In episode 113, we sit down with author, historian, and founder and co-host of the Hashtag History podcast, Rachel Lee Perez. She was kind enough to give us a history lesson on the Reconstruction Era and how it compares to what’s happening in the world today.

Resources:

* Hashtag History Website

* Remedial Herstory Project

* The Hashtag History episode mentioned: Episode 117: The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

Connect with USS:

* Substack

* Instagram

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

* Website

* Instagram

In episode 112, we spend some time chatting with Anderson Clayton who serves as the current chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. We talk through what she’s currently fighting in NC, how to be a successful democrat in the state, and more.

Elected at 25 years old, Clayton is the youngest chair of a state democratic party. Chair Clayton grew up in Roxboro, North Carolina and graduated from Appalachian State University. She worked on Congresswoman Kathy Manning’s congressional campaign, in Iowa as a field organizer for the presidential campaigns of Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren, and then for the Senate campaign of Amy McGrath. Prior to her election as Chair of North Carolina Democratic Party, Chair Clayton served as a chair of the Person County Democratic Party, her hometown county. Chair Clayton resides in Roxboro, NC.

Resources:

* Clayton for Carolina Website

* Instagram

* Bluesky

* North Carolina Democratic Party Website

Connect with USS:

* Substack

* Instagram

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

* Website

* Instagram

In episode 111, we have a conversation about the book On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth-Century by Timothy Snyder. You don’t want to miss this episode OR this short and informative read!

Resources

* Timothy Snyder | Penguin Random House

* On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century: Snyder, Timothy

* Democratic FEC Chair Ellen Weintraub says Trump fired her. She says it's not legal. - CBS News

* Opinion | How a German Thinker Explains MAGA Morality - The New York Times

Connect with USS:

* Substack

* Instagram

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

* Website

* Instagram

In episode 110, we break down dehumanizing rhetoric by exploring how it has been used throughout history to justify violence, discrimination, and different atrocities. We also discuss the psychological and societal impacts of such rhetoric, and how it creates mob mentality and enables authoritarian regimes. Buckle up!

Resources

* The Cause and Effect of Language: Understanding Its Impact on Communication and Behavior – PsychWeb

* The Dark Side of Scrolling: How Social Media Impacts Radicalization - SEAN-CSO

* 'Less Than Human': The Psychology Of Cruelty : NPR

* Excerpts from Mein Kampf

* Rwanda genocide of 1994 - Ethnic Conflict, Hutu-Tutsi, Massacres | Britannica

* Rwanda: The First Conviction for Genocide | Holocaust Encyclopedia

* Get Out: More Americans Support Deporting Immigrants - The Survey Center on American Life

* The dark psychology of dehumanization, explained | Vox

* The Psychology of Dehumanization

* America's deadly epidemic: violence against women | Reuters

* Immigrants less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born : NPR

Connect with USS:

* Substack

* Instagram

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

* Website

* Instagram

In this week’s episode, we chat with Liz Minnella about how the Democrats need to invest in and build a digital strategy, as well as focus on the class war instead of the culture war.

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 now continuing to champion progressive candidates and organizations at the local and national level and hopes to continue to expand the left’s online ecosystem to combat extremism and the spread of radicalizing misinformation.

Connect with Liz: Instagram

Connect with USS:

* Substack

* Instagram

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

* Website

* Instagram

In this episode, we sit down with Allie Phillips, a 29-year-old mother, advocate and Tennessee native who recently ran for the TN State House. She walks us through her tragic abortion story and how her experience led her to run for state legislature. Her priorities include ensuring that other women in Tennessee did not have to go through the experience she did and can access health care, improving the quality of public education, & working for common sense gun safety laws. Allie testified in front of the US Senate & was invited to the White House’s Women’s History Month Conference by President Joe Biden.

Though she lost her state race with just over 45% of the vote, as a first time candidate Allie knows how important it is to keep the fight moving forward. Her story is compelling, heartbreaking and inspiring. Everyone that hears her story leaves feeling empowered to make change. She is determined to continue to share her story and educate others on the dangers of these bans while inspiring them to take part in the progress of our future.

Connect with Allie: Instagram

Connect with USS: United SHE Stands Substack

Connect with USS: United SHE Stands Instagram

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

* Website

* Instagram

In this week’s episode, we dive deeper into a Substack post Ashley wrote about the paradox of tolerance and when we need to/when it's appropriate be intolerant. We provide an overview of the paradox and answer some reflective questions about tolerance and intolerance in today’s political landscape.

References

* Tolerance Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

* Paradox of Tolerance - Philosophy Terms

* Paradox of Tolerance: To Tolerate or Note to Tolerate? - YouTube

* It's Time for the Tolerant Left to be Intolerant - Ashley’s Substack Post

Connect with USS: United SHE Stands InstagramThis episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

* Website

* Instagram

For this week’s episode, we’re joined by April Ajoy, the author of Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith. She is also a content creator and podcast host who uses humor to shine light on harmful, toxic, and sometimes just weird traits of American Evangelicalism. After growing up an evangelist’s kid entrenched in Christian Nationalism and working in conservative Christian media, she saw the harm caused firsthand. Still a Christian, she uses her platform to expose the dangers of Christian Nationalism while promoting a more inclusive faith. April has been featured on Buzzfeed, CNN, Newsweek and more. She’s been married to Beecher for 10 years and they have two daughters together.

Connect with April:

* Instagram

* TikTok

*Purchase her book: Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding A True Faith

Connect with USS: United SHE Stands Instagram

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

* Website: https://www.kevwyxin.com/

* Instagram: @kevwyxin