Podcast Summary: "America Shines with Aubrey Shines" – December 13, 2025

Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Host: Aubrey Shines
Guest: Susan Kokinta, Midwest Coordinator, Promethean Action
Theme: A deep-dive into Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy, the threat of globalism and "civilizational erasure" in Europe, H1B visa reform for American workers, and the revitalization of American sovereignty and values.

Overview of Episode

This episode zeroes in on the Trump administration’s newly released 2025 National Security Strategy, labeled by host Aubrey Shines and guest Susan Kokinta as a revolutionary break from “globalism” in U.S. foreign and economic policy. The conversation connects these policy shifts to similar sovereignty movements in Europe, critiques of supranational control (especially by the EU), and ongoing efforts to protect and elevate the American working and middle class. The second segment focuses on U.S. visa policy, primarily H1B visas, and their impact on American workers — all placed in the wider context of restoring American self-determination, productivity, and constitutional values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the National Security Strategy (04:30–10:50)

• Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy is praised as revolutionary for both its content and accessibility.
• The document sharply rejects “globalism, internationalism, transnationalism,” signaling “the United States is no longer playing by the globalist rules.”
  • Notable quote — Susan Kokinta (05:30):

    “It asserts that we will no longer be drawn into conflicts on the basis of some kind of globalist or international policy, but instead we'll shape our foreign policy on what is best for the United States … predisposed to non-interventionism.”

• Emphasis throughout is placed on national sovereignty, a strong economy, and the centrality of the working and middle class to U.S. security.
• The document criticizes decades of “elite globalist foreign policy” for leading to “endless wars” and “hollowed out” national economies.

2. European Sovereignty and the ‘Clash of the Titans’ (07:07–12:37)

• Shines likens the moment to a “Paul Revere” alert, warning both Americans and Europeans about the threats posed by globalism.
• European Union policies are framed as an experiment in globalism resulting in “economic collapse, cultural dissolution, and loss of sovereignty.”
  • Notable quote — Susan Kokinta (08:30):

    “The document basically attacks what is happening in Europe with the loss of national sovereignty, unfettered immigration, cultural dissolution, economic collapse. It warns of literally civilizational erasure if these globalist policies continue.”

• Trump’s strategy is seen as supportive of nationalist, sovereignty-asserting movements in Europe (e.g., Hungary, Italy).

3. The Threat of Digital Control & Supranational Elites (14:43–20:23)

• Shines and Kokinta warn against the European Central Bank’s move toward mandatory digital control (digital currency, surveillance, restricted dissent), comparing it to China’s social credit system.
• Both speakers stress the danger of supranational institutions “representing a global financier elite” and link it to historical examples (Bank of England, British East India Company).
  • Kokinta (16:15):

    “This is what happens when you give up your sovereignty … you have some institution which is representing not the welfare of the people … but which is representing a global financier elite which wants to have that kind of control over the whole world.”

4. America’s Unique Constitutional Safeguards & Near-Miss with Digital Dictatorship (18:46–23:38)

• The American republic is praised as “divinely inspired,” allowing citizens to “be their own kings.”
• The episode argues America narrowly avoided digital authoritarianism via the Biden—or “hoped for Harris”—administration, crediting Trump and U.S. constitutional protections for averting this fate.
• Shines connects the sovereignty struggle to spiritual and apocalyptic language, referencing “one world government” and biblical prophecy.
  • Kokinta (20:23):

    “We were very close … it’s the courage of Donald Trump, the hand of God … and enough intelligent American citizens to see through all the noise … which is why we're not on the same path to civilizational erasure as the Europeans are right now.”

5. Principles Over Clickbait & Role of Promethean Action (22:40–24:24)

• Kokinta urges a return to “principles” (republic vs. empire; humans made in God's image vs. elite rule) instead of headline-driven debate.
• Kokinta (23:58):

  “We have understood this fundamental difference between the American Republican system and the British imperial system. … We're kind of like the translators for people in this new circumstance.”

• Shines frames Promethean Action as an essential translator for American values in a complex world.

6. H1B Visas and Prioritizing American Workers (25:59–33:22)

• H1B visas are explained: designed to supplement workforce needs, but often abused, especially by tech companies undermining U.S. grads.
• Shines argues for a moratorium on visas until U.S. citizens are fully employed.
• Kokinta outlines Trump-era reforms:
  • Prioritization of American workers for new jobs
  • Aggressive apprenticeship investment (1 million new apprenticeships)
  • Introduction of a $100,000 fee/tariff on H1B visas in tech, increasing cost of hiring foreign workers and incentivizing hiring of Americans.
  • 2,000+ investigations into H1B visa abuses.
  • Kokinta (32:29):

    “You want to come in and do something like this, there's $100,000 fee ... You might want to just go look at our computer science graduates because with this hundred thousand dollar fee that we've just slapped on, you might be better off hiring Americans.”

7. Tariffs, Exports, and a Return to American System Economics (36:08–40:12)

• Shines notes historic parallels, suggesting Trump wants a pre-Federal Reserve, pre-1913 “American system” powered by tariffs and domestic production.
• Kokinta elaborates:
  • Trump is reorienting U.S. economics “from a parasitical system to an actual human economy.”
  • Focus on “builders” and widespread prosperity rather than finance elite
  • Memorable quote — Kokinta (37:25):

    “Donald Trump is a builder. He likes to build things. … The essence of the American system … is that wealth comes from the human mind.”

• Critiques the profit-above-all logic of “imperial” or “globalist” models (NAFTA, central banking).
• National security strategy explicitly states “policy is pro American worker.”

8. AI, Education, & Building a Productive Future (40:12–43:13)

• Discussion pivots to AI:
  • Trump’s executive order imposes oversight, protection from abuse.
  • Shines expresses concern education must keep up (“If we’re not training the next generation to think … we’re going to lose a generation anyway.”)
• Kokinta underscores a coordinated “whole of government” approach to economic revolution, including
  • Education reform focused on reading, basic skills
  • Need to communicate and involve all citizens for continued progress—especially as 2026 midterm elections approach.
  • Kokinta (41:40):

    “Some of it you can feel immediately, some of it takes time to build the factories, train the workers … but I think people have to pay attention to this and make this the basis of what we take out to our fellow citizens as we go into 2026.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Sovereignty and the New Security Strategy

• “This is unprecedented, extraordinary and revolutionary. … This is over. … Our national security is now based on what actually affects us as a nation and how can we have a strong, robust economy, which … is actually the core of national security.”
  — Susan Kokinta (04:30–06:30)

On Europe as a 'Petri Dish' for Globalism

• “You're seeing the petri dish for globalization because the European countries that are part of the EU gave up their sovereignty, in all senses of it, when they joined.”
  — Susan Kokinta (08:35)

Aubrey’s Paul Revere Analogy

• “This is kind of like a Paul Revere moment … screaming throughout the countryside, hey, the Brits are coming. Well, the globalists are there.”
  — Aubrey Shines (10:50)

On the Threat of Digital Authoritarianism

• “Go back and read your Federalist Papers, go back and read the writings of Hamilton … They are going to force their citizenry to work under the auspices of a digital environment, everything, photos, etc. They will be able to control all of Europe … America don't think that's way over there across the pond.”
  — Aubrey Shines (14:43)

Faith as a Foundation for Freedom

• “We are all made in the image of the Creator, and we have … the responsibility to understand how the Creator has created this world and govern ourselves in accordance.”
  — Susan Kokinta (22:52)

On H1B Reform & Tech Labor

• “We are 800,000 skilled workers short right now in the United States … you don't make policy from the standpoint of sound bites … you gotta fill the gaps, but you've got the longer term situation where, without a question, Trump wants these jobs filled by Americans.”
  — Susan Kokinta (28:25–29:58)

On Shifting Economic Paradigms

• “We must rebuild an economy in which prosperity is based broadly and widely shared, not concentrated at the top or localized in certain industries or a few parts of our country.”
  — Quoting Trump’s National Security Strategy via Kokinta (38:00)

AI & Tech Change

• “People are freaked out. AI is going to get rid of jobs. … The assembly line did not get rid of jobs. It created a product where more people had access to it. So properly used technology will continue to do that.”
  — Susan Kokinta (39:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• National Security Strategy Introduction: 04:30–07:07
• European Globalism Critique: 07:07–12:37
• Paul Revere/Epiphany in Europe: 10:50–12:37
• Digital Control and EC Bank: 14:43–16:15
• American Sovereignty and the EU: 16:15–20:23
• Return to Principles & Promethean Action: 22:40–24:24
• H1B Visa Deep Dive: 25:59–33:22
• Tariffs, Exports, Pre-1913 Economics: 36:08–40:12
• AI, Education, Policy Integration: 40:12–43:13
• Episode Conclusion & America’s Global Influence: 43:13–49:49

Final Thoughts

The episode powerfully frames the Trump administration’s new national security direction as both echoing early American values and pushing back fiercely against decades of globalized economic and political policy—both at home and abroad. At every turn, both Shines and Kokinta position sovereignty, economic self-determination, and spiritual/constitutional principles at the core of America’s renewal, warning against digital authoritarianism and unchecked elite power. H1B visa reform and a “builder”/production-driven economy complement this narrative, all culminating in a call to civic action, neighbor-to-neighbor communication, and vigilance as the country moves toward the next election cycle.

Key takeaway: To preserve America’s future and avoid the fate of what the guests describe as a “collapsing” Europe, citizens must re-engage with foundational principles, support ongoing reforms, and guard against both external and internal threats to sovereignty and prosperity.