The Smoke Pit

50501 Veterans
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The Smoke Pit is a live, unscripted conversation space inspired by the military tradition of the smoke pit; an informal place where people gather, speak candidly, and connect beyond rank or title. Each episode brings together veterans, leaders, and guests for real, no-talking-points discussions that cut through the noise and get to what people actually think, believe, and experience. Expect honest dialogue, diverse perspectives, and a setting where respect and authenticity come first. The Smoke Pit is a 50501 Veterans initiative, hosted and produced by Crayon Box Politics.

Episodes

  1. 14 MAY

    Jim Crow 2.0: The Gerrymandering Edition

    In this episode, we're not talking about maps. We're talking about power: who has it, who's being engineered out of it, and what veterans are doing about it. From Bloody Sunday and the Voting Rights Act to the Supreme Court's gutting of Section 2 in Louisiana v. Calais, the playbook for silencing Black and Brown voters has never gone away. It just got redrawn. We break down the full history with our guest Jamil Davis of Black Voters Matter — from Jim Crow literacy tests to the Powell Memorandum to today's mid-decade redistricting fights unfolding right now across the Southeast. This is Jim Crow 2.0. And it's our duty as veterans to stand against it. In This Episode The history of the Voting Rights Act from Selma to Shelby v. Holder to Louisiana v. CalaisHow Section 2 being gutted could hand one party up to 27 additional safe House seatsThe cotton belt: why these specific districts are being targetedThe math on a constitutional convention and what a third presidential term would requireThe All Roads Lead to the South action in Montgomery, Alabama — May 16th Guests & Panelists Jamil Davis — North Florida Regional Organizer, Black Voters MatterSam Gibbons — Marine Veteran, 50501 SE State Liaison, SC-02 Republican Primary CandidateHannah L. — Common Defense Organizer, NC; 50501 Veterans Civilian Board MemberRory — 50501 Veterans Communications DirectorTom Sidle — Army Veteran, Fight Against FascismCarl Able — CEO, Crayon Box Politics; 50501 Veterans Media Director Take Action Going to Montgomery on May 16? Let us know — there is a specific ask being made of veterans on the ground.Can't make it? Organize a satellite protest in your area.Boost every protest flyer you see. All roads lead to the South. Resources Black Voters Matter: blackvotersmatterfund.orgCommon Defense: commondefense.us50501 Veterans: 50501vets.com

    1hr 7min

  2. 11 MAY

    Who's Next? The White House's Counterterrorism Strategy and the Threat to Dissent

    The White House just released a new counterterrorism strategy that labels left-wing extremism, including anti-fascist ideology, anarchism, and transgender ideology, alongside narco-terrorists and Islamist movements as major domestic terrorism threats. This week's panel breaks down what it means, why veterans should be paying attention, and who's really being targeted. On the panel: Tom Sidle — Co-founder, Veterans Against Fascism | Iraq 2009 | 88MJohn Moses — Mass 50501 Ambassador | Hoover Veteran FellowBrian Winter — Massachusetts 50501 | Writer and organizerCarl Able — Media Director, 50501 Vets | CEO, Crayon Box Politics | 20-year Marine Corps veteran (ret.) In this episode: The history the government doesn't want you to connect — from the First Red Scare and McCarthyism to post-9/11 surveillance expansion to today's counterterrorism strategy. The panel digs into the politicization of intelligence, what it means to criminalize an adjective, and why the GWOT generation isn't going quietly. Carl breaks down DOD Directive 5240.01 and what it could mean for domestic intelligence operations. Plus: who actually wrote this document, and why that matters. Calls to Action Vets Against Fascism — First Sunday of every month. Find them on Instagram.National 50501 Day — June 27th. Details coming.Visibility Brigade D-Day Drop — June 6th. Watch for details.Alabama — May 16th — National Day of Action on Voting Rights. 9am at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. 1–5pm mass rally at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery. Rent a car. Book nearby hotels now. Show up right — you're a guest. Listen to your marshals. The Safety Brief — Don't beat your spouse, your pet, or your child. Eat a real meal. Drink water. Geese have tenure. Emotional support potatoes should be carried with dignity and pride. And if you need a ride home, message the page. Got a question for the panel? Drop it in this form for a chance to get it answered during the next show: https://airtable.com/appK5c5e09A0lE4bt/paga7YKS6mRut2wja/form

    1hr 41min

  3. 8 MAY

    Your Great-Grandaddy Wasn't a Bootlegger So You Could Be a Bootlicker

    Veterans are trained to follow lawful orders — but they're also taught that just following orders is never a complete moral defense. So where does obedience end and complicity begin? This week on The Smoke Pit, Katie brings together a panel of veterans and military family members to dig into one of the most uncomfortable tensions in American civic life: when is breaking the law not only justified, but necessary? In this episode, the panel covers: Henry David Thoreau, Gandhi, and MLK — and the through-line of civil disobedience theory that connects themThe Nuremberg trials and why "just following orders" was never enoughHistorical examples from the suffragette movement, civil rights era, LGBTQ movement, and labor movementHow Rosa Parks was strategically chosen — and what three years of planning behind the Birmingham bus boycotts actually looked likeBoycotts, economic pressure, and why you only need to move 10-15% of a customer base to do serious damageHow veterans are uniquely positioned to lead and understand civil disobedienceThe difference between peaceful disruption and January 6th — and why that line mattersWhy America celebrates past dissent while condemning present dissent

    55 min
  4. The Hidden Epidemic: Military Sexual Trauma Exposed

    4 MAY

    The Hidden Epidemic: Military Sexual Trauma Exposed

    Military sexual trauma (MST) affects hundreds of thousands of service members—yet it remains one of the most underreported, under-prosecuted, and systemically buried issues in the U.S. armed forces. In this episode, host Katie Chorbak, president of 5051 Vets and MST survivor, brings together a panel of advocates, attorneys, and veterans to pull back the curtain on decades of silence, institutional cover-up, and survivor retaliation. Panelists: Diana Danis — Lead administrator, Service Women Who Serve; pioneer of the MST movement since the 1970sLisa Wohlrab — Vice President, 5051 VetsBrian Lewis, Esq. — Military law attorney and VA claims advocate; male survivor advocate since 2010Lindsay Knapp, Esq. — Executive Director, Combat Sexual Assaults; Army veteranSteph Money — Former Brigade Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, U.S. Army ReserveDee James — President, Repatriate Our Patriots; Army combat veteran; Vice Chair, National LULAC Military and Veterans Affairs CommitteeResources mentioned: Service Women Who Serve — Facebook community and advocacy pageCombat Sexual Assaults — Legal advocacy for MST survivorsOne in Six — Support organization for male survivors of sexual assaultThe Invisible War (2012) — Documentary on military sexual traumaJustice Denied — Documentary focused on male MST survivorsThe Fort Bragg Cartel by Seth Harp — Book (now an HBO series) touching on Lindsay Knapp's experience exposing trafficking in Special Operations5051 Vets — Veterans advocacy organizationCommon Defense — Veteran organizing; VA Is Not for Sale campaignAbout Face / Veterans for Peace / Sons of Liberty / Military Family Speaks Out — Additional veteran advocacy organizationsIf you or someone you know needs help: The VA provides MST-related care regardless of disability rating or whether the assault was ever reported. Contact your local VA and ask for MST services. If you've experienced retaliation or need legal support, reach out to Combat Sexual Assaults or a military law attorney.

    1hr 45min

  5. 13 APR

    The 25th Amendment: When Is a President Unfit to Serve?

    When does presidential behavior cross the line into incapacity? In this episode of The Smoke Pit, we break down one of the most uncomfortable questions in American politics: how do you determine if a president is no longer fit to lead? Using real-world examples, military leadership perspectives, and constitutional analysis, we examine: The difference between personality, poor judgment, and true incapacityHow leadership failures are handled in high-stakes environmentsWhat the 25th Amendment actually says and how it works in practiceWhether it’s realistically possible to remove a sitting presidentThe risks, limitations, and political realities behind invoking itThis isn’t about partisanship. It’s about systems, accountability, and what happens when leadership breaks down at the highest level.

    2h 7m

  6. 10 APR

    Money in Politics: Who Really Holds Power?

    Money drives modern politics. But at what cost? In this episode of The Smoke Pit, veterans from across the political spectrum sit down with Mayhem, co-founder of Money Out of Politics, to break down how campaign financing has reshaped American democracy. From the historical roots of political funding to the post–Citizens United explosion of dark money and Super PACs, the panel explores a core question: Is money in politics the disease… or just a symptom of something deeper? This is not a scripted debate. It’s a raw, candid exchange on power, influence, voter responsibility, and what it will actually take to fix the system.

    2h 7m

  7. 6 APR

    What Aren’t We Being Told? Veterans Sound Alarm on Iran Conflict and Missing Military Intel

    Veterans from across the political spectrum break down what’s really happening in the escalating Iran conflict—and why the lack of information should concern every American. In this episode of The Smoke Pit, the panel reacts to reports of a U.S. F-15 being shot down, additional aircraft losses including an F-35 and AWACS, and growing questions about whether the United States still maintains air superiority in the region. More importantly, they confront a deeper issue: why the public isn’t being told the full story. Drawing on firsthand military experience, the conversation cuts through speculation and focuses on what matters: • What confirmed and unconfirmed aircraft losses could mean for U.S. military strategy • The role of information control, media gaps, and government silence during conflict • Whether the U.S. is facing a tactical or strategic failure in the Middle East • How rising tensions with Iran could reshape global alliances and energy markets • The risks of escalation without clear public accountability or congressional oversight Beyond battlefield analysis, the panel explores the growing disconnect between political leadership and operational reality—and what that means for service members, veterans, and civilians alike. This isn’t cable news. It’s not filtered through press briefings or political spin. It’s veterans asking the questions that aren’t being answered. If you want to understand what’s actually at stake in the Iran conflict—not just what’s being reported—this is the conversation you need to hear.

    1hr 50min

  8. 26 MAR

    Another Forever War? Veterans React to U.S. Troop Movements

    Veterans from across the political spectrum come together in The Smoke Pit to break down the latest U.S. troop movements, rising tensions with Iran, and the real risk of another forever war. This unfiltered conversation dives into what “boots on the ground” actually means from those who have lived it, not just debated it. The panel explores strategic realities like the deployment of the 82nd Airborne, potential operations targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure, and the broader geopolitical risks tied to escalation in the region. At the same time, they confront hard questions about presidential war powers, the continued use of the AUMF, and whether Congress has effectively surrendered its constitutional role. Beyond strategy, this episode tackles the human cost of war, concerns over military leadership and readiness, and the growing disconnect between political decision-making and battlefield consequences. The discussion also expands into domestic issues, including ICE operations, civil liberties, and the role of veterans in defending democratic norms at home. At its core, The Smoke Pit is about something bigger: proving that Americans with fundamentally different beliefs can still sit down, challenge each other, and have real conversations without it devolving into chaos. Veterans, shaped by shared service but divided in perspective, model what civil discourse can look like in a deeply polarized country. This is not a polished political talking point session. It is raw, direct, and grounded in lived experience. If you want to understand what’s really at stake, this is the conversation you need to hear.

    1hr 51min

  9. 24 MAR

    It Doesn’t Affect Me’—Until It Does: Veterans Confront Power and Responsibility

    Do constitutional rights apply to everyone in the United States, or only to citizens? In this episode of The Smoke Pit, veterans debate due process, ICE enforcement, and what their oath to the Constitution actually demands in today’s political climate. This episode brings together veterans with different perspectives for a direct, unscripted conversation about immigration policy, civil liberties, and government accountability. The discussion explores: Whether due process applies to all persons within U.S. bordersThe legality and ethics of ICE operations and deportationsSupreme Court interpretations of constitutional protectionsThe role of veterans in defending democratic principlesMedia influence, information gaps, and political polarization Drawing on military experience and real-world examples, the panel challenges assumptions, debates policy, and confronts the tension between national security and individual rights. This is not a partisan talking point discussion—it’s a real conversation about power, responsibility, and the Constitution.

    1hr 25min
  • 9 Episodes

About

The Smoke Pit is a live, unscripted conversation space inspired by the military tradition of the smoke pit; an informal place where people gather, speak candidly, and connect beyond rank or title. Each episode brings together veterans, leaders, and guests for real, no-talking-points discussions that cut through the noise and get to what people actually think, believe, and experience. Expect honest dialogue, diverse perspectives, and a setting where respect and authenticity come first. The Smoke Pit is a 50501 Veterans initiative, hosted and produced by Crayon Box Politics.

Information

  • Creator
    50501 Veterans
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 50501 Veterans
  • Show Website
    The Smoke Pit