The Jack Hopkins Show Podcast
The Jack Hopkins Show Podcast; where stories about the power of focus and resilience are revealed by the people who lived those stories
Jack Hopkins has been studying human behavior for over three-decades. He's long had a passion for having conversations with fascinating people, and getting them to share the wisdom they've acquired through years of being immersed in their area of expertise, and overcoming the challenges and obstacles that are almost always part of the equation.
The Jack Hopkins Show Podcast
Changing the Game: Pat Hicks on Mobilizing Communities and Defending Democracy Through Grassroots Activism
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What if your next community event could change the political landscape? Join us on the Jack Hopkins Show as we welcome Pat Hicks, an extraordinary volunteer who turned a sense of political powerlessness into a driving force for change. Discover how Pat's innovative approach—using social events with free pizza and beer to engage low-propensity voters—has built a robust network of involved citizens. We dive into his journey with the Dallas County Democrats, detailing the grassroots movement that has brought together community members and political candidates in a way that’s both impactful and inspiring.
In this episode, Pat also discusses the urgent necessity educating people about Project 2025, with an educational campaign designed to boost voter participation and awareness. We explore the historical context of American democracy and the existential threats it faces today, drawing comparisons to pivotal moments in U.S. history. Learn about the strategic marketing initiatives, including the clever use of the domain NoProject2025.Vote and a campaign that Pat thought of and then acted on immediately. As the conversation unfolds, Pat's passion and commitment become evident, reinforcing the critical role of grassroots activism in combating the rise of authoritarianism. Tune in to find out how you can join this powerful movement to safeguard our democracy.
https://www.NoProject2025.vote
The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter https://wwwJackHopkinsNow.com
Grassroots Campaign Against Project 2025
Speaker 1All right , this is Jack Hopkins , and welcome to the Jack Hopkins Show podcast . Today I have a man with me that I'm very excited to have , and this has all happened so quickly . I essentially just met this gentleman not that long ago and he messaged me with an idea that he had a few days ago , just looking for some feedback . I looked at it and I said this is brilliant , this is brilliant , let's do it , do it . And I almost said let's do it , do it for the let's do it part . It just involved my support and my willingness to promote it , because I want to stress this in the beginning , I'm not involved with this at all . I'm not getting any financial compensation for it . I just recognize the timeliness and the need for what Mr Pat Hicks is going to share with us today and I said I'm all in , I will help you in any way possible . So welcome to the show .
Speaker 2Pat , thank you . It's very nice to be here and , by the way , when you did that , I showed it and that was really the spark that took it to the next level , so I can't thank you enough . Oh , fantastic Well .
Speaker 1I just knew . I thought , wow , you know what was speaking to me as much as the brilliance of this concept that you had was we are not in the standard operating timeframe with things . We are in a right now , urgent . If it's good , move on it . And it's not one of those things where you can take weeks and go to the drawing board and come back . It's act , act , act . And so I really wanted to give my encouragement to yeah , this is needed now . So tell us a little bit about what we've been building up here for people to the excitement .
Speaker 2OK , yeah , so I'm just a guy , I'm a volunteer . If you went to the dictionary and looked up nobody , you'd see my picture there . You know so . But I , uh , I watched , uh , january 6th and I , I pounded on the couch , arm of the couch and , you know , wept in rage like so many other people and when I got to get up . So I got up and I started volunteering .
Speaker 2Um , my precinct already had a precinct chair , and dallas county democrats has a program where you can adopt a precinct . So I adopted the one right beside me and you know all the things that you normally do postcards , telephone block , walking on it , which led to being a delegate to the state convention , which led to an election judge , which led to , just , you're involved , you just know people . And so the Dallas Democratic Party recently got a grant program and they wanted to target low-propensity voters . So what does that mean ? Well , they vote , but they're not regular voters . Maybe they would lean Democrat , let's contact them . So , with that money , I went to them , knowing that I was there , and said , hey , I can put together like four precincts right around my house , maybe we could do something . And they said , okay , all right . Well , before you know , it took about that long and it was 42 precincts in our area , wow . And they reached out with an invite to and we offered free pizza . There will be no speeches . This is a social event . We're just going to meet and greet your neighbors and the candidates . Just going to meet and greet your neighbors and the candidates . And we had two federal house , us House representative candidates , two state representative candidates , appellate judges , on and on and on . That agreed to come and just it's a social , free pizza and beer . So we were headed that way and , by the way , powered by people Veto Awards Group , they came forward and said , hey , I'll tell you what . After the invites are sent out , we'll send phone calls , we'll call the people and see if we can do it . So , and there's several things about that event that became that were successful and we'll talk about them in a second .
Speaker 2So about a week before that happened , which means it's about two weeks ago , I took a break from laying in bed at night , waking up with the fan and going gosh . I hope somebody shows this thing . I don't want to give a party and nobody comes Right . I'm laying there and I'm thinking about that . 70% of Americans do not know what Project 2025 is and the vast majority , once they understand what's in it , their first reaction is hell , no , are you kidding me ? No , this is no . And they'll tend at that point to want to take action and actually vote .
Speaker 2So I had this thought and I called up . This is so grassroots and I want to emphasize this , so I called up another volunteer . Hey , doreen , I have this thought Can you make a logo ? Yeah , I can do that . That's the logo that you see on those yard signs . We started talking to different people hey , you need to see money . Well , you know it wouldn't hurt . Yeah , sure , guy , that does websites . At that point , you had said I think this is great . Okay , all right . Oh , yeah , let's go and uh that . And who ? Oh , uh , we have a uh union . Uh , sign maker . Uh , that helps us . You want a union ? Yeah , I do okay .
Speaker 2And things now make this sound like and , lastly , is there someone that can ship all this off of Filament Center ? And I make this sound like well , everything just fell . It was like I told my friend tonight , it was like wrestling a greased watermelon in a mud pit . I mean , it was exhausting . I've followed you and I know that , basically , folks came to you and said you've got a great idea and a good voice , but you're going to have to go full time if you really want to make a difference . And that's what this turned into , from dawn till dusk .
Speaker 2Okay , one , how do we get this to reach the most people and to teach people , educate them on what this horrible project 2025 is ? So we came up with a QR code that you can put on the sign and it will scan . It will take you to the website where there's information and , of course , to buy another sign , because we were hoping that people would say I see this sign in your yard . What is Project 2025 ? So now let me take a break . We'll go back to this event that we're planning and finally , the night of the event , it shows up and by that time , I've had a few signs made up on paper . I've literally printed them out on paper and I take them around and and , while , anyway , the event starts and we end up having about a hundred people , which , in our world , that was a major absolutely all night long .
Speaker 2Come here , meet your constituents . Here's your candidate for United States Congress . You really are a real person and I can talk to you . I'm seeing that interaction by the end of the night . We had people volunteering for precincts . We had people volunteering to adopt a precinct we had . You could feel the energy , you felt it , you knew what was there . People made connections , the candidates were going . This was great and I didn't have to make a speech and this was just . It was really the way it all worked and I thought this is what I want for this sign . This is the whole purpose Get people talking . Once they've talked , they understand what's at stake here . So at that point , we finally were able to get so from .
Speaker 2It took two weeks from the time that thought popped into my head . Yesterday , on twitter , I launched this website live . If we have the sign , we have the fulfillment center , we have the website with the pricing , we have it all integrated and we have . We're now selling signs like crazy and I , this morning , I have a breakfast with guys that I've been going to for I don't want to say a long every thursday morning and , uh , after breakfast , I gave , uh , a sign to one of the guys and I said you know , you please put it up in your car if you can .
Speaker 2And I was getting in the car and out of the corner of my eye , I noticed that he was struck up a conversation with the guy next to him . He's putting the sign in the trunk and I get in the car and , thankfully , I sat there for a second looking at my phone and he runs and he's like open the door , open the door , get out . He goes , this guy , as I'm putting this in , the guy goes hey , what is Project 2025 ? And he goes well , it's this really bad idea for government that they're going to take over . And here , scan this QR code and it'll take you to the website and it'll tell you all about it . And if you want one of these signs , you can get them there too . And we're great . We only scan some code . And I'm like I almost got weak in the knees because I'm going this is exactly what I had in mind , this is exactly so . Now back to him .
Speaker 2We're producing all these signs and we're going okay , we've got to give back on this . We've got to figure out a way to give back to make this worthwhile . So what we came up with . If you're a county party , if you're a county , or if you're a club or any of those types of organizations that have an EIN associated with them , that you're working for Democrats , we'll make a separate code and make those one price . And then if anybody buys one off of their QR code , then we're going to turn around and give them $5 back so that we can help . We're going to rebate back to them to help them get money , either to buy more signs or to help their other programs or whatever we can do . So the signs are $20 , so basically , we're giving 25% back to the clubs and organizations and county parties . Nice , nice , right .
Speaker 2So we went out last night and we had a pretty good start and today my phone's kind of blowing up and today we had a lady from one of the swing states that I spoke with and she said well , what if my party buys 250 and we just give them out ? Now my thinking on this is that 7,000 to 10,000 votes in the presidential election can sway the election in some states Just as few votes as that . Well , you know , I don't have delusions of grandeur , but I'm looking at this thing going . Could that be a part of that 7,000 or 10,000 votes where somebody looks at a 2025 , project , 2025 manifesto and goes , oh my God , no , I've got to go vote . That's the whole concept of this . And if they're in every state in the union , hopefully and by the way we looked this morning I didn't count them , but we are from Oregon to Florida in one night- oh , wow , nice , nice .
Speaker 1So I love it that and we talked a little bit about this before we actually started the podcast about that we both recognize me on the side of giving you feedback . You , on the end period in our history , where you've got the time block to be able to do things in the standard way , where you conceive the idea and then you do some brainstorming and you do all of this stuff and go through it in phases , to do all of this stuff and go through it in phases . We are in crunch time and you recognize and I did as well that if it's a good idea , you need to move now , and that's exactly what you did . And so now , within a very short period of time , we have this . And you said something to me , pat , and you said something to me , pat , that really excited me about this whole thing . You said this is something that will be evolving quickly . It will be a process in motion .
Grassroots Movement Against Monarchy
Speaker 1Can you talk a little bit about that ?
Speaker 2Yeah , we're not a pack , and this is so grassroots , I can't say it enough times . And so even today , for example , a friend of mine said , hey , look and see if no project 2025 dot vote is available . Sure enough , it was . Another person has looked at the logo that's a graphic designer for years and , hey , let me help you with this a little bit . Different things are . This is going to continue to evolve . There may be I hope not if there's a problem with , uh , fulfilling an order or something . Um , you know , my phone number is on the website . I'm kind of leading with my chin here , but we don't want a problem . So this thing is , yes , it's continuing to evolve and I'm sure it will evolve some more . I told someone the other day our test market , by the way , I'm interrupting myself Our test marketing on . That was that event that night , and out of 100 people .
Speaker 2We got close to 20 that signed up and said , yes , I want to sign and I want to . Okay , uh , let's go with . So , um , uh , that's kind of you know the process that's been going on and I'm assuming it's going to continue fantastic and and you are doing everything that you can , even in crunch time , to make things as simple as possible .
Speaker 1I mean noproject2025.vote , that's it . I mean , if that doesn't stick in someone's mind and I'll say it again noproject2025.vote , noproject2025.vote . Forget about the com , it's vote . Noproject2025.vote . Where do you see yourself , in the coming days , going with this in terms of any additional marketing , and how can people who might be watching this podcast where we're talking about this , what kind of help do you need and can you use ?
Speaker 2I think that you have to talk to people , and , yes , I've put this out on Twitter and , yes , the response has been wonderful and I really appreciate it . It is only by doing exactly what we're doing right here , in my opinion , that this starts to take hold . So , who can I talk to ? I'll talk to whatever it is and they are willing to do what it takes to make a difference , and that's all we're trying to do . What can we do to make a difference ?
Speaker 2You know , I think there in the last close to 300 years because 1776 , there were years that led up to 1776 . And so twice in the past 300 years , basically , Americans stepped into the breach and they did what people thought would be impossible . And that is one thing . The first thing , they started the country , they did the War of Independence , and then the second time was a civil war to save the country . Both times they made it and they saved it . And here we are at this point in history , in our country's history , and in this generational chance to make a difference , because literally , it's an existential threat to democracy in our country .
Speaker 1Indeed it is , and , pat , I share this brief story . My father is 82 years old , lifelong Republican , is not voting for Trump and will be voting for Biden . That was already established . But when I told him about Project 2025 , not that long ago , Mm-hmm . He was dumbfounded he had heard nothing about it . Here's a guy who , look , he's not voting for Biden . But let's face it when you've been a Republican for as many years as he has been .
Speaker 1You still are . You're friends are Republicans , you have that circle , you hear things , and yet Project 2025 had never come up . And once he looked and saw what was in Project 2025 , he couldn't believe it . So I think , if anything , I know I've been guilty of it this year , this election season . Not that there shouldn't be an emphasis on Trump , but I think too much emphasis has been placed on Trump and not enough on Project 2025 . Because what I think a lot of people don't understand is that if something happened to Trump today , there's still Project 2025 and all of the collaborators .
Speaker 2Absolutely . When the war of independence was fought , they fought it to common sense . You remember the pamphlet that went out yes , that went out right when Washington crossed the Delaware and made this save the revolution , this miracle , and the whole idea of common sense was to get out from under the control of a monarch . So they wanted only the rule of law and to be free to make choices , and a monarch didn't do that . On July 1st of this year , the Republican Supreme Court established a monarchy again . They absolutely made it possible for there to be a king . They made it legal to be a king . But what people have to understand is that , in conjunction with that , this is the operational arm of installing a monarch . This is taking over the government so that that monarch they're swearing allegiance . Generals are to swear allegiance to that monarch , in this case , trump president but it's a monarch . And so this operational arm of the takeover of our government that's what Project 2025 is of our government . That's what Project 2025 is .
Speaker 1It's the blueprint to . I like how you describe that and I'd like everybody to take just a moment and really let those words sink in . Monarch , allegiance to monarch , that's something very visceral . That's something that hits you in places that normal campaign seasons don't have that kind of material to hit you there . That's what Project 2025 is . It's one of those things that hits you in that place that nothing else ever touches and it's a deeply , deeply concerning thing . Can you talk a little bit ? I know it's very simple in design , but can you give people just a visual , real quick , of what the art design is ?
Speaker 2Oh , yes , we've all seen the circle with the line through it saying no to whatever . Yes , and it's that circle with the line through it and it simply says no project 2025 across it , yes , and then the QR code for info and to buy it .
Speaker 1That's it and again , the brilliance of that , pat , because we are in an age where people are in information overload and so the more simplistic and the more symbolic , we can make something to get their attention but to also identify what it's about with two or three words . Yeah , that's powerful and we all know , as you stated , we all know what that red circle with a red line going through whatever's behind it means . We don't have to think about it , it's instant processing . So I think I think the concept , the concept design , I think the QR code , I think the thoughts you have as it evolves , I think all of that was brilliant . The most brilliant thing you did was act on it , and that's where most great ideas die is , people have the great idea , but it stays a great idea and nothing ever happens .
Speaker 1You took action Like you said in a state , 5,000 to 7,000 votes can decide .
Speaker 2Yes , yes . Well , as you correctly pointed out , it is urgent . This is a time of crisis . It truly is . Our backs are to the wall . This is you're storming the beach , or however , whatever euphemism you want to , you want to create it's . It's true , we're . This is , these are dark times and we've got to do what we can . Kenny roosevelt said do what you can with what you have where you are . Absolutely .
Speaker 1That's exactly the concept , too , it is . So I would like to say to anybody watching to this , listening to this let's go with that phrase do what you can with what you have where you are . Look , there are only so many things those of us with limited resources that don't have hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars lying around to be able to do something huge and yet I would argue that collectively , we can do all kinds of things in a huge way by doing what we can with what we have where we are . And I see a marvelous tool in terms of what we have is to get one of these no project 2025 signs at no project 2025 dot vote and stick it in the yard and tell other people about it . One thing , pat , you said that I can't emphasize enough it's the conversations . Yeah , it's talking , it's communicating , and that parking lot example you gave is so great . A guy asked one simple question yeah , yeah , what's Project 2025 ?
Speaker 2Yeah , I literally . I got weak in the knees , I literally did . I'm like this is , oh my God , he just validated everything .
Speaker 1Right , so is there anything they need to know in terms of where to go other than knowproject2025.vote ?
Speaker 2No , no , it's that simple . Just go there . That's where there's info about Project 2025 , of course , if someone doesn't know , you can say well , go there , they've got info on it , right . And then , of course , the idea is pardon me , just like you just said , you start putting those in yard signs around and people are going to start talking what is this , what happened , what are these signs out ? And that's the only way I see to get the word out , not the only way .
Speaker 2But , as you correctly pointed out , I think people are tuning out . I think they're overwhelmed with information overload and election overload and who's going to be at the top of the ticket ? I'm like you . I'll vote for a stick of celery man , I don't care what it is . Can't let Project 2025 succeed .
Speaker 1Spot on . And if people want to follow you on Twitter , what's your Twitter name ? Jp Hicks . Jp Hicks , that's a love symbol . You're a guy that's always thinking simple . That's great .
Speaker 2I don't know about that . Occasionally a little simple thought will slip through .
Collaboration on Project 2025
Speaker 1Well , Pat , listen . Thank you for giving me the opportunity to interview you , because I've been all about this since the evening . You sent this idea , and so you know , Jack , what do you think of this ? And we know where it went from there . It was instantaneous and I said I want to help you anyway I can . So if you need me at any juncture from here on out to the election , I'm one message away and we'll do it .
Speaker 2Oh my gosh . Thank you so much . That means so much to me . I reached out to several other accounts who will remain nameless , and you were the only one that reached back and said you bet let's go . I'm glad I did . Well , pat , we'll talk . Yes , absolutely In fact , we'll talk .
Speaker 1Yes , absolutely , We'll be in contact . We'll talk again soon . One last time for people knowproject2025.vote . Go there now check it out , get one , tell other people about it , get five and tell other people about it . Pat , thank you , and I will talk other people about it . Pat , thank you and I will talk to you again soon . Okay , you bet Look forward to it .
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