Deep Dive with Shawn

Send us Fan Mail Is democracy at risk worldwide? In this penultimate episode of After America, we examine the alarming trend of democratic backsliding, the global rise of authoritarianism, and how it might provide a blueprint for a second Trump presidency. We compare the authoritarian tendencies of leaders in India, Russia, and Hungary,  whose tactics in weakening the judiciary, manipulating the m...

Send us Fan Mail Can American democracy survive the encroachment of authoritarian regimes? This episode of "After America" tackles this critical question by exploring the global impact of authoritarianism and democratic backsliding. We take a close look at the establishment of post-World War II institutions like the United Nations, NATO, and the International Monetary Fund, and analyze h...

Send us Fan Mail Can democracy deliver the economic stability and growth we need, or do strongman tactics offer a more effective solution? In this episode, we dissect the economic impacts of contrasting political systems, drawing on the U.S. responses to COVID-19 under both Trump and Biden. We discuss the historical economic performances of authoritarian states like the Soviet Union and modern-day...

Send us Fan Mail What if the very fabric of American democracy is under threat from within? In this episode of After America, we explore the insidious power of othering and its devastating effects on our nation's democratic principles. We start by highlighting the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation following the Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, moving through the nativist...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a cornerstone of democracy begins to show cracks? On this episode of After America as we scrutinize the U.S. Supreme Court's transformation and its far-reaching impacts on American democracy. We trace key moments from Justice Antonin Scalia's death to the rapid confirmation of conservative justices under President Trump. This episode unpacks the histori...

Send us Fan Mail How does disinformation threaten the very fabric of our democracy? In this episode of After America, we explore this pressing issue. We examine the intentionality behind disinformation campaigns and the alarming findings from the Pew Research Center about the spread of fabricated news during the 2020 election. We highlight the distinctions between misinformation, disinformation, a...

Send us Fan Mail Can Christian nationalism coexist with American democracy, or is it a threat to the very foundation of our nation? Join us for a compelling discussion on "After America" as we tackle these urgent questions. This episode kicks off with an in-depth analysis of Mike Johnson's rise to Speaker of the House and how his Christian nationalist views are shaping the legislati...

Send us Fan Mail White supremacist and right-wing militia groups are threatening American democracy. Join us as we unveil the alarming rise and evolution of these extremist ideologies, tracing their roots from historical moments like Ruby Ridge and Waco to modern-day influences bolstered by political figures such as Donald Trump. In this episode, we uncover how political rhetoric has emboldened th...

Send us Fan Mail A statement on the current state of political violence in the United States from the After America team. Music: Infados - Kevin MacLeod  ------------------------- Follow Deep Dive: Bluesky YouTube Email : deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music:  Majestic Earth - Joystock  

Send us Fan Mail If American democracy were to collapse, what historical parallels could help us understand what we might be in for? Nazi Germany? Learn how the Nazis swiftly exploited the Reichstag Fire in 1933 to enact the Reichstag Fire Decree, leading to a brutal suppression of political opponents and securing their dominance in the March 5th elections. We explore economic and social turmoil i...

Send us Fan Mail What if the very institutions designed to protect American democracy are now its greatest threat? In this episode, we scrutinize why Donald Trump remains a formidable candidate nearly four years later, and how key democratic norms and institutions like the rule of law, free and fair elections, and a free press are being systematically eroded. This sets the stage for the 2024 elect...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the very fabric of American democracy is put to the test? Join us as we confront the alarming state of our nation in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, featuring a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. We begin by dissecting the chaos of January 6th, 2021, when a Trump-incited mob stormed the Capitol, marking a pivotal moment in our history—a mo...

Send us Fan Mail As we count down to the release of the limited series After America, we are revisiting some past episodes of Deep Dive to help lay the groundwork for this important project that will attempt to answer the question - What would it actually look like if American democracy were to fail? Dark Tales: Music by Rahul Bhardwaj from Pixabay --------- How does economic hardship and cultural...

Send us Fan Mail As we count down to the release of the limited series After America, we are revisiting some past episodes of Deep Dive to help lay the groundwork for this important project that will attempt to answer the question - What would it actually look like if American democracy were to fail? Dark Tales: Music by Rahul Bhardwaj from Pixabay -------------    Can America’s democracy survive...

Send us Fan Mail As we count down to the release of the limited series After America, we are revisiting some past episodes of Deep Dive to help lay the groundwork for this important project that will attempt to answer the question - What would it actually look like if American democracy were to fail? Dark Tales: Music by Rahul Bhardwaj from Pixabay -------------   Can Christian nationalism reshape...

Send us Fan Mail As we count down to the release of the limited series After America, we are revisiting some past episodes of Deep Dive to help lay the groundwork for this important project that will attempt to answer the question - What would it actually look like if American democracy were to fail? Dark Tales: Music by Rahul Bhardwaj from Pixabay -------------  Is America on the brink of democra...

Send us Fan Mail  As we count down to the release of the limited series After America, we are revisiting some past episodes of Deep Dive to help lay the groundwork for this important project that will attempt to answer the question - What would it actually look like if American democracy were to fail? Dark Tales: Music by Rahul Bhardwaj from Pixabay ------------- As the gears of our democracy grin...

Send us Fan Mail As we count down to the release of the limited series After America, we are revisiting some past episodes of Deep Dive to help lay the groundwork for this important project that will attempt to answer the question - What would it actually look like if American democracy were to fail? Dark Tales: Music by Rahul Bhardwaj from Pixabay ------------------------ In this episode - origin...

Send us Fan Mail 'After America' - a Sea Tree Media limited pocast series coming this summer. Could democracy in America be a mere house of cards? This summer, our series "After America" paints a stark and urgent portrait of a future United States, where the very pillars of freedom crumble under the weight of corruption and power abuse. As we chart a course through this dystopi...

Send us Fan Mail Today's guest and I discuss some of the intricacies of queer travel. Maartje Hensen is the inspired mind behind the travel blog Once Upon a Journey and The Pride Atlas . Our conversation navigates the delicate balance between embracing authentic cultural experiences and the reality of safety for queer travelers. We peel back layers of privilege and explore the effects of colo...

Send us Fan Mail Experience the heartbeat of democracy in Latin America through the eyes of Dr. Cynthia McClintock , a distinguished expert whose insights illuminate the region's ongoing struggle between authoritarian rule and the quest for freedom. In this episode, we discuss the complex political tapestry of Latin America, where the aspirations of the people are often caught in a tug-of-war...

Send us Fan Mail Michael Jackson is a figure whose complexities fascinate and confound, and he leaves behind a legacy of genius and controversy. Dr. Susan Fast, author of "Michael Jackson's Dangerous" brings her expertise on the King of Pop to this latest episode of Deep Dive.  We journey beyond the moonwalk and the sequined glove to dissect Jackson's "Dangerous" era,...

Send us Fan Mail When the pages of a book become a battleground for human rights, conversations like the one I have with Bill Konigsberg become not just relevant, but vital. Award-winning and openly gay, Bill Konigsberg has been on the frontlines, both as a sports writer for ESPN and now as a YA author facing the harsh reality of book bans. In an era where queer-themed literature is under siege, B...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the seismic shifts within the highest court of the United States as legal scholar and former Clerk to Supreme Court Justice William Douglas,  Lucas Powe , and Shawn unravel the conservative turn of the Roberts Court. We dissect the landmark decisions that have not only redefined the legal landscape but have also sparked debates about the very legitimacy of the Supreme Cou...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we venture into the heart of a historical maelstrom—the Middle East conflict. Dr. Nathan Brown , professor at George Washington University and Middle East scholar, joins this episode, and paints a vivid picture of the intricate dance between political ideologies, territorial strife, and the pursuit of peace. We explore the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict...