Notes of the Week

Notes In ReviewThis special episode of Notes of the Week is structured as back-to-back interviews with two progressive congressional candidates: Chris Armstrong, running in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District against incumbent Tom Tiffany, and Abel Chavez, running in California’s 48th — the seat just vacated by 26-year incumbent Darrell Issa after the passage of Prop 50. Nick Paro and Walter Rhein host alongside guest co-host Eevie Bateman, a former early-childhood-education director and full-time writer who joined to help boost grassroots candidates. The through-line of the conversation is the same in both halves: the Democratic Party’s “electability” frame is broken, the new generation of candidates wins by being present and direct with voters, and the existing legacy media will not give that work oxygen — independent media has to.Armstrong, an enterprise architect and IT consultant from St. Croix County, makes the technocracy fight personal. He argues for federal-level taxation on tech billionaires (“let me hold the door open” if they threaten to leave), for permitting regulations that ban data center NDAs after Wisconsin municipalities discovered local councils were being kept in the dark on multi-billion-dollar deals, and for treaty-law-based environmental protection citing the 1854 ceded territories and the seven federally recognized tribes inside CD7. Armstrong is running as part of a collaborative slate with Ginger Murray and Fred — explicitly refusing to attack his primary opponents because the goal is to flip the seat. Eevie introduces a Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath finding that Gen Z is the first generation in 60+ years to underperform their parents cognitively, with the inflection point at the 2010 introduction of classroom technology, and Armstrong agrees regulation is essential — particularly around children, data centers, and the AI bubble.Chavez’s pitch is procedurally specific in a way most candidates never get to. He won an all-red school board seat against a GOP incumbent who outspent him 10-to-1 by sending color-coded mailers (red for Republican households, blue for Democratic, identical message), then was elected school board president by his four Republican colleagues by picking battles strategically. He passed the first school bond in 17 years — tens of millions of dollars — by running a community survey first so residents themselves asked for the increase. His congressional platform is concrete: cap class sizes at 24, build a trades building in every high school, fund schools by federal allocation tied to enrollment with rich-district property tax overflow funding poor-district baselines, hire school psychologists instead of school resource officers, and refuse all corporate, foreign-lobby, and AIPAC money. Both candidates close on the same point: this is winnable if the party stops protecting incumbents who can fundraise but won’t fight, and if independent media keeps building the coverage legacy outlets refuse to provide.Key Takeaways* Visit and support both campaigns directly. Chris Armstrong’s site is armstrongforwisconsin.com; Abel Chavez’s site is abelchavezforcongress.com. Both candidates are funded primarily by small-dollar grassroots donations and refuse foreign-lobby money. If you can’t vote for them, you can fund them, share them, or volunteer remotely — Armstrong’s 7th District covers ~57% rural northern Wisconsin and Chavez is running in CA-48 with a Spanish-bilingual platform.* Track the Wisconsin data center NDA fight.Armstrong reports that Wisconsin municipalities entered non-disclosure agreements with data center developers without informing local councils or residents, that legislation is moving through the still-Republican state legislature to ban this practice, and that many proposed developments have been paused or canceled after public pushback. This is a bipartisan issue — verify how it’s playing in your state and demand the same prohibitions on local-government NDAs with private developers.* Read the Horvath testimony on classroom technology and Gen Z cognition. Eevie cites Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath’s congressional testimony documenting a sharp 2010 inflection point in cognitive measurements for children — attention, memory, literacy, numeracy, executive functioning — correlating with the introduction of classroom devices. Look up the testimony, compare it against your own school district’s tech-in-classroom policy, and bring it to your next school board meeting.* Push school board meetings toward citizen-initiated agenda items. Chavez points out that school board members are barred by procedure from responding to public comment, which makes the three-minute public-comment slot largely performative. Advocate for a community-petition pathway — a fixed signature threshold (30, 40, 50) that forces a board vote on a constituent-proposed item — as a structural reform in your district.* Stop accepting “but they can win” as a Democratic primary argument. Both Armstrong and Chavez are running against opponents — and against an internal party logic — that treats fundraising totals as proof of electability. Armstrong’s response is collaborative slates that don’t attack each other; Chavez’s response is refusing AIPAC, corporate PAC, and stock-trading money entirely while still raising near $480,000. Pressure your local Democratic Party to evaluate primary candidates on platform and proximity to voters, not on the size of their super PAC.People, Organizations, and TermsPeople:* Chris Armstrong — Democratic candidate, Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District. IT consulting company owner, enterprise architect with 30+ years in the field, University of Minnesota astrophysics graduate. Running on transparency, environmental protection, taxing tech billionaires, treaty-law enforcement, and a six-step “resistance, retake, remove, restore, reimagine, reconcile” framework. First candidate to enter the race in February 2025.* Abel Chavez — Democratic candidate, California’s 48th Congressional District. High school chemistry and physics teacher, business broker who helps small-business owners retire ethically by placing local entrepreneurs as buyers, current school board president. Won his school board seat by 10x outspent margin in an all-red district. Running on Medicare for All, working-family childcare, ICE accountability, immigration humanity, and refusal of AIPAC and corporate money.* Eevie Bateman — Guest co-host. Former early-childhood-education director, now full-time writer and blogger based in Texas. Joined the show after Stephanie Hernandez asked her to vet and boost Chavez. Writing memoir and a novel; topical focus on feminist cultural criticism, religion, and “fuck the patriarchy, and if y’all would have just listened to Black women.”* Tom Tiffany — Current Republican incumbent in Wisconsin CD7, now also running for governor of Wisconsin. Armstrong’s argument: flipping CD7 simultaneously denies Tiffany the gubernatorial pipeline.* Darrell Issa — Outgoing 26-year Republican incumbent in CA-48 who dropped out following Prop 50, opening the seat Chavez is contesting.* Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath — Cognitive neuroscientist who delivered congressional testimony documenting a generational inflection point in cognitive measurements aligning with 2010 classroom-tech adoption.Organizations / Programs:* Courage for Democracy — Candidate group Armstrong is part of. Hosts have previously interviewed Brittany Jones (Oregon gubernatorial candidate) and reference the network’s united-front principles. Chavez is not currently a member; the hosts encourage him to join.* Indivisible — Sponsor of the April 5, 2025 “Hands Off” protests. Armstrong organized a CD7 event via Mobilize that drew 250 people including Republicans and independents.* The SAVE Act — Republican legislation Armstrong cites as voter-disenfranchisement legislation requiring ID-name matching that primarily harms married women who changed names.* Enbridge Line 5 — Canadian oil pipeline currently being rerouted around (but still through the ceded territory of) the Bad River Band Indian Reservation. Wisconsin DNR comment period closed the Saturday before recording.* AIPAC — American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Chavez explicitly refuses its donations and frames refusal as proof of independence.* Bluebonnet Program — Texas curriculum initiative Eevie cites as inserting religious indoctrination into public schools.Terms / Concepts:* Technocracy / Technofascism — The framing Nick uses for the Thiel/Karp/Palantir-aligned tech-billionaire push toward post-constitutional governance, data privatization, and unregulated AI/data-center expansion. The hosts also produce a separate show, Palintalk, on the topic.* Ceded Territory — Land covered by 1854/1842 treaties that retain tribal hunting, fishing, and gathering rights even outside modern reservation boundaries. Armstrong argues these treaties are an underused legal mechanism against extractive development in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota.* ADA (Average Daily Attendance) Funding — California’s per-student-day school-funding formula (~$92/day per Chavez) that incentivizes schools to focus on attendance over learning outcomes. Chavez argues this drives the bloated administrator-to-teacher ratio.* Tiered Mental Health Support — Chavez’s school-psychologist model, which sorts students into needs tiers (1 through 4) for proactive support. He argues this is the actual mechanism for reducing school violence — not a school resource officer.Sources & References* Chris Armstrong for Wisconsin (CD7) — Campaign site, policies, and donation page.* Abel Chavez for Congress (CA-48) — Campaign site, bilingual policy pages, and donation page.Thank you Margaret Williams, MS, ACC, Lori Modafferi, the real pambo, ArleneMach, Acejonesz, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein, Chris Armstrong for Congress, Abel Chavez, and A. Eevie Bateman! Join me for my next live video in the app.Actions You Can Take* Check out the new: Sick of this Shop!* Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBannerSubmit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States:* deflock.meService members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders:* Orders Project* Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsNick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Join the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 | Kimmy Win ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes In ReviewThis episode argues that the central failure of the political left in the United States is asking permission to defend itself. Nick Paro and Walter Rhein open with the asymmetry that has defined the Trump era: Republicans wield power to its maximum reach, Democrats wield it to the minimum out of fear of overreach, and the public has been conditioned to victim-shame the candidates and movements who try to push back. Walter’s framing — quoted later in his Substack note — applies the same logic to sexual violence: “Let’s hunt down all the men in the Rape Academy. Let’s invade their privacy. Let’s make them fearful wherever they go.” The episode’s title topic, religious patriarchy, sits underneath all of this as the operating system: a worldview that frames any defense of the marginalized as an offense against the powerful, and that has trained both women and men to wait for permission they will never be given.Letters From A Feminist — a Substack writer who joined Substack in February 2026 and writes from Uzbekistan — joins roughly halfway through. Her view from outside the U.S. confirms what the hosts have been saying: the manosphere is not an American problem, it is a Western problem, and her cousins and nephews in Central Asia know who Andrew Tate is. She gives Nick the cleanest version of his own working definition of intelligent masculinity — “men have to finally choose to be better than the system that protects them, because the system is supposed to be built to benefit them, but patriarchy consumes them as fuel” — and confirms from the Gen Z dating market that women are leaving men in numbers, not because of theory but because dating young men has become “insufferable” when basic emotional and physical self-maintenance is missing. The hosts respond by naming what men have to do: stop asking other men’s permission, stop centering their own egos in conversations about assault, and stop waiting for women to do the work of policing patriarchy.The conversation closes with community art — Walter’s daughter’s digital illustration for his unpublished children’s book Cosette and the Secrets of the Tooth Fairy, Nick’s daughter’s looping anime-style animation, and Lufina’s selection of the 1957 Uzbek painting Girl Calling to Tea by Zakir Inogamov — and a final political coda. Nick demands a single male member of Congress put his career on the line and out every member who has used the taxpayer-funded sexual assault hush money settlement system. Walter closes with the show’s recurring message: support working-class independent media, because the robber barons are deliberately working to silence the voices that threaten them.Key Takeaways* You never need consent from your oppressors to defend yourself. Walter’s framing is the spine of the episode. Whether the issue is feminism, fascism, sexual violence, or political accountability, the left has been conditioned to ask permission from the right before it acts — and the right will never grant it. The work is to act anyway, and to recognize that the request for consent is itself part of the system being defended.* Innocent until proven guilty is a courtroom standard, not a social one. Nick draws a line that the episode keeps returning to: legal innocence is not the same as social culpability. The patriarchal system uses the criminal-justice frame to immunize abusers from social accountability, and pairs it with victim-shaming so that anyone who names harm becomes the aggressor. Refusing that frame — naming abusers and demanding accountability outside the courtroom — is part of breaking the system.* The manosphere is a Western export, but it’s a global problem now. Letters From A Feminist confirms from Uzbekistan that Andrew Tate, Nick Fuentes, and the broader manosphere have penetrated Central Asia through social media. The fight against it is not American-specific work — and one of the most useful things American men can do is provide an audible, visible alternative model that travels alongside the toxic one.* Patriarchy hurts men, and women are not waiting around for them to figure it out. Lufina, speaking from Gen Z, says directly that women are leaving men because dating young men who can’t do dishes, can’t take care of themselves emotionally, and have no interior life is not worth the cost. Walter and Nick agree: this is a men’s problem to fix, alongside the women already doing the work, not in front of them. The trap for “good men” was the silence — the assumption that not being part of the problem was sufficient. It isn’t.* Primaries are a performance review, and the Democratic Party suppressing them is anti-democratic. Nick’s note this week names primary suppression — pressuring challengers to withdraw, making ballot access functionally impossible — as a form of fascism on the supposed-left. The structural answer is the work the show keeps doing: candidate interviews, coalition building, refusing to wait for big-name permission to platform progressive challengers. In some districts it only takes 10,000 votes to defeat an incumbent, and the corrupt media is deliberately distracting from that math.Terms and Concepts* Religious Patriarchy — The episode’s title concept. The system in which patriarchal social control derives its legitimacy and emotional weight from religious framing — defining defense of the marginalized as an offense against the divinely-ordained order. Operates upstream of party politics; it is the conditioning that makes Democratic Party restraint feel like virtue and Republican Party aggression feel like nature.* Intelligent Masculinity — Nick’s working definition: the refusal to outsource accountability onto others, and the discipline to live with the consequences of one’s values and actions. The episode functions as a real-time confirmation, with Lufina arriving at the same definition from a feminist starting point.* The Sexual Assault Hush Money Fund — The taxpayer-funded settlement system used by members of Congress to silence sexual assault complainants. Nick’s call to action: a male member of Congress must put career on the line and out every colleague who has used it.* Robber Barons (vs. “Oligarchs”) — Nick’s preferred term for the U.S. ultra-wealthy class. Argues “oligarch” is a Russified import that softens the visceral charge; “robber baron” is the historically American framing and lands harder in English.* The Trap for Good Men — The conditioning that taught well-intentioned men that not being part of the problem was sufficient. The episode’s argument: silence was the failure mode, and visibility — being loud, being audible, modeling the alternative — is the corrective.Notes of the Week* Walter’s Note — “Let’s hunt down all the men in the Rape Academy”* Nick’s Note — Primaries as performance review / Democratic primary suppression as anti-democratic* Letters From A Feminist’s Note — On gender-based violence and feminism’s necessity~ Nick Paro, Walter RheinActions You Can Take* Check out the new: Sick of this Shop!* Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBannerSubmit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States:* deflock.meService members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders:* Orders Project* Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsThank you Amy Gabrielle, A. Eevie Bateman, LeftieProf, Skutt Hope, Farmers AGAINST trump., and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein and Letters from a Feminist! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Join the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 | Kimmy Win ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes In ReviewThis episode centers on a profound, practical question: if you’re going to leave the United States, what does it mean to do that well? Attorney and emigration consultant Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq., joins Nick Paro and Walter Rhein to define conscientious emigration — the discipline of leaving with intentionality about the environmental, cultural, and economic impact you have on the country you move to. Elizabeth founded Conscientious Emigration in January 2024, originally as a side project born from decades of environmental justice work, but after November 2025 gutted all nonprofit funding in that space, she pivoted to it full time. Her filter is explicit: she is not interested in helping Americans export colonial behaviors abroad. That principled self-selection means her clients tend to be remarkable — archaeologists, retired doctors, lifelong social justice advocates, people who’ve already done the work of understanding their own conditioning.The episode covers hard practical ground: which countries are actually viable destinations for which people (visa qualification is always the first limiting factor), how to spot bad information from location-specific influencers who profit from steering you to one place regardless of fit, why Europe has declined in Elizabeth’s recommendations due to right-wing spread, and how U.S. imperialism toward Latin America is actively shrinking the list of safe options. Chile dropped off entirely — “there’s a literal Nazi running the country.” Walter speaks from nine years of experience being deconitioned by Peruvian culture; Nick shares the painful story of nearly joining an anti-vax, anti-LGBTQ cult-adjacent community in Panama. The cult experience becomes a teaching case: Americans are uniquely poorly equipped to identify cults because American society is itself organized as one. Elizabeth adds the professional lens — her legal training means she looks for the question not being asked, the answer being buried, and she applies that rigor to every apartment walkthrough and emigration plan she’s part of.The episode ends with community art — Nick’s daughter’s digital animation work, Walter’s daughter’s Star Wars figures made from toilet paper rolls, Elizabeth’s husband’s photograph of an endemic emerald hummingbird from their yard in Mexico — and a political coda. Walter is actively working to get progressive primary challengers elected in Wisconsin. Elizabeth makes the point that leaving is not cowardice: not everyone’s role is to stay and fight on the front lines. She is doing significant work for U.S. communities from Mexico. Nick closes with the show’s through-line: the cultural shift is upstream from politics, and that work happens in communities like this one.Key Takeaways* Leaving is not cowardice — and staying isn’t mandatory heroism. Elizabeth is explicit: if you need to leave for your safety, your family’s wellbeing, or your mental health, go. She is doing more to help U.S. communities from Mexico than she could have done from Southwest Florida. Not everyone has the same role in this fight, and that’s not abandonment.* Visa qualification is always the first variable. Before aspirational destination lists, before cost-of-living comparisons, before culture fit — ask where you can legally qualify for a residency visa based on your age, income, savings, and identity. That is the binding constraint. Everything else is secondary.* The expat bubble is not just aesthetically unpleasant — it causes measurable harm. Gentrification in Lisbon, Mexico City, and Barcelona is directly linked to expats who pay far above local market rates. Conscientious emigration means, over time, integrating economically with local standards — not maintaining a dollar-denominated lifestyle in a peso economy.* “The race starts the second you land.” Walter’s framing: either you begin immediately adopting better cultural habits, or you calcify into another miserable expat in a bubble. There is no neutral. The deconditioning that took Walter nine years in Peru is available to anyone willing to learn the language, follow cultural cues, and show up as a learner rather than a customer.* Due diligence is part of conscientious emigration. The MAGA family that signed up for Russian military social media influencing and got conscripted to the front lines; the Panama eco-community that turned out to be anti-vax, anti-LGBTQ, and spiritually hierarchical; the Honduras gated community that was a cult — these are what happens without careful, skeptical vetting. Elizabeth applies legal-grade scrutiny: check the apartment, read the contract, question the deal that sounds too good, and be especially suspicious of destination-specific influencers whose income depends on steering you to one place.People, Organizations, and TermsPeople:* Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq. — Attorney, founder of Conscientious Emigration (January 2024), based in Mexico after emigrating from Southwest Florida in 2022. Former environmental policy and justice advocate. Works primarily with people from marginalized groups navigating values-aligned emigration from the U.S. Writes on Substack and Medium.* Walter Rhein — Co-host of Notes of the Week, based in Peru (his wife is Peruvian), currently building on land with his family. Former tech worker. Writes on Substack; actively helping progressive primary challengers get elected in Wisconsin.* Nick Paro — Host of Notes of the Week and Sick of This Shit Publications. Nearly emigrated to Panama with his family; the experience ended when they encountered an anti-vax, anti-LGBTQ eco-community operating as a cult. Father of two neurodivergent children.Organizations / Programs:* Conscientious Emigration — Elizabeth’s consulting practice. Helps people leave the U.S. with intentionality about environmental, cultural, and economic impact on destination countries. Explicit filter against colonial behaviors and mentalities. Clients find her via Substack and Medium.* The Panama group — Unnamed eco-community that love-bombed Nick and his family, turned anti-vax and anti-LGBTQ after close contact, and engaged in spiritual hierarchy. A cautionary case study in cult-adjacent expat communities.Terms / Concepts:* Conscientious Emigration — Leaving one’s home country with active awareness of and responsibility for one’s environmental, cultural, and economic impact on the destination country. Encompasses both values-led behavior and methodical due diligence.* The Expat Bubble — Self-segregating communities of U.S. expats abroad who refuse to learn the local language, maintain dollar-economy spending, expect English-language service, and reinforce each other’s sense of exceptionalism. Causes measurable harm through gentrification and cultural erasure.* The Ugly American — Coined cultural archetype of the U.S. traveler or expat who demands exceptionalist treatment abroad: expecting English, refusing to adapt, and behaving as royalty in countries they’ve chosen to inhabit. Not exclusively white or Christian — it’s a conditioned mindset.* Gentrification by Expats — The inflationary effect on local housing and goods markets when expat spending power sets a new price floor. Documented in Lisbon, Mexico City, Barcelona. Elizabeth’s recommendation: short-term leases on arrival, eventual full economic integration.* Love Bombing (cult context) — Intensive, overwhelming affection used by cult-adjacent communities to recruit new members before revealing incompatible values. Nick’s Panama experience is a direct case study.Notes of the Week* Elizabeth’s Note* Nick’s Note* Walter’s NoteArt of the Week* Nick’s daughter’s eyeball animation* Elizabeth’s husband’s hummingbird photo* Walter’s daughter’s collection of toilet paper roll Star Wars characters~ Nick Paro, Walter RheinActions You Can Take* Check out the new: Sick of this Shop!* Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBannerSubmit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States:* deflock.meService members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders:* Orders Project* Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsThank you Mack Devlin, Letters from a Feminist, LeftieProf, Samantha Paige (she/they), the real pambo, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein and Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq.! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Join the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes In ReviewThis episode dissects nationalist Christian ideology and its role in normalizing male sexual violence. Hosts Nick Paro and Walter Rhein engage guests Andra Watkins and Frederic Poag in hard conversations about Christian nationalist theology that treats dominion over women as biblical mandate. The core argument: America’s crisis of male accountability stems from theological permission structures combined with feminization anxieties. Watkins, a survivor of Christian nationalist upbringing, argues that without institutional accountability systems — DNA testing for officials, rape kit processing, belief of accusers — abusers operate with impunity. Fred Poag speaks from military experience on why individualistic “alpha male” posturing fails compared to collective vulnerability and respect. The stakes: toxic masculinity is not nature; it’s trained, reproduced, and reversible.Key Takeaways* Demand institutional accountability mechanisms. DNA databases for elected officials, mandatory rape kit processing, and presumption of witness credibility are not hypothetical — implement them now at state level. Political careers should end on first credible accusation of sexual misconduct, not after vetting delay.* “Anything but yes means no” is foundational. Enthusiastic, continuous consent is the baseline for respectful sexuality. Watkins reframes this as basic reciprocal respect: if you demand people listen when you say no, enforce the same for others.* Call out the “micro men” pattern. Christian nationalist theology manufactures male entitlement (“dominion” over women from Genesis). Progressive men must name this in peers, in institutions, and in political recruitment — don’t normalize it as cultural difference.* Primaries matter more than generals. Democratic establishment abandonment of primaries (moving to assemblies, blocking progressive candidates) guarantees two bought candidates. Fund and promote progressive candidates in early stages, not post-primary damage control.* Intelligent masculinity is learned, not lost. Both Fred and Nick model accountability, vulnerability, and respect for expertise. This is not weakness; it produces better operations, stronger teams, and safer communities. Train it systematically.Orgs and TermsOrganizations / Programs:* Christian Nationalism (NAT-Cs) — Theological framework claiming Genesis grants men dominion over women; provides moral justification for sexual entitlement and political control.* Democratic National Committee (DNC) — Criticized for replacing primaries with assemblies in Colorado District 4, avoiding grassroots accountability, and backing centrist candidates over progressives.Terms / Concepts:* “Anything but yes means no” — Consent framework emphasizing that ambiguous responses, silence, and hedging do not constitute permission.* Dominion theology — Christian nationalist interpretation of Genesis 1:28 as divine mandate for male rule over women, family, and society.* Micro syndrome vs. macro syndrome — Nick Paro’s framing: individualistic posturing vs. collective belonging. Micro syndrome reproduces entitlement; macro builds community resilience.Sources & References* Jess Craven’s investigation of Ruben Gallego’s misogynistic texts toward Democratic women.* CoffeeZilla’s exposé of Andrew Tate’s ghostwriting and course-selling schemes.* Greta Thunberg’s 2022 tip to Romanian authorities on Tate’s location, leading to his arrest on sex trafficking charges.* Colorado District 4 primary interference — DNC blocking Tricia Calvary, backing Eileen Laubacher.Notes of the Week* Andra’s Note* Fred’s Note* Nick’s Note* Walter’s Note* Operation Epically FUBAR — a poem by Nick ParoActions You Can Take* Check out the new: Sick of this Shop!* Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBannerSubmit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States:* deflock.meService members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders:* Orders Project* Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsThank you Mack Devlin, LeftieProf, Noble Blend, the real pambo, Liza Hameline, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein, Andra Watkins, and Frederic Poag! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!.Support as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offFor support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes In ReviewThis episode reframes the current administration as a “second Confederacy” rather than a Nazi revival, and treats the 2026 primaries as the lever to pry power back from corporate Democrats. Nick Paro lays out a tooling-and-volunteer strategy for Broad Banner — using Lev Parnas’s network and a planned all-day candidate-interview marathon to give grassroots progressives the oxygen national media won’t. Walter Rhein presses the case that Democrats had full power in 2020, failed to stop fascism’s rise, and have to be primaried out rather than defended. The two also walk through emotional-intelligence parenting (“I’m sorry I made you feel that way”), the Reapportionment Act of 1929 as the structural cause of unrepresentative Congress, and the absurdity of dental, vision, and hearing being treated as luxury insurance. Listeners are asked to volunteer — especially for non-technical scheduling, outreach, and clip work — and to push paid and free subscriptions across both shows.Notes of the Week* Walter’s Note* Nick’s NoteArtwork of the Week* Walter Rhein * Nick ParoSupport the Cause* Volunteer for non-technical roles at broadbanner.com/volunteer — specifically asking for schedulers, networkers, and clip editors.Actions You Can Take* Check out the new: Sick of this Shop!* Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBannerSubmit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States:* deflock.meService members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders:* Orders Project* Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsThank you Margaret Williams, MS, ACC, Soso's World, LeftieProf, Noble Blend, julie elder, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Join the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes In ReviewWalter Rhein and I welcomed former U.S. Border Patrol Senior Agent and author Jenn Budd to dissect how the legal and institutional architecture of CBP, ICE, and DHS protects Agents who commit violence, sexual assault, and murder — as the deliberate design. Jenn traced the through-line from internal cover-up teams called Critical Incident Teams (CITs) — now rebranded as CBP's Office of Professional Responsibility — to the ongoing obstruction of state investigations into the shootings of Alex Petti and Renee Nicole Good, connecting these cases to the broader pattern of federal agencies blocking accountability through selective jurisdiction.The conversation shifted from exposé to strategy: Jenn announced her forthcoming ICE primer ICE: What Everyone Needs to Know and explained her pivot from documenting individual agent misconduct to targeting the policy and legal frameworks that make accountability structurally impossible — specifically the Federal Tort Claims Act, which effectively bars civil suits against federal agents for assault and battery. Walter's note landed the episode's most disarming gut-punch: his seventh-grade daughter, told that the U.S. is the only country to have dropped nuclear bombs on civilians, responded, "Well, who else would it be, dad?" — a moment the panel read as proof that the next generation already sees through the indoctrination.The discussion closed with a clear call: film federal agents when you can, primary spineless Democrats, support independent media, and show up in community — because peaceful, visible resistance is both strategically superior and the only thing authoritarian systems can't easily justify crushing.Art of the Week* Walter Rhein’s daughter* Walter Rhein* Jason Gael of Shane Yirak* Stephanie G Wilson, PhDNotes* Jenn Budd’s Note* Nick Paro’s Note* Walter Rhein’s NoteResources* Against the Wall by Jenn Budd* Mother of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew rejects White House portrayal of her after ICE arrest* Trump friend asked ice to detain the mother of his childActions You Can Take* Check out the new: Sick of this Shop!* Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBannerSubmit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States:* deflock.meService members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders:* Orders Project* Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsThank you Ellie Leonard, NeuroDivergent Hodgepodge, Beth Cruz, Margaret Williams, MS, ACC, LeftieProf, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein and Jenn Budd! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Join the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Art In Review* NeuroDivergent Hodgepodge* Nick Paro’s daughter* Walter Rhein’s daughterNotes In ReviewActions You Can Take* Check out the new: Sick of this Shop!* Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBannerSubmit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States:* deflock.meService members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders:* Orders Project* Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsThank you Shane Yirak, Noble Blend, LeftieProf, the real pambo, Patricia Wren, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein, Shane Yirak, and Natasha K.! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Join the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Artwork of the Week* Fan submission by Jason Gael:* Walter Rhein’s incredible daughter:* Nick Paro’s incredible daughter:* Nick Paro’s incredible daughter:* Will Fullwood’s new logo:* Margaret Williams, MS, ACC words of power:Notes of the WeekActions You Can Take* Check out the new: Sick of this Shop!* Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBannerSubmit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States:* deflock.meService members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders:* Orders Project* Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsThank you Margaret Williams, MS, ACC, Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq., Noble Blend, PJ Schuster, LeftieProf, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein and Will Fullwood! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Join the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Today was unexpected — and all about the art — we hope you enjoy this incredible discussion with Nick Paro, Walter Rhein, Marlon Weems, and our special featured guest (and Marlon’s daughter) Hallie-Claire Weems!For more of Hallie-Claire’s work, please subscribe to and follow her:* Substack: @hallieclairew* Instagram: @hallieclaire.art* Website: www.hallieclaire.artArt In Review* From Selma to Montgomery, by Hallie-Claire Weems* By My Own Hand, by Hallie-Claire Weems* Water color stained glass and hot air balloon, by Walter Rhein’s daughter* A study in eyes, by Nick Paro’s daughterNotes In ReviewThank you Ahmed Baba, NeuroDivergent Hodgepodge, Caro Henry, The Misfit's Muse, Noble Blend, and many others for tuning into my live video with Marlon Weems, Walter Rhein, and Hallie-Claire Weems on Sick of this Shit Publications! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Join the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes In ReviewThis morning’s Notes of the Week jumped right into the discussion — Nick Paro and Walter Rhein opened with a blunt question:“War, what is it good for?”From there, the episode moved fast — and deliberately — through the constitutional crisis unfolding around unilateral military action against Iran, the civilian consequences already visible, and the moral rot they argue is spreading through both government and media.This is a warning and a critique on active policy.1. Anti-Constitutional War, Not Just “Illegal War”Nick made an important distinction that shaped the entire conversation:“This is an anti-constitutional war… it goes against the principles of the Constitution.”Rather than arguing technical legality alone, the focus stayed on constitutional order. The War Powers Resolution, the 48-hour reporting requirement, and the 60–90 day authorization window were broken down in plain language. We offer this key takeaway: Presidents have been granted procedural workarounds since 9/11 — and those workarounds are now being used to bypass the spirit of Article I authority.Nick framed it clearly:* Congress must authorize war.* Reporting must occur within 48 hours.* Continued operations require oversight.* If those checks fail, impeachment exists for a reason.The message is above partisan divides — it is foundation of all of this — and if Congress doesn’t act, executive overreach becomes the norm.2. Civilian Casualties and Moral CollapseNick and Walter never shy away from the idea of consequences. We discussed reports of a strike that killed 140+ girls and women at a school, and the failure of media to treat it with appropriate gravity. Nick pressed on the rules of war:“We need to maintain the rules because if they’re not going to, who fucking does?”This was about whether we still enforce human restraints on power. When thermal verification, target confirmation, and civilian safeguards are ignored, the argument goes, escalation becomes inevitable — and so does blowback.3. Concentration Camps and Domestic AccountabilityThis is where the conversation pivoted inward — towards the detentions, missing detainees, family separations, and the women and children we know almost nothing about. Walter put it bluntly:“People are not upset enough that we have concentration camps in the U.S.”This is the framing for the domestic mirror of foreign overreach: when executive power expands abroad, civil liberties erode at home. And if crimes against humanity are happening — inside or outside U.S. borders — what does accountability look like?4. Media ComplicityHere Nick and Walter turned their attention to media figures who normalize extreme rhetoric without consequence.“They’re still getting paid. They still have a platform when they’re talking about separating women by breeding potential.”The argument is very simple — when extreme dehumanization becomes entertainment, violence becomes policy — and the result is the normalization of extremism.5. The AAA Strategy: Accountability, Affordability, AuthenticityIn the final segment, Nick pivoted from critique to offense. If pro-democracy candidates want to win, he argued, they need message discipline built on three pillars:* Accountability* Affordability* Authenticity“Accountability, affordability, authenticity. If you can’t, are you even trying to win?”The framing is strategic:* Hold power accountable.* Rebalance wealth and affordability.* Speak plainly and authentically.No hedging. No triangulation. No passivity.Final TakeNick and Walter had one aim for today — wake people up — and the through-line was consistent:* War powers without congressional enforcement erode constitutional order.* Civilian deaths without accountability erode moral authority.* Camps and detentions without transparency erode democracy.* Media normalization erodes outrage.* Passivity erodes everything.And our closing was simple — something has to happen — and the question now isn’t whether the crisis exists, it’s whether enough people decide to act.Links of The WeekArt of the Week* Jason Gael’s work:* Walter Rhein’s daughter’s work:* Nick Paro’s daughter’s work:Notes of the WeekActions You Can Take* Check out the new: Sick of this Shop!* Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBannerSubmit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States:* deflock.meService members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders:* Orders Project* Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsThank you NeuroDivergent Hodgepodge, The Bathrobe Guy (Robes) 🥋, ESBC NFL And SportsBetting, Beth Cruz, Marnie Screams Into the Void, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein and Sick of this Shit Publications! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Join the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Art of the Week* From Walter Rhein’s daughter:* From Nick Paro’s daughter:* From Eric Lullove’s collection:Notes of the WeekCall To ActionGo check out and learn about the local chapters for your Working Families Party and Democratic Socialists of America. The time is now to take the reigns with a progressive platform that offers Staters real values that work—not the lies of consultants.Actions You Can Take* Check out the new: Sick of this Shop!* Check out the new network and affiliate calendar: BroadBannerSubmit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement and de-flock the States:* deflock.meService members can get un-biased information on legal vs illegal orders:* Orders Project* Reach out on Signal: @TheOrdersProject.76Learn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsThank you Sushipheliac 🍣🍥🍣(Jen Rust), Soso's World, Noble Blend, Cris Northern, Samantha Paige (she/they), and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein, Natasha K., and Dr. Eric Lullove — presented on Sick of this Shit Publications! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Join the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Art From the WeekNotes From the WeekImportant ArticleActions You Can Take* Check out the new Sick of this Shit Publications Merch Shop!* Check out Banner & Backbone Media’s new BroadBanner network and affiliate calendar — including all Sick of this Shit Publications branded shows!Sign the Petitions:* Demand Congress Subpoena Key Figures on the Epstein Case* Investigate Presidential Use of the Autopen for Pardons and Executive Actions* Mandate that ICE agents show their face and identificationSubmit questions, feedback, and artwork for Notes of the Week with Nick and Walter:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormSupport Ukraine:* Donate towards generatorsCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement:* safedc.infoLearn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsThank you Evan Fields, Noble Blend, Jeanne Elbe, Kim G, LeftieProf, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein, Elizabeth Raven, and Sick of this Shit Publications! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Join the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Art of the Week* Walter Rhein’s daughter:* Nick Paro’s daughter:Notes of the WeekThank you NeuroDivergent Hodgepodge, Cat The FireBrand Project, Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq., Sacred Storylines 🎨, Cris Northern, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein and Cryn Johannsen! Join me for my next live video in the app.Actions You Can TakeSupport efforts by Cryn Johannsen to provide aide to a family in Palestine:* (Article) The Struggle Has Just Begun* DonationsSign the Petitions:* Demand Congress Subpoena Key Figures on the Epstein Case* Investigate Presidential Use of the Autopen for Pardons and Executive Actions* Mandate that ICE agents show their face and identificationSubmit questions and artwork for Nick and Walter to respond to and showcase on Notes of the Week:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormSupport Ukraine:* Donate towards generatorsCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement:* safedc.infoLearn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsNick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!~Nick ParoJoin the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck | Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙 ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Artwork of the Week* By Walter Rhein’s youngest daughter:* By Nick Paro’s daughter:* By Bee's Free Verse/True Verse:* By Rachel-We are Renee and Keith:* By Jack:Notes In ReviewActions You Can TakeSubmit questions and artwork for Nick and Walter to respond to and showcase on Notes of the Week:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormSupport Ukraine:* Donate towards generatorsCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement:* safedc.infoSign the Move-On Petitions:* Investigate Presidential Use of the Autopen for Pardons and Executive Actions* Mandate that ICE agents show their face and identificationLearn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsThank you Melissa Corrigan, she/her, Pamela, Beth Cruz, cynmac, P. J. Schuster, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein, Jack, and Melissa Corrigan, she/her! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!~Nick ParoJoin the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes in ReviewFeatured ArtworkWalter featured an amazing drawing from his daughter about Ellie Leonard — thank an Ellie, thank a Teacher!Nick featured an incredible first animation from his daughter of an eye following the movement of a ball!Actions You Can TakeSubmit questions and artwork for Nick and Walter to respond to and showcase:* Sick of this Shit Community Comment FormSupport Ukraine:* Donate towards generatorsCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement:* safedc.infoSign the Move-On Petitions:* Investigate Presidential Use of the Autopen for Pardons and Executive Actions* Mandate that ICE agents show their face and identificationLearn empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit Professionals:* B. Cognition LabsThank you Cat, Stephanie G Wilson, PhD, Beth Cruz, Cris, Noble Blend, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!~Nick ParoJoin the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offA special thank you to those who are a part of the Sickest of Them All~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | Terry mitchell | Carollynn | Julie Robuck ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes in ReviewThis Week’s NotesThis Week’s ArtworkThis Week’s DiscussionThis week on Notes of the Week, Nick Paro and Walter Rhein open with reality: physical injury, aging bodies, and the brutal inefficiencies of the U.S. healthcare system. Walter’s skiing accident opens our discussion with a wider critique of insurance profiteering — a system that punishes people for seeking care while exhausting doctors and patients alike. Nick reinforces this with his lived experiences inside the VA system — insurance based bureaucracy degrading our quality of life, even for those supposedly “taken care of.”From there, our conversation pivots into one of our most common, recurring themes: intelligent masculinity. Both of us value presence, humility, and care — especially as fathers. Celebrating our daughters’ artwork is our way of declaring that nurturing creativity, curiosity, and joy is the easiest and most impactful way to create a culture built on interior value, over extraction and dominance.We then move our discussion back into our geopolitical discussion. This is a conversation confronting America’s unresolved reckoning with white supremacy — as a structural force embedded in our institutions, narratives, and foreign policy. Walter names the current administration plainly as a white-supremacist project, while Nick challenges the dehumanization of Latin American lives that allows U.S. violence in Venezuela to be dismissed or justified.Personal stories — living abroad, being welcomed into homes, learning languages, raising families — puncture the myths Americans are taught about the rest of the world. We dismantle propaganda with our humanity, insisting that people across borders are not abstractions but families, creators, parents, and children.We close our discussion right where it started: intentionality. Fighting white supremacy, rejecting supremacist conditioning, and building a better future are not abstract goals — they are daily practices, modeled in how we parent, how we listen, how we create, and how we refuse to stay silent.Thank you This Will Hold, NeuroDivergent Hodgepodge, Will Fullwood, Anshul Kumar, Beth Cruz, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein! Join me for my next live video in the app.Actions You Can TakeSupport Ukraine:* Donate towards generatorsCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement:* safedc.infoSign the Move-On Petitions:* Investigate Presidential Use of the Autopen for Pardons and Executive Actions* A Petition to End the Shutdown and Restore Representation: Remove Speaker Johnson* Mandate that ICE agents show their face and identificationLearn new skills:* B. Cognition Labs — empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit ProfessionalsNick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!~Nick ParoJoin the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offSpecial thanks to the Sickest of Them AllBecome one of the Sickest of Them All with an annual founding pledge of $200, or more!~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | C. McGuire ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes in ReviewThis week’s Notes of the Week opens with Walter Rhein and Nick Paro in a space of reflection — this time between the holidays where time is meaningless and days blend together — where we focus on intentional rest. We discuss parenting, creativity, celebrating the little things, and the importance of making room for our children’s art, curiosity, and emotional expression to blossom. Lego builds, sketches, digital art, and creativity are more than just expressions of joy — it’s a reminder that our community begins at home — and healthy masculinity nurtures rather than controls.From there, our conversation expands into emotional intelligence and self-examination. Nick speaks candidly about parenting insecurities, therapy, and the responsibility men have to unlearn harmful patterns. Walter reflects on how paying attention looks different for different children — and how our expressions of masculinity must make space for that difference, rather than suppress it.The second half of our discussion moves into our Notes from the week and turns sharply toward politics and ethics. We confront disinformation surrounding Venezuela — stressing verification, restraint, moral responsibility in an era of weaponized narratives, and listening to voices who know where to investigate — folks like Ellie Leonard, Melissa Corrigan, she/her, Shane Yirak, Zev Shalev, Lev Parnas, Dean Blundell, Elizabeth Raven and Arturo Dominguez . From there, we move into a discussion about power, lack of introspection, and the Epstein files — focusing in on the overwhelming evidence of systemic abuse and collective trauma used to further supremacist ideologies.Walter frames white supremacy as more than an ideology — it is as a power structure, with fascism as its tool. Nick emphasizes that silence in the face of abuse is complicity — and that accountability means strengthening your moral and ethical compass. We argue that leadership must shift away from inherited power — mostly white and male — and toward those who understand harm and the systemic flaws, because they have lived them.We close our discussion with a call to action: reflect on and reject the indoctrination that upholds corrupt institutions, stop rehabilitating abusive figures, and intentionally elevate voices rooted in empathy and justice. Progress is built through how we raise children, how we tell the truth, and who we allow to hold power.Links of the WeekThank you Ellie Leonard, NeuroDivergent Hodgepodge, Caro Henry, Beth Cruz, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein! Join me for my next live video in the app.Actions You Can TakeSupport Ukraine:* Donate towards generatorsCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement:* safedc.infoSign the Move-On Petitions:* Investigate Presidential Use of the Autopen for Pardons and Executive Actions* A Petition to End the Shutdown and Restore Representation: Remove Speaker Johnson* Mandate that ICE agents show their face and identificationLearn new skills:* B. Cognition Labs — empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit ProfessionalsNick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!~Nick ParoJoin the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offSpecial thanks to the Sickest of Them AllBecome one of the Sickest of Them All with an annual founding pledge of $200, or more!~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | C. McGuire ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes in ReviewThis week on Notes of the Week, Nick Paro and Walter Rhein, are blending intelligent masculinity, creativity, and progressive politics to reframe strength as honesty, accountability, and care for others. Our discussion takes us through emotional literacy and parenting to demanding full transparency around the Epstein files, we reject partisan loyalty in favor of moral and ethical consistency.Our message is simple and uncompromising: people matter more than power, truth matters more than narratives, and silence only protects abusers.Thank you Beth Cruz, Cris, Assemblywoman Debra Mazzarelli, Cathy Stein, Sandra Steffen, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein! Join me for my next live video in the app.Actions You Can TakeCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement:* safedc.infoSign the Move-On Petitions:* Investigate Presidential Use of the Autopen for Pardons and Executive Actions* A Petition to End the Shutdown and Restore Representation: Remove Speaker Johnson* Mandate that ICE agents show their face and identificationLearn new skills:* B. Cognition Labs — empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit ProfessionalsNick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!~Nick ParoJoin the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offSpecial thanks to the Sickest of Them AllBecome one of the Sickest of Them All with an annual founding pledge of $200, or more!~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | C. McGuire ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes in ReviewToday’s Notes of the Week with me, Walter Rhein, and Robert Danna (Bob) was really powerful — ending up as one of the truest examples of authenticity and intelligent masculinity I’ve seen. If you aren’t already subscribing to Walter Rhein, you must be — he is a cornerstone of what a Scholar-Warrior can be and is. To get a good understanding of this phrase, go check out Evan Fields writing: Intellectual Masculinity, the ‘Scholar-Warrior’ Model.Our conversation was framed through the lens of my note — the AAA Strategy for pro-democracy, pro-constitutional candidates to follow.Which led us into an incredibly powerful story from Walter Rhein as we feel the visceral rage towards the continuing attempts in the U.S. to normalize child rape.And close out the conversation on Bob’s note with one of the consequences of un-accountability — specifically the unaccountability in the DoD with lawless orders and the gutting of the JAG Corps.An Extra Way to SupportHelp support Robert Danna by buying a copy of his book and visit his website!* Indie Publisher: My Curious Life* Bob’s website: My Curious LifeThank you The Bathrobe Guy (Robes) 👘, R.V. Hughes, Sandra, LeftieProf, MLR, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein and Robert Danna! Join me for my next live video in the app.Actions You Can TakeCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement:* safedc.infoSign the Move-On Petitions:* Investigate Presidential Use of the Autopen for Pardons and Executive Actions* A Petition to End the Shutdown and Restore Representation: Remove Speaker Johnson* Mandate that ICE agents show their face and identificationLearn new skills:* B. Cognition Labs — empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit ProfessionalsNick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!~Nick ParoJoin the uncensored media at the 1A CollectiveSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offSpecial thanks to the Sickest of Them AllBecome one of the Sickest of Them All with an annual founding pledge of $200, or more!~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | C. McGuire ~For support, contact us at: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Between 12/2 and 12/3, take part in the extended Cyber sale with 60% off your first year’s paid subscription: https://sickofthis.substack.com/saleNotes of the WeekThis week, it’s all about shifting the perspective to actively confront White Supremacy. It’s an American legacy that has inspired hatred and fascism around the world. It’s a legacy worth confronting, accepting, and growing from.Thank you Noble Blend, DILLIGAF?IDO, Susan Theriault, Kathy Smith, Jessica Bee 🍁, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein and Will Fullwood! Join me for my next live video in the app.Actions You Can TakeCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement:* safedc.infoSign the Move-On Petitions:* Investigate Presidential Use of the Autopen for Pardons and Executive Actions* A Petition to End the Shutdown and Restore Representation: Remove Speaker Johnson* Mandate that ICE agents show their face and identificationLearn new skills:* B. Cognition Labs — empathy forward, human centered, experiment based Leadership & Growth Courses for Higher Ed & Non-Profit ProfessionalsNick’s NotesI’m Nick Paro, and I’m sick of the shit going on. So, I’m using poetry, podcasting, and lives to discuss the intersections of chronic illness and mental wellbeing, masculinity, veteran’s issues, politics, and so much more. I am only able to have these conversations, bring visibility to my communities, and fill the void through your support — this is a publication where engagement is encouraged, creativity is a cornerstone, and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!~Nick ParoSupport as a paid subscriber however you can — to help get you started, here are a few discounted options for you* Forever at 50% off* Forever at 60% offJoin the uncensored media at the 1A Collective.Share with everyone your sphere of influence — restack, forward in emails, like, and spread to your other socials!Special thanks to the Sickest of Them All!Become one of the Sickest of Them All with an annual founding pledge of $200, or more!~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | C. McGuire ~For support, contact us at:[email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes of the WeekBonus NotePrimer Articles from This Woman VotesThank you Yanni Hamburger, Beth Cruz, Noble Blend, P. J. Schuster, Robert Sawers, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein and This Woman Votes! Join me for my next live video in the app.Actions You Can TakeCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement:* safedc.infoSign the Move-On Petitions:* Investigate Presidential Use of the Autopen for Pardons and Executive Actions* A Petition to End the Shutdown and Restore Representation: Remove Speaker Johnson* Mandate that ICE agents show their face and identificationNick’s NotesI’m starting a new paid subscriber drive — when we reach 250 paid subscribers, I will release the full audio of Lento-Vivo to all subscribers.For every 50 additional paid subscribers I will release another recording (until I’ve run out of music to release)!I’m using poetry, podcasting, and Lives to discuss the intersections of politics, veteran’s issues, men’s issues, mental health, technology, and so much more. This is a reader supported publication where engagement is encouraged and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Engagement is the lock and you are the key!Share this publication with all of those within your sphere of influence — restack, forward in emails, like, and spread to your other socials!Join the uncensored media at the 1A Collective.Support as a founding member!With an annual pledge of $200, or more, you will receive an annually commissioned poem and podcast episode!Support as a paid subscriber!Special thanks to the Sickest of them all!~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | C. McGuire ~For support, contact us at:[email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes of the WeekBonus NoteThank you Stephanie G Wilson, PhD, Beth Cruz, Polly Walker Blakemore, Cat, Kevin Shively, John H, P. J. Schuster, Will Fullwood, and many others for tuning into my live video with Marlon Weems and Walter Rhein! Join me for my next live video in the app.Actions You Can TakeCall your public servants on important issues:* 5calls.orgJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement:* safedc.infoSign the Move-On Petitions:* Investigate Presidential Use of the Autopen for Pardons and Executive Actions* A Petition to End the Shutdown and Restore Representation: Remove Speaker Johnson* Mandate that ICE agents show their face and identificationNick’s NotesI’m starting a new paid subscriber drive — when we reach 250 paid subscribers, I will release the full audio of Lento-Vivo to all subscribers.For every 50 additional paid subscribers I will release another recording (until I’ve run out of music to release)!I’m using poetry, podcasting, and Lives to discuss the intersections of politics, veteran’s issues, men’s issues, mental health, technology, and so much more. This is a reader supported publication where engagement is encouraged and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Engagement is the lock and you are the key!Share this publication with all of those within your sphere of influence — restack, forward in emails, like, and spread to your other socials!Join the uncensored media at the 1A Collective.Support as a founding member!With an annual pledge of $200, or more, you will receive an annually commissioned poem and podcast episode!Support as a paid subscriber!Special thanks to the Sickest of them all!~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | Eric Lullove | C. McGuire ~For support, contact us at:[email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes of the WeekThank you Noble Blend, P. J. Schuster, the real pambo, Courtney 🇨🇦, Robin Elizabeth Simpson Scott, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein! Join me for my next live video in the app.Actions You Can TakeJoin the efforts to unmask law enforcement:* safedc.infoSign the Move-On Petitions:* Investigate Presidential Use of the Autopen for Pardons and Executive Actions* A Petition to End the Shutdown and Restore Representation: Remove Speaker Johnson* Mandate that ICE agents show their face and identificationNick’s NotesI’m starting a new paid subscriber drive — when we reach 250 paid subscribers, I will release the full audio of Lento-Vivo to all subscribers.For every 50 additional paid subscribers I will release another recording (until I’ve run out of music to release)!I’m using poetry, podcasting, and Lives to discuss the intersections of politics, veteran’s issues, men’s issues, mental health, technology, and so much more. This is a reader supported publication where engagement is encouraged and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Engagement is the lock and you are the key!Share this publication with all of those within your sphere of influence — restack, forward in emails, like, and spread to your other socials!Support as a founding member!With an annual pledge of $200, or more, you will receive an annually commissioned poem and podcast episode!Support as a paid subscriber!Special thanks to the Sickest of them all!~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | C. McGuire ~For support, contact us at:[email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes of the WeekMusic of the Show* Claude Debussy’s La Mer* Nick Paro’s Lento-VivoArt of the Show* All credit for artwork is attributed to Walter Rhein’s daughter.Thank you Centered America, Stephanie G Wilson, PhD, Yanni Hamburger, Noble Blend, Beth Cruz, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m using poetry, podcasting, and Lives to discuss the intersections of politics, veteran’s issues, men’s issues, mental health, technology, and so much more. This is a reader supported publication where engagement is encouraged and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Engagement is the lock and you are the key!Share this publication with all of those within your sphere of influence — restack, forward in emails, like, and spread to your other socials!Support as a founding member!With an annual pledge of $200, or more, you will receive an annually commissioned poem and podcast episode!Support as a paid subscriber!Special thanks to the Sickest of them all!~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | C. McGuire ~For support, contact us at:[email protected] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes of the Week* Arturo Dominguez* Walter Rhein* Nick ParoThank you Ashley Schmitt ⚜️, Noble Blend, Beth Cruz, BLONDELEGALLY 🙋🏼‍♀️🧩🔍⚖️✨, Rachel Hendricks, and many others for tuning into my live video with Arturo Dominguez and Walter Rhein! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m using poetry, podcasting, and Lives to discuss the intersections of politics, veteran’s issues, men’s issues, mental health, technology, and so much more. This is a reader supported publication where engagement is encouraged and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Engagement is the lock and you are the key!Share this publication with all of those within your sphere of influence — restack, forward in emails, like, and spread to your other socials!Support as a founding member!With an annual pledge of $200, or more, you will receive an annually commissioned poem and podcast episode!Support as a paid subscriber!Special thanks to the Sickest of them all!~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | C. McGuire ~ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes of the WeekThank you Shane Yirak, Stephanie G Wilson, PhD, Caro Henry, Cat, Noble Blend, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m using poetry, podcasting, and Lives to discuss the intersections of politics, veteran’s issues, men’s issues, mental health, technology, and so much more. This is a reader supported publication where engagement is encouraged and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Engagement is the lock and you are the key!Share this publication with all of those within your sphere of influence — restack, forward in emails, like, and spread to your other socials!Support as a founding member!With an annual pledge of $200, or more, you will receive an annually commissioned poem and podcast episode!Support as a paid subscriber!Special thanks to the Sickest of them all!~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | C. McGuire ~ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Notes of the WeekThank you Noble Blend, Beth Cruz, Natasha K., Virginia Smith, Cat Wilson RN, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m using poetry, podcasting, and Lives to discuss the intersections of politics, veteran’s issues, men’s issues, mental health, technology, and so much more. This is a reader supported publication where engagement is encouraged and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Engagement is the lock and you are the key!Share this publication with all of those within your sphere of influence — restack, forward in emails, like, and spread to your other socials!Support as a founding member!With an annual pledge of $200, or more, you will receive an annually commissioned poem and podcast episode!Support as a paid subscriber!Special thanks to the Sickest of them all!~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | C. McGuire ~ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Show LinksThank you Stephanie G Wilson, PhD, Cat, Noble Blend, Elizabeth, the real pambo, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI’m using poetry, podcasting, and Lives to discuss the intersections of politics, veteran’s issues, men’s issues, mental health, technology, and so much more. This is a reader supported publication where engagement is encouraged and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Engagement is the lock and you are the key!Share this publication with all of those within your sphere of influence — restack, forward in emails, like, and spread to your other socials!Support as a founding member!With an annual pledge of $200, or more, you will receive an annually commissioned poem and podcast episode!Support as a paid subscriber!During the month of October (2025), become a paid subscriber today for 20% during your first year with a pledge of $4 monthly or $44 annually!Special thanks to the Sickest of them all!~ Soso | Millicent | Courtney 🇨🇦 | C. McGuire ~ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Show NotesWelcome to this morning’s Sick of this Show: Notes of the Week with Nick Paro and guests Walter Rhein and Shane Yirak. We discuss our favorite notes from this past week — new or old — and how they relate to the important issues impacting our daily lives.* Shane’s Note: * Walter’s note: * Nick’s note: Thank you Terrence Goggin, Cat, Noble Blend, Yolanda D., Beth Cruz, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein and Shane Yirak!Join me every Monday-Thursday at 11am ET for another episode of the Sick of this Show.Nick’s NotesI’m using poetry, podcasting, and Lives to discuss the intersections of politics, veteran’s issues, men’s issues, mental health, technology, and so much more. This is a reader supported publication where engagement is encouraged and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Engagement is the lock and you are the key!Share this publication with all of those within your sphere of influence — restack, forward in emails, like, and spread to your other socials!Support as a founding member!With an annual pledge of $200, or more, you will receive an annually commissioned poem and podcast episode!Support as a paid subscriber!During the month of September (2025), become a paid subscriber today for 50% during your first year with a pledge of $2.50 monthly or $27.50 annually!Special thanks to the Sickest of them all!~ Soso | Millicent | C. McGuire ~ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Cat, Samantha Paige (she/they), Wendy E, Soso, Kat Lo, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein and Lawrence Winnerman!Join me every Monday-Thursday at 11am ET for a new Sick of this Show episode!Nick’s NotesI'm using poetry, podcasting, and Lives to discuss the intersections of politics, veteran's issues, men's issues, mental health, technology, and so much more. This is a reader supported publication where engagement is encouraged and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Engagement is the lock and you are the key!Share this publication with all of those within your sphere of influence — restack, forward in emails, like, and spread to your other socials!Support as a founding member!With an annual pledge of $200, or more, you will receive an annually commissioned poem and podcast episode!Support as a paid subscriber!During the month of September (2025), become a paid subscriber today for 50% during your first year with a pledge of $2.50 monthly or $27.50 annually!Special thanks to the Sickest of them all!~ Soso | Millicent | C. McGuire ~ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Caro Henry, P. J. Schuster, john king (MY HUMBLE OPINION), Jeanne Elbe, Kat Lo, and many others for tuning into my live video with Walter Rhein and Frederic Poag! Join me for my next live video in the app.Nick’s NotesI'm using poetry, podcasting, and Lives to discuss the intersections of politics, veteran's issues, men's issues, mental health, technology, and so much more. This is a reader supported publication where engagement is encouraged and transparency is key — please consider becoming a paid subscriber today and grow the community!Engagement is the lock and you are the key!Share this publication with all of those within your sphere of influence — restack, forward in emails, like, and spread to your other socials!Support as a founding member!With an annual pledge of $200, or more, you will receive an annually commissioned poem and podcast episode!Support as a paid subscriber!During the month of September (2025), become a paid subscriber today for 50% during your first year with a pledge of $2.50 monthly or $27.50 annually!Special thanks to the Sickest of them all!~ Soso | Millicent | C. McGuire ~ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sickofthis.substack.com/subscribe