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Bonus Episode – Midterm Examinations with Mickey Dodson

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

Release Date: 11/09/2018

Roundtable - MAGA Mayhem show art Roundtable - MAGA Mayhem

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

The MAGA coalition is comprised of a wide spectrum whose sole unifying idea is Trump himself. But what happens when that precarious foundation begins to fray? Have recent events shown cracks in the MAGA world that could quickly fracture, or is this all a tempest in a teapot? Join Saving Elephant panelists during our livestream to make sense of it all. Panelists include: Josh Lewis (host), Ryan Rogers, Destry Edwards, Scott Howard, and Christopher Chesny

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183 – Conservative Conservationism with Stephen Perkins show art 183 – Conservative Conservationism with Stephen Perkins

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

Younger Americans—regardless of their political affiliations—are increasingly supportive focusing on environmental and conservation issues.  But while there may be renewed unity on recognizing the importance of such issues, the policies advocated by the Left and Right continue to differ.  The (ACC) is a group of young Americans on the political Right standing up for action over activism in their approach to environmental reform.  Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is ACC’s COO, Stephen Perkins, to discuss how economic prosperity and a clean environment don’t...

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182 – Partying Like It’s 1776 show art 182 – Partying Like It’s 1776

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

On July 6 Saving Elephants assembled an august team of commentators to commemorate the advent of the United States turning the big 2-4-9!  With only one year to go until the nation is 250 years old, the group reflects on the foundational ideas of America, whether she's succeed or failed at those aspirations, and what the future holds for this most exceptional of nations.   Meet the panelists:   Lura Forcum   Lura Forcum leads the , the nation’s go-to organization for information, research, and engagement with independent voters, representing those who are fed up with...

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181 – Escaping the Housing Trap with Chuck Marohn show art 181 – Escaping the Housing Trap with Chuck Marohn

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

The housing market today is in an increasingly unsustainable paradox: younger Americans need houses to be more affordable so that they can become homeowners.  Meanwhile, homeowners and the entire U.S. economy need houses to rise in price to make them a secure and profitable investment.  Thus, we are trapped between making homeownership increasingly difficult or sinking the economy.  Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by president of Strong Towns Chuck Marohn to discuss his latest book: .   About Chuck Marohn From Charles Marohn (known as “Chuck” to friends and...

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180 – Uncap the House with Jeff Mayhugh show art 180 – Uncap the House with Jeff Mayhugh

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

What if the surest way to reduce the harmful effects of self-serving politicians in Washington D.C. is to have more of them?  Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is Jeff Mayhugh to explain how the artificial “cap” the nation put on the number of representatives in the U.S. House almost a century ago has made government less representative and responsive.  Returning to the Founding Father’s understanding of how people might best be represented by their leaders will require a lot of hard work, but it has the potential to benefit all Americans all across the political divide....

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179 – I, Tony with Tony Woodlief show art 179 – I, Tony with Tony Woodlief

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

What if the real division in America isn’t between Republicans and Democrats, Red States vs Blue States, or liberals and conservatives but between the American people and a small group of the political elite whose function is to divide the rest of us?  Tony Woodlief joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to discuss how we may not be as divided as we think and how federalism holds the solution to many of the policy battles of the moment.   About Tony Woodlief Excerpts from Tony’s bio in the and on his :   Tony Woodlief is State Policy Network’s Senior Executive Vice...

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178 – Revolt of the Independents with Lura Forcum show art 178 – Revolt of the Independents with Lura Forcum

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

The 2024 presidential election witnessed a historic number of independent voters—more independents voted than Democrats and they came close to surpassing Republicans.  It would seem that now is the time for those who are dissatisfied with both parties to dismantle the two-party duopoly of American government.  And yet, the Republican and Democratic parties collectively control all branches of governments at all levels.  Why is that?  What would it mean for Americans to embrace an “independent” politics and how likely is that to occur?  What do independent voters...

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177 – Dear Mr. President with Destry Edwards show art 177 – Dear Mr. President with Destry Edwards

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

Former president Chester A. Arthur is probably best remembered for his mutton chops and as a trivia question.  But he did play a surprising role as a reformer when the nation was in the grips of political corruption.  And the story of how he found the courage to do so holds some lessons for how we might interact with political power today in hopes of a better tomorrow.   Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is Destry Edwards to discuss his new documentary , and how a single citizen can have an outsized effect on our political system.   About Destry Edwards Destry...

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176 – Consuming News Responsibly show art 176 – Consuming News Responsibly

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

In this era of information overload it’s easy to join the ranks of the too online, filtering our every thought through the latest thing Trump tweeted or how the resistance is reacting. And it’s just as easy to check out entirely and pretend like the news doesn’t matter or, if it does, it’ll have to be someone else’s problem for now. Are there healthier ways to approach the news? How can we maintain sanity in a seemingly endless supply of hot takes and outrage-of-the-moments?   Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by Avi Woolf, JB Shreve, and Blake Fischer as they discuss...

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175 – The Two James Burnhams with David Byrne show art 175 – The Two James Burnhams with David Byrne

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

James Burnham was one of the most significant intellectual influences on the conservative movement of the twentieth century.  As an anti-Communist hardliner, his views on dealing with the Soviet menace head on ultimately shaped US foreign policy in the Reagan administration.  And his work at William F. Buckley’s National Review gave the fledgling magazine its foreign policy heft.   Throughout his long public career, there emerged two James Burnhams: one who provided the early scaffolding to neoconservative ideas and the other who inspired paleoconservatives.  Saving...

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The 2018 midterm elections have come and gone, but there’s still plenty of analyzing and expounding to be done.  And who better than an investigative auditor to get to the bottom of the good, the bad, and the ugly details of 2018?  Joining Josh for this special bonus episode is Mickey Dodson, investigative auditor for the Oklahoma State Auditor’s Office.
 
Though a Millennial, Mickey has worn a number of hats that take many people a lifetime to achieve.  He’s a former city councilor, former attorney for the Tulsa County DA’s office, and former agent for the FBI.  These days he performs special and investigative audits of public officials and public entities in Oklahoma where he works with Saving Elephants’ host Josh Lewis in the State Auditor’s Office.  In running for office himself and in working in many campaigns over the years, Mickey has gained invaluable insight into the Republican party at a state and national level.
 
The 2018 midterm election was a mixed bag for both the Republican and Democratic parties.  The real losers in the midterm elections were those who don’t identify with the more radical elements of both parties.  Those who don’t separate the world into warring tribes or factions of good guys vs bad guys are becoming fewer and fewer in election positions, and our nation is all the worse off for it.
 
What does this mean for the Republican party in the years ahead?  Will the Democrats—emboldened with their new majority in the House—legislate or litigate?  Will the next two years be non-stop investigations and calls for impeachment or will congress find ways to compromise and work out their differences?  And where does this leave the Republican party?  Have they forever solidified themselves as the party of Trump or is he a passing fad?  Join us as we dissect these questions and more.