Resolute Square

David Pepper

Lawyer, author, democracy champion, and Resolute Square Contributor
Credit: david pepper

About David Pepper

David Pepper is a pro-democracy leader, lawyer, author, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021. 

His latest book, Saving Democracy: A User's Manual For Every American, is a follow-up to his best-selling Laboratories of Autocracy and is structured to challenge and guide each reader—no matter your role in your community or politics or where you work—on how you each can play a more active and effective role in lifting democracy than you might have imagined. Over the course of the book, you will construct your own personal plan to fight for democracy. And when you’re finished, you’ll be ready to get to work. Prepare to be inspired.

David writes about this and more in his fantastic Substack newsletter, Pepperspectives.

Follow @DavidPepper
Latest
Taking on the Lawless and Disordered President
Strategy Session

Strategy Session

Legal experts Jen Taub and David Pepper explain how we can all take the fight to protect our freedoms to Trump. We are far from powerless! Jen and David break down how to use that power in our communities, states, and the courts.
December 18, 2024
Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal. Chapter 12: Year in Review

Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal

Chapter 12 chronicles the demise of our fictional magazine, Capital Monthly. The pressure from the White House, from advertisers and from Social Media algorithms kills the independent journalism that was documenting what life was like under Donald Trump's second term guided by Project 2025. As our host, Bill Press, of The Bill Press Pod says in the episode: “It’s not too late to change some minds. The election is a few days away and still most people have not voted. If you have a friend or family member that has not decided whether to vote, or whom to vote for, this is your chance to make a difference. If this series frightened you, made you even more fearful of a Trump second term, perhaps it can have the same effect on someone you know. Please share this series or even a single episode that might speak to that person's special interests. All twelve episodes are in your podcast app and available for sharing. Or you could direct them to go to 2025 pod.com. If we all do something, as Michelle Obama says, even small things like this, we can make a difference and save our Democracy from Donald Trump and Project 2025.” We’d like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this series. Especially the talented sound designers Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser who worked on every episode. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.
October 31, 2024
Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal-Chapter 11: Hurricane Trump

Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal

In Chapter 11, set in November in Tallahassee, fictional Florida, Governor Buck Bryce confidently addresses the press regarding Hurricane Timothy, initially predicted to be a manageable Category 1 storm. However, the hurricane unexpectedly strengthens to a devastating Category 4 upon landfall, causing widespread destruction and significant loss of life. The governor, previously assured by Washington that all preparations were sufficient, is confronted with the reality of inadequate storm forecasting due to recent cuts to federal meteorological services as proposed by Project 2025. As emergency response efforts falter, Bryce grapples with the new federal policies under Trump that make it difficult to declare emergencies and provide immediate assistance to affected businesses and citizens. The narrative highlights the consequences of disregarding climate science and federal data, resulting in death and destruction As always, the series author, David Pepper ties the fiction to the facts in Project 2025 and Trump’s own words. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Mark Ruffalo who read the chapter and others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Jonathan Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.
October 30, 2024
How Attacking "Woke" Actually Plays Out In Reality

Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal

The first part of Chapter 10 introduces the fictional character Dr. Joy Brewer, a dedicated researcher focused on studying cancer clusters affecting Black Americans. Joy learns from her colleague, Dr. Matthias Kunz, that all federal grants linked to race or gender are being canceled, jeopardizing her life’s work. Despite her attempts to advocate for her essential research, the political climate forces her into a corner where she must reconsider her direction. This part of the chapter closes with Joy’s resolute decision to remain true to her mission, suggesting a significant personal and professional loss amidst the disaster of Trump and his ideological allies. In the second part of chapter, the fictional Webster "Web" Powers, addresses a packed ballroom in Washington, D.C., on a day he considers pivotal for his political ambitions. Web, who has transformed from a simple condo salesman into a powerful figure opposing what he sees as “woke” ideologies in education and government, relishes the fear among his audience—representatives from universities and research institutions. He recalls how his concerns about a lack of patriotic historical education for his children led him on a crusade to eliminate anti-American content from schools, which in turn propelled him into politics. After achieving success in Florida by banning critical race theory and related concepts from education, he is ready to extend his efforts nationally. During his speech, he unveils plans to remove references to race, gender identities, and diversity from federal policies and grants, branding the funding of such initiatives as “racism.” His announcement indicates that billions in federal research funds supporting various racial and gender-focused studies will now be terminated, causing dread among established academics who relied on these grants. Web takes pleasure in exerting control, sensing that his audience, once dismissive towards him, is now subservient to his newfound authority. Ultimately, both narratives illustrate what happens when a Trump second term guided by Project 2025 destroys the lives and work of dedicated individuals committed to social justice and scientific integrity. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Danai Gurira and Joel Hurt Jones who read the chapter and others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Jonathan Moser and Marilys Ernst. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.
October 24, 2024
Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal. Episode 9-The Insurrection Act.

Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal

The story follows fictional Private Troy Marquis, who attends a tense early morning briefing at a military reserve base in Philadelphia. Troy is told that a radical group, Antifa, has invaded the city, prompting a second-term President Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act. US law currently prohibits the military from operating on US soil. However, the Insurrection Act of 1807 gives the president broad and sweeping authority to use the military to quell domestic violence or conspiracy that the president thinks is a domestic rebellion or insurrection. Donald Trump tried use the Insurrection Act against Black Lives Matter protests in his first administration and has threatened use the U.S. Military to shut down protests against him if he is re-elected. As the soldiers in Troy Marquis company advance towards City Hall, tensions rise with the conflict between what the soldiers were told and what they see with their own eyes. In the midst of a peaceful protest against police violence, the situation escalates when one soldier purposely makes up a perceived threat, leading to gunfire. The chaos results in the deaths of dozens and many injuries, including their own soldiers. Overcome with horror and guilt, Troy grapples with the aftermath of their actions and the brutal reality of their mission. In a view from the other side, the fictional Julie Brown joins that protest in Philadelphia calling for justice after the police killing of two Black students. Despite her parents' concerns about the increasing hostility towards protesters, she feels compelled to stand up for her beliefs. The protest initially unfolds peacefully, filled with songs and chants, until military forces arrive with orders to disperse the demonstrators. As the military's authoritative tone becomes increasingly menacing, panic ensues when gunfire breaks out, resulting in casualties among the protesters. Julie is injured in the chaos and wakes up in the hospital, facing a representative of military intelligence who informs her that the protest group is being investigated for allegedly attacking the military. Once again in a trump administration up is down and down is up. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Mark Hamill and Andrea Guidry who read the chapters and others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Jonathan Moser and Marilys Ernst. This episode of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was jointly written by Daniel Miller—lawyer, writer and democracy advocate—and David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.
October 23, 2024
Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal Chapter 7 -The Brutal Attack on Workers and Unions

Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal

In this episode of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal, we see the real-life effects of this assault on unions and workers. In our fictional story, two legendary high school football players, Turk Foster and DeAndre McCollum, still relish their past glory. But they are struggling to navigate the rule changes proposed by Project 2025 that undercut the power of unions and tilt the playing field in favor of the employers to the detriment of employees. Turk struggles with his job as a union electrician as wages and job security diminish. He feels the weight of expectation on his son, who may soon forgo football to support the family by taking a job, previously off limits to teenagers in a plant in town. DeAndre’s wife, a nurse, has had her hours cut and has to cope with last minute schedule changes that disrupt their family life. In the second half of the episode, Bruce Lipton, the fictional private equity executive, plays golf with his HR consultant Dudley Brennan. Their conversation reveals the ruthless cost-cutting measures undertaken by their firm, Bald Eagle Capital, and the broader privatized economy shaped by the election of Donald Trump and the deregulation as proposed in Project 2025. Dudley lists strategies like eliminating union protections, utilizing young workers—including hiring teenagers for hazardous jobs—and reducing overtime expenses. Despite his discomfort with these practices, Bruce feels pressured to comply with the aggressive corporate tactics that prioritize profit over worker safety and rights, reflecting an uncomfortable tension between his upbringing in a union household and the cutthroat world of private equity. The chapter concludes with Bruce's disillusionment leading him to leave the golf course, symbolizing his internal conflict over the ethical implications of his work. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Wendell Pierce and Fisher Stevens who read the chapters and others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jon Moser
October 18, 2024
Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal-The Assault on Public Education

Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal

Project 2025 proposes to eliminate the Department of Education and divert federal education funding into universal school voucher programs, allowing public money to be used for private and for-profit schools. This would result in cuts to critical services and programs at public schools, including mental health counseling, school resource officers, after-school programs, reading/writing specialists, and services for students with disabilities. Classroom sizes at public schools would increase substantially due to the funding cuts, hampering the ability to provide a quality education. The plan also calls for the censorship of curriculum and book banning related to topics like racial equity, LGBTQ issues, and reproductive health. Private for-profit schools receiving voucher funds have been found to use substandard or misleading curriculum, including teaching that dinosaurs and humans co-existed and that slavery was not as bad as portrayed. Overall, the goal of Project 2025 is to end public education in the United States in favor of a privatized, deregulated school system, with devastating consequences for students, especially those from lower-income families and communities. Based on the actual proposals and likely consequences above, the fictional based stories begin as Martha Sheakley, the principal of Southeast Middle School, faces the challenges of new controversial book-banning laws that require the removal of numerous classics from the library. As she meets with librarian Paige Parker, they express their frustration over the vague standards forcing them to censor popular titles, including works by Toni Morrison and Anne Frank. Martha is frustrated with the political landscape affecting education and the consequences of enforcing these new laws. Martha then attends a distressing meeting about school funding. Due to the government's shift to vouchers for private schools, public schools face severe funding cuts. She learns they must eliminate wrap-around services and support staff, including mental health counselors, after-care programs, and special education resources. These cuts threaten the well-being of students and the overall educational environment. The meeting exposes the deepening crisis in public education as more responsibilities are pushed onto families with lower income and fewer resources. After a day filled with painful decisions and meetings, Martha encounters law enforcement taking away censored books from the library, further highlighting the absurdity and tragedy of censorship in education. As the day ends, Martha reflects on the privilege of parents benefitting from the new policies while her own students and staff suffer the consequences. In parallel, Marcus and other parents share their concerns about Blue Ribbon Academy, a new school that seemed promising but delivered a disappointing reality. They discover misleading curriculum materials that trivialize serious historical issues and provide an inadequate education. As they navigate their experiences trying to advocate for better education options for their children, they are met with resistance from the Blue Ribbon administration, which has no accountability to the public. Despite their efforts, the parents ultimately face the grim reality that shifts in educational policy have sidelined their children, particularly those with special needs like Marcus's son, Jamal, who is deemed "not a good fit" for Blue Ribbon due to his ADHD. This reflects a larger trend of public schools becoming underfunded and unable to meet the needs of diverse learners as more families are funneled into less supportive educational environments. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Ever Carradine and Don Cheadle who read the chapters and others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Johnathan Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is written by David Pepper
October 18, 2024
David Pepper Joins Stuart and Joe
Strategy Session

Strategy Session

We have great conversations on this show, but this one really knocked it out of the park. Catch up now to see what our chat was going crazy about last night!
October 15, 2024
Mass Deportation Disaster

Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal

Mark Ruffalo and Andrea Guidry narrate this important and frightened chapter of David Pepper's prescient podcast. This chapter captures the struggles of 12-year-old Alvaro and his mother desperate to escape a fictional detention center in West Texas and soldier Jake Caldwell as he witnesses the overwhelming influx of women and children, and the systemic failures of the camp. The environment strips away humanity, leading children to escape in search of freedom.
October 10, 2024
The Department of Retribution

Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal

Featuring narration by Richard Schiff and Morgan Fairchild, in Part Five, the fictional characters Congresswoman Louise Getty and Senator Wade Stiller, former rivals, meet at the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. They reflect on their pasts and express concern over a hostile political climate under Trump’s second term, feeling fear and paranoia about being surveilled and targeted by the government. Their conversation reveals a sense of vulnerability as they confront the reality that many of their colleagues have abandoned principles out of fear. Louise recalls the intense political maneuvering and betrayals leading up to and following the January 6 insurrection. In Part Two, Woody Nuxhall, the newly appointed head of the Treason and Political Crime Section of the DOJ, oversees his zealous young team of prosecutors, eager to pursue investigations and vendettas against political enemies. The group discusses tactics to surveil and undermine former colleagues and opposition figures, planning a strategy fueled by partisan loyalty and vengeance, while embracing a radical transformation of the DOJ's role in politics.
October 9, 2024
Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal: The End of Vaccine Mandates.

Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal

This episode tells the fictional story of a middle school that opens its doors to unvaccinated students after a possible second -term President Trump eliminates Federal funding for schools with vaccine mandates. The story follows the school nurse, Stephanie Morris, as she navigates the influx of unvaccinated students and the resulting disease outbreaks that spread rapidly through the school and community. The narrative illustrates the real-world implications of the president's policy, with outbreaks of diseases like measles, whooping cough, and the flu causing hospitalizations and even deaths among vulnerable students and staff. The story highlights the challenges faced by the school nurse in trying to protect the health of all students, including her own daughter who has an autoimmune condition, without the backing of mandatory vaccination policies. Overall, the episode demonstrates how Donald Trump’s promise to defund schools with vaccine mandates could have devastating consequences for children's health and safety. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Laurie Burke, Leigh McGowan who read the chapters & Audrey Hakes , Joe Walsh, & others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal written by Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.
October 4, 2024
Trump-Vance Project 2025: Replace Experts With Trump Loyalists
Trump, Vance and Project 2025 are crystal clear that the first move of their right-wing takeover of American government would be the displacement of tens of thousands of non-partisan civil servants with political and personal loyalists. And they’re equally clear that displacing science and scientists is a central theme of that agenda.
October 3, 2024
Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal - The Death of Science

Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal

In Chapter 3, the fact-based fictional story of Dr. Yvette Hardman and JJ Newsom depicts the dismantling of expertise and science-based decision making in the federal government under a possible second Trump administration guided by Project 2025. Dr. Hardman, an experienced infectious disease expert, is removed from her position at the CDC and replaced by JJ Newsom, an unqualified political loyalist with no relevant experience. This reflects Project 2025's plan to fill government positions with partisan appointees rather than nonpartisan experts. The new administration rejects science-based pandemic response recommendations from Dr. Hardman instead prioritizing political and economic considerations over public health. This aligns with Project 2025's directives to limit the CDC's ability to make public health recommendations. The story highlights the Trump administration's hostility towards science and the displacement of experienced civil servants, which Project 2025 seeks to accelerate through measures like the "Schedule F" executive order to reclassify and fire federal employees. Overall, the narrative illustrates how a second Trump term guided by Project 2025 would undermine the role of expertise and independent scientific advice in government, with potentially disastrous consequences for public health and safety. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: CCH Pounder, Richard Schiff and Jason Kravits who read the chapters and Omid Abtahi, Tom Nichols, Laurie Burke and Joanne Carducci who did the voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jon Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.
October 2, 2024
Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal-Chapter 2: The Threat to IVF

Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal

Chapter Two of David Pepper's "Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal" podcast depicts the personal story of Eve, a nurse struggling with infertility, whose treatment is threatened by the new president's executive order banning certain fertility treatments. The episode explores how the president's policies would impact everyday Americans, particularly women and families, by interfering with reproductive freedom and the right to self-determination. The author of the serialized novel “2025,” upon which this podcast series is based, David Pepper, highlights how the fictional story is directly based on the policies outlined in the Trump’s Project 2025 and the president's own words, underscoring the very real and devastating consequences a second Trump term and the implementation of Project 2025 could have. You can read Chapter Two of David Pepper’s “2025: A Novel” at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel-chapter-2
September 26, 2024
Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal. Chapter One-Deportation.

Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal

In this riveting series premiere of Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal, follows Ammon Maher, a college student and immigrant, as he is detained and deported without due process because his involvement in past campus protests. This narrative directly reflects Trump's campaign promises to crack down on student protesters and his administration's policies that target undocumented immigrants, including so-called "dreamers." Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025pod.com. We'd also like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode. Heather Thomas, J. Smith Cameron, Omid Abtahi, Kirk Acevedo and Bayo Akinfemi. Audio finishing by Marilyn Ernst. This series is produced by David Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier, and Jay Feldman. Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and the Bill Press Pod.
September 18, 2024
Report from the Field: Lifting Democracy in a Blue State
David Pepper writes, "One of the most damaging consequences of the narrative that our battle for democracy is only a federal contest, playing out in just a few swing states, is that it leaves the false impression that most of America isn’t involved in that battle."
September 12, 2024
The Final Stretch With David Pepper
Strategy Session

Strategy Session

It was a wildly successful DNC, and the big mo is behind the Harris-Walz ticket, but don't put on your victory slippers and get comfy yet. We're leaving it all on the field this time and taking nothing for granted! David Pepper, Joe Trippi, and Stuart Stevens talked dirty tricks, weird Trump and the upcoming debate(s), and how we keep fighting for the next 70 days. Because when we fight, we win!
August 27, 2024
No Good Deed...
David Pepper writes: “For the first time in modern memory, Ohio Republicans attached conditions to legislation that extended the deadline for a presidential nominee to be placed on the Ohio ballot. In the past, including in 2020, this has always been done as a matter of course, and for nominees of either party. "
July 17, 2024
Trump’s Project 2025 Denial
David Pepper: "When Trump denies that Project 2025 is his plan, don’t just laugh it off. Know his denial rests at the heart of the overall far-right game plan: seeking to impose on a polity an agenda that, at its core and stripped down to its basics, runs directly counter to the majority will of that polity."
July 9, 2024
The Second Anniversary of Dobbs
David Pepper: Despite the strong majorities of Americans supporting reproductive freedom, abortion is generally banned in red, gerrymandered states—because the gerrymandering keeps those states from being representative democracies in the first place. They can pass unpopular laws and still face no accountability, so they do—keeping the far right happy.
June 24, 2024
Running Everywhere...Even Florida
With a powerful example from the recent past, David Pepper explains in his latest whiteboard video how fielding Democratic candidates for Congress in Florida could have changed the outcome of a presidential election. And why history could repeat itself in November.
May 23, 2024
The Disgraceful Legacy of Rob Portman
Stuart and David discuss the dramatic betrayal by Rob Portman of all he purported to care about - including Ukraine - and his legacy of supporting J.D. Vance and Donald Trump.
May 22, 2024
Joe Trippi: Dems Dug This Hole, But They're Digging Out
Joe Trippi explains how for decades Democrats chose to fight in limited states and abandoned many that have become extremists now. But - the fight is on everywhere now and Dems are winning.
May 22, 2024
David Pepper: Effectively Fighting Extremist Candidates
Real progress is being make in blue, red, and purple states across the country and more and more Democrats are standing up to challenge extremist candidates who've previous run unopposed.
May 22, 2024
"States Rights" Is A Fig Leaf For Taking Your Rights
David Pepper explains how states across the country have been forcing through unpopular policies and how a Trump 2.0 would put their actions on steroids. David's latest piece with Gevin Reynolds is here: bit.ly/3WMy32P
May 22, 2024
David Pepper Joins The Strategy Session
Strategy Session

Strategy Session

An intense, important, eye-opening episode with David Pepper in the house. What are the tactics of those destroying democracy from the state level on up? Join David, Stuart, and Joe for the strategy that gets us to the future we want and deserve.
May 21, 2024
Here’s What States' Rights Would Mean In A Second Trump Presidency
David Pepper and Gevin Reynolds write, "Thanks to a toxic brew of partisan gerrymandering, intense voter suppression, dark money, and far too many uncontested races, many MAGA-controlled states have stopped resembling functioning democracies at all."
May 17, 2024
Citizens United + Laboratories of Autocracy -->
David Pepper alerts us to "The Purging of Republicans Who Dare Stand Up"
May 9, 2024
"Act Wisely": A Chilling Letter...
David Pepper looks at the mafia-impersonating letter from Ohio AG Dave Yost to higher education leaders, in which he isues warnings of potential federal law violations, criminal penalties for universities and colleges in Ohio, and menacingly advising them to "act wisely."
May 2, 2024
Down the Climate Rabbit Hole...
David Pepper found out this week that the bizarro reaction from "blue checks" on Twitter doesn't mean sea levels aren't rising, but does confirm that the swamp of right-wing disinformation and conspiracies on the social media platform is rising even faster. And yes, we know His Imperial Weirdness changed the name to X, but we're not calling it that because even wackadoodle-billionaire-fascist-huggers can't always get what they want.
April 11, 2024
The Common Theme of Public Corruption: You're The One Paying For It!
David Pepper writes, "Most have no clue their own dollars are playing such a big role in Ohio politics. Still, struggling Ohioans have been bankrolling the campaigns of powerful Ohio politicians for years."
April 4, 2024
It’s Trump vs.…. YOU
David Pepper says that fundamentally, the election is about Trump vs. YOU, and YOUR freedom. "What freedoms are we individually and collectively willing to lose if Trump wins?"
March 21, 2024
We Have LIFTOFF: Blue Tennessee!
David Pepper knows that we can begin to bring some accountability to Tennessee extremism through the Blue Tennessee program - because it's already been successful in other states.
March 14, 2024
Media Takes The GOP Bait Again
David Pepper explains the media race to take the GOP misinformation bait - AGAIN - only to see today that Special Counsel Hur has more memory lapses under oath than he falsely claimed of Joe Biden.
March 13, 2024
Strategy Session: The State Of The States WSG David Pepper
Strategy Session

Strategy Session

The Hur debacle, Britt's bad night, Ken Buck's ducking out, the RNC as Trump piggy bank - What does it mean for GOP congressional races that Trump is going to gobble up all the cash? Rick, Joe, and special guest David Pepper covered all that and much more!
March 12, 2024
The State Of Our Union's Democracy…
David Pepper writes, "(President Biden) must emphasize….that the state of democracy in our union is only as strong as it is in the states where democracy is weakest. In this ongoing battle, there is where we must focus our fight.”
March 7, 2024
Ghosts of “Mistakes” Past
David Pepper breaks down some the ghosts coming back to haunt the scandal-ridded in Ohio, including the sitting governor.
February 21, 2024
Ethics Meltdown At the Highest Level
In the midst of a "descent away from the rule of law," Ohio faces a troubling new ethics meltdown of significant proportions. David Pepper uncovers the alarming issues plaguing the Buckeye state and asks: When will the tipping point will be reached?
February 8, 2024
Sneak Attack on Direct Democracy
David Pepper highlights a troubling proposal in Missouri that undermines majority rule through gerrymandering-influenced thresholds for a Constitutional Amendment. Protecting democracy requires united efforts.
February 1, 2024
The Enablers
Out of cowardice or ambition, or both, so many (Republicans) who know better are shredding their principles to endorse a man guilty of so much wrongdoing
January 18, 2024
What David Pepper Is Watching
Do the 40+% of Iowa Caucus voters who voted against Trump signal an opportunity for a Biden victory in November?
January 17, 2024
Strategy Session: Special Guest David Pepper
Strategy Session

Strategy Session

This week, author and strategist David Pepper joined Rick and Stuart to discuss threats to voting rights, state battles to preserve, protect, and defend democracy, the Iowa caucuses, and much more!
January 17, 2024
Democracy is....Action!
We all have a role to place in maintaining, strengthening, and participating in our democracy. David Pepper stresses the significance of the Voting Rights Act and urges on current and expanded efforts to protect and expand democracy.
January 11, 2024
The Nightmare in Texas
David Pepper: "Once you realize that we’re in a battle for democracy itself—and that the front lines of that battle are the very statehouse seats where politicians like Bryan Hughes are spending entire careers advancing extremism unchallenged—you realize that these numbers aren’t just bad. They amount to a crisis, inflicting enormous damage."
December 13, 2023
First Energy: A Perfect Case Study Of How Corruption Takes Root
David Pepper warns that the corruption case involving First Energy in Ohio isn't merely an Ohio scandal, it's a national wake-up call.
December 7, 2023
A Dark Day: Election Rigging, Ratified
David Pepper reports on the final step in a years-long process to subvert democracy in Ohio, with politicians breaking the law and manipulating the system to maintain power. How does he suggest fighting back? Flip the court!
November 30, 2023
NEW POLL! The GOP's Latest Third Rail
Affirming A Hunch on Education Thuggery
November 1, 2023
A Breathtaking Letter
Myths Versus the Reality of School "Vouchers"
October 26, 2023
Beware: Stealth Campaigns Are Everywhere
David Pepper explains how you can defeat stealth campaigns to protect your schools and democracy.
October 13, 2023
Iowa: Report from the Front Line
David Pepper Provides The Perfect Case Study of Why You Run Everywhere--With Gumption
October 5, 2023
Florida: Report From The Front Line
David Pepper discusses the attack on democracy in Florida and shares stories of individuals fighting back against suppression and censorship efforts.
September 28, 2023
The Democracy Winning Streak Continues, But...
We Have Important Work to Do, Right Now, in Pennsylvania
September 21, 2023
Don’t Get Distracted. Fight FOR Democracy In States…And Keep Winning
David Pepper reminds us that focusing on the threats to democracy on a local and state level now is how we'll defend democracy moving forward.
September 12, 2023
An American Life...That Must Not Be Erased
Delve into the impact of politics and democracy on the individual's life and witness the erosion of rights that threatens to erase an entire generation from history. An insightful examination of the past and its resonance with the present.
August 28, 2023
Strategy Session: August 8, 2023
Strategy Session

Strategy Session

The guys were joined by special guest David Pepper for a fantastic election night show to talk about the OH GOP's abomination - Article 1 - that would strip majority rule from the people of Ohio. David's showing how you get it done on the state level - prepare to be inspired!
August 8, 2023
It's Bigger Than Trump: A Case Study
"This current attack on democracy is part of a clear historic pattern of a fierce backlash (whitelash) whenever a diverse majority begins to get its way in American politics," writes David Pepper.
July 19, 2023
Are We “A Republic, NOT A Democracy”?
The False Dichotomy Being Weaponized to Undermine Democracy
July 17, 2023
The Tragic Case They Tried To Erase
David Pepper reminds us this week of the devastating results of the Dobbs decision. Manipulation of memory and reality continues to be used effectively by the GOP.
July 7, 2023
Supreme Court
Necessary Roughness
Calling Out a Lawless, Anti-Democratic Theory
June 29, 2023
The Rule Of Law(lessness)
Just how lawless is the GOP attack on the Ohio Constitution? "Brace yourself," says David Pepper
June 1, 2023
The Enemies List with Rick Wilson
Lack Of Accountability Is Killing Democracy
The Enemies List

Rick Wilson's The Enemies List

Rick speaks with author David Pepper. In his new book, Saving Democracy, Pepper outlines what Americans can do to help save democracy. Rick and David discuss how the Republicans are systematically dismantling democracy. They also talk about what we, the American people, can do to combat the takeover. And some shady fundraising tactics land this week's entry on The Enemies List.
May 29, 2023
Saving Democracy: A User’s Manual For Every American
Memo to Corporate America: What happened to Disney is the future. Your future. So don’t be next.
May 25, 2023
It's Always Projection
The Illinois Billionaire Trying To Buy Ohio
May 4, 2023
The Simple, Brutal Math Of Ohio's New Voter Suppression
Republican-blessed new voter ID rules go into effect this week in Ohio and the results are devastating. They hope you won't notice.
April 6, 2023
War On The Courts
State Supreme Courts are a target of the Right. They've succeeded in packing them with cronies in Ohio and North Carolina. Next target: Wisconsin in April.
March 1, 2023
GOP Is Bragging About Successful Voter Suppression
The GOP is kicking off Black History Month by trying to repeat a shameful, undemocratic, racist part of that American history. Small wonder they don't want Black History taught in our schools.
February 2, 2023
The GOP's Dangerous Practice Of Censoring Truth
When governments enter the business of banning books and censoring history, alarm bells should ring loudly about the state of democracy in the present.
January 25, 2023
David Pepper White Board Wizard
Blind Spot: The Dangers In What We Miss
When we only focus on the politics of personality, we miss the attacks on our democratic institutions and their consequences.
January 5, 2023
David Pepper White Board Wizard
The Danger To Democracy In What We Miss
When we only focus on the politics of personality, we miss the attacks on our democratic institutions and their consequences.
January 3, 2023
State House of Ohio, House Chamber
Once You See It, You Can’t Unsee It. And That’s A Good Thing.
Sometimes individual attacks can appear unrelated, but the big picture is key. Thus is the war on democracy.
December 20, 2022
Sitting US Supreme Court Justices
A Flagrant Foul Against Democracy
NC Republicans are before the SCOTUS this week. On the opposite side, a founder of the Federalist Society. David Pepper tells us why we might be in for a surprise decision.
December 6, 2022
Voting Rights March
Hello, Ohio? It's Jim Crow.
Jim Crow is calling Ohio. It wants its old playbook back.
November 22, 2022

Topics

U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court
The threat of Donald Trump
The threat of Donald Trump
Project 2025
Project 2025
Hellscape Christian Nationalist plan to be enacted if Trump's wins in 2024. Backed by the right-wing extremist Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 is an authoritarian Christian nationalist movement with 900+ pages of detailed plans to turn America into an autocracy. Legal experts state clearly that it would undermine the rule of law and the separation of powers - and the Heritage Foundation, Trump, and their ilk have no problem with that because this is precisely what they want to accomplish.
Gen Z
Gen Z
Gen Z is the generation born beginning in 2000. They are the largest and most diverse generation is US history, as well as one of the most politically engaged breaking youth voter turnout records in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Most frequently voting for Democrats, the majority of Gen Z identify as political independents. They are complete digital natives who have grown up with social media as a major means of connection and communication, and, because of that, are more connected to peers internationally than any previous generation. They have also grown up under the threat of climate change, school mass shootings, and a global pandemic. Despite these challenges, they are funny, ironic, positive, organized, solutions-oriented, and an excellent reason to be hopeful for the future. In short, R2 loves Gen Z.
Immigration
Immigration
The U.S Immigration Situation
Defending Democracy
Defending Democracy
Democracy is under attack. The authoritarian GOP knows they can't win if democracy does, so they attack voting rights and Civil Rights. They are wrong. We are right.
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris
Vice president of the United States
2024 Presidential Election
2024 Presidential Election
The 60th quadrennial presidential election, scheduled for Tuesday, November 5, 2024, is considered to be the most consequential election of our lifetimes where Americans will have the opportunity to protect democracy and democratic norms from extreme right-wing policies, racial violence and growing threat of authoritarianism by Republicans.