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Tabitha Zeigler: Hello everybody. Welcome back to the podcast. You doing okay over there, Mike?
Cefore X. Plosives: I am doing all right. Just got done with work, so it's been a long day, but
Tabitha Zeigler: Awesome.
Cefore X. Plosives: we're ready to kick some ass, talk some shit.
Tabitha Zeigler: Always kicking ass over here. Well, let's just get into it then. So I'll let you introduce yourself and give us a little bit of your origin story.
Cefore X. Plosives: yeah, my name is Mike Stringham. on Instagram and all the social medias I'm C for Explosives. I'm from Chicago and now I live in Florida, which is a culture shock. but you know, I've been making music and as of last year I started making protest music. shortly after that I linked up with Carlos Gomez on Coconut Justice Podcast, who you know quite well and he's have been an amazing motivator, I would say. And then shortly after that I jumped on with Bernard Taylor and his campaign and I've been campaigning with him for almost a year now. So here I am. Yeah. Here I am.
Tabitha Zeigler: Kidding. And here you are. Well, that's actually how we met because I was running for Congress and now my race is over. And I met Carlos and through Carlos and a handful of other people I met you.
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah. Small we're trying to make the world a little smaller so we can be more concentrated on our movement, you know.
Tabitha Zeigler: Exactly. So let's talk a little bit more about you. So, you're a vet. Can you walk us through what branch of the military you were in and all of that?
Cefore X. Plosives: Actually I'm not a vet. I'm not a vet. No, I'm
Tabitha Zeigler: you're not. I thought you were.
Cefore X. Plosives: not. No, Carlos was a vet. I'm just I'm just a proud
Tabitha Zeigler: Right.
Cefore X. Plosives: you know, I've got a lot of family members who have served and still have people that are just got enlisted and all kinds of stuff. So I've seen I've seen the stages, that's for sure. But I haven't haven't been enlisted
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Right.
Cefore X. Plosives: though.
Tabitha Zeigler: Okay. Well, I must have been thinking that you were because of Carlos. But since both of us have family members that were either in the military, still in, let's talk a little bit about NDAA two nineteen, which is now past the House, and on to the Senate with section twelve seventeen. So give me your thoughts on that.
Cefore X. Plosives: well I think it's just completely compromising the integrity of our entire nation.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: I don't believe we have any reason to have ties with with Israel whatsoever. They're they're just they're using us. They're we're they're playing us and they have so much over on the administration right now. And wait for the PP tapes to come out 'cause as soon as as soon as they do, maybe we can s shed some light on some of this this chaos 'cause it it just doesn't make any sense whatsoever that we just go ahead and spend billions and
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billions to bomb countries that kill children. I don't I don't understand.
Tabitha Zeigler: Well, and you've got a little interesting predicament down there in Florida with the person that Bernard Taylor's running against, don't you?
Cefore X. Plosives: I do. Mr. IDF wearing uniform himself, Brian Mast. Yes. He's
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Let's let's talk about that a little bit.
Cefore X. Plosives: it's really frustrating when I when I talk to people campaigning for Bernard Taylor. I guess it's a good thing because we realize that this guy isn't doing anything for anybody in our county, in our district. he's he's over in Washington, he's he's sending money over there, he's wearing the uniform, the home team's uniform, right? so
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: it it it's extremely frustrating when he starts he he's trying to gain his momentum with his with his followers and saying, Hey it's all about the water, it's all about it's all about the infrastructure and it's all about this here in the community and I'm posing for pictures and we all know you are not here in the community. Your office is right down the road, you are refusing
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: to to hold town hall meetings and like it's it's a joke.
Tabitha Zeigler: Right. Well, you guys also have a problem with data centers down there, don't you?
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah, and so one just got shot down and then they decided that we're gonna have a data center right next to it. Let's let's see how that goes. And then there's there's a town
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: in it called Indian town, which is pretty much all black and brown community and there's those select people that are in power that are not black or brown and have a lot of money. So they are trying to pull the wool over on their eyes and and put one in, which they agreed upon. Now they're looking for a water source and if We don't activate enough people to get out and vote by the primary and then in November, it looks like there's one gonna be put up.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm. Mm-hmm. Well, and you also have some natural wildlife preserves down there that that's gonna be affecting, don't you?
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah, there's wildlife, there's Everglades, there's with all the construction going on and and just it's I've moved down here twelve years ago and it's a completely different town than when I moved in. it it looks like a mini Miami or Lauderdale or a Palms Palm Beach. And in all honesty, it's it's pretty sickening knowing that what it's going to turn into. over development, lack of infrastructure, all the wildlife that was in that that habitat is now in our backyards. so we have to worry about that. it's it's pretty bad.
Tabitha Zeigler: Yeah. Well, you mentioned brown people, so let's dive into that. Don't you think it's interesting right now what's happening with our black and brown communities, not just in Florida but nationwide, with a certain group of people that are deciding to racially profile people?
Cefore X. Plosives: yeah, it's it's crazy 'cause, you know, it's been going on forever and now it's under
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: a microscope and a magnifying glass at the same time. So we're seeing that you know, people getting dragged out of their houses, out of their cars, being shot and killed, the whole nine and I was just in Chicago and I just received my my whistle.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: so it's it's it's it's prevalent like it in every neck of the woods. And to see what's happening here in our community, specifically where I work at, there's a there's a little neighborhood that is Guatemalan predominantly. And last February there's nothing but helicopters and SUVs and, you know, sirens and people scared running for their lives and and the next thing you know I see children without parents. I see you know, businesses, small businesses that are just decimated, like the whole community is torn. and then I see store owners that are just fearful to say something because they see that the police have so much influence in our neck of the woods. I went to Chicago, like I said, and I see my dad's in a little village and it's it's it's it's all it's a Mexican neighborhood. It's rich in heritage, like and
Tabitha Zeigler: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: and and then I see the flags out. I see I see people are giving out whistles, I see concern, I see fear, I see sadness, but I see pride. And there's this overwhelming like sense of you will not come into my neighborhood and do this to my people. Like the b the business owner the business business
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: owners will lock the doors and say they can't come in. But again, not all of them can do that.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm. Sure. So what's happening to these kids down in your neck of the woods whenever their parents go missing?
Cefore X. Plosives: either they they get passed around to other people in the community. they're not going to school. my daughter is like last year my la before school ended, my daughter was like, my friend isn't coming to school anymore. She has to go back home.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm.
Cefore X. Plosives: hopefully her her dad is there because we don't know if he's actually there or not. so it's it's it's terrible, it's heartbreaking.
Tabitha Zeigler: Well, and you and I have a lot of things in common, but one of the things that we have in common is autism. So
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: let's talk a little bit about that. I because I know right now we've got the issues with RFK Jr., we've got the interagency coordinating committee, the IACC, that is gonna be now extending public comment for the Autism Cares Act. How does that affect your community down there and your family?
Cefore X. Plosives: Well, my family in particular, my son is he'll be eighteen. he was a late late diagnosis.
Tabitha Zeigler:
Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: so which is difficult in itself 'cause he aged aged out on a lot of programs. so not having those programs available and having Republican leadership out here, not really acknowledging mental health and a level a level one, I guess, would be where he falls into category. So He doesn't really fit the criteria
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: of being someone that is disabled, quote unquote, you know. So, it it's really difficult on us. It's really difficult on I see it in families all over the place because I know how it is since our daughter's younger, her friends, we can kinda see some some tendencies and traits. So we try to help
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: out as much as we can, but there's the stigma of, my my my child isn't on the spectrum, they're afraid of labels, they're embarrassed and It's it's it's it's that that in itself is sad because you know, you don't really get the whole the opportunity to actually see your child flourish. You're kinda hindering them or labeling them and it that's really frustrating in itself. And then you see jokers like RFK, like I don't know, he sniffing cocaine off a toilet but they're just gonna tell me that you know, all all these things that he thinks that are are triggering autism. And then I don't know, like You know, he came in and said, you know, the the food is contaminated and all this and all that and then he does nothing about any of it and then he just follows suit and then he's he's like what tr s trapping snakes in his pool and doesn't give a shit. Like I c like it's all it's all a joke. It's smoke and mirrors and it's it's hurting a lot of families and and again, tying in with immigration, it's the future of our country. Like you're really handicapping the future of our country, which is exactly where they want us to be.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Right. So you'd say right now in your area, people are basically just terrified. So they're pulling their kids from school. They're not having access to the programs that they had access to. They're not access accessing the health care that they need. So Gee, I mean, man, this is a shit show. Like, this is not just a shit show for the parents. This is sh a shit show for the kids. Like I know I've got younger kids. I basically had to leave the workforce. I have friends of mine that are, you know, they're paid caregivers because they have children on the spectrum that that are high needs. I have my older child right now, who's six and a half. Starting to have behavioral issues. you know, we've been experimenting with medications to try and find one that works. I mean, how much of that type of thing are we are you seeing down there too?
Cefore X. Plosives: I see it a lot. I saw like as a matter of fact there's a there's a w there's a girl that is on one of my accounts. I I I I I work for a beverage distributor, so I I know she's
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: like, my daughter's X, Y, and Z, she's like having behavior issues and I'm like, I understand. Have you ever got her diagnosed? And she's like, No, not really and then she had to take a leave of absence and her employer did not understand what she c she's going through. Like, she's just acting out, she's doing this and that, you know, she'll she'll give she'll grow out of it. And that's what I've been hearing for years. Like, he'll grow out of it. There are these tantrums or you see it in you see it in grocery stores and walking down the aisle and and parents strangers are giving looks to parents that are trying to be understanding and kind of recognizing situations of meltdowns and overstimulation and things like that. Whereas people who don't have an idea of what they're going through. can lay can just instantly say they need to be punished. Let's just smack their ass and just ground them and take all their shit away and and you know like it it hurts knowing that again that parents get embarrassed and because they don't they don't want to go out with their friends. They don't want to take take their children
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: out to the functions and they're really missing
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm.
Cefore X. Plosives: out and the on the child's development emotionally, intellectually, relating with other kids and it and I don't know, it it's it's sad and things have to change. That's why we have to elect people that are gonna make a difference and understand what mental health is really all about.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. So maybe you can walk us through what your family's life was like, right? Because like I said, my kids are small right now. And this might give some good insight and some good perspective on things that you did with your child that were helpful, that were not helpful, just like any tips and tricks that you learned along the way to help people.
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah, you really gotta figure out like we had to figure out what our son really liked to do. what what was what got him in his zone, right? And then really realize how to take him out of his zone when
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: time's up. another thing that was really helpful was getting him into wrestling. his high school wrestling
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: coaches are phenomenal. They really understand that, well actually I I take that back. They really they learn from Michael. my son on how to deal with certain situations and really they grew as coaches which was really inspiring and it and in turn it helped my son like really deal with adversity. it helped him deal with loss, how to overcome obstacles, fear. being in situations I've seen almost get choked out. But he come
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: back to life and he it he'd get back up there and he'd go out there and he almost made states last year. He's this is a senior year.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: but we've there's
hurdles and still pitfalls. Like there's there's emotional roller coasters, there's anxiety, there's depression, there's there's all kinds of things that that not only he goes through but will go through because we wanna help as much as we can, but you know, we also have to give him space and leverage because he is he is almost an adult. And he has to make mistakes himself.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: So it's like finding out how the guardrails, how far the guardrails should be, and really like let
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: fly, but kind of understand that there are consequences to things that are going on. I guess the other big thing is I guess him taking responsibility for his actions. 'Cause there there is that being a teenager where like you're a teenager, you're growing up However, are you is it because you're not processing it like like I
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm.
Cefore X. Plosives: would? Or is it because you're being an asshole? Like there's it like there's this is like this balance, you know, 'cause he's smart, he's wicked smart and and it's like, all right, are you trying to are you trying to play a game on us? Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: Like you playing me. Yeah.
Cefore X. Plosives: So it's like there's that there there's that whole struggle and yeah, I don't know. I it's again, it's it's unfortunate that we didn't realize it in the beginning. but Seeing now like flourish and like smile and be happy and have have friends and is is amazing. And but yet there's still that like uncertainty.
Tabitha Zeigler: Yeah. Well, that's good, at least that he's able to make friends because some of them can't, you know, like some of them struggle
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: so hard. Or, you know, maybe the education system just doesn't tolerate the restrictions that they may need to be successful. does your son have an IEP?
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah, he does. And it it's
Tabitha Zeigler: Okay.
Cefore X. Plosives: been gr it's been great. Like his the the high school that he goes to has been phenomenal as far as trying to structure his his curriculum and there's a there's a he has a he has a specific specific teacher that he goes to see and
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: he teaches life skills. You know, he'll he'll
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: say he'll take the class out and like, all right, we're gonna go get something to eat. You guys are ordering. we're gonna go out and do this, you guys are gonna be in control. Like, you know, he gives he gives he lets the leash go and they're
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: there those are the things that we as parents have to have to realize that they can go out and do it on their own because they do it all day at school anyway. So having having that on having that those programs in place are so important and there are not enough of them. Unfortunately.
Tabitha Zeigler: Right. What does the system I don't know if you've had
a chance to look into it yet, but what does a system look like in your area for once he graduates from high school? You know, like what's what beneficial programs do you have in say like vocational schools, the community colleges? Like, have you guys put a lot of thought into what's next for him or has he?
Cefore X. Plosives: yes and no. Like he has his dreams. He wants to he wants to own his own business. So then we're like, okay,
Tabitha Zeigler: Okay.
Cefore X. Plosives: well you gotta go you gotta go to school for that. All right, cool. So we we talk with the guidance counselors. There's certain accommodations that do carry over in the college, the community college. and then there's some that don't. snap to read and like extra time, things like that. we're still trying to figure
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: out whether that is actually something that still viable when he goes into college.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: so there is gonna be that transition. And I know that as far as trade schools and stuff, there isn't like a whole lot out here. and that's one of the things that I noticed in Chicago that like you know you're always able to find a trade. You're always able to get something into a trade. There's a lot of unions
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: out in Chicago, so like you can jump on in with somebody and be an apprentice and trying to learn learn things along the way, and there's really not a whole lot of that.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: going on it down here. One of the things that I did like that Chicago
Tabitha Zeigler: Okay.
Cefore X. Plosives: was doing that is that there's a summer program for incoming upcoming seniors that you can you can go out
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: and and hop on with the the the I forgot what it was the the department the city you can jump on with the city.
Tabitha Zeigler: The city?
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah and and be incorporated and have a job and some of them already, you know, they carry that throughout the whole entire time. You know, after they graduate and they
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: they they make great salaries, you know, but there isn't a
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: whole lot of that going on out
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm. So what are your reservations for the future?
Cefore X. Plosives: man.
Tabitha Zeigler: I know that's a loaded one.
Cefore X. Plosives: that is extremely loaded. So right now
Tabitha Zeigler: Especially considering the right now.
Cefore X. Plosives: Like for right now, like s so well jumping on this campaign with Bernard Taylor has been pretty pretty eye opening. seeing how the the the inner workings are are working and playing against this like each other. Like there's a lot of snakes out here. and it's
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm.
Cefore X. Plosives: you think Like you see it on a you see it on TV, but then you you see it on a on a on a micro level. And it's like, man, there's so much dirty shit going on. there's so much cock blocking and there's so much like gatekeeping and like it's it's it's unreal. And in order to do the right thing, you're like, Well, you gotta do this for me, you gotta compromise and like seeing seeing Bernard Taylor from the beginning to right now un unwavering from what he stands on is inspiring and like so that gives me hope on on my level here and and talking to people like yourself who have like this undying courage and strength to see the the world get back to where it should be or where it needs to be or and where it never was because you know the world's been fucked up since the beginning so like
Tabitha Zeigler: Right.
Cefore X. Plosives: to see
Tabitha Zeigler: Yeah.
Cefore X. Plosives: To see to see people just kinda stand up and say, you know what, enough is enough. but we need to we need to do that collectively. There's a lot of splintering, there's a lot of factions, there's a lot of you know, there's
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: a lot of like, it's about me may you know, being the king of the hill or taking
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: us to the promised land. But in all reality, if it's a we, then
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: we can actually overthrow anything that is really standing, you know, shed light on shit like
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: Really flip tables, really make noise, make positive impacts, make just just make change. What what what has
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: it been like for you through this, you know, like running out of campaign and then like still trying to push push through and you know?
Tabitha Zeigler: Well, I ran everything myself and I was the last one to enter the race. And the only reason I entered the race was because I felt that fear and I was looking at what was offered up, especially by the Democratic Party, right? Because you know, I was not aware before I got into politics that they handpick people. So before you even get the opportunity to vote for a person, they've already essentially served you up who they want you to vote for. And I think Some of those things have been really eye-opening. I also I was not aware of just how dirty it was, just how much money was being passed around. it's it got I got really clear really fast because I was like, obviously we need to get money out of politics. Like you, you know, and right now I had I was very clear-minded of what I was walking into because of the level of threat, because of like doge coming in and all these things. I'm also from a very rural area. So I saw firsthand what was happening with like solar farms, AI data centers. because I'm from a farming community, I was like, obviously they're after the water. Obviously they're going to rural rural, poor. Brown communities, like I just kept seeing the same things over and over. So they're going to disenfranchised
neighborhoods where people can't really advocate for themselves. They're buying out these small town, you know, county and city officials. They're sliding in these backdoor deals, and they're like doing all of this stuff behind the backs of the people that actually put them into power. And to watch, because I come from a Republican family. So then I'm sort of their worst nightmare, really, because I was raised in that. I know how that works. So then I
Cefore X. Plosives: How it works, yep.
Tabitha Zeigler: can also call out the bullshit, right? Like, and I also was one of those kids that was raised in the church, you know. Like, I'm of that generation that was raised with like the WWJD bracelets. Well, that shit backfired
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: on them because I was like, right, so I know enough to be dangerous and I know enough to flip it and literally be flipping the tables on you. Plus I the only thing that I wanted from it was good stuff. So I'm like, I'm not running for myself. I'm running for my kids. I'm running for the next seven generations. The things that I want
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: from office, whether I got in there or or anyone, right? I'm like, right, I want these kids, my kids, my grandkids, other people's grandkids, like I want them to be able to drink the water, eat the food, have a good education, be able to like not be homeless. afford things like basic shit and I'm like, look,
Cefore X. Plosives: Bays question.
Tabitha Zeigler: this is not like these are not like partisan issues. This is there's a baseline.
Cefore X. Plosives: No.
Tabitha Zeigler: And I think that is what was so disturbing to me because I was like, hold on a minute. Like, so you're telling me that you don't think people deserve to have clean water, decent food, decent access to medical care. Now we're not even going into all the women's issues, right? Because there's a lot. But but
Cefore X. Plosives: Right. man.
Tabitha Zeigler: for all of us collectively, that was like, I felt like the bar was low. And I'm like, you Republicans are constantly going below the bar. And so to have these conversations, it was interesting for me, right? Because I'm actively trying to change the minds of people that were left behind. Right. Like, so when NAFTA came in, for example, there used to be a lot of industry in my area. And now there's not. And so a lot of these people sort of felt left behind, disenfranchised by the Democratic Party. So, like this area used to be a big union area. And then, whenever all the industry went to Mexico, for example, you know, I'm not saying it exclusively went to Mexico, but as an example, these people were left like, What the hell? Like, what just happened?
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: And it wasn't necessarily an an immediate thing, but even just whenever I think back, my niece and nephew, so I've got a niece that's 14 and a nephew that's 16. When I was that age, because I'm
40, 43. So when I was their age, there was a a strip mall in the town over from us that had all the shops and a movie theater. And so when we were kids, Our parents, once we got old enough, they would let us like go to the movies with our friends. We could walk along the mall, you know, go into like Hot Topic and all those other shops that, you know, at that time seemed cool to us. And like, go and buy a t-shirt,
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah. For sure.
Tabitha Zeigler: go and buy a, you know, a CD. Which, like some kids, if kids are listening, they might be like, What the hell's a CD? Right. But like,
Cefore X. Plosives: What's a C what's hot topic?
Tabitha Zeigler: yeah, like there was a time when like that was exciting because we didn't have cell phones. And So I actually think that it's an advantage for me, the age that I am, to be straddling in both worlds, because I was that
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: age that I grew up with like sticks and dirt. And I was just
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: old enough whenever I was rotating into like cell phones and the internet that I I had the balance of both. And to see these kids now, especially post-COVID, right? Like, there's nothing left for them. And
Cefore X. Plosives: No.
Tabitha Zeigler: Then you're telling these people that have already been disenfranchised that just work harder. Just work harder. Just send your kids to school
Cefore X. Plosives: Bootstraps.
Tabitha Zeigler: to do the, yeah, do the right thing, right? But what I'm seeing on the ground is my niece and nephew, I don't think they could work hard enough to even be in the position that I was in when I was their age, like. preparing for college, right? Even if they are willing to take on the student loan debt to go to college and all that thing. Then you have the government coming in and slashing programs now that traditionally a lot of women would have participated in that we also need things like social services, right? And that's important to people like us because of our kids. So
Cefore X. Plosives: Right.
Tabitha Zeigler: now you have all these programs that are no longer marked as professional. I can't count the amount of women that I went to school with that went into nursing and then ended up being an MP. But now it's like you can be a white male and get it like you can get the financing to get a preacher's degree. You can go into seminary, and that holds a higher standing than if you say are a nurse or if you're a social worker. And I'm like, the math isn't mathing because
Cefore X. Plosives: Not at all.
Tabitha Zeigler: I don't and coming from a very religious area, right? I'm like, hmm, I see what you're doing here. Because you're telling us what you're gonna do, right? Like you want all the women barefoot and pregnant, blah, blah, blah. Right. Like
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: you flagged it, I get it. But after running for Congress, structurally, I see it. And I'm like, So if you're purposely Limiting the funds to where now the poor kids can't even get into the programs that they want to do. You are now further reducing the literacy level, specifically so that these kids will be uneducated, so that you can further manipulate them. Meanwhile, you've got the manosphere over here cooking. That anyway, that has majorly activated me to a point where now officially I'm no longer a candidate. So I'm like, let's do this. Because
Cefore X. Plosives: Now I'm pissed off. Now I'm really mad.
Tabitha Zeigler: I'm like, no, I'm like the hell with this. Because I literally like I had a reel that kind of exploded, like went viral for me, as I say. Like
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: I am by no means any like serious content creator, but I have had a few reels go viral and I'm seeing a trend here. And I think it's because I'm having the hard conversations, because like the first one that went really viral, I had just had a conversation with one of my Mexican American friends. In Chicago, by the way, and we're having a conversation about ice. And I very much love this woman. I spent a lot of time with her. My kids know her. Like, she's telling me how her and her family are having to have conversations about like what might happen, what if XYZ happens. And I'm like, in the United States of America, my Mexican American friend who was born here. Is having to have conversations like it's fucking 1930s Nazi Germany.
Cefore X. Plosives: Exactly.
Tabitha Zeigler: And that's my friend. And so, and she's not the only one, right? But
Cefore X. Plosives: Right.
Tabitha Zeigler: so for me, coming from Indiana, I know I know enough to be dangerous, right? Like my family's been here for a long time. I know a lot about the Klan. So I'm making all these connections. And running for Congress, I think, really helped me like deepen that understanding from what I saw. I'm like, right.
Cefore X. Plosives: Right.
Tabitha Zeigler: So really racism is the bedrock of the problems that we have in the US. And then it just expands from there, right? Like whether it's racism, bigotry, whatever. So it has always been America's problem. So if we can't then expose that and talk about it in a way of actually trying to make progress, not that it's not important, right? But like if you can't get people to understand. what the root of that shit is, we can't
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: change it. So people can be upset about Palestine, for example, but maybe the older folk that are like, why are you worried about Palestine over there? Because that's over there. But then
Cefore X. Plosives: Just going on over here.
Tabitha Zeigler: they don't see the correlation between Yeah. They don't see the correlation of how all the pieces fit together. And here's where my autism becomes an ally, right? Because I'm good with pattern recognition. And I'm like, I can lay this
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: puzzle out and I can be like, and
that, and that, and that, and this goes with that. And and so I think that's why this podcast ended up being a tool. Because I'm like, right,
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: I'm doing advocacy. I'm gonna bring other people on that are gonna be talking about advocacy, and we're gonna find a way to have these hard conversations. And then I just kept
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah, yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: pushing. And so my objective is to not just Spread awareness, increase advocacy and activism and all of that. But also give people permission, especially people with white faces, to give them permission to have those conversations that they're already having, but they're just scared to be public about it. And I get that it's scary, but it needs to be done. Cause it's like, I do truly believe that the racists and the fascists, we outnumber them. So we truly have to unite, right? So black, brown, female, feminist, like however you call yourself, we are all on the same team. And so
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: therefore we must unite and fight together. And if we do this, we can win. So like I put out a post the other day talking about white men. in correlation with pedophilia and rape and correlating that with white men that sit in Congress and the Senate. And I'm like, statistically, right?
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: If you have 70% of the Senate that is white and male, and then you don't have people really acting on the Epstein files. Yet also 57% of the rape culture that's Doing it, perpetuating it, all the things. Also
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: statistically are white men. I'm like, there's a correlation here. And it was sort of a call out. It was not the first one that I did, but I'm like, right, we are sounding the alarm. We need your help. And I got like some pretty good feedback. There were some men that were like, yeah, well, you know, you feminist. And of course, you have the extremists, and of
Cefore X. Plosives: Course.
Tabitha Zeigler: course. I find it interesting because it seems very, very clear to me now that I've been making these posts, the racism, right? And
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: it's like, how dare you? Like you race trader, you fat,
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: ugly, ignorant, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Because I'm like hitting the red button. And that makes people super fucking uncomfortable because they're like, shit, like we can't be talking about that. Obviously it's gonna bring all the trolls out of the woodwork, but I'm like,
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: I'm operating at a higher level right now. I'm operating at a higher frequency because I'm doing this for the kids. So fuck you ultimately. We're gonna have this conversation. We're gonna rip that fucking band-aid off and we're gonna do this now because we don't have any time to wait. So that's basically
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah, exactly.
Tabitha Zeigler: what I've been up to.
Cefore X. Plosives: It's crazy 'cause like like you said, like af after World War Two, like all the racism like hit under the ground, right? And then they just started networking with each other under the surface. And then and then it was like a net, right? So now now Project Twenty Twenty comes in and then Trump comes into office and all of his little minions and Steven Miller's little bitch ass and then and then all of
Tabitha Zeigler: huh.
Cefore X. Plosives: a sudden and then all of a sudden the net comes up And then it pull it it captures everybody. And they're like, What what what how did this happen? Like it was here. It never left. It was just hiding dormant. And now they're now now they have permission slip to do whatever the hell they want. Right? So now the gates are open. And what happens now? Then we have dinner conversations where we have to
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: where we're compromising our children's innocence because we have to let them know that mommy and daddy might not
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm.
Cefore X. Plosives: be here tomorrow because we might get locked up. We might get shot because of the way we look. And that
Tabitha Zeigler: Picked up.
Cefore X. Plosives: And this is th
Tabitha Zeigler: Yeah.
Cefore X. Plosives: this is fucked up. Like and and like we are we've we've seen it. Like I'm I'm forty six, so I also understand like I talk about this with Carlos all the time. Like we are the we are the hub, right? Between between what happened before us and what what's happening now and
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Yep. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: what will happen after us. We know what a rotary phone is, we know what Wi Fi is, we know what you know, not having a black and black and white T V without an antenna or a tinfoil or whatever, and then we we know what
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: H D looks like. Like so we know all of these dynamics and un understand these things and we have to be the ones that say, Hey, listen, we've seen this before. we were around when this was was happening. We may not remember it, but now that we have the internet, we know what the fuck happened. we have
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: to see it before they they hide it all and they erase it all. because that's what they're doing. They're getting rid of all the shit that actually tells
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: on them. So we have people in power
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm.
Cefore X. Plosives: that say, you know what, hey, it's okay to do all the dirty shit. out in the open and because you're not gonna get caught because of the way you look and because
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: the money you have and the power you possess. That's where this shit is like
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: it it it happens th this is where it it gets so frustrating. When when when is it gonna be like we're all gonna say fuck it
because it it's
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: gonna and then on the flip side we're playing into what they want because they want us to say fuck it. And then they want
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: to do martial law.
Tabitha Zeigler: Yes. Yeah.
Cefore X. Plosives: And then they want it they want us locked to lock us all down. So like they're
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: as as stupid as we think he is, and his people are doing all this dumb shit, they are like they're playing in a different realm. And we don't and because we're good people, we
Tabitha Zeigler: yeah.
Cefore X. Plosives: don't understand how that works. We or we we see it on T V and
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: we're like, we we know this movie. I've seen this movie before. They they played it over and over again. But now we're living the movie. And
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: We gotta change it. W the now the heroes have to come out. Now the redemption stories have to be told. And now we have to all
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: fuck just like like I said in unison. Come out of the woodwork,
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: whether you whether you're whether you're black, whether you're brown, whether you're you're you're you're a woman, whether you're a child, whether you're an old white man, you need to come out and and you need to say this is
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: fucking wrong and let's change it.
Tabitha Zeigler: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Well, I think specifically, right? You're on to something. Gen X and the older millennials in particular. Cause see, like you said, you're 46, I'm 43. Th there's a hot spot in there that I think we are very those of us that are active right now, like we are very well aware of what this is. We're sort of walking encyclopedias because We have all that knowledge and we are very well aware of what will happen if we don't educate enough people. So my thought is we have no other option but to accelerate and put boot to ass and not be afraid, right? Like try and encourage that in other people. Like I always tell people, courage is contagious. And at the end of the day, we know better. Right. Like we know better. Maybe, like for me as a woman, right? I've got a niece that's 14, and I've got a daughter that's four getting ready to be five. And, you know, I was a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault. I think, especially like a certain age, it's sort of normal. And we we lived through that. We didn't talk. as much about it. But now that we heard the Epstein survivors come out and all that, like it activated something in us. And all of the horrible things that we saw, we didn't even scratch the surface of, but we recognize
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: it for what it is. And it's like whether it's the the blue butterfly blue butterfly zones and Dilly or whatever, like we can see this trend, this demographic that happens to be white men, not saying that, you know, there can't ever be a black man, Hispanic man, or whatever that does the these things. Not ever saying that, hey, you know, like it it can't ever be an immigrant. But saying statistically it happens to predominantly be white men. So
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mike, thoughts.
Cefore X. Plosives: My thoughts on the Epstein files. I think it's it's like everything else. Where do you begin? Like you fur you first have to begin telling the truth. And
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: that that that results in peeling back every layer that is tied to it and realizing that everybody that is in power is connected all over the
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: world. And There's a lot of dirty laundry. There's a lot of scars and pain that is involved. And we and we talked about domestic violence and being victims and the time for victims to set set that aside a little bit. Not disregard it, but set it aside the reliving it and really just tell it to expose it because the amount of corruption and that is tied to it ties in everything else that's at play right now. You got between the government, between cinema, music, between you know every agency known to man, every military, everything is all tied to this specific like piece of shit, right? And there's so much that I every time I every time somebody mentions it I'm I'm realizing mo how more and more deep it is. Right. When you got people like the Tate brothers that get they they're they're getting picked up because the UK decides that, yo, you guys are fucking scumbags. But then you get pardoned by a bigger scumbag, right? And then you realize that,
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. But get marked by a bigger spot bag. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: you know, we're in we're in the pocket of Israel because there's probably just so many, so many ties you know, to Mossad and all you know, like you you're you're like,
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: where does it end? Where does it start? Why is it all encompassing and why is it tangled in everything? You
Tabitha Zeigler: And why is it the angle have you thing? Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: know, and it just leaves you like this this sick feeling of like I can't believe we're this is exists. I can't believe children are being hurt, damaged, broken, like stripped away of like their future.
Tabitha Zeigler: feeling of like I can't believe we're listed exist. I can't believe children are being hurt, damaged, broken. Like just a way of like
Cefore X. Plosives: because they're they believe that they want to play a game. People's lives are games
Tabitha Zeigler: computers because they're they believe that they want to play a game that people's lives are games.
Cefore X. Plosives: and they're disposable. And it like having kids knowing that you know we're we're in we're we're in places where we're playing in places like politics and and and the music
industry and you know we're dealing with people that
Tabitha Zeigler: where we're playing in places like politics and and the music industry and you know, we're dealing with people that are could be tied to it and we have no idea. That's like the hidden hidden math.
Cefore X. Plosives: or could be tied to it and we have no idea. It's like this hidden this hidden mask. eyes wide shut. You know, it's like it's disgusting. And it it it it it enrages me more than than a lot of the shit that's going on, which is which
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Like it's a range would be more than than the shit that falls out. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: is everything. You know?
Tabitha Zeigler: Well, you see now, right, my point in trying to activate these men and specifically white men, right? Because they tend to be the ones that are doing it. So, like, that's part of my agenda, because I'm like, right, if I can teach people a little bit more about history and if I can help them connect the dots to because let's face it, there's a reason why they don't really teach us about slavery, not enough in the US,
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: because it exposes too much of it. Because when you really on your own, as adults, because that's how it goes. When you start to deconstruct and learn about these things, you're like, my God, like how in the hell did all that stuff go on, right? And so you
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: start to connect the dots and you're like, right. So from the jump, these white guys were raping these black women, girls, men,
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: like, and then you piece it together with like the police and the slave catchers and ice and Mast and the clan and the Proud Boys and Patriot Front, all of the things. The through line is straight white men, or at least straight white presenting men. And so it's like it's not good enough that we get all the brown people and all the women together to combat it. We have to go to the root of the problem, which are the white men, and convince them, hey, dude. This is not a good look. And I get it with the boys'
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: club, they I get it. I get it. Locker room talk, boys' club. Like you're taught from the beginning, like bros before hoes and all that stuff, right? Like, don't don't ever
Cefore X. Plosives: Right.
Tabitha Zeigler: like betray your brothers. But it's like you can't see it like that, and you can't teach the young men that way. Part of which I think is very interesting. Why Turning Point USA is doing what it's doing, right? Because that's what they did also with like the Hitler youth in Germany. You have to get to the kids to indoctrinate the kids so that you have multiple generations of this is okay. So in order for us to truly be effective, we need to be also combating that with the kids. But we specifically need men, good men, and also white men. The burly ones, the lumberjacks, all that stuff, the cops, whatever. We need them to now start to say, hey man, that's fucked up. Like in their circles, whenever someone starts rattling off about something that is like totally inappropriate, we've all been in those rooms and those circles where jokes are made or whatever, that it just makes the hair stand up on the back of our neck, makes our stomach turn or whatever. Like every single time now that any of us hear that shit, we have to stop it and we have to call it out. And we have to teach
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: the younger generations how to do that and be like, actually, this isn't cool. Like, actually, you don't need porn because that doesn't show you how to treat women. Like, you don't like subjugate women. Actually, no, that's not what Jesus said. Like, this, these are not Jesus's words on how to treat females. So there's so much work that needs to be done, but it starts with good people. Stepping forward and and saying like exposing it, saying the things. It's not good enough that we say it in private or say it around our kitchen tables or whatever. Like we need like a thousand podcasts saying the same shit of like, hey, this
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: is bad. This is how we change it. We have to do better.
Cefore X. Plosives: they they have a machine they have a machine like that trains they have a machine that they have these talking points they have they they have very well cal very calculated cal they're very precise on how they are going about their business this is how it is
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: this is what we don't say this is how we say this and this is how we get around this and this is how we get paid this is how we get our power and
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: And this is how we continue to live off the the American dream as they want to call it, right? That's how they call it. But while
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: we all suffer. And we
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm.
Cefore X. Plosives: if we're not if we're not getting back to morals and we're not bringing people back to the center point on the common ground of like what is right and wrong. Well, we all want to do good things
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: in this world. Well, we want to lead the world off as as better better than when we found it, and we want
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: the future to be successful, right? Not
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: barefoot and pregnant and and enslaved all over again and just
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: poor, unhealthy. And then in the meantime, we're going to get rid of all the people that don't look like us. Man. I just wanna say something. I wanna say that there is good people in this world and there's not enough of them that are speaking out. And I really I really hope that enough people can gather the courage through what we do on social media and our platforms and out sowing
seeds into daily life and the community that we gather enough people with us. Cause ultimately, like if we're all believers, right, we all want to sow the seeds and and get everyone as as many people as we can into the kingdom of heaven, right? But if we can't
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: but if heaven and hell are here right now, then we really need to create more heaven on earth. So if we
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: can't do that, then w we won't be able to do that if we don't get enough people to say, Hey, this it's it's it's hell on earth right now and it's getting hot, right?
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: So we really need to do something about it. And if you're not pissed off right now, what what's it gonna take for you to be to that point where you're gonna actually do something about it. So get activated, be motivated, be encouraged that your future and your children's future and your seven generations from now really depend on what what's going on right now. We're
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: in such a crucial time right now that we we we we're we're so engulfed and entrenched in this bullshit that we don't even realize that the h the the humanity hinges upon us. Right?
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: We are that we are that superhero with a great responsibility that we have to do good deeds. And we have to step up to the plate and do some shit about it. Like the this this this this like I took my kids to a protest last year. They're my first protest was their first protest. And I
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: wanted them to see what it is like this to be around people that are motivated and encouraged to see their future in a brighter light. Right. And
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: and like I wanted them to see that there are people like them that that aren't afraid. And it's okay to be bold and to be unafraid. And to say, hey, you know what? What you're teaching me in school isn't actually what's going on, and it isn't actually what happened. So
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: now we as adults are have to be the educators, the comforters, the nurturers, and the people that's that say, Fuck you. We are going to make change happen. And that's why I love what you're doing. And and and I love what Carlos is doing and Bernard Taylor and the guys out in Connecticut that we talked to, Andrew Rice and
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: And Joseph Caputo and Russell Cleveland and in in Montana and all these great people, wonderful people that are like that that are just frustrated and tired and see what's going on and the wool the wool is isn't isn't gonna be pulled over our eyes anymore. And there are no more wolves in the hen house. We're gonna clear out. You know what I'm saying? We have to
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: do this. And yeah, that's where I'm at. Besides I'm out
of breath changing locations from left to right.
Tabitha Zeigler: Well, you know, I also think there's something to be said for all these different types of people to be coming together from all walks of life, all over the country, right? Like
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: we are literally showing people in real time what America's about, like what Americans look like even, right? And so
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: this is why, because people, when they see me, they see a white face.
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: And so I can walk into certain rooms and I can have certain conversations. And so I feel like it is my responsibility to do that and to push the bar, like push it as far as I possibly
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm.
Tabitha Zeigler: can. You can have conversations with people in a way that you are like peaking their curiosity and their critical thinking. And if you're always tossing the ball back in their court, right? Like, not necessarily making them a villain, right? But make them the hero of their own story. So it's like, right,
Cefore X. Plosives: yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: when you're sitting in church, when you're sitting in that pew, if the preacher, for example, because that's a person that's like a position of authority. Traditionally in the US, especially in areas where I'm from, there's like a church on every corner and you're sort of told or taught you don't question that, right? Like they're like the supreme authority. They're like the hand of God, sort of. I know, especially for the Catholics, that's like very much the case. But you have to push back. And so I think I'm constantly reaching back into like that biblical teaching that I have and trying to empower people and be like, right, but what would Jesus do? Like, Would Jesus sit in that pew whenever that preacher's, know, spitting hate, racism, sexism or whatever? Would he sit? Or would he be flipping that pew? Would he be flipping those tables? And if you
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: can't say that Jesus would sit next to you and listen to that conversation, like if Jesus would not agree and sit alongside you, then you need to question the words of that person, whether it is the preacher, the deacon, you know, maybe like one of the mothers of the church, grandmothers of the church,
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: hell, your own parents. I'm often in that position, right? Like
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah. Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: my parents have to be just like beside themselves right now because I'm sure they're scared for me. They don't agree with me. They push back. But I have my own children, right? And like ultimately, That's my obligation. Like I can teach and advocate and educate as much as I possibly can. But ultimately I'm not here to hold your hand, right? Like for all the grownups in the room, we can do everything that we can, but we also need to realize when we need to step back and be like, okay, I've talked as much as I can. Clearly this isn't getting anywhere with you. I'm like, I'm over here when you need me. When you're ready to have that conversation, just leave the door cracked, right? Like leave the door cracked. Let them come to you, especially with conversations. I find this happens a lot too. Right now, it might be really easy for people to say, that's those people over there. Like I'm detached
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: from that. That's not happening in my community. That won't happen in my community because we're good people and we don't do that here. So I think it's really easy for them to become detached, especially in their faith and be like, Well, if that happened here, I'd do the right thing. But meanwhile,
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: what you're seeing with your own eyes and 4k, whether it's happening in Chicago, Minneapolis, Palestine, Congo, whatever, you
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: know that's wrong. so like your silence is complicity, right? Like
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: how can you Sunday after Sunday sit in that pew and not activate and not say, Hey, I hear you and I respect you and I understand that you're the authority, but I'm gonna push back on you because I think I
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: need to.
Cefore X. Plosives: That's what good preachers should do, right? Like like you you should have you should be like good you should be able to go to him and say, Hey, why are you believing in this? Question
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: what's going on. If you can't question, then and in all honesty, you may have to find another church, right? Because if they don't have those if you're not able to have an open conversation with your peep your preacher or or person of leadership, then you should
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: really consider, you know, where you're where you're attending church. Like I I was able to My my pastor's my neighbor, right? So
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: when I came along into the church, he he he he he brought my family on and he's giving me he's giving me olive branches, right? So I started off
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: doing all the technical stuff and then he's like, I need you to mo can you moderate for me? hey, you know what? That was pretty good. You know, can you deliver Sunday school? Can you do Bible study for me? Yeah, okay, cool. And the next thing you know, I'm I was I was able to give deliver the word. So The first word that I delivered was about was about Jesus and immigration and how
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm.
Cefore X. Plosives: about how it was ex like the Good Samaritan, you know, things like that. Like and
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: I I brought it to a place where people could relate to it and
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: not be so detached from it because it's
such a real place. Like I was up there and I was like, I was just saying like I don't I don't understand if you know, he brought he you're supposed to gather everybody. You're supposed
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: to you're supposed to break bread with everybody. And they say even the the the crumbs that fall off the table are are should fulfill you with so much with so much faith that, you know, it sh it should be, you know, should be, you know, the thing, right? So
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: and I I what I did was I as as I'm as I'm as I'm delivering the word, I pull out immigration rights cards.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: Because I was handing them out as soon as the as soon as ice hit my my area. And I'm like,
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: Do you guys really understand that under these circumstances, we wouldn't be able to see Jesus because Jesus would be on a plane, or he'd be in Seatcott, or he'd be somewhere off and with without a moment's notice, or
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yep.
Cefore X. Plosives: he'd or they would kill him be just like they just like they did on the cross. So we have
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: to really realize and analy like like take take our faith and say, Is what we're actually believing in what What Jesus decided that this is the word, or is it what man decided and tainted and remolded and reshaped and re re rewrote and you know and decided that hey, this is in our best interest because because in Christianity women have no power. They're
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm.
Cefore X. Plosives: they don't they don't really exist in the Bible. Like they're all they're all like sub like they're all like
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: out of out of the s out of the books. They're they're all hidden.
Tabitha Zeigler: because they wrote all those books out.
Cefore X. Plosives: Exactly. And this is what they're doing now in our history. All all the great advancements of black and brown people in the community and women and and and all of these people that are minorities who are making up now the majority, they don't want to hear these voices and they don't want us to see these stories in real time. Right? Like and it at w we we brought one of our friends there because she goes to a church that is kind of like it is like a mega church. It is like a cult church. And like you you get sucked in. They don't they don't say, Hey, we're a mega cult, we're a ma mega church. They just kind of They they spoon feed it to you until you're you're in engulfed in it and then you don't realize it and then you believe in the culture and the next thing you know, hey, that's my guy. And then so there's a strained relationship there. But those are the relationships that that if they're very if they're important enough, you will hear both sides. Right. And I understand what they're trying to say, but you have to really understand what I'm trying to say because I know you're trying to noise cancel me out.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: And it it's a heavy dose and it's a it's a it's a dose that a lot of people do not want to take. You know, like they're very uncomfortable with understanding how disconnected they are from where where their faith should start and where their moral morals are beginning and where they're at right now. Because that center point is so far away from where they're at right now.
Tabitha Zeigler: I find I'm most successful with people whenever I'm constantly putting the ball back in their court and I'm asking them to question things. I'll
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: straight up tell people I'm like question everything. Just like you said, right? Like if you can't ask your preacher a question, if it would seem that your silence is valued more than your thoughts, If you can't see yourself in someone else's shoes, if you can't see your child's face in some other child's face,
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: if you believe that violence is the answer, if you don't understand that violence begets violence, and then you can go into the scripture and the basic ones that everybody knows, right? Like eye for an eye and all of that stuff. but just peak that curiosity just enough. But I find it's always more successful when you bounce that ball back in their court and you're just like. It takes, it takes a raging racist. If you tell them, Hey, your kid's four years old. Can you imagine your child being in an ICE detention camp? Like
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm.
Tabitha Zeigler: you can kind of see they like tense up like, Ooh,
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: it's instinctual, right? Because that's what happens when you have to step into someone else's shoes. When you peel back that onion of like. shit. And you don't necessarily have to go at them like you're a hypocrite, you're not a
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: real Christian. Like they say here, there are many ways to skin a cat. And I'm excellent at that because I feel like I've had to have these conversations and these arguments so much predominantly with my own family to where I'm
Cefore X. Plosives: well.
Tabitha Zeigler: like sort of skilled at it. I'm not saying I'm the best, but I'm just saying. Find those people among you that were raised in those type of situations that maybe have started to deconstruct or at least get curious. Have conversations with them, make them allies, and then send them back into their communities. Like we need to find the white people that are on like the verge of critical thinking, that are like peaking their
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: interests. And then you send them back into Mississippi, Alabama, whatever, and be like,
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: isn't it interesting how XYZ It's like, I'm not saying we don't have racists in the North. Absolutely, absolutely the case. But
Cefore X.
Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: I also don't think we will be successful long-term at actually stopping this if we can't get people to come to their own conclusion, right? Like we have to convince them that things like Turning Point USA is not benefiting society. Like, what are you getting out of it? Like what's the longevity of it? Like what are the things they believe in that are benefiting you that are adding to your life? I don't know. I feel like we're on the track. We're on the right track with a lot of this stuff. I see a lot of content creators, especially that have like some religious background, but I'm like, that's it. And I try and like all their stuff and forward their stuff. Like before I really knew what I was doing, which I'm not saying I know what I'm doing now, but early on. Early on, I was
Cefore X. Plosives: Right.
Tabitha Zeigler: a big fan of Monty Maider because I was like, yeah. Like I could very much step into those shoes and be like, I know exactly where you're going with this. And I thought it
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: would be extremely useful then like to use that message and transmit it. So when I was having conversations with people, like where I'm from, I'm like, listen, like don't get hung up on the hair color or the nose ring or whatever. Like, listen, like if the... for whatever reason, if like the way she's dressed or her hair color, like if it's bothering you, just listen. Put the screen
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: down and just listen to what she's saying because she actually knows what she's talking about.
Cefore X. Plosives: Yes, you yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: And I got a few older people to do that. Because initially, right? Because you know, everybody's judgy and they're like, like this person with the hair or the piercings or the tattoos or they're gay or too brown or
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: whatever. But if you can just get them to listen to the audio, like that's where some of the podcasts that are audio only, or if you can talk them into just listening to an audio version of a podcast that is like really impactful, and then they happen to see the video, you can see the shotgun, you know? And like, you
Cefore X. Plosives: Like, damn it. They're like, damn it.
Tabitha Zeigler: see that all over the place. Like it doesn't matter whether it's like a Black Preacher, Monty Mate or someone else, right? But like, you can literally see the change in them. Like you can see the critical thinking spark because they're like, shit, like I actually heard what he or she was saying. I can apply that to my life. And now it doesn't matter what they look like because now I got the message.
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah. Yeah. It it's so important to be colorblind and just not and just not really I and you know what it you're right, it it is all over the place. It's in Chicago. There's like a a
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: neighborhood neighborhood I was in. I I kinda grew up in there was a big I don't know if they were trying to think. It was it was it was Europe like European. I can't remember exactly where. Right.
Tabitha Zeigler: Yeah, Like Polish or something.
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah, it was just like an old neighborhood that that
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: that turned into a a Spanish neighborhood. But there were still the old the old the old ladies there and that they were still like
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: you you could tell they're super racist. But you know, I'd be the I'd be the guy over there that would cut the grass or help help
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: her up the stairs or like as a matter of fact today on on the way to this I couldn't find a parking spot so I had to park like way far from where the place was at that I was gonna record. A
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: lady a lady had her hood up and I'm like You okay? She's like, Mom at batteries, I'm waiting for triple A, whatever. And I wore my Mexico hat and she's a white lady. So, you know, there may be some I'm like, You
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: want you want me to jump your car? And she's like, Yeah. So she was open. She was open to it because she knows she she needed help.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah.
Cefore X. Plosives: And I and I was open to the fact that even though I have a timeline, I want to help somebody.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: Right? So then I jumped her car and is it's and it's running. I said, Hey, by the way, I have this flyer for Bernard Taylor, he's running for Congress.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: really? You know, again, you you you find the common ground, you plant the seed, right? So she's
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: gonna take that, she's like, my daughters have you know, they're they're really into it. I'm like, Okay, cool. I I I
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: we put the hood down, we she wrote went off on her way, and I know she's gonna think about it. She's gonna think about it. Whether she
Tabitha Zeigler: Yep. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah.
Cefore X. Plosives: whether whether she thinks that, whether she's a racist or not, she's gonna know that someone is attached to it is is a good person, right? He did a good
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: thing for me. Let me let me dive into this for a minute. And that's what we should all should be as believers. This is the Good Samaritan, right? Like the the
Tabitha Zeigler: Yeah.
Cefore X. Plosives: the priest walked past the the person that was in need. The the
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: you know and it it took someone that was was not of their their kind to help them out and bring them back to life.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: So like this is all we're
supposed to do. We're all supposed to help people that don't look like us to get to where we all n wanna be. Like and
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: this like if we could do that, if we just shut the fuck up for a minute
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: and pay attention. and and respect people's opinions for a moment and say these
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: are valid. Let me do some research. these are biblically sound or these are structurally sound. These do make sense. This would better the environment. This would help our kids. This would help our health. Like, okay, we're not we're not so fascist and communist all after all.
Tabitha Zeigler: Well, I'm telling you, this is why it's so important to get working people in those positions, right? Because not just because you're putting a bunch of people together that have a lot of expertise, right? Like it is beneficial to the American public to have firemen and teachers and nurses and all the things. That is beneficial to us. But to have people that are from a working class background that... are running for office that will do those things, right? That will pull over on the side of the road, that will jump someone's car, that, you know, I don't know. Like, let's say some old person needs woodchop because they've only got a wood stove. All of those little things, that's what sticks with people. they can't, like, they can't meet every politician, right? And I'm not saying that every politician can meet every single person, but those stories are the ones that spread. They'd be like, that guy? I didn't even know who he was and he like helped jump my car. Like that stuff does spread like wildfire. And I definitely think we need more of that. And that I think that's actually how Americans are. Like at least the working class ones, which is the majority of us, right? Like this is why it's so important to unify and to get out in the streets and mutual aid, protesting, educating people like, you know, I've seen people do like these car libraries out of their trunk, which is cool. Like I've
Cefore X. Plosives: shit. Okay. Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: got an idea to do that for my community. You know, I'm, I'm full of ideas and not full of a lot of time, but the more and more that we encourage that type of behavior, right. And get that
Cefore X. Plosives: Mm-hmm.
Tabitha Zeigler: sunk into these kids of like, actually you shouldn't care about the money. You should care about the mutual aid because how you make someone feel, how you help them, like that actually benefits you. That makes you feel good about yourself that you helped that lady carry her groceries up the stairs or that like you watch that lady's kid for two seconds so she could get her other kid out of the cart or what all of those things. That's what sticks with people.
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah. So it's you're you're mate, you're you're creating a core memory for somebody. Right? And that and that's what
we we we tend to realize that we don't do often enough. Like we're so busy with life, like especially with our kids. We're we we have this this memory bank of so many things on our mind and on our plate and in our in our lifespan. And we don't realize that
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: our our children don't have that bank built up yet. So every moment, every moment is a core memory. Right. So when we say when we we we blow them off and say, well, I don't got time or I'm tired, you know,
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: we're we're going about our day and they're losing a core memory of their life. And th that'll stick with them for for the rest of their life. But if you see like I if if if someone sees me jump a car, right,
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: they're like, He he he didn't even know that person. Or if
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: they they they they come across somebody doing a good deed. And that's where the internet is is is pretty good too. Like you you see people doing good deeds all the time. So when
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: when people see that generosity, the compassion, the empathy, the understanding that people are aren't as well off as you are, even though you're struggling, or you know, you
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: and you don't have to be a millionaire. You don't have to do that. You could be filled with compassion and love, and then you can actually get things done. You can actually you it's contagious. You know, I was a Bellman too. You know, I was the first and last impression of a of the hotel. So you greet somebody with a smile, you leave.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Cefore X. Plosives: Do you leave saying, Hi, have a great day, you know, like those
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: things those things aren't aren't you don't see those things when you when you start a computer. You know, you
Tabitha Zeigler: Yeah. That's right.
Cefore X. Plosives: they don't you don't you don't get that you you're you don't get those less life lessons taught at at school.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: And and that and that's where on all levels we could we can do better.
Tabitha Zeigler: Right. Well, hey, I think we've covered a lot of topics today. Was there anything
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah.
Tabitha Zeigler: we didn't cover that you want to talk about?
Cefore X. Plosives: not really, man. I I I just I wanna I wanna thank you for this 'cause I don't get a whole lot of opportunities to be on this side of the podcast.
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm. Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: and and going into it I didn't really think I had a whole lot to say. And and honestly, when I go about my day and people ask me how what I do and and I I start doing checking all this laundry list of things that I that I do besides work, be a father, be a part time pastor,
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives:
be a be a campaign manager, be a you know, and then and then it's like like it's like, shit, I do do a lot. So often we have a lot on our mind but not a lot to say. So I think I think we have to start giving ourselves a little more be appreciate ourselves a little bit more. And that helps our mental health also, you know what I'm saying? So aga again, I I wanna thank you for this 'cause I don't like I said, I don't get a whole lot of a lot of time to just say what is on like what I have to say. 'cause
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: I'm really interested in what other people have to say and talk shit with other people, you know.
Tabitha Zeigler: Well, I think it's important for people to like people that are doing stuff like this, right? It's important for them to see that we're human, that we're normal, and we're just like all of them. Because how can we encourage people to do the type of things that we're doing if they don't see the humanity in it, right? Like there can't be this detachment of like, here's this person that's like this big thing. It just gets people to kind of detach, I think. Anyway, this is why love having conversations like this, because I like the origin story. It tells you a lot about a person and how they came to do the things that they're doing.
Cefore X. Plosives: Yeah. It's it's it's important to like you on the polar opposite, you see Trump and you latch on to Trump because you think there's a there's a something that you're missing in life, like,
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm.
Cefore X. Plosives: man, I want to I want I want that. I want power, I want I
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: want money, I want I want the fame. You know, like you
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: you start attaching to a persona rather than the the root of p a person. And the the closer we could get to like telling telling the true stories about people and where they come from and what they're about and why are they fighting the fight they're f they're fighting, then they are they come they become relatable. And then you can start understanding that, hey, that that's me. You know, that that that is me. That is l that is younger me. That could be older me. Let
Tabitha Zeigler: Mm-hmm.
Cefore X. Plosives: let's jump on and let's let's fight the fight with them.
Tabitha Zeigler: Well, I ask everybody this. So I know we talked about a ton of things today. If people only walk away with one thing from this podcast, what do you really want them to walk away with? Like, who's mic?
Cefore X. Plosives: So I guess Mike Mike is someone that believes that there's good in everyone. Mike is a person that thinks that self comes second to the people that are close. And then that hope and love and joy are contagious. Mike is that guy that will will take the opportunity to make someone smile. give someone hope. and just have I guess just have the understanding that it isn't all gloom and doom. Like you and we are we are the we are the ducks on the water and our legs are going crazy, right? But we're gonna find a way to to stay afloat and we're gonna get to where we we need to be. But we gotta flock together.
Tabitha Zeigler: think that's great. Well, it was my pleasure to have you come on today. I would love for you to come back. I'm sure there's going to be many, many other things for us to talk about along the way. And for everybody out there, if you like what you're hearing, please like, subscribe, share it, send it to your friends. If you think you want to come on and have a conversation with me, send me message. Thank you very much for coming on today, Mike. I very much appreciated it and we will see you later, everybody.
Cefore X. Plosives: Thank you, peace.