In the last 11 months especially, it’s been easy to lose hope. From the pandemic, to the racial injustice, to the betrayal of Afghanistan, to the disintegration of the Republican Party, to the ineptitude of the Democratic Party. From coast to coast, there’s a loss of hope across America this holiday season.  But in this moment, when the enemies of America seem to be chomping at the bit, we’ve got to keep the hope. And like Bob Dole, who overcame almost dying on the battlefield in Italy in World War Two and 39 months in the hospital afterwards, we can not only stay hopeful, but we can stay vigilant. Because vigilance is the price of democracy.   This show is all about staying vigilant. It’s about providing light to contrast the heat. It’s about pushing for better. It’s about keeping the hope.  And about sharing the hope of the Righteous Media 5 I’s, to keep you warm and keep you hopeful. It's the hope of independence, integrity, information, inspiration and impact.  And it's about real talk, about real issues. No sugar coating. No partisan spin. No corporate masters. No bullshit.  And that’s what’s next. It’s a conversation with a voice you know, a voice of reason, a voice that endured adversity, a voice of truth, and especially now, a voice of hope. He’s our guest, Tavis Smiley (@TavisSmiley).  Tavis has worn a lot of hats in a lot of places. He’s hosted shows on BET, NPR, PBS and now owns LA’s first black-owned talk radio station, KBLA 1580. He's taken on controversies, and has had his share of his own. He’s been a fixture in the national conversation for decades, and an unforgettable, impactful guest in places ranging from Meet The Press to HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. He’s been up, and he's been down. And after years of working for other networks, he’s back with a new media network of his own. And a fire that’s hotter than ever before.  Our fearless host, Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) digs into his aspirations for KBLA, what it means to be “progressive”, and the triple threat facing our democracy. Why he thinks Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is the greatest American of all time, Trump and the rise of extremism and white nationalism. Sympathy vs empathy, and the implosion of Carlos Watson’s Ozy Media. And we’ll talk about hope. Because Tavis has a take on hope that you will not forget. A take that’s perfect as we get deeper into the holidays.  In these trying times especially, Independent Americans will continue to be your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope.  WATCH the full conversation in video with Paul and Tavis here. Independent Americans is powered by Righteous Media. Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us.  Stay vigilant, America.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices