May 9, 2025 • 32 mins
In this episode of 'The Civil Union', hosts Alex and Ryan discuss their anecdotes from their week, including dining at local sushi restaurants and dessert spots. They delve into current political controversies such as Trump’s AI-generated Pope image, the scandal involving Ron DeSantis’s Hope Florida foundation, and the arrest of Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan. Additionally, they cover updates on the significant reliance of the horse racing industry on foreign workers with H-2B visas and play a fun game comparing quotes from Trump and Darth Vader. The episode wraps up with remarks on Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's tactical collaboration with Trump
00:00 Introduction to The Civil Union Podcast
01:11 Weekly Recap and Sushi Adventures
04:03 Dog Talk and BarkBox Fun
05:38 Movie Reviews and AI Dubbing
07:38 Trump's AI Pope Controversy
11:56 New American Pope Announcement
15:23 DeSantis Family Controversy
17:19 Trump vs. Darth Vader: Who Said It?
21:44 Kentucky Derby and Immigrant Workers
25:12 Judge Arrested for Protecting Migrant
28:39 Michigan Governor's Dilemma with Trump
32:18 Conclusion
Music: What's The Angle? by Shane Ivers -
https://www.silvermansound.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:08):
Welcome to the Civil Union, thepodcast where politics meets
partnership.
We're Alex and Ryan, a marriedcouple, navigating life and
debates in a conservative state.
We bring you sharp insights,bold opinions, and.
Honest conversations about thepolitical issues shaping our
lives, especially those livingon the society's margins.
(00:30):
Tune in for real talk.
A touch of humor and plenty ofpassion because when it comes to
politics, every voice mattersand we are here to make sure
they, they're heard.
God, we gotta change that intro.
One day you will get it right.
I think I really believe in you.
We need to rewrite it.
Well welcome everybody.
Um, just a reminder, we are onTikTok and Instagram.
(00:52):
Uh, just follow us at our verynew and very fresh handle.
The Civil Union Pod.
Yes, that's the Civil Union Pod,both on Instagram and TikTok.
We are trying to push out morecontent, more things for you to
enjoy.
So just follow us there to seewhat we have to offer.
Absolutely.
So it's, it's been a successfulweek so far.
(01:13):
How about you, Alex?
Yeah, it's been a good week sofar.
It's not been bad at all.
That's good.
Yeah, so we even managed tosqueeze in a dinner date at one
of our favorite sushirestaurants, sushi, sushi Hana
in Afton, Missouri.
You know, I'm not sure if thetwo people up front are married
or the owners, but they're sopassionate and knowledgeable
(01:33):
about the roles they serve.
The vibe of the restaurant is.
Totally like transports you toJapan.
And I just love hitting thosesmall family run restaurants.
They feel so authentic, youknow?
Yeah.
And every time we go, we alwayscompliment their dishes and
their cups.
They just like, they doeverything right and cozy.
You know, we have threedifferent sushi restaurants
right now in rotation, and theyall are completely different
(01:56):
vibes.
One is more modern with.
Anime everywhere.
One is more has like, like fancyrolls that, that you're just
piled on with different things.
And then Sushi Hana is more likeyour classic sushi place where
it's not rou, rou or frills, butit's just solid good sushi.
So it's, it's kind, you know, itis funny'cause when we lived in
(02:17):
Oklahoma City or when we livedin.
going to Texas, there aren't asmany sushi places.
So St.
Louis, weirdly enough, has a lotof sushi places, like a lot of
different options.
We haven't even gone to somethat we've heard of.
Um, and I'm curious to try someof the other ones.
But yeah, we have some goodofferings here.
Yeah, I just feel like I'mcheating on my other sushi
restaurants when I go to a newone, so I try to keep it like.
(02:41):
The same one, you know?
Yeah.
And that's the thing with sushiis like, all of them are like
small businesses.
You know, when you go to likeRed Lobster or something, you're
not really, it's just a, it'sjust a big corporation.
But like those businesses,they're all family run.
But anyway, yeah.
So we also swung by a dessertspot up in Ladu called Jars by
Fabio vii.
They're known for these littlelike mini pudding jars,
(03:03):
apparently a big trend.
I went with the Bananas andCream.
It was.
Delicious.
Uh, what did you get, Alex?
Which one did you get?
So I had gotten the red velvetcake and the double chocolate, I
believe.
And I will tell you that Iwasn't impressed with the red
velvet cake'cause it was justcake with like icing in it and
it was just really, really sweetand kind of dry.
But the double chocolate one Iactually ate last night and it
(03:25):
was.
Way better.
I mean the, they had like fudgein there.
They had some pudding in there.
I mean, it was good.
It was way better than the redvelvet.
Yeah, they were pretty good.
Yeah.
So clearly I did fall off thehealth train last week.
I just, I feel so disgustingright now.
Like each week I like meal prep,about four meals.
You know, the, the chicken,broccoli, rice, super simple.
(03:47):
And I think I only ate onebecause I had been rushing
around so much.
There was just like.
We were dealing with just likeunnecessary drama going on.
But I am back on the train againand plus our vet told us that
the border Collie needs to loseweight.
He's gained 10 pounds since lastyear, but so I, I've been
(04:07):
walking the dogs almost.
Each each day.
So it's not our fault.
He's a good boy and deserves allthose treats and he loves those
cookie ones that have like theicing in the middle.
Those are his favorite.
They're like little Oreos, butfor dogs, he like licks all the
icing away.
Plus we just got resubscribed tothe BarkBox again, which we
absolutely love.
I always forget how much thatbox is so much fun until we do
(04:30):
it again and then we're like,this is so fun.
'cause every.
Box has a different theme, butyou know, he's happy.
And so if he's a little chunky,it's fine.
I kind of wish Shelby would getchunky.
I think chunky golden retrieversare the cutest things.
You always see them on Instagramand they're just so fluffy and
cute, and she just won't getchunky because she's so active.
(04:50):
We monitor our dog steps withtheir collars.
They use like PHI collars, it'sfi and.
Shelby always goes like aboveher daily goals goal.
Yeah.
All the time.
So she's, I, I've lost, I'velost faith that she will get
fat.
You know, speaking of, of thedogs, I think I'm slowly
drifting into the middle agedcategory because now I surf the
(05:12):
web, like for themed bandanasfor the dogs.
Like we had the Easter ones andnow they're wearing the.
Spring ones, and now I'mcontemplating purchasing a July
4th themed one.
So who am I becoming here?
It's, it's, uh, it's a new me, Iguess.
I like the bandanas and I thinkthe dogs like the bandanas.
It makes'em feel special.
(05:34):
Yeah.
Yeah.
They, they like them.
They do.
So what else is going on, Alex?
Anything new?
Um, no, I, I went and saw, um,thunderbolts last Friday, which
was the new Marvel movie, andthat had, you know, it was a
good movie.
There's some people were sayingit's like one of the best Marvel
movies, at least in this, inthis next section of the MCU,
which I.
Can't really argue about, it'snot the best Marvel movie, but
(05:55):
it's good.
And it deals a lot with mentalhealth.
It's probably one of thestrongest superhero movies that
deals with mental health anddepression.
And it was really well done.
I mean, I do give it that.
Um, and I love Florence Puke,Florence Puke, Florence Puck,
whatever, how you ever say herlast name.
I love, love, love her.
And she is ma, the maincharacter in this movie,
basically.
And she was really good.
(06:16):
So I would suggest it.
I'm gonna go see a movie calledSomething Space or something.
UFO or whatever.
It's a Swedish movie.
I'm gonna see it tomorrow.
I'm really interested in it.
It's the first movie thatthey've AI generated dubbing.
So they took AI generation andused dubbing of other acting
voices, and then the AI morphedthe actors' faces and lips into
(06:41):
looking like they're speakingEnglish.
And it morphed like the.
Swedish papers that were writtenin Swedish now the papers
automatically are translatedinto English.
The whole movie has been flippedfor a US audience, and it's been
purely done by ai.
It's gonna be, I'm reallyactually excited about it.
So it's a foreign movie, butit's, it's the first one to use
(07:04):
artificial intelligence.
To dub, I mean,'cause before youwould go see dubbing and the
voices didn't match the lips andit would still be in that.
So what is the movie about?
Um, it supposedly is like aSwedish version of like Stranger
Things and Interstellar.
It's like about alien, like aUFO and it's set like in the
eighties or something.
It's supposedly pretty coolvibes, but it's all in Swedish.
(07:24):
So it's gonna be interesting tosee where this movie, how this
movie performs and what peoplethink about it.
'cause it could be the future ofother.
Foreign movies.
Wow.
That's gonna be interesting.
It's gonna be interesting.
Tell us about it on our nextepisode.
Yeah.
Um, so my husband was raisedCatholic and so when I tell you
when the Catholics are pissedoff, you know, you know it's
(07:46):
real.
Here's a sound bit of Trump andhis controversial Pope pic,
Speaker (07:51):
Some Catholics were not so happy about the image of you
looking like the Pope.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Oh, I see.
You mean they, they can't take ajoke.
You don't mean the Catholics,you mean the fake news media?
Not the Catholics loved it.
Carmo Dolan, I had nothing to dowith it.
Somebody made up a picture of medressed like the Pope and they
put it out on the internet.
Uh, that's not me that did it.
I have no idea where it camefrom.
Maybe it was ai, but uh, I knownothing about it.
(08:16):
I just saw it, uh, last evening.
Actually, my wife thought it wascute.
She said, isn't that nice?
My
Speaker (08:23):
question about it, actually,
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I would not be able to be married though.
That would be a lot.
I'd have to, to the best of myknowledge.
Popes aren't big on gettingmarried, are they?
Not that we know of, no.
No.
I think it's a fake news mediathat, you know, they, they're
fakers.
My
Speaker (08:40):
question though, sir, was about the fact that it was
put out on the White Houseaccount, even though it was AI
generated.
It was a joke.
It was a meme.
Does it at all diminish thesubstance of the official White
House account to have it go outon that particular chance?
I'll give you a
Speaker 2 (08:54):
break.
It was just, uh, somebody did itin fun.
It's fine.
Have to have a little fun, don'tyou?
so Trump went ahead and.
F posted an AI generated photoof himself dressed as the Pope
on his truth social last weekand just a few hours after that
the White House reposted thephoto on their official ex
(09:15):
account.
Did you saw the photo rightAlex?
I did.
It was absolutely ridiculous,but, but here's where things got
intense Catholic leaders and atleast one major US Catholic
group are not happy about it.
this like.
Catholic group in New Yorkdropped a serious message saying
there's nothing clever or funnyabout the image.
Basically they're calling outthe mockery saying, don't mess
(09:37):
with us or our faith right now.
So, yeah, I mean, here's thething.
I was raised Catholic.
I think a lot of people actuallyin this country were, especially
in St.
Louis.
My relationship with the church,let's just say it changed a lot
after college.
That's a whole other story I'mnot even gonna get into.
But here's what I will say aboutthis situation.
Yes, the Catholic Church,depending on a congregation,
(09:58):
doesn't always supportL-G-B-T-Q.
People like us, it's nosurprise.
Some places are downrighthostile.
Others try to be more open.
I have met many liberalCatholics, including nuns.
Some do believe that love islove.
I mean, Pope Francis made somemoves in that direction as well,
but religion is still minefield.
Every faith has people stillclinging ancient views, and that
(10:20):
makes it complicated.
It makes it hard for some peopleto feel civility towards this
religion.
I get it still.
Respect has to go both ways.
We want people to respect.
Pride.
Same goes for religioustraditions like the papal
conclave.
You don't have to believe in it,but you can respect that.
It means something to millionsof people.
Republicans love to screamblasphemy and oh my goodness.
(10:42):
When someone uses Christianimagery and art or pop culture,
remember the outrage overlyOlympic opening ceremony in
Paris and the whole last Supperreference, they re quote
recreated it and there was a.
Bunch of drag queens andartistic performers on the
deadly bridge over the SANEriver.
The Olympic officials, I think,came out and said it was
actually a reference to the godsof Olympus.
(11:03):
But anyway, fast forward now andthe same crowd is totally fine
with this Republican presidentbeing edited as the Pope.
No one's saying shit.
Posted it was posted by theofficial White House account.
So no matter how Trump can spinthis and say, oh, I didn't know
about it, he still like promotedit.
That is hypocrisy at its finestand its selective outrage to
(11:25):
those Republicans.
If you're a Catholic Republicanespecially, and you're fine with
what Trump did or was just ableto sweep it under the rug.
Let's move on to a differentstory.
Maybe ask yourself, is it aboutthe religion or.
Just what fits your narrativewhen it comes to these things?
I mean, who thought it was okayto share it?
That's the bottom line.
Even if they didn't create itwhen they saw it, who was like,
(11:48):
oh, this is great.
Let's post it on the White Houseaccount.
It's so stupid.
Uh, it is crazy.
So, I know you, you workovernight, so you sleep during
the day.
Did you see that they found anew pope today?
I, so it just popped on myaccount, like I saw something
about it.
I haven't dug, but I did seethat.
His name is Pope Leo.
He's the first American Pope andhe is from Chicago.
(12:10):
He actually spent a year here inSt.
Louis in the 1970s, um, a fewmiles from where we are
recording this today.
So I found that interesting.
Interesting.
I'll have to look him up.
Is he, does he We do.
We know if he's tales liberal orconservative?
Liberal, like the posts that Ihave seen, like on social media.
Of course, I'm not doingresearch on the new Pope right
now, but, very liberal leaning,like anti the deportation thing.
(12:36):
He's, uh, I.
I, I don't want to say anythingelse that I, that's not factual
right now, but that's a goodthing.
And I don't think people realizehow important it was that we
pick a liberal pope or they,they picked a liberal pope
because the Pope, even if youdon't, aren't Catholic, they are
a worldwide leader, just likepresident and just like anyone
(12:56):
else, and they are brought tothe table.
Their views are respected.
And so if we would've had aconservative Pope Trump, I mean,
think of the ramifications ofthat and what that would've done
with the Catholic.
Church in the us all the, allthe shit they would've defended
with Trump.
I mean, it could have beenreally bad.
So if he is liberal leaning,that is a very good thing.
(13:17):
So, um, because they do, they dobring their thoughts to the
table.
A lot of leaders respect them.
A lot of leaders meet with them.
So we need a liberal pope.
So I'll be good if he is.
Yeah.
So switching gears here.
Uh, political scandal inFlorida, shocking, and this has
nothing to do with Trump that weknow of yet, but this scandal
(13:38):
involves Governor RonaldDeSantis and his wife Casey.
So in 2021, Casey DeSantisfounded Hope Florida, a charity
to connect underprivilegedFloridians with government
resources and a whole network ofdifferent charities throughout.
And over the three years, thecharity managed to raise around
(14:02):
$2 million, which is a lot ofmoney, clearly.
Then just last fall.
$10 million arrived to the HopeFlorida Foundation from an
unlikely source.
A Medicaid contractor embroiledin a case of Overbilling, but
within weeks, the money was gonenot to the churches or other
(14:26):
groups helping the needy.
Instead, the 10 million wasfunneled to two dark money
nonprofit political groups.
Those groups which aren'trequired to disclose their
donors then sent$8.5 million topacs or political action
(14:49):
committees, which helped Ronaldand his allies defeat a November
ballot measure that would havelegalized marijuana in the state
of Florida.
In his two terms as governorDeSantis has enjoyed strong
support from the Republicancontrolled legislator, but now
the state Republican Housemembers allege that a criminal
(15:12):
investigation is warranted forthis dark money.
Essentially, this comes afterMr.
And Ms.
DeSantis are mulling whether sheshould run for governor or not.
As DeSantis the the man isturning out.
All this money comes from acorporation, which I think is
headquartered here in St.
Louis Centene, who was overbilling taxpayers of
(15:36):
medications, specifically in thestate of Florida.
Centene paid out about$67million.
10 million of that 67 millionwent to Casey DeSantis Hope
Florida Foundation.
Such a windfall.
Is unheard of for thisfoundation of the 2 million the
(15:59):
foundation has raised before thelast fall windfall.
Essentially they had givenaround about$500,000 in grants.
Those grants mostly ranged from10 to like$20,000 in payments.
That was clearly not the casewith the$10 million payment that
the foundation received, Even ifno criminal charges are filed,
(16:23):
one person is marked by thisinvestigation is the potential
governor candidate Ronald'swife, Casey DeSantis.
And in case you care, Trump hasalready endorsed a candidate in
the race Republican CongressmanByron Donalds.
Yeah, this whole story is aminefield for the DeSantis
family.
I would be curious if Casey doescontinue to try to run for
(16:45):
governor, some say.
She doesn't have the stomach forit.
Um, especially for the fight, ifit gets really dirty, if she did
run, this would be a huge hurdleto get over for them.
Even if they're not convicted,even if they're not found
guilty, it's still gonna followthem.
It makes you wonder if thisstory was planted and the other
Republicans are in on the hitjob.
(17:06):
I mean, they're all kind ofganging up on it.
It just seems very convenientlytimed.
Like, they definitely hired anOlivia Pope Republican version
of an Olivia Pope, it soundslike, to find this story out.
Yeah.
Um, so, okay.
Game time babe.
And you know what?
I got the game this week.
All right.
So you get to answer.
(17:26):
Oh man.
It's a, it's a who set it gameand, uh, since we celebrated May
the fourth, it's gonna be whosaid it between Trump and Darth
Vader because, you know, they'revery much alike.
So, here we go.
Ready?
Alright.
Yeah.
Quote one, here we go.
We got hit by something thatshould have never happened
because they could have stoppedit.
(17:48):
Trump or Darth Vader Trump.
Yes.
Good job.
So Trump said this in regard toCOVID-19.
There we go.
Interesting.
Uh, Here we go.
I am altering a deal.
Pray I don't alter it further.
Oh, Vader.
(18:09):
Yes.
Oh yes.
Ding, ding, ding.
Perfect.
Alright, next one.
Here we go.
Uh, in life you have to rely onthe past.
That's called History Trump orDarth Vader.
Oh, that, oh, man.
Um, Trump.
(18:29):
Yes.
Nice.
Three for three.
All right, here we go.
Space is going to be soimportant.
Trump or Darth Vader Trump.
Yes.
SpaceX, right?
I have no idea.
I just know.
I'm sure it was, that's what hesaid.
So next.
This technological error isnothing compared to the power.
(18:52):
do.dot Trump or Darth VaderVader.
Yes.
Yes.
Nice.
The power of the force.
That was the dot, dot dot.
There you go.
Oh, okay.
This is too easy.
I like this.
Alright, number six.
(19:12):
Here we go.
You could see there was blood inher eyes.
Trump or Darth Vader.
Vader Trump.
Oh man.
He was saying this in referenceto Megan Kelly whenever she
hosted like one of those, youknow, debates.
(19:32):
See the blood in her eyes.
I remember that debate.
Yeah, when she went hard.
It was pretty good actually.
Yeah.
So here we go.
Be careful not to choke on yourconvictions.
Trump or Darth Vader Trump.
Darth Vader.
Fuck.
I'm messing up now.
Asteroids do not concern me.
(19:55):
Trump or Darth Vader.
Okay, that sounds too easy to beVader.
So I'm gonna say Trump.
Darth Vader.
Dang it.
This is a fun one.
Um, okay, here we go.
Ready?
If you're not with me, thenyou're my enemy.
Trump or Darth Vader.
That's Trump.
Darth Vader.
(20:15):
Dang it.
Okay.
I'm totally, I'm throwing in thetowel, right?
We got one more.
One more.
Here we go.
This is a long one, so listen.
Okay.
All right.
You're asking me to be rational.
That is something I cannot do.
Believe me, I wish I could justwish away my feelings, but I
can't Trump or Darth Vader.
(20:35):
Trump would never admit that.
I feel like that has to beVader, but Vader would never
admit that.
Maybe Vader would, I don't know.
I'm gonna say Vader.
Yes.
Good job.
There we go.
Now, I do have a question.
Was that coming from just theold Star Wars movies where Vader
was the villain?
Or was that also includingquotes from the newer Star Wars
(20:57):
movies where you learn about theorigin story of Vader?
Hayden Christensen, I believe isactor because he had a lot, I
don't remember Vader talkingthat much in the original Star
Wars movies, so it had to havecame from like.
Phantom si and the, the episodeone and two and three movies,
you probably have no clue,right?
I really don't care.
I, I think, I think it wasbecause I think some of those
(21:21):
quotes were questionable becausethey came from the early movies,
which Vader wasn't actually thatevil in the early movies.
So are you questioning mecreating this game or what's
going on here?
I'm questioning whether you hadenough knowledge about Star Wars
to build a quiz with Vader andTrump.
I think.
Alright, next story.
(21:42):
Let's go.
Alright, so you know what elsehappened this week?
The Kentucky Derby, an AmericanThoroughbred named Sovereignty
won the race.
But you know what's interesting?
The success of many racetracksrely on hundreds of immigrant
workers on temporary H two BVisas.
(22:03):
Horse racing generated some$36billion in 2023 according to the
American Horse Council.
That's a lot of money.
I was actually surprised bythose numbers.
Horse racing.
Horse racing,$36 billion.
And that's just, I guess, inAmerica, which is crazier.
'cause I believe horse racing isbigger in other parts of the
(22:23):
world.
It's like soccer, but.
So it makes you wonder how muchactually this, this industry
makes.
The industry heavily relies onworkers with H two B visas to
get a horse on the track becauseowners and trainers say they're
unable to find enough US-bornworkers.
Still a large portion of theworkforce is estimated to be
without legal status.
(22:46):
Yeah, so there are two widelysought worker Visa programs, and
they've already reached theirannual caps this year, visas are
no longer available for 2025.
That includes the.
H one B Visa, which goes tothose with college degrees and
the H two B visa fornon-agricultural seasonal labor,
(23:10):
such as like hospitality,landscaping, or working with
animals like horses.
Yeah.
Labor experts say that thedemand for Visa shows a pressing
need for immigrant workers, butthe Trump administration
promises a general crackdown onboth legal and illegal
migration.
The majority of H one B Visaholders come from India,
(23:32):
followed by China, and Mexicowas the top country for H two B
Visas in 2024, followed byJamaica, Guatemala, El Salvador,
and the Honduras.
I.
The annual cap for H two B visaswas 66,000 This year, business
owners are worried that Trumpwill lower those caps next year
(23:55):
or just.
Freeze the programs entirely ashe did for the H one B Visa
program during his firstadministration.
It's also worth mentioning in2023, the most requested
occupations for H two B visaswere landscaping and
groundskeeping workers, whichwere made up 39%.
Maids and housekeeping cleaners,forests and conservation
(24:17):
workers, foreign seasonalworkers are also in high demand
into tourism, construction, andseafood processing industries.
As the US baby boom generationretires out of the workforce and
young US born workers likemillennials and Gen Zers
continue to show little interestin physically intensive seasonal
jobs.
(24:38):
These statistics matter becausewho's gonna fill those jobs and
because of Trump does cut, doescut or freeze these programs.
It is important to know theseimpacts.
Yeah, we'll see.
I don't, I don't foresee amillennial doing any of those
jobs.
Origins years especially, well,I don't think it's not, I don't
think it's necessarily that.
(24:58):
I think it's just the pay isvery, very low.
Yeah.
And uh, it's probably belowminimum wage too, if you think
about it.
So, yeah, that's true.
That is true.
The pay would make a bigdifference as well, so.
The day of the Chris Murphy TownHall.
Remember that, that was, whatwas that like a couple weeks
ago, like two Fridays ago orsomething?
(25:19):
I learned that a judge wasarrested.
It totally caught us both offguard.
Uh, turns out Wisconsin.
Judge Hannah Dugan is accused oftelling a migrant to leave her
courtroom out of a side door asice agents were waiting to take
him away.
That is a big deal because itraises questions about justice
(25:41):
and fairness.
The government specifically, theAttorney General Pam Bondy, said
that the arrest sends a clearmessage.
If judges try to protect peopleor block immigration
authorities, those judges willface the same treatment.
I.
And get this.
After she was taken intocustody, FBI Director Cash Patel
posted a photo of her inhandcuffs.
(26:01):
Seriously, it's like somethingout of a movie.
The whole thing started on April18th at the Milwaukee County
Courthouse.
Eduardo Flores Ruez was.
There for hearing and his lawyertold Judge Dugan that his ice
was outside, which she foundabsurd and she left her seat to
talk to the agents.
The judge told them they neededa warrant and dis discussed the
(26:22):
matter with the chief judge.
The Chief judge Carl Ashley saidthere was a new policy about
where ice agents could makearrests in the courthouse, but
he made it clear.
No taking people in courtroomsor private spots.
Still, the situation was tenseand controversial with many
seeing it as a clash betweenjustice, immigration, and law
(26:44):
enforcement.
Judge Dugan has retained the topconservative lawyer, Paul
Seaman, and so it's becoming alegal showdown and just shows
how complicated and heated theseissues are right now.
It definitely makes you thinkabout how the Trump
administration views realjustice in today's world.
Here will be the interestingpart as well.
The law recognizes that a personmay use illegal means to prevent
(27:08):
imminent, unlawful harm toanother.
Deportation is not inherentlyunlawful, but wrongful
deportation into a known torturecenter without due process,
which the Trump administrationhas been under fire for doing
recently.
If.
Dugan can prove she believedthat helping with the escape was
(27:28):
necessary to prevent imminentunlawful harm, then there may be
a legitimate defense.
She was resisting a system thathad already proven itself
willing to bypass the dueprocess and placing deportees in
brutal conditions.
So a trial could expose thesewrongful deportations and open
up this can of worms of abusesthat this administration has
(27:51):
been under fire for.
Would they, this administration,I.
Want to open up that can ofworms in court to be able to
challenge her.
We'll see the case is pending,but if she is convicted, she
could face six years in prison,which is crazy.
But not only that, the thingthat pisses me off about this is
the fact that they're arrestingjudges now after they've been
(28:12):
defying court orders.
It's like scaring our judicialsystem into the corners and like
cornering them literally.
It's just a scary, it's wrong,completely wrong.
It's, it's a threat.
It's threatening because, yeah,I mean, it's just like what
they're doing with doctors, withthe abortion stuff.
Like there there's no, there'sno, oh, if you're this status,
you're safe or you have more.
(28:34):
Yeah.
You know, and I wonder whatparty that's coming from.
Hmm.
Interesting.
Yeah.
So here's another one.
Michigan Governor, GretchenWhitmer, uh, a leading Democrat
has found herself in a trickyspot with her recent dealings
with Donald Trump.
She's faced criticism for hermeetings with him, but she
insists she's doing what's bestfor her state.
Here is her speaking on thecurrent situation in Michigan in
(28:56):
regard to the tariffs.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
These last few days have beenreally tough for Michigan.
20% of our economy is tied tothe auto industry, which depends
on a steady flow of goods fromour largest and closest trading
partners.
We're home to the busiestinternational border crossing in
(29:19):
North America.
More than 10,000 vehiclescarrying parts and materials
crossed the bridge betweenDetroit and Windsor.
Every weekday, we're alreadyseeing the impacts of tariffs.
So as I've said before, I'm notagainst tariffs outright, but it
is a blunt tool.
(29:39):
You can't just pull out thetariff hammer to swing at every
problem without a clear definedend goal.
We cannot underestimate or underappreciate the time and capital.
It's gonna take to actuallybring jobs and supply chains
back home, so there's not ashortcut here.
(30:00):
Strategic reindustrializationmust be a bipartisan project
that spans multiple presidentialadministrations.
Last month, Whitmer appearedalongside Trump at a Michigan
Air base where they announced anew fighter Jet mission, a major
win for her state.
She credits her Oval Officemeeting with helping secure the
deal, saying her priority isMichigan.
(30:22):
First, even if some people don'tunderstand her choices, Whitmer
also made headlines when sheshared a brief moment with him
as he arrived in Michigan,greeting Trump with a handshake
and a hug.
I don't think I could ever hugthat man if I was in her
position.
Maybe just the handshake, but Iwould prefer a covid hello where
we just don't touch.
(30:43):
Um, but this came after sometense history as Whitmer is
known for opposing Trump'spolicies and being cautious
around him.
But she explains that thehandshake and hug were just a
normal part of her, of thediplomacy of it all.
While she's spoken out againstTrump's actions, she stresses
she's in a tough position as ademocratic leader trying to
(31:06):
navigate this polarizedpolitical landscape as a
potential presidential contenderfor 2028.
Whitmer is walking a fine linetrying to support her state.
It's just a, a clear example howdemocratic leaders are.
Balancing opposition in adivided America today.
(31:26):
Yeah.
I'll be curious if she does win,and I do understand if she does
win, she has to tiptoe aroundthis whole situation, so I get
it.
It's just, I don't know if Iwould have the stomach to hug
him.
Yeah, she's, she's really,really good at getting that.
Like she became governor and shehad a Republican controlled
legislature, especially duringthe.
(31:47):
2020 era.
Era or whatever, when it, likeCovid was rampant and stuff, and
she was able to make nonpartisandeals with them in regard to the
coronavirus and a lot of otherthings.
So she's really, really good atreaching her hand across the
aisle.
Um, I do like her.
Uh, so do you think she'll run?
(32:08):
Do you think there's apossibility?
I think she'll be a good topcandidate.
I, I think she's more a VP typedeal situation, but I don't
know.
We'll see.
Yeah.
So well with that, that's it forthe civil union.
Hey Alex, what is our handle?
The Civil Union pod.
(32:28):
On Instagram and TikTok and thenon Instagram and TikTok, uh, you
guys can email us at the CivilUnion twenty5@gmail.com.
Thanks for listening, guys.
Thanks guys.
Welcome to the Civil Union, thepodcast where politics meets
partnership.
We're Alex and Ryan, a marriedcouple, navigating life and
debates in a conservative state.
We bring you sharp insights,bold opinions, and.
Honest conversations about thepolitical issues shaping our
lives, especially those livingon the society's margins.
(00:30):
Tune in for real talk.
A touch of humor and plenty ofpassion because when it comes to
politics, every voice mattersand we are here to make sure
they, they're heard.
God, we gotta change that intro.
One day you will get it right.
I think I really believe in you.
We need to rewrite it.
Well welcome everybody.
Um, just a reminder, we are onTikTok and Instagram.
(00:52):
Uh, just follow us at our verynew and very fresh handle.
The Civil Union Pod.
Yes, that's the Civil Union Pod,both on Instagram and TikTok.
We are trying to push out morecontent, more things for you to
enjoy.
So just follow us there to seewhat we have to offer.
Absolutely.
So it's, it's been a successfulweek so far.
(01:13):
How about you, Alex?
Yeah, it's been a good week sofar.
It's not been bad at all.
That's good.
Yeah, so we even managed tosqueeze in a dinner date at one
of our favorite sushirestaurants, sushi, sushi Hana
in Afton, Missouri.
You know, I'm not sure if thetwo people up front are married
or the owners, but they're sopassionate and knowledgeable
(01:33):
about the roles they serve.
The vibe of the restaurant is.
Totally like transports you toJapan.
And I just love hitting thosesmall family run restaurants.
They feel so authentic, youknow?
Yeah.
And every time we go, we alwayscompliment their dishes and
their cups.
They just like, they doeverything right and cozy.
You know, we have threedifferent sushi restaurants
right now in rotation, and theyall are completely different
(01:56):
vibes.
One is more modern with.
Anime everywhere.
One is more has like, like fancyrolls that, that you're just
piled on with different things.
And then Sushi Hana is more likeyour classic sushi place where
it's not rou, rou or frills, butit's just solid good sushi.
So it's, it's kind, you know, itis funny'cause when we lived in
(02:17):
Oklahoma City or when we livedin.
going to Texas, there aren't asmany sushi places.
So St.
Louis, weirdly enough, has a lotof sushi places, like a lot of
different options.
We haven't even gone to somethat we've heard of.
Um, and I'm curious to try someof the other ones.
But yeah, we have some goodofferings here.
Yeah, I just feel like I'mcheating on my other sushi
restaurants when I go to a newone, so I try to keep it like.
(02:41):
The same one, you know?
Yeah.
And that's the thing with sushiis like, all of them are like
small businesses.
You know, when you go to likeRed Lobster or something, you're
not really, it's just a, it'sjust a big corporation.
But like those businesses,they're all family run.
But anyway, yeah.
So we also swung by a dessertspot up in Ladu called Jars by
Fabio vii.
They're known for these littlelike mini pudding jars,
(03:03):
apparently a big trend.
I went with the Bananas andCream.
It was.
Delicious.
Uh, what did you get, Alex?
Which one did you get?
So I had gotten the red velvetcake and the double chocolate, I
believe.
And I will tell you that Iwasn't impressed with the red
velvet cake'cause it was justcake with like icing in it and
it was just really, really sweetand kind of dry.
But the double chocolate one Iactually ate last night and it
(03:25):
was.
Way better.
I mean the, they had like fudgein there.
They had some pudding in there.
I mean, it was good.
It was way better than the redvelvet.
Yeah, they were pretty good.
Yeah.
So clearly I did fall off thehealth train last week.
I just, I feel so disgustingright now.
Like each week I like meal prep,about four meals.
You know, the, the chicken,broccoli, rice, super simple.
(03:47):
And I think I only ate onebecause I had been rushing
around so much.
There was just like.
We were dealing with just likeunnecessary drama going on.
But I am back on the train againand plus our vet told us that
the border Collie needs to loseweight.
He's gained 10 pounds since lastyear, but so I, I've been
(04:07):
walking the dogs almost.
Each each day.
So it's not our fault.
He's a good boy and deserves allthose treats and he loves those
cookie ones that have like theicing in the middle.
Those are his favorite.
They're like little Oreos, butfor dogs, he like licks all the
icing away.
Plus we just got resubscribed tothe BarkBox again, which we
absolutely love.
I always forget how much thatbox is so much fun until we do
(04:30):
it again and then we're like,this is so fun.
'cause every.
Box has a different theme, butyou know, he's happy.
And so if he's a little chunky,it's fine.
I kind of wish Shelby would getchunky.
I think chunky golden retrieversare the cutest things.
You always see them on Instagramand they're just so fluffy and
cute, and she just won't getchunky because she's so active.
(04:50):
We monitor our dog steps withtheir collars.
They use like PHI collars, it'sfi and.
Shelby always goes like aboveher daily goals goal.
Yeah.
All the time.
So she's, I, I've lost, I'velost faith that she will get
fat.
You know, speaking of, of thedogs, I think I'm slowly
drifting into the middle agedcategory because now I surf the
(05:12):
web, like for themed bandanasfor the dogs.
Like we had the Easter ones andnow they're wearing the.
Spring ones, and now I'mcontemplating purchasing a July
4th themed one.
So who am I becoming here?
It's, it's, uh, it's a new me, Iguess.
I like the bandanas and I thinkthe dogs like the bandanas.
It makes'em feel special.
(05:34):
Yeah.
Yeah.
They, they like them.
They do.
So what else is going on, Alex?
Anything new?
Um, no, I, I went and saw, um,thunderbolts last Friday, which
was the new Marvel movie, andthat had, you know, it was a
good movie.
There's some people were sayingit's like one of the best Marvel
movies, at least in this, inthis next section of the MCU,
which I.
Can't really argue about, it'snot the best Marvel movie, but
(05:55):
it's good.
And it deals a lot with mentalhealth.
It's probably one of thestrongest superhero movies that
deals with mental health anddepression.
And it was really well done.
I mean, I do give it that.
Um, and I love Florence Puke,Florence Puke, Florence Puck,
whatever, how you ever say herlast name.
I love, love, love her.
And she is ma, the maincharacter in this movie,
basically.
And she was really good.
(06:16):
So I would suggest it.
I'm gonna go see a movie calledSomething Space or something.
UFO or whatever.
It's a Swedish movie.
I'm gonna see it tomorrow.
I'm really interested in it.
It's the first movie thatthey've AI generated dubbing.
So they took AI generation andused dubbing of other acting
voices, and then the AI morphedthe actors' faces and lips into
(06:41):
looking like they're speakingEnglish.
And it morphed like the.
Swedish papers that were writtenin Swedish now the papers
automatically are translatedinto English.
The whole movie has been flippedfor a US audience, and it's been
purely done by ai.
It's gonna be, I'm reallyactually excited about it.
So it's a foreign movie, butit's, it's the first one to use
(07:04):
artificial intelligence.
To dub, I mean,'cause before youwould go see dubbing and the
voices didn't match the lips andit would still be in that.
So what is the movie about?
Um, it supposedly is like aSwedish version of like Stranger
Things and Interstellar.
It's like about alien, like aUFO and it's set like in the
eighties or something.
It's supposedly pretty coolvibes, but it's all in Swedish.
(07:24):
So it's gonna be interesting tosee where this movie, how this
movie performs and what peoplethink about it.
'cause it could be the future ofother.
Foreign movies.
Wow.
That's gonna be interesting.
It's gonna be interesting.
Tell us about it on our nextepisode.
Yeah.
Um, so my husband was raisedCatholic and so when I tell you
when the Catholics are pissedoff, you know, you know it's
(07:46):
real.
Here's a sound bit of Trump andhis controversial Pope pic,
Speaker (07:51):
Some Catholics were not so happy about the image of you
looking like the Pope.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Oh, I see.
You mean they, they can't take ajoke.
You don't mean the Catholics,you mean the fake news media?
Not the Catholics loved it.
Carmo Dolan, I had nothing to dowith it.
Somebody made up a picture of medressed like the Pope and they
put it out on the internet.
Uh, that's not me that did it.
I have no idea where it camefrom.
Maybe it was ai, but uh, I knownothing about it.
(08:16):
I just saw it, uh, last evening.
Actually, my wife thought it wascute.
She said, isn't that nice?
My
Speaker (08:23):
question about it, actually,
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I would not be able to be married though.
That would be a lot.
I'd have to, to the best of myknowledge.
Popes aren't big on gettingmarried, are they?
Not that we know of, no.
No.
I think it's a fake news mediathat, you know, they, they're
fakers.
My
Speaker (08:40):
question though, sir, was about the fact that it was
put out on the White Houseaccount, even though it was AI
generated.
It was a joke.
It was a meme.
Does it at all diminish thesubstance of the official White
House account to have it go outon that particular chance?
I'll give you a
Speaker 2 (08:54):
break.
It was just, uh, somebody did itin fun.
It's fine.
Have to have a little fun, don'tyou?
so Trump went ahead and.
F posted an AI generated photoof himself dressed as the Pope
on his truth social last weekand just a few hours after that
the White House reposted thephoto on their official ex
(09:15):
account.
Did you saw the photo rightAlex?
I did.
It was absolutely ridiculous,but, but here's where things got
intense Catholic leaders and atleast one major US Catholic
group are not happy about it.
this like.
Catholic group in New Yorkdropped a serious message saying
there's nothing clever or funnyabout the image.
Basically they're calling outthe mockery saying, don't mess
(09:37):
with us or our faith right now.
So, yeah, I mean, here's thething.
I was raised Catholic.
I think a lot of people actuallyin this country were, especially
in St.
Louis.
My relationship with the church,let's just say it changed a lot
after college.
That's a whole other story I'mnot even gonna get into.
But here's what I will say aboutthis situation.
Yes, the Catholic Church,depending on a congregation,
(09:58):
doesn't always supportL-G-B-T-Q.
People like us, it's nosurprise.
Some places are downrighthostile.
Others try to be more open.
I have met many liberalCatholics, including nuns.
Some do believe that love islove.
I mean, Pope Francis made somemoves in that direction as well,
but religion is still minefield.
Every faith has people stillclinging ancient views, and that
(10:20):
makes it complicated.
It makes it hard for some peopleto feel civility towards this
religion.
I get it still.
Respect has to go both ways.
We want people to respect.
Pride.
Same goes for religioustraditions like the papal
conclave.
You don't have to believe in it,but you can respect that.
It means something to millionsof people.
Republicans love to screamblasphemy and oh my goodness.
(10:42):
When someone uses Christianimagery and art or pop culture,
remember the outrage overlyOlympic opening ceremony in
Paris and the whole last Supperreference, they re quote
recreated it and there was a.
Bunch of drag queens andartistic performers on the
deadly bridge over the SANEriver.
The Olympic officials, I think,came out and said it was
actually a reference to the godsof Olympus.
(11:03):
But anyway, fast forward now andthe same crowd is totally fine
with this Republican presidentbeing edited as the Pope.
No one's saying shit.
Posted it was posted by theofficial White House account.
So no matter how Trump can spinthis and say, oh, I didn't know
about it, he still like promotedit.
That is hypocrisy at its finestand its selective outrage to
(11:25):
those Republicans.
If you're a Catholic Republicanespecially, and you're fine with
what Trump did or was just ableto sweep it under the rug.
Let's move on to a differentstory.
Maybe ask yourself, is it aboutthe religion or.
Just what fits your narrativewhen it comes to these things?
I mean, who thought it was okayto share it?
That's the bottom line.
Even if they didn't create itwhen they saw it, who was like,
(11:48):
oh, this is great.
Let's post it on the White Houseaccount.
It's so stupid.
Uh, it is crazy.
So, I know you, you workovernight, so you sleep during
the day.
Did you see that they found anew pope today?
I, so it just popped on myaccount, like I saw something
about it.
I haven't dug, but I did seethat.
His name is Pope Leo.
He's the first American Pope andhe is from Chicago.
(12:10):
He actually spent a year here inSt.
Louis in the 1970s, um, a fewmiles from where we are
recording this today.
So I found that interesting.
Interesting.
I'll have to look him up.
Is he, does he We do.
We know if he's tales liberal orconservative?
Liberal, like the posts that Ihave seen, like on social media.
Of course, I'm not doingresearch on the new Pope right
now, but, very liberal leaning,like anti the deportation thing.
(12:36):
He's, uh, I.
I, I don't want to say anythingelse that I, that's not factual
right now, but that's a goodthing.
And I don't think people realizehow important it was that we
pick a liberal pope or they,they picked a liberal pope
because the Pope, even if youdon't, aren't Catholic, they are
a worldwide leader, just likepresident and just like anyone
(12:56):
else, and they are brought tothe table.
Their views are respected.
And so if we would've had aconservative Pope Trump, I mean,
think of the ramifications ofthat and what that would've done
with the Catholic.
Church in the us all the, allthe shit they would've defended
with Trump.
I mean, it could have beenreally bad.
So if he is liberal leaning,that is a very good thing.
(13:17):
So, um, because they do, they dobring their thoughts to the
table.
A lot of leaders respect them.
A lot of leaders meet with them.
So we need a liberal pope.
So I'll be good if he is.
Yeah.
So switching gears here.
Uh, political scandal inFlorida, shocking, and this has
nothing to do with Trump that weknow of yet, but this scandal
(13:38):
involves Governor RonaldDeSantis and his wife Casey.
So in 2021, Casey DeSantisfounded Hope Florida, a charity
to connect underprivilegedFloridians with government
resources and a whole network ofdifferent charities throughout.
And over the three years, thecharity managed to raise around
(14:02):
$2 million, which is a lot ofmoney, clearly.
Then just last fall.
$10 million arrived to the HopeFlorida Foundation from an
unlikely source.
A Medicaid contractor embroiledin a case of Overbilling, but
within weeks, the money was gonenot to the churches or other
(14:26):
groups helping the needy.
Instead, the 10 million wasfunneled to two dark money
nonprofit political groups.
Those groups which aren'trequired to disclose their
donors then sent$8.5 million topacs or political action
(14:49):
committees, which helped Ronaldand his allies defeat a November
ballot measure that would havelegalized marijuana in the state
of Florida.
In his two terms as governorDeSantis has enjoyed strong
support from the Republicancontrolled legislator, but now
the state Republican Housemembers allege that a criminal
(15:12):
investigation is warranted forthis dark money.
Essentially, this comes afterMr.
And Ms.
DeSantis are mulling whether sheshould run for governor or not.
As DeSantis the the man isturning out.
All this money comes from acorporation, which I think is
headquartered here in St.
Louis Centene, who was overbilling taxpayers of
(15:36):
medications, specifically in thestate of Florida.
Centene paid out about$67million.
10 million of that 67 millionwent to Casey DeSantis Hope
Florida Foundation.
Such a windfall.
Is unheard of for thisfoundation of the 2 million the
(15:59):
foundation has raised before thelast fall windfall.
Essentially they had givenaround about$500,000 in grants.
Those grants mostly ranged from10 to like$20,000 in payments.
That was clearly not the casewith the$10 million payment that
the foundation received, Even ifno criminal charges are filed,
(16:23):
one person is marked by thisinvestigation is the potential
governor candidate Ronald'swife, Casey DeSantis.
And in case you care, Trump hasalready endorsed a candidate in
the race Republican CongressmanByron Donalds.
Yeah, this whole story is aminefield for the DeSantis
family.
I would be curious if Casey doescontinue to try to run for
(16:45):
governor, some say.
She doesn't have the stomach forit.
Um, especially for the fight, ifit gets really dirty, if she did
run, this would be a huge hurdleto get over for them.
Even if they're not convicted,even if they're not found
guilty, it's still gonna followthem.
It makes you wonder if thisstory was planted and the other
Republicans are in on the hitjob.
(17:06):
I mean, they're all kind ofganging up on it.
It just seems very convenientlytimed.
Like, they definitely hired anOlivia Pope Republican version
of an Olivia Pope, it soundslike, to find this story out.
Yeah.
Um, so, okay.
Game time babe.
And you know what?
I got the game this week.
All right.
So you get to answer.
(17:26):
Oh man.
It's a, it's a who set it gameand, uh, since we celebrated May
the fourth, it's gonna be whosaid it between Trump and Darth
Vader because, you know, they'revery much alike.
So, here we go.
Ready?
Alright.
Yeah.
Quote one, here we go.
We got hit by something thatshould have never happened
because they could have stoppedit.
(17:48):
Trump or Darth Vader Trump.
Yes.
Good job.
So Trump said this in regard toCOVID-19.
There we go.
Interesting.
Uh, Here we go.
I am altering a deal.
Pray I don't alter it further.
Oh, Vader.
(18:09):
Yes.
Oh yes.
Ding, ding, ding.
Perfect.
Alright, next one.
Here we go.
Uh, in life you have to rely onthe past.
That's called History Trump orDarth Vader.
Oh, that, oh, man.
Um, Trump.
(18:29):
Yes.
Nice.
Three for three.
All right, here we go.
Space is going to be soimportant.
Trump or Darth Vader Trump.
Yes.
SpaceX, right?
I have no idea.
I just know.
I'm sure it was, that's what hesaid.
So next.
This technological error isnothing compared to the power.
(18:52):
do.dot Trump or Darth VaderVader.
Yes.
Yes.
Nice.
The power of the force.
That was the dot, dot dot.
There you go.
Oh, okay.
This is too easy.
I like this.
Alright, number six.
(19:12):
Here we go.
You could see there was blood inher eyes.
Trump or Darth Vader.
Vader Trump.
Oh man.
He was saying this in referenceto Megan Kelly whenever she
hosted like one of those, youknow, debates.
(19:32):
See the blood in her eyes.
I remember that debate.
Yeah, when she went hard.
It was pretty good actually.
Yeah.
So here we go.
Be careful not to choke on yourconvictions.
Trump or Darth Vader Trump.
Darth Vader.
Fuck.
I'm messing up now.
Asteroids do not concern me.
(19:55):
Trump or Darth Vader.
Okay, that sounds too easy to beVader.
So I'm gonna say Trump.
Darth Vader.
Dang it.
This is a fun one.
Um, okay, here we go.
Ready?
If you're not with me, thenyou're my enemy.
Trump or Darth Vader.
That's Trump.
Darth Vader.
(20:15):
Dang it.
Okay.
I'm totally, I'm throwing in thetowel, right?
We got one more.
One more.
Here we go.
This is a long one, so listen.
Okay.
All right.
You're asking me to be rational.
That is something I cannot do.
Believe me, I wish I could justwish away my feelings, but I
can't Trump or Darth Vader.
(20:35):
Trump would never admit that.
I feel like that has to beVader, but Vader would never
admit that.
Maybe Vader would, I don't know.
I'm gonna say Vader.
Yes.
Good job.
There we go.
Now, I do have a question.
Was that coming from just theold Star Wars movies where Vader
was the villain?
Or was that also includingquotes from the newer Star Wars
(20:57):
movies where you learn about theorigin story of Vader?
Hayden Christensen, I believe isactor because he had a lot, I
don't remember Vader talkingthat much in the original Star
Wars movies, so it had to havecame from like.
Phantom si and the, the episodeone and two and three movies,
you probably have no clue,right?
I really don't care.
I, I think, I think it wasbecause I think some of those
(21:21):
quotes were questionable becausethey came from the early movies,
which Vader wasn't actually thatevil in the early movies.
So are you questioning mecreating this game or what's
going on here?
I'm questioning whether you hadenough knowledge about Star Wars
to build a quiz with Vader andTrump.
I think.
Alright, next story.
(21:42):
Let's go.
Alright, so you know what elsehappened this week?
The Kentucky Derby, an AmericanThoroughbred named Sovereignty
won the race.
But you know what's interesting?
The success of many racetracksrely on hundreds of immigrant
workers on temporary H two BVisas.
(22:03):
Horse racing generated some$36billion in 2023 according to the
American Horse Council.
That's a lot of money.
I was actually surprised bythose numbers.
Horse racing.
Horse racing,$36 billion.
And that's just, I guess, inAmerica, which is crazier.
'cause I believe horse racing isbigger in other parts of the
(22:23):
world.
It's like soccer, but.
So it makes you wonder how muchactually this, this industry
makes.
The industry heavily relies onworkers with H two B visas to
get a horse on the track becauseowners and trainers say they're
unable to find enough US-bornworkers.
Still a large portion of theworkforce is estimated to be
without legal status.
(22:46):
Yeah, so there are two widelysought worker Visa programs, and
they've already reached theirannual caps this year, visas are
no longer available for 2025.
That includes the.
H one B Visa, which goes tothose with college degrees and
the H two B visa fornon-agricultural seasonal labor,
(23:10):
such as like hospitality,landscaping, or working with
animals like horses.
Yeah.
Labor experts say that thedemand for Visa shows a pressing
need for immigrant workers, butthe Trump administration
promises a general crackdown onboth legal and illegal
migration.
The majority of H one B Visaholders come from India,
(23:32):
followed by China, and Mexicowas the top country for H two B
Visas in 2024, followed byJamaica, Guatemala, El Salvador,
and the Honduras.
I.
The annual cap for H two B visaswas 66,000 This year, business
owners are worried that Trumpwill lower those caps next year
(23:55):
or just.
Freeze the programs entirely ashe did for the H one B Visa
program during his firstadministration.
It's also worth mentioning in2023, the most requested
occupations for H two B visaswere landscaping and
groundskeeping workers, whichwere made up 39%.
Maids and housekeeping cleaners,forests and conservation
(24:17):
workers, foreign seasonalworkers are also in high demand
into tourism, construction, andseafood processing industries.
As the US baby boom generationretires out of the workforce and
young US born workers likemillennials and Gen Zers
continue to show little interestin physically intensive seasonal
jobs.
(24:38):
These statistics matter becausewho's gonna fill those jobs and
because of Trump does cut, doescut or freeze these programs.
It is important to know theseimpacts.
Yeah, we'll see.
I don't, I don't foresee amillennial doing any of those
jobs.
Origins years especially, well,I don't think it's not, I don't
think it's necessarily that.
(24:58):
I think it's just the pay isvery, very low.
Yeah.
And uh, it's probably belowminimum wage too, if you think
about it.
So, yeah, that's true.
That is true.
The pay would make a bigdifference as well, so.
The day of the Chris Murphy TownHall.
Remember that, that was, whatwas that like a couple weeks
ago, like two Fridays ago orsomething?
(25:19):
I learned that a judge wasarrested.
It totally caught us both offguard.
Uh, turns out Wisconsin.
Judge Hannah Dugan is accused oftelling a migrant to leave her
courtroom out of a side door asice agents were waiting to take
him away.
That is a big deal because itraises questions about justice
(25:41):
and fairness.
The government specifically, theAttorney General Pam Bondy, said
that the arrest sends a clearmessage.
If judges try to protect peopleor block immigration
authorities, those judges willface the same treatment.
I.
And get this.
After she was taken intocustody, FBI Director Cash Patel
posted a photo of her inhandcuffs.
(26:01):
Seriously, it's like somethingout of a movie.
The whole thing started on April18th at the Milwaukee County
Courthouse.
Eduardo Flores Ruez was.
There for hearing and his lawyertold Judge Dugan that his ice
was outside, which she foundabsurd and she left her seat to
talk to the agents.
The judge told them they neededa warrant and dis discussed the
(26:22):
matter with the chief judge.
The Chief judge Carl Ashley saidthere was a new policy about
where ice agents could makearrests in the courthouse, but
he made it clear.
No taking people in courtroomsor private spots.
Still, the situation was tenseand controversial with many
seeing it as a clash betweenjustice, immigration, and law
(26:44):
enforcement.
Judge Dugan has retained the topconservative lawyer, Paul
Seaman, and so it's becoming alegal showdown and just shows
how complicated and heated theseissues are right now.
It definitely makes you thinkabout how the Trump
administration views realjustice in today's world.
Here will be the interestingpart as well.
The law recognizes that a personmay use illegal means to prevent
(27:08):
imminent, unlawful harm toanother.
Deportation is not inherentlyunlawful, but wrongful
deportation into a known torturecenter without due process,
which the Trump administrationhas been under fire for doing
recently.
If.
Dugan can prove she believedthat helping with the escape was
(27:28):
necessary to prevent imminentunlawful harm, then there may be
a legitimate defense.
She was resisting a system thathad already proven itself
willing to bypass the dueprocess and placing deportees in
brutal conditions.
So a trial could expose thesewrongful deportations and open
up this can of worms of abusesthat this administration has
(27:51):
been under fire for.
Would they, this administration,I.
Want to open up that can ofworms in court to be able to
challenge her.
We'll see the case is pending,but if she is convicted, she
could face six years in prison,which is crazy.
But not only that, the thingthat pisses me off about this is
the fact that they're arrestingjudges now after they've been
(28:12):
defying court orders.
It's like scaring our judicialsystem into the corners and like
cornering them literally.
It's just a scary, it's wrong,completely wrong.
It's, it's a threat.
It's threatening because, yeah,I mean, it's just like what
they're doing with doctors, withthe abortion stuff.
Like there there's no, there'sno, oh, if you're this status,
you're safe or you have more.
(28:34):
Yeah.
You know, and I wonder whatparty that's coming from.
Hmm.
Interesting.
Yeah.
So here's another one.
Michigan Governor, GretchenWhitmer, uh, a leading Democrat
has found herself in a trickyspot with her recent dealings
with Donald Trump.
She's faced criticism for hermeetings with him, but she
insists she's doing what's bestfor her state.
Here is her speaking on thecurrent situation in Michigan in
(28:56):
regard to the tariffs.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
These last few days have beenreally tough for Michigan.
20% of our economy is tied tothe auto industry, which depends
on a steady flow of goods fromour largest and closest trading
partners.
We're home to the busiestinternational border crossing in
(29:19):
North America.
More than 10,000 vehiclescarrying parts and materials
crossed the bridge betweenDetroit and Windsor.
Every weekday, we're alreadyseeing the impacts of tariffs.
So as I've said before, I'm notagainst tariffs outright, but it
is a blunt tool.
(29:39):
You can't just pull out thetariff hammer to swing at every
problem without a clear definedend goal.
We cannot underestimate or underappreciate the time and capital.
It's gonna take to actuallybring jobs and supply chains
back home, so there's not ashortcut here.
(30:00):
Strategic reindustrializationmust be a bipartisan project
that spans multiple presidentialadministrations.
Last month, Whitmer appearedalongside Trump at a Michigan
Air base where they announced anew fighter Jet mission, a major
win for her state.
She credits her Oval Officemeeting with helping secure the
deal, saying her priority isMichigan.
(30:22):
First, even if some people don'tunderstand her choices, Whitmer
also made headlines when sheshared a brief moment with him
as he arrived in Michigan,greeting Trump with a handshake
and a hug.
I don't think I could ever hugthat man if I was in her
position.
Maybe just the handshake, but Iwould prefer a covid hello where
we just don't touch.
(30:43):
Um, but this came after sometense history as Whitmer is
known for opposing Trump'spolicies and being cautious
around him.
But she explains that thehandshake and hug were just a
normal part of her, of thediplomacy of it all.
While she's spoken out againstTrump's actions, she stresses
she's in a tough position as ademocratic leader trying to
(31:06):
navigate this polarizedpolitical landscape as a
potential presidential contenderfor 2028.
Whitmer is walking a fine linetrying to support her state.
It's just a, a clear example howdemocratic leaders are.
Balancing opposition in adivided America today.
(31:26):
Yeah.
I'll be curious if she does win,and I do understand if she does
win, she has to tiptoe aroundthis whole situation, so I get
it.
It's just, I don't know if Iwould have the stomach to hug
him.
Yeah, she's, she's really,really good at getting that.
Like she became governor and shehad a Republican controlled
legislature, especially duringthe.
(31:47):
2020 era.
Era or whatever, when it, likeCovid was rampant and stuff, and
she was able to make nonpartisandeals with them in regard to the
coronavirus and a lot of otherthings.
So she's really, really good atreaching her hand across the
aisle.
Um, I do like her.
Uh, so do you think she'll run?
(32:08):
Do you think there's apossibility?
I think she'll be a good topcandidate.
I, I think she's more a VP typedeal situation, but I don't
know.
We'll see.
Yeah.
So well with that, that's it forthe civil union.
Hey Alex, what is our handle?
The Civil Union pod.
(32:28):
On Instagram and TikTok and thenon Instagram and TikTok, uh, you
guys can email us at the CivilUnion twenty5@gmail.com.
Thanks for listening, guys.
Thanks guys.
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