Crossroads of a Republic: Liberty, Truth, and the Fight for America’s Future

Opening

Peter Vazquez:
This program is brought to you by Open Door Mission—restoring hope and changing lives.

Look to the left, look to the right—where are you? In a world that seems to change daily, what will you do next? Welcome to The Next Steps Show.

Have you looked around lately and asked yourself where you stand? In all the chaos and confusion being pushed in our nation, if you are not asking that question, what exactly are you doing?

Frederick Douglass, buried right here in Rochester, New York, once said, “The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.” He knew oppression firsthand. Today, it often comes not from kings, but from institutions—fractured under their own contradictions. Americans now stand at a modern crossroads: liberty versus control, truth versus propaganda, order versus chaos.

Few voices have mapped this terrain as clearly as today’s guest.

Segment 1 – Joshua Philipp: Truth and Power

Peter Vazquez:
I often talk about what I call the “Vanboolzalness Crisis”—a moral, cultural, and institutional collapse hidden behind political theater. Our guest understands this. Through relentless investigation and fearless reporting, he has exposed how foreign powers exploit division, how media turns perception into obedience, and how moral decay becomes political currency.

Joining us today is Joshua Philipp, Senior Investigative Reporter for The Epoch Times and host of Crossroads. Joshua, welcome to The Next Steps Show.

Joshua Philipp:
Thank you, Peter. It is great to be here, and thank you for your work. The conversations you are having matter.

I joined The Epoch Times in 2006 and became an investigative reporter in 2008, when I accidentally uncovered one of the largest Chinese spy networks in the United States. That led to my work on the Chinese Communist Party’s “United Front” system, which the State Department later cited in its own reports.

Since then, I have covered everything from the origins of COVID-19 to the January 6 investigations. I have produced documentaries, including one on UN involvement in the border crisis in Panama, and I am currently finishing a project with Charlie Kirk.

Segment 2 – The Insurrection Act

Peter Vazquez:
Joshua, you recently discussed the Insurrection Act, a topic often misunderstood and misrepresented. What drew you to explore it further?

Joshua Philipp:
Former President Trump mentioned on Fox that he could invoke the Insurrection Act but had not done so. Vice President JD Vance has also noted it as an option. Many Americans immediately associate it with “martial law,” but that is inaccurate.

The Insurrection Act, codified under Title 10, U.S. Code, Sections 251–255, has been used only about 30 times in U.S. history, most recently in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots. It allows federal intervention in three ways:

1. Section 251 – A state requests federal help to restore order.

2. Section 252 – The federal government intervenes when unlawful combinations make enforcement of federal law impossible.

3. Section 253 – The president acts to protect constitutional rights when states refuse or fail to do so.

If state or local governments refuse to enforce federal law, or if organized groups obstruct justice—as we have seen in riots or with Antifa—the president has full constitutional authority to intervene.

Peter Vazquez:
So despite the criticism, Trump’s mention of it falls within legal grounds?

Joshua Philipp:
Exactly. The debate is political, not legal. Whether it should be used depends on timing and public perception. The administration is testing responses with National Guard deployments to cities like Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., gauging how the public and media react.

Segment 3 – Media Truth and the Crossroads

Peter Vazquez:
You often point out that truth has become a casualty of modern media. What has your investigation shown?

Joshua Philipp:
Mainstream media no longer functions as an objective observer. Institutions like The New York Times have become ideological gatekeepers. They set the “bedrock facts” that everyone else debates—but those facts are often manipulated.

Without truth at the foundation, honest debate is impossible. That is why independent journalism is essential to preserving our republic.

Peter Vazquez:
Well said. Too many Americans form opinions on narratives built from falsehoods.

Segment 4 – The Battle Within the Democratic Party

Peter Vazquez:
Let us turn to New York politics. There is a major race where even the Republican state chair is telling voters to back Andrew Cuomo against a Democratic Socialist opponent. What does that signal?

Joshua Philipp:
It shows a civil war inside the Democratic Party. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)—the faction behind figures like AOC and “the Squad”—has embedded itself into the Democratic structure.

Older Democrats, like Bill Clinton-era moderates, were tough on crime and supportive of unions. The DSA, by contrast, pushes radical policies—open borders, taxpayer-funded benefits for non-citizens, and extreme identity politics.

This election may determine whether the party returns to its traditional roots or fully embraces socialist ideology. The outcome will shape national politics.

Peter Vazquez:
Powerful insight, Joshua. Where can people follow your work?

Joshua Philipp:
Watch Crossroads with Joshua Philipp on YouTube and visit TheEpochTimes.com. We are committed to straightforward reporting that empowers people to think for themselves.

Peter Vazquez:
Thank you, Joshua. As Frederick Douglass reminded us: “The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”

Segment 5 – Phil Bell: Conviction over Control

Peter Vazquez:
Liberty endures when conscience bows to God, not fear. Our next guest embodies that principle.

He amplifies conservative values nationwide—championing liberty over dependency and truth over narrative. He empowers nonprofits to thrive through free-market strength. Please welcome Phil Bell, Project 21 Ambassador and CEO of Tower K Group.

Phil Bell:
Peter, it is a pleasure to be here. And I love that you quoted Roberto Clemente earlier—his words remind us that every person has a duty to make a difference.

I have been a grassroots conservative all my life. I fell in love with freedom listening to Ronald Reagan and Rush Limbaugh. I worked in the railroad industry, then joined Newt Gingrich’s 2012 presidential campaign, the Maryland GOP, the RNC, and later spent nearly seven years with FreedomWorks. Now, through Tower K Group, I help nonprofits operate efficiently and independently.

Segment 6 – Free Markets vs. Dependence

Peter Vazquez:
You once said your curiosity about railroads taught you about government overreach. Tell us about that.

Phil Bell:
When I looked into Amtrak, I discovered the federal government had overregulated private rail for decades, destroying an entire industry. Amtrak was supposed to be a “solution,” but it became another bureaucratic failure.

Government cannot effectively run complex enterprises. Overregulation always benefits a few at the expense of the many. That lesson applies to everything—from business to education.

Peter Vazquez:
Exactly. Dependency has replaced drive. We once built families, neighborhoods, and communities through self-reliance and faith. Now the narrative says the government must do it for us.

Phil Bell:
And that dependency weakens the nation. Only about 33% of Americans now believe government makes life better, and for good reason—it rarely delivers.

Segment 7 – Faith, Family, and Civic Grit

Peter Vazquez:
Phil, you often say conservatives are accused of being heartless, yet your message centers on faith and family.

Phil Bell:
Yes. Faith and family must come first. God is the foundation. Conservatives do not care about skin color; we care about responsibility, character, and freedom.

The left thrives on division, but the American dream is colorblind when barriers are removed.

Peter Vazquez:
And as Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, and Martin Luther King Jr. showed—faith and fortitude, not politics, lift people out of oppression.

Segment 8 – New York, Socialism, and the Stakes

Peter Vazquez:
New York City’s mayoral race pits a Democratic Socialist against Andrew Cuomo. Even some Republicans are telling voters to back Cuomo. What danger does that pose?

Phil Bell:
It is alarming. New York City was built on commerce and individual liberty, not socialism. If the city falls under socialist rule, it could reshape our entire national economy.

Republicans must compete everywhere. We cannot surrender cities and then complain about their decline.

Segment 9 – The Race Card and Reality

Peter Vazquez:
Phil, as a black conservative, you have taken heat for rejecting the victim narrative. How do you stay grounded?

Phil Bell:
Simple. Most conservatives could not care less about race. They wake up, work, raise their families, serve their communities, and want the government out of their way.

The only “help” I ever needed was for others to stop standing in my way. That is the American promise: freedom to live by conviction, not control.

Segment 10 – Call to Action

Peter Vazquez:
Phil, how can listeners get involved?

Phil Bell:
Follow me on X at @PhilBell4022. Get involved with your local Republican committee. And check out UnleashProsperity.com—sign up for their daily economic hotline. Get informed, get active, and stay grounded in truth.

Peter Vazquez:
Well said. You have proven that conviction, not control, builds a stronger America.

Closing Thoughts

Peter Vazquez:
Tell the truth. Guard the Constitution. Resist foreign manipulation. Serve with courage.

As Exodus 23:2 reminds us: “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to pervert justice.”

Be a leader. Love your neighbor into order. Faith over frenzy, service over spectacle—and freedom will rise from the noise.

God bless these United States of America. Hasta el lunes.