Once Your Eyes Are Opened - How Can You Ignore It? - with Riley Gaines, Congressman Tom Tiffany, and Chris & Colby – [Ep. 225]

Linda J Hansen: Welcome. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Prosperity 101® Breakroom Economics Podcast. My name is Linda J. Hansen, your host and the author of Prosperity 101® Job Security Through Business Prosperity: The Essential Guide to Understanding How Policy Affects Your Paycheck, and the creator of the Breakroom Economics online course.

The book, the course, and the entire podcast library can be found on Prosperity101.com. I seek to connect boardroom to break room and policy to paycheck by empowering and encouraging employers to educate employees about the public policy issues that affect their jobs. 

My goal is to help people understand the foundations of prosperity, the policies of prosperity, and how to protect their prosperity by becoming informed, involved, and impactful. I believe this will lead to greater employee loyalty, engagement, and retention, and to an increased awareness of the blessings and responsibilities of living in a free society. Listen each week to hear from exciting guests, and be sure to visit Prosperity101.com.

Thank you for tuning in today. I hope you will enjoy this episode. It's a little different than the others because it includes three short interviews I did while attending the Republican National Convention, which was recently held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was not my first convention. I have served as a delegate in the past and have attended several conventions, but I will tell you the atmosphere at this one felt different.

There was a newness, a more genuine sense of unity and purpose. I think we are finally reaching a point in our country when people are sick and tired of politics as usual and more people are willing to take a stand to make a positive difference. The division in our nation and the purposeful attacks on freedom, not to mention the attempt on Donald Trump's life, have awakened citizens to the importance of protecting our liberties.

My first guest, Riley Gaines, said that once her eyes were open to what is happening, she could not ignore it. The same should be true for all of us. We should not ignore our duties as citizens and fall into complacency. That is what has led to such chaos. We, the people, need to actively engage to secure and protect the blessings of liberty.

My guest today include famed swimmer and women's rights activist, Riley Gaines. I also spoke with Congressman Tom Tiffany from Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District in a very informative conversation that I believe you will enjoy. And the last conversation included in this episode involves two young people I met on the street after the convention.

They did not attend the convention, but I think you will be interested in hearing their perspectives. And before we hear from Riley Gaines, I just want to invite you to join us as a Prosperity Partner, helping to keep these podcasts on the air. Please visit Prosperity101.com to sign up and now enjoy the interviews.

Okay. I am at the RNC Convention and I am walking with Riley Gaines. Many of you may know Riley because she has courageously fought to keep men out of women's locker rooms. She's an amazing Olympic swimmer, just a beautiful young lady. And Riley, tell me what's your favorite thing about being at the RNC Convention this year?

Riley Gaines: Well, you are so kind. I think my favorite thing, especially as a young person, a young woman, is to see the patriotism that is surging, the energy, the unity. I feel more hopeful at this point than I felt at any point over the past two years, especially. 

Linda J Hansen: Oh, that's incredible. And were you very involved before you had to greet Lia Thomas in the locker room?

Riley Gaines: I was not. I mean, I've always been, first and foremost, Christian. which of course aligns Conservative. So I've, I've always been Conservative. And I followed politics to some degree, but never nearly as tuned in as I am now. But once your eyes are open, how in the world could you ignore what's right in front of you?

Linda J Hansen: And just, I know you're in a hurry. So one last question, what would you tell other young people? And I have a grandson who's a swimmer. So what would you tell him? 

Riley Gaines: Oh, my goodness. 

Linda J Hansen: So young people about getting involved in politics and then even younger people about following their dreams.

Riley Gaines: Well, what I would tell young people is to get involved in whatever your political beliefs are or whatever your beliefs on any topic are,

get involved, involve yourself. You find a sense of purpose. You find a, it's worth fighting for when you do. So, get involved. And what I would tell, young, you're, you said your grandson? 

Linda J Hansen: Yes. 

Riley Gaines: It's to keep at it. Be consistent in your work ethic, your attitude, your sleep schedule, your diet. I mean, all of the things be consistent and it will certainly pay off. 

Linda J Hansen: Well, and that's true in all areas of life. So thank you, Riley Gaines. And if people want to follow you, how do they do that? 

Riley Gaines: You can find me on X. It is riley_gaines_ and I have a podcast of my own called, Gaines for Girls.

Linda J Hansen: Wonderful. Thank you so much.

Riley Gaines: Thank you. 

Linda J Hansen: Okay. Listeners. I have another treat for you straight from Milwaukee at the Republican National Convention. And I don't typically have on elected officials or candidates, because sometimes they disappoint us and they say one thing and do another. 

But I'd like to introduce you to someone who's a long-time friend from Wisconsin and I am just thankful to say he has fought the good fight. So Congressman Tom Tiffany is here with me today and I'd like you to follow him on social media and follow his voting record, and just get to know Congressman Tom Tiffany from Wisconsin. So tell us a little more about you and your district.

Cong. Tom Tiffany: By the way, you can find us at @RepTiffany, 7th Congressional District, northern and western Wisconsin. Largely rural, small towns. It is a terrific district. You know, a lot of agriculture, manufacturing. Like, there's so much in Wisconsin. And we've got some of the most beautiful lakes in the world up in the northern half and Hayward, Minocqua, Rhinelander. It's just a beautiful area. 

Linda J Hansen: I spent much of my childhood going to a lake near Minocqua. So I understand. And it's beautiful. And, but you have consistently fought for legislation to fight that farmland or fight for the farmland, and for the preservation of our natural resources and responsible use of energy. 

Tell us a little more about what you're doing to help America's farmland and natural resources in light of the Left always accusing us of being anti-environment.

Cong. Tom Tiffany: Yeah, for sure. So I sit on two committees, Judiciary and Natural Resources, out in Washington, D. C. And, you know, when you look at the great natural resources laws that we passed back in the 1970s to protect the environment, they've been utilized against Americans now, where it's taking 10 or 15 years to get a permit. 

So how do you get bridges built? How do you get major projects done if it's going to take 10 to 15 years to build them? We can have high environmental standards while being able to get things done in a timely fashion. 

But, you know, those on the environmental Left, the corporate environmental Left, they make their living and stopping things from happening in America. So, we're trying to get some changes in regards to that.

And I would say a very key decision came down in the last two, in the final week of the Supreme, Federal Supreme court's, term. At the end of June called the Chevron decision, and the Chevron decision no longer giving the agencies pre-eminence over citizens of this country could be really game changing, but it's something to keep an eye on and it will level the playing field.

So those that want to build America have as good a chance of accomplishing their goals as those that want to stymie the growth of America. 

Linda J Hansen: The Chevron Doctrine ruling was incredible, and tell us, your thoughts with your other committee. I'm sure it's been extremely busy, so for people who don't know what the Judiciary Committee really does, tell them a little bit about what you've covered this year. I know that's kind of an open-ended question, but it's been It's such a critical role that you play and you've really brought a lot of truth to light. 

Cong. Tom Tiffany: When I originally got into the state legislature in 2011, I always knew I would have to fight against Democrats in regards to taxes and regulations and stuff like that. They were going to have those fights. 

But now it has become about the fundamentals. It has become about the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment, the right to free speech, the right to association, the right to keep and bear arms. All those things are in question and that's what we deal within the Judiciary Committee.

We have a very big hearing coming up this coming week when FBI Director Wray will be before us, and we are going to be asking a lot of questions about the failed response on last Saturday night when President Trump was shot, when the attempted assassination. 

Our intelligence agencies, whether it be FBI, CIA, the Department of Justice, the Secret Service, they have failed us. The Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, failed us down on the southern border. And I'm just praying that Donald Trump wins here in November because we need a clean house all of those agencies, because their leadership is letting America down and it's getting Americans killed. 

Linda J Hansen: Yes, it is. And so, I won't take up more of your time, but I just want to tell you, thank you so much for your service to the state of Wisconsin. I was around when you were first getting elected, your very first election, and it was great, and to follow your career and your service to Wisconsin and America. Thank you.

Cong. Tom Tiffany: Thank you so much, Linda. It's great to see you here in Milwaukee. 

Linda J Hansen: Well, and tell the listeners one more time how to follow you. 

Cong. Tom Tiffany: Tom Tiffany. You can find us at @RepTiffany. 

Linda J Hansen: All right. So thank you. Okay. I have just walked out of the Republican National Convention, the final evening. And while I am waiting for my ride, I just got talking to two gentlemen here who were not in the convention, correct?

Colby: No, we weren’t. 

Linda J Hansen: But you came to support it basically, right? 

Colby: Yes.

Chris: Right.

Linda J Hansen: So tell me your first names. 

Chris: My name is Chris. 

Colby: I'm Colby. 

Linda J Hansen: So Chris and Colby. And where are you from? 

Chris: I'm from Manassas, Wisconsin. 

Colby: I'm from Hortonville, but Appleton area. 

Linda J Hansen: Okay. Well, those of us in Wisconsin know where Hortonville is. Yeah, that's great. And, could I ask you how old you are?

Chris: 29, I just turned 29 the other day. 

Colby: I'm 27. 

Linda J Hansen: Okay. And what draws you to Trump? You told, you were telling me you absolutely love President Trump and you were wondering how the convention was. Tell me what it is. Because a lot of times, you know, the media says young people hate him, but I find that to be not true. So tell me what you're thinking. 

Chris: Well, I love Trump. I think he speaks the truth and I think he wants the best for all Americans. And I mean, the inflation shows it. So, that's just where it starts. 

Linda J Hansen: And how about you? 

Colby: Trump's the best, but honestly, young people are all about Trump. I just tried dating a teacher and she was super upset because all the young kids were all about Trump. She did not like that. And me and this girl did not work out, so.

Linda J Hansen: Well, it's hard to be polar opposites politically in a romantic relationship. So, tell me, did you happen to see the assassination attempt? 

Chris: Oh, yeah, I saw the attempt. I have my own thoughts on it, but I know Kimberly—

Linda J Hansen: The Secret Service Director? 

Chris: She’s the head of Secret Service. And before she became the head of Secret Service, she worked at a Pepsi company as a manager. And then on top of that, four years ago, I think they had a rally at that same spot in Pennsylvania. And they had that roof where the shooter tried to get at Trump. They had that covered four years ago. But this year they didn't have it covered. 

Linda J Hansen: They were saying it was too sloped. 

Chris: Exactly. Yeah. 

Linda J Hansen: But they were up there afterwards to clean it off. 

Chris: Yep. And from what I heard, they had that covered four years ago, but for some reason they didn't have it covered this year. And the Biden administration had hired her a couple of years ago to be head of Secret Service, if I'm correct. 

Linda J Hansen: There are so many unanswered questions about the assassination attempt, and so many, different thoughts about what may have happened. 

So here's Colby, right? Colby, it didn’t work out with the teacher, but he's eyeing up a blonde over here in the crowd. So tell me what you thought about the assassination attempt. 

Colby: I was watching the Brady Rolls. My mom's husband called and said that Trump got shot and I thought he was dead. So I watched it and freaked out, but it's all, it's everything's corrupt. You can't trust the government nowadays. 

Linda J Hansen: Well, you know, you guys are going to have to make the difference for the future of America.

Colby: Oh, we will. We will.

Linda J Hansen: You are going to have to make the difference and, you know, really help get people out to vote. And I really encourage you, like take Election Day off and observe, sign up to observe at the polls, get some training or else work at the polls. I mean, honestly, this is why we have had so many issues, is because we citizens haven't done that enough. So, I really encourage you to help people get out to vote and make sure we have a secure election. 

Chris: Oh, yeah. I voted Trump, when he won and then I voted Trump when he “lost the last election:” and I will vote Trump again, so don’t worry.

Linda J Hansen: That is great. Well, and I think Colby's, oh, okay, I was going to say he's going off to find the blonde, so I better let him go.

So, a final word for listeners when they think about what is needed in our nation and what would you say to all the young people? 

Colby: Hey, God bless, make America great again and vote for Trump because we need every vote we can get. 

Linda J Hansen: And if you are a teacher who knows Colby and, you know, if you might want to look at your politics.

Colby: She won't hear this, but she should learn something. 

Linda J Hansen: All right. Well, thank you. Thank you both so much. I appreciate it. 

Colby: Of course, dear. 

Chris: Of course. Thank you as well. 

Linda J Hansen: Thank you. God bless you.

Thank you again for listening to the Prosperity 101® podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a great review. Don't forget to visit Prosperity101.com to access the entire podcast library, to order my newest book, Job Security Through Business Prosperity: The Essential Guide to Understanding How Policy Affects Your Paycheck, or to enroll you or your employees in the Breakroom Economics online course.

You can also receive the free ebook, 10 Tips for Helping Employees Understand How Public Policy Affects Their Paychecks. Freedom is never free. Understanding the foundations of prosperity and the policies of prosperity will help you to protect prosperity as you become informed, involved, and impactful.

Please contact us today at Prosperity101.com to let us know how we can serve you. Thank you.