Purple Political Breakdown

Are you tired of political bias in discussions about social and political issues? Do you want to explore solutions that are free from political affiliations? If so, you've come to the right place!In this podcast, we'll delve into some of the most pressing political and social issues of our time, without being swayed by political biases. Our goal is to explore solutions that are inclusive and considerate of all perspectives, to help us find the best answers to these complex problems.Each episode, we'll tackle a different topic and invite guests with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to share their insights. We'll discuss issues such as climate change, immigration policies, social justice, poverty, inequality, and discrimination, and explore potential solutions that can be implemented at the individual, community, and governmental level.We'll also highlight the role of activism, government, and education in making change happen. We believe that everyone can play a part in finding solu

Purple Political Breakdown is a news podcast hosted by Radell Lewis, with 359 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Radell Lewis hosts Purple Political Breakdown, a news show with 359 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #199

  What Should Parents Know When Their Kid Comes Out as Trans? Ft. Dr. Diana Sorrentino

  Sep 22, 20261h 20m

  Dr. Diana Sorrentino, a social psychologist, author, and educator who has worked with transgender and gender diverse people and their families for 36 years, joins me to break down misconceptions about trans identity. Dr. Sorrentino lays out her case that gender identity forms before birth, explains how she helps parents move from rejection to support, and walks through the screening she says comes before puberty blockers, with hormones not before 16 and surgery after 18. We disagree on whether gender dysphoria is a mental illness, and she gives direct answers on trans athletes, military service, bathrooms, and whether Democrats should drop the issue. All positions expressed are Dr. Sorrentino's own and do not represent the views of Purple Political Breakdown. Guest's Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HHBNCZ5L?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_AT31T9TZJJRXSK92KZZ7&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_AT31T9TZJJRXSK92KZZ7&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_AT31T9TZJJRXSK92KZZ7&bestFormat=true CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold Open 02:12 Meet Dr. Diana Sorrentino 06:04 Icebreaker: Piano and Fishing 07:53 React: Riley Gaines, Lia Thomas, Matt Walsh, and the WNBA 11:22 Her Case That Gender Identity Forms Before Birth 13:40 The David Reimer Case 23:15 Prepubescent Kids vs. Adolescents 30:09 Why Some Parents Reject Their Kids 32:56 Helping Parents Who Want to Understand 37:41 Puberty Blockers and the Screening Process 48:06 Gay Kids, Social Influence, and Screening 52:15 Is Gender Dysphoria a Mental Illness? 1:03:49 Speed Round: Trans Women in Sports 1:07:13 Speed Round: Military Service 1:09:24 Speed Round: Bathrooms 1:12:44 Speed Round: Should Democrats Drop the Issue? 1:18:16 Final Thoughts 1:21:26 Post Show: Reading the Chat Standard Resource Links & Recommendations The following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORK Check Out the Podcast Website: www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.com ALIVE Podcast Network: Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMS HeadOn: A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/ Living Room Conversations: Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTS Us United: A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATION OtherWeb: An AI based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACY Equal Vote Coalition & STAR Voting: Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/star Future is Now Coalition (FiNC): A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT Independent Center: Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWS Text 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed ( https://informed.now ) Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/ Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com SUBSCRIBE ON SUBSTACK Get the Purple Political Breakdown newsletter and episode breakdowns straight to your inbox: https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown/p/welcome-to-the-purple-political-breakdown?r=3z2cmw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true ALL LINKS https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias." Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics, where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be a part of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9 r/policysolutions: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/

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  Episode #198

  Can Jerrad Christian Beat Troy Balderson in Ohio's 12th District?

  Sep 19, 202657 min

  Jerrad Christian, the Democratic nominee in Ohio's 12th Congressional District, returns to Purple Political Breakdown: Ohio Edition for a general election follow-up as he challenges Republican Rep. Troy Balderson this November. Jerrad won the May primary and now faces a district he describes as running from some of Ohio's wealthiest suburbs to some of its poorest Appalachian counties. We cover where his platform stands, how it contrasts with Balderson, and the Ohio issues driving the 2026 midterms. Jerrad lays out his case for Medicare for All and a single payer system, and we steel-man the most common objections: government control, a public option as the middle path, and the tax increase needed to pay for it. He contrasts that with Balderson's push to modernize FDA rules for wearable health technology, which Balderson describes as a streamlined pathway with safety guardrails and Jerrad argues does nothing for families who cannot afford coverage. From there we get into data centers in Licking County and across Ohio, including heat, water, power bills, and local residents petitioning and going to court over where they get built, plus Flock license plate cameras and the Fourth Amendment. We discuss the end of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian residents in Springfield, the death of 20-year-old Pierre Damas Bel after he was fitted with an ICE ankle monitor, and Gov. Mike DeWine's response. We also talk about the armed man who charged toward Dr. Amy Acton at the Canfield Fair and the rise of political violence. On elections, Jerrad explains his view of redistricting and gerrymandering and why he calls Issue 3, Ohio's voter ID constitutional amendment on the November 3 ballot, a waste of time. Issue 3 would move Ohio's existing photo ID requirement for in-person voting from state law into the state constitution. We also cover Congress ceding power to the executive branch, the EPA's repeal of carbon standards for coal and gas power plants, Ohio property taxes and school funding, and the war with Iran. We close with a quickfire round on structural reform: Supreme Court reform, term limits, the Senate filibuster, uncapping the House, Citizens United and super PAC money in the Ohio governor's race, presidential immunity, congressional stock trading, and the pardon system. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:41 Jerrad Christian returns for the general election 03:01 Getting to know Jerrad 04:48 Post-primary update and OH-12 campaign strategy 06:47 Medicare for All and single payer 07:58 Health care contrast with Troy Balderson 10:37 Public option vs. single payer 12:14 How would single payer be paid for? 14:22 Data centers in Licking County and Ohio 19:29 Flock cameras and surveillance 20:07 Immigration, Springfield, and Haitian TPS 24:57 Amy Acton, the Canfield Fair, and political violence 27:50 Redistricting and gerrymandering in Ohio 30:09 Challenging federal power and election security 30:58 Issue 3: Ohio's voter ID amendment 35:07 EPA power plant rollback and Congress's role 37:20 Ohio property taxes 39:40 The Iran war 45:47 Quickfire: Supreme Court reform 47:37 Term limits 48:55 The filibuster 50:35 Uncapping the House 51:56 Citizens United and super PACs 54:33 Presidential immunity 56:02 Congressional stock trading and pardons 58:02 Jerrad's closing pitch Learn more about Jerrad Christian's campaign: https://www.christianforohio.com Standard Resource Links & Recommendations PODCAST NETWORK ALIVE Podcast Network: Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACY Equal Vote Coalition & STAR Voting: Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/star POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT Independent Center: Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ Join the conversation on r/PolicySolutions: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/ Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com ALL LINKS https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias." Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics, where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

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  Episode #197

  Supreme Court Stops Trump from Controlling Elections & Trumps Tells Voters He Is Giving Them $5000!

  Sep 17, 20261h 35m

  The Supreme Court just blocked Trump's mail ballot rule for the midterms. Meanwhile, Trump is promising a $5,000 "Trump Dividend" only if Republicans keep Congress, and an end to the Iran war "right after" the midterms, while diesel hits a record. His own Speaker says the checks need Congress, and the cost tops $1.2 trillion. Also: Trump's 28,700 stock trades, the Kennedy Center standoff, DOGE's $9.5 billion paid leave bill, measles deaths, the Fed's first hike since 2023, the Senate races in Maine, Georgia, Michigan, and Texas, whether AI is going to kill us all, LeBron James joining Polymarket, and good news the media skipped. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 03:05 Every promise has a receipt 05:00 What has Trump said this week 07:00 Trump L's: 28,700 stock trades 14:31 The Kennedy Center standoff 18:01 Trump Jr. and the betting markets 19:01 DOGE paid $9.5B for no work 23:00 Measles deaths and Alligator Alcatraz 26:31 Lies of the week 28:00 The $5,000 Trump Dividend 36:32 Iran war and record diesel prices 39:01 Supreme Court blocks the mail ballot rule 43:01 Russia sanctions, Fed hike, Hegseth impeachment delay 46:37 Quick hits 51:02 Senate map: Maine and Georgia 57:30 Michigan, Texas, and the corruption poll 1:01:02 Is AI going to kill us all? 1:11:02 The good AI can do 1:15:01 LeBron James joins Polymarket 1:34:01 Good News 1:38:01 Closing thoughts Standard Resource Links & Recommendations The following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORK Check Out the Podcast Website: www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.com ALIVE Podcast Network: Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMS HeadOn: A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/ Living Room Conversations: Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTS Us United: A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATION OtherWeb: An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACY Equal Vote Coalition & STAR Voting: Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/star Future is Now Coalition (FiNC): A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT Independent Center: Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ Join the policy conversation on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/ GET DAILY NEWS Text 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now) Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/ Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com SUBSCRIBE ON SUBSTACK https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown ALL LINKS https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias." Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics, where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

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  Episode #196

  What If Criminals Worked Instead of Going to Jail? Ft. Adam Terrell

  Sep 15, 20261h 7m

  Adam Terrell, author and director of The Joshua House, a halfway house ministry in Latah County, Idaho, joins the show to argue that prison is the wrong default punishment for non-violent crime. Adam says incarceration delays restitution to victims while taxpayers pay the bill, and he walks through the court-referred model his ministry runs: housing, employer connections, accountability reporting, and immediate work so repayment can begin. Radell pushes back on scalability, on whether Bible study alone rehabilitates anyone who is not religious, and on Adam's longer term biblical vision, which includes corporal punishment and treating offenses such as adultery as capital offenses. All positions and views expressed above are Adam Terrell's own and do not represent the views of Purple Political Breakdown. The Joshua House: https://thejoshua.house Voluntary Theocracy: https://voluntarytheocracy.org CHAPTERS 00:00 Why Talk About the Prison System? 00:45 Meet Adam Terrell of The Joshua House 03:27 The Case Against Prison: Cost, Debt, and the Victim 06:10 A Full Replacement System for Prison 08:29 The Model in Practice: A Drunk Driving Case 12:37 Church, State, and the Ministry Question 17:02 Cutting Jail Costs at the County Level 20:16 Bible Readings, Employers, and Rehabilitation 22:22 What If Someone Is Not Religious? 26:24 Mental Health and the Services Not Offered 29:45 Is Any of This Scalable? 40:16 Eye for Eye: The Corporal Punishment Argument 43:35 What Actually Lowers Recidivism? 52:23 Public Backlash Over Jobs 1:05:09 Where to Find Adam's Work Standard Resource Links & Recommendations The following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORK Check Out the Podcast Website: www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.com ALIVE Podcast Network: Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMS HeadOn: A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/ Living Room Conversations: Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTS Us United: A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATION OtherWeb: An AI based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACY Equal Vote Coalition & STAR Voting: Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/star Future is Now Coalition (FiNC): A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT Independent Center: Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWS Text 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed ( https://informed.now ) Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/ Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com SUBSCRIBE ON SUBSTACK Get the Purple Political Breakdown newsletter and episode breakdowns straight to your inbox: https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown/p/welcome-to-the-purple-political-breakdown?r=3z2cmw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true ALL LINKS https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias." Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics, where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be a part of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9 r/policysolutions: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/

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  Episode #195

  Can Anyone Beat Jim Jordan in Ohio's 4th District? Joshua Kolasinski Makes His Case

  Sep 12, 20261h 15m

  Jim Jordan has represented Ohio's 4th District since 2006. He hasn't held a public town hall since 2017. This week I sat down with Joshua Kolasinski, the Democrat running against him, for a full hour on what he'd actually do in Washington and how he plans to reach voters in a district that isn't close. We got into a total stock trading ban for members of Congress and their spouses, term limits, universal health care versus a public option, property taxes and school vouchers, data centers taking water and power without leaving much behind, Flock cameras and the Fourth Amendment, and immigration. Springfield sits in the 4th District under the new map, so we also talked about the Haitian TPS revocations, the ankle monitors, and the 20 year old who died in Clark County. Political solutions without political bias. https://www.joshuaforohio.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and why the 4th District matters 00:58 Joshua Kolasinski introduces himself 03:26 Outdoors, Yellowstone, and twelve years out west 08:43 Why he decided to run against Jim Jordan 14:46 Universal health care and what insurance has become 18:39 Public option versus Medicare for All 24:38 A total stock trading ban for members of Congress 27:32 Term limits and Ohio's office shuffling problem 32:05 Jim Jordan has not held a public town hall since 2017 36:08 His pitch to independents and Republican voters 46:12 Property taxes, school vouchers, and public school funding 50:50 Data centers, tax breaks, and who pays 55:55 Flock cameras and the Fourth Amendment 59:59 Springfield, Haitian TPS, and the death of a 20 year old 01:08:51 Redistricting and what the new OH-4 map changed 01:12:16 Closing and the 30 second pitch ABOUT THE GUEST Joshua Kolasinski is the Democratic nominee in Ohio's 4th Congressional District. He is a husband, a father of three, a small business owner, and a Christian. He grew up in Toledo, spent twelve years working at ski resorts and national parks out west, and now lives in Delaware, Ohio. He ran unopposed in the May 5 Democratic primary. His campaign site is joshuaforohio.com. WHAT WE COVERED He says he got in the race after asking his county Democratic chair whether anyone was running against Jim Jordan and finding out nobody had filed. His central argument is that the corruption in Washington is not hopeless, and that believing it is hopeless is itself the thing that keeps it in place. On Congress: a total stock trading ban covering members and their spouses, with actual enforcement rather than late disclosure reports nobody reads. Term limits of two six year terms in the Senate and six two year terms in the House, effective immediately rather than phased in decades from now. On Jim Jordan: no public town hall since 2017, meetings scheduled early in the morning with friendly audiences and announced afterward. Kolasinski pledged a public in district town hall every quarter if elected, and said he would like Jordan's own supporters to help him press for a public forum on Jordan's home turf. On health care: he argues insurance has drifted from pooled risk into a for profit business that uses AI to deny claims. He described a three thousand dollar bill for his son's broken arm with insurance. Pressed on whether he would accept a public option if Medicare for All could not pass, he said it was worth exploring but worried it would be sabotaged by the same interests. On property taxes: fully fund public education at the state and federal level, and stop routing public money to private school vouchers, which he argues forces districts back to levies. He also wants more transparency in how property values are being reassessed. On data centers: no more tax breaks without something coming back. Return water as clean as it was taken, feed energy back into the grid, build on closed industrial sites rather than working farmland. He is skeptical of Republicans making similar promises now, arguing the tax breaks and nondisclosure agreements are already signed. On Flock cameras: he wants them gone, framing it as a Fourth Amendment question and pointing to misuse by officers and misreads that could put someone at gunpoint over a bad plate match. On immigration: he argues Haitian TPS holders are being treated indiscriminately rather than case by case, and that TPS was a legal status. He talked about the 20 year old who died in Clark County as exactly the kind of immigrant the country should want to keep. RESOURCES ALIVE Podcast Network: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9 r/PolicySolutions: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/ Independent Center: https://www.independentcenter.org/ Living Room Conversations: https://livingroomconversations.org/ Us United: https://www.us-united.org/ HeadOn: https://app.headon.ai/ CIVICS App: https://www.civicpolitics.com

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