"seeking Justice" Live Radio Talk

U.S. Ambassador Michael W. Cotter (Retired) joined me LIVE me to discuss current events. We began with the movements in The Middle East of the aircraft carrier Lincoln against Iran, then proceeded to discuss tariffs with China & Chinese spying. We continued to discuss the Russian intervention in our election and presently and transitioned into the fall out from The Mueller Investigation. Mike's deep perspectives and insights into these conflicts (which at times differed from my thoughts) provided for a thought provoking analysis of current conflicts. We finished the interview with a brief analysis of the Crisis on our Southern Border. Mike's analysis of the past cultural failures of the relations between the U.S. and countries South of the Border began a very stimulating exchange that I hope we continue regarding both the causes & consequences of Immigration into the U.S. at the Southern Border.

"Democracy may not exist... but we'll miss it when it's gone." Author & Filmmaker, Astra Taylor's (2019) newest book release reflects the current struggle we have in the United States with our own Democracy. Her companion movie "What is Democracy" presents a documentary analysis of our human definitions of both big "D" Democracy as well as the origins of the concept of democracy in Ancient Greece through Rousseau's writings.  Astra Taylor discussed her choice to film a portion of the movie in Raleigh, North Carolina and why the state of NC serves as an example of the struggle humankind is having with a true realization of "rule by the people." She discusses her motivations for these projects placing them in context to our present work to maintain a democracy in the United States. From our system of voting to healthcare and economic inequality, Astra highlighted the many challenges that humans have yet to improve upon for a full realization of Democracy.  

Barbara Howe (Libertarian) candidate in 2018 for the U.S. House of Representatives was my guest for this discussion of The Mueller Report and current events.  Barbara first defined her political affiliation as a Libertarian, detailing "makes a Libertarian think the way they do" for our tribute to this theme in April, 2019.  Regarding the Mueller Report, Barbara clearly stated her aversion for government focus, stating she did not read The Mueller Report and now does not watch television. I did read the report, and we discussed the aspects of the report that have made news headlines. From the President's "I can't remember" responses to lying by Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and Attorney General Bill Barr, we discussed the current status of lying in leadership. We further discussed Impeachment of the President including the arguments against and for. Closing the discussion, we looked at the current dangerous moves by North Korea with Russia and the 2020 Presidential Election.

How can our existing healthcare system be redesigned? Bill Hendrickson, veteran Health insurance professional and Katrina Wesson of Healthcare for All Y'all.. discuss Medicare for All, the ACA and the challenges that face legislators in re-designing an efficient healthcare & health insurance program for American citizens. From the functional & dysfunctional aspects of the ACA to the proposed Medicare for All... the intricate challenges that face our legislature in re-designing a healthcare and health insurance system were discussed from both political perspectives. Bill and Katrina collaboratively explored the most challenging aspects that face those who would work together to create a better health insurance system that would continue to cover pre-existing conditions and provide continual care for individuals and families, as opposed to expensive emergency room treatment.

Today's "Seeking Justice" Talk show was recorded LIVE and discussed current events from the Conservative Perspective. My guests were Shawnee Bigelow and Jane L'Amoreaux.  We began by discussing the indictment of the North Carolina GOP Chair. Other topics that included: The closing of the Southern Border, Illegal & Legal Immigration, Healthcare, Preparations for the 2020 Election, and the conservative perspective in contrast to the Democratic perspective.  Final topics of discussion included socialism, capitalism, student loan debt, and income inequality/capitalistic equal opportunity. Shawnee and Jane closed by letting listeners know how to become involved in the Republican Party of Orange County by going to https://orange.nc.gop. 

Current Events were discussed today on "Seeking Justice" with a Progressive Perspective. Solomon Gibson, III & Rocco Nittoli (from an Independent perspective) were my guests. Topics included: The Bar Memo/Report, Healthcare & the 2020 Presidential campaign. We dedicated most of the show to an analysis of the Barr Memo as citizens - following on these two years of the Mueller Investigation. The changes that this investigation has made to our American experience are significant, and we discussed the roll out of this memo and its affects on the public and Congress. Solomon gave a clear choice for his picks for the 2020 Presidential race and Rocco gave analysis from an Independent perspective.  

Susan Harbage Page, Artist & Associate Professor of Women & Gender Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came to discuss her latest art exhibit - Borderlands: Evidence from the Rio Grande. The exhibit includes both photographs of objects from the U.S. border at the Rio Grande and many objects themselves. Susan stated that she first began observing these personal objects - discarded along the border in the 1990's and began work to photograph and collect these objects in 2007.   She discussed her inspiration for collecting these items as the powerful feelings they evoke from the individuals who had to leave these objects behind while trying to cross the southern U.S. border. She detailed how items such as women's bras left a trail that likely indicated assault and rape, telling stories to us that are not being given justice for the pain and suffering being experienced. Susan presented that women and children are being disproportionately affected at the border, and because of their l

Our 4th week of Women's History Month Continues with all female guests: Rebecca Cerese & Katrina Wesson of the Democratic Party of Orange County, North Carolina discussed current events. Topics included: Voter ID/Voter Fraud/Election Fraud in North Carolina and nationally which included absentee ballot fraud in District 9 of NC. Plus Campaign Finance Reform for both political parties (Democrat & Republican). Rebecca & Katrina further discussed: local & national Economic indicators including income inequality. They further presented an extended discussion of Healthcare and the Single Payer Healthcare proposals. We briefly touched on the female candidates running for President in 2020, and both women focused their interest on which candidate, regardless of whether male or female who brought the best set of issues to address the many contemporary problems facing Americans in the United States. 

As "Seeking Justice" continues to support Women's History month with all Female guests in March, I was pleased to have Cheri Hardman & Bonnie O'Neill from the Republican Party of Orange County, NC for this very lively exchange and discussion of local and national current issues. They discussed the "Light Rail" proposal for the cities of Chapel Hill & Durham. North Carolina's history & present status of Voter ID, Voter Fraud, and the need to preserve the integrity of the system. They further discussed the state of the economy from both a local and national perspective with respect to jobs, families, people of color, graduates & women.   Cheri and Bonnie discussed the perspectives shared in the Republican Party with regard to how big government can quash individual and business prosperity. They shared that the tax cuts and incentives provide more money to American consumers to spend at mostly small businesses everywhere which benefits everyone equally. 

The presence of female pastors in the United States has been a relatively recent occurrence. Kristen Hanna, Associate Pastor at Christ United Methodist Church (UMC) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina discusses the long road women have walked to leadership. She further discussed in detail, the recent special called general conference of the UMC to discuss LGBTQ+ Individual Pastoral leadership and marriage. Her honest, respectful and revealing discussion of the details that the UMC has long debated in its recent decision help enlighten listeners with a better understanding of the voting that resulted in this decision both internationally & in the United States. Kristen also spoke with artful grace about the experience of watching her mother and grandmother in leadership roles in the church and more specifically what it has been like to become an Associate Pastor herself. She spoke of the many community programs that Christ UMC offers to the entire local area as well as the greater offerings that the UMC provide

President Anna Richards of the NAACP in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, North Carolina presented a history of the NAACP from its formation in the early 1900's through present day. She especially upheld the many women responsible for making the NAACP happen both at its inception and throughout the decades that followed.  Anna discussed in depth the important role the NAACP has had in shaping of American history since its inception. Anna discussed the role the NAACP had in supporting the Chapel Hill 9 (just commemorated in Chapel Hill yesterday) and presented the ongoing work that is planned to honor the nine young students who protested at the lunch counter on February 28, 1960. She called for inclusion of any females who had also participated in the years of work that took place from 1960-1962 in the Civil Rights Movement in Chapel Hill to obtain fair and equal treatment. During my interview with Anna, we discussed how women have been treated throughout the decades and the structural systemic disparities that have exis

In this episode, I interviewed veteran broadcaster, Karl Blake, who lives now in the Triangle of North Carolina about his Innovative and forward leaning show, Creative Colorful People Radio Broadcast. Supporting non-profits for children and seniors, this podcast is originated in the Triangle with WCOM with a mission to support African American organizations and voices. Karl Blake, a veteran broadcaster of television and radio lent his deep baritone voice to this revealing interview about his life long work in broadcasting and the motivators that lead him to create this broadcast. You may find his podcast on the Podomatic hosting platform.

CEO & Founder Dr. Ernie Mills gave an historical and poignant framing  of his life story that led him to create The Durham Rescue Mission & Homeless Shelter (DRMHS) in Durham, North Carolina. This national leading and innovative organization provides one of the most emulated programs/organization for Homeless Individuals in our country. With its focus on drug rehabilitation, work training, education, and counseling, the outreach and success of this organization is as groundbreaking today as it was in 1974 when Dr. Mills opened the doors of his own home to homeless men and later broke ground on the building(s) that would become the DRMHS. Dr. Mills' revealed his own personal family ties to homelessness that continue to motivate his caring for those who need the loving support of the communities surrounding the Triangle of North Carolina. He discussed how the monies donated to the shelter were specifically allotted and generated a $4+ return to the community for every $1 donated. Further news he discuss

Directly from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Mr. Frank Princiotta, Retired Director of the Air Pollution, Prevention, & Control Division discusses the immediate and longer range impact of Global Warming. The present circumstances (catastrophic floods, hurricanes, tornados....) seem invisible to the general public, yet continue to worsen. Causes? Whether one believes its earth's natural progression or that global warming was caused by man - there is already irreversible damage that mankind must deal with as the keepers of this planet. Mr. Princiotta emphasized that a bleak outlook (world draughts, famine) would be a future reality if global warming goes unchecked. He discussed the distinct indicators that point toward a faster realization of these events in our near future.  He discussed the "Hothouse" Earth... in which the rising earth temperature would change the entire planet - limiting man's ability to survive on earth at the same level we now take for granted. We also discussed at length th

Valarie Clark Worthy, President of the Sisters Network of the Triangle came to talk with me about The Sisters Network of the Triangle. Mrs. Worthy began the Triangle chapter of this organization which connects to the national Sisters Network. She discussed in detail the hard work to de-stigmatize the diagnosis of breast cancer within the African American community. Mrs. Worthy discussed in great detail, her experience as the leader of this organization, including the many smaller nuances of treatment, survival, sponsorships and partnerships with businesses, medical and social networks. She presented the role of support and care givers including the ways in which the Network seeks to support both survivors and their support systems. We discussed the emotional experiences and secondary trauma felt by professionals who consistently face life threatening illnesses and the need of society to embrace a more supportive response. We discussed self exams, diagnostic processes, economic and insurance challenges and the

In this second episode devoted to my support of The "Better Angels" organization, Bruce Frazer & Virgil Torbert discuss the need of this training for both The Croasdaile Village in Durham, North Carolina and in our greater American society.   They discuss the underlying issues of polarization and our new norms that have contributed to our American divide. Bruce Frazer, a former Carter Presidential Administration member who now leans Republican, and Virgil Torbert, an Independent, (born Republican) the now leans Democratic come together to promote the need for Americans to find a structure - such as that offered by The "Better Angels" organization to assist individuals and groups through a process to deeply consider the perspectives of the "other" political sides respectively. Bruce discusses the lack of civility in our communities and nation. Virgil presents a detailed review of current writings such as THEM by Senator Ben Sasse and current news of the day. They both speak on the influence of polarized te

Bruce Frazer (R) Leaning and Virgil Torbet (D) Leaning discuss The Better Angels Training (which focuses on bringing Americans together politically) that will happen at Croasdaile Village in Durham, NC on January 29.  These two compelling senior individuals provide their own political backgrounds: Bruce was a part of the Carter Presidential Administration and today leans Conservative. Virgil was born in a Republican household and today leans Democratic. They begin this two part discussion of wisdom from this greatest generation about calling on the "the better angels" of our nature, most famously quoted from President Lincoln's 1861 Inaugural address.  We presented the mission statement of "The Better Angels" organization including the inspiration for its name from Lincoln's call for the country to come together before the start of The American Civil War. Bruce, Virgil and I also presented a history of political division in our country dating back to the formation of our union by the founding fathers. And the

Legendary Sports Caster Bucky Waters & Veteran Carolina Graduate Tim Hucks discuss the history of the Carolina Tarheels & Duke Blue Devils Rivalry. From the history (of both schools) in the Southern Conference in the 1920's to the 1953 formation of the ACC, these two veterans detail the iconic rivalry between the UNC Chapel Hill Tarheels & Duke University Blue Devils. Apologies for quality of this recording. Our small community station is experiencing technical difficulties. 39 Year Sportscaster Bucky Waters (ESPN, NBC, Fox Sports)  gives a detailed history of his decades of experience, beginning at NC State then over to Duke - first as a player & later as a Duke ACC Coach. Bucky discusses his career through the lens of the many groundbreaking experiences he had as a recruiter then as first hand witness & stimulant to the integration of Black players into ACC basketball. Tim Hucks, a two time UNC Chapel Hill graduate and 40 year fan details the many dustups over the decades between the two

Dan Friedman (Conservative) and Solomon Gibson, III (Democrat) discuss the voter fraud that has emerged in 2 counties in North Carolina; former President (#41) George H.W. Bush (who passed away) & projections for the 2020 Presidential Election.  Our original LIVE recording was lost due to a technical failure. I apologize for the poor quality of this recording, but at least we do have this back up recording of the show.   Dan & Solomon intelligently and respectfully discussed all issues from both political perspectives. We highlighted the unbelievable fraud that has emerged from Bladen & Robeson Counties, North Carolina, reviewing that the state board of elections continues to meet to decide the fate of this congressional race.  The Presidential administration of George H.W. Bush with its dedication and honor that largely went unrecognized in its time was contrasted to our norms today. This lead us to an analysis of the leading contemporary potential candidates for President in 2020.  Dan and Solom

Bob Hall, EPA charter member & Industry expert and Marcus Cooke, Professor of Environmental Studies discuss the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4).  These two veterans present analysis from both political perspectives regarding the NCA4's most salient points about climate change, global warming, and the history of the EPA. They presented innovative concepts for future energy use including: Nuclear, Wind, Solar, & Other Renewable Energy sources.  They both repeatedly stressed the dire need for research. These two veterans of environmental study, regulation and industry further presented how the EPA functioned in its inception in collaboration with industry panels to come up with the best ways to efficiently develop regulations that would cause the least impacts to industry and jobs.   Bob Hall presented valuable insights into the benefits of nuclear energy and specifically the need to utilize the highest levels of human training to develop and maintain nuclear facilities that were safe.  Marcus