Honesty Hour with Riley Lewis

Today is election day and there are hotly contested elections happening across the US. In today's episode, we discuss the primary election process, Joe Biden's approval numbers, and how these numbers impact the Democratic party's political strategy. 

Approximately fourteen weeks after the invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces hold 20% of Ukrainian territory. In addition, the US has approved a bill that earmarks $40 billion in aid to Ukraine. What's more, the failure to stop the outbreak of violence in Ukraine is indicative of the international system's inability to serve its own purpose. Thus, we explore the future of the multilateralism and political integration. 

In today's episode, we investigate the recent mass shooting in a grocery store in Buffalo. We talk about the broader culture of violence, proactive policy proposals for preventing such atrocities from happening again, and the cultural roots of such violence. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently gave his "Victory Day Speech," however he made no mention of the disastrous war in Ukraine. What's more, Putin offered several justifications for his war on NATO, which is an inaccurate reframing of the conflict for his own benefit. 

A leaked draft opinion in favor of overturning the Roe v. Wade 1973 ruling has some people feeling happy and others feeling anxious and angry. Today, we dive into the draft, what it means for American politics, and why the Supreme Court is gradually evolving into a political body. 

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has recently purchased Twitter. In today's episode, we cover everything that you need to know about Elon's vision and values and how he plans to change the direction and climate of Twitter. 

New reports show that 100% of Russian forces are on Ukraine's Eastern Front. To bolster the resistance, the US has pledged an additional $800 million in military aid and the European Council has pledged approximately $540 million USD. Will this be enough to stop the Russian forces in their tracks, or is it time to get directly involved? 

Putin is clearly an autocrat, running an engineered surveillance state based on a petro-economy. Well, considering the disastrous outcomes of the invasion thus far, one might wonder if there will be a coup or a massive social upheaval. To this point, how do autocracies fall, and what would a post-Putin Russia look like? 

Russian forces are regrouping in Belarus and parts of Eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials are preparing for a "major" offensive in the east. Finally, Putin met with the Austrian Prime Minister today; this is the first meeting between Putin and a European Leader (outside of Zelensky). 

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is catalyzing a renaissance; a rebirth of liberal internationalism in the wake of a political crisis. In other news, German Intelligence officials intercepted a message in which Russian soldiers discussed killing civilians in Bucha "for pleasure." These comments highlight the brutality behind the invasion. 

NATO ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss a new round sanctions, looking to increase the pressure on Putin. In addition, Russian forces are regrouping and rethinking their strategy. 

New satellite images reveal mass graves in Kyiv, which is officially in Ukrainian hands. Meanwhile, Russian forces are regrouping in Belarus, which has Polish officials worried. In addition, recent negotiations in Turkey indicate some potential progress, according to US and Ukrainian officials. 

Russian forces are regrouping in Belarus after suffering significant losses in Kyiv. In the meantime, the United States is sending personal protective equipment to Ukraine in the event of chemical or biological attacks. Finally, the midterm season is approaching and recent polls show that Biden's least popular rating is the number one issue on the average American's mind: the economy. 

Putin's forces continue to suffer significant losses in Ukraine, prompting Putin to recalculate his military offensive. In the meantime, Ukrainian officials have signaled that neutrality is on the table. Moreover, today's episode is about the effort to rebuild Ukraine-- an initiative based on the assumption that Putin will pay reparations to the Ukrainian people. 

One month into the invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is recalculating. What's more, recent negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey may produce a pathway to peace talks. That said, US officials, including President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, are skeptical of Putin's underlying motivations. 

We know about Putin's objectives, we understand the Ukrainian government's goals, but the Western world's objectives remain unclear. In today's episode, we explore the global response to the invasion, the upcoming summits in Brussels, and President Biden's trip to Europe to meet with NATO leaders. 

Ukrainian intelligence reports suggest that Putin may face significant political upheaval for his actions in Ukraine. To that end, his political career will forever be stained by the blood that has been shed in recent weeks. Furthermore, historians and pundits are pondering the idea of a post-Putin Russia; when will it happen and how will a regime change impact the world? 

We have entered the 4th week of Putin's invasion and things are quite ugly. Over 1,000 missiles have been fired since the invasion began, Russian forces are targeting civilians, and Putin is looking to China for assistance. In addition, Putin is rewriting history and reframing his behavior as rational, inevitable, and noble.  

Russian forces have stalled in the fourth week of their invasion. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian resistance is holding strong and the Russian army has suffered significant losses. In this episode, we discuss Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky's address to the US Congress and how Putin's actions are reshaping the global order. 

NATO forces are officially conducting military exercises in Latvia, which joined the organization in 2004. Meanwhile, a Russian air strike on a maternity ward in souther Ukraine has the world reeling, and ceasefire negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials have stalled. 

"President" Putin claims that he is willing to exit Ukraine on the condition that several key demands are met: Ukraine must dismantle their forces, rewrite their constitution, acknowledge Crimea as Russian territory, and relinquish control over two allegedly "independent" cities in Eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Americans have mixed feelings about a US response the consequences of our response. 

European Allies continue their fight for peace, despite the fact that Russian forces are not abating. Meanwhile, historians and political scientists are beginning to highlight indicators of a pre-war Europe. In light of this analysis, the EU and NATO are working together to provide Eastern Europe with munitions, money, and people. Will this aid be enough to deter Vladimir Putin? And what about the future of European peace and security? 

Are we officially done with Covid? Can we expect inflation to subside in the coming weeks? Does Putin have any idea what he's in for? In last night's State of the Union Address, President Biden touched the most salient political challenges facing the United States and the world.  

Russian Dictator Vladimir Putin has destabilized the entire world order with his invasion of Ukraine. Putin's goal is two-fold; rebuild the Soviet Union and undermine the global liberal order. In this episode, we ask two questions: why Ukraine, and why now? 

Does the global community have an obligation to stop a Russian invasion of Ukraine? The looming political tension is unsustainable, Russian President Vladimir Putin is surrounding Ukraine, and this might be the beginning of the largest European military campaign since the second World War.  

Intelligence reports and satellite imagery depicts Russian troops and military equipment on the Ukrainian border. President Biden says there will be consequences for a European military invasion- the likes of which hasn't occurred since World War 2. Will diplomatic negotiations be enough to defend the Ukraine from an invasion? 

New polling data shows that Americans are closely split on the Russia-Ukraine scandal. Generally, there are two camps; the isolationists and the interventionists. In this episode, we explore these philosophies and the political implications of our approach to the Ukraine question. In addition, we discuss some pressing threats to democracy within the United States. 

New polls show a clear shift among Latino/a American voters away from the Democratic Party. The real question is, are Latino voters leaving the party or is the party leaving them? Also, the attack on Joe Rogan is not about principle, it's about politics. 

Joe Rogan is arguably the most popular person in podcasting. He's published nearly 2,000 episodes with guests from all walks of life, including doctors, lawyers, activists, authors, athletes, musicians and scientists. That said, he has recently come under fire for a wide variety of reasons. In this episode, we explore the controversy surrounding Rogan and the broader political context of the situation. 

President Biden is joining forces with newly-elected New York City Mayor Eric Adams to implement a community-based policing model. Violent crime has skyrocketed in major cities across the US, especially following the "defund the police" movement, which Adams and Biden oppose. Moreover, violent crime is an important issue for average Americans and Biden's handling of crime will certainly be a factor in the upcoming midterm elections. 

In this episode, we resume exploring the challenges facing global governance. For example, we focus on the policy response to Covid-19 and the behavior of malicious political actors, such as Vladimir Putin. 

President Biden addressed the United Nations Security Council about the political ramifications of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, stating that the Western response will be "swift and severe." Meanwhile, Congressional and state-level Democrats are navigating an identity crisis and a messaging crisis ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. 

Historically, the United States has been at the forefront of democracy promotion and social justice. However, the modern liberal order, which has promoted peace and justice at home and abroad, is faced with a destabilization campaign that is spear-headed by China, Russia, and Iran. How will the liberal order respond to tyranny on the world stage?

With the midterm elections just months away, Congressional Democrats are yearning for a legislative victory. Polls show that Biden's approval ratings are underwater, there is no sign they will bounce back, and the American people are shifting toward Republicans. Biden's back is against the wall and he's running out of time, will he be able to maintain control of Washington come November? 

Several new polls show that Americans are increasingly pessimistic about the future of American politics. The animosity, hostility, polarization and partisanship is undermining our spirit and degrading the soul of this nation. In today's episode, we explore these dynamics and a possible antidote to the apathy and tribalism of our time. 

Today is one year anniversary of President Biden's inauguration and this episode covers the defining moments of Biden's first year. 

According to a new Politico poll, 37% of American voters believe that President Biden is failing to execute. What's more, Biden's current approval is between 35% and 40%, making him the second least popular president in American history. In this episode, we ask one simple question: why?

Today we discuss some of the GOP's strategy for regaining control of one or both chambers of Congress in the 2022 midterm elections. In addition, we explore some of the key issues that will shape the outcome of the midterms, including Biden's handling of covid, inflation, jobs reports, vaccination mandates and the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. 

The past week has been a tough one for President Biden; an immigration scandal, the Supreme Court declared the private sector vaccine mandate to be unconstitutional, inflation is a 40-year high, and a poll from Quinnipiac University shows that 33% of respondents approve of Biden's handling of the job. What does this mean for the upcoming midterm elections? 

A new poll from Quinnipiac University finds that 33% of Americans approve of the Biden Administration; but what does this shift in popularity mean for congressional Democrats? Meanwhile, a mass exodus out of blue cities into red states highlights some of the most pressing issues for Democratic incumbents. 

New reports about the Consumer Price Index show that inflation has reached 7%, which is the highest it's been since 1982. While there are some positive workforce trends, Jerome Powell and the Biden Administration have acknowledged that the increase in costs is "too high." In this episode, we discuss fiscal responsibility, the externalities of government spending, and the Build Back Better agenda. 

Americans, and the world, is growing frustrated with the mixed messaging coming from the CDC. To that end, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky is undergoing media training. In addition, public health officials, epidemiologists, and biologists are highlighting the harmful impacts of school closures, which have been deemed completely unnecessary.  

New polling finds that up to one third of Americans believe that violence is justified. In addition, many Americans believe that there will be a civil war within their lifetime. In this episode, we explore the core drivers of such division, the major stakeholders, the context in which polarization is occurring, and possible solutions. 

In this episode, I evaluate the medley of propaganda and buffoonery surrounding the events that transpired on January 6th, 2020. Furthermore, I provide necessary context about the cultural ethos and social conditions of the moment. 

President Biden has announced that he will address the nation on Thursday, January 6th, from Capitol Hill. In this episode, we explore the realities surrounding lawlessness and the breakdown of order in the United States. Moreover, we explore the cultural mindset and core drivers of violence in this country, and what it means for unity, peace, and social order. 

Members of the progressive left, who seem to be dissatisfied with President Biden's performance, are contemplating the idea of challenging Biden in the 2024 presidential primaries. Clearly, many Americans are beginning to lose faith in Joe Biden and savvy politicians are responding to this dynamic. Furthermore, we discuss Biden's impact on American politics and his future within the Democratic Party 

The midterm elections are 10 months away; all 435 seats in the House are up for reelection, the Senate is tied 50-50, and 36 governorships are also expiring. Meanwhile, Biden's poll numbers are flagging, Harris's poll numbers are abysmal, and Republicans are preparing for a battle over swing states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Georgia. 

The Biden Administration has high expectations for the new year as they hope to pass the Build Back Better Act. However, midterm elections are around the corner and the current political landscape is much more favorable for Republicans. To that end, today's episode is about the measures that Biden must take in order to prevent the GOP from regaining control of one or both chambers of Congress in November. 

In today's episode, we discuss the nature of progress and the degradation of America's high-opportunity metropolitan areas with a focus on New York City. What's more, newly-elected NYC Mayor, Eric Adams, is promising to counter the excesses of contemporary progressive ideology with his own form of grounded pragmatism. 

Tonight, Senate Democrats are set to have a virtual caucus in order to discuss the vote for the Build Back Better Act. Despite this vote, internal strife has the Biden Admin on the ropes. Furthermore, what was supposed to be a year of normalcy became a year of heightened animosity and ideological radicalism (from all sides).