The Ruthless Truth

Ruth and Anoosh join us this week to discuss the meaning behind May Day as an important date for workers rights and the inhumane deportation case of Heydi Sanchez Tejeda.

Ira and Alan join us this week to discuss the ban on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) by the Trump Administration. We talk about DEI's history, how it relates to Affirmative Action, and the effects of its complete eradication. Finally, we close with a few speeches and interviews from Black revolutionaries to celebrate the past Black History Month: Angela Davis, Assata Shakur, and Fred Hampton.

This week, we decided to air an episode of The Socialist Program. Ruth introduces us to a conversation between Brian Becker and professor Richard Wolff where they discuss the decline in the economy, the increase in the cost of basic goods, the major downward shift in the European economies, and the impact of Trump's tarriffs on U.S. workers. 

Ira introduces us to the full audio from Say Their Names event on Feb 22 in Sarasota. We hear speeches from local activists and mothers of victims of police brutality. The speakers include Ruth Beltran, Ira, Tracey Washington, Franki, Lisa Keys, Natasha Clemons, Deanna Joseph, Mona Hardin, Karen Wells, Selwyn Jones, and more. 

Ali introduces a few speeches from local organizers during a February 9 demonstration against Trump's anti-immigrant agenda in Sarasota, FL. 

Ruth, Ira, and Firas sit down with Junior Salazar, a local activist, to discuss the recent threats on our immigrant communities and what we can do to fight back.  Upcoming Events: Immigration Rights March @ Five Points Park Sunday February 9 from 12pm - 4pm

Ruth sits down with Deanna Joseph of the Andrew Joseph Foundation to discuss the story of her son, Andrew Joseph.  You can find more information about the Andrew Joseph Foundation at https://andrewjosephfoundation.com Upcoming Events: Tuesday 2/4: Organizing for Justice: Learn From Families and Survivors of Police Crimes C Blythe Andrews Library 2607 E Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tampa, 33610 Thursday 2/6: Sound of Justice: Ending Qualified Immunity Through Music The Crowbar 1812 N 17th St Tampa, 33605 Friday 2/7: Through Their Eyes: A Candlelight Vigil Honoring Stolen Lives Covenant Catalytic Church 6212 N 47th St Tampa, FL 33610 Saturday 2/8: Masquerade Gala: Remove the Mask that Shields Immunity, Racism, and Prejudice Brandon Veterans #39; Post and Park Association, Inc. 115 W. Clay Ave. Brandon, FL 33510

Ruth introduces a few speeches from local organizers during our January 19 demonstration against Trump's right wing agenda in St. Petersburg, FL. 

Ira joins Ruth again this week to cover the devastationin California due to the wildfires, as well as a bill recently passed by the House of Representatives that would impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court.  Join us this Sunday, January 19 at 2pm in Williams Park in St Pete for a demonstration against Trump's right wing agenda!

Ira joins Ruth this week to discuss the attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas. We start the episode hearing from Mike Prysner, and then our hosts dive into what makes military service the number one predictor of becoming a mass casualty offender. 

Ruth DJs this week and shares a few revolutionary songs to welcome in 2025!

Ira & Adam join Ruth to discuss some updates for the Uhuru trial, then we review some of Trump's appointees and how they will affect working Americans here in Florida and across the country.  We are hosting a volunteer meeting this Saturday, December 21st! ️Register here: bit.ly/Jan20vol Join us Saturday, December 21st for these organizing meetings to play a direct role in building the movement to defend our rights, keep our public funds at home instead of feeding the war machine, fight for a free Palestine, and build the world we deserve to live in! We'll discuss the current political moment and how to build a fight back movement right here in Tampa Bay!

Sierra & Adam share some clips from a live stream from The People's Forum NYC discussing what is to be done now that Donald Trump has been re-elected. 

Adam & Sierra join Ruth to discuss House Bill 9495 "The Nonprofit Killer Bill" making it's way through congress. We provide some background information about the history of this piece of legislation and how it threatens the existence of many nonprofits in our country.    UPDATE: The House passed bill 9495 on Thursday November 21, 2024 with a vote 219-184. 

Ruth is joined by Ali, Adam, & Sierra to discuss updates from the Middle East and share information about a Palestinian study group for the book Trinity of Fundamentals. There is still time to join! Next study session is Sunday November 17. Click the link to join: https://tinyurl.com/yf95vbh3 

Ruth & Adam get together one week before Election Day to discuss their thoughts. We listen to an interview from Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez posted to the Latina Rebels page about voting third party.

Peyton from Breakthrough News joins Ruth to discuss the ILA Dockworkers Strike. We share an exclusive interview from the picket line with Nick DiFresco, President of ILA Local 1691. 

Sierra & Adam join Ruth to discuss the Hurricane Disaster Response in central Florida. 

Join us this week as Ruth and Adam chat with Sheridan, a local Indigenous rights activist with the American Indian Movement. 

Peyton from BreakThrough News joins Jack to discuss the recent election in Venezuela. 

Join us this week as Ruth and Ali discuss Israel's recent pager attacks in Lebanon on September 17 & 18, 2024. 

Join Ruth and special guest Sierra to discuss the Uhuru movement and trial in St. Petersburg, FL.  

Join us as Ruth discusses how the movement for Palestine is undermining US-Israeli relations! Also discussed is the brutal Israeli torture of Palestinian poltical prisoners. 

In this episode, we focus on the hunger strike led by USF students, and are joined by organizers Will and Alina of the USF Divest Coalition. 

By deceptively portraying its female soldiers as liberators confronting a misogynistic enemy, Israel seeks to reframe its militaristic oppression as a righteous feminist cause.

In honor of Women's History Month, Ruth examines the bold visions and concrete programs of revolutionary women leaders - past and present - to uplift gender equality and dismantle patriarchal oppression. She contrasts their work to collectively value women's labor with how capitalist nations like the US funnel resources into militarism rather than supporting working families. It's a provocative look at what real women's liberation requires.

In honor of Women's History Month, this episode of takes a look at the burden and exploitation faced by women under capitalist society. Ruth dives deep into the political economy and root causes of why "mommy is so tired" all the time. She also uplifts the historical examples of brave women fighters, resistors and educators who refused to accept their subjugation. 

Tune in to listen to Ruth's compelling interview with Lama from Dream Defenders, who speaks on the needed disruption of a Kathy Castor event. Kathy Castor, a member and Co-Chair of the Children Healthcare Caucus, has continued to maintain silence on the genocide of children in Gaza, and has upheld US support for the Israeli state.  Later on the episode, Ruth is joined by community activist Ali Abdel-Qader to discuss the struggle for a free Palestine. In other news, please be sure to support Breonte's Family at the Fish Fry Fundraiser in Palmetto, 11 am to 3 om, on Saturday, March 2nd! You can find details for the event on our Facebook page and elsewhere. 

Host Ruth is joined by guest Bobby to expose the injustice behind the police killing of Breonte' L. Johnson-Davis and the web of lies and corruption used to shield the killer cops. They analyze disturbing discrepancies in the Palmetto PD's press conference and bodycam footage meant to justify this senseless murder. From officers caught laughing to an egregious delay in medical treatment, they dissect the excuses and damning evidence of a coverup. Ruth and Bobby connect this case to the broader systems enabling rampant police violence in America, like qualified immunity. As Breonte's family is barred from seeking justice, this episode issues a searing indictment of law enforcement's unchecked power. 

Ruth investigates alarming reports coming out of Florida jails and prisons. According to a report by the NAACP, in one Florida jail alone, 21 inmates have died under suspicious circumstances with little accountability. From prisoners succumbing to treatable medical issues to beatings at the hands of guards, a disturbing pattern emerges - incarcerated individuals are too often left to suffer and die with minimal oversight. The lack of transparency around inmate fatalities ties into broader systems shielding police and corrections officers from consequences. Qualified immunity, police protections, and the dismantling of civilian review boards allow law enforcement violence and negligence to persist unchecked. As democracy erodes in Florida, it's the most vulnerable populations who bear the deadly costs. Join Ruth as she takes on the prison industrial complex and powerful forces undermining accountability. In this episode, she issues an urgent call to stand up against injustice and value human life.

Join us for a special episode this week, as hosts Caleb and Audrey delve into the Paris Peace treaty and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, using clips from Breakthrough News.  The Paris proposal faces challenges and apprehensions from both sides. We explore the domestic and international pressures influencing Israel's war cabinet's deliberations. Additionally, we analyze the political ramifications for the Biden administration, amidst growing criticism of its staunch support for Israel and the potential electoral consequences. Free free Palestine! 

In this episode, we delve into the disease and starvation rampant in Gaza due to the bombing of the region's life-sustaining infrastructure. We also dissect the narrative of Iranian proxies frequently portrayed in corporate media, separating truth from misinformation.

In this episode, Ruth brings the sounds of nationwide protests to your ears, covering the spirit of resistance from Texas to Tampa. Despite the state's violent attempts to silence these voices, the people remain undeterred. We also cover the tenacious resistance of the Yemeni people, challenging the narrative spun by the American state. This episode is an invitation to join the struggle, to seek the truth, and to stand on the right side of history.

The people have once again shown that they reject the US-Israeli invasion of Gaza! Massive crowds turned out in Washington D.C. for a march demanding justice for Palestine. Millions of others held similar actions elsewhere, including in South Africa, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, Indonesia, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Australia, Finland, as well as other cities across the United States. During the action in D.C., Florida AIM and FIA Board Chairman Robert Rosa was brutally attacked by police officers and arrested. Here in the Tampa Bay, more news has come to light in the Breonte Johnson-Davis case, which further exposes the Palmetto Police Department's cruel negligence. Tune in for an eye-opening account of the D.C. march, and for the shocking details of the Breonte Johnson-Davis case, as well as a report in Breakthrough News: 'We Read South Africa's ICJ Report Accusing Israel of Genocide. Here's What It Says'. 

Join Ruth in a deeply moving conversation with Tracey Washington, a resilient mother who shares how the Palmetto Police Department brutally murdered her son Breonte' Johnson-Davis Sr. Breonte', a devoted father, co-founder of a family business, and a young man grappling with addiction, became a victim of police brutality on November 1st, 2023. During a mental health crisis, Breonte's life was cut short as violence replaced the medical intervention he desperately needed. Tracey's heartfelt account reveals not just a story of loss but a stark indictment of a system lacking empathy and protocols for addressing mental health challenges. Advocating for the spread of life-saving reforms like the St. Petersburg CALL Program, Tracey's words emphasize the need for a truly radical transformation of our policing and healthcare systems. JUSTICE FOR BREONTE ‼️

This episode is dedicated to the true heroes of 2023: The Palestinian People 

Last Saturday we saw a historic display of resistance from the Palestinian people. We saw Gazans break out of their open air prison and strike a blow against their oppressors. To discuss this, give context, and speak about the role of progressives and socialists here in the US, we have Ali Abdel-Qader from the Party for Socialism and Liberation to talk us through this and speak on a solidarity rally that was held in Tampa.

UPS drivers and warehouse workers are prepared to go on strike at the end of this month if UPS does not accept their demands in their contract negotiation. This nationwide strike would be historic as UPS transports about 4% of US GDP daily and pulls in $300M every month. We are very excited to be joined by local UPS driver and Teamsters steward Anthony Cantu to discuss why the Teamsters are prepared to strike, and what it would mean for the working class as a whole!

(Originally aired June 22 2023) Starbucks workers at the Honore and University location in Sarasota have announced their intention to have a union vote early next month! We interviewed two partners at the location who have been playing leading roles in the unionization effort. They spoke on the issues that the workers there have been facing, the retaliation that they've been facing from Starbucks, and how they feel connected to the broader labor movement and its resurgence! Thanks to Sydney Jamison and Jack Brandel for coming on.

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed 6 right-wing members to the New College Board of Trustees, paving the way to majority control of the board. Among the appointees is reactionary homophobe and racist Chris Rufo, who is well known for leading the attack on “CRT” and will attack any program at NCF that sheds light on the injustices of the US and the patriarchal, racist, imperial, and capitalist system he upholds. The new boards plans on shuttering any Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion related programs, deeming them unnecessary and instead promoting values like “colorblindness”, ignoring systemic injustices with the intent of excluding minorities from the student body and staff. He also announced plans to redesign the core curriculum and will certainly strip it of its progressive elements. We're happy to be joined by student activists Sam Sharf and Lex Daly, who have been crucial in organizing students against the new board and their dangerous agenda. The students are planning a protest at the first Board of Trustees meeting on the 31st of January. Only through organized resistance can the students and staff resist this fascist takeover and coup attempt against their school! Only through organized resistance can we resist the war on public education waged by the right wing here in Florida and across the nation! This episode originally aired on January 18th, 2021.

[This episode originally aired on August 17th.] Tampa and St. Petersburg have both recently struck down attempts to get rent control on the ballot after declaring states of emergency on housing. Over the last two years, and especially here in Florida, the working class has been suffering through a housing crisis, with incomes unstable and housing prices rising dramatically, more and more working class people have been having to choose between paying rent and having enough to eat, and eviction rates have been at all time highs. It's clear, we are in a housing emergency, and we are very happy to be joined once again by community activists and tenant organizers Karla Correa from the St Petes Tenants Union, and Craig Birchfield from the Tampa Tenants Union.

We are excited to be joined by the Legal Chair of the Tampa Chapter of the ACLU, James Shaw. James helped to uncover the racist "Crime Free Multi Housing"program run by the Tampa Police Department that encouraged and may have coerced landlords into evicting families where one of the residents committed a crime, even one as minor as pan-handling or a crime of poverty. This program is also known as the "Renting While Black" program, because over 90% of the residents evicted under this program were black.

[This episode was originally released on the radio on July 20th.] We're joined once again by community activist Jack Wallace to speak on the recent pulled opinion piece from the Herald Tribune written by the wife of a Proud Boy in defense of the Proud Boys, a fascist and white supremacist organization. We also discuss the recent Moms For Liberty event in Tampa, and how Jack helped organize a counter-protest to let them know that fascists aren't welcome in the Suncoast!

[This episode was released on July 6th on the radio and was not uploaded as a podcast. We are now releasing it and remind our listeners that this took place in the throes of the massive protests across the country in reaction to the overturning of Roe v Wade.] Karla Correa and Jack Wallace, both community organizers of large reproductive protests, speak on the current crisis exposing the flaws of US democracy with reproductive rights in jeopardy across the nation. They also call out the democrats for absolutely failing to muster a response to this fundamental attack on our rights, and lay out a plan for how working people can fight back.

We begin this episode with an important discussion about the origins of Juneteenth and local events celebrating this important holiday. The show continues with important discussion about the ongoing housing struggles and local solutions being adapted by Tampa and Pinellas County which can be duplicated in the Sarasota/Manatee area.

We have been hearing a lot about inflation, and we are certainly feeling it when we go to the grocery store, when we pay our rent, and definitely when we get gas. The price of everything is going up. The mainstream media, which is controlled by corporations, likes to frame inflation as something that just happens. But the truth is that it doesn't “just happen,” it is a deliberate choice of profiteering. That's all that it is. And they don't do it for any other reason besides making more profit.

As we all know, there has been a wave of mass shootings recently across the country, with the Uvalde elementary school shooting being the largest one in recent news. What is so uniquely alienating about our country that makes incidents like these happen do often? Our government has completely failed the people, and more money for police has proven to be a wasted measure as they hide when children actually need them. What would a socialist program for tackling mass shootings and gun violence look like? We go over all this and more in this episode of the Ruthless Truth.

It's official. The Supreme Court is planning on repealing Roe v Wade and opening the door for states to ban abortion entirely. This is set to impact millions of working class women and people across the country, and calls into question the safety of other rights that have been fought for like gay marriage. We're joined by local community activists Luna Brazell, Peyton Hoey, and Karla Correa to talk about how people are taking to the streets across the nation to defend Roe V Wade, even as the Democratic party takes no decisive action.

We're very happy to be joined by national ANSWER coalition member Juliana Musheyev to take on local issues here in Sarasota. On this episode, we discuss the string of anti semitic flyers found in Sarasota and the struggle against antisemitism, while also clarifying that antizionism and antisemitism are not equivalent. We also discuss the recent police killing of a man during an eviction in Sarasota, and the context of the housing crisis that it exists in.

It's been over a month since Russia began its military operation, or invasion, of Ukraine. The destruction, loss of human life, and devastation is heart wrenching. We here on this program are strongly against war, and while we condemn Russia's invasion, we also condemn our own government and its role in causing this war, which we are going to discuss further in this episode. It's been over a month since Russia began its military operation, or invasion, of Ukraine. The destruction, loss of human life, and devastation is heart wrenching. We here on this program are strongly against war, and while we condemn Russia's invasion, we also condemn our own government and its role in causing this war, which we are going to discuss further in this episode.  Today we're joined by longtime community activist Bryan Ellis.

In previous episodes of the Ruthless Truth, we've talked about some of the reactionary bills that the Republican Party here in Florida have been trying to pass into law. Now Ron Desantis and the Florida Republicans have been pushing another large group of reactionary bills, including the anti-abortion bill we covered last month, that we want to talk about here today. Today we're going to lay out what these bills are, what the consequences would be if they passed, why these bills are being written, and how people are fighting back.   We're also joined by special guest Peyton Hoey, a local activist and substitute teacher in the Hillsborough County School District.