Podcasts about california democratic

This Day in Legal History: Sirhan Sirhan Sentenced to DeathOn April 23, 1969, Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was formally sentenced to death for the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, a tragedy that shook the United States during a period of intense political and social upheaval. Kennedy had been shot on June 5, 1968, just after declaring victory in the California Democratic primary, and he died the following day. Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian immigrant, was apprehended at the scene with a gun in his hand and later confessed to the crime during police interrogation.Despite the confession and trial conviction, controversy has surrounded the case for decades. In 1972, Sirhan's death sentence was commuted to life in prison after the California Supreme Court invalidated the state's death penalty statutes. A resurgence of interest in the case came in 1998, when Sirhan's attorney Larry Teeter publicly argued that his client had not actually fired the fatal shot. Teeter pointed to alleged inconsistencies in the autopsy report and the number of bullets fired, raising the possibility of a second gunman.Teeter's claims never gained traction in court, but they fed into ongoing skepticism among some legal observers and conspiracy theorists. Over the years, Sirhan has repeatedly sought parole, asserting he was manipulated and does not remember the events of the assassination. Most recently, in March 2023, a California parole board again denied his release, citing concerns over public safety and lack of full accountability.The legal legacy of the case is complex, entangling questions of criminal justice, political violence, and the integrity of forensic evidence. It remains one of the most controversial political assassinations in U.S. history.A long-running legal battle over the rights to Superman has taken a new turn as the estate of co-creator Joe Shuster attempts to block the release of an upcoming film in several foreign markets. In a January 2025 lawsuit, executor Mark Warren Peary argued that copyright laws in the U.K., Canada, Australia, and Ireland revert rights to heirs 25 years after the author's death, potentially invalidating the original 1938 agreement with DC's predecessor. This suit follows a 2023 federal ruling in Vetter v. Resnik that disrupted long-standing entertainment industry consensus by suggesting there is no separate category for foreign rights under the Berne Convention—meaning U.S. termination rights may apply globally.This theory directly challenges a 2008 Superman-related decision that limited termination to U.S. rights. Judge Shelly Dick's 2024 ruling supported the broader reading of termination rights, asserting that foreign copyright protections of U.S. works “arise under” U.S. law. Her opinion dismisses prior case law and scholar-backed consensus as insufficiently grounded. Legal experts are split on the implications, with some praising the reasoning as well-founded, while others see significant obstacles to enforcement abroad.Peary's effort is hampered by delays—he brought the suit years after the alleged 2017 rights reversion—and by the steep burden of proving irreparable harm. Critics also question whether foreign courts will honor a U.S. ruling. The legal strategy comes as Superman is set to enter the public domain within the next decade, prompting what some view as a final attempt by Shuster's estate to reclaim financial control of the iconic character.Superman IP Fight Turns on Newly Questioned Foreign Rights CanonTwo U.S. federal judges have extended temporary blocks on the deportation of Venezuelan migrants and questioned the Trump administration's use of a centuries-old wartime law to expedite removals. President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 in a March 15 proclamation to deport individuals allegedly affiliated with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, sending many to a high-security prison in El Salvador under a $6 million deal with President Nayib Bukele's government. However, U.S. District Judges Charlotte Sweeney in Colorado and Alvin Hellerstein in New York signaled that this use of the law likely violates due process rights.Judge Sweeney ruled that migrants detained in Colorado must receive at least 21 days' notice before deportation, while Judge Hellerstein suggested a minimum of 10 days in his Manhattan hearing. Hellerstein also raised constitutional concerns, referencing the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment and questioning the legality of mass deportations without individual review. The Supreme Court recently ruled that migrants must have the opportunity to challenge deportation but left specifics undefined.Attorneys for the migrants, represented by the ACLU, argued that the Alien Enemies Act shouldn't apply, as no formal war exists, and Tren de Aragua's presence doesn't constitute one. The ACLU also sought a 30-day notice period, consistent with practices during WWII when the law was last broadly applied. Meanwhile, another case revealed that a Salvadoran man had been mistakenly deported, prompting a federal judge in Maryland to demand documentation on the government's efforts to correct the error.Judges extend Venezuela deportation blocks, question Trump's use of wartime law | ReutersThe European Union fined Apple €500 million ($570 million) and Meta €200 million ($228 million) for breaching the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a landmark law aimed at reining in the dominance of Big Tech. These penalties mark the first enforcement actions under the DMA, which seeks to promote competition by requiring dominant platforms to remove barriers for smaller rivals. Apple was penalized for restricting app developers from directing users to cheaper alternatives outside the App Store and for imposing disincentives, such as its new “Core Technology Fee,” that discourage the use of alternative app distribution channels on iOS.Meta's violation centered on its “pay-or-consent” model, which offered users either free, ad-supported access to Facebook and Instagram with data tracking or a paid, ad-free version. Regulators determined this structure did not comply with the DMA's requirements for user consent and fairness. Both companies have two months to adjust their practices or face daily fines. While Apple and Meta criticized the rulings—claiming they unfairly target U.S. companies—EU officials emphasized that all firms operating in Europe must respect local rules.The fines are relatively small compared to previous EU antitrust actions, reflecting a strategic shift toward compliance over punishment and a possible effort to avoid inflaming U.S.-EU trade tensions. The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has already voiced displeasure with European crackdowns on American tech firms and has threatened retaliatory tariffs.Apple fined $570 million and Meta $228 million for breach of EU law | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Robert F. Kennedy: The Life, Assassination, and Conspiracies In this 3 part compilation, explore the life, assassination, and the many unanswered questions surrounding one of America's most tragic political murders — Robert F. Kennedy.Begin by walking through RFK's incredible life story, from his early years as part of America's most famous political dynasty, to serving as Attorney General under his brother, President John F. Kennedy, and later as a U.S. Senator from New York. Often seen as the “conscience” of the Democratic Party, RFK evolved from a tough political operative into a champion for the poor, minorities, and disenfranchised. His presidential campaign in 1968 became a beacon of hope in a country torn apart by Vietnam, racial strife, and the assassinations of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr.Then take you inside the electric atmosphere of the California Democratic primary, where Kennedy secured a major victory — a critical step toward potentially winning the presidency. His victory speech, delivered to a roaring crowd at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, was filled with hope and momentum. But within minutes of leaving that podium, chaos erupted in the hotel kitchen pantry. In a scene that still haunts the American consciousness, RFK was shot multiple times at close range, collapsing into the arms of his campaign staff as panicked supporters and hotel workers scrambled to help.Through detailed reconstructions of that night — using eyewitness accounts, police reports, and rare audio recordings — we recount the final moments of Kennedy's life, including the eerie calm before the shooting, the first shots fired by Sirhan Sirhan, and the frantic attempts to save Kennedy as he lay mortally wounded. We also explore the political and cultural shockwaves that followed: the grief of a nation, the massive public mourning, and the fear that America's last great hope for unity had been violently extinguished.But this story doesn't stop with the assassination itself — and that's where we take a sharp turn into the mysteries, controversies, and conspiracy theories that have shadowed this case for over five decades.We break down the official narrative of Sirhan Sirhan — a young Palestinian man allegedly motivated by Kennedy's pro-Israel stance. Yet, as we examine the evidence, troubling questions arise:Was Sirhan truly the lone gunman?Why did many witnesses claim to see a mysterious "girl in the polka dot dress" fleeing the scene, exclaiming, “We shot him!”?How do we explain conflicting ballistics reports and autopsy results suggesting RFK was shot from behind — a position Sirhan was never in?Could there have been a second gunman, or was Sirhan hypnotized or manipulated to act as a decoy?We explore the hypnotism theory, which suggests Sirhan may have been under some form of mind control, backed by his own claims of having no memory of the shooting. We also examine evidence that points to possible CIA involvement, as well as theories that link RFK's assassination to broader plots that also targeted his brother, JFK, and Martin Luther King Jr.Additionally, we take a hard look at the investigative failures and cover-ups that followed — from mishandled evidence and lost bullet fragments to ignored witnesses. We discuss why key pieces of evidence were never fully examined, and why this case, like JFK's, continues to fuel suspicion and speculation.By weaving together RFK's life, the tragic night of his assassination, and the many dark theories that persist, this episode seeks to tell the full story — not just of a man, but of a turning point in American history when hope was stolen and trust in government was shaken forever.If you think you know the story of Robert F. Kennedy, think again. This is a deep exploration of the man, the murder, and the mystery that refuses to die.Patreon -- https://www.patreon.com/theconspiracypodcast Our Website - www.theconspiracypodcast.com Our Email - info@theconspiracypodcast.com

In the 7 AM Hour: Patrice Onwuka and Andrew Langer discussed:  WMAL GUEST: 7:05 AM - INTERVIEW - COREY LEWANDOWSKI - Senior Trump Campaign Advisor – discussed Trump's town hall and the upcoming debate next week.  Harris accepts rules for Sept. 10 debate with Trump on ABC, including microphone muting Kamala Harris goes to 'debate camp': Insiders reveal where VP's preparation is already going 'sideways' as she gets ready for primetime Trump showdown Liz Cheney, who called Harris ‘a radical liberal' in 2020, now endorses her SOCIAL MEDIA: https://x.com/CLewandowski_ WASHINGTON EXAMINER: The ‘Nebraska Walz Family' confirms viral pro-Trump photo: ‘The picture is real. The shirts are real' PRESIDENT TRUMP: I was so honored today — members of Tim Walz's own family endorsed me! I saw the photo! Leading ex-California Democratic state senator defects to GOP WMAL GUEST: 7:35 AM - INTERVIEW - SHERIFF CHUCK JENKINS - Frederick County, MD Sheriff – react to the GA school shooting.  SOCIAL MEDIA: https://x.com/FredCoSheriff Putin says Ukraine's incursion failed and backs Kamala Harris in U.S. election, citing her 'infectious' laugh Where to find more about WMAL's morning show:  Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor,  @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile, and @heatherhunterdc.  Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Thursday, September 5, 2024 / 7 AM Hour  O'Connor and Company is proudly presented by Veritas AcademySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With just three days until the first 2024 presidential debate, both the Biden and Trump campaigns are strategizing and preparing in different ways. Plus, in a 360° exclusive, Anderson speaks with California Democratic congresswoman and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi about what she expects to see on the CNN debate stage Thursday night and the issues she feels will motivate voters on election day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Day in Legal History: Sirhan Sirhan Sentenced to DeathOn this day in legal history, April 23, 1969, Sirhan Sirhan was sentenced to death for the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, a pivotal moment in American political and legal narratives. Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian immigrant, was convicted of murdering Kennedy on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California, immediately following Kennedy's victory in the California Democratic presidential primary. Kennedy's assassination marked a profound loss, sending shockwaves across the nation and profoundly affecting its political landscape.Sirhan's trial was a high-profile case, filled with emotional testimonies and global attention. Initially sentenced to death, Sirhan's sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment in 1972 following the California Supreme Court's decision to invalidate all pending death sentences imposed prior to 1972 due to the unconstitutionality of the death penalty statutes.Over the years, Sirhan's case continued to evolve with numerous appeals and parole hearings. In 1998, his attorney, Larry Teeter, claimed that Sirhan did not commit the crime, suggesting that Sirhan was hypnotically programmed to fire shots as a diversion for the real assassin and was a victim of a larger conspiracy. Teeter's assertions fueled ongoing debates and conspiracy theories surrounding Kennedy's assassination, though they did not lead to a new trial or exoneration.Despite these controversies, Sirhan has been denied parole multiple times, with the most recent denial occurring in March 2023. The parole board's decision underscored ongoing concerns about the severity of the crime and its impact on American society. Each hearing brought renewed attention to the complexities of the case, including arguments regarding Sirhan's remorse, rehabilitation efforts, and the enduring pain felt by the Kennedy family and their unequivocal opposition to his release.Sirhan Sirhan's ongoing incarceration and the legal proceedings surrounding his case serve as a stark reminder of the lasting implications of political violence and the deep scars it leaves on a nation's collective memory. His story remains a significant chapter in the annals of American legal and political history, reflecting the tensions and traumas of a tumultuous era.Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, as a key promoter of President Biden's climate and economic initiatives, has been actively engaging with industry leaders and workers across the U.S., underscoring the administration's commitment to fostering a clean energy transition that promises high-quality union jobs and rejuvenates manufacturing sectors. Her frequent visits to various energy-related sites and promotional events serve to illustrate the Department of Energy's extensive influence and its capacity to distribute substantial funding, derived mainly from the bipartisan infrastructure law of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Recently, Granholm used the setting of Butler Works, a steel plant in Pennsylvania, to emphasize the government's efforts to sustain the steel industry, noting the plant's significant role in producing steel used nationwide.Butler Works, operated by Cleveland Cliffs Inc., benefits directly from the Biden administration's policies, such as the newly established standards for energy-efficient transformers and substantial grant funding aimed at reducing emissions. Granholm's visit highlighted the broader industrial strategy to make domestic manufacturing more appealing and competitive globally. This strategy also seeks to reverse the offshoring trends that have historically weakened U.S. manufacturing, aiming to reclaim jobs and production capabilities lost to countries like China.The timing of her visit aligns with a week of Earth Day-themed activities, emphasizing the administration's focus on enhancing the U.S. power grid and promoting local production of renewable energy components. This push towards revitalizing manufacturing in regions like Western Pennsylvania, a critical electoral battleground, is part of a larger effort to garner political support through economic revitalization. Cleveland-Cliffs, a major player in the steel industry, has been pivotal in this initiative, gearing up to meet the expected surge in demand for materials essential for a rapidly expanding U.S. power grid.A significant development for Butler Works came with the Department of Energy's decision to modify an earlier proposal that would have phased out the production of a specific type of steel used in transformers, responding to industry pushback and bipartisan political pressure. This decision not only secures jobs at the plant but also addresses concerns about potential shortages in the utility sector, highlighting the administration's receptiveness to industry feedback.However, this regulatory decision has drawn criticism from energy efficiency advocates who argue that it compromises potential energy savings. Granholm defended the final rule as a balanced approach, illustrating a government process responsive to stakeholder input while striving to achieve both environmental and economic objectives. This incident underscores the complex interplay between advancing environmental goals and maintaining industrial viability in the face of evolving energy needs and political pressures.Green Steel Jobs Multiply With Biden Energy Plan, Granholm SaysThe U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is set to vote on a new rule that would nearly eliminate non-compete clauses, which restrict workers from moving between jobs within the same industry. This decision comes three years after President Joe Biden encouraged the FTC to curb such agreements, which currently impact about 20% of U.S. workers. The proposed rule has garnered support from major labor organizations and Democratic leaders from various states, emphasizing its potential to enhance job mobility and promote fair labor practices.The Chamber of Commerce, the largest business lobby in the nation, has expressed strong opposition to the rule, planning to file a lawsuit immediately after the rule is officially released and voted upon. They argue that the rule is too expansive and could hinder companies from safeguarding their confidential information. Despite this opposition, the rule is likely to pass during the FTC meeting, with a predicted partisan split among the commissioners.The FTC's authority to enact this rule has been contested by the Chamber of Commerce, with their Chief Policy Officer claiming that the FTC lacks congressional approval to regulate aspects of competition in this manner. However, FTC Chair Lina Khan and other Democratic commissioners assert that they do possess the necessary authority, citing historical precedents where the FTC defined unfair competition practices.This upcoming vote and the ensuing legal challenge by the Chamber highlight a significant clash between federal regulatory power and business interests, setting the stage for a pivotal legal and economic debate over the scope of non-compete agreements in the U.S. workforce.FTC to Issue Non-Compete Ban as Chamber Lawsuit LoomsIn New York, Justice Juan Merchan is set to rule on possible violations by former President Donald Trump of a gag order in his ongoing criminal hush money trial. This gag order restricts Trump from making public criticisms of witnesses and others involved in the case. Prosecutors have pointed out Trump's recent derogatory comments about Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen, who are both expected to testify, and his claims about jury bias as instances of violations. They have proposed a fine of $1,000 for each violation, while also highlighting the potential for harsher penalties, including jail time, if Trump continues to breach the order.Trump, charged with falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to Daniels ahead of the 2016 election to prevent her from disclosing a purported encounter, has pleaded not guilty and denied the encounter occurred. Prosecutors argue that this payment was part of a broader scheme to suppress damaging information during the election campaign, labeling it as "election fraud."During the trial, Trump's defense has maintained his innocence, asserting that his actions were meant to protect his family and reputation, and accused Daniels of exploiting the situation for profit. Meanwhile, further testimony is expected from David Pecker, former publisher of the National Enquirer, regarding his involvement in a "catch and kill" strategy to aid Trump's campaign by suppressing negative stories.American Media, Pecker's company, admitted to paying for stories about Trump's alleged affairs, including a substantial payment to Karen McDougal, which it never published. These actions were purportedly coordinated with Trump's campaign efforts.The outcome of this trial, one of several criminal cases against Trump, could significantly impact his chances in the upcoming presidential election, where he is set to face Joe Biden. Polls indicate that a conviction could deter a significant portion of independent and Republican voters.Judge to consider gag order violations in Trump hush money trial | ReutersIn my latest contribution in Forbes, I delve into the Biden administration's Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposal, which includes a pivotal excise tax on private space companies like SpaceX. This tax is primarily aimed at covering the logistical costs incurred by air traffic control during rocket launches, an increasingly frequent event given the surge in private satellite deployments over the past decade. This move isn't just about generating revenue; it's a strategic step towards addressing the burgeoning issue of low-Earth orbit congestion.While this initial tax focuses on immediate air traffic control expenses, it paves the way for broader, more comprehensive space tax policies. The concept of a "space property tax" is introduced as a mechanism to internalize the external costs of satellite deployments. This tax would vary based on several factors including the size of the satellite, its operational lifespan, and its planned end-of-life disposal. The objective is to ensure that the costs associated with occupying space are fully accounted for and that satellite operators are motivated to utilize space responsibly and sustainably.Drawing parallels with terrestrial property taxes, which discourage unproductive land use, a space property tax would similarly encourage satellite operators to optimize the productivity of their satellites and the space they occupy. Such a tax would not only cover the use of space but also contribute to a fund dedicated to addressing future space-related issues, including debris mitigation.The global nature of space activities necessitates international cooperation and cohesive policymaking. The existing international agreements, such as the Outer Space Treaty, provide a foundational framework, but as satellite numbers grow, these policies will need to evolve. International collaboration will be crucial in creating a fair and effective space tax system, ensuring that all countries share the responsibilities and benefits of space utilization.As we continue to explore and utilize space, we must learn from our historical treatment of Earth's resources. By adopting a proactive and sustainable approach to space exploration, we can prevent the overexploitation of this critical frontier. This shift is not just about compliance but about ensuring the long-term viability of space for future generations.Forbes - Do We Need A Property Tax For Space?In my column this week, I explore an innovative approach to combating sales suppression through the introduction of a "Tax Lottery." This idea addresses the complexities introduced by remote cashiers and offshore payment processing, which are increasingly common in industries such as New York's restaurant sector. With remote cashiers based in distant locations like the Philippines, traditional auditing methods become challenging as tax authorities struggle to access accurate transaction logs.The core issue here is the invisibility of remote transactions to local tax authorities, a problem exacerbated when transactions are processed offsite or even offshore. The difficulty in obtaining transaction records makes it easy for businesses to suppress sales tax, a potential boon to their profits but a serious threat to tax compliance.To counter this, I propose a system where customers are incentivized to scan and submit their receipts immediately after purchases by entering a lottery. This could be integrated with existing state-run lotteries or through a separate prize fund created from the revenue gained from enhanced compliance. Such measures have been adopted in various countries with mixed results, yet they offer a promising solution to ensure transparency in transactions.By encouraging consumers to maintain a "shadow record" of their purchases, we create an independent verification of sales transactions that tax authorities can rely on. This method effectively turns every customer into a potential auditor, drastically reducing the likelihood of sales suppression by business owners.The success of such a system depends on the degree of sales suppression already occurring and the overall tax evasion culture within a state. While sophisticated evaders might still find ways around such measures, the general populace, driven by the incentive of potentially winning a prize, might become a formidable force in ensuring tax compliance.Moreover, the Tax Lottery system leverages the fact that while businesses might risk suppressing some transactions, they cannot predict which transactions customers will choose to report via their receipts. This uncertainty forces businesses to record all transactions faithfully, lest they face the consequences of an audit triggered by customer-submitted data.However, the effectiveness of this system hinges on balancing the penalties for non-compliance with the allure of the lottery rewards. The challenge lies in setting these parameters to optimize compliance without overwhelming businesses or consumers.Ultimately, appealing to the financial interests of consumers could be a powerful strategy against the potential rise in fraud, especially as remote cashier systems become more prevalent. As tax authorities seek innovative solutions to modern challenges, the Tax Lottery presents a potentially transformative approach to ensuring transparency and compliance in an increasingly digital economy.‘Tax Lottery' Would Help Abate Remote Cashier Auditing Nightmare Get full access to Minimum Competence - Daily Legal News Podcast at www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

GUEST: Sharon Quirk-Silva, California Democratic state Assemblywoman and former elementary school teacher who sponsored the bill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 The life and legacy of Brian Mulroney GUEST: Gordon Campbell, Former Premier of B.C What is the true cost of the 2026 FIFA World Cup??? GUEST: Peter Milobar,  BC United Finance Critic and Kamloops-North Thompson MLA The Week That Was in BC Politics  GUEST: Keith Baldrey, Global BC Legislative Bureau Chief Screentime - The tragedy behind Coyote vs. ACME: Why are movies being shelved as tax write-offs? GUEST: Marc Staehling, CKNW's in-house movie expert, and executive producer for AM 730 Cursive writing makes a comeback in California schools. Should BC follow?  GUEST: Sharon Quirk-Silva, California Democratic state Assemblywoman and former elementary school teacher who sponsored the bill The Wrap - Was it a mistake to go ahead with the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Vancouver & What angers you the most on the road? GUEST: Leah Holiove, TV Reporter and Radio Host GUEST: Sarah Daniels, real estate agent in South Surrey; author and broadcaster Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of the RFK Assassination series we go into the heart-wrenching events of the night of June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel, where the life of Robert F. Kennedy was tragically cut short. Step into the bustling atmosphere of the hotel's Cocoanut Grove nightclub, where excitement mingled with anticipation as RFK celebrated his victory in the California Democratic presidential primary. Experience the electrifying energy of the crowd as Kennedy delivered his poignant victory speech, igniting hope and optimism for a better future. But amidst the jubilation, chaos erupted when gunshots rang out in the hotel's pantry, forever altering the course of history. Join us as we reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the assassination, examining the actions of Sirhan Sirhan and the frantic efforts to subdue him. Through eyewitness accounts, audio recordings, and expert analysis, we peel back the layers of this pivotal moment, uncovering the intricate details and overlooked nuances that have shaped our understanding of this tragic night. Patreon -- https://www.patreon.com/theconspiracypodcast Our Website - www.theconspiracypodcast.com Our Email - info@theconspiracypodcast.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theconspiracypodcast/message

Two weeks ago, California was hit by devastating, unprecedented storms. The National Weather Service in San Francisco issued its first ever hurricane force wind warning since records have been kept, and then Los Angeles received more than 60% of an entire year's rainfall in one day. The question of how to avert the impending climate catastrophe, and what it will take to dramatically change course in order to salvage a livable planet, is absolutely central to building the overall working-class fightback internationally against capitalism. What's clear is that the capitalist elite have completely failed to even begin to address the crisis, and in fact, have been doubling down with trillions more dollars in corporate handouts for fossil fuels. The planet just had its hottest year on record in 2023 and this past January was the warmest ever recorded. The crucial 1.5-degree-Celsius benchmark that scientists have warned about for decades, the benchmark that the Paris Climate Agreement was meant to prevent, has been breached.  In the face of climate disaster, how do working and young people build a fightback? What will it take to win victories on the scale of what is so urgently needed? We're joined by Jed, Los Angeles resident and Workers Strike Back activist, to discuss these questions! On Strike is 100% funded by working people. BECOME A MEMBER of Workers Strike Back now to support our work: https://www.workersstrikeback.org/membership  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OnStrikeShow  On Strike is a production of Workers Strike Back, hosted by Kshama Sawant and Bia Lacombe. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/onstrikeshow/support

Mary Hayashi is a Korean-American healthcare advocate and California Democratic politician, who represented 18th Assembly District in the California State Legislature. Hayashi was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2006 and served six years. Author of Women in Politics, Mary offers a riveting exploration of the strides made by women in government. This essential, contemporary analysis bridges the gap between past and present, blending Mary's personal journey as an Asian American immigrant and former California State Assemblymember with the inspiring stories of trailblazing women in political leadership. www.emilyjaenson.com instagram.com/emilyjaenson instagram.com/leadershipisfemale --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leadershipisfemale/support

RFK, the brother of president JFK, was assassinated while running for the democratic party nomination.  The official story was Sirhan Sirhan killed RFK because he supported Israel. Does this stand up to scrutiny, or was Sirhan a patsy? Let's find out! You can find all of our wonderful links, including Patreon, on the linktree: https://linktr.ee/allts   Here is a description of the case provided by Chatgpt:   The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy (RFK), the younger brother of President John F. Kennedy, occurred on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. RFK had just won the California Democratic primary for the 1968 presidential election and was celebrating with supporters at the hotel. After delivering a speech in the hotel's Embassy Room, Kennedy was making his way through the hotel kitchen pantry when he was shot. The alleged assassin was Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian Arab. Sirhan approached Kennedy and began firing a .22 caliber revolver. Kennedy was hit multiple times, and several others in the vicinity were also wounded. Kennedy was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries on June 6, 1968. The tragic event took place less than five years after the assassination of his brother, President John F. Kennedy, in 1963. The motives behind Sirhan Sirhan's actions have been a subject of debate and speculation. Sirhan claimed that he was angry with Kennedy's pro-Israel stance, but the exact reasons for his actions remain unclear. The assassination of RFK had a profound impact on American politics and the trajectory of the 1968 presidential election.

—Here are 3 big things you need to know—   One — President Biden says an American-Israeli dual national citizen released from Gaza on Wednesday is "safe."  Biden told reporters as he was boarding Air Force One to head home from Colorado that she was safe in Egypt, and that he spoke with her mother and father.       Two—   The United Auto Workers union says it is working to organize 150-thousand workers of 13 non-union automakers. The UAW says those include BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, Tesla, and more. The union says thousands of workers have started campaigns to join, with one of the largest being at Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky assembly plant .     Three -- It's red versus blue when Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom go head-to-head during their televised showdown Thursday.  The 90-minute special will be a chance for each governor to present their radically different ideologies to a national audience.

Ralph is joined by author and human rights activist Miko Peled. They discuss the excuses that Israel uses to defend the atrocities they commit against Palestinians, and the truth behind all the propaganda. Miko Peled is an author, writer, speaker, and human rights activist living in the United States. He is considered by many to be one of the clearest voices calling for justice in Palestine, support of the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and the creation of a single democracy with equal rights in all of historic Palestine. Mr. Peled was born and raised in Jerusalem. His grandfather was a signer of the Israeli Declaration of Independence and his father was a general in the 1967 war. Anybody who is not courageous enough to stand up and speak the truth and stand up for what is right, because they might be called this name or that name—it's cowardice, it's hypocrisy. Being called antisemitic is a small price to pay when you talk about standing for the rights of millions of people who have been living under such terror for so many decades.Miko Peled This is pure revenge. What we're seeing is vengeance of a military force and a state that have been humiliated. And just like any bully, any gangster who's been humiliated, they take it out on the weakest people they can find, people who cannot defend themselves… It's revenge for the sake of revenge. It's savagery for the sake of savagery. It's brutality in its purest form. There's no other reason than the brutality itself. Miko Peled Palestinians deserve nothing less than the lifting of the siege, release of all prisoners, and the dismantling of the apartheid state. Nothing less than that should be demanded. And all we're seeing people talk about is ceasefires, as though a ceasefire is some great accomplishment. Ceasefire does not provide the possibility of a future where this is not repeated. What needs to be demanded now is a political solution that will ensure the safety and security of Palestinians—and that is never part of the conversation. A ceasefire does not secure the lives or the security of Palestinians, because we know Israel will violate it a week later. Miko Peled It's not going to collapse because Israelis agree. It's not going to collapse because Israelis wake up one morning in a good mood. Israel is going to have to be forced on its knees. Just like in South Africa, whites in South Africa were on their knees. We're talking about severe sanctions. We're talking about closing down all diplomatic missions. We're talking about not allowing Israelis to participate in sporting events, cultural events, any events, academic arenas. They need to be shunned. Israeli society and the apartheid state that they created need to be brought on their knees.Miko Peled In Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantis1. The Intercept's Prem Thakker reports 43 members of Congress now support a ceasefire. Some notable additions in recent days include Reps. Becca Balint, Sara Jacobs and Jamie Raskin, the first Jewish members to call for a ceasefire, and Jeff Merkley, the second Senator to call for a ceasefire. Pressure continues to mount on Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, but they still do not support a ceasefire. And the LA Times editorial board has become the first in the nation to call for a ceasefire.2. According to Time, Reporters Without Borders has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court for war crimes committed against Palestinian journalists in Gaza. The complaint cites the "deliberate, total or partial, destruction of the premises of more than 50 media outlets in Gaza." This crisis will likely prove decisive for the legitimacy of the ICC, as several countries including South Africa, have alleged that the court is biased in favor of western-aligned governments.3. Haaretz reports former Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, who crafted the “Leahy Law” which prohibits U.S. military assistance to foreign security forces that violate human rights, has gone on record saying that the U.S. routinely ignores Israeli human rights abuses. Leahy said “it appears to me that shooting civilians and targeting civilian infrastructure, when you can't prove it is being used by Hamas, would be a violation of human rights…What is being done to apply the Leahy law now? I don't know. I know past administrations have been too concerned to do it. It should apply to the Israeli Defense Forces, unless the administration, as many have, has waived it."4. While not calling for a ceasefire, both Bernie Sanders and President Biden have announced plans to reshape military aid to Israel. Senator Sanders has put forth a plan to condition military aid upon multiple criteria including “the right of displaced Gazans to return to their homes” and “an end to settler violence in the West Bank.” Barak Ravid reports President Biden is considering imposing sanctions on Israeli settlers – who have long operated with legal impunity – threatening to ban visas for violent Israeli extremists in the West Bank. Ravid adds this would be the “1st time the U.S. [has] publicly consider[ed] individual sanctions against settlers.”5. KCRA reports The California Democratic convention was interrupted at multiple points by demonstrators demanding the candidates to fill Dianne Feinstein's Senate seat call for a ceasefire. Rep. Barbara Lee has done so, but not Reps. Katie Porter or Adam Schiff. Barbara Lee won the most votes at the convention, but fell short of the 60% threshold required to get the formal endorsement of the state party.6. A stunning ceasefire protest in the Bay Area saw activists park their cars on the bay bridge, then throw their keys into the water below – making it impossible for them or the police to move the vehicles, per FOX 8. Another protest at the DNC resulted in a police crackdown leaving 90 protesters injured, per the Guardian. Yet another protest at DC's Union Station resulted in 3 arrests on vandalism charges for protesters leaving bloody handprints on the inside of the station, per WTOP. Expect these disruption tactics to escalate as political leaders continue to ignore demands for a ceasefire.7. While many colleges are clamping down on pro-Palestine protests, Ryan Grim reports Occidental has set the model for engagement with student activists. The college announced that, following a student occupation of the administration office, they would pursue a dialogue with the student activists. Both the students and the administration stressed that Barack Obama got his start in activism at Occidental, pressuring the administration to divest from apartheid South Africa.8. In other news, Bloomberg reports the Public Prosecutor's office in Guatemala has conducted raids and arrests of Semilla party members. Semilla candidate Bernardo Arevalo was elected earlier this year, successfully, dealing a rare defeat to the openly corrupt political establishment in that country. The Public Prosecutor's office also announced that they will file charges against Arevalo, his vice-president elect, and several Semilla congressmen. The State Department has decried this move and is seeking to “Impose Additional Visa Restrictions in Response to Anti-Democratic Actions in Guatemala.” 9. Finally, More Perfect Union reports that “For the first time ever, U.S. auto workers have gotten a shuttered factory reopened. Workers at the massive Belvidere [Illinois] Jeep plant were laid off or told to relocate in March. Now the plant is not only reopening — @UAW won three times as many jobs and a $30/hour wage floor.” This stunning victory shows what is possible in terms of revitalizing domestic manufacturing with a renewed labor movement. And that is something we can all be thankful for.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Arizona Republican Congressman Andy Biggs joins Fox Across America With Jimmy Failla to give his take on the laughable responses by California Democratic lawmakers Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell after Kevin McCarthy booted them from the House Intelligence Committee. Jimmy shares his thoughts on President Biden announcing that the U.S. is sending 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, and tells us why this move only makes it more likely our country gets involved in their war with Russia. PLUS, comedian Dave Landau checks in for a discussion about whether there's any discrimination in math problems.   [00:00:00] Biden sends tanks to Ukraine [00:37:05] Schiff & Swalwell respond to McCarthy [00:59:20] Rep. Andy Biggs [01:13:50] Vanderbilt professor thinks math is part of the patriarchy [01:32:17] Dave Landau  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fox News Political Analyst Gianno Caldwell joins Fox Across America With Jimmy Failla to recount being kicked out of Paradis Books and Bread in North Miami recently due to his political views, and explain how this incident reflects the toxic culture we currently live in. Jimmy tells us why House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is completely justified in his decision to remove California Democratic lawmakers Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee. Co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend” Pete Hegseth previews the new season of his Fox Nation series, “The MisEducation of America”. PLUS, comedian and writer for “Gutfeld!” Joe DeVito stops by to weigh in on Mikey's obscure dating strategies.   [00:00:00] McCarthy boots Swalwell and Schiff from the Intel Committee [00:37:02] More backlash against Governor DeSantis from the Left [00:55:30] Gianno Caldwell [01:13:48] The Left has been conning themselves with the COVID vaccine [01:32:15] Pete Hegseth [01:43:40] Joe DeVito     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A proposal circulated Friday by California Democratic legislators would reject Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan to extend the lifespan of the state's last operating nuclear power plant - and instead spend over $1 billion to speed up the development of renewable energy, new transmission lines and storage to maintain reliable power in the climate change era. Some experts believe the Biden administration could announce a decision on whether to extend a more than two-year-long pause on federal student loan debt this week, ahead of the current Aug. 31 deadline. Many borrowers are hoping the Education Department will extend that break and announce up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness. Europe's scorching drought has revealed the hulks of dozens of German warships that became submerged during World War Two near Serbia's river port town of Prahovo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chairwoman starts the discussion with her response on the California Democratic voting for the so called Inflation Reduction Act. She also discusses taxation in California, the economy, desalinization, Newsom and so much more! A new study by Science Advances shows climate change has already doubled the chances of a disastrous flood happening in California in the next four decades. And experts say it would be unlike anything anyone alive today has ever experienced.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RealClearPolitics co-founder and president Tom Bevan, Washington bureau chief Carl Cannon and White House correspondent Phil Wegmann join Andrew Walworth to talk about President Biden's plan to deal with both inflation and possible energy shortages. Also, how big a setback for the Durham Investigation is the acquittal of Michael Sussman? And a look ahead at Tuesday's California Democratic primary for mayor, all on today's RealClearPolitics Takeaway podcast.

There's shock and anger after Dave Chappelle is attacked on stage at the Hollywood Bowl while taping a Netflix Comedy Special. Is it now open season on comedians? Will they have to watch what they say? And has the Will Smith Oscars slap changed everything? We'll go In Depth. The Governor and California Democratic leaders push for a change to the state constitution to protect abortion rights. We get both sides of the issue as we talk with a Democratic state lawmaker from Orange County and the head of the California Catholic Conference, that strongly opposes the move. There are more missile attacks in Ukraine as the European Union proposes a ban on imports of Russian oil. We look at what will happen next in the war. The Federal Reserve hikes interest rates. We assess whether it will work in curbing inflation. And talking Star Wars as people tell each other 'May The Fourth Be With You'.   To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's shock and anger after Dave Chappelle is attacked on stage at the Hollywood Bowl while taping a Netflix Comedy Special. Is it now open season on comedians? Will they have to watch what they say? And has the Will Smith Oscars slap changed everything? We'll go In Depth. The Governor and California Democratic leaders push for a change to the state constitution to protect abortion rights. We get both sides of the issue as we talk with a Democratic state lawmaker from Orange County and the head of the California Catholic Conference, that strongly opposes the move. There are more missile attacks in Ukraine as the European Union proposes a ban on imports of Russian oil. We look at what will happen next in the war. The Federal Reserve hikes interest rates. We assess whether it will work in curbing inflation. And talking Star Wars as people tell each other 'May The Fourth Be With You'.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4.14.2022 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: Patrick Lyoya Shooting Video, Ed Buck Gets 30yrs, A Delta Responds To VA GOP, Joe Madison's New Book The video of Patrick Lyoya's shooting by a Grand Rapids, Michigan police officer was released yesterday.  No word on if the unnamed officer involved will face any charges.  Ben Crump, the Lyoya Family, is here to give us an update. Ed Buck, the white California Democratic donor who was convicted last summer for the deaths of two black men, will spend 30 years in prison.   The organization used to help diversity in newsrooms is not getting much participation from news organizations.  We'll talk to one of the researchers to find out why. Last night, I had that salty Loudoun County GOP Chair Scott Pio on to talk about why he was hating on the Delta Sigma Thetas.  Come to find out, it was just one, in particular, he doesn't care for.  Phyllis Randall, Chair at-large of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.  He said her name 13 times during our interview. She'll be joining us tonight. Radio host and activist Joe Madison will be here tonight to talk about his new book, Radio Active: A Memoir of Advocacy in Action, on the Air and in the Streets. Support #RolandMartinUnfiltered and #BlackStarNetwork via the Cash App ☛ https://cash.app/$rmunfiltered PayPal ☛ https://www.paypal.me/rmartinunfiltered Venmo ☛https://venmo.com/rmunfiltered Zelle ☛ roland@rolandsmartin.com Annual or monthly recurring #BringTheFunk Fan Club membership via paypal ☛ https://rolandsmartin.com/rmu-paypal/ Download the #BlackStarNetwork app on iOS, AppleTV, Android, Android TV, Roku, FireTV, SamsungTV and XBox

Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. Death toll mounts in Ukraine from Russia's siege as peace negotiations continue. Slovakia announces military support for Ukraine and Kosovo appeals for NATO membership. House votes to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus. United Nations Security Council meeting on Russia's war on Ukraine flares tensions. California Democratic lawmakers propose $400 gas rebate for tax payers. State Senator Scott Wiener announces bill to make California a sanctuary state for transgender youth. W.H.O. warns COVID-19 infections on the rise. Dozens of companies ok'd to make generic versions of Pfizer's COVID-19 antiviral pill, not vaccine. United Nations report warns violence against Colombia's rural farmers threatens peace accord with FARC rebels. The post Tensions flare at United Nations Security Council meeting on Russia's war on Ukraine; California Democratic lawmakers propose $400 gas rebate for tax payers; Proposed bill would make California a sanctuary state for transgender youth appeared first on KPFA.

Emily Tamkin, the New Statesman's senior editor, US, interviews the California Democratic congressman Ro Khanna, the author of the new book Dignity in a Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us. They discuss the first year of Joe Biden's presidency and whether any significant changes to voting rights or the Build Back Better plan could actually get into law; why it's important Biden gets to make a Supreme Court justice nomination; and what can be done to make sure the tech sector is a net good for the American economy at all levels. Further reading: More from Emily on the Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer's decision to retire. And on voting rights, she warns that Biden's failure could cost Democrats the White House in 2024. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In which John Heilemann talks with Karen Bass, the six-term California Democratic congresswoman, former speaker of the State Assembly, and current frontrunner in next year's mayoral election in her home town of Los Angeles. Heilemann and Bass discuss the Omicron variant and the politics behind vaccine resistance in the US; Los Angeles's homelessness crisis and why it's the single most important issue motivating Bass to run for mayor; why her party's messaging isn't always resonating with voters; and her view that the Biden administration isn't doing enough to fight for voting rights. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Omar Moore on Nina Turner's disappointing defeat in Tuesday's Democratic primary in Ohio's 11th Congressional District and what must happen next. Plus: How California voters can and must prepare now for the recall election (early voting/vote by mail starts August 16, with Election Day in California on September 14.) And: Preparing now for the all-important 2022 midterm elections across the U.S. August 4, 2021. BRAND NEW: The Summer Sensation Series continues with the new END THE FILIBUSTER NOW! t-shirt at THE POLITICRAT daily podcast online store—buy now! (Designed by Omar) https://bit.ly/2TvsyXY FREE: SUBSCRIBE NOW TO THE BRAND NEW POLITICRAT DAILY PODCAST NEWSLETTER!! Extra content, audio, analysis, exclusive essays for subscribers only, plus special offers and discounts on merchandise at The Politicrat Daily Podcast online store. Something new and informative EVERY DAY!! Subscribe FREE at https://politicrat.substack.com Buy podcast merchandise (all designed by Omar Moore) and lots more at The Politicrat Daily Podcast Store: https://the/politicrat.myshopify.com The Politicrat YouTube page: bit.ly/3bfWk6V The Politicrat Facebook page: bit.ly/3bU1O7c The Politicrat blog: https://politicrat.politics.blog PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to this to this podcast! Follow/tweet Omar at: https://twitter.com/thepopcornreel

The field is set now for California's recall election on September 14, with 46 names on the ballot as potential replacements, should voters oust Governor Newsom from office. This weekend, the California Republican Party will meet to decide whether to endorse one of the challengers to Newsom, or whether to stay out of the fray. The latest polls show Governor Newsom with a lead, but not a huge one, and a lot may hinge on whether Democrats turn out to vote, and whether one of the Republican contenders catches fire the way Arnold Schwarzenegger did 18 years ago. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising were joined by KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern and Garry South, the longtime California Democratic political strategist who managed Gray Davis' two winning campaigns for governor in 1998 and 2002, although he did not run the Davis campaign when Davis was recalled in 2003.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ICYMI: The Mo'Kelly Show Presents – Further proof the California Gubernatorial Recall is a joke AND a foiled plot to blow up the California Democratic headquarters…PLUS – The new ‘Freedom Phone' on KFI AM 640 – Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app

Cop's are quitting in record numbers --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kylechaosaaronorder/support

On April 3, 1968 the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was in Memphis, Tennessee to lend his support, his help, and his leadership to the Memphis Sanitation Worker’s Strike.That February, Black sanitation workers had walked off the job because two of them had been crushed to death in a garbage compacting truck. There was already unrest and tension because the Black workers were paid poorly and treated even worse. They deserved a raise and better working conditions.On March 28, Dr. King participated in a huge Memphis march, but to his dismay, it ended in violence. With the intention of leading a peaceful march later that week, Dr. King returned to Memphis on April 3. That evening, he spoke at Mason Temple, then the Church of God in Christ world headquarters. As he had throughout the tumultuous struggle for Civil Rights during the 1950s and 60s, Dr. King called on America and Americans to live up to the promise of our founding creed, and to honor the words of our founding documents. As Dr. King came to the end of his speech, he talked about his 1958 attempted assassination, the bomb threat that delayed his plane that day, and threats made against him in Memphis. As a storm raged outside the packed church, Dr. King prophetically spoke of his own mortality.The next day, Thursday, April 4, 1968, Dr. King was at the Lorraine Motel with aides and friends; Rev. Billie Kyles of Memphis arrived to take the group to dinner. At about 6 p.m. Dr. King stood with Rev. Kyles on the balcony outside his Room 306 and told musician Ben Branch to be sure to play “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” at the rally that evening.Then, as Dr. King leaned over the balcony railing to speak with his young aide Reverend Jesse Jackson he was struck down by an assassin’s bullet.He was 39 years old.Later that evening, in Indianapolis, Indiana – presidential candidate, Senator Robert Kennedy delivered the news of Dr. King’s murder to a crowd of black and white supporters.Exactly two months later Robert Kennedy himself was assassinated in Los Angeles after winning the California Democratic presidential primary.With that, let’s listen to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I've Been to the Mountain Top” in its entirety.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/words-matter. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The latest polls suggest Governor Newsom is in real danger of being recalled if the question qualifies for the ballot and is put before California voters. Not since Gray Davis 18 years ago have Californians voted to remove a sitting governor. However, Gavin Newsom is not Gray Davis, for a variety of reasons which could be the difference between Newsom surviving and being recalled. For more, KCBS Radio political reporter, Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio news anchors, Jeff Bell and Patti Reising, were joined by Garry South, longtime California Democratic strategist who managed Gray Davis' two campaigns for governor in 1998 and 2002. South also advised Al Gore's presidential campaign in 200, as well as Gavin Newsom's first try for governor, back in the 2010 race. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Majority.FM's AM QUICKIE! Brought to you by justcoffee.coop TODAY'S HEADLINES: The coronavirus numbers continue to hit new records. Amid the crisis, overtaxed hospitals and health authorities are taking desperate measures to recruit more nurses. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is stoking a nasty intra-party fight in Georgia, which Republicans need to hold in order to keep control of the Senate. And in Wisconsin, his campaign loses once again in the courtroom. And lastly, how much do we need to worry about Trump’s civil servant stay-behind network? Maybe not too much, according to a new investigation by ProPublica. THESE ARE THE STORIES YOU NEED TO KNOW: It’s not letting up. Figures released yesterday show the United States recorded over thirty one hundred Covid-19 deaths in a single day, obliterating the record set last spring, the Associated Press reports. For the first time, the number of Americans in the hospital with the virus has eclipsed one hundred thousand. New cases have begun topping two hundred thousand a day. And Robert Redfield, head of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, said this week that the next three months are going to be QUOTE the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation ENDQUOTE. Nearly twenty thousand Americans could die of Covid-19 during the week of Christmas, according to a CDC forecast. Across the US, the surge has swamped hospitals and left nurses and other health care workers shorthanded and burned out, the AP reports. Hospitals are trying to lure nurses and doctors out of retirement, recruiting students and new graduates who have yet to earn their licenses and offering eye-popping salaries in a desperate bid to ease staffing shortages. Nurses who work in intensive care are the most in demand. Employers also are willing to pay extra for nurses who can work up to sixty hours per week instead of the standard thirty six. Doctor Eli Perencevich, an epidemiology and internal medicine professor at the University of Iowa, told the AP that health care workers are paying the price for other people’s refusal to wear masks. He said QUOTE It’s sending everyone to war, really. We’ve decided as a society that we’re going to take all the people in our health care system and pummel them because we have some insane idea about what freedom really is ENDQUOTE. Well put, doc. Trump Divides Georgia GOP In his final weeks in office, Donald Trump is turning the Republican Party against itself. He will hold a rally in Georgia on Saturday to support Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler against Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. The January 5 runoff election will decide which party controls the US Senate. But, as the Washington Post reports, Trump has some Republicans worried he could do more harm than good by repeating false claims about the voting system and attacking GOP officials. The competing GOP factions are growing increasingly angry and distrustful, according to the Post. Leading the charge on one side are two Trumpista attorneys who are urging Republicans to withhold their votes from the runoffs if leaders don’t fight to overturn the November election. Following their lead, Republican state lawmakers held a hearing yesterday about alleged voting irregularities. On the other side, there is Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and a senior member of his staff, Gabriel Sterling, who blame Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric for a surge of threats against election officials. And more than a dozen longtime Georgia Republicans penned a letter urging the party to come together and focus on winning the Senate seats, the Post reports. Elsewhere, Trump’s campaign to subvert democracy keeps sputtering. The Wisconsin Supreme Court yesterday refused to hear Trump’s lawsuit attempting to overturn his loss to Biden. Justices ruled four to three that the case must first wind its way through lower courts, the AP reports. Trump had asked the court to disqualify more than two hundred and twenty one thousand ballots in the state’s two biggest Democratic counties. Finally, the AP reports, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey confirmed that it was Trump on the phone when he silenced a call while in the middle of signing papers certifying election results showing Trump lost the state. A video capturing the moment went viral on social media. Good show by Ducey there. What good could possibly come of taking a call from lame duck Trump? Trump 'Burrowers' Plague Federal Agencies LUCIE: Some government-watchers are raising concerns over how Trump might exert influence after he’s out of office. ProPublica looked into a phenomenon known as burrowing that occurs at the end of every administration. Last week, House Democrats sent a letter to sixty-one federal agencies asking for information on political appointees who have been hired into career jobs. ProPublica found thirty-two political appointees whom the Trump administration has sought to hire into civil service positions in the first three quarters of this year. In 2019, ProPublica reports, the Office of Personnel Management approved twenty-eight conversion requests. The Trump administration list of burrowers includes a longtime staffer for Grover Norquist’s group, Americans for Tax Reform; a former chief of staff to Republican Senator Ted Cruz; and a lawyer for energy and mining companies. The Interior Department accounts for several approved transfers this year. Gregory Sheehan, for instance, was appointed deputy director of the Fish and Wildlife Service in June 2017. In that position, he opened vast swathes of federal land to hunting and fishing and weakened protections for endangered species. Sheehan served fourteen months before resigning, ProPublica reports. But in August, Sheehan was hired for a $167,000-a-year job as director of the Bureau of Land Management’s office in his home state. Susan Jane Brown of the Western Environmental Law Center told ProPublica Trump’s efforts to burrow employees are coming too late. She said it seems they are looking for QUOTE anybody with a pulse to put into some of these positions for the remainder of the lame duck ENDQUOTE. Overall, some progressive advocates said they don’t think the conversion of political appointees into career positions will be as deep or influential as it was in the last Bush administration, when one hundred and thirty-nine officials found their way into civil service jobs. So that’s a relief. AND NOW FOR SOME QUICKER QUICKIES: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke yesterday about finally moving forward on a new coronavirus relief deal. They also discussed reaching a deal on a spending bill to avert a government shutdown on December 11, the Post reports. Go on, take your time, it’s no big deal. Politico reports that prominent California Democratic strategist Nathan Ballard -- a longtime friend and adviser to Governor Gavin Newsom -- was arrested and jailed on two felony domestic violence charges. The allegations include attempting to suffocate a child with a pillow. In November 2019, Ballard was profiled in Better magazine as one of the Bay Area’s most successful dads. There’s a story that needs an update. The top US military officer said yesterday that the US should reconsider stationing troops and their families in large overseas bases, the AP reports. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Mark Milley said he thinks we have too much permanent infrastructure overseas. Defund the empire, now there’s a snappy slogan! Protests by farm workers demanding better wages in Peru raged on for a fourth day yesterday, Reuters reports. Protesters say they’ve been attacked by police in large numbers, and one person has died. All we can say is: Solidarity! That’s all for the AM Quickie. Join us this afternoon on the Majority Report. DEC 4, 2020 - AM QUICKIE HOSTS - Sam Seder & Lucie Steiner WRITER - Corey Pein PRODUCER - Dorsey Shaw EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - Brendan Finn

First, Amanda checks in with Dr. Ravi Grivois-Shah from an earlier episode, to find out how his election went (spoiler: he won!), how he's feeling, and what comes next for school boards like his. Then, she talks with Nithya Raman, a progressive who beat an incumbent for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council in a grassroots underdog victory. Nithya's campaign was built to make a difference, win or lose -- find out how she took on the California Democratic machine, got people to pay attention to local politics, and is setting up to lead LA moving forward.   Produced by Dear Media.

The Passionsitas Project welcomes Jessica Craven from Chop Wood, Carry Water. Jess gives phonebank training and chats about ways to get involved in the final weeks leading up to the November 3 election. Jessica Craven is a community organizer, activist and member of the California Democratic party's County Central Committee. Jessica is the author of "Chop Wood, Carry Water," a daily actions e-mail that's been published five days a week since November of 2016. Her emails provide detailed text and scripts for the everyday person to reach out to their Congress people and Senators to take action on the important issues of the day. She's made it her mission to get regular people more involved with politics on both a federal and local level. Hear Jessica's full episode here. FULL TRANSCRIPT: Passionistas: Hi, everybody. Thank you so much for being here with us today. Um, anybody who's been reading our posts, especially lately knows how anxiously I have been about the election and where things are headed. And, uh, our guardian angel spirit guide in this entire process has been our guests today. Uh, Jessica Craven, who does an amazing newsletter, um, which is how we first were introduced to her. It's called chalkboard carry water. We'll let her tell you about that, but it gives you daily actions so that you can be involved politically and make a difference. And, um, and then when we did our summit in August, uh, we asked just to do a workshop that she has called activism one Oh one, and it was an incredible hour where she gave us all these different things that we could do to be involved and help, um, make a difference during the election period. And we had been doing them tirelessly. We've been writing letters, we've been sending postcards. Uh, we have been texting, they've done everything but calling cause we're still a little shy, introverted when it comes to that, but just assures us that even introverts could make calls. So she's going to tell us about that today and a bunch of other things. We're just going to talk with her about what we can all do in the six weeks, 39 days. I think that we have left, um, to make a difference. And she's going to maybe talk a few of us off the Lake, um, anxiety and nervousness, no pressure. Um, but so welcome to our group today, Jessica grade. Jessica Craven:  Thank you. Thank you for having me. Um, thanks both of you. Passionistas: You've been such wonderful advocates and, uh, this is a great group and I'm very glad to be here. And, uh, yeah. Do you want me to start by just talking about the thing that Nancy and I were talking about before we started? Jessica: Okay, well, you know, we, Nancy was saying that she was having some anxiety and I think that a lot of people were having a lot of anxiety because of the news is extremely anxiety provoking right now. And, uh, I was just saying simply that I, my tactic right now is just to stay very, very, very busy. Um, I feel that there is an enormous amount of fear-mongering happening in the news right now. And there is a, um, you know, there is a payoff for Trump and for his side, when we are all freaking out and running around, um, you know, wringing our hands about the fact that he is going to steal the election, because every minute that I'm doing that, I am working to get out the vote. And honestly, I see what's happening right now is a very successful form of voter suppression. They are very successfully getting people to feel like it's hopeless and we're gonna lose cause he's already going to steal the election. And so what's the point. And in that sense, he's a giant bully who is successfully bullying the entire school yard right now with a threat that he can't even possibly carry out. And I know that people read the Atlantic article and I know that people feel that he's going to get all these people to sort of line up and do these horrible things to, um, and I just am not, I'm not there. I actually still have enough faith in the American system as a whole, although parts of it are very broken right now. Um, and I, I subscribed to this wonderful writer or Hubbell who writes a political, uh, newsletter every night. And, um, you know, he, he said exactly this this morning, he was like, it's quite frustrating to see people so quickly buy into this kind of, you know, Trump says all kinds of things. He says insane things all the time. And like, I never believed anything that he says. So I don't know why we're all believing this part so much that he is going to successfully organize a coup right in front of us, that the entire country will participate in, um, or enough to carry it out successfully. It's I have a very sort of, you know, my, my spiritual practice is such that what I, what I have learned to do no matter what is happening in my life that is troubling or scary is to stay in the day and do the thing in front of me that I can do. And that's where the Chop Wood Carry Water comes from is just instead of freaking out about something that might happen in six weeks. Um, what can I do right now? And, and frankly, I'm distressed at the level to which his tactics right now are successful. I'm distressed at how many people I see who normally would be busy making calls right now who have spent their entire days sending frantic emails back and forth about is he going to still be election? Well, yeah, he's going to win the election if we don't work. So work. You know, I mean, as I try to remind people, if Trump were this able to steal an election, he would not have, let us win. In 2018, we would not have won Doug Jones's seat in the Senate. We would not have won the governor seats. We won last year, we flipped to Virginia state house. We flipped essentially the New York state house, although they were Democrats, but they caucused with Republicans. We got them all out. Like we have voted so many bad actors out and nobody, one time has said, Oh, that election wasn't valid. Sorry, people accept the results of an election. Trump won't. But Trump is a malignant narcissist. He's insane. So who cares? I mean, he he's, I won't even begin to list the delusions that guy lives under, but there are a lot of people who would have to cooperate with him. And I fundamentally don't believe they will. Um, and, and whether or not okay, even if they will, there's nothing we can do about it now. But what we can do is wind so overwhelmingly that that's not even a possibility. And if our numbers are enormous, which they absolutely can be, we absolutely have the numbers for it. All indications are that early voting is overwhelmingly on our side. So just keep it up. Don't let this total loser, baby man distract you from saving the country. He's seen, does not work the gum on the bottom of my shoe. This man and people are giving entire days and weeks to worrying about what he's going to do, who cares? He's a loser, the guy is a loser. So let's just make sure that we have so many votes that even he, with his total delusions and delusions of grand jury or whatever else he has cannot lie. I keep thinking of the inauguration crowds. You know, he said over and over again, that it was the biggest inauguration crowd ever, but history and all of us know that it wasn't. So he can say we're all cheating or we're all, but everybody else will know that that's not the case. And frankly, I don't think that the military is so behind them at this point that they're going to enable him in a coup it's just not going to happen. So sorry. I'm very passionate about this because my job is to recruit people into action. My job is to get people busy making phone calls, which is a proven tactic for winning elections, right? Sending letters, sending postcards, texts, making these things work. And when people are wringing their hands in this kind of like fear mania, they're not doing that. So I just got off the phone with, I mean, often about call with flip the West with their team of people who were working to flip the Senate. It's an enormous team of people who are so committed and working so hard. Don't let all of these people work so hard and then give all of our attention to the, the ninny and the white house instead, you know, come and join us in the work. We will win in the work. So that is my sermon. Sorry. I'm just drinking my tea. So I'm very thankful. Passionistas: It's, no, it's excellent. We need to hear it. Yeah. We need to hear it, everybody already saying great advice and thank you. Jessica: It is true. I mean, I wake up every day, I feel like totally panicked. And then I go through the list in my head like, Oh, am I freaked out about this? Now this now I'm going to go, Oh, to see a lecture. And then I roll out of bed and I pick up my posts in my list and I just start writing and I wait until I can get onto the texting. And I start flexing and I feel better, you know? Yeah. Action is the antidote. And it is every time. And you know, I'm doing these activism one-on-one classes. And so many people were coming, which is great. So part of my job is just to let other people know how many people are doing this work right now. So w in my workshop, you know, you heard me talk about the drop of water, right. And it's very easy for us all to feel like that individual drop of water, like, Oh, who cares? I'm just, I'm so small. And if I just make like one hour of calls, who cares, like it's so insignificant, but you have to remember all the other drops of water who are also doing their little jobs. And when you get that many drops of water together, that's, as I say, when you start to carve stone, like then you are participating in something so much bigger than yourself. And there are a lot of people doing this work. I am telling you because I do it with them. And I see them. And I hear about the groups that are phone banking and post carding and sending letters to voters in Milwaukee and just little groups that have got brilliant ideas for ways to help and are doing them. And, uh, the news doesn't talk about it. And I remember before 2018, the news didn't talk about it either. I was like, am I crazy? Because I feel like with this much stuff happening, we are going to win, but everyone keeps saying we're going to lose, but I see what people are doing. How could we possibly lose? And we weren't. Right. But the news is not going to say, Oh, we're going to win because that doesn't get clicks. And we, these little, you know, we middle-aged women, activists, we definitely don't get clicks. Right? Like nobody cares about us. We're middle-aged women. But the work that we're doing is massive. And we are going to save the country. Don't get me wrong. That is what is going to happen. And the news will not carer until after it's happened. And then they'll give the credit somewhere else because no one wants to credit people like us, but it doesn't matter. We're not doing it for the credit. We're doing it for. Right. Right. So who cares? But believe me, I remember this from 2018, no one covered the resistance back then either, even after the fact, no one covered us, but it's fine. We're still going to do the work and we're still going to win. You can attribute it to the tooth fairy for all I care. I don't really care, but we are doing the work and we know how to do this work. And let me tell you, people are doing this work in vast numbers. So, but that's not what I came here to talk about. I came here to talk about phone banking, but I just, you know, I get passionate because it's important. I want to wear a big t-shirt that just says less news, less news, more action. Because honestly, even I can get sucked into Twitter. And after five minutes on Twitter, I want to kill myself. It's over. Right. But that's not reality. That's Twitter. And there's, uh, you know, there are aspects of reality on it, but there's also a lot that is not real on it. The work is real, you know, talking to voters on the phone is real. I've phoned banks several times already this week. And when I get someone on the phone who was like on the fence and I convinced them, that's real. And, uh, you know, you guys and the people doing this work, we are real. And we, we will make a difference. So I guess I'm here to do the opposite of what Trump is doing today, right? Like I want to power people and give them their faith back and remind them that they have power. And that, you know, you have agency, you can make a difference. Every single person listening to this, it's hugely powerful. Don't let Trump take that away from you. He doesn't deserve to have anything of yours. Nothing. Passionistas: Thank you. I needed to, I needed to hear that. Thank you. Thank you. I had one other question for you about something I read this morning. Did you read that Esquire magazine article about, um, maybe people who can, should vote in person? Jessica: I didn't. Okay. Passionistas:  Because it was just saying that it was just that, you know, this whole, his whole scam right now is based on, you know, mail in votes and de-legitimizing the mail in votes. So what do you think about that? Do you think it it's better? If people can take the chance and go boat in person, is it better to mail it in person? Passionistas: I don't know. I think that I know in California, we were told that if we mailed our ballots by October 10th, that they would be counted by election day. Um, but again, we've had so many elections where the results were not determined for weeks after and nobody cried foul. No one said that election is not valid. Katie Porter, her election was determined like two weeks after the fact, no, she's there in Congress kicking . I mean, Trump can say what he wants. It requires more than him saying that something is fraudulent. And frankly, I really don't see Mitch McConnell as awful as he is. He's he made a statement today saying like, we're going to respect the results of the election. He's not going to go down that road. I just don't. I mean, so I think vote, however you feel I'm voting by mail. I'm going to mail my ballot right after I get it. And I'm going to track my ballot. Just vote. I don't think when we vote is as much at issue. If it makes you feel better. Sure. Go vote in person. Most States have early voting. We go to the grocery store. I don't actually think that voting is like a super dangerous activity. But if you're someone who's highly at risk vote by mail. Yeah. I don't think it matters. Just vote, vote and track your ballot, make a voting plan and get three friends and family to vote. Especially those who probably wouldn't have voted unless you prompted them. Because honestly your friends and family are more likely to vote. If you ask them to then if I, some stranger calls them, you know, this is relational organizing. It's really critical right now that we each take responsibility for getting three people who maybe wouldn't have voted otherwise to vote. I'm working on my niece. That's my, that's my goal. No, she's one person who is right now is thinking of writing into candidate and I'm working on her with everything I know to get her not to do that. And it doesn't matter the reasons, this is just really important to me. And if I fail, I'll work on someone else. But if we all do that, think about the power of that. Passionistas: You bring up a good point too, which is you can track your ballot once you send it. And everybody should do that just to… Jessica: Not in every state, not in every state. Sorry to interrupt you. But in many States you can. Yes. Yes. Passionistas: Okay. And where do you find, where do you go to do that? Jessica: Secretary of State website? The secretary of state website is really your friend. You just Google your state secretary of state, and then all of your questions are, are, can be answered there. So, and yes, in California, they make it very easy to sign up where you can actually, you'll all get a text message when they received my ballot and the text message when it's been, um, you know, entered into the system. So I don't know that every state does it as well, but look into your state and find out. And another really important thing about voting by mail is to follow the instructions very carefully. Yes. Yeah. If you sign, if you sign in the wrong place or you sign your signature sloppily and it doesn't match what they have on record, or you don't steal the inside envelope or whatever it is, you do wrong. That vote will be disqualified. So I need to make sure that you follow the directions very carefully. Well, and in Pennsylvania, in particular with this whole naked ballot thing, if you mail in your vote by mail ballot, put it in the inner envelope, because if you don't put it in that inner envelope, the secrecy sleeve, they will not count it, which is absurd. But you know, we have to work with a lot of servers right now. So yes. Being educated about what the rules are in your state is incredibly important. Passionistas: Particularly if you live in a swing state or voter suppression state, right? Jessica: Yeah. And like, I'm going to, I'm getting together with some elderly relatives. I told them once they get their vote, that we're going to go to lunch, we're going to take a risk and you go to an outdoor restaurant and I'm going to walk them through it. I'm going to make friends to do it exactly. Right. And then we're going to go wherever they can go to drop it off. We're going to drive there with them. We're going to make sure. Passionistas: So if you know anybody that might not, you don't think a hundred percent is going to understand the process because it's so different than what they used to offer to help them. Jessica: Yep. Yes, absolutely. That is exactly right. Yeah. And elderly people. Don't always, a lot of times when we phone bank, we'll find someone who has, you know, 81 years old. Yes. I want to provide them, but I don't have internet. I mean, not everybody has internet. Right. Um, and so those people need, sometimes some of them to show up at their door with a form or, you know, help ordering the form for them and having it sent to them or whatever. But yes, I think we all need to think of the older people, the less tech savvy people and reach out to them. Passionistas: Yeah. Yeah. And as Lisa said in the comments, also, if you add a stamp, even though a lot of votes on ballots, don't require a stamp. If you add a stamp, it will make sure that it's treated as first-class mail. Yeah. So that's how that plus what supports the post office, which is exactly win-win. Yeah. Jessica: Yeah, totally. And you know, and try to remember, I just want people to remember that the majority of America desperately wants Trump out of office. The majority, like, yes, he has got a very devoted small following, but the rest of the country will, is desperate to have him out. So people are going to work very hard to vote and make their friends vote. It's just, I know there's so much fear. And I, I mean, look, I share it, but I also, I want us to have faith in each other. And I want us to have faith in this country. It's not broken fully yet. It's very broken, but I still believe there's enough of an infrastructure in place that we can have a fair election, as long as enough of us show up. This is not an election that anyone can sit out. We need numbers. Passionistas:  So can we talk about phone banking now? Jessica: Excellent. Passionistas: I want to say one thing though, I today started to, um, to write postcards for Jon Ossoff. You know, him for everybody who doesn't know is running for Senate in Georgia. And I really wanted to point out that the thing I love about him, which is his hashtag is his name is Jon Ossoff, O S S O F F. And his hashtag is hashtag #VoteYourOssoff. Passionistas: Oh, he deserves to win. Jessica: So I just wanted to give him a little plug. That's great. Georgia is doing really well. Stacey Abrams released some statistics today about, uh, early vote and vote by mail and Georgia. And it's already off the charts with, you know, typically voters who vote our way. So she's been working her butt off in that state. People are working very hard. I have a lot of faith. I have a lot of faith. Passionistas: That made us all feel better. So, um, so now what do we do? How do we make it happen? Passionistas: Well, let's talk about fun banking for a second, because this is the, you know, this is the big challenge right now. So first of all, people are voting already, right? In a lot of States, the election has started. We are officially in the election and starting next week, that's it like it's election month. We are fully in, GOTV get out the boat. Right. So, um, all of the big organizations are having their big weekends of like training and phone banking starting next weekend. So Y Mo you probably all know this, but why do we phone bank? Why can't we all just send postcards until the election? Because postcards increased voter turnout somewhere between one and a half to 2%. Right. Which is a nice little bump in turnout. Um, as I always say, in my workshop, Donald Trump won in Wisconsin by seven tenths of 1%, right? So we're not going to sneeze at one and a half percent because that would have won us Wisconsin. He won the entire election by 77,000 votes. You guys, it's just not a lot of votes, um, or you peoples are very much trying to stop saying you guys. Um, but, um, so those postcards about one and a half to 2% bump don't forward letters, which are amazing. And I know you are doing those as well, and I've done a bunch of my husband does them. Those letters are great. They increased turnout by about 3.4%, right? That's their studies have shown. So phone banking is a significantly more than either of those things, right? Phone banking, talking to a person, voice to voice can increase turnout by maybe twice what the vote forward letters can when we're lucky. So again, these don't sound like huge percentages, but that's more than enough if we can get enough people on the phone. And, um, there's a great phone banking video that I'm playing in my workshop now that, um, this woman is just talking about why we fund bank. And it's not as many people think to persuade Trump voters. And I think that people think that they're going to be forced to get on the phone and argue with somebody like their uncle in Alabama. Who's, you know, got the mag ahead. You're not going to, first of all, campaigns are generally having you call lists of people that they think, or at least potential supporters. They're not sending you to call heavily Republican list. That's just counterproductive. It's a waste of their time. But even when I do get somebody on the phone who is just like, you know, girl Trump or whatever, or I only vote Republicans, the response is thank you so much. Have a great day. And we hang up the phone. Our job is to find our people reluctant Democrats, who almost never vote independents, who are persuadable, um, declined to States. People who are just low propensity voters or people who want to vote, but are fuzzy on the process. Like, yeah, I do want to vote, but I still haven't gotten my absentee ballot. And they're like busy doing something else. So they haven't taken care of that yet, but we can help them. So most of what we do when we phone bank is help people who want to be helped if they don't want to be helped, they'd get off the phone. But it's not about trying to persuade someone who has totally drunk the Kool-Aid and is like screaming about things that are just, you know, upsetting. And we don't want to talk about those. People are not who we're trying to persuade. We don't need them. It is a waste of time. The campaign doesn't want you wasting your time with them. So when I get someone like that on the phone, again, I'm going to say, thank you so much, have a great day quick. I'm going to Mark them as strong opposed. And the campaign's going to take them off of their list, right? They don't want people like that on their lists either. They want to maximize their time and our time by looking for people who are potential votes. So part of what we're doing when we're phone banking is just finding those people and sort of sorting them into piles of like, that's not someone who's going, gonna vote for us. That's someone who maybe they definitely need more attention. That person is so into us that like, we're going to put them in this pile over here. We're not going to bother with them again until the day before the election, just to make sure they voted because there are definite supporter and a high propensity voter. Then we're also right now doing stuff, we call it cleaning the lists. So if for those of you who like to clean, we're basically just making sure everybody's phone number is still the same. You know, we're calling lists that are from elections two years ago, mostly. So some of that information is outdated. Sometimes people no longer live in that place or their phone number has changed, or they've moved. Sometimes they're deceased. Sometimes they've changed parties, whatever their thing is. So that's what we're doing. We're sending that data back to the campaign. So we're both gathering data from the voter about who they support, where they are and their thoughts. And we are bringing data back to the campaign. Hey, that person now lives in California. So take them off the list. And that's the wrong number. It's disconnected. Take that off. This person wants to volunteer, call them. This person wants to drive people to the polls, reach out to them. This person wants a yard sign. So it's a lot of data exchange. And, but there is something about calling and talking to someone voice to voice, which every time I run a phone bank, I have a volunteer say, I just talked to somebody who was on the fence. And we talked about like our kids and healthcare. And by the end, they they're going to vote for Biden or, you know, so it's not like every person we talk to is a massive victory. But again, we think about our own tiny contribution. And if I phone bank for an hour and I get three people or two people who were on the fence and are maybe going to support my person, now I have done my job. Other than that, it's a lot of not home. It's a lot of leaving voicemails. When, when the campaigns want you to leave voicemails, they do sometimes. And they don't sometimes. Um, if you're nervous about using your own phone number, which a lot of people are, a lot of the campaigns now are using something called an automatic dialer or predictive dialer. You can just make sure that you use one of those and it all goes through a computer program. So your phone number never comes into it. And you literally just sit there on hold until somebody picks up and it's great. And you actually talk to more people. And, um, it's all very scripted. And I guess the last thing I'll say is that in my experience between texting and phone banking, I mean, I love canvassing. That's awesome, but we're not doing that right now. Um, I actually find people are much nicer over the phone. My craziest meanest responses from voters have always been, um, texting. I actually don't text all that often because people are so much nicer on the phone. I would just rather deal with the, the politeness. I had someone today just tell me to F off on a text bank. And I'm like, Oh, I had asked him was how he, you heard of the candidate. No one would do that over the phone, but on texts, do they feel like they can do that? So I like calling people tend to be nicer, especially when I speak with a smile, which is one of my big tips for phone banking is smile talking, which is as a woman, I don't like to be told to smile, but in my experience that when I smile talk, it's the same thing that anybody who does any work on the phone knows like, I sound different when I'm talking like this. And when I'm talking like this, it's just different. So when I kind of talk with a smile and, and I, myself, I'm I'm, I am me on the phone. I don't pretend to be somebody else. I act like myself. Um, if I make a mistake, I say, Oh God, I'm so sorry. I'm a volunteer. And I'm, you know, I'm a mom and I've been doing homeschool all day and I'm tired. You know, that's how people actually connect with us. They relate with us through our humanity. So, um, I emphasize the fact that I'm a volunteer. I recognize the fact that I'm barging in on people. And I say even sometimes I hate when people call me, but this election is so important and people appreciate it. So, um, I just encourage people to try it. We really do need more people on the phone. And, and, and the last thing really I will say is, you know, my daughter is very obsessed with “Hamilton” right now, right? So we're talking about the revolutionary war, revolutionary war a lot. And you know, we talk about the fact that during the revolutionary war, the people who fought to found this country like died in massive numbers, right? To sort of defend the idea of our freedom and eventually our democracy, right? They died to form this country or they lost legs, or they were blinded, or, you know, people suffered horribly. If I am being asked to get on the phone and be a little bit uncomfortable to literally save our country, we are literally talking about saving this country. Then I am going to do that. And I am pretty sure that all of you can, I know YouTube can cause your, you know, the worst that can happen. What does it mean to me? I get to keep my legs. You know, I don't have to walk through a snowy valley with leather straps wrapped around my feet. I mean, yeah. The stories from the revolutionary war pretty normally we're just being asked to make some phone calls. We can do it. You can do it. All of you can do it. I will turn it on to my phone banks. Yeah. How do people go to your phone beds? Well, um, you can there's uh, let's see. Do you guys do like show notes or anything like that after this? Will you post some information? Passionistas: Yeah. And we can put you post things in the chat and everything. Yeah. Jessica: So you can post my email address. Uh, the, the chop wood carry water, email address, see WCW daily actions@gmail.com. People can email me and I can add you to my big list. I invite people to a bunch of phone banks and you can come or not come as you see fit. But every phone bank I do either I or somebody else will train you. Um, you always do them on Zoom. They're all remote. So you're with a group of people. And if somebody is mean you can come back to the group and just say like, Oh, somebody just called me the devil. And then everybody laughs and people send you hard emojis, and then you go on, right. Um, and if you have a victory, then you come back to the zoom and you share that. And people are really excited for you. Uh, so you can do that. I highly recommend flick the West if you're concerned, particularly if you want for RBG, if you, if you're concerned about flipping the Senate flip, the West is an extraordinary organization. They do great bone bank trainings, like four times a week. Um, they just launched a training called demystifying phone banking for geo TV. That is apparently amazing. Um, there were these women who do a phone bank training called bone banking for introverts, which I can provide a link for. Um, and that's supposed to be great, actually, it's on my Google doc. You, you have access to my group. So it's in their phone banking for introverts. That's supposed to be great. Um, you know, it's one of those things like you'll try it once or twice, and then you'll be like, Oh, this is actually just mostly kind of boring. Like mostly I'm just getting people who aren't home and it's model that exciting, but it does feel so good when you get somebody who needed your help. So those are a few of the ways. And I mean, my God, you can just Google like phone bank for Biden or, you know, there's million ways to get involved, swing left. Um, flippable any number of organizations can guide you to phone banking, but, um, you can post the link to my Google doc, which has a gazillion phone banks in it. If po choice is your thing planned Parenthood does phone banking. If environment is your thing, three fifty.org does phone banking. So there's a million ways in, and they'll all basically take you to the same kind of event. You know, we're not reinventing the wheel. This is something that we've all done for a long time and it works. And you know, scientists say that getting out of your comfort zone is actually very good for you. People who get out of their comfort zone regularly actually live longer. So, you know, this is an opportunity for us all to do something that we don't want to do, but that is good for us and good for our country. How exciting is that? Passionistas: That's good. Yeah. And I don't think anybody wants to look back on November 4th and wish they had done more. That is for sure. Jessica: That is for sure. And that's what this great. I should I'll, I'll get you the link to the video too. And maybe you can post it in the chat after this great three minute video about phone banking, but she says that she's like, yes, it's uncomfortable, but you know, what will really be uncomfortable is waking up the morning after the election and finding out that we still have Trump in office. Like that will be devastating. And I definitely don't want to wake up the morning after and think I could have done, I could have done more. And I I'm happy to say, I am not going to wake up and say that, but I, I, you know, I don't think that anyone wants to feel that way. Passionistas: Yeah. So, yeah. Jessica: And it feels good to be part of a win. You'll love it. You'll love the feeling of having helped us win. Yeah. It's a wonderful feeling. Passionistas: And I should say this wasn't something you've done all your life. I mean, this is something that you chose to do in recent years and you've educated yourself and now you're really comfortable doing these things, but it's not like, I just want people to know, like, it's easy to sometimes look at somebody who's talking like this and say like, Oh, well, but you know, you've dedicated your career to this. Like, this is something that you came to in after 2016 is not really opt in. Passionistas: Right. And so you can, you can make the choice to make the change in your life to make this a priority. Jessica: Absolutely. I am not a, I'm a volunteer. I'm not, uh, I, you know, I mean, I have Patrion sponsors, but like I'm not paid by anybody. Um, and I only ever phoned bank during presidential elections before Trump was elected. So yeah. And I think people come to my workshop. I always tell the story of Sally. She came to my workshop a couple of months ago and she, you know, my age, very, you know, just by, I don't know what she does, but definitely does not work in politics. And she was like, I mean, I will try it once, but I'm telling you, I'm going to hate it. And I'm dyslexic. I can't read those scripts and I'm going to suck at it, but I'll do it one time because you're telling me I should. And she came to my phone bank and God love her. Ended up staying on. After we all got off the zoom, she was like, I'm still calling. She got us three volunteers her first time out and then just started putting banking all the time. And now I don't even hear from her anymore because she's just off phone banking. She found out she loved it and she was good at it. And she was positive. She would not be. So for some people, it really is underbelly uncomfortable, but you won't know until you try. And for most people it will not be unbearable. Um, and, and if you find out that it is, at least you tried, at least you gave it one try, but for 90% of us will be like, huh? I mean, it's, you know, I'd rather be taking a bubble bath, but you know, I'll do it, bring the phone into the bathroom phone, into the bathroom. Passionistas: I obviously haven't phone banked yet, but I have been texting and you're right. People can be really harsh on texting. Um, but the other day I got a text, you know, the first question I was supposed to ask was, can we count on your support? And, uh, and I got this really like inappropriate response back. And I was gonna just, you know, send back the thanks, have a good day. And then I was like, no, I'm not going to do that. And so I forget how I replied, but I kind of replied like, what are your issues kind of thing. And, and, you know, it felt not to be judgmental, but it felt like, like a 16 year old boy texted me back. Um, and he was like, if I get a hell, yeah, I'll go to provide me. I'm like, how much, how long am I going to let this person jerk me around? And I was like, doesn't really hurt me just to text back and see what he says. And so I texted back hell. Yeah. And then he texted back and he was like, wow, you must really want me to vote for bud light. Cause I'd stuck with it for these few comments now it's like, yeah, I do is really important. And I gave like, check the rate registration email, and it ended up in this like really long chat with this person. And by the end they're like, all right, well, awesome. It didn't hurt. It was like, you know what? I can let this person intimidate me because they think they're cute and funny interview noxious. Or I can just see where it goes and give it five minutes of my time. And it felt really good at the end. It was like, all right, well, that's not the back in line. What's next. It's amazing. Jessica: I did a lot of texting with Open Progress for a long time. And you would see these conversations that people would post in the Slack that were so incredible where someone starts out very mean and hostile. And then when you send them a reply that lets them know that you're a real person, half of the time, they're like, Oh, I did not know that you were real person. Like they genuinely think you're a bot. And then once they find out you're real, sometimes they will actually have a conversation. And yeah, sometimes there were some people who are so unplugged from politics that they're basically like, I don't, I don't really care. Like what's the difference. And if you're like, okay, this is actually really important to me. They'll, they're like, all right, fine. I'll do it for you. Like I, I had that experience before and, you know, whatever, whatever gets them. Yeah. Well, anyway, I don't want to share that story publicly, but I mean, whatever gets somebody within reason to vote, you know? Yeah. That is just a persuasion. It's wonderful. That's great. And yeah, texting can be really effective. Sometimes it does require a bit of a longer conversation and sometimes you got to get creative. I saw one texting conversation where the person they were texting with was started talking about Fortnite and the volunteer fortunately knew a lot about Fortnite. So she started responding with these very like insider comments about Fortnite and she won his vote because of that. Whereas I would have had no clue. So, I mean, it was just kind of good luck that he got her and then he was like, you're amazing. I'm going to vote. It was a whole thing. So, you know. Yeah. But that's what it's all about. Right. It's all about reminding everybody that we're all the same common interests. We all worry about similar things. Right. I mean, we all want our kids to grow up in a safe world and we, you know, most of us worry about the same things, not all of us, but generally I can find an area of connection with a person on the phone. Passionistas: Yeah. And I have to say both ways, like I've also, I started yesterday morning texting with a friend and feeling really angry and down about Republicans and Trump supporters. And in the course of texting yesterday, I had a few people who are like, I'm voting Trump and you know, you just say, all right, great, thanks for letting me know, have a good day. And they lived, there were a few people that are back on like half a nice day. And thanks for checking, you know, and it was just not like, I don't understand the fundamentals of the decision to vote for the man, but it doesn't mean everybody who is, is the person. And it kind of just re renewed my faith and the other side, like, I still can't, can't forgive anybody that's going for them. But at least I felt like it was a reminder. Like there are people too, and they, some of them are really nice people, you know, they just are misguided for whatever reason. Um, so in that regard, it made me feel slightly more optimistic about some of the people in that. Jessica: Exactly. Oh, that's good. Yeah. But I couldn't turn them that texting is hard too, because I think they cast a very, very wide net with texting. So I think that you will tend to get more Republicans. Um, I feel like phone banking. They're a little bit more judicious about where they're sending you to call and I'm not sure why that is, but it's, it's just, I think because they can cast a wide net texting. They do. So you do, you end up getting a lot of people who were like Trump 2020, and you're just like, Oh my God, really? But calling, I don't get that. I don't know that I've ever had somebody just yelled Trump 2020 at me. Okay. Passionistas: Oh yeah. You can definitely get that yelled in the, it may just be my imagination, but I honestly feel like between last week and this week I've been texting in Arizona mostly. And um, since RPG passed away, I swear to God more people there have been fewer Trump, 2020s, interesting work and more either neutral or onboarded by which, because the first couple of days I did it within her, it was like really depressing. And it was like 90% of the people were Trump 2020. I mean, and take me off the list. And then she passed away everything every time since then, it's been like a very small fraction of the people. So maybe I'm just trying to keep myself positive or maybe there is some shifts that happened. Jessica: Um, well, yeah, I think you're going to actually like phone banking. I do feel like, I feel like Is very comparatively is very draining and phone banking. I find very uplifting. So, um, I, I'm not sure everybody feels that way, but for me, I tend to get depressed when I'm texting. I think because there are so many Trump people because they're casting such a wide net and calling it's not, I don't know. I always feel pretty uplifted afterwards. Passionistas: Wow. I'm definitely going to try it. I'm terrified of it. I am too, but I'll do it. Jessica: Um, come to my Biden phone bank on Monday. It's it's great. Passionistas: Okay. Yeah. It's not Monday. I can't Monday thought through with all that. Jessica: I'll send you my whole schedule. Yeah, definitely. We'll definitely get, we are going to commit right now that yes, we're committed. Passionistas: I definitely check out the Flip the West trainings. They're really good there. Those are definitely in my Google doc. Also, you can post them for your people wherever that's fabulous. And Passionistas: Does anybody listening have any questions? Just pop them in the comments and we'll pass them on. So just, do you have any thoughts on flipping the Senate and whether that's going to happen or what, what do you, what's your gut it's going to happen? Jessica: It has to happen. Yes. It's going to happen. I mean, you know, none of us can see into the future, but I believe it's going to happen. Um, the polling in Iowa is extremely good. The polling in Kansas is really good. Um, pulling in Arizona is outstanding. Obviously. Uh, Georgia is somewhat competitive. Alaska is competitive. Um, Montana is somewhat competitive. I mean, I think we still have a little bit of work to do there. Uh, Colorado is extremely competitive. North Carolina is competitive. There's a lot of seats. We just need four, if we can win the presidency. Um, and we need to hold Doug Jones seat. But, um, yeah, I mean, it's, we have a lot of money. There's been a lot of money raised. So financially we are destroying the other side. I actually think, uh, Jamie Harrison is to win Lindsey. Graham was on Twitter, crying about how desperate for money he is, you know, he's awful. And I think he's going to get punished at the ballot box and Jamie. Passionistas: Yeah. I think if we get him in McConnell out then… Jessica: McConnell, I mean, we get McConnell out by winning the majority. McConnell will then become a minority leader and that will actually almost be worse for him. Yeah, no. And I mean, look, I'd love to see Amy McGrath win, but that's a, that's a tough, you know, that's a tough seat, but it doesn't matter if we win the Senate for me, that's enough. That's enough. I don't care. Mitch McConnell can crawl off into obscurity and you know, I don't even want to start all back under his wing. I shouldn't say on Facebook, but yeah. Yeah. Just, you know, flip the West is a great organization. If you want to flip Senate seats, I really recommend them very highly. And um, yeah, we should all be working on that very, very hard because if we flip the Senate, I feel that that will bring us also Biden. Um, and, and you know, if Trump steals the election, but doesn't have the Senate, he can kick and scream all he wants. He's still not going to have really much he can do. So I don't think that's going to happen, but I'm just pointing out that it is another way that we can protect ourselves. So, um, but yeah, I think we're going to do it. I know we're going to do it. We're going to flip the Senate. We're going to hold the house. We're going to beat Trump and we're going to flip a whole bunch of state legislatures. It is going to happen, mark my words. Passionistas: You heard it here. Jessica: People also, if, if we flip the Senate, it's harder for Trump to claim you won. Right? Passionistas:  Right. Jessica: Well, that's, that's the thing is that in order for him to claim that he actually won, he has to say that every election in the country was invalid at which point, okay. Then that's just chaos. Then what do we do then? Like, we don't have elections anymore because we're holding elections the same way we always have. So you can't have one and not the other, this is why it's not going to happen. He can't it's, it's not just ignore him. Okay. I rarely  talk about this. I'm going to say something right now that I rarely, rarely, almost never talk about, but my dad was a filmmaker. Right? He made horror films. This is something I do not talk about, but it's applicable here. He made a movie called “Nightmare on Elm Street.” Right. And I don't know if you've ever seen it. Probably some people have and some people haven't, but there's, you know, the bogeyman is Freddy Krueger. And in the end, the way the woman in the film beats him, her whole thing is you turn your back on them and you take away their energy. And then they literally just evaporate. And I'm not comparing Trump to Freddy Krueger. I actually, so much of his energy from us, you know? And so my whole thing with him is just a screen. I don't give him, I don't talk about him. I don't read his tweets. I don't re I don't listen to him talk. He does not exist for me to the best of my ability, because what he wants is to exist for all of us all the time. So, um, turn your back on him. He's just Freddy Krueger. He is, uh, he is, defeatable just like further Krueger was and just like everybody is defeatable, he's not a supernatural being, he's just a human politician. So, um, that is the, probably the last time for 10 years that I will talk about that publicly again. But I just wanted to Passionistas: I'll say it. Yeah. I always think of, um, since we're using movie references, I always think of “Labyrinth.” When she finally realized that realizes it and says that line, you have no power over me. Jessica: Right. Right, right. Right. So like, why am I giving you of my energy? It's a classic abuser and abused relationship at this point. And we as women, especially, you know, the, the middle-aged women who are running this army right now, it is our job to say, like you can't the second I turned my back on you, you have no power over me. And we are working very, very, very hard and we will demand. And this is a female business. We are fighting the patriarchy I could go on. But like, our job is to not be bullied by this man. And the way we are not bullied is we get on those darn phones and we text and we write and we call and we talk to our friends and family and we get people to vote. And that is how we defeat this man. We women. Yeah. And especially these almost all women. Yeah. Passionistas: And especially in honor of RPG, since it says he's going to replace her, he thinks that he can say, I'm replacing her with a woman and we're all stupid. I'm going to be like, Oh, that's great. I'm fine. He's destroying her legacy by planting, whichever one of these, your, so we need to fight harder in her memory, in her honor to be the women that, you know, don't, don't stand for it.   Jessica: Right. And he can't destroy her legacy. He can't destroy it if we don't let him. Yeah. Yeah. Her legacy is in us to win. That is how we carry her legacy on is we win. We destroy him at the ballot box. And uh, and then who's destroying who at that point, when he can't destroy her legacy, again, her legacy is so much bigger than him. She's worth a million of him literally. Right? Passionistas: Yeah. Did you see his visit too? Jessica: I just, I did. And this is the thing I want people to remember is that when you take him out of his little supporter bubble, America hates him. And it's really easy for us to forget that because all the press shows us is his supporter bubble. I don't know why, but that is what they choose to cover. But the majority of the country hates him. So it is when you take him out of that bubble, it's the same thing with the town hall he did last week. People don't, he's awful and people know what Americans are not stupid. So that is why I just want people to stop watching news. Yeah. And do the work. That's how it was fed. Passionistas: The town hall was fascinating because fascinating. You couldn't see most people's mouse because they had their masks on their eyes were. So every answer was like, every person's eyes were like, that's not what I asked you. Or like you're a or whatever it was, but just like in their eyes. Yeah. Really interesting. Yeah. Jessica: And he's just, you know, he never lets himself be in those situations, but as we get closer to the election, he will. And he has to, and yeah. I mean, yeah. Passionistas: I was going to say, what's your thought on how the debate's going to go next week? Jessica: I don't know. And I don't care quite frankly. I mean, honestly, I don't really care again, like to me, that's all part of the, the press, the end of the show, like the circus, like, I mean, I know who I'm voting for and there's obviously no question. Like, we all know we don't even need these debates. I don't know if there was an undecided of Oregon left and if there is good, the debates, right, right. That's great. And they should watch them. I'm not, I am not. I mean, if anyone really has a question right now about who is more fit to be president than they're insane, quite frankly, so sorry if I'm offending anybody, but not in this area, then we lost them a long time ago. I probably lost them in the first part of this podcast. But I think, I think that, you know, Trump will be insane and crazy and Biden will hopefully, uh, I think Biden is going to do great Biden. Hasn't been doing great. And Trump is destroys himself every time he opens his mouth. So yeah, but I will not be watching. I can't watch Trump. I don't, I don't watch him. Freddy Krueger. Passionistas: No, it's really, it's good advice. It's I do it to myself because I feel like I need to stay informed, but I guess I have all the information I need right now. Yeah. Jessica: I don't think, and you're not getting informed by him anyway. You're getting lied to so it's not information. Yeah. Yeah. Passionistas: No, for me, it's not about informed about what he, he is saying or doing. It's more like we watch at least an hour of Fox news every day. Oh God. Oh yeah. Because it's really interesting to hear how the other side is getting brainwashed. I don't know what the talking points are and what's avoided. So it's, it actually is really interesting in the context of this, like talking to people and texting people or having conversations with people that I know that might be on the fence. It's like, I, I understand like if you, if you buy into that at all, like Fox is brilliant at making it seem real and logical, you know? Um, so you know, it, sometimes it makes you think like, wow, am I is brainwashed by the other side as these people are that this side has it, it makes sense if you're crazy, if this medic Nazi, this makes sense. You know? Um, so it's just interesting. I can only do it in short skirts, but we do watch a bit every day. Um, and, uh, and you see you, it just gives you, I mean, all you see is Portland burning the block of Portland that's burdened, which makes it seem like if you buy into that agenda, it makes it seem like the country's role, unless you stop and say, it keeps showing me the same law of Portlands over and over. Or we'll say like April 21st, 2020. It's like, though that didn't happen yesterday. It it's just interesting from, from that perspective to, um, to kind of just keep an eye on what's what the dialogue is. Um, but then it gets like insanely frustrating and I either have to leave or I get angry. So I do it in little, little spurts. Yeah. Jessica: You're way more emotionally resilient than me. I couldn't do it. Yeah. I can't do it. I can't do it. I don't know. Maybe I'm just more of a masochist, but I think we should end this the way we started, which is, I agree. I am hopeful that there are enough, strong-willed good people out there that are going to vote the right way and convince as many people as possible to do it. And all we can do is, do, do as much as get up every day before the time we have, you know? Um, so you know, we thank you because you really have, um, we've learned so much from you and you really do inspire us. And, and now what, you can get a God willing more than you've been to try and get some other people to join us. Yes. I think flip the West even has the training tonight. They have, I think every Tuesday and Thursday, twice a day. So yeah. Check them out, go check them out, come, come join me at one of mine. They're short and easy. And uh, yeah, it's like, one of those come on in the water is fine situation, but of activism one-on-ones coming up this week. So if anyone wants to come and do a one hour free workshop, that'll give you other ways you can help, uh, you know, email me and I'll send you the schedule. I've got one in about an hour. Actually. I've got one at five o'clock tonight. Passionistas: Yeah. Cool. So the same, the same email address as before. And they can reach out to you and then be, yeah. Jessica: And I'll send them the Zoom registration. Like I've got one at 5:00 PM tonight, Pacific time. And then, you know, one on Saturday, one on Sunday, a couple of next week. So yeah. Passionistas: And we have, like we said, we have done Jessica's workshop as part of our summit. And it's amazing. There's so many different things you can do that are in your comfort zone. If you are afraid to do one thing or another, we get it. Jessica: You know, we're not trying to pressure anybody into doing anything they don't want. There are enough things you can do. I just said, even if it's, it makes a difference of 1%, that's huge. So do what you feel comfortable doing and get used to it. You know, I think I feel ready to do phone banking because I feel so comfortable with all the other stuff right now that it's like, Oh, why not give it a shot? So start by doing what you can. Passionistas: And there's also, I want to say there are, um, Nancy what's at organization. You sent me today that to do, I know it can be expensive to do letters and postcards. If you got to buy the postcards goodbye to stamps, you know, it's not always easy for people, but we'll post a link in the chat of an organization that you can, even, if you can't afford the postcards, they'll send you postcards and stamps Jessica: Is that Sunrise, it's gotta be at Sunrise. Passionistas: You posted about it today. Jess, I did. I posted about it. I got the information from you. Jessica: Yeah. It's pay what you can. So if you can afford to pay for it. Great. And if you can't, they will literally send you all, everything you need for free, which is great. Yeah. That's really good. And they're beautiful postcards. Passionistas: They're beautiful postcards. And the other thing about them is that they're, um, they're, they are trying to mobilize younger people too, which is great. Jessica: The young voters. Yeah. Which is great. Sunrise is a fantastic organization. I can't say enough good things about them. I am a member of, but I'm really too old. So I'm like, I'm like a sunrise grandmother, but a great organization for young people. Passionistas: Yeah. Yeah. So, um, so we will post that link as well. So if, if you can't afford it, you can afford it. That's all. Um, yep. So, well, this has been amazing. Thank you ladies. Six weeks away, everybody. So 39. Yes. Follow chop wood, carry water on social media as well. And stay on top of what justice is doing because there might come a day where you think you don't have time and you find you do and see what Jess is doing. Because the other thing I'd have to say is what's great about dress is she sends out a daily email blast election aside. There's a daily email blast that goes out and it gives you action items that you can do on a daily basis. Like these are the things you should do today. Call this person, emailed this person, you know, the representatives. And this is what you have to say. This is what you should write in your email. It makes it so easy. And in five minutes you can make a difference and you can do it every day. And it's an amazing, amazing resource. Thank you. Just trying to stay safe. Jessica: Hope is an action. Woo. Passionistas: All right, well thanks. Have a great day. See you next five. Next time. Bye.

It's our 100th episode! We take some time to look back on our work during an absolutely wild year, and to thank the godfather of the VOICES: River City podcast, Anthony Siino, for his pioneering work in the first 22 episodes (seriously, go back and listen to them -- they're works of art).Then we get into some current events.Did you hear the one about the Bay Area archbishop exorcising the spot where a Junipero Serra statue was torn down over the summer? As that went down, the city of San Francisco held discussions on renaming 44 of its public schools schools, including ones named after George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Dianne Feinstein. (Mayor London Breed didn't seem to approve.) Speaking of Feinstein, the California Democratic senator is now facing calls to step down after her buddy-buddy behavior with GOP colleagues at the Amy Coney Barrett hearing. Has anyone else seen a resurgence of this SNL skit in the last couple of days? We have. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always:Patreon: patreon.com/voicesrivercityTwitter: @youknowkempa, @guillotine4you, @ShanNDSTevens, @FlojauneAnd thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Who is the 25-year-old indigenous woman that has the California Democratic Party so scared that they've poured over $100,000 into her opponent's campaign just this month? Meet Jackie Fielder, who is challenging state Senator Scott Wiener from the left in San Francisco's District 11. Fielder shares with us how the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline shaped her political trajectory, as well as how later battles in San Francisco against police misuse of Tasers and for taxing the rich to help ameliorate homelessness -- two issues on which she and Wiener disagreed -- helped spark her campaign. Fielder considers Julia Salazar, who won a seat in the New York state Senate in 2018 at age 27, a major inspiration. But this year we're seeing this story all over. Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman in Congress. A whole team of socialists joining Salazar in the New York statehouse. Unapologetic leftists are challenging Democrats -- and winning. So can Fielder unseat Wiener, whose war chest includes contributions from deep-pocketed developers, tech CEOs and police unions? The California Democratic establishment appears to be taking her seriously, injecting Wiener's campaign with over $105,000 in September. Wiener had been avoiding a debate for months, but it appears that in these final weeks his hand is being forced as well. They'll spar on the issues on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. Find out how to stream it here. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always:   Patreon: patreon.com/voicesrivercity Twitter: @youknowkempa, @guillotine4you, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

In today's News: Concordia St. Louis begins 182nd year on Aug. 28 Concordia Seminary, St. Louis will begin its 182nd year with an opening service at 10 a.m. CDT Aug. 28 in the Chapel of St. Timothy And St. Titus. Due to social distancing measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic, in-person attendance will be limited to service participants; new students, their spouses and children; faculty and staff members who are being installed or ordained; and deans, department chairs and program directors. The service will be available for all to watch via livestream at csl.edu/live. Vicarage and internship assignments also will be announced for pastoral and deaconess Students In The Specific Ministry Pastor program, Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology program, Center for Hispanic Studies program and the Cross-Cultural Ministry Center. Parishioners threatened with jail California’s Harvest Rock Church received a letter from the city of Pasadena’s chief assistant city prosecutor threatening daily criminal charges unless in-person worship services cease. The letter from the Pasadena prosecutor states, “Each day in violation is a separate violation and carries with it punishment up to one year in jail and a fine for each violation…. Your compliance with these orders is not discretionary, it is mandatory. Any violations in the future will subject your church, owners, administrators, operators, staff and parishioners to the above-mentioned criminal penalties as well as the potential closures of your church.” Liberty Counsel filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry Against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s covid-19 orders. Puberty blockers cause sterility Consent documents from Children's Hospital Los Angeles that were made public this week reveal that puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones used on gender dysphoric children do in fact cause sterility, contrary to repeated assertions made by some California Democratic lawmakers. Democrats in the California State Senate have in recent days dismissed those who've warned that a bill under consideration would fund the sterilization of physically healthy minors. They assert that such concerns raised by constituents amount to "fear-mongering. The informed consent documents from Children's Hospital Los Angeles — which has one of the largest transgender centers in the country — obtained by the California Family Council, reveal that the hospital has also warned patients and parental guardians that the drugs do indeed yield infertility in those who undergo the experimental procedures. Library paints over children’s display The town of Ashburnham, Massachusetts, has painted over a Biblical display on a library playground following a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), an atheist group. Stevens Memorial Library had featured at its playground a turning picture game of NOAH'S Ark, which FFRF said violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment. Madeline Ziegler, a staff attorney at FFRF, sent a letter to Terri Antsiss, director of the library, on July 22 on behalf of a “concerned community member.”

Jessica Craven is a community organizer, activist and newly elected member of the California Democratic party's County Central Committee. Jessica is the author of "Chop Wood, Carry Water," a daily actions e-mail that's been published five days a week since November of 2016. Her emails provide detailed text and scripts for the everyday person to reach out to their Congress people and Senators to take action on the important issues of the day. She's made it her mission to get regular people more involved with politics on both a federal and local level.   More info about Jess.   Learn more about The Passionistas Project.   Full Transcript:   PASSIONISTAS: Hi, and welcome to The Passionistas Project Podcast. We're Amy and Nancy Harrington.   Before we start our interview today, we wanted to tell you about our upcoming event from Friday, August 21st through Sunday, August 23rd, we'll be hosting the passion project women's equality summit. The three-day event will feature live panel discussions, prerecorded presentations, daily workshops, The Passionistas Portraits storyteller event. The LUNAFEST® short film festival, a virtual marketplace, and a pay it forward portal. The weekend is centered around the theme of women's equality and intersectional feminism from a range of perspectives, including racial equality, LGBTQ+ rights, financial equity, voter suppression, ageism, physical and mental health issues, religious persecution, and so much more. And best of all, it's free for the weekend. Go to ThePassionistasProject.com to register.   And now for today's interview, we're talking with Jessica Craven, community organizer, activist, and newly elected member of the California Democratic Party's County Central Committee. Jessica is the author of Chop Wood, Carry Water, a daily actions email that's been published five days a week since November of 2016. Her emails provide detailed text and scripts for the everyday person to reach out to their Congress people and senators to take action on the important issues of the day. She's made it her mission to get regular people more involved with politics on both a federal and local level. Please welcome to the show, Jessica Craven.   JESSICA CRAVEN: Yay. Hi, how are you?   PASSIONISTAS: We're so excited to have you.   JESSICA: Not as excited as I am. I am very, this is a great honor. Thank you very much.   PASSIONISTAS: It's an honor for us to. What's the one thing you're most passionate about?   JESSICA: I am an action advocate. Uh, I find that action is the antidote to despair. Um, and that it is the one thing that I need to be doing if I want to see change. So I guess action, and also getting others to act I'm very, very passionate about sort of, uh, encouraging others to do this work because I think it's important not just for our country, but for our own personal well-being.   PASSIONISTAS: To that end, talk about Chop Wood, Carry Water and what it is. Explain it to people who might not know.   JESSICA: What I try to do with Chop Wood, Carry Water, and I started doing this right after Trump was elected because everybody was so shell shocked and so upset. And I guess I tend to be the kind of person who, when something like that happens, I want to find a solution or something to do. I'm someone who needs to do something. So in the very, very beginning, I started, you know, sort of realizing like we should make, there's some calls that we should make. And I started making calls and, and, and also sort of researching around to see what calls needed to be made and what groups were talking about it. And I would then turn around and sort of send a quick email to a handful of family and friends and, and they seem to find it useful and they seem to want to make the calls.   And, and then I, I started including a little, a little bit of like a pep talk, you know, just a little bit of like been through some stuff as we all haven't and I've found some tools for dealing with difficulties. And I, I just would share those as part of the email. Like, you know, when I went through my horrible divorce, my father said to me, I mean, this is where Chop Wood, Carry Water comes from is, is, is that my dad told me that phrase when I was going through a divorce, I don't know, 15, 15, 20 years ago at this point, but I said, “How am I going to get through this? This is, I feel like I'm never going to get through this.” And he said, “You're just going to chop wood, carry water. And one day it'll be over.” So that's why the newsletter is called Chop Wood, Carry Water.   And, and I, and I told people that story, a number of times in the beginning, and it sort of turned into this thing where every day people would ask to be added to the list, or someone would say, I have a friend who wants to be added to your list. And I became really obsessed with following politics. Yeah. Following everything that was happening, uh, subscribing to every single newsletter that had actions for people to take. And in the beginning, there were a ton of them. And then sort of what I wanted to do, try to do was, was to distill that all down into five minutes for the average person, because I will take action all day long. Like that is who I am, but most people want to do something and then go back to their lives. They don't want to think about this all the time, but I do want to feel like they're doing something.   So what I decided to do it was sort of provide the service where I would read all the stuff and subscribe to all the things and then just distill it down into five minutes. So my idea was that you would just make just a couple of calls every day. You would call both of your senators. You would call your congressional rep. And then there would be like an extra credit thing to call some other, whoever it was. It used to be Scott Pruitt a lot in the beginning, cause I I'm an environmentalist at heart. And then eventually I added a resist bot text because people love resist bot so much. And I thought that was a good place to sort of add an action. That was a little bit or a script that was a bit longer that people could just send as a resist bot text.   And that's what Chop Wood, Carry Water is to this day. It's a, it's a little short pep-talk, it's a call to your members of Congress. It's like one or two extra things. I started including a lot of election related links in one of the sections. Just so if people wanted to find me or text bank or write postcards, I I've, I add those in. And then it's a resist bot text. And the idea is you can do it all in, in five minutes, which I think actually you genuinely, can't what I try to do tell people is just those five minutes can make such a huge difference. And if enough of us make those calls, you know, it really, I mean, we learned it with the, the attacks on the ACA and, and with so many other things I made, eventually Scott Pruitt did go away and, uh, you know, so many victories we have had have just been, because people have kind of hammered on the doors every single day, you know, using their voices and it does make a difference.   And I think that one of the big enemies in this situation has been despair, which leads to hopelessness, which leads to apathy. And then we really are in trouble. So my whole thing has been that when I make those five minutes of calls, I actually feel better. I feel more empowered. I feel more hopeful. And that's why I always say hope is an action because I don't become hopeful from just sitting around trying to like gin up hope in myself. I become hopeful when I actually make those calls or, or take any action, which bear in mind. I usually don't want to do. I almost never want to make my calls and I don't want to show up for protests. I don't want to show up at any of this stuff I do. But when I do it, I feel better. So there's very selfish, motives behind all of this.   It's really to help me not go into a tailspin, but it also turns out to help our democracy a lot.   PASSIONISTAS: With so much going on in the world, how do you determine each day? What issues to spotlight?   JESSICA: I'm on this all day? So all day I am taking emails from tons of people who are wanting to send me actions. I'm reading, uh, the, the few other action emails that are still out there. I'm a very active indivisible member. So I'm on a bunch of channels with other indivisible members and, and other action leaders. And there's a Facebook page for people who have action, you know, platforms. So we're all working on this together. So almost any action you see and Chop Wood, Carry Water, you know, is probably also being amplified by several other amazing individuals or groups. But, you know, I also read the news all day.   I also listened to a lot of podcasts and do really deep dives on policies. And I just am immersed in this all day. Every day. My husband always says, I don't know how you spend so much time. Like I would go crazy reading the news as much as you do, but I really am trying to absorb all this stuff. So that again, when I get to Chop Wood, Carry Water, I can distill it in a really simple way so that you guys don't have to spend your entire days doing this. So, and I'm an information junkie. I like to, you know, I like to learn, but in the morning I will generally go through all my emails and scan through my sort of typical sources and pull things from various places and, and, you know, work on the actual writing of the email, which takes about an hour, hour and a half in the morning.   But it's also been sort of cooking for the previous 24 hours before that. And then sometimes it's something will come up. I mean, this morning we have yet another news item talking about the sort of appalling, lack of personal protective equipment for our medical personnel. So then that becomes something that I sort of make sure is the focus of my newsletter. So, so part of it is trying to be nimble with events that are unfolding very quickly. And some of it is returning over and over and over again to things that we've been working on for sometimes weeks or months or even longer.   PASSIONISTAS: What are some of the big issues that you have been tackling, trying to tackle for a while and that are really on the forefront for you right now?   JESSICA: Well, that's a really good question. I mean, election security is a huge one that we're just returning to every week.   I make sure to put something in about it because especially now with the COVID-19 our elections in November, we sort of have to get those to a vote by mail status. They just, they just are going to have to be. And so far the funding for that is just not there. So while we want the States to, you know, step up and they probably will have to, we're pushing very hard for the federal government to fund it. And that's just an enormous push. That is it's hard. I mean, Mitch McConnell doesn't want it. So we're just working very hard because otherwise we're going to find ourselves in August, September, and just, it's going to be bad because we're not going to be able to go to the polls the way we have been used to so that, you know, climate change is an ongoing issue that I returned to constantly gun violence prevention.   I think you guys know I'm a pretty active member of moms demand action. So we return to that cyclically judges, you know, when, when Congress is in session and voting, we will always call on judges. And that tends to be something that gets less attention, but obviously we all know is, is so unbelievably important. And fortunately there are groups like indivisible San Francisco, which, which has a whole little chapter of their group that does nothing, but watch those judicial races. So I go there for a lot of information. I mean, I could literally go on there, there isn't any sector of our democracy that is not under attack right now. And, and the, you know, the fires are everywhere. So we throw water here and we throw water there and we throw water all around and then we come back and throw it again. But, you know, eventually we do see victories.   I mean the whole first year of Chop Wood, Carry Water. I had a section where we wrote to Scott Pruitt. It was just called the Scott Pruitt section. And we wrote about this pesticide chlorpyrifos, which I was really determined to help get banned because it's a neurotoxin that we were spraying on our, on our crops, by the millions of tons. I mean, it's a Dow chemical product. It's disgusting. And we call him that forever. And, uh, and then I kinda got distracted. And after about a year or a year and a half of, of those calls, we moved on to other things, well, chlorpyrifos has, it's abandoned California. Now it's banned in several other States. And some of it's the, the main production is actually being cut. So even though we haven't succeeded in an overarching federal ban, we have succeeded in largely gutting it to use.   And so, you know, these things have taken years, some of them, and we don't stop all the judges, but we have stopped some of the worst and we haven't prevented every horrible climate, you know, attack, but we have prevented some. And, and it's, you know, I really encourage people to focus on the victories, not the defeats because whatever we focus on grows, I really believe that.   PASSIONISTAS:  What did you do before November, November, 2016?   JESSICA: I've always been very interested in politics, but I actually did not work in politics full time. I worked in sales for a very long time. Ironically, for Tiffany and company, I worked there for about eight years. So in high end luxury sales, which, you know, was never really something. I was talking about passion. I was not passionate about it, but it was a, a paycheck. And it was a, you know, it was a respectable one.   And, and that was what I did for money. And before that I was a singer. So I performed for most of my young adult life. I was in a band called the Chapin Sisters for a long time with my, my two sisters who are still in that band. I come from a family of folk singers on one side, and my father made horror movies. I have a kind of weird background that would not necessarily, you would think lend itself to this. But the funny thing I have found is that my training in sales, which, which Tiffany provides excellent training, and also my training and performance have all come in very handy. As I have moved into this, this phase of my life. I mean, it turns out that I am very comfortable getting up and talking in front of people. I'm very good at encouraging people and I'm good at selling things so I can sell activism.   I can sell involvement and I'm comfortable talking to people, which is really what most of this is about. So for example, people are very afraid to call their reps. Like that's something that never occurred to me, but it turns out that folks are, are really intimidated and they don't know how to do it. They don't know what it even sounds like. People are afraid they're going to be challenged by the people they talk to on the other end. So at one point, my stepfather overheard me calling my reps one day when I was visiting my family in New York. And he said, you know, you should just make a little video of yourself doing that because you think it's easy, but most people really don't even know what that looks like. And so I did that. I posted a video of myself just calling my reps and people really responded to it.   And again, because I come from sort of a performance background and, you know, I'm not uncomfortable talking in front of other people in it. I can sorta, I'm good at showing people how to do things. And so that's been something that I did. One of those videos actually just today, just to sort of show people what it looks like to call and say a given thing, because we read these scripts and sometimes they're very clunky and stilted, and it's hard to know how to turn that into an actual phone call. So I guess all of those funny backgrounds that, you know, they don't make a lot of sense when you put them on a resume, but I also did screenwriting for three years. So like the writing skills, you know, it's all sort of come into play in what I do now. So I don't do much singing anymore, but I, I do a lot of bird-dogging and, uh, I don't know a lot of the skills translate for some reason.   PASSIONISTAS: We're Amy and Nancy Harrington and you're listening to The Passionistas Project Podcast and our interview with Jessica Craven. We're excited to announce that Jessica will be conducting her workshop Activism 101 on Saturday, August 22nd. During The Passionistas Project Women's Equality Summit. To register for free for the online event visit thepassionistasproject.com.   To get a membership to Jessica's daily newsletter, Chop Wood, Carry Water, and support her activism, go to patreon.com/chopwoodcarrywater. Now here's more of our interview with Jessica.   PASSIONISTAS: What advice would you have for some of those maybe a little bit apprehensive about getting involved or that thinks that their voice doesn't matter?   JESSICA: Well, for one thing, I mean, just a couple of practical issues about calling your reps that people don't always realize. And this is, sounds like the most obvious thing in the world, but I think there are people who don't necessarily know that when you call your reps, you're not going to get your rep on the phone. So that seems really obvious, but that is possibly not obvious to everybody. So you're going to get an aide or more likely you're going to get a voicemail. People worry a lot that they're going to get challenged like that. They're going to have to defend what they say, that they have to be super educated on something, but you absolutely don't. No one will ever challenge you. When you get an eight on the phone. They're generally very nice. They will take the comment. They will say, I will pass that along to the Senator or the Congress member.   And that's it. I don't know of anybody who's ever been challenged by an aid. It maybe has happened somewhere, but that's not ever been my experience. There are several different numbers you can call. You don't have to just call the number that they generally give you. The, the DC office. There are usually about four senators, about five other field offices. You can call any of them. So I find it really useful to have all five phone numbers for my senators and, and to the two phone numbers, my Congress member, I think all Congress members have a DCN and a field office. I have them all in my phone. So I just say, Hey, Siri, call Diane Feinstein. And, and you know, I, I call one of the field offices. So all of those are our basic points. And then why do it? I've been asked this a million times.   I have people who live in Kentucky who say, I just don't see the point of calling, you know, Mitch McConnell. He doesn't care. Or in a lot of States, I have people say like, my rep just doesn't care. They're hopeless. And what I always say, or you have people say, well, my rep is good. They're always going to do the right thing. Okay. So either way, I sort of compare it to, to having a, to being a boss and having an employee who works remotely. So if we sort of give that employee the job and then walk away and never check in with them, even the most honest employee after a while is going to start to just Slack at their job, because why wouldn't they, if they're having no oversight and, and no, no one checking in. So we are our representatives boss. Like they work for us.   So my job every day is to call and tell them what I want them focusing on. If they don't hear that from me, they're just going to do what they want. And even the most ethical is going to maybe miss something that is actually very important to their constituents. Also, it is really important to know that. So I go meetings with the staff of Diane Feinstein and Kamala Harris. Cause I, I go with a group of indivisible leaders and they always tell us, we need your calls. We need your calls. First of all, it helps the Senator to know where to focus her attention. And secondly, when she goes into a hearing she, or, or, or to a vote, she might say, you know, I got 150 calls on this yesterday. And the day before that I got 500 calls on this. So she's armed with evidence that her constituents care we can think, well, she must know that I care about this, but if she's not hearing it, then does she know maybe, but you'd be surprised how out of touch these offices can be with what their constituents are actually thinking.   I can't tell you how many times we've been meeting with one of those senators staffs, and we've brought up an issue that they had no idea about an issue. That to me was like very, very obvious, and that we'd been talking about a lot. They had not heard anything about it. So I just tell people, never assume, never assume that they don't need to hear from you. They do. And it's also an exercise for, for yourself. It's a, it's a way to say like, Hey, this is my country. This is my democracy. And you are going to listen to me every day. I am going to call you every day. And even if I called you about something yesterday, I'm going to call you about it again today because I'm your boss. And I want you to hear that this matters to me. I can't overemphasize the importance of it, honestly.   PASSIONISTAS: Now you're newly elected to the California Democratic Party's County Central Committee. So what does that organization do and what's your role?   JESSICA: I ran for it because I had run for something even smaller called aid Dems, which I won last year. And these are all sort of California State Party roles. So a Dems was an election that it wasn't even on the main federal ballot. It was a kind of a smaller election that people had to actually show up physically to vote for. And that enabled me to sort of have a very small voice in the California democratic party. So County central committee is basically a step up in that chain. I was on the same ballot as like the presidential candidates this time, which was really exciting. And I basically will have a seat at the table to vote on how the California democratic party spends its money, who we endorse, especially on sort of a state level. I'll get to vote on endorsements for like district attorney and city council and things that don't sound super sexy, but that are so important in the running of our state.   And it just gives me a tiny bit more clout and weight. Uh, California elected officials will take me a little bit more seriously. My senators will take me a little bit more seriously. And honestly, for me, it's all about bringing a progressive voice to the state party itself, which can be surprisingly, still sort of centrist and has had some corruption, quite frankly. So a bunch of us who are grassroots have been running for these seats just to get people into them who are actually sort of in touch with the grassroots community. And it's honestly the same reason that I'm serving as a PTA president at my daughter's public school. It's just, you know, we've heard these words like run for something, if you want to help run for something. And, and I've been like, all right, well, what can I run for? And these have been the things that have presented themselves to me.   So whether it's sort of bringing more progressive politics to, you know, fighting to get an electric leaf blower at my daughter's school, because it's better for the environment or advocating to endorse a more progressive city council candidate on the California, you know, the County central committee, it's, it's just bringing more of what I'm already doing to places where more people can hear. I mean, I guess it's all about sort of building a bigger platform, but I'm just going to keep fighting for better, you know, stronger action on climate, strong direction, on guns, stronger action on, you know, uh, election security and criminal justice reform, the same stuff, you know, basically I already do.   PASSIONISTAS: Why is local government as important really as federal government?   JESSICA: Over the last three years, we've watched as our federal government and Congress have basically grown to a halt. I mean, they have passed some things, but even having flipped the house, we just can't get anything through the Senate and it's discouraging.   And you just start to feel like there's so little we're able to do right now on a federal level. And in general, on a federal level, even when Obama was president, it's just hard to get things through, unless you have like a super majority everywhere, which is rare now on the state level, it turns out we can just get a lot more done and on a city level, we can get a lot of stuff done. And I guess the more, the longer I've paid attention to this, the more I've realized that while the federal government is incredibly frustrating and sort of just jammed up state governments are passing amazing climate bills, or they're not, they're passing great, you know, pro-choice bills or they're passing horrible pro-life bills, they're passing gun bills, or they're not. Cities are getting really, really active on helping our unhoused populations or they're sitting on their hands and doing nothing.   They're passing, you know, climate bills or they're not. And, and these are places where we actually can really affect change by working to elect great state legislators, uh, by working to elect city council members. I actually, in this past, the primaries that just passed in California were the election I was running in. There were also several, uh, city council seats. And there were all of these amazing challengers to incumbent city council members. And I spent all of my time canvasing for like three different city council candidates, because I've come to realize that the city council, as unglamorous as it is, is actually a place where if you want to make change, say to fight climate change, that's a really good place to do it. And Los Angeles has a notoriously sort of corrupt and awful, sorry, but pretty terrible city council right now, very ineffective.   And frankly, as I said, a lot of them are really corrupt. And so working to flip some of those seats, I worked on, on the, on the race of this woman, Nythia Roman, who was challenging one of our city council members and, and she, she made it to a runoff with a hugely funded incumbent. And that was just done by people power and her being a great candidate. I helped flip a seat, a city council seat in Glendale by canvassing for, for a guy named Dan Brotman, who was a climate champion and had stopped a huge power plant expansion in Glendale. And so I decided to put a lot of time into his race and he won. So meanwhile, you know, my presidential candidate of choice did not win and probably wouldn't have won if I had knocked doors for her, every single one of those days, unfortunately, just because of the nature of, you know, systemic sexism or whatever.   But the people I canvas for city council, why did, and, and their races are really exciting because if they win, they can make a huge difference in my day to day life. And that's the thing I would love people to remember is that the people that you have working in your state legislature and in your city council, in your school boards, those people are going to be affecting your life. They're going to be affecting the air, your kids breathe, or that you breathe. They will be affecting whether or not there are, you know, tons and tons of people housed who need it or not. And so many other things they'll affect how your state is spending money in so many different ways. Moms demand action is so great because they do a tremendous amount of advocacy on a state level. And they have sort of recognized that the federal level is, you know, we do do a work there, but on a state level, we can get so much more done.   And so I've actually gotten very into pushing calls on to state legislators as well. And I have a whole list of people who I will text and say, Hey, call your legislator today on this California bill, because we have a lot of power there. And we've seen California just passed phenomenal bills in the last few years. And we have a lot further to go on that, but this is a great place to put your energy. And if you don't know what you know what to do as the next set of elections, roll around, look for a small election in your area and work on it. You can make a really big difference and you can help somebody. When Dan brought me in one by, I don't know, I think it was a thousand or 2000 votes, and I canvas for him about eight times. So I feel like I had a real part in that race and it feels really good.   So I can't encourage that enough. Check out your state level races or check out a great organization like sister district. There were these amazing organizations doing great work on a state level and a future now is the other one, check those out. They're doing great work. And that's all they focus on our state elections and, and those are critical. And plus we have redistricting coming up in, in 2021. And if we don't win these States back, we're looking at bad representation there on a federal level for another 10 years. So it really matters.   PASSIONISTAS: What's your secret to a rewarding life?   JESSICA: Look for ways to help other people. I mean, that's, that's it in a nutshell, you know, and I I'm in 12 step programs. So, so I got this there that if I want to be happy myself, I need to look for ways to make other people happy.   And if I want to feel less anxious, I need to find a way to help other people feel less anxious. I mean, that's Chop Wood, Carry Water was born out of that. Basically, you know, the night Trump was elected. One of my girlfriends called me hysterically crying, and I was also crying. But in that moment, she needed me to comfort her. And as I comforted her, trying to find the words of comfort that I could pull out of wherever, I realized that in comforting her, I felt a modicum of comfort myself. And, and to this day, that is what keeps me going. Is that when I feel despair, when I feel hopeless, when I feel like I just don't see how we're going to get out of this, I turn around and try to find somebody else who's feeling that way and give them hope.   And that's why I do the pep talks in Chop Wood, Carry Water, because I need to hear them. And the, and as I do them, I feel better and I feel stronger. So I guess that the secret to joy for me is trying to help other people find joy themselves.   PASSIONISTAS: Is there a mantra that you live by?   JESSICA: A couple. “Chop Wood, Carry Water” is one. And again, just that idea of just what is the next thing in front of me to do what is in front of me right here? Is it, do I need to get my email out? Do I need to call my reps? Do I need to feed myself and my family to what is the thing right in front of me to do not, how am I going to be in 10 years or what's going to happen next year? But like, what is right here and trust in God and call your reps.   I mean, you know, I guess that would be my other mantra and on a spiritual plane. What I use when I meditate a lot is breathe in faith and breathe out fear, which helps a lot for me, just to sort of on a physical level, be breathing in the idea that it's all going to be okay, and be breathing out that anxiety. Cause again, the anxiety will make me ineffective and cripple me. And also it's the anxiety is so fed by our social media and media world that, that it becomes in and of itself an enemy that I have to fight. And I can do that by caring for the physical plant, feeding myself and meditating, exercising, those, those little things, making sure I spend, you know, engaged time with my family, all of that, to make sure that I can fill the well.   PASSIONISTAS: What advice would you give to a young woman who wants to get more involved and become an activist?   JESSICA: Find a local campaign and volunteer, pick your passion.   If it's climate change, find somebody who's running for any office where they can have some impact on that and, and help them. If you're young, join the sunrise movement. They're amazing. They're so great. I can't recommend them highly enough. If climate change is your, is your big thing. If criminal justice reform is your thing, look for it. Look for someone running for district attorney who wants to change things up there. We have a great race in Los Angeles that I'm going to be volunteering for. If education is your thing, work on a school board race. There is no campaign that will not jump up and down for joy. When they get a phone call from someone saying, I want to volunteer, there's no campaign that has so many volunteers that they will turn them away. They all need you desperately. So sign up to do what you can.   If you are not willing to go canvas, make phone calls. If you don't think you can do that, offer to go and stuff on envelopes for them or answer phones or bring them food. But again, get involved in it in a local race. I mean the presidential race obviously will matter so much, but to get started, if you start on a small race, you will then get to know those people. And the next time they're working on a campaign, you'll be like, Hey, I know. So and so they were, you know, a field rep in, in, in, so, and so's campaign, I'm going to call them up and see if I can get in, you know, uh, here as maybe like a paid, maybe I can get a paid job and suddenly you're sort of working your way up, but everybody who works in politics starts as a volunteer. I worked for a great organization called open progress for almost two years, uh, doing their social media. And I started out as a volunteer. I worked for them for probably four months as a volunteer and that turned into a job. So you just never know, but, but volunteering is where it's at. Just, just, just raise your hand and ask where you can help and you'll be off. Your journey will begin.   PASSIONISTAS: Thanks for listening to The Passionistas Project Podcast and our interview with Jessica Craven.   To get a membership to Jessica's daily newsletter, Chop Wood, Carry Water, and support her activism, go to patreon.com/chopwoodcarrywater.   Don't forget to register for the Passionistas Project Women's Equality Summit to take part in Jessica's workshop Activism 101 on Saturday, August 22. The summit is sponsored by LUNA, whole nutrition bars, the premium beverage company, Tea Drops and public speaking coaching company, ubu skills. A portion of the proceeds from the summit will go to Girls Inc. and Black Girls Code. To register for free for the online event visit thepassionistasproject.com.   And be sure to subscribe to The Passionistas Project Podcast, so you don't miss any of our upcoming inspiring guests.

Our next guest Catt is on a mission to promote social equality for all! How does she do this? She gets people engaged in their local communities as a Field Coordinator for the California Democratic party! Learn more about Catt's personal journey and her experience in politics as she juggles both a master's program at USC and prepares for this year's election (psst don't forget to vote). She's the human embodiment of the popular phrase "actions speak louder than words" and she's leading by example for generations to come! You can connect with her on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cattphan/

Mar 19 2020 Thursday News #CoronaVirus #TrueCrime #PayrollTaxCut #Crime #Marysville #EastBay #SanFrancisco #Quarantine #COVID19 #restaurants #SupplyChain #economy #politics #California #NorCal #YubaSutter #casinos #sacramento #DMV #Snow #Tahoe ◦ A second major Sacramento-area shopping center closes due to the coronavirus pandemic ◦ Sacramento grocery CEO says to resist stockpiling amid the coronavirus. More on the way ◦ California DMV bans walk-in visits, suspends driving tests to limit coronavirus spread ◦ Federal courthouses in Sacramento, Fresno, Modesto closed to public due to coronavirus ◦ Can’t telework? You might get a new California state job, according to Newsom administration ◦ Sacramento butcher shop Morant’s Old Fashioned Sausage Kitchen closed after $50K fire ◦ Thunder Valley casino relents, says it will pay workers during coronavirus shutdown ◦ 5.7-magnitude quake, swarm of aftershocks strike Utah near Salt Lake City, USGS reports ◦ California Democratic congressman owes another $30,000 in back taxes, says state lien ◦ Northern California woman attacked and robbed of her groceries outside Raley’s store ◦ Thousands in Sierra foothills going days without power as snow pounds Northern California

In the 2020 Presidential Election eyes been focussed on the early primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire. In Iowa, according to 538.com, the candidates are ranked as: Sanders 22.6%, Biden 22.3, Buttigieg, 17.1%, Warren, 14.0%. But perhaps more interesting, California polls ( see todays LA Times( have Sanders in lead in state’s presidential primary race. The poll shows Warren second and Biden running third. California is known to be a liberal state, but Sanders appears to have growing support from voters who label themselves “very liberal.” That very liberal group makes up about 1 in 3 Democratic primary voters in the state. The 2020 California Democratic primary will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, as one of 14 contests scheduled on "Super Tuesday" in the Democratic Party presidential primaries, following the South Carolina primary the weekend before. The California primary is a semi-closed primary, with the state awarding 494 delegates, of which 415 are pledged delegates allocated on the basis of the results of the primary. The rest are elected officials and others who attend as un pledged so-called super-delegates. The rest of the state’s likely primary voters remain divided among several candidates. Former Vice President Joe Biden remains the front-runner nationally, but in third place in California with 15% in the poll. “California’s primary electorate is relatively liberal,” said Berkeley political science professor Eric Schickler, co-director of the institute. “The state is more conducive to one of the candidates on the left.” Biden narrowly trails Sanders among voters who call themselves somewhat liberal, moderate or conservative, but runs 33 percentage points behind him among the very liberal. California Democratic Party’s rules have delegates go to candidates who get at least 15% of the vote statewide or in a congressional district. Candidate Bloomberg gets 6% in the poll, up from 2% in November. He shares the second tier of candidates with Pete Buttigieg, at 7%, Sen. Amy Klobuchar is at 5% and Andrew Yang,, at 4%. So what is good for Biden? He remains the candidate the state’s voters are most likely to say would beat President Trump. About a third of likely primary voters say so. Sanders comes in second on that score with about a quarter of voters — mostly his own supporters — calling him the one with the best chance of beating Trump in November. Back to Iowa, where the question of electability has dominated the debate and in New Hampshire. In California, the issue of how much of a priority to put on picking an electoral winner sharply divides voters. About two-thirds of Sanders’ supporters put priority on a candidate who agrees with them on issues. Biden supporters go the other way, There is a generational clash in voting preferences between Sanders and Biden. Sanders’ support among younger voters has been steadily growing over time. Because of this, turnout will be extraordinarily influential in determining the outcome.” In the broader picture, 13 other states will hold contests on March 3rd, with about 40% of the delegates to the nominating convention will be allocated that day. 538.com attempts to forecast who’s ahead in the national polls. They update the average for each Democratic candidate in 2020 primary polls, accounting for each poll’s quality, sample size and recency. The latest results are: Biden 26.7%Sanders 21.0% Warren 14.9% Bloomberg 8.3%Buttigieg 7.4% Yang 4.3% Klobuchar 3.2% Steyer 2.1% In summary, as the nation thinks ahead to the November election where the Democratic nomination race has tightened at the top, each Democratic candidate tested by a Fox poll bests Trump in hypothetical head-to-heads. Trump lags behind Biden by 9 points (50-41 percent) and Bloomberg by 8 (49-41). Those leads are outside the poll’s margin of error. Biden leads Trump by 17 points among women, while the two tie among men. And Trump is up by 14 points among white men,

In the 2020 Presidential Election eyes been focussed on the early primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire. In Iowa, according to 538.com, the candidates are ranked as: Sanders 22.6%, Biden 22.3, Buttigieg, 17.1%, Warren, 14.0%. But perhaps more interesting, California polls ( see todays LA Times( have Sanders in lead in state’s presidential primary race. The poll shows Warren second and Biden running third. California is known to be a liberal state, but Sanders appears to have growing support from voters who label themselves “very liberal.” That very liberal group makes up about 1 in 3 Democratic primary voters in the state. The 2020 California Democratic primary will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, as one of 14 contests scheduled on "Super Tuesday" in the Democratic Party presidential primaries, following the South Carolina primary the weekend before. The California primary is a semi-closed primary, with the state awarding 494 delegates, of which 415 are pledged delegates allocated on the basis of the results of the primary. The rest are elected officials and others who attend as un pledged so-called super-delegates. The rest of the state’s likely primary voters remain divided among several candidates. Former Vice President Joe Biden remains the front-runner nationally, but in third place in California with 15% in the poll. “California’s primary electorate is relatively liberal,” said Berkeley political science professor Eric Schickler, co-director of the institute. “The state is more conducive to one of the candidates on the left.” Biden narrowly trails Sanders among voters who call themselves somewhat liberal, moderate or conservative, but runs 33 percentage points behind him among the very liberal. California Democratic Party’s rules have delegates go to candidates who get at least 15% of the vote statewide or in a congressional district. Candidate Bloomberg gets 6% in the poll, up from 2% in November. He shares the second tier of candidates with Pete Buttigieg, at 7%, Sen. Amy Klobuchar is at 5% and Andrew Yang,, at 4%. So what is good for Biden? He remains the candidate the state’s voters are most likely to say would beat President Trump. About a third of likely primary voters say so. Sanders comes in second on that score with about a quarter of voters — mostly his own supporters — calling him the one with the best chance of beating Trump in November. Back to Iowa, where the question of electability has dominated the debate and in New Hampshire. In California, the issue of how much of a priority to put on picking an electoral winner sharply divides voters. About two-thirds of Sanders’ supporters put priority on a candidate who agrees with them on issues. Biden supporters go the other way, There is a generational clash in voting preferences between Sanders and Biden. Sanders’ support among younger voters has been steadily growing over time. Because of this, turnout will be extraordinarily influential in determining the outcome.” In the broader picture, 13 other states will hold contests on March 3rd, with about 40% of the delegates to the nominating convention will be allocated that day. 538.com attempts to forecast who’s ahead in the national polls. They update the average for each Democratic candidate in 2020 primary polls, accounting for each poll’s quality, sample size and recency. The latest results are: Biden 26.7%Sanders 21.0% Warren 14.9% Bloomberg 8.3%Buttigieg 7.4% Yang 4.3% Klobuchar 3.2% Steyer 2.1% In summary, as the nation thinks ahead to the November election where the Democratic nomination race has tightened at the top, each Democratic candidate tested by a Fox poll bests Trump in hypothetical head-to-heads. Trump lags behind Biden by 9 points (50-41 percent) and Bloomberg by 8 (49-41). Those leads are outside the poll’s margin of error. Biden leads Trump by 17 points among women, while the two tie among men. And Trump is up by 14 points among white men,

Season two has arrived! There are so many things to catch up on, where to start? JK it's obviously impeachment. The ladies smoke Kritical AF and sit down with dear friend of the pod, Greer Stone. He's a delegate for the California Democratic party and is running for Palo Alto City Council. Greer took Sam to the Democratic Party's Presidential Forum where they partied hard for democracy. You guessed it, they're all hungover. Will Sam, Tianna, & Greer cure their hangovers? Will Roger Stone go to jail (yes)? Does Sam want Tom Steyer to be President (maybe)? Tune in & light up!

On Episode #24 of "CAN YOU HEAR ME, LONG BEACH?" we get a little bit political as a good portion of the newsroom crammed around the table to talk about the just completed California Democratic Party State Convention, that turned out to be kinda fun, you know, when people weren't hitting each other with transportation devices. Brian Addison, Thomas Cordova, Kelly Puente, Stephanie Rivera and publisher David Sommers(!) join Steve Lowery to talk about all the behind the scenes, scenes, including Mayors on Parade, why so may people seemed to have a really hard time with a cute little story Brian wrote about restaurants and why, once again, so many folks are mad for Bernie.

California Democrats head to Southern California this weekend for their endorsing convention. One question CapRadio’s Ben Adler will be asking is: Is California less important for candidates running for president than it was just a few months ago?

Ryan, Morgan, and Felix discuss California Rep. Katie Hill's announcement that she's resigning from Congress following allegations that she had inappropriate relationships with subordinates.

Bipartisan Senate Report: Russia Likely Targeted U.S. Election System In All 50 States In 2016; Senate Intel Report Warns Of Ongoing Election Cyberattack As GOP Block Security Bills; Senate Report: "Extensive" Russian Election Interference Going Back To 2014; Senate Intel report: DHS, FBI Warnings To All 50 States On Threat Of 2016 Russian Election Hacking Insufficient; Dems Weigh Impeachment In Wake Of Mueller Hearing; Sources: Speaker Pelosi Not Taking Impeachment Off The Table, But Wants To Move Forward With Court Action First; Report: Pelosi Rebuffs Nadler On Impeachment Push; Barr Orders Restart Of Federal Executions After 16 Years; CA Governor: Pres. Trump's Treatment Of Asylum Seekers Creates "Fear, Anxiety, And Anger To Gin Up His Base"; EPA Spokesman Call New CA Deal To Raise Fuel Efficiency A "PR Stunt"; Biden Says He's Changing His Game Plan Ahead Of Democratic Debates; Joe Biden Says He Plans On Not Being "As Polite" During Next Week's Democratic Debate; Biden's Shifting Strategy; Not The Real Seal; The Deal On The Seal; How Trump Got On Stage With A Fake Presidential Seal

This episode talks all about how the California Primary for the Democratic Nominee affects the Presidential race, for better or for worse. But even in a state that is deep blue, the Democrats are not without their problems. There is a war going on nationally and locally within the Democratic Party of which faction wins. Is it the establishment, corporatist, faction or the far left socialist faction? And if the Democratic Party chooses a California style Democrat for President, how badly will they be beaten in the general election? Links California Democratic Party Is A Mess https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2019/06/06/popcorn-the-california-democratic-party-is-a-total-chaotic-mess-n2547722 President Trump More Popular Than Democratic State Legislature https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/cody-leach/president-trump-more-popular-california-democrat-legislature CA Will Pick Next President? https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/California-probably-will-pick-next-president-13896017.php?psid=8IMAR CA Will Set Democratic Presidential Nominee Agenda https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-california-sets-national-presidential-agenda-in-2020-20190527-story.html

On this episode of the "Where Did You Get This Number?", Anthony and CBS News political correspondent Ed O'Keefe discuss the California Democratic convention and what it means for the 2020 presidential race.

On June 5th, 1968, at L.A.'s Ambassador Hotel, Robert F. Kennedy celebrated his victory in the California Democratic primary with a rousing victory speech anticipating a successful run for the presidency. Moments later, gunshots shattered that dream. The police quickly apprehended Sirhan Sirhan, who the world believed had single-handedly masterminded the shooting. But in Who Killed Bobby? Shane O'Sullivan makes a stunning case that will fundamentally alter the way the public views Bobby Kennedy's death. After an autopsy, LA County Coroner Thomas Noguchi concluded that the deadly shots had been fired from an inch behind Kennedy's right ear, but not a single witness placed Sirhan this close; most placed his gun several feet away, and in front of the senator. Moreover, Vincent Di Pierro, along with several other witnesses, saw Sirhan with a girl in a polka-dot dress in the pantry, exclaiming, "We shot him. We shot him." O'Sullivan presents new interviews with key witnesses the LAPD browbeat into changing their storie See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kimberly Ellis Candidate for California Democratic Chair Makes Her Case

Longtime San Jose Rep. Zoe Lofgren, chair of the California Democratic delegation and an immigration subcommittee, is settling in as the head of the often under-the-radar House Administration Committee — a role nicknamed “mayor of Capitol Hill.” It’s All Political caught up with her to talk about her new roles in the Democratic majority and what she’s looking forward to this Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OMG you're reading these show notes!!!! Let's play a game!!!! Ready?! Tweet a photo of your favorite politician (real or imaginary) with the phrase "My Favorite Schmolitician." Tag @schmoliticsshow and @schmolitics. ************ Schmolitics Special Guest Daraka Larimore-Hall @DarakaforCDPChair and @DarakaKenric, candidate for Chair and current Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party. And Dan runs for reelection as an assembly district delegate! What does the California Democratic do, exactly? Whatever you know or don’t know about the California Democratic Party, this is for you. Since California is run by Democrats, does that mean the chair of the California Democratic Party is actually running our state, like China’s one-party rule? And, how do the decisions made at the top of the party ripple down to your neighborhood and vice versa? ************ Thank you to Daraka Larimore-Hall @DarakaforCDPChair Thank you to Jeremy Lee for editing this episode and for late-night collaborating!! ************ Schmolitics is Dan Gordon, LA-based progressive, voiceover artist, and communications for Beth Finn for Philadelphia City Council. ************ You are what makes Schmolitics happen. To hear this and every episode, become a Schmolitics member on Patreton.com.  

On June 5th, 1968, at L.A.'s Ambassador Hotel, Robert F. Kennedy celebrated his victory in the California Democratic primary with a rousing victory speech anticipating a successful run for the presidency. Moments later, gunshots shattered that dream. The police quickly apprehended Sirhan Sirhan, who the world believed had single-handedly masterminded the shooting. But in Who Killed Bobby? Shane O'Sullivan makes a stunning case that will fundamentally alter the way the public views Bobby Kennedy's death. After an autopsy, LA County Coroner Thomas Noguchi concluded that the deadly shots had been fired from an inch behind Kennedy's right ear, but not a single witness placed Sirhan this close; most placed his gun several feet away, and in front of the senator. Moreover, Vincent Di Pierro, along with several other witnesses, saw Sirhan with a girl in a polka-dot dress in the pantry, exclaiming, "We shot him. We shot him." O'Sullivan presents new interviews with key witnesses the LAPD browbeat into changing their stories. He also presents a damning case against Sirhan’s psychological state. Sirhan repeatedly scrawled "RFK Must Die" in his notebook and recreated the same kind of automatic writing when later hypnotized by his defense team. O'Sullivan cites psychiatric evidence that Sirhan was an extremely susceptible hypnotic subject, whose behavior on the night of the shooting fit the profile of a programmed assassin. Was Sirhan programmed to be a decoy for the real killer? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike and Joe join the show / The hosts are tired / Alex Jones Clips of week / Teddy Spaghetti calls in / The Dangers of 5G / Mircowave Radiation and 5G / Military Data Service / Goofy News / The Doo-Doo Butt Criminal / The Door Bell Licker / Ed Buck Donor loves drugs / k-Dog calls in for 10mins / Max Spiers Death Update / Kim Dotcom Deep State Tease / Chris from TN calls in / End #### 5G Network #### 5G Network: What it is and when we can expect it https://www.theindychannel.com/news/technology/5g-network-what-it-is-and-when-we-can-expect-it 20,000 Satellites for 5G to be Launched Sending Focused Beams of Intense Microwave Radiation Over Entire Earth http://healthimpactnews.com/2019/20000-satellites-for-5g-to-be-launched-sending-focused-beams-of-intense-microwave-radiation-over-entire-earth/ 5G: The Conspiracy Theories https://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1333537 At CES 2019, 5G is even more of a confusing mess than ever https://www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/5g-is-even-more-of-a-confusing-mess-than-ever-at-ces-2019/ #### CONSPIRACY NEWS #### ‘A Needy, Dishonest Ufologist’: Was Rendelsham A UFO Prank? https://hayleyisaghost.co.uk/a-needy-dishonest-ufologist-a-rendelsham-prankster/ Conspiracy theorist Max Spiers ‘died after taking anxiety drug’ https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/07/conspiracy-theorist-max-spiers-died-taking-anxiety-drug-poland The wildest conspiracy theories of 2018 https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2019/01/the-wildest-conspiracy-theories-of-2018.html “The Criminals Who Run The Deep State Will Be Exposed”: Kim Dotcom Teases “Next Round Of Leaks” https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-05/criminals-who-run-deep-state-will-be-exposed-kim-dotcom-teases-next-round-leaks #### STRANGE NEWS #### Prowler spent three hours licking doorbell at California home https://abc7chicago.com/5033932/ Police Arrest Anthony ‘Doo-Doo Butt’ Ward For Road Rage-Style Shooting https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2019/01/08/anthony-doo-doo-butt-ward-arrested-baltimore-shooting/ Waffle House employees fired after pouring food on passed-out customer, sharing video online https://www.ajc.com/news/local/waffle-house-employees-pour-food-passed-out-customer-share-video-online-victim-says/lw0xO17iSNzdmXwgL2Q0dI/ Protesters demand California Democratic megadonor Ed Buck’s arrest amid second man found dead in his apartment https://www.foxnews.com/us/second-body-found-in-home-of-democratic-megadonor-ed-buck-in-california New Challenge Wants Kids to Pretend to Run Away From Home https://www.fatherly.com/news/48-hour-challenge-fake-own-kidnapping/ #### WORLD #### Brazil ‘miracle’ healer, profiled by Oprah, to face rape trial https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-crime-faith-healer-idUSKCN1P321T Taiwan president calls for international support against Chinese threats https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna955036 Australia confirm limited overs tour of India in preparation for World Cup https://www.sportingnews.com/au/cricket/news/australia-tour-of-india-t20-odi-world-cup/110m5oed57k6b1bneaotbms827 #### FOLLOW UP #### Kevin Spacey in court on groping charge - BBC News https://youtu.be/eX8bsehqzs4 Kevin Spacey is plotting a comeback — and ‘is still getting acting offers’ https://pagesix.com/2019/01/05/kevin-spacey-is-still-getting-acting-offers/ Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. ▀▄▀▄▀ LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀ ► Phone: 614-388-9109 ► Website: http://obdmpod.com ► Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/obdm ► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ourbigdumbmouth ► YouTube 2nd Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj4SPfo5ySkEnyaQAW5zvA ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/obdmpod ► Instagram: obdmpod ► RSS: http://ourbigdumbmouth.libsyn.com/rss ► iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-big-dumb-mouth/id261189509?mt=2 ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/obdmpod ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/obdmnews ► Everything we do could be considered performance art ► Satire and Parody are often used

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and Nicole Roussell (sitting in for John Kiriakou) are joined by Dr. Gerald Horne, a professor of history at the University of Houston and author of many books, including “Blows Against the Empire: U.S. Imperialism in Crisis.” and “The Deepest South: The United States, Brazil, and the African Slave Trade.”Today marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Robert F. Kennedy. His murder occurred just hours after he won the California Democratic primary. Kennedy probably would have gone on to win the 1968 election, and then, probably would have ended the Vietnam War. How would the world have been different if Robert Kennedy had lived? Beyond Nuclear with Kevin Kamps is Loud & Clear’s regular Wednesday segment. The hosts and Kevin look at nuclear issues, including weapons, energy, waste, and the future of nuclear technology in the United States. Today they focus on Trump’s massive up-to-$11-billion-annually bailout of coal and nuclear plants. Kevin Kamps, the Radioactive Waste Watchdog at the organization Beyond Nuclear, joins the show. James “Mad Dog” Mattis is in Europe today meeting with European powers. What’s he there for? According to one Newsweek headline, “Trump Administration Tells NATO Prepare for Russian Attack with Planes, Ships, and Troops.” Brian and John speak with Mark Sleboda, he is an international affairs and security analyst. Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe has requested from Sen Chuck Grassley immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying in front of a congressional hearing. Ted Rall, an award-winning editorial cartoonist and columnist, joins the show. Yesterday, Tuesday, June 5, was a big day for the midterms. There were primaries in eight states, including five gubernatorial primaries and House races across California. Nathalie Hrizi, a teacher/librarian who ran on the Peace & Freedom Party ticket for state insurance commissioner in California and received over 5% of the statewide vote, and Kevin Akin, the California State chair of the Peace and Freedom Party who ran for state treasurer, join Brian and Nicole. Turkey and the US struck a deal this week over the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units, the YPG. Turkey has long wanted YPG out of Manbij, and threatened to continue its offensive in Afrin and push it east to Manbij. But this week, the two countries have agreed that the YPG will leave the area. Ambassador Peter Ford, the former British Ambassador to Syria, joins the show.Jeff Sessions defended the Trump Administration’s policy yesterday of separating families at the border, saying, “If people don’t want to be separated from their children, they should not bring them with them.” Brian and John speak with Isabel Garcia, co-founder of Coalición de Derechos Humanos who wrote on Sessions’ comments today in the Arizona Daily Star.

Fifty years ago, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot in the kitchen pantry of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, moments after winning the California Democratic primary. A lone gunman was captured at the scene, pistol in hand. Police said the case was open and shut. But was it? Meet Bill Klaber (author, Shadow Play) - a researcher who has a very different idea of what happened on June 5, 1968. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fifty years ago, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot in the kitchen pantry of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, moments after winning the California Democratic primary. A lone gunman was captured at the scene, pistol in hand. Police said the case was open and shut. But was it? Meet Bill Klaber (author, Shadow Play) - a researcher who has a very different idea of what happened on June 5, 1968.

Jessica Craven on working with the California Democratic Environmental Caucus.   Hear more from Jessica: Jessica Craven on canvassing. Jessica Craven on whether or not she worries about how she's perceived. Jessica Craven on what her mother taught her about women's roles in society. Jessica Craven on the woman she would choose to be for one day.   More info about Jess. Learn more about The Passionistas Project.

It's an action-packed podcast. Jonathan looks at the daily stealing of workers' wages, to the tune of billions of dollars—right in time for an annual deep-dive to look at a big hike in CEO pay in 2016. There is also breaking news on what could be another chapter in Democratic Party insider shenanigans—was there fraud in the recent California Democratic state party elections? Jonathan also pauses to comment on Memorial Day—a day when the nation forgets that leaders like Henry Kissinger ignited the wars that killed so many people, committing war crimes along the way. Jonathan Tasini Follow me on Twitter @jonathantasini Sign up for The Working Life Podcast at: www.workinglife.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jonathan.tasini.3

Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear on radioactive waste storage problems, options, how we got in this mess and what if anything can be done about it. BREAKING NEWS - NRC freezes all nuclear reactor construction and operating licenses! PLUS: San Diego's COPS (Citizens Oversight Projects) challenges San Onofre's failure to review steam generator failure (Go, Ray Lutz!); California Democratic party calls for independent design review before restart can be considered; Prime Minister "The Pendulum" Noda agrees to meet with protestors, then cancels, says Japan's nuke future will be decided by end of month, then says maybe not; TEPCO games radiation monitors in Fukushima, while radiation showing up 300x normal in mushrooms 80 miles from the damaged reactors; and Mochizuki Iori from Fukushima Diary does the math: the radiation released from Fukushima equals 168 Hiroshima-type a-bombs... and they did it to themselves.

Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear on radioactive waste storage problems, options, how we got in this mess and what if anything can be done about it. BREAKING NEWS - NRC freezes all nuclear reactor construction and operating licenses! PLUS: San Diego's COPS (Citizens Oversight Projects) challenges San Onofre's failure to review steam generator failure (Go, Ray Lutz!); California Democratic party calls for independent design review before restart can be considered; Prime Minister "The Pendulum" Noda agrees to meet with protestors, then cancels, says Japan's nuke future will be decided by end of month, then says maybe not; TEPCO games radiation monitors in Fukushima, while radiation showing up 300x normal in mushrooms 80 miles from the damaged reactors; and Mochizuki Iori from Fukushima Diary does the math: the radiation released from Fukushima equals 168 Hiroshima-type a-bombs... and they did it to themselves.