In episode 123, we talk about the horrors of Senate Bill 1 in Ohio and its negative impact on higher education in the state. We couldn’t do this without our guest, Dr. Karla Hamlen-Mansour, who goes through the details of the bill with us. Karla has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and is a Professor at Cleveland State University in the School of Education and Counseling. She has been at CSU for 16 years and has held various leadership roles including, currently, chairing the Faculty Affairs Committee in the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education. She teaches graduate courses in research methods, statistics, and assessment in education, and conducts research on children's entertainment video game play and relationships to problem solving strategies.

Resources & How To Get Involved:

* SB1 Full Text

* Ohio SB 1 Petition Linktree (MANY relevant links!)

* OH SB 1 Petition – Higher Education is not a business

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This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

* Website

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For episode 122, we welcome back our friend, Liz Minnella! We talk about the current vibes of the democratic party, the significant changes they’ve made in the past four months, and Liz’s PAC - Connect Forward.

Liz is a mom of two toddlers, an advocate, fundraiser and Instagram demfluencer. She gained an audience on Instagram following the Fourth of July shooting in Highland Park by posting short actionable steps for fellow activists to take to advance gun violence prevention legislation and she helped lead the grassroots push to pass the IL Assault Weapons Ban. During the 2024 election cycle, she hit her stride organizing and activating everyday people to use their power and influence to make change. She founded Chicago Women for Harris and co-organized and MCd White Women: Answer the call, which broke Zoom with over 200,000 viewers. She served as the Finance Co-chair of Women for Harris and raised tens of millions of dollars for the Harris campaign. She held weekly Women Wednesdays for Harris Zoom calls and organized door knocking trips across the battleground states. Her work was featured in a front page article in the New York Times and on CNN in the days following the election. She is the founder of Connect Forward, which is a PAC dedicated to funding and facilitating a new media ecosystem of liberal voices.

Connect with USS:

* Substack

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* TikTok

This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

* Website

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In episode 120, we are joined by the Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, Liz Walters! We talk about how became so passionate about politics, the biggest challenges Democrats face in Ohio, and how to turn Ohio into a swing state again. You don’t want to miss this conversation!

In January of 2021, Liz was unanimously elected as Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. She is the first woman elected to this role and was re-elected in 2022 to a four year term. Throughout her career Liz has worked with people and organizations that support progressive values, including official offices, campaigns, and nonprofit and community organizations.

Walters is also serving the citizens of Summit County as an At-Large councilmember, and previously served as Council President. She has been active on a wide variety of issues and led the passage and implementation of Paid Parental Leave for county employees, the only Ohio county to pass such legislation.

She is a lifetime Girl Scout and has been active with the organization as a member, employee, or volunteer since the age of five. Liz earned a B.A. in History from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and her MPA from Cleveland State University. She and her rescue dog, Beatrice, live on the westside of Akron.

Resources:

* Ohio Democratic Party

Connect with USS:

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This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

* Website

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In episode 119, we talk with Cameron Hilaker, who was recently fired from his job at USAID as part of DOGE cuts. Tune in to hear his story and how he’s turned into a fierce advocate for other fired federal employees.

Cameron worked at USAID as an Emergency Manager responding to domestic and international crises. As a leader of the Readiness Team, his role was to ensure that as a crisis developed, USAID was able to keep its people and families safe and continue the crucial life saving assistance. He has supported over 20 responses, including evacuations, disruptions, and ordered departures.

Before Cameron’s time at USAID, he served as a peace corps volunteer in South Africa for three years working to combat HIV/AIDS where he met his wife Catharine. They are expecting their first child in June.

Resources:

* What’s being lost with the DOGE cuts? These fired employees can tell you (Washington Post)

* Cameron as Congressman Hank Johnson’s Guest to Joint Address to Congress on March 4th, 2025

* Judge Rules DOGE’s Dismantling of USAID Unconstitutional

* The implications of a USAID shutdown (Brookings)

Connect with USS:

* Substack

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This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

* Website

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In episode 118, we talk about super fun and light-hearted things…like fascism!! Our guest, Craig Johnson, is a researcher and educator focused on stopping the rise of the extreme right-wing. He’s the host of Fifteen Minutes of Fascism podcast, runs a YouTube series celebrating the deaths of right-wing figures throughout history, and is the author of How to Talk to Your Son about Fascism, a guide for parents and educators on keeping young men out of the right-wing.

Craig’s Book: How to Talk to Your Son About Fascism

Craig’s Podcast: Fifteen Minutes of Fascism

* Listen on Apple

* Watch on YouTube

Connect with USS:

* Substack

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This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

* Website

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In episode 117, Amanda Becker, author and The 19th News’ Washington correspondent, joins us to talk about how we should still be paying close attention to reproductive and abortion rights in this country - even if your state has protections.

Her first book, “You Must Stand Up: The Fight for Abortion Rights in Post-Dobbs America,” was published by Bloomsbury in September 2024.

Becker has been on the beat for nearly two decades, covering the White House, the Supreme Court, Congress, multiple presidential elections, and scores of House and Senate campaigns. Before joining The 19th in April 2020, Becker spent nearly eight years at Reuters, where she was embedded with Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, and several before that at CQ Roll Call, where she covered lobbying and influence.

Becker was a 2023 fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. Her byline has also appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and USA Today, among other publications.

Becker grew up in Ohio and recently moved back. She received a bachelor’s degree in political science with honors from Indiana University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California.

Resources:

* Amanda Becker - The 19th News

* You Must Stand Up: The Fight for Abortion Rights in Post-Dobbs America (Amanda Becker’s Book)

* The 19th News

* Abortion Fund of Ohio

* Ohio Women’s Alliance

* Abortion Finder (Ohio)

Connect with USS:

* Substack

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This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

* Website

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In episode 116, we talk about how the oligarchy owns the media in the U.S. and if that makes the press truly “free”.

References

* It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism a book by Senator Bernie Sanders and John Nichols - Bookshop.org US

* Free press: definition and role in democracy I liberties.eu | liberties.eu

* Overview of Freedom of the Press | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

* Public Media Can Improve Our ‘Flawed’ Democracy | Annenberg

* About Public Media | CPB

* Democracy Index 2024 - Economist Intelligence Unit

* Index | RSF

Connect with USS:

* Substack

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This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

* Website

* Instagram