The hosts begin the show with a deep dive into Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the NYC mayoral primary, spotlighting his insurgent campaign and examining key elements of his Democratic Socialist platform. The hour concludes with an interview featuring Sandra Lott Smith—a survivor, author of over 38 books, minister, and founder of Your New Life Ministries.

The hosts begin the show with a deep dive into Zohran Mamdani&rsquo;s victory in the NYC mayoral primary, spotlighting his insurgent campaign and examining key elements of his Democratic Socialist platform. The hour concludes with an interview featuring Sandra Lott Smith&mdash;a survivor, author of over 38 books, minister, and founder of <a href="https://www.yournewlifeministries.org/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Your New Life Ministries</a>.

Tune in each week, as an established lawyer, and a self- proclaimed “man of the people,” debate some of the hottest issues impacting our city, state and nation. 

Tune in each week, as an established lawyer, and a self- proclaimed “man of the people,” debate some of the hottest issues impacting our city, state and nation.

Shake It Off with Mert & Lucas

Hour 1: Mamdani Madness and Mounting Misgivings. Interview with Sandra Lott Smith.

The hosts unpack the long‑running debate over reparations, tracing broken promises from “40 acres and a mule” to today’s wealth gaps affecting Black and Indigenous communities. It explores practical funding ideas — from government budgets and corporate accountability to philanthropy, universities, new industry taxes, and social bonds — while framing reparations as both moral repair and financial responsibility. The show wraps with an interview featuring Christopher J. Najera, a certified life coach, public speaker, and author of The Hard Truth! Stopping Alcohol, a candid guide to overcoming dependency.  Drawing on over 30 years of lived experience, he empowers others with raw honesty, practical tools, and a deep commitment to helping people reclaim their lives from alcohol.

The hosts unpack the long‑running debate over reparations, tracing broken promises from &ldquo;40 acres and a mule&rdquo; to today&rsquo;s wealth gaps affecting Black and Indigenous communities. It explores practical funding ideas &mdash; from government budgets and corporate accountability to philanthropy, universities, new industry taxes, and social bonds &mdash; while framing reparations as both moral repair and financial responsibility. The show wraps with an interview featuring Christopher J. Najera, a certified life coach, public speaker, and author of&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__thehardtruthaf.com_&amp;d=DwMGaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=VjLVqDp760rtbFjmvN9KBC4Q3Wzyzl7V5ax9o24L5A0&amp;m=aFKX8UsIoKV9GbMkP_j9B6QS7FNb4WcaYffmAfjBcuqJ8tSaOgFL9CvZdgsxf5Sb&amp;s=wRDUga0uZbwwiuQEl86Fmg2IIAcZyEgDnkqAgmuGuHY&amp;e=" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">The Hard Truth! Stopping Alcohol,</a>&nbsp;a candid guide to overcoming dependency.&nbsp; Drawing on over 30 years of lived experience, he empowers others with raw honesty, practical tools, and a deep commitment to helping people reclaim their lives from alcohol.

Hour 2: Reparations: Moral Repair & Financial Duty | Chris Najera on The Hard Truth!

Episode 74 begins with a look at the battle between free speech and platform moderation, where the First Amendment protects against government censorship, but private platforms set their own rules. From Musk’s “hands-off” Twitter/X experiment to Europe’s Digital Services Act, the debate shows how moderation—whether by humans, AI, or governments—inevitably reflects politics, values, and power struggles over the digital public square.  The hour concludes with an interview featuring Michael Bedenbaugh, a leading voice in historic preservation and civic engagement. He is the author of Reviving Our Republic and host of the podcast of the same name, where he examines the intersection of history, governance, and community development.

Episode 74 begins with a look at the battle between free speech and platform moderation, where the First Amendment protects against government censorship, but private platforms set their own rules. From Musk&rsquo;s &ldquo;hands-off&rdquo; Twitter/X experiment to Europe&rsquo;s Digital Services Act, the debate shows how moderation&mdash;whether by humans, AI, or governments&mdash;inevitably reflects politics, values, and power struggles over the digital public square.&nbsp; The hour concludes with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__mikebedenbaugh.com_&amp;d=DwMGaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=VjLVqDp760rtbFjmvN9KBC4Q3Wzyzl7V5ax9o24L5A0&amp;m=aFKX8UsIoKV9GbMkP_j9B6QS7FNb4WcaYffmAfjBcuqJ8tSaOgFL9CvZdgsxf5Sb&amp;s=mhSQBCpOdVxyTGMKrbynuOiyzMH08ht_3C7RlESzPW4&amp;e=" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Michael Bedenbaugh</a>, a leading voice in historic preservation and civic engagement. He is the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__revivingourrepublic.com_&amp;d=DwMGaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=VjLVqDp760rtbFjmvN9KBC4Q3Wzyzl7V5ax9o24L5A0&amp;m=aFKX8UsIoKV9GbMkP_j9B6QS7FNb4WcaYffmAfjBcuqJ8tSaOgFL9CvZdgsxf5Sb&amp;s=5uQmiDlXVrWRWFcpohtyvxJN7f6FtWCA-ax3dQ8NwRY&amp;e=" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Reviving Our Republic</a>&nbsp;and host of the podcast of the same name, where he examines the intersection of history, governance, and community development.

 Hour 1: Free Speech vs. Platform Power | Michael Bedenbaugh on Reviving Our Republic

The hosts discuss a Washington, D.C. event where Wall Street’s elite bristled at Mayor‑elect Mamdani’s push for wealth taxes, rent freezes, and free transit—policies viewed as a direct threat to their power.  Into that tension stepped Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, whose gubernatorial campaign quickly became the business community’s rallying point against the city’s leftward turn and Governor Hochul’s embattled leadership.  The show concludes with Christopher Henze, a filmmaker and cultural disruptor whose documentaries and dramas probe the collision of truth, pain, and power. His latest project, Wise Women: Humanity’s Untold Origins, reframes menopause as an evolutionary advantage that shaped human survival.

The hosts discuss a Washington, D.C. event where Wall Street&rsquo;s elite bristled at Mayor‑elect Mamdani&rsquo;s push for wealth taxes, rent freezes, and free transit&mdash;policies viewed as a direct threat to their power.&nbsp; Into that tension stepped Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, whose gubernatorial campaign quickly became the business community&rsquo;s rallying point against the city&rsquo;s leftward turn and Governor Hochul&rsquo;s embattled leadership.&nbsp; The show concludes with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27561267/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Christopher Henze</a>, a filmmaker and cultural disruptor whose documentaries and dramas probe the collision of truth, pain, and power. His latest project,&nbsp;<a href="https://wisewomenmovie.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Wise Women: Humanity&rsquo;s Untold Origins</a>, reframes menopause as an evolutionary advantage that shaped human survival.

Hour 1: Mamdani Madness and Mounting Misgivings. Interview with Sandra Lott Smith.

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