Democracy on Fire

A growing controversy is unfolding inside the U.S. military as allegations emerge that some commanders are framing the war with Iran through the lens of Christian “End Times” theology. In this episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown , Michael Weinstein discusses reports from service members across multiple branches who say religious rhetoric tied to Armageddon and biblical prophecy is circulating with...

Guest Andrew Dumbrille presents the interconnected crises of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss —collectively known as the triple planetary crisis —and explores actionable solutions within the maritime shipping industry . He also highlights the urgent need for cleaner fuels, the importance of including marginalized voices in policy-making , and actionable solutions that can be implem...

In this episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown , Harvard University Professor John Holdren joins Kay to examine the sweeping consequences of Donald Trump’s sustained attacks on science, climate research, and global cooperation . Holdren explains that climate change is no longer a future threat but a present crisis, already inflicting economic, environmental, and human damage worldwide. He outlines ho...

In this powerful episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown , acclaimed singer-songwriter Libby Roderick joins the conversation to explore how music and the arts sustain resistance, spark courage, and keep movements grounded in joy . Drawing from decades of activism, songwriting, and facilitation of difficult dialogues, Libby reflects on the role of protest music in moments of fear, injustice, and democr...

The Arctic is melting at an unprecedented rate , with consequences reaching far beyond the polar region. In this episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown , Vedica Mandapati and Kervelle Baird , members of the Global Choices Arctic Angels Network , explore why protecting Arctic sea ice is essential for the planet’s climate stability, food systems, and vulnerable communities worldwide . The conversation...

In this episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown , community leader and California State Assembly District 71 candidate JJ Galvez examines the shifting political landscape among Latino voters and the forces reshaping it . Drawing from his experience as an immigrant from Honduras and a newly naturalized U.S. citizen, Galvez explains how economic insecurity, cultural values, and religious influence inter...

This episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown examines the accelerating plastics crisis and its far-reaching impacts on human health, ecosystems, and the climate. Environmental advocate Pamela Miller explains how plastics production has exploded since the 1950s, flooding oceans and communities with waste that breaks into microplastics now found in food, blood, brains, and placentas . The conversation e...

Reverend Dr. Dee Calmett joins this episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown to discuss faith, identity, and the growing wave of attacks on transgender people in the United States . As lawmakers propose bills that restrict gender-affirming care, criminalize support, and encourage fear, she explains what these policies mean for real lives. Dee shares her journey from evangelical roots to spiritual scien...

In this powerful episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown , the conversation centers on the real-life impact of aggressive deportation policies and how they are reshaping families and communities . Guest Christian Quevedo shares his personal story, including loved ones who were deported despite years of lawful living and working in the United States . He describes the emotional toll on children, spouse...

In this urgent episode, extremism expert Heidi Beirich , founder of Global Project Against Hate & Extremism joins host Kay Brown on Hot Spots to unpack the growing influence of Christian nationalism and its threat to democracy in the United States and beyond . Drawing from her organization’s report Faith as a Weapon , Beirich explains how a political movement rooted in authoritarian ideology i...

On this episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown , healthcare affordability and access are once again at the center of national debate as Congress considers cuts that could leave millions uninsured. Public health expert and cardiologist Dr. Sion Roy, a candidate for the California Senate for the 24th District , joins the conversation to explain how proposed Medicaid reductions and the expiration of ACA...

In this episode of Hot Spots , host Kay Brown travels to Reykjavik, Iceland, attending the Arctic Circle Assembly where global leaders, scientists, and advocates gather to confront the rapid transformation of the Arctic . She speaks with Jim Gamble, Senior Director of Pacific Environment’s Arctic Program , about the accelerating Arctic meltdown and how warming four times faster than the rest of th...

In this powerful episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown , retired B-52 bomber pilot Laura Meeks shares her remarkable life story and her perspective on the challenges facing transgender Americans today . Laura reflects on growing up in a traditional family, building a successful Air Force career, and discovering her transgender identity while serving overseas. She opens up about the emotional complex...

This episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown offers a powerful look into the realities of hunger, housing insecurity, and the unraveling social safety net affecting millions across the United States . Guest John Thomas—a security officer and devoted community volunteer in the Coachella Valley —shares his frontline perspective on feeding, supporting, and dignifying unhoused neighbors through The Shared...

In this episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown , Dr. Sian Prior, lead advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance , explains how rapidly accelerating Arctic melt is reshaping the global climate . Speaking from the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík, she breaks down the science behind black carbon — a potent “super pollutant” produced by ships, transportation, and oil and gas operations — and how its deposi...

In this powerful episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown , policy advisor Maggie Siddiqi from the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty joins to unpack the alarming rise of Christian nationalism and its connection to the new federal private school voucher program buried in last summer’s Big Ugly Bill . Siddiqi explains how this unprecedented law diverts billions in public funds away from publi...

Imam and community organizer Fayaz Nawabi joins Kay Brown to discuss civic engagement, faith, and the urgent fight for democracy in California on this episode of Hot Spots . A San Diego native and graduate of San Diego State University, Nawabi has spent two decades empowering underrepresented communities through political organizing and leadership . As the founder of For the People Action , he wor...

In this episode of Hot Spots , former homeschooled evangelical Sarah Piotrowicz joins Kay Brown to share her journey out of the world of Christian Nationalism . Once raised to be a “foot soldier” for the religious right, Sarah opens up about how political indoctrination and patriarchal control shaped her upbringing and education at Patrick Henry College . She reveals how institutions like the Home...

In this episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown , author and commentator Robert Hubbell joins Kay for an inspiring conversation about resilience, civic engagement, and reclaiming democracy amid chaos and corruption . Hubbell, author of the Today’s Edition newsletter, shares the personal story behind his nightly messages of hope that began after the 2016 election . He explains why maintaining perspecti...

In this compelling episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown , California leader and Lieutenant Governor candidate Michael Tubbs joins to discuss his vision for a more equitable and forward-looking California . From his roots in Stockton to his trailblazing leadership as the city’s youngest and first Black mayor , Tubbs shares how his lived experiences shaped his mission to end poverty and expand opport...

This week’s episode of Hot Spots dives into the rising influence of Christian nationalism and its impact on American politics, education, and democracy. Host Kay Brown welcomes Michelle Singleton, officer of the Riverside County Democratic Party and political action chair , to explore how this movement is fueling culture wars in California , particularly through school boards, voucher programs, an...

In this powerful episode of Hotspots , Pastor Matt Schultz of Anchorage, Alaska, joins the United America Network to break down the growing threat of Christian nationalism in the United States . Schultz, a Presbyterian USA minister and published writer on the subject , explains how Christian nationalism is not Christianity at all, but rather a political ideology fueled by authoritarianism, racism,...

The discourse surrounding Christian nationalism emerges as a pivotal concern in contemporary society, as elucidated in our inaugural episode of Hot Spots with Kay Brown. Joined by the erudite Dr. Bruce Ellis Benson, we delve into the insidious implications of this ideology, which intertwines Christian tenets with national identity, thereby advocating for a societal framework that privileges Christ...