Ken Scott Baron Podcast

Ken Scott Baron

0.0 (0)
Politics
Updated Weekly

Activist and media outreach NABWMT, commenting on racial and cultural barriers and human equality. I use educational, political, cultural, and social activities to fight racism, sexism, homophobia, and other inequities in our communities and in our lives. nabwmt.substack.com

1d ago

LGBTQ in Turkey

The authorities in Turkey have arrested dozens of people since early Sunday as part of a broad crackdown on L.G.B.T.Q. activists and associations, according to officials, rights groups and lawyers for the detained. The government has called the campaign an effort to protect Turkish families, but rights organizations have accused the authorities of criminalizing L.G.B.T.Q. people and lifestyles they don’t like, and of seeking to stomp out rights activism. Some critics of the campaign say the government is also targeting L.G.B.T.Q. people because members of that community are an active part of the political opposition to President Erdogan. The government is conflating gay rights advocacy with prostitution, drug use and obscenity in a way that “smears L.G.B.T. people.” Their very identity is really being criminalized. Homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, but Mr. Erdogan’s government has frequently demonized L.G.B.T.Q. people and sought to push them out of public life. The authorities have banned Pride parades in Turkish cities, and Mr. Erdogan has referred to L.G.B.T.Q. people as “deviants” who were “spreading like the plague.” Mr. Erdogan has also promoted a conservative view of the family in which marriage is between a man and a woman, men are the breadwinners and women are encouraged to have at least three children. This year begins what Mr. Erdogan has called the “Decade of Family and Population,” during which the government hopes to push up Turkey’s sagging birthrate with cash incentives and other child-friendly policies. Security forces in Istanbul, Ankara and other Turkish cities detained more than 60 people in their homes, and raided gay bars and the offices of gay rights organizations. The government also blocked numerous social media accounts belonging to gay rights groups, as well as the accounts of a sexual health organization, a legal monitor, reporters who wrote about the arrests and the Turkey office of Amnesty International. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said that the operation was called “My Family is Safe.” He said the efforts had targeted 162 people, nine associations and 13 businesses suspected of involvement in prostitution and the production and dissemination of “obscene content,” including to minors. He noted that searches by the security forces had turned up digital materials, drugs and indications of foreign funding for groups that were encouraging homosexual activity and “indecency.” “We are steadfastly continuing our efforts to protect our children, the institution of the family and the social order,” he added. Mehmet Sinan Birdal, a political scientist at the Free University of Berlin, said the Turkish government was going after L.G.B.T.Q. people because of the community’s political opposition to Mr. Erdogan. “Obscenity is a very vague term,” he said. “I see this as a step to further pressure civil opposition.” Those detained in the operation included a women’s rights activist, a journalist who had written an article about gay rights in the Republic of Georgia and two founders of a health association that supports people with H.I.V. Yildiz Tar, editor of an online newsmagazine, denounced the government’s crackdown, saying, “They call the existence of L.G.B.T.Q. obscene” and noting, “This is discrimination.” The arrests followed other cases in which the government tried to use obscenity laws to criminalize certain types of behavior. Twice this year, Mabel Matiz, a singer, has faced obscenity charges over his music. A judge acquitted him in the first case, focused on some of his lyrics. A second case, focused on a video clip that shows a groom at a wedding party dancing with another man, is ongoing. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nabwmt.substack.com
Sep 12

Live with Ken Scott Baron

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nabwmt.substack.com
Aug 21

Recording 2026-08-21 9:45

Thank you for tuning in! Ken and Paul talk about the NABWMT Conventions and Political Action This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nabwmt.substack.com
Aug 17

Homophobia in men’s football due to “selfish” attitudes.

Johnathon Clauss, said “There has yet to be an openly gay male player in the French top-flight.” Clauss attributed that to a perceived lack of empathy, causing players to “hide”. As long as it doesn’t concern them, they don’t put themselves in other people’s shoes. Clauss also said: “I didn’t really like it when others were treated badly because of things they can’t do anything about,” Clauss said. “ I have always been on the side of those who were not very popular in the playground.” While openly gay players in women’s football are far more common, there are currently only two examples in major top-flight football around the world — Jakub Jankto of Italian side Cagliari and Josh Cavallo of Adelaide in Australia. Despite the growing representation of gay, male footballers, Clauss said challenges still lie with the heteronormative climate of the men’s game. Claus, who has won 14 caps for France since his debut in 2022, urged education around homophobia to begin “among young people, starting at school”. He added. “Raising awareness among a professional group is almost already too late.” Clauss said he hopes for there to be “no impact” when future players come out as gay but felt he is unlikely to see it in his environment before he retires. Players of Ligue 1 teams are set to wear armbands in the campaign against homophobia this weekend, the final match of the French top-flight’s regular league campaign. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nabwmt.substack.com
Aug 14

PROPOSAL TO GET OUT THE VOTE

1. Summary NABWMT) has a rich history of advocacy at the intersection of racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and social equity. this proposal outlines the creation of a non-partisan, dedicated Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Initiative. By launching a non-partisan voter engagement group, NABWMT can directly address systemic barriers to voting, combat disenfranchisement in marginalized communities, and ensure robust turnout among Black, multicultural, and LGBTQ+ voters across local, state, and national elections. This proposal is based on successful work of the author. 2. Strategy NABWMT’s mission centers on combating racism, homophobia, and social injustice through education, fellowship, and civic advocacy. Voting is a primary mechanism through which community members protect civil rights, funding for public services, healthcare access, and anti-discrimination protections. Targeted Community Needs: Black, LGBTQ+, and low-income voters face disproportionate hurdles, including voter ID laws, polling place closures, and voter fatigue or alienation. Non-Partisan Advantage: Operating strictly as a non-partisan entity allows NABWMT to maintain compliance with 501(c)(3) guidelines, engage a broad coalition of community partners, and focus entirely on civic empowerment rather than party alignment. 3. Mission & Objectives Core Mission To empower marginalized communities by providing accessible voter education, breaking down barriers to the ballot box, and driving non-partisan voter registration and turnout. Our outreach will emphasize our values that are helped or impinged by current events. Key Objectives Increase Voter Registration: Register voters across local NABWMT chapters, focusing on underrepresented populations. Provide Civic & Ballot Education: Host non-partisan candidate forums and publish plain-language guides on ballot measures, voter rights, and registration deadlines. Drive Mobilization (Turnout): Implement peer-to-peer outreach, pledge-to-vote campaigns, and transportation assistance for early voting and Election Day. Protections & Advocacy: Educate voters on their legal rights at the polls and connect them with voter protection hotlines. 4. Key Strategies & Action Plan Phase 1: Voter Education & Awareness Voter Guides: Distribute non-partisan information covering state-specific voting laws, ID requirements, early voting dates, and mail-in ballot procedures. Civic Workshops: Host virtual and local town halls focusing on how local elections (school boards, judges, city councils) directly impact LGBTQ+ and racial equity issues. Phase 2: Voter Registration & Engagement Chapter Activation: Equip local NABWMT chapters with standardized voter registration kits and digital links. Community Partnerships: Partner with non-partisan organizations such as When We All Vote, the League of Women Voters, and local Pride centers to co-host registration drives. Phase 3: Turnout & Voter Assistance Peer-to-Peer Outreach: Conduct non-partisan phone and text banks reminding members and community allies to submit ballots or head to the polls. 5. Non-Partisan Legal Compliance (501(c)(3) Guidelines) To safeguard NABWMT’s tax-exempt status, all working group activities will strictly adhere to Federal/IRS non-partisan guidelines: No Endorsements: The group will not endorse, support, or oppose any candidate, political party, or slate of nominees. Equal Opportunity: If hosting candidate forums or debates, all certified candidates for a given office will be invited under equal rules and timing. Issue Neutrality in GOTV: Outreach messaging will focus solely on the importance of voting and civic duty, without linking participation to voting for specific candidates or parties. 6. Structure & Implementation Roadmap Proposed Group Structure Coordinators: Oversee overall strategy, reporting to the NABWMT Board. Arrange phone banks, letters ,postcards and volunteer efforts. Education & Communications: BMISJ manages voter guides, social media toolkits, and virtual events. 7. Next Steps & Recommendation It is recommended that the NABWMT Board of Directors: Approve the establishment of the NABWMT Non-Partisan GOTV Working Group. Authorize the selection of a committee chair to begin initial planning and chapter outreach. Allocate seed resources or delegate fundraising approval to support non-partisan printing, text-banking platforms, and event hosting. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nabwmt.substack.com
Jun 19

Phones, Births and the Future

Smartphones make it incredibly easy to connect across distances, but their physical presence and design can simultaneously hijack our attention and disrupt the depth of in-person interactions. Navigating this requires a deliberate balance between leveraging digital convenience and preserving meaningful, face-to-face empathy Now, in an article “Why We Delude Ourselves About the Birthrate,” published in The New York Times, explored the global decline in birthrates and challenges the conventional explanations often used to explain it. This is interestng because the core argument that society frequently misdiagnoses the root causes of declining birthrates by blaming economic factors, lack of state support, or modern career pressures. Instead, the piece suggests the shift is deeply cultural and technological. I have written previously about phones and how technology—specifically smartphones and digital culture—has fundamentally altered human interaction, dating, and intimacy, making the traditional path toward family-building less common or delayed. The New York Times article highlights that standard government incentives (like cash payouts, subsidized childcare, or tax breaks) have largely failed to reverse the downward trend in countries that have tried them, indicating that financial fixes cannot solve a deeper societal shift in values and lifestyles. If technology is impairing your relationships and if your constant need to check texts and social media is hurting the depth and empathy in conversations with friends and families, take a deep breath and assess how this effects your future and that of others! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nabwmt.substack.com
Jun 17

BIPOC to the Middle?

From the mid-1980s to the early 1990s, Democratic centrists complained that Jesse Jackson and his progressive allies were pushing the party too far left. Using the leverage of his Rainbow Coalition, Jackson pushed the party conventions to adopt more liberal stances than the nominees wanted. Now, some 40 years later, the racial and ideological split in the Democratic Party has been flipped on its head. White, well-educated liberals are the proponents of cultural and identity policies that often alienate swing middle-class voters. Black and other minority Democrats are a strong force for moderation. This results from the changing demographic characteristics of white Democrats, especially whites with college degrees, and the shifting focus of the liberal agenda from racial and economic equality to culture war issues. Black voters today are no longer on the party’s left flank. Since the late 1990s the share of white Democrats identifying as liberal roughly doubled, from about 30 percent to 61 percent, while Black Democrats moved only modestly. White voters without college make up about a quarter of the Democratic coalition. White college graduates are now more liberal across the board. Black Democrats are more religious and more traditional on cultural issues than white Democrats. The moral and cultural gulf between Black and white Democrats has grown steadily. Along similar lines, a 2022 American Enterprise Institute study found that white liberals favored “cutting some funding from police departments in your community and shifting it to social services” by 71 percent to 27 percent; Black voters were much more closely split, 53 percent to 44 percent; and Hispanic voters were opposed, with 40 percent for shifting funds to social services and 57 percent against doing so. White Democrats are significantly more likely than Black Democrats (52 percent vs. 26 percent) to believe that societal acceptance of gay, lesbian and bisexual people has not gone far enough.” These differences are part and parcel of a larger ideological shift among Democrats over the past 26 years. There are four major issues on which “Black voters have indeed become a moderating force compared with white liberals”: Crime: A 2024 American Enterprise Institute survey found that nonwhite working-class voters opposed reducing police budgets by a 30-point margin, while white liberal college graduates favored reducing police budgets by a 20-point margin. Patriotism: Some 62 percent of Asian Americans, 70 percent of Black Americans and 76 percent of Hispanic Americans said they were “proud to be an American,” compared with just 34 percent of progressive activists. Racial preferences: When asked if Black people should work their way up “without special favors,” white liberals were about 12 points less likely to agree than Black voters. The pro-affirmative action stance among many white liberals, in contrast to the moderate positions of Black Democrats, is striking. In an attempt to discern what might make skeptical voters consider choosing Democratic candidates. polls found that moving to the center on racial preferences in college admissions was the most electorally fruitful move Democrats could make and that doing so on racial preferences in government contracting was the second most important. The reversal of ideological positioning of white and minority Democrats is closely connected to the class conversion of the Democratic Party from the party of the working class to the party of well-educated whites. Today’s white Democratic voters are wealthier, more highly educated and more socially liberal. Meanwhile, the Black voters who make up the consistent base of the party have held steady while the rest of the coalition has shifted around them. At the same time, Erickson’s analysis points to a Democratic split with the so-called post-material wing dominated by white liberals and a Black-Hispanic minority wing more concerned with bread-and-butter issues: According to 2024 A.P. VoteCast Data, when asked to rank their level of concern on top issues in the 2024 election, white progressives expressed the most concern about “the effects of climate change,” at 75 percent, while nearly 70 percent of Black, Latino and white non college voters were most concerned about the cost of food and groceries. The racial, ideological and class alterations of the Democratic Party have created a damaging dynamic both internally and in competition with the Republican Party. The white working-class voters who favor Republicans are struggling economically but don’t feel that their struggles are given the same attention as racism and other cultural issues. They are a large group that feels disrespected, distrusts government and feels like their own economic challenges are being ignored. The ascendance within Democratic ranks of culturally liberal well-educated whites has, in turn, intensified tensions with Black, Hispanic and other minority Democrats, Sawhill wrote Democrats, have a huge opportunity to unite the working class across racial lines, but to do so, I believe they will have to focus much more on inequalities of wealth and power, and put a stronger emphasis on economic issues such as work, wages and the cost of living while simultaneously embracing more mainstream or less-contentious cultural values in many areas. Over the last two decades, Democrats essentially have been trading working-class voters for white college grads. The nonwhite working class has emerged as a force for moderation in U.S. politics. They are leery of the left’s cultural agenda — open borders, permissive prosecutors, the obsession with identity politics and “equity.” They express higher levels of national pride and patriotism. And they aren’t agitating for the replacement of a market economy with democratic socialism. The problem for those who would like to shift power within the Democratic Party from liberal white elites to more moderate constituencies is that the white elites hold power and won’t give it up without a fight. They vote, donate and participate heavily in party organizations more than any other major bloc. They dominate or exert disproportionate influence among party activists, primary voters, campaign staffs, advocacy organizations, the media, nonprofit leadership and donor networks. It may well be that the internal power lies with those who are happy campers just where they are, and that the party as currently constructed cannot and will not dig itself out of the hole it’s in. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nabwmt.substack.com
Jun 14

Ken amd Paul talks about the NABWMT Upcoming Convention

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nabwmt.substack.com

Activist and media outreach NABWMT, commenting on racial and cultural barriers and human equality. I use educational, political, cultural, and social activities to fight racism, sexism, homophobia, and other inequities in our communities and in our lives. nabwmt.substack.com

Creator

Ken Scott Baron
Years Active

2019 - 2026
Episodes

59
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Ken Baron
Show Website

Ken Scott Baron Podcast