Shows
Left FaceJustice w/ Jax crossover part 1Freedom, surveillance, and veterans' unique perspective on democracy collide in this riveting crossover episode featuring hosts from Left Face and Justice with Jax. When progressive activist Jax Armendiaz had their entire digital life confiscated by police following a housing justice protest—despite never being convicted of any crime—it exposed the dangerous erosion of Fourth Amendment protections happening right in our backyard.The conversation takes an unexpected turn when Dick Wilkinson, a retired Army veteran and podcast co-host, reveals his background as an NSA surveillance professional. His insider perspective illuminates the stark contrast between federal intelligence agencies' stri...2025-06-2631 minLeft FaceUS Military Strikes Iranian Nuclear Facilities: What Happens Next?The world watches with bated breath as the Middle East teeters on another precipice of conflict. American B-2 bombers have crossed into Iranian airspace, delivering specialized "bunker buster" bombs to underground nuclear facilities while submarines launched missiles from nearby waters. The operation lasted just 25 minutes but may have consequences that stretch far into our future.Veterans Dick Wilkinson and Adam break down the strategic implications of this dramatic escalation with expert insights from their military experience. This isn't just another headline—it's a significant shift in American foreign policy with real implications for deployed military personnel, global oi...2025-06-2345 minLeft FaceTanks in the Streets, Troops in the Cities: What's Really Happening?Send us a text https://bsky.app/profile/leftfaceco.bsky.socialhttps://www.facebook.com/epccpvwww.EPCCPV.org or info@epccpv.org2025-06-1236 minLeft FaceThe Kilmar Return: Justice Delayed, Justice DerailedSend us a text https://bsky.app/profile/leftfaceco.bsky.socialhttps://www.facebook.com/epccpvwww.EPCCPV.org or info@epccpv.org2025-06-0841 minLeft FaceShouting into the Wind: Two Vets Keep the Kilmar Candle LitWhat happens when military service values collide with partisan politics? Adam Gillard and Dick Wilkinson bring their veteran perspectives to bear on today's most pressing political issues, proving that thoughtful analysis can transcend rigid partisan lines.The hosts kick off discussing their self-identification as "partially progressive," noting how political labels often fail to capture the nuanced views many veterans hold. This frames their ongoing coverage of Kilmar's disappearance—now at 77 days—after being detained during an immigration enforcement action. When Fox News dismissively covered the story, treating a missing veteran as disposable, it highlighted the dehumanization occurring in im...2025-05-3046 minLeft FaceDisappearing Americans: ICE Raids and Constitutional CrisesHow does a democracy collapse? Not always with a bang, but sometimes through bureaucracy and paperwork.When 86 Americans go missing after government raids and the official response is "fill out a form on our website," we've crossed dangerous lines. As veterans who swore oaths to defend the Constitution, we're deeply troubled by what we're witnessing. The suspension of Fifth Amendment rights creates a slippery slope where other constitutional protections become vulnerable, all while officials mischaracterize concepts like habeas corpus to justify expanded executive powers.The contradictions are striking. The same political voices that rail against "...2025-05-2437 minLeft FaceInside the Constitutional Showdown: Birthright Citizenship and Executive PowerThe constitutional crisis unfolding at the Supreme Court takes center stage in this thought-provoking episode as we examine the alarming arguments over presidential power and the 14th Amendment.When the Supreme Court heard the administration's case challenging birthright citizenship, the justices cut straight to the heart of the matter: can a president simply override constitutional amendments with executive orders? The implications extend far beyond immigration policy. As one justice pointedly asked, using the same logic, could an executive order authorize the military to "enter every major population center and seize all weapons" despite the Second Amendment? The...2025-05-1735 minLeft FaceDeportation Crisis & Government AccountabilityThe constitutional crisis unfolding through mass deportations takes center stage as veteran hosts Dick Wilkinson and Adam Gillard deliver a powerful examination of government accountability in their latest Left Face podcast episode.From the ongoing situation with Kilmar, now separated from his family for 57 days, to the disturbing immigration raid in Colorado Springs where over 100 people were taken with minimal transparency, the hosts expose a pattern of due process violations that should concern all Americans regardless of political affiliation. "If you don't have due process on the other side of the law, you have tyranny," Dick observes...2025-05-0837 minLeft FaceThe Colorado Springs Raid: When Federal Operations Go Too FarA massive nightclub raid in Colorado Springs has resulted in 105 people still separated from their families with minimal charges filed, raising serious questions about law enforcement tactics and due process. We examine the concerning case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who remains wrongfully deported to El Salvador despite court orders, and discuss active-duty military members caught in the nightclub raid.• Kilmar Abrego Garcia remains in El Salvador 50 days after being wrongfully taken from his family• Trump publicly admitted he could return Kilmar but refuses to do so• 300 officers from 10 agencies raided a Colorado Springs nightclub with only 2...2025-05-0336 minLeft FaceHegseth's War College Address: Troubling Shifts in Military CultureThe military-civilian divide continues to erode as new policies threaten longstanding American principles. Adam Gillard and Dick Wilkinson dive deep into Secretary Pete Hegseth's alarming speech to the Army War College, exposing plans to establish "authoritarian zones" at U.S. borders where military personnel would be authorized to detain civilians and check documentation.Beyond this unprecedented expansion of military authority on American soil, the hosts unpack Hegseth's troubling claim that the Inspector General system has been "weaponized against commanders." This rhetoric signals a dangerous attempt to remove crucial oversight mechanisms that protect service members from toxic leadership...2025-04-2732 minLeft FaceDemocracy is unraveling before our eyes, and veterans are noticing.A legal victory for cannabis sales in Colorado Springs sets the stage for a wide-ranging discussion about democracy, military welfare, and the erosion of constitutional norms. As Dick and Adam celebrate the implementation of voter-approved cannabis sales despite city council resistance, they unpack how this local triumph illustrates the importance of honoring democratic processes.The conversation takes an unexpected but illuminating turn when examining military politics through a veteran's lens. Drawing from their personal experiences, the hosts debunk the common misconception that Republican administrations better serve military members. The reality? Democratic presidents have historically provided larger and...2025-04-2038 minLeft FaceThe Space Command Battle: Relocation, Rights, and PoliticsThe political chess game over Space Command's headquarters has far-reaching consequences beyond simple geography. Trump's push to relocate operations from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama represents a troubling intersection of political vendettas, military readiness, and the fundamental rights of service members and their families.When military personnel receive orders to relocate, they often have little choice but to comply, regardless of how the move might impact their rights and wellbeing. For women in uniform and military spouses, being forced to move to states with restrictive abortion laws creates dangerous situations where medical care may be compromised or...2025-04-1332 minLeft FaceBreaking Records and Breaking Markets: The Impact of Trump's Tariff PoliciesCory Booker just made history by speaking for 25 consecutive hours on the Senate floor, breaking segregationist Strom Thurmond's record—a powerful symbolic moment as a Black senator surpassed the man who once fought against Civil Rights legislation. While Thurmond had used bathroom breaks and read from phone books during his filibuster against equality, Booker fasted beforehand to avoid breaks and delivered substantive content about veterans' issues, Medicare, and other critical topics.Meanwhile, Donald Trump has unleashed a storm of tariffs affecting imports from virtually every nation except Russia and North Korea, triggering an immediate stock market plunge th...2025-04-0443 minLeft FaceLoose Lips Sink Democracy: The OPSEC Disaster in Trump's CabinetTwo military veterans with extensive security clearance experience take you inside the shocking reality of the recent classified information leak over Signal. What makes this breach particularly disturbing isn't just what was shared, but how fundamentally it violates core security principles that every cleared professional understands.Adam and Dick break down the critical difference between commercial encryption apps and actual classified systems: "In classified systems, we own both ends and the pipe that connects them. With Signal, you don't own either can or the string." They share personal experiences where even minor classification errors resulted in confiscated...2025-03-2940 minLeft FaceEmpty Chairs, Full HeartsThe profound impact of policy decisions on veteran lives takes center stage in this urgent discussion about the challenges facing the military community. What began as an Empty Seat Town Hall event has revealed the depth and breadth of concerns affecting veterans across Colorado Springs and beyond.When over 100 people stand up to share their stories, and each one brings a different concern to the table, it signals something extraordinary is happening. From the PFAS water contamination affecting military families near Fort Carson to the looming economic recession that threatens veterans who purchased homes based on the...2025-03-2443 minLeft FaceThe Emperor Has No Clothes: Confronting Trump's Trade Wars and Power GrabsVeterans in Colorado Springs are taking matters into their own hands as federal budget cuts threaten their community. With approximately 15% of the local population being veterans and 30% of the federal workforce comprised of former military personnel, proposed government cuts could devastate the region on multiple fronts – affecting both vital support services and livelihoods.Progressive veterans groups have organized an "Empty Seat Town Hall" event that quickly reached capacity, demonstrating the community's urgent need to be heard even when their elected representatives won't face them directly. The format allows citizens to speak to an empty chair representing their ab...2025-03-1745 minLeft FaceWhen Big Brothers Stop Fighting Your Wars: Europe's Nuclear AwakeningDramatic VA staffing cuts announced by the Trump administration will eliminate 88,000 jobs, returning to 2019 staffing levels before PACT Act implementation and primarily targeting "non-mission critical" positions.• 15% workforce reduction at VA represents largest cuts to any federal agency in modern history• Approximately 30% of affected VA employees are veterans themselves• Republicans claim $90 million savings from eliminating "duplicative contracts"• No clear metrics established to measure impact on veteran care quality• DEI positions specifically targeted for elimination regardless of actual duties• France's President Macron announces shift in nuclear doctrine to protect Ukraine• European nations reconsidering security arran...2025-03-1034 minLeft FaceCity Council Candidate Maryah Lauer talks about her ideas for Colorado SpringsEngaging with the importance of local politics, Maryah Lauer shares her journey and insights as a candidate for city council in Colorado Springs. She addresses the lack of representation and the need for meaningful democratic engagement within civic life. Through her firsthand experiences, we uncover how local decisions affect our daily lives.• Introduction of Maryah Lauer and her background • Motivation for running for city council amid anti-democratic measures • Discussion of the challenges in local governance structures • Advocacy for fair pay among city council members and equitable representation • Importance of using tax revenue for community prog...2025-02-2830 min