Breaking Battlegrounds

This week, Chuck and Sam are joined in studio by Rachel L, the founder of Coins for Cops. Later in the show, Republican candidate for Senate, Blake Masters, calls in from the campaign trail. About Coins for Cops:Like many people, Rachel saw the villainization of police officers around our nation by the Main Stream Media and other organizations, and was deeply troubled by this. She saw that it led to an increased level of disrespect, threats, and violence against the men and women who are tasked with protecting and serving our communities on a daily basis and decided that she wanted to do something to give back. She wanted to let officers know that they were still respected, honored, supported, and appreciated in their communities, and Coins For Cops was born.Her goal is to thank every police officer in the nation for their service and let every officer know that they are appreciated and supported. With your generous donation, each officer will receive a hand written 'Thank You' card and a beautiful, one-of-a-kind Challenge Coin, specifically designed to let officers know just how thankful we are for their service.1.) Simply donate, and your money will be used to fund officers in communities Rachel is adopting at the time 2.) Adopt a specific police department. Contact Rachel for further information. 3.) Purchase Challenge Coins and 'Thank you' cards that you can give to whomever you'd like. Contact Rachel for more information.Visit coinsforcops.net to get involved. CONNECT WITH US Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrokenPotholes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokenpotholes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokenpotholes/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broken-potholes Show notes: www.brokenpotholes.vote Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week, Broken Potholes looks to the world stage. First, Karan Deep Singh of the New York Times joins Chuck and Sam to shed some light on the COVID crisis in India. Carlos Martinez of the Miami Herald joins the program later to explain the recent protests in Cuba.Carlos Martinez is a student of journalism at Florida International University. He grew up in Cuba and moved to the United States when he was 17. He is a reporter for the Miami Herald and the Nuevo Herald, covering Cuba and local news. Karan Deep Singh is a reporter and visual journalist at The New York Times, based in New Delhi, India. He covers economy, politics and technology in South Asia and contributes to The Times's visual report from the region.CONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://twitter.com/BrokenPotholesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokenpotholesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokenpotholes/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broken-potholes Show notes: www.brokenpotholes.vote Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

Arizona candidate for US Senate, Blake Masters, joins Chuck and Sam today on Broken Potholes. Blake grew up in Tucson, Arizona. He attended Stanford University and Stanford Law School. Blake runs Thiel Capital, a multi-billion dollar firm that invests in new technology companies, and the Thiel Foundation, a nonprofit foundation that promotes science and innovation. The Foundation's Thiel Fellowship Program has paid 225 young people to drop out of college and instead create new companies, which are together now worth more than $45 billion.In 2014, Blake co-authored the #1 New York Times bestseller Zero to One, which sold more than three million copies. Blake lives in Tucson—a short drive from where he and his wife Catherine grew up. They homeschool their three sons, Miles, Graham, and Rex, and they enjoy hiking in the desert. CONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://twitter.com/BrokenPotholesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokenpotholesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokenpotholes/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broken-potholes Show notes: www.brokenpotholes.vote Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

Jonathan Johnson joins Chuck and Sam on this week's episode of Broken Potholes. Jonathan serves as the CEO of Overstock. Since assuming this role in 2019, Johnson has focused the e-commerce home furnishings retailer on sustainable, profitable market-share growth. With a brand vision of 'Dream Homes for All,' Overstock is one of the top four U.S. online retailers specializing in home furnishings. Overstock was recognized as one of the top employers of 2021. From 2016-2021, Johnson also served as president of former Overstock subsidiary, Medici Ventures. Medici focuses on using blockchain technology to democratize capital, eliminate frictional middlemen and re-humanize commerce. Under Johnson's leadership, Medici made investments in and grew many cutting-edge blockchain technology and fintech businesses including, tZERO, Bitt, Medici Land Governance, GrainChain, PeerNova, and Voatz. This innovative portfolio is using disruptive technology in projects that range from bringing vast populations out of poverty to overhauling securities markets. As a vocal supporter, Johnson spent countless hours educating the public and policy makers around the world about the potential of blockchain. In early 2021, Johnson brokered a deal with Pelion Venture Partners where Medici's assets were converted into a Fund overseen by Pelion. Pelion is helping the portfolio companies reach their full potential. Johnson is currently a member of Overstock's board of directors. He served as the chairman of the board from 2014 to 2017, transitioning to the position after five years as the company's president, and later as the executive vice chairman. Johnson joined Overstock in 2002 as the company's general counsel and has held various business and legal positions within the company. He has been an integral part of Overstock's growth from a small start-up to a publicly traded company with over $3 billion in sales and nearly 2,000 employees. Prior to joining Overstock, Johnson worked for TenFold Corporation in various positions, including CFO and general counsel. Before that, he practiced corporate law in Los Angeles with two international law firms and served as a judicial clerk at the Utah Supreme Court. Johnson received a bachelor's degree in Japanese from Brigham Young University, studied at Osaka University of Foreign Studies in Japan as a Ministry of Education Scholar, and received his Juris Doctor degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University.CONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://twitter.com/BrokenPotholesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokenpotholesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokenpotholes/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broken-potholes Show notes: www.brokenpotholes.vote Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week, Chuck and Sam are joined by Congressman John Curtis of Utah's 3rd Congressional District. Congressman Curtis currently serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committees. After being elected to Congress on November 13, 2017, John sponsored 12 bills in his first year in office. Four of these bills passed through the House and three were signed into law: The POPPY Study Act to combat the opioid crisis, the Public-Private Partnership Advisory Council to End Human Trafficking Act, and the Small Business ACE Act. The Congressman cares deeply about hearing the diverse perspectives and feedback from his constituents: he has held hundreds of town halls. Utah's third district is the youngest in the country, with an average age of 26 years old. John is also sensitive to the many constituents that live in rural Utah, and has focused on legislation that can fit needs of both demographics such as student loans, rural broadband access, and more. John has been committed to helping Utah's growing tech scene flourish, and was recognized by Silicon Slopes as their first Community Hero Award recipient. Other personal awards comprise of Civic Innovator of the Year by Utah Valley University, Thayne Robson Award for Leadership in Economic Development, and Outstanding Citizen Award from the Office of Civic Engagement Leadership by Brigham Young University. Prior to coming to Washington, John was the 45th mayor of Provo City, serving two terms. Known for his personal approach to city government, Mayor Curtis prioritized his outreach to residents of Provo by utilizing various channels including his popular blog. He was named the #1 Top Elected Official on Social Media 2015 by the Government Social Media group and has been recognized by Forbes for his commitment to citizen engagement. Curtis was re-elected for a second four-year term as mayor in 2013 with 86.49% of the vote. As mayor, he averaged an approval rating of 93%. During his terms in office, the city of Provo ranked #1 in the nation for Business and Careers by Forbes as well as #1 for Well-Being by Gallup. Other recent awards include national recognition for the quality of life, family environment, a booming tech and entrepreneur culture and a successful revitalization of downtown. With the help of the City Council, employees, and residents, Mayor Curtis' administration brought Google Fiber to Provo, regularly scheduled air service at the airport, expanded parks and trails, and completed Provo's state-of-the-art recreation center. Before becoming mayor, John was a small business owner in Provo, working with his partners to build their business "Action Target," where he led sales and operations strategy. Congressman Curtis and his wife Sue have six children and seven grandchildren. He speaks Mandarin Chinese and almost certainly has more socks than you do.CONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://twitter.com/BrokenPotholesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokenpotholesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokenpotholes/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broken-potholes Show notes: www.brokenpotholes.vote Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week, Sam and Chuck are joined by Matt Lewis. Matt is a senior columnist at The Daily Beast and the author of Too Dumb to Fail: How the GOP Betrayed the Reagan Revolution to Win Elections (And How It Can Reclaim Its Conservative Roots). Matt's work has appeared in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Daily Beast, GQ, The Washington Post, Politico, The Telegraph, The Independent, and The Guardian -- and he has been quoted or cited by major media outlets including New York Magazine, The Washington Post, The New York Times, andThe Associated Press. Over the years, Matt has provided political commentary on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, C-SPAN, PBS NewsHour, ABC's "Nightline," HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher," and CBS News' "Face The Nation." He has appeared on numerous radio outlets like NPR and the BBC, and on various conservative programs such as "The Hugh Hewitt Show." (And who could forget his mention on ESPN's "The Tony Kornheiser Show"?) He previously served as a contributing editor for The Week and as a weekly columnist for Roll Call. Before that, Matt served as a columnist for AOL's Politics Daily and as a blogger for Townhall.com. Matt currently hosts his own podcast, "Matt Lewis & The News" (subscribe on iTunes; Sen. Ben Sasse is a listener!), and co-hosts The DMZ show on Bloggingheads.TV. He is also the editor of the book, The Quotable Rogue: The Ideals of Sarah Palin In Her Own Words. Matt grew up in Frederick County, Maryland, and graduated from Shepherd College (now University) in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.CONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://twitter.com/BrokenPotholesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokenpotholesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokenpotholes/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broken-potholes Show notes: www.brokenpotholes.vote Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Broken Potholes, Chuck and Sam are joined by Congressman Drew Ferguson, the Chief Deputy Whip for House Republicans. Congressman Drew Ferguson is a proud resident of West Point whose family roots in the West Georgia area are several generations deep. He attended the University of Georgia and gained early acceptance to the Medical College of Georgia. After graduating with a degree in dental medicine, he moved back to his hometown and established a successful family dental practice. In 2008, Congressman Ferguson was elected mayor of West Point and was at the forefront of attracting and keeping jobs in his community. By lowering taxes, eliminating government barriers and reforming education, he led a community in economic ruin back to life. Today, a wide range of new businesses and industries call West Point and the surrounding area home. Led by KIA Motors, automotive suppliers and related businesses, 16,000 new jobs have been created so far. Congressman Ferguson came to Washington to apply the lessons he learned revitalizing West Point to creating policies that once again make America the most competitive place to do business. Just as important as the creation of jobs, Congressman Ferguson wants to remove barriers that prevent those in poverty from moving into the middle class. Smart and effective welfare entitlement reform that actually helps people move ahead rather than trapping them in a cycle of poverty is the first step. Congressman Ferguson believes these problems cannot simply be regulated away, but should look for solutions that get government out of the way of American innovation growth. This is as much a moral issue as it is a practical matter. Congressman Ferguson is the Chief Deputy Whip for House Republicans. He also serves on the Committee on Ways and Means.CONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://twitter.com/BrokenPotholesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokenpotholesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokenpotholes/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broken-potholes Show notes: www.brokenpotholes.vote Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Broken Potholes, Sam and Chuck take a deep dive into the crumbling politics of America. They tackle some of the biggest issues facing our country, including bias in the media, the movement to defund our police, the water shortage looming over the southwest, and the latest on the crisis at our southern border. Plus Kiley Kipper stops by the show to bring a moment of sunshine into the studio.CONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://twitter.com/BrokenPotholesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokenpotholesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokenpotholes/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broken-potholes Show notes: www.brokenpotholes.vote Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Broken Potholes, Chuck and Sam are joined by Nicole Martin, the Community Relations and Public Information Officer for Provo City, Utah. Nicole previously worked as the Communications Director and Deputy Mayor for Sandy City under former Mayor Tom Dolan. She was also the Communications Director for Herriman City and has served the last three years as a member of the Herriman City Council. As both a public relations officer and an elected representative, Nicole has seen first hand how social media and national trends affect the way local government operates, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. In her work as a communications officer, Nicole has worked to ensure that citizens understand what is really happening in their city.CONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://twitter.com/BrokenPotholesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokenpotholesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokenpotholes/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broken-potholes Show notes: www.brokenpotholes.vote Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

Ryan Tyson of the Florida-based Tyson Group joins Chuck Warren on this week's episode of Broken Potholes to offer his insight into the current state of Florida politics.Also on the show this week, Chuck talks to Ryan Smith, the Director of Communications and Government Relations for Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. His responsibilities include marketing and community relations, as well as all government relations duties for the airport. Ryan graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Political Science and is a fifth generation Arizona resident. Ryan Tyson is the President and managing partner of The Tyson Group, which is a center-right polling and market research firm with polling experience in 48 states. He serves as Executive Director of Preserve the American Dream, a Florida based 501(c4) that primarily educates the public and media on quantitative and qualitative research it conducts across the state and around the country. As a Florida based strategist, Tyson has developed multiple organizations devoted to fundraising, research, electioneering and independent expenditure efforts. He has served as strategist and pollster on multiple statewide ballot initiatives in Florida, using his research techniques to not only to craft successful ballot titles and summaries on 'Yes' campaigns, but also exposing the weaknesses in 'No' campaigns. He has also worked for some of the largest corporations in Florida and his political acumen and prowess are known to many across the country. Tyson's wide range of experience in all levels of national, state, and legislative campaigns and has made him a valuable asset in the Sunshine State. Having advised on multiple statewide campaigns including for former President Donald Trump's Florida campaign, Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Marco Rubio and Senator Rick Scott, Tyson's unique mix of data driven campaign strategy has resulted in Florida Politics twice naming him as one of the top 100 "most influential people in Florida Politics." He received his Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from the University of Florida. He currently resides in Tallahassee with his wife, Mary Beth, and three sons, John David, Brennan and Benjamin. CONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://twitter.com/BrokenPotholesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokenpotholesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokenpotholes/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broken-potholes Show notes: www.brokenpotholes.vote Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe