Plagiarism From the Highest Order: Academic Standards, Veterans Advocacy, and Property Rights Under Siege

On February 1, 2024, Paula Sarlls, Lorne Levy, Carol Swain, Dave Walden, and Karen Levine joined the show. Discussed the renovation of the official Marine Corps Memorial in Golden, Colorado, and promoted the inaugural Women Veterans of Colorado Conference featuring Colonel Nicole Malachowski Analyzed the Federal Reserve’s decision to hold rates steady and explained why expectations for March rate cuts were premature, advising buyers to act now and.

Preserving Marine Corps Heritage and Supporting Women Veterans

Start listening at 16:11 – Hour 1

Paula Sarlls, president of the USMC Memorial Foundation and Gold Star wife, explains the mission to renovate the official United States Marine Corps Memorial in Golden, Colorado. The memorial, dedicated in 1977, honors all Marines for all time, distinguishing it from the war memorial in Washington, D.C. Sarlls describes the upcoming Women Veterans of Colorado Conference on February 10th, featuring keynote speaker Colonel Nicole Malachowski, the first female F-15 pilot with over 188 combat hours.

The foundation offers commemorative bricks for the memorial’s pathways of service, providing a lasting tribute to veterans of all branches. Sarlls emphasizes the importance of preserving military history at a time when monuments are being destroyed across the country.

“It’s sad to see our history being destroyed, but that’s how you destroy countries is destroying their history. So we want to keep it alive and keep the stories of these men and women that serve alive.”

Paula Sarlls, President, USMC Memorial Foundation

Federal Reserve Holds Rates Steady as Housing Market Shifts

Start listening at 25:36 – Hour 1

Lorne Levy of Polygon Financial Group breaks down the Federal Reserve’s latest announcement, noting that Chairman Powell’s comments dampened expectations for rate cuts in March. While markets reacted negatively with the Dow and Nasdaq each dropping over 300 points, mortgage rates remained relatively stable. Levy predicts rate cuts may come in the second half of 2024, perhaps three times rather than the six some had hoped for.

For buyers considering a purchase now, Levy explains that refinancing costs typically run between $2,000 and $2,700, with his company covering appraisal fees for listeners. He anticipates increased housing inventory in spring as homeowners who have been sitting on low rates decide to move, creating both opportunity and competition in the market.

“If you’re looking to move and you have an idea, you can find that perfect home. Go get it now and we will adjust interest rates whenever opportunity shows itself over the next 6, 12, 18 months.”

Lorne Levy, Mortgage Specialist, Polygon Financial Group

Harvard’s Plagiarism Scandal Exposes DEI’s Corrosive Effect on Academia

Start listening at 33:50 – Hour 1

Carol Swain, who rose from high school dropout and teenage mother to tenured professor at Princeton and Vanderbilt, reveals that former Harvard president Claudine Gay plagiarized her seminal work on congressional representation. Swain earned early tenure in the 1990s for groundbreaking research that was eventually cited by the Supreme Court. Her book Black Faces, Black Interests challenged assumptions about racial representation in politics.

Swain traces the corruption of affirmative action from its original intent to the current DEI regime. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 opened doors for minorities and women, but executive orders under Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon pushed for equal outcomes rather than equal opportunity. Today’s diversity, equity, and inclusion ideology prioritizes group identity over individual merit, producing leaders who lack qualifications.

When Harvard stood behind Gay despite mounting evidence of plagiarism, Swain coined the term “serial plagiarist” and questioned whether Gay deserved the title of doctor. Gay’s resignation blamed racism rather than accountability. Swain’s legal team has sent a demand letter to Harvard, and she continues to advocate for restoring academic standards.

“I felt she had cheated me out of citations, as well as the places where she directly plagiarized, because my ideas were riddled throughout her early work.”

Carol Swain, Former Professor, Vanderbilt University

The Art of Persuasion and Knowing Your Audience

Start listening at 59:48 – Hour 2

Dave Walden, a Liberty Toastmaster, recounts the story of Alexander Sachs, the man who convinced President Franklin Roosevelt to launch the Manhattan Project. On October 11, 1939, Sachs understood that Roosevelt loved stories and would respond to appeals to his values rather than technical details. Instead of reading Einstein’s letter immediately, Sachs told the tale of Napoleon dismissing Robert Fulton’s steamboat proposal.

Walden draws lessons for everyday citizens who must testify before school boards and city councils. At one municipal meeting on Second Amendment rights, Walden addressed the council briefly, then turned his back and spoke directly to the citizens in attendance. The audience responded with appreciation while officials sat uncertain how to react.

Liberty Toastmasters meets the first and third Saturdays at the Independence Institute, providing a forum where people can find their voice and engage in the battle of ideas without fear of cancellation.

“What Sachs understood is that his old friend, first, loved a good story. The second thing he understood is his old friend would be moved by his values, what this potential would mean if it was possible to do both the good and, of course, the bad.”

Dave Walden, Liberty Toastmasters

Colorado’s Assault on Landlord Property Rights

Start listening at 67:36 – Hour 2

Karen Levine, a RE/MAX realtor and Colorado Union of Taxpayers board member, sounds the alarm on House Bill 24-1098, which would prevent landlords from refusing to renew leases. The bill was heard in committee the previous Tuesday. Levine describes how each new landlord-tenant regulation raises costs, reduces affordable housing inventory, and drives investment property owners out of the market entirely.

One of Levine’s investor clients sold all their rental properties over the past two to three years because of the regulatory burden. Those properties no longer serve the rental market, shrinking options for tenants while young people struggle to find apartments and afford homes.

“Each time one of these bills pass, it does not create more affordable housing. It raises rents and it raises the cost of housing.”

Karen Levine, RE/MAX Realtor