Positude Podcast: PowWow with Matthew Short

Host Maggie Heart introduced her guest, Matthew "Matt" Short, whom she discovered after his Facebook video about Hurricane Harvey "hit me in the gut." Maggie explained that she was struck by the pain and anguish in his testimony and believes he is telling the truth. She hoped the interview would shed light on "things that are going on in our country behind the scenes" and help people better prepare for future natural disasters. Matt's Background and Arrival Matt identified himself as a "tenured activist," the PR director for Come and Take at Texas (an organization involved in the open carry movement), and a member of the Texas militia. Having been through previous disasters, he said he "knows the things to look for" regarding FEMA and other "alphabet agencies." When Hurricane Harvey hit, Matt and his organization got a boat and truck to go assist the civilian-led "Cajun Navy" and "Texas Navy." "Purge-Like" Atmosphere: Matt's first night in Houston was spent at a militia compound set up in a strip mall. He described the situation as "like the purge," hearing constant glass breaking, car alarms, and gunshots. The militia deemed it too violent to let him leave the compound until sunrise. The Addicks Dam Incident and Federal Interference Matt’s team was soon routed to Katy, Texas, near the Addicks Dam. Warning of Dam Release: At a massive FEMA command center set up in a mall parking lot (which Matt noted confirmed "conspiracies" about FEMA using Walmarts/malls), he was told they were going to "blow the dam." While the dam was ultimately "released" and not "blown," the effect was the same. Roadblocks and Non-Evacuation: Matt stated the agencies were releasing the dam waters without evacuating the neighborhoods in the flood path. Furthermore, he alleged that FEMA, FBI, and Secret Service agents were actively blocking the roads, preventing civilian rescue boats from reaching the trapped residents. State vs. Federal Conflict: According to Matt, the situation was resolved only when Texas DPS (State Highway Patrol) agents confronted the federal agents, telling them to "get out of their way" because they were "going to save Texans." This allowed civilian boats to get in and rescue "several hundred people." Beaumont, Gun Confiscations, and Militia Standoff The next day, an off-duty Federal State Department member warned Matt’s group that dams in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area were also being released into flooded areas. Threat of Disarmament: The group was explicitly warned that local law enforcement in Beaumont was threatening to arrest and confiscate firearms from any armed civilians, including rescuers. "Left... to Die": T... Chapters (00:00:21) - Positube Passages & Positube Pow Wow(00:02:22) - Introducing Matthew Shore(00:02:42) - Open Carry Texas PR Director on Hurricane Harvey(00:03:41) - Duncan Cain on His Time in Texas(00:12:56) - Preparation for a Disaster(00:14:40) - Texas militia members on Hurricane Harvey rescue mission(00:23:32) - Private Companies Hunt Looters in Harvey(00:26:13) - Prison Ships in Texas(00:28:01) - Don't Comply Comm. on Hurricane Harvey(00:31:40) - "Thunder Island"(00:36:42) - Matt Dunlap's Live Video From Harvey Aftermath(00:48:03) - Donor sites for Harvey relief