🏛️ Vietnam to MAGA: Joe DeSimone's Revisionist History Divides Americans Into "Patriots" and "Elites"

How right-wing media constructs false narratives about who "real Americans" are

This is based on Wake Up Live with Chris DeSimone, a maga-conservative podcast in Southern Arizona, which was broadcast by Live The Dream Media on 3/31/25.

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😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾

A popular conservative radio show 📻 in Tucson called "Wake Up" with Christopher DeSimone featured guests talking about border security 🚧, taxes 💰, and local politics 🏛️. The show presented one-sided views that praised Trump's economic policies 📈 while criticizing Tucson's elected officials. Instead of discussing how to solve problems like homelessness 🏚️ or create jobs for everyone 👩‍💼👨‍💼, they focused on attacking political opponents ⚔️ and dividing people into "good Americans" 🇺🇸 versus others. The hosts treated the border like a tourist attraction 🎢 without talking about the real people affected by immigration policies 🤝. They promoted the idea that cutting taxes for businesses would help everyone 💼, even though evidence shows this hasn't worked well for most Americans 🚫.

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🗝️ Takeaways

• 🗣️ The Wake Up show demonstrates how local conservative media reinforces national MAGA narratives by applying them to Tucson-specific issues

• 🧱 Malta Joe's border excursion frames the border as a recreational site rather than acknowledging the humanitarian issues at play

• 💸 Carlos Ruiz promotes trickle-down economics through the "Job Creators Network" while failing to address how these policies have increased inequality

• 🪖 Joe DeSimone creates a divisive narrative linking today's political divisions to Vietnam-era choices, falsely categorizing progressives as privileged elitists

• 🏙️ The hosts consistently demonize Tucson's democratic leadership while promoting conservative candidates like Jesse Lugo

• ⛪ Traditional religion is positioned as more authentic than progressive faith expressions, revealing the authoritarian underpinnings of MAGA ideology

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The MAGA Machine: How DeSimone's "Wake Up" Show Manufactures Division While Tucson Suffers

Behind the Conservative Curtain: A Deep Dive into Southern Arizona's Right-Wing Echo Chamber

The morning sun rises over the Catalina Mountains as Christopher DeSimone and his cohort of conservative commentators take to the airwaves of "Wake Up" on Live the Dream Media Network. While many Tucsonans are just beginning their day, the right-wing propaganda machine is already firing on all cylinders, priming listeners with a carefully constructed narrative designed to inflame rather than inform.

The March 31, 2025 broadcast featured a rotating cast of regulars: Malta Joe (a local business owner with a penchant for border commentary), Carlos Ruiz (owner of HT Metals and member of the conservative "Job Creators Network"), and Joe DeSimone (the host's brother who specializes in cultural grievance politics). Through their seemingly casual conversations about local politics, economics, and culture, we witness the MAGA movement's messaging strategy in high-definition.

And they wonder why we call it programming... These aren't just random conversations; they're carefully curated narratives designed to reinforce right-wing ideology.

Malta Joe: Turning Human Suffering into Weekend Entertainment

The broadcast began with Malta Joe recounting his weekend "adventure" to the border with his "FJ Cruiser club" — because apparently visiting sites of humanitarian crisis makes for excellent recreational content.

"Once a year, my FJ club takes a pilgrimage down to the border," Malta Joe explained proudly, as if describing a visit to a national park rather than an international boundary where thousands have suffered and died. "We go down to the border to where the border fence is still the same, I think from the 40s or 50s."

DeSimone chimed in, describing what they call "Normandy style fencing," explicitly linking immigration to warfare. "So literally think Private Ryan on the, on the beaches. That's what we have for still a large chunk of the border, which is kind of amazing," he remarked, casually militarizing what is fundamentally a humanitarian issue.

Nothing says "I care about human dignity" like turning the site of a humanitarian crisis into an off-road adventure with the bros. Want to really understand the border? Talk to actual migrants and humanitarian workers, not weekend warriors in luxury SUVs.

Malta Joe enthusiastically described Border Patrol's presence: "They come on over. They see that we're good Americans, low-blooded citizens... they're not saying, what are you doing here? And you know, you shouldn't be, no, we're allowed to be there. This is America exercising our rights of enjoying the American dream."

The subtext is clear: There are "good Americans" who deserve respect and freedom of movement, and then there are others who don't. This hierarchical view of humanity is central to the MAGA worldview.

What was notably absent from this entire segment was any acknowledgment of the human beings on the other side of that fence — the families fleeing violence, the children seeking safety, the asylum seekers exercising their legal right to request protection. In the MAGA worldview, these people don't merit consideration as individuals with hopes, dreams, and rights. They're reduced to abstract threats or, worse, simply rendered invisible.

Carlos Ruiz: The "Job Creators" Mythology Continues

Carlos Ruiz, representing the deceptively named "Job Creators Network," spent considerable airtime promoting the same trickle-down economic theories that have devastated working communities for decades.

"Job creators network," Ruiz explained, "is a national nonprofit started by Bernie Marcus, who, God rest his soul, was one of the two Home Depot guys." He continued by claiming that Marcus realized he couldn't build Home Depot in today's business environment—a statement that conveniently ignores how corporate consolidation, not regulation, has become the primary barrier to new business formation.

Yes, I'm sure the billionaire founder of a corporate behemoth that helped destroy local hardware stores nationwide is deeply concerned about the little guy. Nothing says "small business advocate" like a billionaire who built an empire putting mom-and-pop shops out of business.

When discussing the Trump-era tax cuts, Ruiz waxed poetic about how they helped his metal-cutting business, mainly through accelerated depreciation for equipment purchases:

"For me to be able to do that, and to be able to automatically depreciate it... I don't pay any taxes on say $30,000 of profit. So that helps me with my cash flow," he explained, as if this specialized tax advantage for capital-intensive businesses somehow proved the broad success of the tax cuts for all Americans.

What Ruiz failed to mention: these same tax cuts added trillions to the national debt while delivering minimal benefits to working Americans. The promised wage growth and economic boom for average families never materialized — but corporate profits and stock buybacks soared.

DeSimone and Ruiz then launched into a tirade against Tucson's local government, lamenting the city's poor infrastructure and economic development:

"We're a stagnant community because of the governance of Tucson and Pima County," DeSimone declared, without acknowledging how conservative economic policies at the state level have hamstrung local governments' ability to address community needs.

When discussing a successful baker who expanded to Phoenix rather than Tucson, Ruiz noted: "And Don is creating a business that's growing. That's ready to scale. So he's scaling his business. Where did he scale his business? He scales his business by going up to Phoenix."

But neither of them connects the dots: Phoenix has more wealth because of decades of public investment in infrastructure, education, and quality of life – the very things their tax-cutting agenda undermines. They want the benefits of public investment without paying for it.

Brother Joe: Divisive Cultural Commentary Masquerading as Analysis

Perhaps the most alarming segment featured the host's brother, Joe DeSimone, who offered a revisionist history lesson connecting today's political divisions to the Vietnam War era.

"This has been going on since the Vietnam War," Joe DeSimone proclaimed. "You have those that went to Vietnam, and you have those that went to school who avoided Vietnam [Trump]. The ones that went to school became educated. They are your Tesla buyers [Trump]. They were going green. They love the left." He continued, "And then the blue collar guy tends to be the guys, you know, that were in the line of fire and blue collar workers."

This oversimplified narrative serves a clear purpose: positioning conservatives as patriotic working-class heroes while portraying progressives as privileged elitists who shirked their duty. It's a convenient fiction that ignores the many veterans with progressive views and the complex socioeconomic factors that shape political alignment.

Nothing says "support the troops" like using them as props in your culture war narrative. Also, has he checked the demographics of progressive veterans' organizations? Apparently not.

Joe DeSimone then celebrated what he perceives as a return to religious fundamentalism among young people:

"These young people have turned to traditional religion like the old Latin mass and the Byzantine church. These young people, and we see them, they come to our church on Sunday. I don't know how many kids they got, Chris. They got three or four would be small. They got six, eight. They just keep coming."

This celebration of religious conservatism as a rejection of progressive values reveals the authoritarian underpinnings of the MAGA movement, which consistently seeks to replace democratic pluralism with rigid hierarchies and traditions.

"If they're going to take the time on a Sunday to get dressed and go to church or go to Bible class, they want something of meaning," Joe continued, implying that progressive religious expressions lack substance or authenticity. "They're tired of being treated like a child or, you know, you look at leadership in the church that's from the 60s. They're trying to make, oh, this is more entertaining and let's water this down and let's not really talk about anything serious."

The irony of complaining about being "treated like a child" while advocating for returning to rigid, authoritarian religious structures where questioning is discouraged is apparently lost on him.

The brothers' commentary reinforces a core MAGA narrative: that conservative expressions of faith, politics, and culture are somehow more authentic and meaningful than progressive alternatives. This isn't just false — it's purposefully divisive, designed to delegitimize progressive ethical frameworks and communities.

Local Politics: Demonizing Tucson's Democratic Leadership

Throughout the broadcast, DeSimone aggressively promoted a fundraiser for Jesse Lugo, a local conservative candidate, while denigrating progressive Tucson City Council members with dehumanizing language.

"Jesse Lugo has busted his ass for this community and the children of this region for decades," DeSimone declared, before immediately pivoting to attack Lugo's opponent as having "zero experience other than being a butt kisser for Regina Romero." He further asked, "Do we need another Paul Cunningham on the council?"

The contempt for democratically elected officials was palpable, with DeSimone characterizing local leaders as "the machine" and suggesting that their policies have made Tucson "go backwards" while other cities thrive.

Democratic representatives are demonized as "the machine" despite being elected by majorities of actual voters. Apparently democracy only counts when conservatives win.

What's particularly revealing is how DeSimone framed local neighborhood activism. When discussing Karen Uhlich's proposal to use parks as temporary solutions for homelessness, he sarcastically suggested placing homeless encampments in affluent neighborhoods:

"I just want to make it from walking distance that they can bring a, you know, some Kansas soup to the poor people in the rehab park. That's all. I'm just, I'm trying to, I'm trying to let them shine in their, in their generosity."

He specifically targeted Himmel Park, located in what he called "the posh neighborhood... This is the neighborhood where Jonathan Rothschild lives in." This cruel suggestion reveals how the right instrumentalizes human suffering for political purposes rather than seeking compassionate solutions to homelessness. It's not about helping people in need — it's about punishing political opponents.

Because nothing says "compassionate conservatism" like using the unhoused as political pawns to stick it to the libs. Heaven forbid we actually address the root causes of homelessness through housing-first approaches, mental health services, and economic opportunity.

The Doublethink of MAGA Economics

The broadcast demonstrated the remarkable cognitive dissonance required to maintain MAGA economic narratives. In one segment, Carlos Ruiz expressed initial fear about Trump's tariff policies:

"Tariffs really freaked me out last time, because he came out with this, the 25% on steel and 15% on aluminum. And now that was a struggle because, you know, it just like overnight, my, my costs went up and my lines of credit didn't go up."

Yet minutes later, both Ruiz and DeSimone pivoted to praising these same destabilizing policies. Ruiz acknowledged that "the market adjusted and prices came back down to normal," concluding that "I see tariffs now the same way, right? I'm less fearful."

This ability to hold contradictory views — that Trump's economic policies are simultaneously disruptive to business planning yet ultimately beneficial — is a hallmark of MAGA rhetoric.

The cognitive dissonance is staggering. "Trump's policies initially hurt my business, but now I've decided they're good because... reasons." No data, no analysis, just faith-based economics.

Similarly, the group celebrated Trump's tax cuts while complaining about Tucson's deteriorating infrastructure, never acknowledging how tax cuts directly reduce the government's ability to maintain roads, schools, and public services.

When discussing the planned expiration of those tax cuts, Ruiz lamented, "If this doesn't get passed, my marginal rates are going to go up... and this $20,000 that I was getting goes away. So now I'm going to pay higher tax on $20,000 more of profit."

The concern for his own tax situation was evident — but there was no similar concern expressed for the millions of Americans struggling with inadequate healthcare, unaffordable housing, or crumbling schools.

The myopia is breathtaking. "My tax breaks are essential, but your healthcare, education, and infrastructure are luxuries we can't afford." The selfishness masquerading as economic policy would be laughable if it weren't so destructive.

The Real Tragedy: Missed Opportunities for Tucson

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of this broadcast was watching local business leaders who clearly care about Tucson's economic development channeling their energy into divisive rhetoric rather than constructive solutions.

When Carlos Ruiz correctly noted that "entrepreneurship for Tucson is the path, especially for minorities," he identified a crucial economic reality: "Especially for minorities. It's a path for getting wealth."

But rather than exploring how to break down systemic barriers to minority business formation or build inclusive support systems, the conversation quickly devolved into attacks on local leadership and simplistic complaints about permitting processes.

This pattern — identifying real issues but proposing solutions that only deepen division — is the MAGA playbook in action. It's a strategy that ensures problems remain unsolved while anger continues to build, creating a perpetual cycle of grievance that serves the powerful at the expense of progress.

Imagine what these business leaders could accomplish if they directed their energy toward collaborative solutions instead of divisive attacks. The talent and passion are clearly there, but they're being wasted on grievance politics rather than community building.

Conclusion: Beyond the Echo Chamber

As the broadcast wound down, DeSimone reminded listeners about Jesse Lugo's fundraiser and the station's anniversary celebration at GAP Ministries. The casual tone belied the serious impact of the previous two hours of programming — another day of divisive rhetoric pumped into Southern Arizona's airwaves, another missed opportunity for meaningful dialogue about the region's challenges.

For those of us committed to a more just, equitable, and united Tucson, it's crucial that we recognize these tactics and counter them with fact-based, compassionate alternatives. We must tell a better story about what our community can be when we work together across differences.

The good news? Despite the steady stream of divisive rhetoric, Tucsonans continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience and commitment to collective well-being. From community-led mutual aid networks addressing food insecurity to innovative small business incubators focusing on traditionally underserved entrepreneurs, the real work of building a better Tucson continues — regardless of what plays on the airwaves.

Across our city, people from diverse backgrounds are rolling up their sleeves and addressing our challenges together. The Tucson Community Food Bank serves neighbors across political lines. Watershed Management Group brings together diverse stakeholders to address our water future. Local entrepreneurs are creating inclusive business models that lift up communities rather than divide them.

Want to be part of the solution? Consider supporting local organizations working for inclusive economic development, humane immigration policies, and compassionate approaches to homelessness. Attend city council meetings to make your voice heard on issues that matter to you. Volunteer with community groups addressing Tucson's challenges directly. Or simply have a conversation with a neighbor whose perspective differs from yours — real dialogue, not divisive monologues, is where progress begins.

Together, we can resist the politics of division and build a Tucson that works for everyone — not just those with the loudest microphones.

Questions to Consider:

1. How might Tucson's economic development benefit if business leaders like those on DeSimone's show directed their expertise and influence toward collaborative solutions rather than partisan attacks?

2. What responsibility do media outlets have to present diverse perspectives on local issues, and how can we support more inclusive dialogue in Southern Arizona?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Together, we can build the Tucson we all deserve.

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Notable Quotes

• "We go down to the border to where the border fence is still the same, I think from the 40s or 50s... It's not the 80-foot fence, not yet though." - Malta Joe, describing recreational border visits while dehumanizing the people affected by border policies

• "They come on over. They see that we're good Americans, low-blooded citizens... they wish they were hanging out with us." - Malta Joe, describing Border Patrol interactions and implying a hierarchy of citizenship value

• "I want everyone at Himmel Park in the middle of the posh neighborhood. This is the neighborhood where Jonathan Rothschild lives in." - Christopher DeSimone, suggesting homeless people should be placed in affluent neighborhoods to punish progressive residents

• "You have those that went to Vietnam, and you have those that went to school who avoided Vietnam. The ones that went to school became educated. They are your Tesla buyers. They were going green. They love the left." - Joe DeSimone, creating a divisive narrative about Vietnam-era choices defining today's politics

• "These young people have turned to traditional religion like the old Latin mass and the Byzantine church." - Joe DeSimone, celebrating religious conservatism as rejection of progressive values

• "They're tired of being treated like a child." - Joe DeSimone, characterizing progressive religious leaders as condescending

• "Jesse Lugo has busted his ass for this community and the children of this region for decades. Now he's going to step up and the machine has their candidate and who has zero experience other than being a butt kisser for Raheina Romero." - Christopher DeSimone, using demeaning language about democratic candidates

People Mentioned and Their Roles

• Christopher DeSimone: Host of "Wake Up" show, aggressive promoter of conservative candidates and critic of Tucson's democratic leadership

  • Quote: "We're a stagnant community because of the governance of Tucson and Pima County."

• Malta Joe: Regular guest who owns a Maltesian specialty food business and participates in border tourism

  • Quote: "We go down to the border and teach new FJ cruiser people how to off-road and how to be safe."

• Carlos Ruiz: Owner of HT Metals and member of the conservative "Job Creators Network"

  • Quote: "As I'm ramping up and growing the business, I'm not having to pay taxes on, I can write that off the first year. So I don't pay any taxes on say $30,000 of profit."

• Joe DeSimone: Brother of the host who provides cultural commentary

  • Quote: "This battle's been going on for a long time. In the church, in politics, in education, those folks that we discussed became the administrators of today."

• Jesse Lugo: Conservative candidate being promoted by DeSimone, described as having "busted his ass for this community"

• Richard Fembris: Mentioned as having endorsed Jesse Lugo, which DeSimone called "the most brave thing in his entire political life"

• Regina Romero: Democratic official criticized by DeSimone

• Paul Cunningham: Democratic city council member dismissively referenced by DeSimone

• Karen Uhlich: Mentioned for proposing to use parks for homeless camps, which DeSimone mockingly criticized

• Bernie Marcus: Deceased Home Depot co-founder who started the "Job Creators Network"

• Jonathan Rothschild: Former Tucson mayor, mentioned when DeSimone suggested placing homeless people in his affluent neighborhood

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