hate mail.

Ep. 173: Bandy Lee Continues to Warn the World About Donald Trump's Mental Health Feb 02, 2018

Show notes

Psychiatrist Bandy Lee is the guest on this week's special fundraising month episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. She is a professor at the Yale School of Medicine and one of the principle editors of the New York Times bestseller "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President."

This is the second time that Bandy Lee has appeared on the podcast.

Lee and Chauncey discuss the predictions made in her book about the dangers posed by Donald Trump's mental health to the safety of the United States and the world, what she told Congress when she testified there several weeks ago as well the role of social pathology in electing Trump and the power he has over his followers. Bandy also explained what it was like to be a target of the right-wing mob because of her truth-telling about Donald Trump and what motivates her to be brave and to embrace the best of our humanity in a time of trouble and political darkness.

In this week's episode, Chauncey DeVega also speaks with reporter and opinion writer Tommy Christopher from the political news and commentary site Shareblue about Trump's hellish State of the Union speech. Chauncey also explains why the Nunes memo about Trump and his cabal being victims of the so-called "deep state" is a great distraction and ploy where the truth is ultimately irrelevant. And at the end of this week's special fundraising month installment of the podcast, Chauncey shares a fascinating story about orcas.

Ep. 172: America's Elites Will Survive a Nuclear War and You Will Die Jan 27, 2018

Show notes

Garrett Graff is the guest on this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. He is the author of numerous books including his most recent, Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself--While the Rest of Us Die.

Graff's work has also appeared in such leading publications as WIRED, Esquire, and the New York Times. In addition, he has also been a guest on such major news networks as CNN, ABC, MSNBC, the BBC, and NPR.

In this very timely episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show, Garret and Chauncey discuss nuclear warfare and how America's leaders thought they would survive an attack by the Soviets, hidden bunkers such as Raven Rock, the beloved 1980s movie Wargames, and how a lost security badge led to a much bigger story about America's shadow government.

In this week's episode, Chauncey DeVega wonders what happens when hip-hop music and culture get old and also shares his choice for the movie most deserving of this year's Best Picture Oscar. And of course, Chauncey warns the American people (and the world) that although it is now known that Donald Trump tried to fire Robert Mueller back in June--and is now fully obstructing justice--in the final analysis nothing will change. Why? Because the Republican Party and Trump's fascist foot soldiers loathe democracy and only care about winning...and the Democratic Party is weak and has no courage.

Ep. 171: Carol Anderson Explains White Rage and the Rise of Donald Trump Jan 20, 2018

Show notes

Carol Anderson is the guest on this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. She is Professor of African American Studies at Emory University and the author of the New York Times bestselling book White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide.

During this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show, Carol and Chauncey discuss white rage and the election of Donald Trump, the demonization of Barack Obama and Black America by the white right, the many ways that white rage and white racism hurts white people, and how white supremacy has damaged American progress.

In this week's episode, Chauncey DeVega offers his thoughts on the new movies Phantom Thread, The Commuter, and Hostiles. Chauncey also has fun discussing Donald Trump's porno lady sex, hatred of sharks, and why Trump has a habit of attracting white supremacists and other bigots to his administration. On a very serious note, Chauncey shares an email about Trump and the Republican Party's war on disabled Americans as part of the crusade to kill and abuse the "useless eaters". To close out this week's show, Chauncey shares a story about a heroic man who lost his life while helping our animal friends.

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