Left Face

A naval blockade letting every ship through, a clemency that may have been a political trade, a $1.8 billion fund of questionable legality, and one Kentucky libertarian willing to torch his career over Epstein. This week on Left Face.

The Hormuz situation has a third status now — not open, not closed, just barely cracked. Adam and Dick break down the asymmetric threat keeping ships from moving, the 90-day war powers shuffle, and why we're headed for Obama's deal with Trump's signature and a lot of dead people in between.Virginia let the people vote and the Supreme Court threw it out anyway. A Supreme Court nominee won't commit to the 22nd Amendment. And an untrained guy with a gun almost did the unthinkable because a cop didn't listen to his dog.

Dick and Adam break down a chaotic week in American politics — four congressional departures in seven days, from Swalwell's swift fall to a Texas Republican who only left when the margin gave him no cover. They dig into the soldier who bet on his own classified mission in Venezuela, what it reveals about the dangers of betting on anything, and why the genie is very much out of the bottle. Plus: Kash Patel's lawsuit against The Atlantic, a cabinet secretary who took her staff to a strip club, and why the CD5 race is finally getting national money for the first time ever. And yes — the Strait of Hormuz is still closed.

Adam and Dick break down a chaotic week in American politics, law, and foreign policy through a veteran lens from Colorado Springs.Topics covered:Trump's unprecedented appearance at Supreme Court oral arguments on birthright citizenship — and his Truth Social meltdown afterwardThe SCOTUS conversion therapy ruling out of Colorado Springs: what it actually decided, what it deliberately avoided, and why Justice Jackson's dissent cuts to the heart of itICE arresting a soldier's wife outside Fort Polk while he was in-processing her as a military dependent — and how ICE knew exactly where to beIran, the fake ceasefire, nuclear nonproliferation, and what it means when a nuclear nation threatens a non-nuclear oneThe "Ghost Murmur" technology claim from the downed aviator rescue — real quantum magnetism or a cover story?NATO tensions, Greenland posturing, and Five Eyes intelligence sharing concernsArtemis swings around the moonLeft Face is the Pikes Peak regional podcast for veterans and those interested in political issues affecting the military community.

Adam and Dick open with two local items — No Kings 3 hitting Colorado Springs tomorrow and Syracuse University's veteran candidate training program, now with an ideation track for folks still on the fence about running.From there, they get into Colorado Springs city council banning vehicle camping and why that sale is dead on arrival with the current council, contrasted with the San Jose tiny home model that actually worked by dropping the sobriety-first requirements and just opening the doors.On the federal side: ICE gets deployed to airports with no coherent mission, no shift briefing, and no real plan beyond body count. Democrats pull off a funding maneuver worth something — and then immediately talk about it too much. The Iran situation gets declared over again while 10,000 troops head that way, the Supreme Court press corps ruling sits ignored, and the Strait of Hormuz remains the one real chip on the table.Recorded at Studio 809 in downtown Colorado Springs.

Iran's decentralized military structure means no single target stops the drone and missile threat. Meanwhile, lone-wolf attacks are ticking up stateside. Adam and Dick connect the dots between foreign escalation, domestic terrorism, eroding civil liberties, and an administration that treats every crisis as an opportunity to grab more power.

The episode covers a range of topics including local candidate forums, the Iran situation, the importance of educated voters, and the potential impact of federalizing elections. It also delves into the recent conflict with Iran, the Epstein files, and the absurdity of current political events.TakeawaysLocal candidate forums are an important platform for discussing key issues and evaluating candidates.The conflict with Iran raises concerns about the potential impact on the region and the world.The federalization of elections and its potential implications for democracy is a topic of significant concern.Chapters00:00 Local Candidate Forums and Political Engagement08:47 The Conflict with Iran and its Implications15:22 Federalizing Elections and Concerns for Democracy27:25 The Absurdity of Current Political Events

The conversation covers community activism and hope, military appreciation day at the Capitol, the Minnesota situation and Second Amendment, response to attack, and government shutdown. It also highlights the importance of veterans' political engagement and the impact of community activism on political change. The conversation covers topics related to government funding and potential shutdowns, the impact of political pressure on funding decisions, the influence of education and qualification standards on government officials, and the long-term impact of social media regulation. These themes are explored in depth, providing insights into the current political and social landscape.TakeawaysCommunity activismVeterans' political engagement Government funding and shutdownsImpact of political pressureEducation and qualification standardsSocial media regulation and its long-term impactChapters00:00 Community Activism and Hope06:55 Minnesota Situation and Second Amendment20:32 Government Funding and Shutdowns26:02 Social Media Regulation and Long-Term Impact

The conversation covers a range of topics including the ICE occupation in Minnesota, the concept of perfidy in warfare, and the impact of the pacifist movement. It also delves into discussions about the Davos economic forum, Trump's Greenland agenda, and the resistance in Minnesota. The conversation highlights the potential impact of peaceful resistance and the challenges of international conflict and political tactics.TakeawaysICE Occupation in MinnesotaPerfidy in WarfareResistance and Impact of Pacifist MovementChapters00:00 Positive Impact of Resistance in Minnesota

The Left Face podcast discusses the Colorado Democratic Veterans Council, legislative efforts, and the tragic shooting of Renee Good. It also delves into the response to the incident, authoritarian behavior, misinformation, and the increase in the military budget. The conversation highlights the government's control of private industry and the deployment of authoritarianism.TakeawaysLegislative advocacy and planning are crucial for the Colorado Democratic Veterans CouncilMisinformation and bias in media coverage impact public perceptionThe increase in the military budget raises concerns about government control of private industryChapters00:00 Introduction to Left Face Podcast05:16 Building Relationships and Legislative Impact11:30 Tragic Incident: Shooting of Renee Good17:26 Villainization and Misinformation23:07 Defense Industrial Base and Military Budget28:21 Increase in Military Budget and Justification

In this episode of Left Face, Adam Gillard and Dick Wilkinson delve into the complexities of recent political maneuvers, including the reclassification of marijuana, the evolving hemp industry, and the geopolitical intrigue surrounding Greenland. Join us as we explore the implications of these changes and what they mean for the future.

Inside the Sausage of Democracy

A friend is gone and we refuse to speak in euphemisms. We start with the raw reality of veteran suicide—how access turns intent into tragedy within minutes, how survivor guilt lingers, and what it looks like to build “friction” into crisis moments: locked layers between you and a weapon, one more call, and a circle that actually answers.From there we widen the lens to power and consequence. The historically long shutdown didn’t just stall paychecks; it rewarded a politics of brinkmanship. We unpack why senators safe from re-election cave first, why there’s no federal recall to correct bad actors, and how performative policy—like slapping a new name on health care—ignores costs families can’t absorb. The SNAP episode lays the stakes bare: trying to claw back food already on kitchen tables is both unworkable and inhumane, especially while gilded rooms and junk science steal headlines.Accountability makes a rare appearance with a push to release more Epstein files. We trace the surprising Republican defections, the personal pressure applied to peel names off, and the moment a few chose conscience over party. The road ahead is procedural and steep—House, Senate, possible veto—but daylight matters. Survivors deserve more than whispers and sealed boxes, and the public deserves a government that doesn’t default to secrecy when the vulnerable paid the price.We close with action, not just analysis. An “empty chair” town hall gathers stories, names, and community resolve on the eve of the vote. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to get involved, this is it: show up, call someone who needs you, and tell your representatives that compassion and transparency aren’t negotiable. If this resonates, follow the show, share with a friend, and leave a review—your voice helps others find ours.Send us a text https://bsky.app/profile/leftfaceco.bsky.socialhttps://www.facebook.com/epccpvwww.EPCCPV.org or info@epccpv.org