“Is this America that I woke up to? I was naive to think we’ve moved forward,” says Michael Desrosiers in this episode of Cuckoo 4 Politics. Joined by his Raw & Uncut “sidekick” Sam Jean and Dr. Damary Bonilla-Rodriguez, an expert in diversity-focused leadership, Michael confronts the “aftermath”—raw emotions and deeper truths revealed by the recent election.
Why do so many voters support flawed candidates? What keeps racism, sexism, and privilege so firmly embedded in our systems? Why does progress feel so far out of reach?
Sam and Dr. Rodriguez bring sharp insights on social media’s influence, the media’s role in shaping narratives, and the struggles Democrats face in connecting with disillusioned voters. They discuss the influence of celebrities in politics, the moral contradictions in voter choices, and what this election says about America’s identity.
This episode offers more than just analysis... It is a call to think critically about identity, democracy, and the work still ahead. Insightful, sobering, and human, it challenges us all to stay engaged and keep pushing for true progress.
Quotes
“I was naive to believe that America was ready to turn the page and embrace a more forward-thinking vision of leadership. I underestimated racism, sexism, the power of whiteness in society, where significant resentment still persists today of America’s changing demographics. It’s disheartening to witness these forces still shaping our political outcomes, holding us back from the inclusive future we claim to aspire to be.” (02:33 | Michael Desrosiers)
“The way the media landscape is, the way we cover politics, we frame the issues in the ways that Republicans ask us to frame them.” (16:45 | Sam Jean, Esq.)
“There’s no one candidate who can please everyone. We know that from doing the work, from running, and from working with people—everyone has their own needs, desires, preferences, and beliefs. When she would say more, people would dismiss it as a ‘word salad’ because they were intimidated—intimidated by the terminology she used, by a woman who could speak to the issues, share her life experience, laugh, and deliver a message of joy and hope.” (21:34 | Dr. Damary Bonilla-Rodriguez)
“What is it that Trump would have to do for you to turn away? And what is it that Kamala would have to do for you to give her a chance?” (27:37 | Dr. Damary Bonilla-Rodriguez)
“There are a lot of things where Democrats are not very good… We have this problem, and I call it the problem of reasonableness. We think that if we just explain something to someone, and it’s reasonable, and we have facts and data, they will accept our logic about it because we tend to go through the world a certain way. But what we don’t seem to understand is that people get their information elsewhere.” (30:12 | Sam Jean, Esq.)
Links
Connect with Dr. Damary Bonilla-Rodriguez:
https://drdamarybonillarodriguez.com/
https://www.instagram.com/cuckoo_4_politics/
