How Close Are We to Criminalizing Kindness?

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What terrifies me more than any authoritarian regime? The influencers and public figures with millions of followers... who choose silence while democracy unravels.

In this episode, I’m launching my activist era with an unfiltered look at the chilling case of Ksenia Karlina—a dual citizen sentenced to 12.5 years in a Russian prison for donating $50 to Ukrainian children. While America isn’t there yet, the signs are hard to ignore:
🚫 Book bans
🚫 Diversity rollbacks
🚫 Black history censored
🚫 The word "woke" turned into an insult for simply caring

This episode is not about politics—it’s about humanity, compassion, and courage. If you’ve been feeling like you’re the only one noticing this shift... you’re not alone. You’re just awake.

✨ In this episode:

• Why influencers staying silent is more dangerous than trolls being loud
• The real reason Ksenia Karlina’s story matters to Americans
• How “neutrality” has become complicity
• What YOU can do—no platform or political degree required

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
You know what scares me more than Trump?
Silence, the influencers withmillions of followers that say
nothing, the people that arejust acting like.
This is politics as usual.
Meanwhile, I'm sitting herethinking I'm the crazy one,

(00:24):
because if you're watching FoxNews, I look like I've lost my
mind, but if you're payingattention or if you have even a
shred of empathy in your body,you know something's off.
You know it.
You know it.
I'm Christy Chanel, and this isSassy Politics.

(01:07):
This isn't about being woke orbeing a leftist or whatever word
you're trying to make dirtythis week.
Being woke, that means my eyesare open.
It means I care about peoplemore than I care about profit.
It means I stand againstanything that is morally corrupt
more than powerful and popular.
If that's dangerous, then maybewe should all get a little bit
more dangerous.
Today's episode is about fear,silence and the very real threat

(01:32):
of living here in America today.
Not Russia, america.
Let's start with something thathit me big.
Recently, a woman named KseniaKarlina, a dual US and Russian
citizen, was just sentenced to12 and a half years in a Russian

(01:54):
prison.
Her crime Donating $50, $50 toa Ukraine children's charity in
2022.
That's not a justice system.
That's authoritarianism control, that's the criminalization of
compassion.
Now, what does that have to dowith us?

(02:17):
It's a mirror.
It's a warning, becauseauthoritarianism doesn't just
show up waving red flags.
It sneaks in while we're allbusy doom scrolling, while we
watch influencers sell skincare,while democracy dies in the
comments.
Let's be honest.
Are we really that different?

(02:37):
In Florida, they have bannedschools from teaching systematic
racism.
Museums are censoring exhibitson black history.
Websites are scrubbing DEI likeit's a virus.
They're not just banning books,they're banning truth.
The Smithsonian faced backlashfor educating people about white

(03:00):
privilege and racism.
Right-wing groups demanded theytone it down.
They're trying to silence facts, just like Russia silenced
dissent.
It just looks prettier.
Here and don't get me startedon online censorship Red states
are trying to pass laws thatmake it harder to moderate hate
speech, but easier to punishpeople who speak out against

(03:25):
their agenda.
So no, we're not Russia yet, butthe silence, the fear, the
rewriting of history.
That's the same playbook.
And if you think I'm beingdramatic, ask the rest of the
world.
Countries like Canada, newZealand and Australia have
issued travel advisories for theUS, citing gun violence, hate

(03:51):
crimes and political unrest.
Yes, we are the country theyare being warned about.
We used to be the place peopleran to.
Now we're the country that yourcousin gets afraid to visit.
So tell me again who's crazy.
Let's talk about influencers,the ones with the millions of

(04:12):
followers, the ones with branddeals and check marks.
You've got all this visibilityand you won't say anything.
While Trump promises revenge,book bans explode and entire
communities are being targeted.
Why?
Why?
Because we might lose a dealBecause it's not on brand.

(04:32):
If your brand can't handlemorality, maybe it's not a brand
at all.
It's simply a business built oncowardice.
Here's the truth.
Staying neutral in moments ofinjustice is not neutrality,
it's complicity.
And your silence is a choice,and a privileged one.

(04:53):
I'm not saying this to scareyou.
I'm saying it because we haveto stop pretending that it's not
happening.
We can still fight back, but weneed to show up and speak out,
take real steps.
This means using your platform,no matter how small, calling
your elected officials,supporting organizations like

(05:13):
ACLU, sharing content thatempowers and educates and yes,
unfollowing people that staysilent while our democracy burns
to the ground.
You don't need to be perfect,you just need to participate.
This is the first episode of myactivism era.
I don't have a degree inpolitical science.

(05:34):
I'm sure you figured that oneout and I definitely do not have
all the answers, but I've got amic and a voice and the
willingness to speak even whenit's uncomfortable.
So if you've ever felt like thecrazy one, just know you're not
, you're awake, you're payingattention and I hope you'll walk

(05:59):
with me as I learn to fight,protect and disrupt.
Follow me at Christy Chanel onInstagram.
New episodes every Monday, stayloud, stay feminist and stay
disruptive.