SPEAK USA Podcast

We share a live reading of the full text of the Declaration of Independence.  As you listen, consider what it means to you, and how it relates to our government as we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States.

Shannon Dicely is a candidate for Texas Senate District 11.  Shannon and Cliff talk about education and guarantees from the Texas Constitution, voting rights and gerrymandering, healthcare and her cancer health challenge during COVID, and affordability and Texas as #2 in economy but #48 in opportunity across all residents.  She talks about her constant, intentional efforts to create opportunity fo...

Joe Mayes, an Air Force veteran, cyber professional, experienced executive, and candidate for Texas House District 106, shares his thoughts on education funding and policy in Texas, affordability, housing, and our nation's commitment and history of lifting up our personal freedoms.

Marquette Greene-Scott is running for U.S. House District 22.  She brings her experience representing her city, based on facts and her residents' values, to address issues of affordability, education, and voting rights, in a way that honors residents and the values of our country.

A near-life-long resident of Dumas, Texas, Diana shares what it's like to live in the Texas Panhandle, the issues they face--education, health care, and the workforce--and how she will represent the best interests of her constituents and their way of life, in a way that honors the democratic value of our nation.

Bob shares what he learned running for the State House in Texas, in a conversation building on his history as a West Point graduate, military veteran, and practicing lawyer who actively provides pro bono services.  Bob and Cliff talk about his experiences during his campaign ("at the same time ordinary and profound!"), his view on current events through the lens of his experiences, observations ab...

For ten+ years, Bonny has given candidates in elections the opportunity to share their message, and voters the chance to learn about every race on a local ballot.  In a wide-ranging conversation, Phil and Cliff talk with Bonny about the effort, her history of community and political engagement, what motivates her, and how our democratic values are preserved by knowing the candidates, by voting, an...

Phil talks about the effort to get every Bexar County democratic candidate on video: How it was done, why it was done, and how to watch before you vote.

Judge Yolanda Huff is a "Judge in the Community."  We talk about her background and influences, her work in District Court 12, her advocacy and work to develop the Mental Health and specialty courts, educating the community about the courts, and how her balance between accountability and recovery, and its positive impact on the community, contrasts with the harmful extreme ideology in our federal...

From their perspective as veterans, Retired Lieutenant Colonels Martha Spinks and Fred Hofstetter discuss their efforts to elevate the voices of veterans in protecting our democracy, especially as it relates to the rule of law, and to the actions of ICE in our city and around the nation.

Holly and Cliff talk about Holly's time in the Travis County DA's office, the privilege of keeping communities safe, conviction integrity and revisiting cases, respect for the laws and federal and state constitutions, Holly's planned visits to all 254 Texas counties!, her motivation for running, and her candidacy for Place 9 in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Join a Sun Day event, and promote a sun-powered future!  Alan and Peter talk about the San Antonio local event and Day of Action this Sunday, September 21, where you can hear from San Antonio's former Mayor, Ron Nirenberg, CPS Energy President and CEO Rudy Garza, and numerous other speakers.  Learn how to take action toward a sun-powered future.  For viewers outside San Antonio, learn more about t...

Soren talks about his efforts monitoring ICE sites.  He shares stories of what he's seen, where we are falling short of our values, the moral imperative to respond, and how we can better take care of immigrants and asylum seekers in ways good for our country.  He shares how you can help.

Dr. Paul Holden shares his experience providing healthcare in Malawi, Africa, and talks with Cliff about his op-ed, including the impact of American healthcare aid saving 26 million lives in Africa, and the cost to others and to the U.S. of ending that aid.  See his article: Paul C. Holden: What happens to people America helps when the aid suddenly stops, for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Allen and Cindy talk about how current events caused them to engage in politics, how they first engaged, and ways we can unify and win.

Josh talks with Cliff about how Revision News is bringing civic stories to residents of San Antonio.  We talk about ways to deliver these stories with humanity and in a manner that protects our democratic rights and freedoms.

Sakib and Cliff talk about many topics that tie back why dehumanizing people is both wrong and bad for America, and humanizing people and groups is the way to a strong, fair, and just America.

Amanda and Cliff talk about how greater participation means greater good for our democracy.  We talk about the Department of Education, vouchers, and redistricting.  And how you can engage!

Chase and Cliff talk building international relationships, Ukraine, communication strategy, his campaign themes (including schools, housing), redistricting, the failure of authoritarian governments, strategy to win elections, and how we will restore and build our democracy.

Candidate for Texas State Representative District 117 Bob Mihara talks about schools, transportation, veterans, legal services, and the deep reasons that our democratic values are good for individuals and good for the country.

Martha Spinks and Cliff talk about the importance of community in advancing democratic values through protests and advocacy. See the materials we talk about during the episode at www.speakusa.org/podcast-buildcommunity.

Irene and Cliff talk about the work and life of teachers, what's broken in our education system, what we would do to fix it, and Irene's work to create a Teacher Friendly San Antonio.

Kathy, Phil and Cliff talk about what's motivating them to stand for the values they believe in, things we can change, and things you can do to act.

Learn how members of SPEAK USA are using 5Calls to share their views with our federal representatives.