June 12, 2025 • 27 mins
In this episode, we unpack the growing political crisis in the U.S., sparked most recently by ICE raids right here in Southern California. As the situation continues to escalate, we share our personal reactions and growing concerns about the rise of authoritarianism, and how these national developments are showing up in our own communities. We draw connections between Trump’s upcoming military parade on Saturday, June 14, and similar displays in authoritarian regimes, talk through the breakdown of constitutional checks and balances, and highlight how escalation is being purposely used to justify a stronger military presence.
After this episode, we’re taking a break from recording through the end of June, with plans to return on Monday, July 14. Until then, you can find us on Instagram @thertwjpodcast, where we’ll continue sharing updates and staying engaged as we navigate what’s happening on the ground.
June 11, 2025
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Hey everybody, welcome back to the RTWJ podcast
.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
It is June 11th, right, correct?
Yes, it's June 11th.
And at this point, if youhaven't seen where the world is
right now, open your phone orsomething.
I mean I don't know what totell you at this point.
I think we all pretty mucheverybody on the show is pretty
aware and attuned to what'sgoing on out there and we're a
little behind in our release.
(00:46):
We've been monitoring kind ofthe situation of the world right
now and you know, especiallysince it's happening here in
Southern California where we are, and this is our first
recording since things kind ofwent down since last Friday and
sorry, we don't have a greatscript or great opening to start
with.
I know this is kind of justdragging on, but we're
processing right now.
Honestly, I will just say eventoday, I guess, just to start
(01:10):
things off, my office at workthis afternoon we became aware
of the risk of a protest nearbyand we had to clear out for the
day, and I'm still kind ofprocessing that as well.
That was something that justhappened out of nowhere and it's
the first time I've beenthrough something like that and
(01:31):
that's just.
That's not something I've dealtwith.
So I'm still kind of trying tojust wake up and, I guess, shake
out of that right now.
So sorry you guys, but justwe're processing real time.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
On that note, you know, again, we apologize for
the delay.
You know we talked about on theshow how we never we will
always be here to, I guess,share as best as we can and to
help support people and to helpcreate a safe space for dialogue
and for you know, truly a spaceto educate, inform and support.
(02:06):
Because, as you know, here atthe RTWJ podcast, from the
beginning we've always mentionedthat we are a show that
protects civil liberties, a showthat advocates for one's
individual rights and a showthat advocates for our democracy
and the freedom to do what youchoose things that are covered
right First Amendment rights andso forth, do what you choose,
things that are covered rightFirst Amendment rights and so
forth.
(02:26):
And you know, in our personallives you've talked about, you
know how we are part of theLGBTQ plus community.
We are part of community builton immigrants.
We are part of a community thatis built on minorities right,
we are, in many aspects, thesethings that are being attacked,
these statuses are beingattacked right now.
These groups that are beingattacked, these statuses that
are being attacked right now,these groups that are being
(02:47):
marginalized and destroyed andaffected.
I will say that we are worriedwhat this looks like.
Moving forward.
In our show, there is a directattack on media and we've seen
that media has been pressed toconform to the ideologies of
(03:09):
what I'm calling this now theTrump regime.
This isn't a presidency anymore, this is a regime, and we are
concerned because we, as smallas we may be quote we fall under
that category and you knowthere are certain things.
We have been very careful whatwe can say, so I'm going to just
(03:30):
knock them out from thebeginning.
If you are protesting, you havea right to protest, but please,
please, please, do your quoteresearch to ensure that you're
doing it, the quote right way,and that you are doing it quote
effectively.
So just be very careful.
I will say that you have totake care of each other during
(03:53):
these trying times, but we arenot alone.
You know.
That's what we're going to talkabout.
Today is just kind of like whatwe are feeling, what is going on
and what we can do goingforward.
You know, I don't know if we'regoing to take a pause at the
moment we're still deciding onthat but it looks like we will
be taking a pause.
We're going to move activityover to our Instagram page for
the time being.
You know, just look for us onInstagram RTWJ podcast.
(04:16):
We're just trying to be mindfulof ourselves and our families
and you know it seems safer forus to engage via social media
versus direct language.
Of course we don't know, wehaven't made the decision yet,
but if we do make that decisionwe will make sure to let you
guys know on social media.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I'm going to say and we're literally just discussing
this in real time I'm going tosay prospectively, that might
not be the right word We'll saylet's get through the
Independence Day holiday.
Maybe let's get through that.
So the second Monday of July,tentatively, we can say that we
might be back, I think, betweennow and that day, because I
(04:53):
think even that holiday is goingto be very sensitive and we
just don't know how things arelooking.
So if you're not aware ofdetails right now, again, we are
here in Southern California.
Orange County is just south ofLA County.
So this is and we've had someactivity here dealing with it
(05:14):
ourselves right, this period issupposed to last potentially 60
days.
We're only started Friday.
It's day five or six of this.
We have a long road ahead tofigure out what this looks like.
So I would say tentatively,let's get through the
Independence Day holiday andthen we can regroup from there
and see if we can come back,maybe for you guys towards
mid-July.
Let's do that for now, justbecause there's just I think
(05:36):
between now and Independence Day.
It's going to be pretty active.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Why are we doing this ?
Frankly, because there is nopoint to the show if we can't
talk about the things thatmatter to us, and I feel like it
would be such a bad, bad parton us if we start talking about
disneyland and vacations anddifferent topics that are quote
(06:01):
lighthearted, because it does goagainst the heart and soul of
the RTWJ podcast and what thefocus of our show has been is to
empower others, to give a voiceto those that don't have a
voice, and that's why we made,and we will make, this decision,
because it wouldn't bereflective of our values here at
(06:23):
the show my values, marcus'svalues and the values we stand
for and what we did when wecreated this podcast, and I feel
like it'll be counterproductiveif we do that.
So, moving forward, if wecontinue, it'll be a little more
adjusted to the terminologywe'll use, but our commitment
remains the same.
We stand with more minoritygroups, we stand with
(06:45):
marginalized groups.
We support people's right toprotest, we support the right to
be here and not be terrorizedby militia organizations.
We support most effectivelywhich is crazy to say, we
support the US Constitution,because it was created to help
(07:05):
create a stable society freefrom tyranny, and it scares me
that I have to say that we standby the Constitution and at this
very moment our Constitution isbeing violated and isn't being
upheld.
So we are extremely aware ofthat and concept of that and
(07:28):
understanding of that.
One of my favorite quotes thatI've always looked at and I
actually shared this quote thefirst day of the election and
how we saw that happen it's aquote that says first they
fascinate the fools, then theymuzzle the intelligent, a tactic
(07:53):
of power that we see inauthoritarianism, government in
places like North Korea.
We see that how do you gainpower?
Right Is to draw in the masses,grab their attention and once
that attention is secured, thevoices of those who might
(08:14):
challenge the power structuresbecome suppressed.
And I don't know about you,marcus, but that is terrifying
to read because that is exactlywhat is happening right now.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Absolutely right, absolutely right.
And I have to say one thingdirect, if I may I know we have
to kind of just dance aroundthings.
I have to say this, I have toget this off my chest I am
horrified at the fact thatpeople are at businesses on the
(08:52):
street, people that are notterrible criminals, right,
people that just are trying tomake a living, just trying to
survive, right, and they arebeing hunted down in the streets
of our cities.
I have seen videos within a20-mile radius of where we are
(09:12):
right now of that happening.
They are being hunted down likehunters in the wild and I, just
last night, I had to stop withTikTok.
I had to stop with social media, because all the videos just
kept coming up.
That is not.
I don't know how people canapprove of that.
(09:37):
All right, we can debate thecriminals that are here
illegally, right, without status.
We can debate who should.
We can debate that all day.
We can get into it all day.
Hunting people in the streetsis a level that I can't even
talk about or process right now.
(09:57):
That is absolutely horrifyingand it is so upsetting to see it
happen and the terror thatpeople feel right now who are
just trying to make it.
They're just trying to make it.
You know people.
Oh, they should get theirstatus, they should get
everything fixed up.
Oh, if only life was so easy,if there was a direct path for
(10:18):
it.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah, if only it was guess what?
Speaker 2 (10:20):
and you think this president what?
What path has he offered?
None other than get out orwe'll get you out.
There's no path being offered.
I just I don't know.
I I'm at a loss for words withthat right now.
Just dealing with that andliterally knowing even my office
, where my building is, it washappening within probably a
(10:44):
two-mile radius this past weekthat that was happening.
It's just I was so close to itat the same time too.
I'm just extremely disturbed bythat.
People that comment that that'sthe way to do it and that's the
way to handle this.
I'm sorry, I just think that isabsolutely absurd.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
And I appreciate that term you used because it is
true.
People are being hunted downand we see it right Unmarked
vehicles, badge numbers beinghidden.
What happened to the hey, nomask policy for protesters?
Yet these immigrationenforcement officers are wearing
masks.
They're not wearing masks tohelp prevent pollen
(11:24):
contamination.
They're not wearing masksbecause there might be tear gas
in the air.
Because they're collectingpeople, they're hunting them
down, so tear gas is not inthese immediate areas.
They're wearing masks to what?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Well, their president doesn't believe in pandemics,
so it's not that they're doingit to hide their identities.
To not be accountable the factthat a public servant that is
paid for that.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
their intention, their goals are to protect the
citizens of this very countrythat reside in these borders
right To protect people that arewithin these borders.
That's what law enforcement isright and, in many retrospect
right.
These people that are withinthese borders that's what law
enforcement is right and in manyretrospect right, these people
that are here, paid for by taxdollars, that are part of public
service, are now preventing anddenying sharing their what are
(12:12):
public servants?
I mean, I've worked in publicservice capacities where I have
to provide information.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Sure.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
By law, I have to provide it.
Sure, by law, I have to provideit, but they're not.
But I think what the scariestpart of all this is that we are
truly entering the mostdangerous part of the Trump
regime and it's said over a lotof places and that's the
normalization of what'shappening.
This is just being normalized.
(12:40):
All these activities are justbeing normalized, like these are
things that should happen orthat should have happened.
This is extremely chaotic.
If you can't think of thatMarcus was just talking about
this a little while ago If youcan't think about how chaotic
(13:02):
this has played out right, noteven six months in federal
workers laid off, no structureof who's going to take over that
work.
No structure of where they'regoing to go.
The economy collapses.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Entering close if I can technically say it, a
recession.
I'm not even sure if we areright now.
Maybe that's what we're maskingin the meantime, that I don't
know this is.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
You're telling me that a trump presidency isn't
chaotic is beyond me, becausethis is extreme and utter chaos
this weekend.
On saturday okay, it's the250th birthday of the US Army,
right?
Speaker 2 (13:40):
It's June 14th, Just to clarify.
June 14th.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
There's never been a military parade to showcase that
let alone on a sittingpresident's birthday.
You know what countries do thatRegimes?
Yeah, like North Korea.
Yes, north Korea loves that.
They do that Regimes yeah, likeNorth Korea.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Yes, North Korea loves that.
They do that yes.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
How insane does that not look to anybody that we are
participating in activities thatare showcasing military
vehicles, entities, whatever youwant to call it, at the same
time of a president's birthday?
Speaker 2 (14:23):
And what is the passive intention of a country
doing that right, especiallylike North Korea right, a
relatively small, isolatedcountry to demonstrate some
sense of power of force?
Speaker 1 (14:36):
That's why they do it .
We know this country has force.
We know this country has force.
We know this country has power.
One of the most the highestinflated military budgets of any
industrialized nation in theworld.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
We have it, we do, we do have it.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
What is the point of this?
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Because he's the leader now.
So you have to associate thatpower, that passive association
of power, with him.
It's a reflect as commander inchief and you're going to any
speech he makes on Saturday orany time close.
You're going to hear a lot ofcommander in chief.
I bet you, whatever bet youwant to make, that you will hear
him talk about himself ascommander in chief, as that's in
(15:14):
the backdrop, those images, hewill talk about himself as
commander chief, as that's inthe backdrop, those images he
will talk about himself.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
A parade has never happened with any sitting us
president.
Right back in history, dwighteisenhower once rejected hosting
the military parade because itwould make the us quote look
weak.
Because we believe this as muchas he does, that a country that
is truly powerful would notneed to prove their strength
(15:44):
through boastful displays.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Again.
That's what you said.
These countries like northkorea, these little isolated,
you know, weak countries likelike them, they do this.
For that reason they have toshow some little sense of
strength.
Oh, we're strong, look at us.
They have to do it.
For that reason, they have toshow some little sense of
strength.
Oh, we're strong, look at us.
They have to do it for thatreason, just like you said,
there's no need.
We know that.
There's the power here.
We've got Camp Pendleton, youknow, I think they're Marines,
(16:07):
right?
Speaker 1 (16:08):
I'm sorry guys, I don't know yes they are.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
They're within 20 miles of where we're at right
now.
We We've got 29 palms.
We have all these bases righthere in California that we know
they're here, we know we're good, but no, we're going to have a
big parade for the first timelike that.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
The president is a public figure, one who is
elected to represent the peopleof this country.
So there is no need for that ina democracy, because he is not
a dictator.
He is an elected official thatworks with Congress to create
laws and so forth that bestserve the American people.
Right, that's what he's therefor.
So to have a parade is boastfulin many ways, that's king.
(16:57):
That's king, that's king status,that's dictator status, that's
oh, I've done such a great job,let's have a military parade.
Has he done a great job?
He hasn't.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Not what we're talking about.
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Cost of living is still extremely high.
Things that he said he would dohas not done a single thing.
The fact that the presidentdoesn't even receive daily
briefings.
I told marcus there's plenty ofstuff that's going on that I
think he would be able toreceive daily briefings I would
figure me and you that are notpresidents or elected officials
receive daily briefings at workabout the work we do every day,
(17:34):
sometimes every minute I meanCNN, ABC, their news sites don't
just shut down for days at atime, because there's not
information.
There's always something thatneeds to be told, there's a
story to be told somewhere aboutsomething, and the fact that
all these people, all thesepeople that are on his
administration, on his regime,on his dictatorship, are people
(17:58):
that are truly so hypocritical.
Everything they've said theyare going against.
They've said before that ifBiden ever militarized or called
the National Guard against thestate's request would be the end
of democracy itself.
Not exactly in that way, butthe quote said that if he did
that.
It would be a really bad thing.
What's happening now?
(18:19):
Federalized City presidentFederalized the guard the first
time since the civil rightsmovement of the 60s.
Right Right.
Trump said himself that ifpeople were to protest at his
quote military parade, theywould be met with great force.
Yes, they would be met withgreat force.
Yes, a reporter asked whitehouse press secretary, by the
(18:40):
way, is an absolute unqualifiedperson.
Um, what did trump mean by that, or what did that mean?
She said trump will.
No, no, that's a stupidquestion.
Trump will always supportpeaceful protests.
When he just literally saidthat if you protest, no matter
what kind of protest you do,because in his eyes, a protest
is not peaceful, in his eyes, aprotest is an act of defiance.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Yes, exactly right.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
He is punishing everything and everyone that go
against him.
This isn't the thing aboutpolicy or procedure.
Anybody that goes against himor his regime is being countered
is being attacked and is beingdegraded Absolutely right, every
single person.
What was the point of trying toarrest Governor Gavin Newsom?
He's a sitting governor.
He was elected by the people ofthis state.
We knew the fight would starthere.
(19:30):
We knew that the fight wouldcome here, right, but I told
Marcus the craziest thing aboutall this I'm not surprised this
is happening.
It baffles me that people arelike oh, I didn't think it was
gonna be this way.
What do you mean?
He clearly indicated that allof these things he's doing he
was going to do.
How did you not see this?
(19:53):
How do we think this isappropriate?
We are supposed to be thecountry that has changed the
dynamics of living for humanbeings on planet Earth.
We're supposed to be a countrythat has checks and balances,
three different types ofgovernment that independently
run off each other.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I think you just hit it, though I think that's where
some people, even I, was tellingyou right before we started
recording that I thought theworst he was going to do is
collapse the economy.
I didn't think he would be assuccessful in this.
I thought there would be someraids for sure.
I did not expect to see huntersgoing up and down streets
during the middle of the day.
I didn't even see that.
I'll be honest with you.
Why?
(20:35):
Because I still had some faiththat there was checks and
balances.
But clearly even I was wrong,to the extent that that's
present.
I really thought somethingwould check this.
No, nothing's checking him.
Even Governor Newsom's petitionto stop the guard right now it
(20:57):
still has to go through thecourts.
The immediate suspension wasn'tgranted.
There is no check involved inthis.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Let's take a guess.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
If a suspension does happen, you think he'll listen
to it or he'll find anotherloophole, like he's done with
these other random acts and lawsand privileges of the present.
He'll find some other excuse ofwhy he can still do it like
he's been doing I have no otherwords but to say that, truly,
our democracy is at threat.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
We are at a time that I only used to read about in
history books, that I've onlyheard about in countries of
authoritarianism like NorthKorea, and I am truly concerned
and worried about the futurebecause all of these things are
being put into place to declareat some point, essentially quote
(21:57):
martial law.
I mean, everything is moving inthat capacity.
The fact that the media isputting these crazy images of
this extreme chaos in LosAngeles, which it's not.
There is not extreme chaos.
It's a very limited area invery small areas, but they're
(22:18):
using these images getting theflag with the black smoke behind
police vehicles.
Let's talk about Philadelphia,right, when the Eagles won.
Let's talk about that stuff.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Sure.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Let's talk about when teams win.
You know, when the Lakers wonin LA, right, you, the Eagles,
won, let's talk about that stuff.
Sure, let's talk about whenteams win.
When the Lakers won in LA,right, that was a very chaotic
environment.
People went out, destroyedstuff.
We've seen these kind ofactivities very isolated and so
forth.
This is being proportionallyexaggerated.
It's just being blown out ofcontrol.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
But here's the purpose of that, the purpose of
that is right of that is right.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
What is the?
Speaker 2 (22:50):
purpose.
You manipulate it a little bit,people see it and eventually,
people those that are out there,right, the agitators do it
themselves.
They eventually do itthemselves and then it does
actually grow.
But it was created.
So, for example, let's talkabout friday, let's talk about
LA, right?
So there were demonstrations,there were people in the street,
(23:12):
I think there were somefireworks, some little things.
Right, trump goes in.
He sends the National Guard,right?
So, like you said, the mediashows some of these images.
He sees it.
They look chaotic.
He sends the Guard in.
What is doing that?
What is sending the Guard do?
He sends the guard in.
What is sending the guard do?
(23:32):
Now, you actually are going toinstigate people to actually act
up because of that, but it'sbecause he brought in that piece
.
He brought in that guard piece.
That wasn't needed.
People were protesting.
Some people do throw a fireworkor do little things.
They go into the street but hedecided to make that move.
Then he's bringing Marines.
You're poking the bear, pokingthe bear, make that move.
Then he's bringing Marines.
Right, you're adding you'repoking the bear, poking the bear
, poking the bear.
And guess what?
(23:53):
People are going to respond tothat?
Because you keep poking them.
It's him poking the bear that'sdoing it.
So now, guess what?
Now we have the guard.
Right now it's Wednesday 11th.
The guard fleet is going todouble in size.
Right, we're going to bringmore Marines.
We're just adding, adding,compounding.
Guess what People are going torespond to it?
Then the media is going tocapture the images.
(24:13):
He's just going to add we'rejust going to keep going in this
terrible cycle, this revolvingcycle that all started with him
agitating people.
So, in the end, it does turnreal, but it's because it was
created, not because people wereoriginally being violent and
crazy.
He wants.
This is the machine.
He's playing the game to getpeople to act this way.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
It's, it's just never ending as we get ready to go,
because you know it's a quicklittle thought we're going to
share with you guys.
Complacency will be ourgreatest demise, and what
happens moving forward is thatwe continue to advocate and
fight for what we believe in.
If we don't, we will be muzzled, we will be shut down.
(24:58):
There's a way to do things andwe have to do them right.
But I beg all of you who are onthe right side of history, no
matter what you believe in, thatthis is not normal.
Not at all this, no matter whatside you're on, it will affect
(25:18):
you.
I know I get it.
Sometimes seeing things areintense.
The media portrays these thingsright.
We see attacks, we see stuff.
We see smoke.
We see stuff, we see smoke.
We see fires.
We see cars being burned.
Yeah, of course it's going torile all of us up, but just step
back for a minute and thinkabout what these things have
(25:40):
caused, how our government hasresponded.
We're a country where we're notsupposed to use our police and
military against the people ofthis country.
Other regimes do that,dictatorships do that, right,
but we're known to be different.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
They send their soldiers out.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Yeah, but we just did that.
So if that doesn't soundalarming in your head, I don't
know what to tell you, becauseat this point, that gives me
enough knowledge to know thatthis regime is not one that is
working for me or people thatlook like me.
(26:14):
Please stay safe.
If you're going to exerciseyour First Amendment right,
please be mindful and do yourresearch of everything you need
to do to be safe.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
I'm going to say us to have an escape plan.
Sorry to say, if we've seen it,some of these demonstrations go
really bad, really fast becauseof agitation, and if things get
bad, you need to know how toescape.
Sadly, you need to know how toescape.
Sadly, you need to know.
I've seen some of the responsesfrom the Guard and now we have
(26:54):
Marines in the area too that aregoing to be out there this
weekend especially.
They will be out there.
Just really be mindful, sad tosay, even if you're just
peacefully exercising your right, because we've seen it, we've
seen the videos, we've seen howthey respond.
We've seen people get injured.
We've seen the videos, We'veseen how they respond.
We've seen people get injured.
We've seen reporters getinjured out there because of
things getting escalated reallyfast.
(27:15):
So please be careful out there,be mindful at all times of your
surroundings.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Until next time for all of us here at the RTWJ
podcast.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
I'm John, I'm Marcus.
Make sure you're following uson Instagram.
That's like what John saidWe'll be living there for a
while at the RTWJ Podcast.
We'll say tentatively thatwe'll be back the second Monday
of July, but we'll keep youposted.
We'll see how things are goingand if anything changes, if
you're following us on Instagram, you'll be first to know about
them.
So just make sure you'refollowing us and you'll be first
(27:47):
to know about them.
So just make sure you'refollowing us.
Stay tuned, we'll keep youupdated on our next release.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
But no matter what strength lies in your voice, and
I guarantee you we will neverbe silenced.
Take care, guys.
Hey everybody, welcome back to the RTWJ podcast
.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
It is June 11th, right, correct?
Yes, it's June 11th.
And at this point, if youhaven't seen where the world is
right now, open your phone orsomething.
I mean I don't know what totell you at this point.
I think we all pretty mucheverybody on the show is pretty
aware and attuned to what'sgoing on out there and we're a
little behind in our release.
(00:46):
We've been monitoring kind ofthe situation of the world right
now and you know, especiallysince it's happening here in
Southern California where we are, and this is our first
recording since things kind ofwent down since last Friday and
sorry, we don't have a greatscript or great opening to start
with.
I know this is kind of justdragging on, but we're
processing right now.
Honestly, I will just say eventoday, I guess, just to start
(01:10):
things off, my office at workthis afternoon we became aware
of the risk of a protest nearbyand we had to clear out for the
day, and I'm still kind ofprocessing that as well.
That was something that justhappened out of nowhere and it's
the first time I've beenthrough something like that and
(01:31):
that's just.
That's not something I've dealtwith.
So I'm still kind of trying tojust wake up and, I guess, shake
out of that right now.
So sorry you guys, but justwe're processing real time.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
On that note, you know, again, we apologize for
the delay.
You know we talked about on theshow how we never we will
always be here to, I guess,share as best as we can and to
help support people and to helpcreate a safe space for dialogue
and for you know, truly a spaceto educate, inform and support.
(02:06):
Because, as you know, here atthe RTWJ podcast, from the
beginning we've always mentionedthat we are a show that
protects civil liberties, a showthat advocates for one's
individual rights and a showthat advocates for our democracy
and the freedom to do what youchoose things that are covered
right First Amendment rights andso forth, do what you choose,
things that are covered rightFirst Amendment rights and so
forth.
(02:26):
And you know, in our personallives you've talked about, you
know how we are part of theLGBTQ plus community.
We are part of community builton immigrants.
We are part of a community thatis built on minorities right,
we are, in many aspects, thesethings that are being attacked,
these statuses are beingattacked right now.
These groups that are beingattacked, these statuses that
are being attacked right now,these groups that are being
(02:47):
marginalized and destroyed andaffected.
I will say that we are worriedwhat this looks like.
Moving forward.
In our show, there is a directattack on media and we've seen
that media has been pressed toconform to the ideologies of
(03:09):
what I'm calling this now theTrump regime.
This isn't a presidency anymore, this is a regime, and we are
concerned because we, as smallas we may be quote we fall under
that category and you knowthere are certain things.
We have been very careful whatwe can say, so I'm going to just
(03:30):
knock them out from thebeginning.
If you are protesting, you havea right to protest, but please,
please, please, do your quoteresearch to ensure that you're
doing it, the quote right way,and that you are doing it quote
effectively.
So just be very careful.
I will say that you have totake care of each other during
(03:53):
these trying times, but we arenot alone.
You know.
That's what we're going to talkabout.
Today is just kind of like whatwe are feeling, what is going on
and what we can do goingforward.
You know, I don't know if we'regoing to take a pause at the
moment we're still deciding onthat but it looks like we will
be taking a pause.
We're going to move activityover to our Instagram page for
the time being.
You know, just look for us onInstagram RTWJ podcast.
(04:16):
We're just trying to be mindfulof ourselves and our families
and you know it seems safer forus to engage via social media
versus direct language.
Of course we don't know, wehaven't made the decision yet,
but if we do make that decisionwe will make sure to let you
guys know on social media.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I'm going to say and we're literally just discussing
this in real time I'm going tosay prospectively, that might
not be the right word We'll saylet's get through the
Independence Day holiday.
Maybe let's get through that.
So the second Monday of July,tentatively, we can say that we
might be back, I think, betweennow and that day, because I
(04:53):
think even that holiday is goingto be very sensitive and we
just don't know how things arelooking.
So if you're not aware ofdetails right now, again, we are
here in Southern California.
Orange County is just south ofLA County.
So this is and we've had someactivity here dealing with it
(05:14):
ourselves right, this period issupposed to last potentially 60
days.
We're only started Friday.
It's day five or six of this.
We have a long road ahead tofigure out what this looks like.
So I would say tentatively,let's get through the
Independence Day holiday andthen we can regroup from there
and see if we can come back,maybe for you guys towards
mid-July.
Let's do that for now, justbecause there's just I think
(05:36):
between now and Independence Day.
It's going to be pretty active.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Why are we doing this ?
Frankly, because there is nopoint to the show if we can't
talk about the things thatmatter to us, and I feel like it
would be such a bad, bad parton us if we start talking about
disneyland and vacations anddifferent topics that are quote
(06:01):
lighthearted, because it does goagainst the heart and soul of
the RTWJ podcast and what thefocus of our show has been is to
empower others, to give a voiceto those that don't have a
voice, and that's why we made,and we will make, this decision,
because it wouldn't bereflective of our values here at
(06:23):
the show my values, marcus'svalues and the values we stand
for and what we did when wecreated this podcast, and I feel
like it'll be counterproductiveif we do that.
So, moving forward, if wecontinue, it'll be a little more
adjusted to the terminologywe'll use, but our commitment
remains the same.
We stand with more minoritygroups, we stand with
(06:45):
marginalized groups.
We support people's right toprotest, we support the right to
be here and not be terrorizedby militia organizations.
We support most effectivelywhich is crazy to say, we
support the US Constitution,because it was created to help
(07:05):
create a stable society freefrom tyranny, and it scares me
that I have to say that we standby the Constitution and at this
very moment our Constitution isbeing violated and isn't being
upheld.
So we are extremely aware ofthat and concept of that and
(07:28):
understanding of that.
One of my favorite quotes thatI've always looked at and I
actually shared this quote thefirst day of the election and
how we saw that happen it's aquote that says first they
fascinate the fools, then theymuzzle the intelligent, a tactic
(07:53):
of power that we see inauthoritarianism, government in
places like North Korea.
We see that how do you gainpower?
Right Is to draw in the masses,grab their attention and once
that attention is secured, thevoices of those who might
(08:14):
challenge the power structuresbecome suppressed.
And I don't know about you,marcus, but that is terrifying
to read because that is exactlywhat is happening right now.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Absolutely right, absolutely right.
And I have to say one thingdirect, if I may I know we have
to kind of just dance aroundthings.
I have to say this, I have toget this off my chest I am
horrified at the fact thatpeople are at businesses on the
(08:52):
street, people that are notterrible criminals, right,
people that just are trying tomake a living, just trying to
survive, right, and they arebeing hunted down in the streets
of our cities.
I have seen videos within a20-mile radius of where we are
(09:12):
right now of that happening.
They are being hunted down likehunters in the wild and I, just
last night, I had to stop withTikTok.
I had to stop with social media, because all the videos just
kept coming up.
That is not.
I don't know how people canapprove of that.
(09:37):
All right, we can debate thecriminals that are here
illegally, right, without status.
We can debate who should.
We can debate that all day.
We can get into it all day.
Hunting people in the streetsis a level that I can't even
talk about or process right now.
(09:57):
That is absolutely horrifyingand it is so upsetting to see it
happen and the terror thatpeople feel right now who are
just trying to make it.
They're just trying to make it.
You know people.
Oh, they should get theirstatus, they should get
everything fixed up.
Oh, if only life was so easy,if there was a direct path for
(10:18):
it.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah, if only it was guess what?
Speaker 2 (10:20):
and you think this president what?
What path has he offered?
None other than get out orwe'll get you out.
There's no path being offered.
I just I don't know.
I I'm at a loss for words withthat right now.
Just dealing with that andliterally knowing even my office
, where my building is, it washappening within probably a
(10:44):
two-mile radius this past weekthat that was happening.
It's just I was so close to itat the same time too.
I'm just extremely disturbed bythat.
People that comment that that'sthe way to do it and that's the
way to handle this.
I'm sorry, I just think that isabsolutely absurd.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
And I appreciate that term you used because it is
true.
People are being hunted downand we see it right Unmarked
vehicles, badge numbers beinghidden.
What happened to the hey, nomask policy for protesters?
Yet these immigrationenforcement officers are wearing
masks.
They're not wearing masks tohelp prevent pollen
(11:24):
contamination.
They're not wearing masksbecause there might be tear gas
in the air.
Because they're collectingpeople, they're hunting them
down, so tear gas is not inthese immediate areas.
They're wearing masks to what?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Well, their president doesn't believe in pandemics,
so it's not that they're doingit to hide their identities.
To not be accountable the factthat a public servant that is
paid for that.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
their intention, their goals are to protect the
citizens of this very countrythat reside in these borders
right To protect people that arewithin these borders.
That's what law enforcement isright and, in many retrospect
right.
These people that are withinthese borders that's what law
enforcement is right and in manyretrospect right, these people
that are here, paid for by taxdollars, that are part of public
service, are now preventing anddenying sharing their what are
(12:12):
public servants?
I mean, I've worked in publicservice capacities where I have
to provide information.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Sure.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
By law, I have to provide it.
Sure, by law, I have to provideit, but they're not.
But I think what the scariestpart of all this is that we are
truly entering the mostdangerous part of the Trump
regime and it's said over a lotof places and that's the
normalization of what'shappening.
This is just being normalized.
(12:40):
All these activities are justbeing normalized, like these are
things that should happen orthat should have happened.
This is extremely chaotic.
If you can't think of thatMarcus was just talking about
this a little while ago If youcan't think about how chaotic
(13:02):
this has played out right, noteven six months in federal
workers laid off, no structureof who's going to take over that
work.
No structure of where they'regoing to go.
The economy collapses.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Entering close if I can technically say it, a
recession.
I'm not even sure if we areright now.
Maybe that's what we're maskingin the meantime, that I don't
know this is.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
You're telling me that a trump presidency isn't
chaotic is beyond me, becausethis is extreme and utter chaos
this weekend.
On saturday okay, it's the250th birthday of the US Army,
right?
Speaker 2 (13:40):
It's June 14th, Just to clarify.
June 14th.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
There's never been a military parade to showcase that
let alone on a sittingpresident's birthday.
You know what countries do thatRegimes?
Yeah, like North Korea.
Yes, north Korea loves that.
They do that Regimes yeah, likeNorth Korea.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Yes, North Korea loves that.
They do that yes.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
How insane does that not look to anybody that we are
participating in activities thatare showcasing military
vehicles, entities, whatever youwant to call it, at the same
time of a president's birthday?
Speaker 2 (14:23):
And what is the passive intention of a country
doing that right, especiallylike North Korea right, a
relatively small, isolatedcountry to demonstrate some
sense of power of force?
Speaker 1 (14:36):
That's why they do it .
We know this country has force.
We know this country has force.
We know this country has power.
One of the most the highestinflated military budgets of any
industrialized nation in theworld.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
We have it, we do, we do have it.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
What is the point of this?
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Because he's the leader now.
So you have to associate thatpower, that passive association
of power, with him.
It's a reflect as commander inchief and you're going to any
speech he makes on Saturday orany time close.
You're going to hear a lot ofcommander in chief.
I bet you, whatever bet youwant to make, that you will hear
him talk about himself ascommander in chief, as that's in
(15:14):
the backdrop, those images, hewill talk about himself as
commander chief, as that's inthe backdrop, those images he
will talk about himself.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
A parade has never happened with any sitting us
president.
Right back in history, dwighteisenhower once rejected hosting
the military parade because itwould make the us quote look
weak.
Because we believe this as muchas he does, that a country that
is truly powerful would notneed to prove their strength
(15:44):
through boastful displays.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Again.
That's what you said.
These countries like northkorea, these little isolated,
you know, weak countries likelike them, they do this.
For that reason they have toshow some little sense of
strength.
Oh, we're strong, look at us.
They have to do it.
For that reason, they have toshow some little sense of
strength.
Oh, we're strong, look at us.
They have to do it for thatreason, just like you said,
there's no need.
We know that.
There's the power here.
We've got Camp Pendleton, youknow, I think they're Marines,
(16:07):
right?
Speaker 1 (16:08):
I'm sorry guys, I don't know yes they are.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
They're within 20 miles of where we're at right
now.
We We've got 29 palms.
We have all these bases righthere in California that we know
they're here, we know we're good, but no, we're going to have a
big parade for the first timelike that.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
The president is a public figure, one who is
elected to represent the peopleof this country.
So there is no need for that ina democracy, because he is not
a dictator.
He is an elected official thatworks with Congress to create
laws and so forth that bestserve the American people.
Right, that's what he's therefor.
So to have a parade is boastfulin many ways, that's king.
(16:57):
That's king, that's king status,that's dictator status, that's
oh, I've done such a great job,let's have a military parade.
Has he done a great job?
He hasn't.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Not what we're talking about.
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Cost of living is still extremely high.
Things that he said he would dohas not done a single thing.
The fact that the presidentdoesn't even receive daily
briefings.
I told marcus there's plenty ofstuff that's going on that I
think he would be able toreceive daily briefings I would
figure me and you that are notpresidents or elected officials
receive daily briefings at workabout the work we do every day,
(17:34):
sometimes every minute I meanCNN, ABC, their news sites don't
just shut down for days at atime, because there's not
information.
There's always something thatneeds to be told, there's a
story to be told somewhere aboutsomething, and the fact that
all these people, all thesepeople that are on his
administration, on his regime,on his dictatorship, are people
(17:58):
that are truly so hypocritical.
Everything they've said theyare going against.
They've said before that ifBiden ever militarized or called
the National Guard against thestate's request would be the end
of democracy itself.
Not exactly in that way, butthe quote said that if he did
that.
It would be a really bad thing.
What's happening now?
(18:19):
Federalized City presidentFederalized the guard the first
time since the civil rightsmovement of the 60s.
Right Right.
Trump said himself that ifpeople were to protest at his
quote military parade, theywould be met with great force.
Yes, they would be met withgreat force.
Yes, a reporter asked whitehouse press secretary, by the
(18:40):
way, is an absolute unqualifiedperson.
Um, what did trump mean by that, or what did that mean?
She said trump will.
No, no, that's a stupidquestion.
Trump will always supportpeaceful protests.
When he just literally saidthat if you protest, no matter
what kind of protest you do,because in his eyes, a protest
is not peaceful, in his eyes, aprotest is an act of defiance.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Yes, exactly right.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
He is punishing everything and everyone that go
against him.
This isn't the thing aboutpolicy or procedure.
Anybody that goes against himor his regime is being countered
is being attacked and is beingdegraded Absolutely right, every
single person.
What was the point of trying toarrest Governor Gavin Newsom?
He's a sitting governor.
He was elected by the people ofthis state.
We knew the fight would starthere.
(19:30):
We knew that the fight wouldcome here, right, but I told
Marcus the craziest thing aboutall this I'm not surprised this
is happening.
It baffles me that people arelike oh, I didn't think it was
gonna be this way.
What do you mean?
He clearly indicated that allof these things he's doing he
was going to do.
How did you not see this?
(19:53):
How do we think this isappropriate?
We are supposed to be thecountry that has changed the
dynamics of living for humanbeings on planet Earth.
We're supposed to be a countrythat has checks and balances,
three different types ofgovernment that independently
run off each other.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I think you just hit it, though I think that's where
some people, even I, was tellingyou right before we started
recording that I thought theworst he was going to do is
collapse the economy.
I didn't think he would be assuccessful in this.
I thought there would be someraids for sure.
I did not expect to see huntersgoing up and down streets
during the middle of the day.
I didn't even see that.
I'll be honest with you.
Why?
(20:35):
Because I still had some faiththat there was checks and
balances.
But clearly even I was wrong,to the extent that that's
present.
I really thought somethingwould check this.
No, nothing's checking him.
Even Governor Newsom's petitionto stop the guard right now it
(20:57):
still has to go through thecourts.
The immediate suspension wasn'tgranted.
There is no check involved inthis.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Let's take a guess.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
If a suspension does happen, you think he'll listen
to it or he'll find anotherloophole, like he's done with
these other random acts and lawsand privileges of the present.
He'll find some other excuse ofwhy he can still do it like
he's been doing I have no otherwords but to say that, truly,
our democracy is at threat.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
We are at a time that I only used to read about in
history books, that I've onlyheard about in countries of
authoritarianism like NorthKorea, and I am truly concerned
and worried about the futurebecause all of these things are
being put into place to declareat some point, essentially quote
(21:57):
martial law.
I mean, everything is moving inthat capacity.
The fact that the media isputting these crazy images of
this extreme chaos in LosAngeles, which it's not.
There is not extreme chaos.
It's a very limited area invery small areas, but they're
(22:18):
using these images getting theflag with the black smoke behind
police vehicles.
Let's talk about Philadelphia,right, when the Eagles won.
Let's talk about that stuff.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Sure.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Let's talk about when teams win.
You know, when the Lakers wonin LA, right, you, the Eagles,
won, let's talk about that stuff.
Sure, let's talk about whenteams win.
When the Lakers won in LA,right, that was a very chaotic
environment.
People went out, destroyedstuff.
We've seen these kind ofactivities very isolated and so
forth.
This is being proportionallyexaggerated.
It's just being blown out ofcontrol.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
But here's the purpose of that, the purpose of
that is right of that is right.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
What is the?
Speaker 2 (22:50):
purpose.
You manipulate it a little bit,people see it and eventually,
people those that are out there,right, the agitators do it
themselves.
They eventually do itthemselves and then it does
actually grow.
But it was created.
So, for example, let's talkabout friday, let's talk about
LA, right?
So there were demonstrations,there were people in the street,
(23:12):
I think there were somefireworks, some little things.
Right, trump goes in.
He sends the National Guard,right?
So, like you said, the mediashows some of these images.
He sees it.
They look chaotic.
He sends the Guard in.
What is doing that?
What is sending the Guard do?
He sends the guard in.
What is sending the guard do?
(23:32):
Now, you actually are going toinstigate people to actually act
up because of that, but it'sbecause he brought in that piece
.
He brought in that guard piece.
That wasn't needed.
People were protesting.
Some people do throw a fireworkor do little things.
They go into the street but hedecided to make that move.
Then he's bringing Marines.
You're poking the bear, pokingthe bear, make that move.
Then he's bringing Marines.
Right, you're adding you'repoking the bear, poking the bear
, poking the bear.
And guess what?
(23:53):
People are going to respond tothat?
Because you keep poking them.
It's him poking the bear that'sdoing it.
So now, guess what?
Now we have the guard.
Right now it's Wednesday 11th.
The guard fleet is going todouble in size.
Right, we're going to bringmore Marines.
We're just adding, adding,compounding.
Guess what People are going torespond to it?
Then the media is going tocapture the images.
(24:13):
He's just going to add we'rejust going to keep going in this
terrible cycle, this revolvingcycle that all started with him
agitating people.
So, in the end, it does turnreal, but it's because it was
created, not because people wereoriginally being violent and
crazy.
He wants.
This is the machine.
He's playing the game to getpeople to act this way.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
It's, it's just never ending as we get ready to go,
because you know it's a quicklittle thought we're going to
share with you guys.
Complacency will be ourgreatest demise, and what
happens moving forward is thatwe continue to advocate and
fight for what we believe in.
If we don't, we will be muzzled, we will be shut down.
(24:58):
There's a way to do things andwe have to do them right.
But I beg all of you who are onthe right side of history, no
matter what you believe in, thatthis is not normal.
Not at all this, no matter whatside you're on, it will affect
(25:18):
you.
I know I get it.
Sometimes seeing things areintense.
The media portrays these thingsright.
We see attacks, we see stuff.
We see smoke.
We see stuff, we see smoke.
We see fires.
We see cars being burned.
Yeah, of course it's going torile all of us up, but just step
back for a minute and thinkabout what these things have
(25:40):
caused, how our government hasresponded.
We're a country where we're notsupposed to use our police and
military against the people ofthis country.
Other regimes do that,dictatorships do that, right,
but we're known to be different.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
They send their soldiers out.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Yeah, but we just did that.
So if that doesn't soundalarming in your head, I don't
know what to tell you, becauseat this point, that gives me
enough knowledge to know thatthis regime is not one that is
working for me or people thatlook like me.
(26:14):
Please stay safe.
If you're going to exerciseyour First Amendment right,
please be mindful and do yourresearch of everything you need
to do to be safe.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
I'm going to say us to have an escape plan.
Sorry to say, if we've seen it,some of these demonstrations go
really bad, really fast becauseof agitation, and if things get
bad, you need to know how toescape.
Sadly, you need to know how toescape.
Sadly, you need to know.
I've seen some of the responsesfrom the Guard and now we have
(26:54):
Marines in the area too that aregoing to be out there this
weekend especially.
They will be out there.
Just really be mindful, sad tosay, even if you're just
peacefully exercising your right, because we've seen it, we've
seen the videos, we've seen howthey respond.
We've seen people get injured.
We've seen the videos, We'veseen how they respond.
We've seen people get injured.
We've seen reporters getinjured out there because of
things getting escalated reallyfast.
(27:15):
So please be careful out there,be mindful at all times of your
surroundings.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Until next time for all of us here at the RTWJ
podcast.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
I'm John, I'm Marcus.
Make sure you're following uson Instagram.
That's like what John saidWe'll be living there for a
while at the RTWJ Podcast.
We'll say tentatively thatwe'll be back the second Monday
of July, but we'll keep youposted.
We'll see how things are goingand if anything changes, if
you're following us on Instagram, you'll be first to know about
them.
So just make sure you'refollowing us and you'll be first
(27:47):
to know about them.
So just make sure you'refollowing us.
Stay tuned, we'll keep youupdated on our next release.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
But no matter what strength lies in your voice, and
I guarantee you we will neverbe silenced.
Take care, guys.
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