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Tonight, on this penetrating, investigative episode of Light ‘Em Up…
With the 250th birthday of the United States rapidly approaching — we take a critical and intensive look at the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and at its foundation and the importance of a free press in a democracy.
The most basic liberties guaranteed to Americans — embodied in the 45 words of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution — assure Americans a government that is responsible to its citizens and responsive to their wishes. These 45 words are as alive and important today as they were more than 249 years ago.
These liberties are neither liberal nor conservative, Democratic nor Republican — they are the basis for our representative democratic form of government.
45 words that grant us the inalienable right that:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Thomas Jefferson in 1787 famously articulated that a “well-informed public holds ultimate power; without truth and oversight, even the best-intentioned government can devolve into tyranny”.
Jefferson's preference for “newspapers without government” over “government without newspapers” was essential to the fledgling U.S. democracy and, as the truly wise man that he was, these maxims hold true to this day as the press is being tested like it never has been before.
President Trump had his most recent “meltdown” in an on-air interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker. The world bore witness to “Exhibit A” … of Donald Trump’s face becoming as red as a beet … as he shouted at and insulted another female, minority reporter — this time it was Kristen Welker, an NBC journalist who is biracial.
Welker’s mother is black and her father is white.
It is crystal clear Trump is triggered by reporters that aren’t ass-smooching sycophants as the members of his entire presidential cabinet are.
Intelligent women in general and minority women especially trigger Trump the most.
We’ll shine the antiseptic light of the truth on the importance of having an independent free press and how it has proven to be an essential ingredient in the making of and maintaining a democracy.
Also, we’ll investigate the damage the free press has suffered at the hands of Donald Trump and his constantly dishonest style of “scorched-earth politics” — where he rails against all media, unless of course, it’s his coveted Fox News.
And we’ve researched and plan to share with you if there are any fair and accurate comparisons to Mussolini’s Fascist Italy and Hitler’s Nazi Germany and their treatment of the press in the lead-up to their power-grabs as they sought to change the balance of power for the free world.
Every time Donald Trump attacks a reporter — the free press dies a little bit each time.
The second Trump administration's core campaign pledge to protect open discourse has sharply clashed with its executive actions, resulting in a systemic contraction of First Amendment protections.
Critics and civil liberties watchdogs argue that while the administration aggressively targets what it deems "left-wing bias" and "federal collusion" with tech platforms, it simultaneously deploys state infrastructure to:
— penalize critical media,
— restrict assembly,
and …
— mandate strict government-approved speech orthodoxy.
The fact of the matter is:
Donald Trump rails against EVERYONE who doesn’t blow smoke up his ass — as a lot of people do.
He’s always done this. He will continue to do so. He’s a thin-skinned, weak-charactered, congenital narcissist — THIS is what they do. They can’t take any criticism … a narcissist to this degree can’t even entertain anything that isn’t praise.
We’ll examine all this … pero mucho más aquí y solamente aquí — on this edition of Light ‘Em Up!
The search for the truth and justice begins RIGHT HERE … and RIGHT NOW!
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Tonight, on this explosive episode of Light ‘Em Up.
If you are hearing this episode, it is a miracle from God. Believe me!
About a week ago with no advanced warning, we suffered the most serious catastrophic equipment failure that we’ve ever experienced — thanks to Windows 11. The Security settings on Windows 11 cancelled our access to our “drivers” which support our show.
We scrambled; we researched the problem day and night, tried one of everything and troubleshot the issue until we were asleep on our feet.
Long story short, we’re back! Bill Gates can’t keep a good show down!
Tonight, we focus our investigative reporting skills with the intensity of a surgical laser on better understanding officer- induced jeopardy, which also can be referred to as officer- created jeopardy.
"Officer-induced jeopardy" refers to situations where a police officer’s own unreasonable tactics, actions, or decisions prior to a force encounter unnecessarily create or escalate the danger, increasing the likelihood that force will be needed.
The phrases of “officer-induced jeopardy” or “officer-created jeopardy” describe actions taken by police officers that increase the risk of injury to the officer and escalate the probability of use of lethal force by officers, which may have been avoided had the officer not placed himself or herself in a self-created dangerous situation.
Be clear in the fact that this action stems from willful actions taken by the officer that put the officer and the person of interest or suspect in danger … such as:
— rushing in without backup,
— poor de-escalation skills and tactics,
— or standing in front of a fleeing vehicle, which may have been avoided.
Officers rarely are but can be criminally prosecuted for using force when their actions led to escalation during contact with subjects. However, the facts bear out that fewer than 3% of killings by police result in officers being charged with a crime.
Recently, a fan of the show contacted us and informed us of an incident where their family — in their home -- became inadvertent ear and eyewitnesses being directly next door to where the Akron Police Department had terminated a vehicle pursuit — barricading and cornering a driver in his vehicle and ordering him to exit his vehicle while at gun point: More than 10 officers with their weapons drawn and pointed at the person who had previously committed what would amount to minor misdemeanors.
The family that contacted us were concerned because they were in the direct line of crossfire if the officers decided to fire.
This unnecessary contact with a 66-year-old black man (the suspect) could have easily turned into a “contagious fire” incident, with many of those shots coming from high-powered, military style assault rifles.
In this explosive episode, in order to further our understanding about officer- induced jeopardy — as a case study we’ll examine Barnes v. Felix, 605 U.S. ___ (2025), which is a recent Supreme Court decision which assesses whether an officer acted reasonably in using force under the Fourth Amendment, and that a court must consider all the relevant circumstances, including facts and events leading up to the climactic moment.
And we’ll touch upon a few brief case summaries and instances that support our topic …
As well as:
— How the use-of-force management training has changed over the course of the last decade.
— How has the use of less-lethal tools and devices changed?
And …
— What we feel law enforcement agencies in the 21st Century should focus more on when it comes to officer- induced jeopardy and the use-of-force continuum.
All this, pero mucho más aquí y solamente aquí — on Light ‘Em Up!
The search for the truth and justice begins RIGHT HERE … and RIGHT NOW!
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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On this explosive edition of Light ‘Em Up:
We probe and examine the Federal Death Penalty.
On Friday, April 17th, 2026, the Trump Administration said it would allow executions by firing squad and restore the use of lethal injections in federal death-penalty cases.
The Trump Administration has no problem with:
— dropping missiles on little schoolgirls in Iran
— supplying the weapons that have killed over 72,000 people including women and children in Gaza (since the October 7th, 2023, Hamas attack) — and
— blowing up boats piloted by unarmed civilians off the coast of Venezuela.We ask: If the federal and state governments have proscriptions against murder, why are they in the business of killing?
The federal death penalty applies in all 50 states and U.S. territories but is used relatively rarely.
We’ll examine the hypocritical facts whereby:
— Most MAGA cult-members are “pro-life”, yet at the same time profess to be “pro-death penalty”. How do those opposites align? Are they just okay with being hypocrites? Does this fact bring them closer to their Orange Jesus?
— Pope Leo XIV says those two ideological positions can’t align and they never will. Pope Leo XIV has stated that, according to Catholic teaching, being against abortion but in favor of the death penalty is not "genuinely pro-life". Church teaching opposes capital punishment as "inadmissible" under all circumstances.
Tune in specifically to hear Pope Leo’s specific thoughts.
We also want to know what YOU think:
— Is the death penalty unfair, especially the way it is applied?
— Are lethal injections saved for the poor? (As a means of controlling the excess population) that AREN’T in the Epstein Class?
— Is there a racial bias that permeates the entire criminal justice system?
— Is capital punishment an effective deterrent or just an irreversible means of retribution?
A firing squad is exceptionally gruesome.
Adoption of such a heinous execution practice, however, should surprise no one.
This country, from its inception, has had a perverted affination with violence and brutality.On the state level, in South Carolina, the first state to secede from the Union on December 20th, 1860 — the method in the Palmetto state involves three corrections employees firing live rounds from 15 feet away at the condemned inmate, who is in a chair with a target over their heart.
As a society, do we really need this?
As a case study we look at the execution of Brad Sigmon, who was sentenced to death for the April 2001 murders of Gladys and William David Larke, the parents of his ex-girlfriend, in Greenville, SC.
Explore more details on the process, here: How does the firing squad work in South Carolina?
On April 24th, 2026, this administration released its official report entitled: Restoring and Strengthening the Federal Death Penalty. They maintain that “capital punishment is an essential tool for deterring and punishing those who would commit the most heinous crimes and acts of lethal violence against American citizens.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) strongly opposes the use of firing squads, viewing them as a "barbaric" and "inhumane" method of execution. The organization advocates for the total abolition of the death penalty, arguing that all forms of capital punishment constitute "cruel and unusual punishment" in violation of the Constitution.
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Tonight, on this intense, explosive episode of Light ‘Em Up, we re-double our focus on Israel’s top war criminal, Bibi Netanyahu’s illegal war with Iran — that Donald Trump was so easily suckered into.
We were tracking and watching the clock — in a full-fledged countdown like on New Year’s Eve in Times Square … to see if Donald Trump would carry out his threat to end Iran’s entire civilization — and with less than 1 hour remaining in the deadline, TACO! Trump Chickened Out — he blinked! As we predicted he would.
Trump typically does back down or chicken out. As a bully, he doesn’t have much of a stomach for push back — so much so that he has earned an acronym for himself.
“TACO” (Trump Always Chickens Out)!
The events of the War in Iran are fluid and rapidly changing.
As of 4/18 the death toll from the war has risen to more than 3,300 people killed in Iran and over 2,100 people have been killed in Lebanon during Trump & Bibi’s war of choice.
Coming up … on this exclusive episode:
There’s been so much talk on TV about war crimes —
We’ll investigate what exactly constitutes a war crime? Where does this authority originate?
We’ll educate and empower you regarding the ICC (The International Criminal Court) and The Geneva Conventions.
Much of Donald Trump and the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s communications amount to orders to violate the laws of war and have put the U.S. and its servicemen on an unavoidable path with committing war crimes, notably Trump’s explicit threats against civilian infrastructure and statements regarding “collective punishment” and Hegseth’s “no quarter” comments.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned the U.S. that attacks on civilian infrastructure are banned under international law.
Under the U.N. Charter, nations are only permitted to use force against another nation if it has been authorized by the Security Council or in self-defense. The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, not the other way around.
When Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th, 2023, it was widely documented as the deadliest attack in Israel's history and the single worst one-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. It is considered one of the worst terrorist attacks in world history, ranking as the third deadliest since data collection began in 1970 — yet Israel attacks Iran, Lebanon and Gaza in the exact same fashion daily.
Does it ever end? Will the killing ever stop?
We’ll unpack:
— A few extra special demented social media posts by Trump that have led us to the current situation. When War Crimes Rhetoric Becomes Battlefield Reality: The Slippery Slope to Total War and War Crimes with Iran.
It is important to point out that rhetoric becomes war crimes when it moves beyond political speech to openly incite, authorize, or threaten grave violations of international humanitarian law. You don’t have to believe me, just ask any Tutsi from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
The cognitively challenged Republican president often oscillates between heated threats, announced delays, and proclamations that the negotiations were going well, … sometimes in the same statement — as he conducts foreign policy online from his Truth Social profile.
If Joe Biden attempted anything close to this the legacy news media would soil themselves and be screaming at the top of their lungs calling for the invocation of the 25th Amendment.
Why the hypocrisy?
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As the globe is being strangled economically by Donald Trump & Bibi Netanyahu’s unnecessary war of choice with Iran — we take an-in depth look at the rapidly spiraling out of control act of aggression against the sovereign state of Iran.
Prior to going to air with this episode, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, said in his resignation letter to President Donald Trump that he “cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran and that the Islamic Republic posed no imminent threat to the United”.
We submit that the evidence shows that Donald Trump doesn’t have the foggiest idea of what to do next in Iran — surrounded by “yes men” and imbeciles — people who are uniquely unqualified for the roles that they hold in his administration.
All military plans change within the first hour of the battle. It’s clear that the Trump administration had no plan. No plan survives contact with the enemy.
It is essential to be flexible, to show leadership, and adaptability, as plans often require immediate revision based on real-time feedback and unexpected situations.
Before the war began, Trump disregarded the direct advice of his top military adviser, Gen. Dan Caine, who warned him that Iran would likely respond by attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz and effectively closing it. Trump replied by suggesting that Iran’s government would capitulate before it could close the strait or that the U.S. military could keep the strait open.
Neither of those two things have taken place. Trump was wrong on both aspects.
One of the wisest and most capable war tacticians ever, Sun Tzu, reminds us of one of his core principles from The Art of War, which was to emphasize the fact that the best way to win a war is to never conduct one in the first place.
Tzu felt that the highest form of victory is winning through strategy, diplomacy, or psychological warfare rather than costly physical battle. Trump knows nothing of those concepts — pigeonholing himself because he simply does not read.
Many observers consider the unprovoked strikes by the U.S. and Isreal to be a breach of Article 2 section (4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of another state.
The government of Isreal does this regularly with no consequence.
For the last 20 years Netanyahu has been saying that Iran was 2 weeks away from getting a nuclear bomb. Iran does not have a nuclear bomb.
Reports of destroyed homes, schools, and health facilities, as well as significant civilian fatalities — (again, all acts of war that Isreal takes part in regularly) including over 1,300 deaths in initial strikes—have prompted allegations of war crimes.
The United States has faced criticism for actions interpreted as having a "no quarter" policy, as stated by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth — such as sinking Iranian naval vessels rather than capturing them, which is a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
— We’ll drill down on the history of US/Iran relations.
— Provide details on the 2015 Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
— And deliver the up-to-the minute facts regarding the war with Iran as well as the impact of the Strait of Hormuz being closed to most traffic and the effects of this.
Trump’s “little excursion” (as he termed it) has forced global oil prices and the cost of gasoline at the pump sharply higher; it has imperiled the food supply across the globe as well as causing fertilizer prices to skyrocket with no sight in subsiding any time soon.
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Welcome to Light ‘Em Up!
At the conclusion of the editing and postproduction process for this episode in preparation for its upload and debut - DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was fired from her role as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Tonight, on this brand-new, intense episode we’ll investigate and examine the more than 32 deaths that have happened at the hands of Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE).
It may come as a surprise, but the killing of Renee Good (a mother of three) and Alex Pretti (an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System Hospital in Minnesota) were not the first and they won’t be the last.
We’ll drill down on the Department of Homeland Security — an organization led by individuals who lack both qualifications and integrity.
This witch’s brew often forces an organization — whether desired or not -- to eventually face severe consequences, ranging from operational inefficiencies to catastrophic, fatal incidents.
Research indicates that when leadership prioritizes self-interest over competence and honesty, it creates a toxic culture that undermines safety and performance. ICE has made our streets unsafe with its tyrannical tactics, terrorizing our own people in the name of Trump.
Since returning to office in 2025, President Trump has implemented a "hardline" and "maximalist" immigration policy focused on executing the largest domestic deportation operation in U.S. history.
The administration doesn’t care how the policy is carried out — ONLY that it is — so that Stephen Miller can satisfy his own sick, sadistic wishes.
Miller is credited with shaping the racist and draconian immigration policies of President Trump, and Noem oversaw carrying those decisions out, which include:
— zero-tolerance policy, also known as family separation,
— the Muslim ban and
— ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
As we go to air with this episode, a federal judge accuses the White House of ‘terror’ against immigrants in the U.S.
The administration has pursued a whole-of-government approach to identify, detain, and remove undocumented immigrants, aiming for a "1 million per year" deportation goal.
But, in the process, there've been:
— tremendous oversights,
— poor procedural safeguards and protocols put in place,
— very little to no training for new hires,
— negligence and outright lies which have led to more than 32 people’s death across the nation.
We’ll introduce you to those who have lost their lives at the hands of the governmental “political theater” that is unfolding right in front of our own eyes, daily.
We will report that the (former) DHS Secretary, Kristi Noem is an outright liar — as is her boss. That isn’t opinion — that is fact and we have the receipts to prove it.
Be sure to tune in for our reporting regarding a completely fabricated story — that Noem stated in one of her press briefings to the nation — about a man in deportation proceedings “cannibalizing” others, then, himself, like the fictitious character Hannibal Lecter, who Trump thinks is a real person.
As we speak truth to power, we never cower — as we expose the fact that Secretary Noem has deported U.S. military veterans AND U.S. citizens and lied and covered up about that as well.
As a painter paints and a singer sings, a liar lies.
The streets of the U.S. are safer with Noem ousted at the top of DHS, but the man tapped to be her replacement isn’t much of an improvement.
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Welcome to this fact-laden, episode of Light ‘Em Up.
As we go to air - we're halfway through Black History Month.
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, first established as "Negro History Week" by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in February 1926. The 2026 national theme is “A Century of Black History Commemorations”, honoring 100 years of recognizing the achievements and contributions of Black Americans to U.S. history.
Black history is American history!
We feel richly blessed and highly favored to sit down and visit, honoring Black History Month, with a dear friend of ours and a show favorite. Dr. Sandy Womack, Jr.
Dr. Womack Jr. has devoted his life to being a servant leader, educator and striving to be the best at whatever he attempts. He is an NCAA All-American wrestler with a doctorate in educational leadership, author, former principal, district administrator, equity trainer, motivational speaker, and much more.
He is retired from his current role at the close of January (2026) after a generation (33+ years) of dedicating his life to urban education.
This year’s Black History Month arrives as our democracy is being tested in unprecedented ways, and the future of the republic hangs in the balance.
Dr. Womack expressed grave concerns that we are “in an in between place similar to the times during the Reconstruction era after the Civil War (1865 – 1877) where the Federal Government sent in troops to ensure that the freed Blacks had and maintained the right to vote, to assemble, and the rights to a public education”.
Based on reports, executive actions, and policy initiatives from 2025 and early 2026, the second Trump administration has pursued a broad agenda focused on rolling back diversity initiatives, changing civil rights enforcement, and altering educational and economic policies that critics argue disproportionately affect Black Americans. And federal agents are arresting journalists (Don Lemon) and gunning down civilians in the streets.
In this exclusive interview, we’ll drill down on:
— Assessing the pulse of the country — where are we as a nation and as people with the recent killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis?
— The importance of taking an active role in the franchise (voting) how voting “changes policy, policy impacts practices and practices impact politics”.
He feels deeply that the future “depends on the youth of today” — to see wide eyed the abuses and oversteps by this administration which will “serve as the catalyst to push the younger generation to the polls to vote in large and impressive ways”.
He stressed the importance of “collectively coming together” and working to find some “communality” — at the end of the day, we have “more things that unite us than divide” — we sadly choose to focus and give attention to those aspects that are tribal and exacerbate division.
We’ve strayed beyond an inflection point — democracy is actively in peril.
“We have to become students of history. We have to read, write, speak and most importantly be able to think critically” to be educated and informed sufficiently to question the current status quo — for those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
He emphatically declares that: “Outcomes won’t change until incomes change.” He urges all who will listen to “don’t let your lying eyes fool you”.
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” ― George Orwell, 1984
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Welcome to this explosive, comprehensive episode of Light ‘Em Up.
As we come to air with this episode, another person has been shot and killed in Minneapolis, MN, this time by Border Patrol agents. The tension and the stakes in the streets couldn’t be any higher.
Tonight, we shine the antiseptic light of the truth and examine in-depth the killing of Renee Good, 37, mother of 3, by an Immigration & Customs Enforcement Officer during a large immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 7th.
As Minnesota state officials demand an end to the Trump administration’s divisive, brutal “immigration crackdown” in Minnesota:
Renee Good should still be alive today. This episode confronts the deadly consequences of deploying federal officers into U.S. cities as a political ploy rather than a public‑safety necessity. When federal power is used as a stage prop, communities become collateral damage, and human lives become expendable.
In this episode:
— We’ll examine what the landmark Supreme Court decision Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989) is and what is says, as it will certainly be applied to this case.
— We’ll introduce the legal concept of “officer induced jeopardy” which argues that police officers should be held liable—criminally or civilly—when their own, unjustifiable, or reckless tactical choices create a dangerous situation that forces them to use deadly force. It posits that police cannot intentionally escalate a situation to a point of fatal risk and then justify shooting as self-defense.
We dig deeper into the Supreme Court-crafted “qualified immunity” concept.
As we examine the authority of the police to use force -- as it represents one of the most misunderstood powers granted to representatives of law enforcement by the public at large -- we will ferret out just what is meant in this process by being “objectively reasonable”, again, which very few people outside of legal scholars truly understand.
— And we’ll analyze and break down frame by frame the fateful shooting.
The Feds have failed to cooperate with Minnesota officials as countless details remain in dispute. President Trump, just moments after the shooting, already put his thumb on the scales of justice by saying that the “agents had acted in self-defense”.
This comes from a man who has lied on and vehemently demonized innocent immigrants who were in this country legally and in a legal and protected status in Springfield, Ohio, saying that they were “eating the dogs and the cats” there.
Through careful reporting, historical context, and a clear-eyed look at the federal government’s expanding use of force, this episode asks a fundamental question: What happens when political theater is backed by a gun and a badge?
There is an epidemic of moral cowardice in this country. No one is safe from ICE.
Many people probably believed that even in “Trump’s America”, citizens would still have inviolable liberties to stand up to the jack-booted, masked agents who have swarmed upon the communities where they call home.
This is what happens when the Federal government sends troops into our cities.
Did anyone learn anything from the tragic events at Kent State University on May 4th, 1970?
All of our “rights” have been eroded. How does that sit with you? Is this what you voted for?
We’ve got “on the scene audio” as it was happening.
We’ve got boots on the ground in Minneapolis. Tune in to our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot! We want to hear from you! Support the show
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Happy New Year!
Welcome back for the kickoff of Season 7 episode 1 of Light ‘Em Up.
In this debut episode:
We welcome back to the witness stand a dear friend of the show.
Sarah Cintron. Sarah is the mother of Juan Cabrera. We were honored to sit and interview her on March 30th of 2024 as we shined the antiseptic light of the truth on a 2019 murder case out of the State of Michigan. That case was, The People v Cabrera (Juan Cabrera, her first born son).
Our first episode that we shared together is entitled:
“My Son Was Judged to be Guilty Before He Ever Stepped One Foot in the Courtroom”: Life Lessons, Revelations & Preventative Awareness from the mother of a Son Convicted of 1st Degree Pre-meditated Murder.
You can find that episode here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/823981/episodes/14787590-my-son-was-judged-to-be-guilty-before-he-ever-stepped-one-foot-in-the-courtroom-life-lessons-revelations-preventative-awareness-from-the-mother-of-a-son-convicted-of-1st-degree-pre-meditated-murder.mp3?download=true
Juan was convicted of premeditated intentional murder at the age of 18 by a jury that only took 120 minutes to decide on a charge that mandated him by statute to serve Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP) — for a murder where the actual “video evidence” in the case did not in any way, shape or form show the face, clothing, nor any single, solitary identifying physical characteristic of the shooter.
How does a jury reach a unanimous decision of “beyond a reasonable doubt with “evidence” such as this? This case cries out for a fair and unbiased look at it — something that has not happened to date.
Seven years her son has been behind bars for a crime he and his mom maintain he did not commit. Seven long, difficult years.
Since day one Sarah has become an advocate for her son. She has worked hard to educate herself regarding the brokenness of the criminal justice system and specifically the egregious errors in her son’s case.
The criminal justice system's "brokenness" stems from deep-seated issues like mass incarceration, extreme racial disparities (disproportionately affecting Black and Brown communities), forcing innocent people into plea deals, and a cycle of poverty/re-offense for non-violent offenders.
Inefficiencies arise from slow processes, lack of data uniformity, and outdated technology, leading to high costs, lost public trust, and poor public safety outcomes.
Up to her last breath on this earth, she has vowed to continue to advocate for her son’s innocence and for those who find themselves buried, battered and overwhelmed in, by and among a corrupt system.
Using her voice and her social media platforms, she is educating and empowering those who find themselves in a similar situation.
She works tirelessly demanding reform to address systemic bias, harsh sentencing, and unequal accountability.
Just after midnight on February 16, 2019, a group of teens gathered at a hotel to celebrate the belated birthday of a mutual friend.
Two of the party attendees have a verbal altercation in the hallway right outside of the room. A fight ensued. All hell breaks loose, and lives are changed forever.
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As we close out another fantastic, record-breaking year filled with one accomplishment after another for us — which included new sponsorships, new underwriters and new listeners — we wanted to focus on what is most important to us other than searching out the truth.
We wanted to take some special time to recognize you, our listeners for your “TSL” (time spent listening) to us throughout this past year.
We thank you for another fantastic year of growth and achievements and express our appreciation for your wonderful engagement and your role in helping us grow to 147 countries globally as we close out Season 6.
Most podcasts never make it this far.
We never thought this kind of success would be something that we could attain, and we were never concerned about our growth at the inception of this project.
Initially we set out to tell the truth about topics of importance in the U.S. criminal justice system — and look what it has become! We have been able to advocate for so many people.
The corporate plan is to take the remainder of the year off to rest and recover and enjoy some quality time with our families (returning on either January 3rd or the 10th 2026).
We then will begin the process for Season 7 of Light 'Em Up where we strive to achieve new goals and break even more records with the reach of our podcast.
We are adding a new Listener Support Program whereby our most loyal and dedicated listeners can now take a financial interest in seeing that this program continues.
We have labored tirelessly to dig deep, vast and wide to bring you a special insight that you really won’t find anywhere else regarding the U.S. criminal justice system.
We're loyal, consistent and dedicated to you, our listeners. We are truly here for you and because of you!
Our commitment to you here on Light 'Em Up is that we’ve endeavored to tackle real topics that touch your daily lives.
We’ve worked tirelessly to try to be the "voice of the people".
Please consider joining our Criminal Justice Foundation Justice Rolls Down and its page found on Facebook as well as our worldwide presence on YouTube at: Rizzo's Protective Group.
Here is our complete catalogue. Here is our last full-length episode of the year regarding the concept and legality of governmental extra-judicial killings — summarily executing people. Extrajudicial killing is the deliberate killing of a person without legal authority from a judicial process.
Thank you to Feedspot — online at Feedspot.com as we are featured in their top 50 poll of the 50 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts. Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link: 50 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 (feedspot.com)
And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me. Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your 10% savings.
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Welcome to this incendiary, shocking and investigative episode of Light ‘Em Up!
As we rapidly approach the end of the calendar year, we’re so glad that you’ve joined us!
Share us with a friend. We’re being actively downloaded in 146 countries, globally.
Contact us at: [email protected]
Tonight, we examine the concept and legality of governmental extra-judicial killings — summarily executing people. Extrajudicial killing is the deliberate killing of a person without legal authority from a judicial process.
It is “extra” “judicial” … or outside the scope of the normal route where a person is arrested, charged and given a trial before a verdict is rendered.
In fact, as we go to air with this episode, the Trump administration has embarked on a deadly serious campaign of openly targeting and killing people who have only been clandestinely labeled as “drug smugglers” — within the administration’s small, secretive, circle without offering any hard evidence, nor extending to these people a single solitary ounce of due process of law.
At the time of recording, since the 1st of September, when President Trump announced the first strike on a boat he claimed – without providing evidence – killed 11 “Tren de Aragua narco-terrorists” under the control of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, through the end of October, the U.S. had claimed to have killed 64 alleged drug smugglers on 16 boats.
This situation is fluid and difficult to track, however, to date, since September 2, Donald Trump has summarily executed 70 civilians suspected of drug trafficking in 17 separate airstrikes in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean.
The administration admitted in a closed-door briefing to Congress that they don’t even know the identities of the people they’ve killed. How in the hell is this possible? Congress has abdicated its power(s), duties and responsibilities to the public.
To support our claims — as evidence, we’ll provide historical examples of other governmental extra-judicial murderous actions.
And we ask the question has America under Trump become even more of a pariah on the world’s stage?
We’ll expose the risky behavior in how governmental extra-judicial killings trigger a cascade of destabilizing consequences across legal, political, social and psychological domains.
These effects can:
— erode democracy and democratic institutions
— inflict trauma on the populace
— and can perpetuate further cycles of deadly violence.
Two people who survived boat bombings were released back to their home countries because the Trump administration lacked sufficient evidence to even arrest them.
In the words of one member of Congress who attended the briefing, “This is just murder.”
We are shining the antiseptic light of the truth further exposing Trump’s illegal killing spree. Some analysts now believe Trump has tasked “his generals” with planning a full-scale regime change war against Venezuela.
So much for Trump’s campaign claim of never entering into endless wars.
Democracy is dying right in front of us.
Justice isn’t about laws … it’s about lives!
In a time of crisis — facts matter most!
Tune out the world and tune-in to Light ‘Em Up — Right here and right now!
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Welcome to this explosive, investigative, fact-finding edition of Light ‘Em Up!
We are incredibly pleased you decided to join us for one of our most comprehensive episodes to date!
Tonight, we shine the antiseptic light of the truth at the intersection of hate speech and the violence that stems from it.
While a great many people on the right strongly disagree with the truth, and struggle to accept it, the fact that the radical right is far more violent than the left is unwavering. Far-right attacks continue to outpace all other types of terrorism and domestic violent extremism.
As a kid do you remember expressing the children’s rhyme that says, “Sticks and stones can break your bones, but names can never hurt you?” While this is a nice thought — it isn‘t true. Words matter; words can hurt — words can lead to murder.
In the Holy Bible, the Book of Ephesians (4:29) advises: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, which may benefit those who listen.”
We need only look to the country of Rwanda in 1994 and the genocide that took place there. Collectively and pejoratively, the Tutsis were referred to as “cockroaches”. Who acts neighborly or welcomes a cockroach into their home? Some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in 100 days. (The Tutsi and Hutu are ethnic groups established primarily in Rwanda and Burundi.)
Evidence shows that the use of radio impacted and effected mobilization for violence in the Rwandan genocide.
For more than a decade we’ve been exposed to the hate filled vitriol of Donald Trump. The words he willingly and intentionally chooses are often filled with hate.
It is evident from his outward behavior; Donald Trump is not happy. Barack Obama haunts him in thought, word, and past deed.
Trump regularly refers to anyone who isn’t in his “in-group” as “the enemy of the people” … “animals” and “scum”, you name it.
His targets have been the press as a whole and individual journalists, immigrants, Blacks, LGBTQ+ people, Democrats, and whomever he chooses in the moment.
His third-grade vocabulary has no filter. His political party does nothing to hold him to account for his vile, hate-filled rhetoric, even opting to echo and use it often.
Rarely does he open his mouth without denigrating, dehumanizing, blaming, or accusing another person of doing something with no evidence.
In this explosive episode we will highlight:
— As a case study we’ll examine how hate speech can and does facilitate violence. From the genocide that took place in 1994 in Rwanda we offer a special feature in hearing from Henriette Mutegwaraba, survivor of the genocide and founder of the Million Lives Genocide relief fund.
— Multiple examples of the vile, hateful, and demagogic language that Donald Trump spews with regularity and comparing and contrasting his words with that of the Rwandan genocide.
And much, much more!
“The enemy of the people” are words Adolph Hitler used to describe the Jews before his “final solution” was put into effect which killed some 6 million people.
This is the language of insecure, fascist, racist, dictatorial demagogues, and it is extremely dangerous.
In his book entitled Behemoth, first published in 1942, Franz Neumann wrote that violence served to establish totalitarian control over German society.
Violence throughout the Third Reich was used as a rational instrument of political power.
Donald Trump’s administration does the same.
Democracy is dying right in front of us.
Tune out the world and tune-in to Light ‘Em Up — Right here and right now!
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Welcome to this explosive, fact-finding edition of Light ‘Em Up!
We’re very pleased you decided to join us!
With the nation abuzz with the shooting of Charlie Kirk — his shooting recalls a disturbing pattern: Even the champions of “pro-gun” politics are not immune to America’s epidemic of gun violence.
We’ve been flooded with requests from our clients to address in-depth Special Event Contingency Planning for Public Safety Agencies — and that’s exactly what we are going to do.
In an era where public discourse is increasingly polarized and high-profile events carry heightened risk; the shooting of Charlie Kirk raises urgent questions about how we protect both speakers and attendees.
This episode explores the intersection of Special Event Contingency Planning and political symbolism, unpacking how public safety agencies can—and must—design protocols that anticipate threats without compromising civil liberties.
We examine the anatomy of a well-executed safety plan, the psychological dynamics of radicalized environments, and the strategic blind spots that can turn a rally into a crisis. Whether you're a public safety professional, a communications strategist, or simply someone concerned with the fragile balance between free speech and public harm—this conversation is for you.
This episode will provide essential guidance for event planners, speakers and ticket holders/(spectators). This episode is an in-depth, thorough examination of how to keep events like Charlie Kirk’s safe, for all involved.
Physical Security is the focus of Rizzo’s Protective Group, Ltd.
As education is always a key pillar of Light ‘Em Up, by the end of this episode if we achieve our learning objectives in full, you will:
Understand clearly and be able to:
Define what qualifies an event as being “special” and
— Identify for your own edification and knowledge what a special event contingency planning team consists of and looks like.
— You’ll be guided in conducting a hazard analysis for a special event.
— You’ll hear how the incident command system (ICS) can be used in response to an incident at a special event.
— We’ll give examples of special events (providing clear direction on how you must prepare for them as a provider and spectator).
Mark my words, clearly, security measures are going to change and change drastically following this incident.
Special Event Contingency planning involves creating a formal document with detailed procedures, responsibilities, and actions to address potential emergencies or hazards during a public gathering, such as at a festival, concert, or sporting event.
A few of the main aspects, goals and strategies when conducting a thorough hazard analysis are to:
— identify risks,
— develop a response strategy,
— establish a command structure with assigned roles,
— and define communication protocols for both internal and external stakeholders, including attendees and emergency services.
— The primary goal is to prevent injury, suffering, or death by ensuring the event is safe and successful despite unforeseen circumstances.
Don’t move a muscle!
Tune out the world and tune-in to Light ‘Em Up. Right here and right now!
You can listen to us: on-the-go, at work, home or when resting.
Remember that we are here for you and because of you!
In a time of uncertainty, facts provide clarity … even if they upset you!
This episode is rated “E” for EVERYONE!
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Welcome to this brand-new episode of Light ‘Em Up!
We’ve had our cake and ate it too (and it was delicious) celebrating achieving our 100th episode!
Now it is time to get back to work. Thank you to all of our previous guests, listeners and fans who contacted us, sharing warm, caring and nice thoughts about the show.
We are truly here for you and because of you!
On this fact-finding, incendiary and investigative episode of Light ‘Em Up, we’ll interrogate the question:
— Why does someone join a cult?
Is it because of their:
— desire for belonging,
— search for purpose or
— emotional vulnerability …
Some of these, none of these or ALL of these and more?
Is the MAGA movement a cult? What does MAGA mean to America? And we examine charismatic leadership.
— What makes a person charismatic to where countless people revere, worship, follow them, perhaps ultimately giving their lives for what THEY believed in?
We’ll explore all of this through the intersection of violent extremism and the radicalization process with a little Greek history lesson sprinkled into the mix — as we continue our quest to use data to improve democracy!
Cults, like gangs, fall in the realm of deviance, and both types of groups encourage members to become situationally dependent on the "group identity."
Both gangs and cults recruit members based on the human need to be accepted and a part of a group that will affirm personal significance.
The fact pattern shows it clearly: Militant, nationalistic, white supremacist-violent-extremism has increased in the United States.
According to the American Psychological Association’s Dictionary of Psychology, a cult is “a religious or quasi-religious group characterized by unusual or atypical beliefs, seclusion from the outside world, and an authoritarian structure. Cults tend to be highly cohesive, well organized, secretive, and hostile to nonmembers.”
Hardened through years of social upheaval, conspiracy rhetoric, and loyalty tests, the voting bloc known as the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, has evolved into a subculture marked by deep emotional identification with Donald Trump, and his:
— rejection of institutional legitimacy, and
— a worldview shaped less by shared policy preferences than by a shared sense of grievance and defiance.
At the heart of the MAGA movement lies a narrative of persecution and betrayal.
For many Trump supporters, their embrace of the 34-times-convicted felon, despite his endless stream of observable falsehoods and incendiary rhetoric, is not rooted in traditional (Ronald) Reagan-like conservatism but in a belief that he alone articulates their alienation. They seem to need a Superhero.
He is their “revenge”. He has said as much, as well. MAGA members feel violated and offended by everyone that isn’t them.
This sentiment is frequently reflected in the language of victimhood:
Are MAGA members perpetually victims?
In 2024, Trump was not merely a candidate, but a martyr under siege by “corrupt elites” … according to him and his “Klan” of followers and supporters.
We’re calling on you to employ your critical thinking skills throughout this entire episode as we examine in depth behavior that explains the step-by-step process in becoming a tyrant and behaviors that would normally repulse traditional voters, which is celebrated by MAGA supporters as authenticity.
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Welcome! We’re thrilled and excited that you joined us as we celebrate an enormous milestone — our 100th episode of Light ‘Em Up.
This achievement has been 5 years in the making and something we honestly never envisioned accomplishing when we started this project in January of 2020.
Email us here, [email protected] and let us know how you first heard of us and when you began tuning in to our podcast! Are you a regular listener? Thank you!
Tonight, our focus takes us to the Pelican State of Louisiana (a state where several of our dearest friends reside) as we continue our pursuit of speaking truth to power.
Louisiana is Pro-life. Louisiana is pro-death penalty. We call hypocrisy on this!
Louisiana has enacted some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, effectively banning the procedure in nearly all circumstances with only very limited exceptions and no provisions for rape or incest — creating significant obstacles for those seeking abortion care.
The same lawmakers that have gone this far to stress their “pro-life” credentials then turn around and sound almost bloodthirsty in their support for capital punishment, which is, after all, the ending of a human life.
How does one reconcile these hypocritical, polar opposites?
We’ve got our hip-waders on and we’re going’ deep to examine this contradiction.
Are we picking a fight? No! We’re turning the spotlight on how the good people of Louisiana have adopted a rather puzzling set of policies.
In other words, how does a state so hostile to a woman’s right to choose to have a medical procedure performed on her body, which proudly boasts of its hostility to abortion and calls itself “pro-life” because of it, at the same time not only permits capital punishment, but boasts of it, and goes so far as to adopt an experimental method of choking the life out of a condemned prisoner as to pump pure nitrogen into his body?
Louisiana currently has 55 people on death row.
The state just recently resumed executions after a 15-year hiatus.
We’ll confront as best we can with the time we have issues asking:
— Does the death penalty deter crime?
— We’ll examine the 8th Amendment, which prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail or fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.
— Is the death penalty applied in a grotesquely unfair, arbitrary and capricious manner that disproportionately impacts individuals of color?
Does your:
— race,
— socio-economic status,
— who you kill and
— where you kill them (geographically) play MORE of a role in getting the death penalty than anything else?
Ultimately, examining and asking:
— Should the death penalty be abolished?
All this and many, many more germane and critical questions … on topic as we challenge your critical thinking skills and abilities.
It’s a matter of life or death and we’ll unpack all of it right here and right now on this historic and memorable 100th episode of Light ‘Em Up!
How can you be pro-life and pro-death penalty?
Louisiana: Pro-life, pro-death penalty, hypoxia and hypocrisy.
Tune in for all the powerful facts and figures.
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We welcome you to this in-depth, investigative, fact-finding episode of Light ‘Em Up.
Thank you for joining us — as we march one step closer to achieving an enormous milestone, our 100th episode!
In this episode we are diving into complex and impactful topics. We’ll drill down on the concept of Birthright Citizenship — enshrined by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The 14th Amendment does not equivocate. It states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States.” A president cannot change those facts with a stroke of his pen.
We will introduce to you in detail the concepts of jus soli and jus sanguinis.
Jus soli: The principle of law also known as birthright citizenship is the principle that a person’s citizenship is determined by the place of their birth, regardless of the parents’ nationality.
It contrasts with jus sanguinis, which determines citizenship based on parentage.
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order trying to end birthright citizenship. Specifically, the order states that after February 19, 2025, citizenship will only be granted to babies born in the United States if at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Birthright citizenship stems from the principle of jus soli, that all children born in the United States are U.S. citizens. Birthright citizenship has remained a bedrock of our country and was enshrined in our constitution in 1868 when the states ratified the Fourteenth Amendment. The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified to repudiate the infamous Dred Scott decision that denied Black people the protections of U.S. citizenship. In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed that children born in the U.S. to immigrant parents were entitled to U.S. citizenship in the case United States v. Wong Kim Ark.
Over 250 years ago our founding fathers, in the constitution, established 3 separate branches of government: the Executive, Judicial and Legislative. The Supreme Court (and the MAGA 6 on the court) have ceded a great deal of the other 2 branches’ power to the Executive Branch — doing tremendous harm to the country.
Chief Justice John Marshall famously said, “It has always been the duty and responsibility of the Federal Judiciary to say what the law is, both as to constitutional and statutory law” The Federal Judiciary is not a political role, at all. Donald Trump has sought to “weaponize” the law and the judiciary to appease his whims. Rich people can afford their whims.
We examine in depth how Trump’s large-scale deportations will have devastating impact on employment across our nation. The nativist Trump administration is waging a war against the rule of law.
When all the migrant workers who pick and process the oranges in sunny Florida are arrested, detained and deported and when a glass of orange juice at your golf course county club will cost $35 — you’ll clearly understand the true costs and the real human effects of Trump’s campaign of xenophobic arrests, detentions and deportations will have on the economy and workforce of the U.S.
Barely 2 months into his administration he has issued over 100 executive orders. More shenanigans will ensue. Trump has declared war on the Federal Judiciary and the rule of law.
America is in a crisis, and many aren’t even aware of it. The Constitution is being tested like never before. Will it break? Will the Supreme Court continue to help make Donald Trump a dictator? The courts gave power to Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini.
Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Tune in for all the powerful facts and figures.
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As we rapidly approach another enormous milestone — our 100th episode (currently #98) we’ve e-x-p-a-n-d-e-d our global footprint to 131 countries.
ONLY through your unyielding support could this achievement have been realized. Thank you!
Immigration is a “3rd rail” hot topic in the U.S. The issues of immigration decided the ’24 presidential election. At his core, whether you like to hear it or not, Donald Trump is a xenophobic segregationist that truly makes the former four-time Governor of Alabama, George Wallace, appear to be benign, benevolent and innocent like a choir boy.
On this explosive episode, we’ll investigate:
— Trump’s hatred towards immigrants in a country full of immigrants.
— The GEO Group (a private prison firm that has received significant negative press regarding its operations and alleged shady business practices) and the Trump administration; and
— The Trump administration's stance on immigration, which has been widely criticized for its negative impacts on children of immigrant parents, including documented, undocumented, and US-citizen children.
Here's how these policies have reportedly caused harm:
Increased Fear and Anxiety:
— Family Separation: The "zero-tolerance" policy, in particular, involved separating thousands of children from their parents at the border, a practice widely condemned for its traumatic effects. This policy has led to long-term harm, with many children still not reunited with their parents years later.
— Fear of Deportation: The threat of deportation and increased immigration enforcement created pervasive fear and distress among children and their families, regardless of legal status. This fear led to children worrying about separation from parents and potentially having to leave their communities.
— Toxic Stress: Exposure to this chronic fear and uncertainty has helped to cause "toxic stress" in young children, potentially altering brain development and negatively influencing their physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. This can have lifelong consequences, impacting their ability to cope with adversity and achieve future success.
— As well as bans and bars to badly needed health care services, means of preventing food insecurity and essential care and support.
In the U.S. the “corporation” has always been “king” – where large corporations and big financial donors hold significant influence and power to shape government policies and societal structures. The Trump administration is notorious for pampering its “friends” and attempting to punish its enemies and those who would dare to hold him and the administration accountable.
Republicans, including Trump, initially criticized the use of the CBP One app, particularly as it was used under the Biden administration, to facilitate asylum appointments at the border. They argued that the app enabled unauthorized immigration and was an abuse of parole. Now, they swear by it and have embraced and rebranded its core functionalities into CBP Home, focusing on incentivizing voluntary departure as a tool for immigration enforcement.
A 360◦, hypocritical move that only MAGA Republicans have perfected.
As we celebrate Independence Day (2025) we now have a king. The Supreme Court has paved the way for this, by a string of decisions that subvert the judiciary, undermining the integrity, independence, and effectiveness of the court system. Its actions have directly challenged the judiciary's ability to operate impartially and fairly, potentially leading to a complete breakdown of the rule of law.
Tune in for all of the explosive details.
Without fear or favor we follow the facts and tackle the topics that touch your lives.
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Welcome to this educational and explosive, brand-new edition of Light ‘Em Up!
Share us with a friend! We are now being actively downloaded in 131 countries!
We continue our intense focus on how the Rule of law and democracy are being endangered.
Democracy hangs in the balance and is under constant daily attack — threatened on every front.
What better example than the current Department of Justice (DOJ) ordering its civil rights division to halt the majority of its functions, including a freeze on pursuing any:
— new cases
— indictments or
— consent decree settlements.
For civil rights this is a crisis! It has only been 59 years since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed. This was a landmark piece of legislation that helped to dismantle many discriminatory barriers and enforce the voting rights of African Americans. Imagine having that office shut down during the LBJ Administration! The KKK would have won!
In a democracy, the majority can wield immense power, potentially leading to the suppression of dissenting voices and the marginalization of minority groups.
You had better begin to ask yourself the tough question:
Are you okay with your civil rights being suspended until 2028 and maybe beyond?
White people, too, can have their civil rights violated. Are you ready for that?
Will the police be able to simply continue to brutalize people and get away with it as the Louisiana State Police did on May 10th, 2019, with Ronald Greene?
Greene was an unarmed 49-year-old black man who, on a dark night in Monroe, Louisiana, 6 members of the LSP “goon squad” tazed, punched, kicked, pepper sprayed, and dragged face down on the concrete, only to place him in a chokehold until he died.
Good night and good luck! Under this current Trump administration your civil rights will be “enforced” like his were.
We are staring in the face of “soft despotism" or "soft tyranny".
This occurs when a powerful, centralized state, while not overtly oppressive, gradually takes over the responsibilities and decision-making of individuals and communities.
The state becomes like a benevolent but overbearing parent, providing for citizens' needs and ensuring their well-being, but in doing so, it diminishes their capacity for independent thought and action. We’ve arrived there, stop fooling yourself otherwise.
We’ll discuss and analyze the current push from the ultra-conservative-talk-show host, Ben Shapiro to petition the adjudicated felon Donald Trump to federally pardon Derek Chauvin, the felon, former police officer — who drove his knee into the neck of George Floyd for more than 9 minutes, hastening his death on May 25th, 2020.
We have passed the 5-year mark of this deadly encounter on the streets in Minneapolis, MN and tell me, what has changed for the better?
Shapiro clearly sees this as an opportunity to continue to support his white, racist agenda as it gins up his base of white nationalist followers. MAGA-folk and beyond!
We ask out loud:
Could a president do that?
What would it matter, since Chauvin also is in prison on state charges?
And we’ll wrap things up looking at what happens to democracy when police regularly brutalize its citizens as the “politics of policing” has changed drastically since George Floyd’s’ death.
The truth is under attack! The truth is worth defending!
Tune in for all of the explosive details.
Justice comes to those that fight, not those that cry!
Without fear or favor we follow the facts and tackle the topics that touch your lives.
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Welcome to this explosive edition of Light ‘Em Up!
In these critical and delicate times that we find ourselves in — democracy is in clear and present danger.
As nothing feels certain or safe and everything appears to be in “transition” we interrogate and examine the Trump Administration and its efforts to suspend the “great writ” of Habeas corpus.
Habeas corpus is a legal doctrine whose original purpose was to contest detention by the king. The origins of the writ, or “written order” (its Latin name means, loosely, “produce the body”), can be traced to 13th century England.
On June 15, 1215, at Runnymede, the barons who had banded together to impose legal restrictions on King John's power forced him to affix his seal to the Magna Carta.
One of its curbs on the sovereign’s power reads, in part, “No free man shall be seized or imprisoned…except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land.”
The writ of habeas corpus appears in the U.S. Constitution. Article 1, section 9, clause 2 includes this single sentence: “The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.”
Habeas corpus requires a jailer to produce a prisoner in a court of law so the basis for detention can be reviewed. The Constitution presupposes this right, but its use has been sharply restricted during past wars.
Fast forward to the present, as Donald Trump continues on his “revenge tour” — his administration has shown itself to be big on conducting legal proceedings without due process for the defendants it pursues, just as George W. Bush did with “enemy combatants” at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, post 9-11.
The Trump White House continues to break things like “Wreck it Ralph”— and has floated the idea of suspending Habeas corpus in the context of an “alien invasion” as it pertains to immigration, sparking widespread and grave concerns about the erosion of fundamental rights and the separation of powers.
With mass deportations taking place without due process and the suspension of Habeas corpus, the rule of law and democracy itself is under a serious threat.
While the Constitution allows for the suspension of Habeas corpus in cases of rebellion or invasion where the public safety is at stake, it is a power that must be exercised sparingly and only in extraordinary circumstances. Circumstances that we clearly are NOT in.
With this probing, penetrating and pointed look … we ask out loud if we are on a collision course with the tyranny that brought about a coup d’ état in Chile in 1973, where the military ousted then President Allende, General Agusto Pinochet seized power, democracy collapsed and repression, murder and great suffering followed (all backed and funded by the US CIA & State Department in the Nixon administration).
As we challenge you to think critically, we probe further, examining the historical suspension of Habeas corpus, we think you’ll be surprised to hear that one of the Presidents considered to be the “GOAT” (greatest of all time) suspended the writ of Habeas corpus, and we’ll deliver the facts not the fiction surrounding this.
We’ll itemize some of the “pitfalls” and potential terrible consequences of decisions such as this, as we’ve learned through a FOIA request that the FBI has ordered its agents to scale back white-collar crime investigations to pursue more immigration crime instead.
The rule of law and democracy are endangered!
Previous Supreme Courts have held in reverence and referred to Habeas corpus as, “the fundamental instrument for safeguarding individual freedom against arbitrary and lawless state action.”
The current Supreme Court has been at best tepid in its support and defense of the U.S. Constitution.
Tune in for the explosive details.
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Tonight, on this explosive, educational, investigative episode of Light ‘Em Up we will explore in-depth the issues of:
— The treatment of migrants & refugees
— Criminal Immigration
— How the radical right-wing politicized and took advantage of the death of Laken Riley when in reality they really didn’t give a single, solitary care about her — taking advantage of and using her death as a political football.
With this, our 95th episode, we are now heard in 122 countries around the globe.
Again, we challenge you to listen and think critically to this episode.
With the recent passing of Pope Francis, at the age of 88, on Monday April 21st -- the day after the Christian world celebrates Easter — we wanted to examine in-depth the “theory” of those people who claim to be “Christian” yet use race, color and country of origin as a sledge-hammer for fascism.
Whether they claim to be:
— Christian Nationalists
— Christian Fascists
— Christian Conservatives
— Evangelicals
You name it … people who claim to be “doing the work of Jesus Christ” while steadily:
— Denigrating
— Persecuting and prosecuting migrants … the foreign born
— LGBTQ individuals and
— People of color.
“Othering” pretty much everyone who isn’t them.
April 30th marked 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term — over the past three months, the president has issued more than 100 executive orders that aim to bypass Congress and change policy through unilateral action. His administration has:
— Imposed sweeping tariffs on virtually every country in the world
— Withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization
— Declared a national emergency at the southern border
— It has purported to rewrite election rules and end birthright citizenship.
— It is attacking major law firms and universities and much, much more.
But we ask, has this flurry of orders affected fundamental change?
To date, there have already been 46 challenges to executive orders pending in court, and the administration has had no outright victory in any of them. Judges appointed by presidents of both parties have put the brakes on Trump’s fascist plans for change.
Will the courts continue to thwart his lawless agenda?
This is a pivotal moment in the history of this country that will affect it for all time going forward — as the Trump administration strives to keep the politics of fear and panic alive.
Without fear or favor we follow the facts and tackle the topics that touch your lives.
Tune in for all of the explosive details. Follow our sponsors: Newsly & Feedspot.
Promised links found within the body of the podcast audio file:
Criminal Alien Statistics | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Letter of The Holy Father Francis to the Bishops of the United States Of America - The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC)
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- Visa fler
