Radio Active Magazine

The International day of peace, September 21, is celebrated with a festival organized by Ira Harritt and the Interfaith Council of Greater Kansas City. We talk with some of the organizers, presenters, and participants.

Bill Schmidt discusses his work with the Refugees, Immigrants and Migrants (RIM) committee of the St. Francis Xavier parish in Kansas City, Missouri. This is followed by a brief discussion of the evidence regarding the impact of immigrants on crime and the incomes of the host community. In brief, the research finds that on average immigrants benefit both the sending and receiving countries, and the major media routinely disseminate lies, especially by leading politicians, because challenging those lies would most likely increase their costs without a compensating increase in revenue. St. Francis Xavier  The RIM committee at St. Francis Xavier started in 2012 or 2013 and was further pushed by Father Rafael Garcia, who was their pastor then. RIM was also connected with the Migrant Farm Workers program in Lexington, Missouri. RIM has three different activities: (1) Education, (2) action, and (3) collaboration with other organizations. The RIM committee has been involved with the Encuentro project, which is linked with Father Garcia. That project arranges visits to El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, which are really one metropolitan area split between Texas and Mexico. Those visits include visits to Annunciation House there, which greets immigrants at the border. Schmidt also mentioned Father Peter and Sister Betty, who have tracked people who have crossed the border and died, writing their names on a wall. RIM has had training from Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) and Dell Lamb. RIM has worked with families from the Congo, Venezuela, and Nigeria. Healthy adults whom they have helped have gotten jobs, paid taxes including social security and are applying for US citizenship. Some have had family members killed and their homes destroyed before they decided to take the risks to come to the US. They have also worked with Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR). RIM is also affiliated with the Heartland Welcome and Support Coalition, a 501(c)(3) that is ecumenical, with affiliations with other communities beyond St. Francis Xavier. RIM is also affiliated with Witness on Troost, which peacefully raises signs, voices, and prayers in solidarity with the marginalized and vulnerable. A leader in this group is Kim Meyer: witnessontroost@gmail.com. Schmidt said he was not aware of any raids by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in Kansas City, Missouri, but there have been such in Liberty, Missouri, and Johnson County, Kansas. Schmidt is joined by Bill Clause and Spencer Graves. Research on immigrants  If you, dear reader, know of any honest evidence supporting President Trump's campaign against immigrants, please email your evidence to news at KKFI dot org. There is ample documentation that immigrants on average benefit both sending and receiving countries. Research on sanctuary jurisdictions including sanctuary cities has mixed results. Some find no difference between sanctuary cities and less immigrant-friendly jurisdictions. Others find that sanctuary cities on average have less crime and higher median incomes.1 If you are aware of any serious, credible research relating to this, please email citation(s) to news at KKFI dot org. Research on dysfunctions in the major media Much and likely all of the support for President Trump's campaign against immigrants comes from dysfunctions in the major media. This includes commercial Internet companies, especially social media like Facebook and X, that make money from clicks that herd humans into groups described as "echo chambers". Group members in so-called echo chambers reinforce each other's prejudices without realizing that what they are saying is often contradicted by evidence. This problem is at its worst in news deserts -- communities without a local newspaper. However, it has been increasing worldwide as the growth of the Internet has been funded primarily from advertising revenue that had previously gone to newspapers. Journalists who often checked their facts have been laid off. And the massive consolidation of ownership of the media have reduced competition for audience, and journalists are allowed even less time to check facts. Moreover, the easiest and cheapest content often comes from politicians and other public officials including law enforcement. And public officials tend to be less cooperative with journalists and news outlets they do not like, dramatically increasing the cost of most reporting. This is a major problem documented in many previous episodes of Radio Active Magazine that have also been distributed as the fortnightly "Media & Democracy" series syndicated for the Pacifica Radio Network and available for moderate discussion on Wikiversity under "Category:Media reform to improve democracy". _______ Links to research on immigrants are included in the description of the 2025-07-15 episode of Radio Active Magazine, which cites the Wikipedia articles on “Immigration and crime”, “Immigration”, and “Sanctuary city”, each of which include direct citations to research.  

Doug Samuelson discusses the role of the media in conflict with Spencer Graves. Samuelson has a Dr. Sci. in operations research and years of experience with empirical modeling, especially for […] The post The role of the media in conflict appeared first on KKFI.

UMKC law professor Allen Rostron discusses legal issues raised by actions of the Trump administration. He is interviewed by Radio Active Magazine regulars Craig Lubow and Spencer Graves. Copyright 2025 […] The post Legal issues raised by Trump administration actions appeared first on KKFI.

Nick Hart is interviewed by Spencer Graves about the Data Foundation, of which he is President and CEO, and about the status of evidence-informed public policy in the US. The […] The post Evidence-informed public policy appeared first on KKFI.

Nick Hart is interviewed by Spencer Graves about the Data Foundation, of which he is President and CEO, and about the status of evidence-informed public policy in the US. The […] The post Evidence-informed public policy appeared first on KKFI.

Ernie Nolan, the Artistic Director of Kansas City’s Unicorn Theatre, discusses their history and upcoming program with Radio Active Magazine regular Craig Lubow. The post Unicorn Theatre 2025-2026 Season appeared first on KKFI.

Ernie Nolan, the Artistic Director of Kansas City's Unicorn Theatre, discusses their history and upcoming program with Radio Active Magazine regular Craig Lubow. The post Unicorn Theatre 2025-2026 Season appeared first on KKFI.

Reece Peck describes how he thinks Left media outlets could increase their effectiveness by working harder to understand the concerns of the working class and packaging policy prescriptions in terms […] The post What the Left can learn from Fox appeared first on KKFI.

Reece Peck describes how he thinks Left media outlets could increase their effectiveness by working harder to understand the concerns of the working class and packaging policy prescriptions in terms […] The post What the Left can learn from Fox appeared first on KKFI.

Bill Clause asked attendees at  July 17 John Lewis Day “Good Trouble” event why they were there; that event was organized in part by Indivisible Kansas City, discussed in the […] The post John Lewis, Democratic Socialists, and Christian Nationalists appeared first on KKFI.

Bill Clause asked attendees at  July 17 John Lewis Day “Good Trouble” event why they were there; that event was organized in part by Indivisible Kansas City, discussed in the […] The post John Lewis, Democratic Socialists, and Christian Nationalists appeared first on KKFI.

Natalie Fenton discusses her new 2025 book, Democratic Delusions: How the Media Hollows Out Democracy and What We Can Do About It, and related work. She is interviewed by Spencer […] The post Democratic delusions: Fix the media to fix democracy appeared first on KKFI.

Natalie Fenton discusses her new 2025 book, Democratic Delusions: How the Media Hollows Out Democracy and What We Can Do About It, and related work. She is interviewed by Spencer […] The post Democratic delusions: Fix the media to fix democracy appeared first on KKFI.

Bill Clause, Beverly Harvey and Skie Pearson discuss with Spencer Graves activities by Indivisible Kansas City, the Solidarity School of Resistance, and the campaign to prevent CoreCivic from reopening their prison […] The post More on the Solidarity School and other activism appeared first on KKFI.

Bill Clause, Beverly Harvey and Skie Pearson discuss with Spencer Graves activities by Indivisible Kansas City, the Solidarity School of Resistance, and the campaign to prevent CoreCivic from reopening their prison […] The post More on the Solidarity School and other activism appeared first on KKFI.

University of British Columbia history professor Heidi J.S. Tworek1 discusses her research on the impact of the media on politics in Germany focusing especially in 1900 through 1945 and its […] The post News from Germany 1900-1945 and implications for today appeared first on KKFI.

University of British Columbia history professor Heidi J.S. Tworek1 discusses her research on the impact of the media on politics in Germany focusing especially in 1900 through 1945 and its […] The post News from Germany 1900-1945 and implications for today appeared first on KKFI.

University of San Diego Communications Professor Nik Usher discusses their research on how news impacts democracy. Recent publications describe how media impacted the response to Black Lives Matter, COVID-19, illiberal politics, […] The post How news impacts democracy per USD Communications Professor Nik Usher appeared first on KKFI.

University of San Diego Communications Professor Nik Usher discusses their research on how news impacts democracy. Recent publications describe how media impacted the response to Black Lives Matter, COVID-19, illiberal politics, […] The post How news impacts democracy per USD Communications Professor Nik Usher appeared first on KKFI.

Sherman Smith discusses the Kansas Reflector. Bill Clause interviews a woman with Respect Missouri Voters at the “No King” rally last Saturday. Winston Apple claims the US was “Founded on […] The post Sherman Smith on the Kansas Reflector and Judy Ancel reversing runaway inequality appeared first on KKFI.

Sherman Smith discusses the Kansas Reflector. Bill Clause interviews a woman with Respect Missouri Voters at the “No King” rally last Saturday. Winston Apple claims the US was “Founded on […] The post Sherman Smith on the Kansas Reflector and Judy Ancel reversing runaway inequality appeared first on KKFI.

Bill Clause, Beverly Harvey, Iris Craver, Nancy Mays, Bill Thompson, and Keith Washburn discuss best practices of successful organizing and mobilizing tactics used by Indivisible Kansas City, Arc of Justice, […] The post Mobilizing, Organizing & Raising Hell appeared first on KKFI.

Bill Clause, Beverly Harvey, Iris Craver, Nancy Mays, Bill Thompson, and Keith Washburn discuss best practices of successful organizing and mobilizing tactics used by Indivisible Kansas City, Arc of Justice, […] The post Mobilizing, Organizing & Raising Hell appeared first on KKFI.

Bill Clause, Daniel Scharpenburg, Martha Lawrence, and Diane Bulan discuss their “Solidarity School of Resistance”, starting with a “Boots on the Ground” volunteer fair May 31, 1-4 PM, Second Presbyterian […] The post Solidarity School of Resistance and May 31 Boots on the Ground appeared first on KKFI.

Bill Clause, Daniel Scharpenburg, Martha Lawrence, and Diane Bulan discuss their “Solidarity School of Resistance”, starting with a “Boots on the Ground” volunteer fair May 31, 1-4 PM, Second Presbyterian […] The post Solidarity School of Resistance and May 31 Boots on the Ground appeared first on KKFI.

Ashley Hernandez, William Rogers, and Esmie Tseng discuss opposition to the efforts of CoreCivic and the Trump administration to reopen the CoreCivic prison in Leavenworth. Hernandez is with the Sisters […] The post Reopening a CoreCivic prison in Leavenworth for ICE? appeared first on KKFI.

Ashley Hernandez, William Rogers, and Esmie Tseng discuss opposition to the efforts of CoreCivic and the Trump administration to reopen the CoreCivic prison in Leavenworth. Hernandez is with the Sisters […] The post Reopening a CoreCivic prison in Leavenworth for ICE? appeared first on KKFI.

Canadian journalist Marc Edge summarizes his research on the evolution of media and democracy internationally including different media policies that have been attempted and their impact on political corruption and […] The post Canadian journalist Marc Edge on media reform to improve democracy appeared first on KKFI.

Canadian journalist Marc Edge summarizes his research on the evolution of media and democracy internationally including different media policies that have been attempted and their impact on political corruption and […] The post Canadian journalist Marc Edge on media reform to improve democracy appeared first on KKFI.

Unionists Garth Stocking, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) local 1336, and Daniel Scharpenburg, VP, National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) chapter 66, join Bill Clause, AFGE retired, to discuss the […] The post Unionists say that boss Trump declares war on his own workers appeared first on KKFI.

Unionists Garth Stocking, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) local 1336, and Daniel Scharpenburg, VP, National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) chapter 66, join Bill Clause, AFGE retired, to discuss the […] The post Unionists say that boss Trump declares war on his own workers appeared first on KKFI.

UMKC Constitutional Law Professor Allen Rostron1 discusses major policy changes mandated by President Trump since his second inauguration with Radio Active Magazine regulars Spencer Graves and Craig Lubow. To what […] The post Trump v. US Constitution appeared first on KKFI.

UMKC Constitutional Law Professor Allen Rostron1 discusses major policy changes mandated by President Trump since his second inauguration with Radio Active Magazine regulars Spencer Graves and Craig Lubow. To what […] The post Trump v. US Constitution appeared first on KKFI.

Georgetown professor Amy O'Hara  discusses the deletions and modifications of massive amounts of data from US federal government websites on orders from President Trump since his second inauguration, 2025-01-20, and […] The post Trump ordered reductions in public data appeared first on KKFI.

Georgetown professor Amy O’Hara  discusses the deletions and modifications of massive amounts of data from US federal government websites on orders from President Trump since his second inauguration, 2025-01-20, and […] The post Trump ordered reductions in public data appeared first on KKFI.

Marilyn McCleod, Anne Calvert and Harry Bognich discuss concerns and activities of Leagues of Women Voters. They are interviewed by Radio Active Magazine regular Spencer Graves. Marilyn is President of […] The post KC Metro Leagues of Women Voters appeared first on KKFI.

Marilyn McCleod, Anne Calvert and Harry Bognich discuss concerns and activities of Leagues of Women Voters. They are interviewed by Radio Active Magazine regular Spencer Graves. Marilyn is President of […] The post KC Metro Leagues of Women Voters appeared first on KKFI.

Resurrection Downtown Kansas City, a United Methodist congregation, hosted a discussion March 10 of the “State of Immigration and Its Impact on KC”. Speakers included Adam Kisler1 and Julie Doane […] The post State of Immigration and Its Impact on KC appeared first on KKFI.

Resurrection Downtown Kansas City, a United Methodist congregation, hosted a discussion March 10 of the “State of Immigration and Its Impact on KC”. Speakers included Adam Kisler1 and Julie Doane […] The post State of Immigration and Its Impact on KC appeared first on KKFI.

Rick Goldsmith,1 director of the documentary, “Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink“,2 discusses how Alden Global Capital has purchased many newspapers in the US, laid off many journalists […] The post Vulture capitalists destroying newspapers appeared first on KKFI.

Rick Goldsmith,1 director of the documentary, “Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink“,2 discusses how Alden Global Capital has purchased many newspapers in the US, laid off many journalists […] The post Vulture capitalists destroying newspapers appeared first on KKFI.

Arizona State University Accounting Professor Roger White is interviewed by Radio Active Magazine regular Spencer Graves. They discuss research documenting the value of independent newspapers, especially local newspapers, in limiting malfeasance. […] The post Local newspapers limit malfeasance appeared first on KKFI.

Arizona State University Accounting Professor Roger White is interviewed by Radio Active Magazine regular Spencer Graves. They discuss research documenting the value of independent newspapers, especially local newspapers, in limiting malfeasance. […] The post Local newspapers limit malfeasance appeared first on KKFI.

Citizens for Justice in the Middle East (CJME) and Cross Border Network for Justice and Solidarity will receive the Kris and Lynn Cheatum Award at the PeaceWorks KC annual meeting, […] The post PWKC Recognizes CJME and Cross Border Network appeared first on KKFI.

Citizens for Justice in the Middle East (CJME) and Cross Border Network for Justice and Solidarity will receive the Kris and Lynn Cheatum Award at the PeaceWorks KC annual meeting, […] The post PWKC Recognizes CJME and Cross Border Network appeared first on KKFI.

This episode of Radio Active Magazine features two topics: An interview with author Andrew Sillen about his new Black History book, Kidnapped at Sea: The Civil War Voyage of David […] The post Black History Kidnapped and immigrants appeared first on KKFI.

This episode of Radio Active Magazine features two topics: An interview with author Andrew Sillen about his new Black History book, Kidnapped at Sea: The Civil War Voyage of David […] The post Black History Kidnapped and immigrants appeared first on KKFI.

Investigative journalist Greg Palast claims that Kamala Harris would have won the 2024 US presidential election without massive vote suppression by Republicans in many different States. He was interviewed by […] The post Palast says Trump lost, vote suppression won the 2024 elections appeared first on KKFI.

Investigative journalist Greg Palast claims that Kamala Harris would have won the 2024 US presidential election without massive vote suppression by Republicans in many different States. He was interviewed by […] The post Palast says Trump lost, vote suppression won the 2024 elections appeared first on KKFI.

A national “Defend free speech” town hall January 25 was co-hosted by Friends of Community Media, PeaceWorks Kansas City, Pacifica Fightback, and the African People's Socialist Party/Uhuru. Roughly 100 attended […] The post Defend free speech national town hall in KC appeared first on KKFI.