Border Security Realities and the Courage to Influence

On December 19, 2024, Chris Harris, Brad Beck, Marshall Dawson, Greg Morrissey, Ross Clough, Dave Walden, Carol VanLandingham, and Carol Baker joined the show. Retired Border Patrol agent discusses deportation realities, criminal alien removal priorities, national security threats at military bases, Tren de Aragua gang in Aurora, and sanctuary city enforcement challenges Co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters explains how the courage to influence requires fortitude to take action and discusses the Overton window concept for. The Courage to Influence Through Communication Start listening at 28:45 – Hour 1 Brad Beck, co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters, opens the table topics segment by explaining how the courage to influence requires the fortitude to take action and impact others, even when facing discomfort or challenges. Beck references the Overton window concept, developed by Joe Overton at the Mackinac Center in the 1990s, as a framework for understanding the range of possibilities in public policy discourse. He emphasizes that cultural change precedes political change, and that it takes just one person standing up for their beliefs to inspire others to follow. “When one person has a voice, it sets the tone for others to stand up and say, yeah, I agree with that.” Brad Beck, Co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters Campaigns as Last Mile Marketers Start listening at 33:19 – Hour 1 Marshall Dawson, a former congressional candidate, argues that everyone can exert influence in their daily lives, whether in their jobs, families, or communities. Drawing from an interview with Kamala Harris’s digital director Rob Flaherty, Dawson explains that campaigns function as “last mile marketers” operating in a terrain set by culture. He challenges listeners to consider whether political parties are helping to influence culture or working against candidates, particularly as Colorado Republican elections approach. “Winston Churchill said that politics are almost as exciting as war and quite as dangerous. In war, you can only be killed once, but in politics, many times.” Marshall Dawson, Former Congressional Candidate Small Business Under Assault Start listening at 40:48 – Hour 1 Ross Clough of Liberty Toastmasters Denver focuses on areas of injustice as a way to influence others. He highlights the ongoing assault on small businesses, tracing it from COVID lockdowns that shuttered small operations while allowing big box stores to remain open to the current Corporate Transparency Act requiring burdensome federal reporting. Clough notes that 38.9% of Colorado small businesses closed during the pandemic, calling these policies counterproductive and punitive to entrepreneurs. “It’s good to look for areas of injustice because that can get almost everybody interested in your topic.” Ross Clough, Liberty Toastmasters Denver Values of Character in Action Start listening at 46:46 – Hour 1 Dave Walden emphasizes that courage represents a value of character that influences others when displayed honorably and virtuously. He argues that if a picture is worth a thousand words, an example is worth ten thousand, as dramatic demonstrations of virtue leave lasting impressions. Walden calls for political leadership to display courage by standing...