Cuckoo 4 Politics 😎

Michael Desrosiers
  • 4.8 (12)
  • POLITICS

Discussing political perspectives on various ISSUES THAT MATTER with citizens of the world. So grab your favorite libations , get ready for some lively conversation and let’s learn something together.

  1. 12/02/2025

    Beyond the Pink

    Breast cancer often surfaces in the moments people don’t talk about—appointments pushed months out, mixed messages from providers, and the quiet fear that something serious might be brushed aside. In this episode, Michael Desrosiers sits down with flight attendants Kimberly Burckhalter and Derrian Aversa, whose diagnoses are decades apart yet shaped by the same need to push for answers. Kim recalls finding a lump in her early thirties and refusing to accept reassurances that didn’t feel right. Derrian explains how today’s advanced treatments still sit behind layers of scheduling delays, limited staffing, and constant follow-up calls. Their conversation asks the harder questions. Why do some patients move quickly through care while others face roadblocks at every step? How much do geography, staffing shortages, and insurance policies determine the path long before treatment begins? And what kind of support truly helps when fear takes over and details become hard to process? Together, they offer a clear, compassionate reminder: trust what your body is telling you, speak up early, and keep people close who help you stay steady when the system makes everything harder than it should be. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Breast Cancer Awareness 01:00 Early Detection and Kim’s Diagnosis 04:16 Derrian’s Delayed Care and HER2-Positive Results 09:48 Why Support Systems Matter 10:37 Flight Attendant Risk Factors 15:16 Healthcare Delays and Systemic Barriers 20:36 Insurance Challenges and Access to Treatment 30:32 Advances in Breast Cancer Treatment 35:00 Self-Advocacy and Early Action Links Visit the Cuckoo4Politics website Follow Cuckoo4Politics on Instagram Follow Cuckoo4Politics on Facebook Follow Cuckoo4Politics on TikTok Follow Cuckoo4Politics on BlueskyPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    1 hr
  2. A Mother's Mission: "Democracy Begins in the Classroom"

    11/01/2025

    A Mother's Mission: "Democracy Begins in the Classroom"

    In this episode of Cuckoo4Politics, host Michael engages with Shaneka Storey, a candidate for the East Stroudsburg School Board. They discuss the challenges facing the school district, including funding issues, educational equity, and the importance of diverse representation in education. Storey shares her personal motivations for running, emphasizing her commitment to advocating for all children and the need for better support and compensation for teachers. The conversation also touches on community perceptions of the schools and the importance of engaging parents in the educational process. This is a Mom on a mission and not politician. A Mom grounded in the belief that democracy begins in the classroom.

    40 min
  3. Shift Change PT 6- Closing Arguments

    07/27/2025

    Shift Change PT 6- Closing Arguments

    Welcome to Shift Change- Closing Arguments . In this pivotal episode, titled Closing Argument, I am joined by the union president who helped lead negotiations for the tentative agreement with United Airlines. As the vote deadline approaches, he delivers more than just a case for the agreement—he offers a message about leadership, unity, and the personal toll this entire process has taken on him , the entire negotiating team and most importantly the entire union membership. With honesty and emotion, he reflects on the pressure, the compromises, and the responsibility of carrying the voices of thousands of flight attendants into the bargaining room. If you’ve already voted, if you’re still undecided, or even if you're frustrated with the process—this conversation is for you. It’s a chance to hear directly from the person who helped shape the proposal now on the table. This is Shift Change: Closing Argument.

    38 min

  4. 07/26/2025

    Shift Change PT 5- Why Say No !

    In this episode , I sit down with a passionate union member who stands firm against the recently proposed tentative agreement. Despite the known challenges, he is advocating that a better deal can be made with emphasis in the need for stronger protections and fairer terms for flight attendants. In this episode, we explore perspectives on what it means to push for change from within and the importance of holding both the union and the company accountable. Tune in for an insightful conversation on the power of collective bargaining and the pursuit of a fair workplace. #UnionStrong #BetterDeal #CollectiveBargaining #cuckoo4politics #cuckoo_4_politics #afa

    48 min
  5. Shift Change PT 4: Read the Fine Print (Bonus)

    07/21/2025 · BONUS

    Shift Change PT 4: Read the Fine Print (Bonus)

    In this episode of Cuckoo4Politics, host Michael engages with negotiator Ken Diaz to discuss the intricacies of union negotiations, particularly focusing on the recent tentative agreement (TA) affecting flight attendants. They delve into various topics including hotel standards, dispute resolution processes, changes in communication methods, the significance of side letters in contracts, retirement plans, corporate loyalty, training pay, and the distinction between retro pay and bonuses. Throughout the conversation, Diaz emphasizes the importance of union involvement and the need for transparency in negotiations, while addressing common misconceptions and misinformation circulating among flight attendants.

    47 min

  6. 07/18/2025

    Shift Change PT 3 - Why Say Yes?

    Flight attendants are asking for more than better pay. They’re asking to be seen for the long hours, the missed time with family, and the toll that decades of demanding schedules have taken on their lives. Michael Desrosiers reconnects with Ken Diaz, a longtime flight attendant and the lead negotiator for United’s union, to talk through the tentative agreement now in the hands of the members. Ken speaks openly about what the union won, what it couldn’t, and why he’s choosing to vote yes. But this isn’t just a breakdown of numbers. It’s a conversation about trust, exhaustion, and the weight of past sacrifices. What does progress look like when you’re still recovering from losses you were never compensated for? How do you measure fairness in an industry that’s built on constant motion and limited rest? Through personal stories and straight talk, Ken and Michael dig into the real meaning of value at work - what it costs, who decides, and why the stakes feel higher than ever. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Inside the Tentative Agreement 04:06 Ken Diaz on Voting as a Working Flight Attendant 09:09 Breaking Down Retirement Contributions 13:02 Healthcare Wins and Work Rule Protections 20:00 The Push for Boarding Pay and Fair Scheduling 24:55 Why Ground Pay Remains Out of Reach 34:34 Fatigue, Safety, and the Human Cost of Airline Work 42:35 Final Thoughts and What’s Next in the Series Links cuckoo4politics.com https://www.instagram.com/cuckoo_4_politics/ https://www.facebook.com/Cuckoo-4-Politics-104093938102793 https://www.tiktok.com/@usercuckoo4politics https://bsky.app/profile/cuckoo4politics.bsky.social Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    47 min

  7. 07/14/2025

    Shift Change PT 2 - At the Negotiation Table

    What happens when a 100-year-old labor law meets a modern airline CEO determined to draw the line on healthcare? In Part 2 of the Shift Change series, Michael welcomes back Ken Diaz, President of the United Airlines Master Executive Council, for a frank and detailed look at what really happens at the bargaining table. What’s behind the years-long delays in reaching a contract? And why is healthcare, something most people take for granted, suddenly a flashpoint for flight attendants? Ken doesn’t hold back. He breaks down the impact of the nearly century-old Railway Labor Act, the corporate strategy of dragging out negotiations, and why change may have to come from within the union rather than through new legislation. He also explains what’s at stake in the proposed contract, including the controversial 480-hour healthcare requirement, and why this moment feels different. Michael and Ken talk about the tension, the strategy, and the reality of dealing with a CEO who, in Ken’s words, “is not a people person.” They also push back against assumptions about so-called concessions, clarify the role of financial analysts and legal teams during talks, and reflect on the human cost of delayed agreements. If you’ve ever wondered why it takes so long for workers to get what they’re owed, or what really happens behind closed doors, this conversation pulls back the curtain. Stay tuned for Shift Change Part 3: Why Say Yes and a follow-up commentary with Ken Diaz in The Debrief. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:04 Recap of Union Power and Strike Limitations 03:27 Guest Introduction: Ken Diaz on 40 Years of Union Leadership 07:56 Why Airline Labor Laws Put Workers at a Disadvantage 12:06 A New Strategy to Cut Down Years-Long Contract Negotiations 18:02 How CEO Leadership Styles Influence Labor Outcomes 27:06 Why Ken Diaz Is Voting Yes on the Tentative Agreement 32:08 Breaking Down the 480 Credited Hours Healthcare Requirement 38:18 Inside the Final Weeks of Negotiations: What Really Happened 49:00 Who Was at the Table and How Decisions Were Made 52:02 How the Union Makes Final Decisions at the Bargaining Table Links cuckoo4politics.com https://www.instagram.com/cuckoo_4_politics/ https://www.facebook.com/Cuckoo-4-Politics-104093938102793 https://www.tiktok.com/@usercuckoo4politics https://bsky.app/profile/cuckoo4politics.bsky.social Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    1h 2m

  8. 07/11/2025

    The Debrief - One on One w/ Sara Nelson

    When corporate profits hit record highs but workers are still fighting for fair pay, safe conditions, and a seat at the table, something’s off. In this premiere episode of The Debrief, a special series from Cuckoo 4 Politics, host Michael Desrosiers brings you one-on-one conversations and post-show commentary that go deeper than the main episode ever could. These are the follow-ups, the “after the mic” moments where the real talk continues and nothing’s left on the cutting room floor. Michael sits down with Sara Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants, for a straight-talking conversation about the widening gap between booming business and the people behind it. Why are airline workers still battling for fair contracts in the wake of a post-pandemic surge? What happens when companies flood social media with curated half-truths? And how do you keep people united when the system is designed to wear them down? Sara breaks down what’s in the tentative agreement and what’s not. She pulls back the curtain on the pressure to settle for less, the reality behind corporate messaging, and the danger of a labor movement losing momentum. Michael and Sara also zoom out to look at the bigger picture: outdated labor laws, the limits of collective power, and why organizing doesn’t stop at the bargaining table; it extends to ballots, policies, and public opinion. This is a grounded, no-fluff look at where things stand, what’s at risk, and why staying loud still matters. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:40 Sara Nelson on Why She Never Backs Down 03:08 The Real Power of Worker Solidarity 06:06 What Mother Jones Got Right About Labor 08:12 The 4 D’s of Union-Busting 13:05 Clearing Up Misinformation About the Contract 15:06 Why Hotel Standards Matter in Union Negotiations 20:11 Protections Around Electronic Notifications 22:32 Can Labor Laws Actually Be Changed? 26:45 Why Healthcare Shouldn’t Be on the Bargaining Table 28:55 How Corporate Money Distorts Democracy 32:55 “We’re the Tide”: Sara Nelson’s Final Word on Collective Power 38:01 The Importance of Voting and Union Participation Links cuckoo4politics.com https://www.instagram.com/cuckoo_4_politics/ https://www.facebook.com/Cuckoo-4-Politics-104093938102793 https://www.tiktok.com/@usercuckoo4politics https://bsky.app/profile/cuckoo4politics.bsky.social Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Discussing political perspectives on various ISSUES THAT MATTER with citizens of the world. So grab your favorite libations , get ready for some lively conversation and let’s learn something together.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Desrosiers
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Michael Desrosiers