Every news story we hear on cable television, online news feeds or as a social media meme about democracy in America influences the future we create. That's what Vital Signs of Democracy is -- a quick indicator based on our unique narrative analysis that lets us quickly assess how we in the USA are weakening or strengthening our collective story about our democratic republic. Are the stories we are telling supporting democracy, autocracy or something else? Our podcast examines the latest competing narratives we feel will determine the future of our nation. And we end each episode with stories we've found that can contribute to all of us creating a better story concerning the health of democracy in America.
In this episode, Debilyn Molineaux and David Riordan interview Julia Roig, Founder and Chief Network Weaver at Horizons Project. Julia is a peace worker with thirty years of experience in democratic change and conflict transformation in war torn countries around the globe. She has a special passion for narratives, collaborative partnerships and connecting diverse groups of activists that she is now pursuing here in the United States. On a scale of 1-10, 1= autocracy and 1= democracy, she feels America is currently at a 4. Read more about Julia's organization here: https://horizonsproject.us (https://horizonsproject.us)
9 Sept 2023
The MAGA Bubble, Bidenonmics and Playing the Victim
In this episode, Debilyn Molineaux and David Riordan explore the narrative themes emerging from the first MAGA Republican debate, the Democrats intention to run in 2024 on the strength of Bidenonmics and the tendency in times of crisis for all of us to play the victim card. These narratives are the first indications of what the MAGA Republicans and Biden Democrats are going to run on for the 2024 Presidential election. The question remains… will our democracy be served by the result?
In this podcast, we referenced the plan that has been created should Trump be elected again. We provide the link so you can decide for yourself if this is the future you'd like to see. Project 2025 (https://www.project2025.org), is presented by The Heritage Foundation. Their headline is Building now for a conservative victory through policy, personnel, and training.
7 Aug 2023
Zombie Democracy Epic Times
In this episode, Debilyn Molineaux and David Riordan explore how they are managing their growing depression and anxiety based on the seeming uncertainty about the health of democracy in America. Trumps new indictments, 75% of MAGA Republicans still believing the 2020 election was stolen by Democrats, and unprecedented climate change heat waves all add up to lots of questions as the 2024 election cycle begins with 70% of Americans desiring someone different than Trump or Biden for President.
10 Jul 2023
The Imperial Supremes and Rights for Whom?
In this episode, Debilyn Molineaux and David Riordan look at the latest rulings from the Supreme Court and check on the status of abortion rights one year after the Dobbs decision overturned the rights awarded in Roe v. Wade. Given all the narratives promoted by both sides of the abortion rights issue, Debilyn and David explore a hidden narrative in the continuing debate that could become the real threat to democracy in America - whose rights get protected in the judiciary?
18 Jun 2023
Indictments & Big Lie #2
In this episode, Debilyn Molineaux and David Riordan conduct a first analysis of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago documents indictment in Florida. They also look at the potential threat to democracy that is emerging from the debt ceiling deal and the other BIG LIE it suggests the Biden Democrats, MAGA Republicans and the media are all promoting.Chris Hayes reporting (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWQ4IkhGbTA) referenced in podcast.
8 May 2023
Political Suicide?
In this episode, Debilyn Molineaux and David Riordan examine the current 2024 Presidential election narratives of the MAGA Republicans and Biden Democrats. We dig deeply into why MAGA Republicans still seem to be pitching stories that lost them the 2020 election? Finally, IF the news of the day is overwhelming your ability to manage the deluge of stories, let us offer you three simple things you can do to re-connect with your family and friends that go beyond politics.
President Biden Re-election video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChjibtX0UzU)
Republican National Committee Attack Ad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbWLEUiVHVQ)
Red States Suppress Voting Rights (https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2021/10/26/voter-suppression-or-voter-expansion-whats-happening-and-does-it-matter/)
Red states gerrymander congressional districts (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/north-carolinas-supreme-court-reverses-gerrymandering-rcna81996)
Culture Wars of Fear (https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/national/national-politics/fear-was-more-powerful-anger-year)
No Abortions after 6 weeks (https://apnews.com/article/florida-abortion-ban-approved-c9c53311a0b2426adc4b8d0b463edad1)
Donald Trump runs for President facing multiple investigations and one indictment (https://www.npr.org/2023/03/23/1164985436/trump-criminal-investigations)
GOP slashes green energy development in their budget (https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2023-03-14/republicans-biden-energy-climate-spending-plan-9492225.html)
Iowa Rolls Back Child Labor Law (https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/03/politics/iowa-child-labor-bill-passes/index.html)
MAGA Republicans Advocate for Open Carry (https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/in-depth/2021/08/24/406649/permitless-carry-in-texas-heres-what-you-need-to-know/)
Ballotpedia on state by state trifectas (https://ballotpedia.org/State_government_trifectas#Trifecta_status_by_state)
TEDx Foggy Bottom speaker list (https://tedxfoggybottom.org/originstory-speakers)
14 Apr 2023
Indictments and Power Plays
In this episode, David Riordan exposes the three different stories cable news told about Trump’s indictment when it became public. Debilyn Molineaux looks towards the states as abortion drugs are restricted in Texas but protected in Washington state, Tennessee lawmakers are expelled from their legislature for protesting and the Wisconsin Supreme Court flips from red to blue.Notes: What happened and didn’t happen in Tennessee: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2023/04/04/tennessee-capitol-protest-heres-what-did-and-did-not-happen/70075823007/ (https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2023/04/04/tennessee-capitol-protest-heres-what-did-and-did-not-happen/70075823007/)What to know about the expulsion: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2023/04/07/tennessee-house-expulsion-vote-why-were-lawmakers-expelled/70092066007/ (https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2023/04/07/tennessee-house-expulsion-vote-why-were-lawmakers-expelled/70092066007/) Wisconsin Supreme Court: https://www.npr.org/2023/04/04/1167815077/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-results-abortion-voting-protasiewicz-kelly (https://www.npr.org/2023/04/04/1167815077/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-results-abortion-voting-protasiewicz-kelly)
27 Mar 2023
Partial Truths & Corporate Fables
In this episode, Debilyn Molineaux reveals the partial truths contained in conspiracy theories shared with her by a stranger on a plane. In addition, David sets out to explore the REAL culture war that can be tracked by FOLLOWING THE MONEY.
13 Mar 2023
Kevin, Tucker and Wokism, Oh My!
In this episode, David Riordan reveals the real danger about Kevin McCarthy giving Tucker Carlson an exclusive. And it’s not what you think it is. Debilyn Molineaux talks about the underlying reasons that woke and anti-woke are used to recruit voters and how both versions of this narrative continue to unsettle America.
Memorable line: "I don't want news about news. I want the news."
Clips used in the episode:
Trump Promises Pardons (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiYlYSbUvhI)
Tucker Explains His January 6th Conspiracy Theory (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z1KGCPMrJo)
Chevon – Windows Commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeBqwTwSugw)
DeSantis - Florida is where woke goes to die (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WKGmDk4FEU0)
We apologize for missing the link where a Congressional Democrat spoke in David's segment. If we find the link, we'll update here.
20 Feb 2023
Vital Signs of Democracy - Monsters, Menorahs & Balloons
This episode examines the hangover from the midterms and reviews possible healthier responses by the political party leaders. In seeking alternatives to the red and blue tribe narratives, as presented by partisan media, David Riordan and Debilyn Molineaux look to storytelling through television, film and documentaries for inspiration, observation and clues to how we might write a better story for ourselves. Referencing The Twilight Zone: The Monsters are Due on Maple Street (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUfp45ZoRko&list=PLBIILqyOvjWuUJeiFapSqZw--V4Ui8Mi5), Chocolat (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2leO_V1Ph8) and Not in Our Town (https://www.niot.org).
8 Feb 2023
Vital Signs of Democracy: INTRO
In this extended, inaugural episode, we outline what Vital Signs of Democracy is, and how it examines how the news, in aggregate, tells us a story about the future of our democratic republic, or democracy for short. Included in this launch episode is an overview of the two completely different "Make America Great" stories we feel are competing for our attention. One is the recognized MAGA story on the right that seems it wants to return us to a nostalgic past. The other is a different MAGA story on the left that seems to want to lead America to a multicultural, pluralistic future. Each of these stories demonize the supporters of the other story. We include in-depth commentary about our corporate and social media that currently publish stories for profit that end up dividing us or distorting the issues of importance to us as voters. We hope that what we explore in this launch podcast, helps you see the stories we are telling about democracy in America in a whole new way.
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