Podcasts about Community policing

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 56:56

In this masterful, groundbreaking work Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage (Pantheon, 2026), Pulitzer Prize-winning author Heather Ann Thompson shines surprising new light on an infamous 1984 New York subway shooting that would unveil simmering racial resentments and would lead, in unexpected ways, to a fractured future and a new era of rage and violence. On December 22, 1984, in a graffiti-covered New York City subway car, passengers looked on in horror as a white loner named Bernhard Goetz shot four Black teens, Darrell Cabey, Barry Allen, Troy Canty, and James Ramseur, at point-blank range. He then disappeared into a dark tunnel. After an intense manhunt, and his eventual surrender in New Hampshire, the man the tabloid media had dubbed the “Death Wish Vigilante” would become a celebrity and a hero to countless ordinary Americans who had been frustrated with the economic fallout of the Reagan 80s. Overnight, Goetz's young victims would become villains. Out of this dramatic moment would emerge an angry nation, in which Rupert Murdoch's New York Post and later Fox News Network stoked the fear and the fury of a stunning number of Americans. Drawing from never-before-seen archival materials, legal files, and more, Heather Ann Thompson narrates the Bernie Goetz Subway shootings and their decades-long reverberations, while deftly recovering the lives of the boys whom too many decided didn't matter. Fear and Fury is the remarkable account and a searing indictment of a crucial turning point in American history. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

american new york university fear black new york city americans drawing bernie sanders new hampshire fury rebirth pulitzer prize toledo overnight new york post shootings rupert murdoch pantheon wildcat eighties goetz barry allen community policing pennsylvania press white rage fox news network heather ann thompson bernhard goetz bernie goetz

Heather Ann Thompson, "Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage" (Pantheon, 2026)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 56:56

In this masterful, groundbreaking work Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage (Pantheon, 2026), Pulitzer Prize-winning author Heather Ann Thompson shines surprising new light on an infamous 1984 New York subway shooting that would unveil simmering racial resentments and would lead, in unexpected ways, to a fractured future and a new era of rage and violence. On December 22, 1984, in a graffiti-covered New York City subway car, passengers looked on in horror as a white loner named Bernhard Goetz shot four Black teens, Darrell Cabey, Barry Allen, Troy Canty, and James Ramseur, at point-blank range. He then disappeared into a dark tunnel. After an intense manhunt, and his eventual surrender in New Hampshire, the man the tabloid media had dubbed the “Death Wish Vigilante” would become a celebrity and a hero to countless ordinary Americans who had been frustrated with the economic fallout of the Reagan 80s. Overnight, Goetz's young victims would become villains. Out of this dramatic moment would emerge an angry nation, in which Rupert Murdoch's New York Post and later Fox News Network stoked the fear and the fury of a stunning number of Americans. Drawing from never-before-seen archival materials, legal files, and more, Heather Ann Thompson narrates the Bernie Goetz Subway shootings and their decades-long reverberations, while deftly recovering the lives of the boys whom too many decided didn't matter. Fear and Fury is the remarkable account and a searing indictment of a crucial turning point in American history. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

american new york university fear black new york city americans drawing bernie sanders new hampshire fury rebirth pulitzer prize toledo overnight new york post shootings rupert murdoch pantheon wildcat eighties goetz barry allen community policing pennsylvania press white rage fox news network heather ann thompson bernhard goetz bernie goetz

Heather Ann Thompson, "Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage" (Pantheon, 2026)

New Books in American Politics

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 56:56

In this masterful, groundbreaking work Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage (Pantheon, 2026), Pulitzer Prize-winning author Heather Ann Thompson shines surprising new light on an infamous 1984 New York subway shooting that would unveil simmering racial resentments and would lead, in unexpected ways, to a fractured future and a new era of rage and violence. On December 22, 1984, in a graffiti-covered New York City subway car, passengers looked on in horror as a white loner named Bernhard Goetz shot four Black teens, Darrell Cabey, Barry Allen, Troy Canty, and James Ramseur, at point-blank range. He then disappeared into a dark tunnel. After an intense manhunt, and his eventual surrender in New Hampshire, the man the tabloid media had dubbed the “Death Wish Vigilante” would become a celebrity and a hero to countless ordinary Americans who had been frustrated with the economic fallout of the Reagan 80s. Overnight, Goetz's young victims would become villains. Out of this dramatic moment would emerge an angry nation, in which Rupert Murdoch's New York Post and later Fox News Network stoked the fear and the fury of a stunning number of Americans. Drawing from never-before-seen archival materials, legal files, and more, Heather Ann Thompson narrates the Bernie Goetz Subway shootings and their decades-long reverberations, while deftly recovering the lives of the boys whom too many decided didn't matter. Fear and Fury is the remarkable account and a searing indictment of a crucial turning point in American history. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

american new york university fear black new york city americans drawing bernie sanders new hampshire fury rebirth pulitzer prize toledo overnight new york post shootings rupert murdoch pantheon wildcat eighties goetz barry allen community policing pennsylvania press white rage fox news network heather ann thompson bernhard goetz bernie goetz

Heather Ann Thompson, "Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage" (Pantheon, 2026)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 56:56

In this masterful, groundbreaking work Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage (Pantheon, 2026), Pulitzer Prize-winning author Heather Ann Thompson shines surprising new light on an infamous 1984 New York subway shooting that would unveil simmering racial resentments and would lead, in unexpected ways, to a fractured future and a new era of rage and violence. On December 22, 1984, in a graffiti-covered New York City subway car, passengers looked on in horror as a white loner named Bernhard Goetz shot four Black teens, Darrell Cabey, Barry Allen, Troy Canty, and James Ramseur, at point-blank range. He then disappeared into a dark tunnel. After an intense manhunt, and his eventual surrender in New Hampshire, the man the tabloid media had dubbed the “Death Wish Vigilante” would become a celebrity and a hero to countless ordinary Americans who had been frustrated with the economic fallout of the Reagan 80s. Overnight, Goetz's young victims would become villains. Out of this dramatic moment would emerge an angry nation, in which Rupert Murdoch's New York Post and later Fox News Network stoked the fear and the fury of a stunning number of Americans. Drawing from never-before-seen archival materials, legal files, and more, Heather Ann Thompson narrates the Bernie Goetz Subway shootings and their decades-long reverberations, while deftly recovering the lives of the boys whom too many decided didn't matter. Fear and Fury is the remarkable account and a searing indictment of a crucial turning point in American history. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

american new york university fear black new york city americans drawing bernie sanders new hampshire fury rebirth pulitzer prize toledo overnight new york post shootings rupert murdoch pantheon wildcat eighties goetz barry allen community policing pennsylvania press white rage fox news network heather ann thompson bernhard goetz bernie goetz

Garrett Felber, "A Continuous Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre" (AK Press, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2026 54:32

The first biography of the revolutionary political prisoner who laid the foundation for contemporary abolitionist struggles and Black anarchism. A Continuous Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre (AK Press, 2025) is a political biography of one of the most important revolutionary figures of the twentieth century in the United States. Martin Sostre (1923–2015) was a Black Puerto Rican from East Harlem who became a politicized prisoner and jailhouse lawyer, winning cases in the early 1960s that helped secure the constitutional rights of incarcerated people. He opened one of the country's first radical Black bookstores and was scapegoated and framed by police and the FBI following the Buffalo rebellion of 1967. He was sentenced by an all-white jury to thirty-one to forty-one years. Throughout his nine-year imprisonment, Sostre transformed himself and the revolutionary movements he was a part of, eventually identifying as a revolutionary anarchist and laying the foundation for contemporary Black anarchism. During that time, he engaged in principled resistance to strip frisks for which he was beaten eleven times, raising awareness about the routinized sexual assault of imprisoned people. The decade-long Free Martin Sostre movement was one of the greatest and most improbable defense campaign victories of the Black Power era, alongside those to liberate Angela Davis and Huey Newton. Although Sostre receded from public view after his release in 1976, he lived another four decades of committed struggle as a tenant organizer and youth mentor in New York and New Jersey. Throughout his long life, Martin Sostre was a jailhouse lawyer, revolutionary bookseller, yogi, mentor and teacher, anti-rape organizer, housing justice activist, and original political thinker. The variety of strategies he used and terrains on which he struggled emphasize the necessity and possibility of multi-faceted and continuous struggle against all forms of oppression in pursuit of an egalitarian society founded on the principles of “maximum human freedom, spirituality, and love.” Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

united states new york university black struggle new jersey fbi buffalo revolutionary toledo continuous wildcat black power angela davis east harlem community policing pennsylvania press huey newton felber ak press sostre

Garrett Felber, "A Continuous Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre" (AK Press, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2026 54:32

The first biography of the revolutionary political prisoner who laid the foundation for contemporary abolitionist struggles and Black anarchism. A Continuous Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre (AK Press, 2025) is a political biography of one of the most important revolutionary figures of the twentieth century in the United States. Martin Sostre (1923–2015) was a Black Puerto Rican from East Harlem who became a politicized prisoner and jailhouse lawyer, winning cases in the early 1960s that helped secure the constitutional rights of incarcerated people. He opened one of the country's first radical Black bookstores and was scapegoated and framed by police and the FBI following the Buffalo rebellion of 1967. He was sentenced by an all-white jury to thirty-one to forty-one years. Throughout his nine-year imprisonment, Sostre transformed himself and the revolutionary movements he was a part of, eventually identifying as a revolutionary anarchist and laying the foundation for contemporary Black anarchism. During that time, he engaged in principled resistance to strip frisks for which he was beaten eleven times, raising awareness about the routinized sexual assault of imprisoned people. The decade-long Free Martin Sostre movement was one of the greatest and most improbable defense campaign victories of the Black Power era, alongside those to liberate Angela Davis and Huey Newton. Although Sostre receded from public view after his release in 1976, he lived another four decades of committed struggle as a tenant organizer and youth mentor in New York and New Jersey. Throughout his long life, Martin Sostre was a jailhouse lawyer, revolutionary bookseller, yogi, mentor and teacher, anti-rape organizer, housing justice activist, and original political thinker. The variety of strategies he used and terrains on which he struggled emphasize the necessity and possibility of multi-faceted and continuous struggle against all forms of oppression in pursuit of an egalitarian society founded on the principles of “maximum human freedom, spirituality, and love.” Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

united states new york university black struggle new jersey fbi buffalo revolutionary toledo continuous wildcat black power angela davis east harlem community policing pennsylvania press huey newton felber ak press sostre

Garrett Felber, "A Continuous Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre" (AK Press, 2025)

New Books in Biography

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2026 54:32

The first biography of the revolutionary political prisoner who laid the foundation for contemporary abolitionist struggles and Black anarchism. A Continuous Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre (AK Press, 2025) is a political biography of one of the most important revolutionary figures of the twentieth century in the United States. Martin Sostre (1923–2015) was a Black Puerto Rican from East Harlem who became a politicized prisoner and jailhouse lawyer, winning cases in the early 1960s that helped secure the constitutional rights of incarcerated people. He opened one of the country's first radical Black bookstores and was scapegoated and framed by police and the FBI following the Buffalo rebellion of 1967. He was sentenced by an all-white jury to thirty-one to forty-one years. Throughout his nine-year imprisonment, Sostre transformed himself and the revolutionary movements he was a part of, eventually identifying as a revolutionary anarchist and laying the foundation for contemporary Black anarchism. During that time, he engaged in principled resistance to strip frisks for which he was beaten eleven times, raising awareness about the routinized sexual assault of imprisoned people. The decade-long Free Martin Sostre movement was one of the greatest and most improbable defense campaign victories of the Black Power era, alongside those to liberate Angela Davis and Huey Newton. Although Sostre receded from public view after his release in 1976, he lived another four decades of committed struggle as a tenant organizer and youth mentor in New York and New Jersey. Throughout his long life, Martin Sostre was a jailhouse lawyer, revolutionary bookseller, yogi, mentor and teacher, anti-rape organizer, housing justice activist, and original political thinker. The variety of strategies he used and terrains on which he struggled emphasize the necessity and possibility of multi-faceted and continuous struggle against all forms of oppression in pursuit of an egalitarian society founded on the principles of “maximum human freedom, spirituality, and love.” Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

united states new york university black struggle new jersey fbi buffalo revolutionary toledo continuous wildcat black power angela davis east harlem community policing pennsylvania press huey newton felber ak press sostre

Garrett Felber, "A Continuous Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre" (AK Press, 2025)

New Books in American Politics

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2026 54:32

The first biography of the revolutionary political prisoner who laid the foundation for contemporary abolitionist struggles and Black anarchism. A Continuous Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre (AK Press, 2025) is a political biography of one of the most important revolutionary figures of the twentieth century in the United States. Martin Sostre (1923–2015) was a Black Puerto Rican from East Harlem who became a politicized prisoner and jailhouse lawyer, winning cases in the early 1960s that helped secure the constitutional rights of incarcerated people. He opened one of the country's first radical Black bookstores and was scapegoated and framed by police and the FBI following the Buffalo rebellion of 1967. He was sentenced by an all-white jury to thirty-one to forty-one years. Throughout his nine-year imprisonment, Sostre transformed himself and the revolutionary movements he was a part of, eventually identifying as a revolutionary anarchist and laying the foundation for contemporary Black anarchism. During that time, he engaged in principled resistance to strip frisks for which he was beaten eleven times, raising awareness about the routinized sexual assault of imprisoned people. The decade-long Free Martin Sostre movement was one of the greatest and most improbable defense campaign victories of the Black Power era, alongside those to liberate Angela Davis and Huey Newton. Although Sostre receded from public view after his release in 1976, he lived another four decades of committed struggle as a tenant organizer and youth mentor in New York and New Jersey. Throughout his long life, Martin Sostre was a jailhouse lawyer, revolutionary bookseller, yogi, mentor and teacher, anti-rape organizer, housing justice activist, and original political thinker. The variety of strategies he used and terrains on which he struggled emphasize the necessity and possibility of multi-faceted and continuous struggle against all forms of oppression in pursuit of an egalitarian society founded on the principles of “maximum human freedom, spirituality, and love.” Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

united states new york university black struggle new jersey fbi buffalo revolutionary toledo continuous wildcat black power angela davis east harlem community policing pennsylvania press huey newton felber ak press sostre

Garrett Felber, "A Continuous Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre" (AK Press, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2026 54:32

The first biography of the revolutionary political prisoner who laid the foundation for contemporary abolitionist struggles and Black anarchism. A Continuous Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre (AK Press, 2025) is a political biography of one of the most important revolutionary figures of the twentieth century in the United States. Martin Sostre (1923–2015) was a Black Puerto Rican from East Harlem who became a politicized prisoner and jailhouse lawyer, winning cases in the early 1960s that helped secure the constitutional rights of incarcerated people. He opened one of the country's first radical Black bookstores and was scapegoated and framed by police and the FBI following the Buffalo rebellion of 1967. He was sentenced by an all-white jury to thirty-one to forty-one years. Throughout his nine-year imprisonment, Sostre transformed himself and the revolutionary movements he was a part of, eventually identifying as a revolutionary anarchist and laying the foundation for contemporary Black anarchism. During that time, he engaged in principled resistance to strip frisks for which he was beaten eleven times, raising awareness about the routinized sexual assault of imprisoned people. The decade-long Free Martin Sostre movement was one of the greatest and most improbable defense campaign victories of the Black Power era, alongside those to liberate Angela Davis and Huey Newton. Although Sostre receded from public view after his release in 1976, he lived another four decades of committed struggle as a tenant organizer and youth mentor in New York and New Jersey. Throughout his long life, Martin Sostre was a jailhouse lawyer, revolutionary bookseller, yogi, mentor and teacher, anti-rape organizer, housing justice activist, and original political thinker. The variety of strategies he used and terrains on which he struggled emphasize the necessity and possibility of multi-faceted and continuous struggle against all forms of oppression in pursuit of an egalitarian society founded on the principles of “maximum human freedom, spirituality, and love.” Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

united states new york university black struggle new jersey fbi buffalo revolutionary toledo continuous wildcat black power angela davis east harlem community policing pennsylvania press huey newton felber ak press sostre

Garrett Felber, "A Continuous Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre" (AK Press, 2025)

New Books in Policing, Incarceration, and Reform

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2026 54:32

The first biography of the revolutionary political prisoner who laid the foundation for contemporary abolitionist struggles and Black anarchism. A Continuous Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre (AK Press, 2025) is a political biography of one of the most important revolutionary figures of the twentieth century in the United States. Martin Sostre (1923–2015) was a Black Puerto Rican from East Harlem who became a politicized prisoner and jailhouse lawyer, winning cases in the early 1960s that helped secure the constitutional rights of incarcerated people. He opened one of the country's first radical Black bookstores and was scapegoated and framed by police and the FBI following the Buffalo rebellion of 1967. He was sentenced by an all-white jury to thirty-one to forty-one years. Throughout his nine-year imprisonment, Sostre transformed himself and the revolutionary movements he was a part of, eventually identifying as a revolutionary anarchist and laying the foundation for contemporary Black anarchism. During that time, he engaged in principled resistance to strip frisks for which he was beaten eleven times, raising awareness about the routinized sexual assault of imprisoned people. The decade-long Free Martin Sostre movement was one of the greatest and most improbable defense campaign victories of the Black Power era, alongside those to liberate Angela Davis and Huey Newton. Although Sostre receded from public view after his release in 1976, he lived another four decades of committed struggle as a tenant organizer and youth mentor in New York and New Jersey. Throughout his long life, Martin Sostre was a jailhouse lawyer, revolutionary bookseller, yogi, mentor and teacher, anti-rape organizer, housing justice activist, and original political thinker. The variety of strategies he used and terrains on which he struggled emphasize the necessity and possibility of multi-faceted and continuous struggle against all forms of oppression in pursuit of an egalitarian society founded on the principles of “maximum human freedom, spirituality, and love.” Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

united states new york university black struggle new jersey fbi buffalo revolutionary toledo continuous black power angela davis east harlem community policing pennsylvania press huey newton felber ak press sostre

Michael Casiano, "Let Us Alone: The Origins of Baltimore's Police State" (U Illinois Press, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2026 80:15

The racist roots of modern policing in Baltimore By the early twentieth century, postbellum assaults on civil rights and the advent of Jim Crow expanded Baltimore's law enforcement into a vast network designed to oppress Black people. Michael Casiano's history charts the institutional consolidation of the city's post–Civil War police state. Authorities in Baltimore organized and established municipal power in distinct but connected sites that included jails, areas of political and social activism, public schools, street corners, courtrooms, and homes. Casiano analyzes policing in light of two parallel and inextricable realities of the city's governance. First, policing evolved from an inefficient and vigilante-driven system into a modern and paramilitary endeavor focused on suppressing citizens and maximizing the power, wealth, and reach of capitalists. Second, decades of racial antagonism shaped Baltimore policing into an apparatus primarily oriented around subduing Black freedom. A compelling urban history, Let Us Alone: The Origins of Baltimore's Police State (U Illinois Press, 2025) uses voices from all levels of society to examine police power, incarceration, and the perils of being Black in post–Civil War Baltimore. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

university black baltimore origins civil war toledo authorities jim crow wildcat police state community policing illinois press pennsylvania press state u casiano

Michael Casiano, "Let Us Alone: The Origins of Baltimore's Police State" (U Illinois Press, 2025)

New Books in History

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2026 80:15

The racist roots of modern policing in Baltimore By the early twentieth century, postbellum assaults on civil rights and the advent of Jim Crow expanded Baltimore's law enforcement into a vast network designed to oppress Black people. Michael Casiano's history charts the institutional consolidation of the city's post–Civil War police state. Authorities in Baltimore organized and established municipal power in distinct but connected sites that included jails, areas of political and social activism, public schools, street corners, courtrooms, and homes. Casiano analyzes policing in light of two parallel and inextricable realities of the city's governance. First, policing evolved from an inefficient and vigilante-driven system into a modern and paramilitary endeavor focused on suppressing citizens and maximizing the power, wealth, and reach of capitalists. Second, decades of racial antagonism shaped Baltimore policing into an apparatus primarily oriented around subduing Black freedom. A compelling urban history, Let Us Alone: The Origins of Baltimore's Police State (U Illinois Press, 2025) uses voices from all levels of society to examine police power, incarceration, and the perils of being Black in post–Civil War Baltimore. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

university black baltimore origins civil war toledo authorities jim crow wildcat police state community policing illinois press pennsylvania press state u casiano

Michael Casiano, "Let Us Alone: The Origins of Baltimore's Police State" (U Illinois Press, 2025)

New Books in Urban Studies

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2026 80:15

The racist roots of modern policing in Baltimore By the early twentieth century, postbellum assaults on civil rights and the advent of Jim Crow expanded Baltimore's law enforcement into a vast network designed to oppress Black people. Michael Casiano's history charts the institutional consolidation of the city's post–Civil War police state. Authorities in Baltimore organized and established municipal power in distinct but connected sites that included jails, areas of political and social activism, public schools, street corners, courtrooms, and homes. Casiano analyzes policing in light of two parallel and inextricable realities of the city's governance. First, policing evolved from an inefficient and vigilante-driven system into a modern and paramilitary endeavor focused on suppressing citizens and maximizing the power, wealth, and reach of capitalists. Second, decades of racial antagonism shaped Baltimore policing into an apparatus primarily oriented around subduing Black freedom. A compelling urban history, Let Us Alone: The Origins of Baltimore's Police State (U Illinois Press, 2025) uses voices from all levels of society to examine police power, incarceration, and the perils of being Black in post–Civil War Baltimore. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

university black baltimore origins civil war toledo authorities jim crow wildcat police state community policing illinois press pennsylvania press state u casiano

Michael Casiano, "Let Us Alone: The Origins of Baltimore's Police State" (U Illinois Press, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2026 80:15

The racist roots of modern policing in Baltimore By the early twentieth century, postbellum assaults on civil rights and the advent of Jim Crow expanded Baltimore's law enforcement into a vast network designed to oppress Black people. Michael Casiano's history charts the institutional consolidation of the city's post–Civil War police state. Authorities in Baltimore organized and established municipal power in distinct but connected sites that included jails, areas of political and social activism, public schools, street corners, courtrooms, and homes. Casiano analyzes policing in light of two parallel and inextricable realities of the city's governance. First, policing evolved from an inefficient and vigilante-driven system into a modern and paramilitary endeavor focused on suppressing citizens and maximizing the power, wealth, and reach of capitalists. Second, decades of racial antagonism shaped Baltimore policing into an apparatus primarily oriented around subduing Black freedom. A compelling urban history, Let Us Alone: The Origins of Baltimore's Police State (U Illinois Press, 2025) uses voices from all levels of society to examine police power, incarceration, and the perils of being Black in post–Civil War Baltimore. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

university black baltimore origins civil war toledo authorities jim crow wildcat police state community policing illinois press pennsylvania press state u casiano

Michael Casiano, "Let Us Alone: The Origins of Baltimore's Police State" (U Illinois Press, 2025)

New Books in Policing, Incarceration, and Reform

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2026 80:15

The racist roots of modern policing in Baltimore By the early twentieth century, postbellum assaults on civil rights and the advent of Jim Crow expanded Baltimore's law enforcement into a vast network designed to oppress Black people. Michael Casiano's history charts the institutional consolidation of the city's post–Civil War police state. Authorities in Baltimore organized and established municipal power in distinct but connected sites that included jails, areas of political and social activism, public schools, street corners, courtrooms, and homes. Casiano analyzes policing in light of two parallel and inextricable realities of the city's governance. First, policing evolved from an inefficient and vigilante-driven system into a modern and paramilitary endeavor focused on suppressing citizens and maximizing the power, wealth, and reach of capitalists. Second, decades of racial antagonism shaped Baltimore policing into an apparatus primarily oriented around subduing Black freedom. A compelling urban history, Let Us Alone: The Origins of Baltimore's Police State (U Illinois Press, 2025) uses voices from all levels of society to examine police power, incarceration, and the perils of being Black in post–Civil War Baltimore. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

university black baltimore origins civil war toledo authorities jim crow police state community policing illinois press pennsylvania press state u casiano

Michael Casiano, "Let Us Alone: The Origins of Baltimore's Police State" (U Illinois Press, 2025)

New Books in American Politics

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2026 80:15

The racist roots of modern policing in Baltimore By the early twentieth century, postbellum assaults on civil rights and the advent of Jim Crow expanded Baltimore's law enforcement into a vast network designed to oppress Black people. Michael Casiano's history charts the institutional consolidation of the city's post–Civil War police state. Authorities in Baltimore organized and established municipal power in distinct but connected sites that included jails, areas of political and social activism, public schools, street corners, courtrooms, and homes. Casiano analyzes policing in light of two parallel and inextricable realities of the city's governance. First, policing evolved from an inefficient and vigilante-driven system into a modern and paramilitary endeavor focused on suppressing citizens and maximizing the power, wealth, and reach of capitalists. Second, decades of racial antagonism shaped Baltimore policing into an apparatus primarily oriented around subduing Black freedom. A compelling urban history, Let Us Alone: The Origins of Baltimore's Police State (U Illinois Press, 2025) uses voices from all levels of society to examine police power, incarceration, and the perils of being Black in post–Civil War Baltimore. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

university black baltimore origins civil war toledo authorities jim crow wildcat police state community policing illinois press pennsylvania press state u casiano

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara: The Interview You Likely Missed

Confident Communications

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2026 22:33 Transcription Available

Most leaders hide behind surprise when disaster strikes. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara did the opposite.In a January 2025 interview with The New York Times' Michael Barbaro, O'Hara said the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent was "predictable and entirely preventable"—and that he'd said so publicly the day before it happened. Days after I recorded this episode, federal agents killed Alex Pretti, a VA nurse, in another operation that has drawn national outcry.This episode isn't about policing. It's about what leadership looks like when:The crisis you predicted happens anywayYour people are exhausted and under-resourcedYou're caught between powerful institutions and community griefOne bad moment could erase years of progressO'Hara doesn't perform. He doesn't spin. He names fear, admits fragility, and refuses to let federal agencies off the hook for dangerous tactics—even when it would be easier to stay quiet.If you lead anything—a team, a company, a movement—this interview will show you what accountability sounds like when the performance stops and the real work begins.LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW: The Daily, January 13, 2025: "Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara" with Michael BarbaroKEY MOMENTS:Why saying "this was predictable" is the hardest—and most important—leadership moveThe F-bomb that built trust instead of breaking itHow O'Hara critiques ICE without collapsing into blameWhat it means to hold both empathy and accountability at the same timeWhy "turn the heat down" isn't neutrality—it's survivalTRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses police violence, federal enforcement operations, and community trauma.Recorded January 2025. Updated following the killing of Alex Pretti on January 25, 2025.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

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Let's Be Friends: Walking a Beat in Old Town

The Valley Today

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2026 26:28

On this lively episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael sits down with Brady Cloven, executive director of Friends of Old Town, and Corporal Rob Sloan, the City of Winchester's dedicated Old Town walking mall officer. Their conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how visibility, relationships, and everyday interaction help keep downtown safe — and welcoming — for residents, businesses, and visitors alike. From Fairfax to Foot Patrol After more than three decades in law enforcement, Corporal Sloan brings a wealth of experience to Winchester. He spent 28 years with Fairfax County Police before relocating north to finish his career closer to home. Although the shift from big-city policing to a small-town walking mall might seem dramatic, Sloan says the transition has been refreshing. Unlike the fast-paced environment of Fairfax, Old Town Winchester allows him to interact with people in positive moments — conversations filled with greetings, gratitude, and genuine connection. Those daily interactions, he explains, make the job uniquely rewarding. Why Foot Patrol Makes a Difference Unlike officers confined to cruisers, Sloan spends his shifts walking — a lot. Averaging 15,000 to 20,000 steps per day, he patrols not only the pedestrian mall but surrounding streets and alleys as well. That visibility matters. By walking instead of driving, Sloan builds familiarity. He learns who belongs, who needs help, and how the rhythm of downtown changes throughout the day. More importantly, people learn him — by name, by face, and by trust. As Brady notes, merchants quickly felt more comfortable once Sloan arrived. Business owners gained a consistent point of contact, and open communication replaced uncertainty. Community Policing in Action At the heart of Sloan's role is community-oriented policing — a philosophy centered on communication rather than enforcement. Whether speaking with visitors, checking in with business owners, or engaging with the unhoused population, Sloan approaches each interaction with respect and conversation first. His goal isn't intimidation; it's understanding. He believes relationships prevent problems before they start — and when issues do arise, familiarity helps resolve them calmly and efficiently. Changing Perceptions, One Conversation at a Time Sloan speaks candidly about misconceptions surrounding law enforcement. Too often, he says, people meet police officers only on their worst days. The walking mall offers a different opportunity — one where children can wave hello, visitors can ask for directions, and families can see officers as helpers rather than threats. Janet reflects on how damaging it can be when parents use police as a form of punishment. Sloan agrees wholeheartedly, emphasizing that children should feel safe approaching officers — especially if they ever need help. On the mall, those everyday positive moments help reshape perceptions across generations. A Walking Welcome Center In many ways, Sloan doubles as a roaming ambassador for Winchester. Tourists frequently stop him to ask where to eat, what museums to visit, or how far away certain landmarks are. Those questions have even inspired him to brush up on Winchester history so he can better serve curious visitors. While he diplomatically avoids choosing favorite restaurants, he excels at pointing people in the right direction — often beginning with the most important qualifier of all: How much time do you have? Safety Through Presence, Not Pressure Much of Sloan's work operates quietly in the background. His uniformed presence alone acts as a deterrent — a concept rooted in the "broken windows" theory of policing. Simply being seen reduces problematic behavior before it escalates. From addressing bicycle and scooter concerns on the mall to educating visitors about city ordinances, Sloan emphasizes that enforcement is rarely the first step. Education comes first. Warnings follow. Enforcement becomes a last resort. The goal, he explains, is never to ruin someone's day — it's to keep everyone safe. Balancing a Complex Downtown Environment Old Town Winchester presents unique challenges. The mall functions as a pedestrian space, a residential area, a tourism hub, and — during certain hours — an active roadway. Add e-bikes, scooters, crowded events, and weekend foot traffic, and safety becomes a delicate balancing act. Sloan works closely with Friends of Old Town and city partners to address concerns as they arise. Community meetings allow business owners to voice issues, brainstorm solutions, and ensure their concerns move up the chain. That collaboration builds confidence — and strengthens trust. Events, Energy, and the Pulse of Downtown As the conversation continues, Brady outlines an active lineup of upcoming Old Town events, from winter food competitions to February's packed calendar: A sausage gravy cookoff benefiting local organizations Chocolate Escape, encouraging shoppers to explore downtown stores Spin to Winchester, a fitness-based fundraiser Black History Month events, including jazz nights, storytelling, and cultural programming Restaurant Week, showcasing the city's dining scene For Sloan, attending monthly meetings helps him stay informed — ensuring he's ready for crowds, questions, and changing traffic patterns. A Familiar Face Makes All the Difference As the conversation wraps, one message stands out clearly: people feel safer when they recognize who's protecting them. Seeing Corporal Sloan walking the mall — stopping into shops, greeting regulars, and chatting with visitors — brings comfort. It reassures business owners, enhances the visitor experience, and reinforces Old Town's identity as a welcoming place. In a space that serves as the heart of Winchester tourism and community life, that calm, consistent presence matters more than most people realize. An Open Invitation Sloan closes with a simple request: say hello. Whether someone recognizes him from the radio, the newspaper, or a casual stroll downtown, he welcomes the interaction. Every handshake, wave, or brief conversation strengthens the community he walks through each day. Because at the end of the shift — after thousands of steps and countless conversations — his job is about more than safety. It's about belonging.

Brian D. Behnken, "Brown and Blue: Mexican Americans, Law Enforcement, and Civil Rights in the Southwest, 1935-2025" (UNC Press, 2025)

New Books in Latino Studies

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 59:39

How police abuse ignited the Chicano movement in the Southwest Brown and Blue: Mexican Americans, Law Enforcement, and Civil Rights in the Southwest, 1935-2025 (UNC Press, 2025) offers a sweeping history of Mexican American interactions with law enforcement and the criminal justice system in the US Southwest. Looking primarily at Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, Brown and Blue tells a complex story: Violent, often racist acts committed by police against Mexican American people sparked protests demanding reform, and criminal justice authorities sometimes responded positively to these protests with measures such as recruiting Mexican Americans into local police forces and altering training procedures at police academies.Brian D. Behnken demonstrates the central role that the struggle for police reform played in the twentieth-century Chicano movement, and the ways its relevance continues to the present. By linking social activism and law enforcement, Behnken illuminates how the policing issues of today developed and what reform remains to be done. Guest: Brian Behnken is a professor of history at Iowa State University. He specializes in African American and Mexican American history, with an emphasis on civil rights activism and comparative race relations. He has published widely within these fields and has also expanded his research focus to explore racial violence, law enforcement, popular culture, and nationalism as they relate to African American and Latino/a/x peoples. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/latino-studies

Brian D. Behnken, "Brown and Blue: Mexican Americans, Law Enforcement, and Civil Rights in the Southwest, 1935-2025" (UNC Press, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 59:39

How police abuse ignited the Chicano movement in the Southwest Brown and Blue: Mexican Americans, Law Enforcement, and Civil Rights in the Southwest, 1935-2025 (UNC Press, 2025) offers a sweeping history of Mexican American interactions with law enforcement and the criminal justice system in the US Southwest. Looking primarily at Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, Brown and Blue tells a complex story: Violent, often racist acts committed by police against Mexican American people sparked protests demanding reform, and criminal justice authorities sometimes responded positively to these protests with measures such as recruiting Mexican Americans into local police forces and altering training procedures at police academies.Brian D. Behnken demonstrates the central role that the struggle for police reform played in the twentieth-century Chicano movement, and the ways its relevance continues to the present. By linking social activism and law enforcement, Behnken illuminates how the policing issues of today developed and what reform remains to be done. Guest: Brian Behnken is a professor of history at Iowa State University. He specializes in African American and Mexican American history, with an emphasis on civil rights activism and comparative race relations. He has published widely within these fields and has also expanded his research focus to explore racial violence, law enforcement, popular culture, and nationalism as they relate to African American and Latino/a/x peoples. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

university california texas arizona african americans new mexico latino southwest violent civil rights law enforcement toledo mexican americans iowa state university chicano brian d community policing pennsylvania press unc press us southwest

Brian D. Behnken, "Brown and Blue: Mexican Americans, Law Enforcement, and Civil Rights in the Southwest, 1935-2025" (UNC Press, 2025)

New Books in History

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 59:39

How police abuse ignited the Chicano movement in the Southwest Brown and Blue: Mexican Americans, Law Enforcement, and Civil Rights in the Southwest, 1935-2025 (UNC Press, 2025) offers a sweeping history of Mexican American interactions with law enforcement and the criminal justice system in the US Southwest. Looking primarily at Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, Brown and Blue tells a complex story: Violent, often racist acts committed by police against Mexican American people sparked protests demanding reform, and criminal justice authorities sometimes responded positively to these protests with measures such as recruiting Mexican Americans into local police forces and altering training procedures at police academies.Brian D. Behnken demonstrates the central role that the struggle for police reform played in the twentieth-century Chicano movement, and the ways its relevance continues to the present. By linking social activism and law enforcement, Behnken illuminates how the policing issues of today developed and what reform remains to be done. Guest: Brian Behnken is a professor of history at Iowa State University. He specializes in African American and Mexican American history, with an emphasis on civil rights activism and comparative race relations. He has published widely within these fields and has also expanded his research focus to explore racial violence, law enforcement, popular culture, and nationalism as they relate to African American and Latino/a/x peoples. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Brian D. Behnken, "Brown and Blue: Mexican Americans, Law Enforcement, and Civil Rights in the Southwest, 1935-2025" (UNC Press, 2025)

UNC Press Presents Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 59:39

How police abuse ignited the Chicano movement in the Southwest Brown and Blue: Mexican Americans, Law Enforcement, and Civil Rights in the Southwest, 1935-2025 (UNC Press, 2025) offers a sweeping history of Mexican American interactions with law enforcement and the criminal justice system in the US Southwest. Looking primarily at Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, Brown and Blue tells a complex story: Violent, often racist acts committed by police against Mexican American people sparked protests demanding reform, and criminal justice authorities sometimes responded positively to these protests with measures such as recruiting Mexican Americans into local police forces and altering training procedures at police academies.Brian D. Behnken demonstrates the central role that the struggle for police reform played in the twentieth-century Chicano movement, and the ways its relevance continues to the present. By linking social activism and law enforcement, Behnken illuminates how the policing issues of today developed and what reform remains to be done. Guest: Brian Behnken is a professor of history at Iowa State University. He specializes in African American and Mexican American history, with an emphasis on civil rights activism and comparative race relations. He has published widely within these fields and has also expanded his research focus to explore racial violence, law enforcement, popular culture, and nationalism as they relate to African American and Latino/a/x peoples. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

university california texas arizona african americans new mexico latino southwest violent civil rights law enforcement toledo mexican americans iowa state university chicano brian d community policing pennsylvania press unc press us southwest

Brian D. Behnken, "Brown and Blue: Mexican Americans, Law Enforcement, and Civil Rights in the Southwest, 1935-2025" (UNC Press, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 59:39

How police abuse ignited the Chicano movement in the Southwest Brown and Blue: Mexican Americans, Law Enforcement, and Civil Rights in the Southwest, 1935-2025 (UNC Press, 2025) offers a sweeping history of Mexican American interactions with law enforcement and the criminal justice system in the US Southwest. Looking primarily at Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, Brown and Blue tells a complex story: Violent, often racist acts committed by police against Mexican American people sparked protests demanding reform, and criminal justice authorities sometimes responded positively to these protests with measures such as recruiting Mexican Americans into local police forces and altering training procedures at police academies.Brian D. Behnken demonstrates the central role that the struggle for police reform played in the twentieth-century Chicano movement, and the ways its relevance continues to the present. By linking social activism and law enforcement, Behnken illuminates how the policing issues of today developed and what reform remains to be done. Guest: Brian Behnken is a professor of history at Iowa State University. He specializes in African American and Mexican American history, with an emphasis on civil rights activism and comparative race relations. He has published widely within these fields and has also expanded his research focus to explore racial violence, law enforcement, popular culture, and nationalism as they relate to African American and Latino/a/x peoples. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025.

Brian D. Behnken, "Brown and Blue: Mexican Americans, Law Enforcement, and Civil Rights in the Southwest, 1935-2025" (UNC Press, 2025)

New Books in Policing, Incarceration, and Reform

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 59:39

How police abuse ignited the Chicano movement in the Southwest Brown and Blue: Mexican Americans, Law Enforcement, and Civil Rights in the Southwest, 1935-2025 (UNC Press, 2025) offers a sweeping history of Mexican American interactions with law enforcement and the criminal justice system in the US Southwest. Looking primarily at Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, Brown and Blue tells a complex story: Violent, often racist acts committed by police against Mexican American people sparked protests demanding reform, and criminal justice authorities sometimes responded positively to these protests with measures such as recruiting Mexican Americans into local police forces and altering training procedures at police academies.Brian D. Behnken demonstrates the central role that the struggle for police reform played in the twentieth-century Chicano movement, and the ways its relevance continues to the present. By linking social activism and law enforcement, Behnken illuminates how the policing issues of today developed and what reform remains to be done. Guest: Brian Behnken is a professor of history at Iowa State University. He specializes in African American and Mexican American history, with an emphasis on civil rights activism and comparative race relations. He has published widely within these fields and has also expanded his research focus to explore racial violence, law enforcement, popular culture, and nationalism as they relate to African American and Latino/a/x peoples. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

university california texas arizona african americans new mexico latino southwest violent civil rights law enforcement toledo mexican americans iowa state university chicano brian d community policing pennsylvania press unc press us southwest

Police Transparency, Prison Reform & Community Policing: A Conversation with Senate Candidate Dakarai Larriett

The Trend with Rtlfaith

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 58:48

Host Radell Lewis sits down with Dakarai Larriett, U.S. Senate candidate from Alabama, for an in-depth conversation about police reform, racial discrimination, and his proposed Motorist Bill of Rights. After experiencing a false arrest in Michigan in 2024where officers allegedly attempted to plant drugs in his vehicle and subjected him to humiliating sobriety testsLarriett was inspired to run for office and fight for systemic change. When all three branches of government failed him, he decided to become the change himself. In this episode, we discuss: The Motorist Bill of Rights: transparency, probable cause standards, and scientifically-validated sobriety testing Why body cam and dash cam footage should be uploaded to neutral third-party systems in real time Community-based policing and building trust between law enforcement and citizens Alabama's school-to-prison pipeline and incarcerated labor workforce How prison labor suppresses wages for everyday Alabamians Bridging the political divide with solutions-focused policy This isn't about demonizing policeit's about accountability, transparency, and protecting all Americans on the roads. Guest: Dakarai Larriett | www.dakarailarriett.com Keywords: Police reform, Motorist Bill of Rights, Alabama Senate race 2026, criminal justice reform, body cam transparency, false arrest, community policing, prison reform, school to prison pipeline, police accountability, midterms 2026, Back the Blue, racial discrimination, sobriety testsStandard Resource Links & RecommendationsThe following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORKALIVE Podcast Network - Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMSHeadOn - A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/Living Room Conversations - Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTSUs United - A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATIONOtherWeb - An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACYEqual Vote Coalition & STAR Voting - Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/starFuture is Now Coalition (FiNC) - A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTIndependent Center - Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWSText 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now) ALL LINKShttps://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdownThe Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

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Your Brain Is Not A GoPro, And That's Why Courtrooms Get Videos Wrong

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 176:47 Transcription Available

A split‑second decision lives in a world your camera can't fully see. That's where we spend this episode, with Force Science's Von Kliem guiding us through how the brain actually works under threat and what that means for accountability, policy, and courtroom truth.We start with the mission: honest accountability grounded in human performance. Von breaks down why perception, cognition, and environment shape both police and civilian choices, and how de‑escalation succeeds only when conditions allow it. From there, we dig into why bodycams aren't eyes. Surveillance systems drop frames, bodycams distort angles and time, and a missing 0.56 seconds can erase a punch or a pre‑attack cue. You'll hear a Montana case where video “proved” no swing, until a frame‑level analysis changed everything. We unpack the gap between deciding to fire and the moment a shot breaks, why warnings are “when feasible” and often not, and how asking for movement can invite danger.In court, opposing experts increasingly invoke “generally accepted practices” that aren't real standards. We examine how that reframes the rules mid‑trial, how prosecutors should handle reasonable doubt ethically, and why juries deserve better than freeze‑frames and hindsight. We also walk through a real‑time bodycam review: a wrong‑way pursuit, a fleeing suspect waving a gun at drivers, and the principles that govern immediate threats. Along the way, you'll learn why “don't move” is the smarter command, how imputed knowledge from air support and dispatch matters, and why audio often tells more truth than video.If you carry a firearm, this conversation is a blueprint: invest in decision making, not just draw speed. Know the law of self‑defense, get insurance that stands by you before the facts look tidy, and train for recognition, avoidance, and control of your own attention. If you lead, legislate, or report, build processes that respect science: scrutinize video provenance, understand frame construction, and resist narratives that travel faster than facts. Subscribsend us a message! twocopsonedonut@yahoo.comPeregrine.io: Turn your worst detectives into Sherlock Holmes, head to Peregrine.io tell them Two Cops One Donut sent you or direct message me and I'll get you directly connected and skip the salesmen.Support the showPlease see our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/TwoCopsOneDonut Join our Discord!! https://discord.gg/BdjeTEAc *Send us a message! twocopsonedonut@yahoo.com

We Break Down How Poor Training, Not Bad Intent, Fuels Bad Policing And What To Fix First

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2025 150:38 Transcription Available

Training failures show up on camera long before intent does. That's the uncomfortable truth we wrestle with as we unpack why officers who can pass a constitutional test still stumble on the street when emotions spike and decisions shrink to hundredths of a second. With Officer Jorge Lopez back in the chair, we go beyond blame and dig into fixes you can measure.We start with the human element: how stress “magnetizes” officers toward danger, why empathy is hard to simulate, and how the wrong FTO can turn a rookie cynical in four weeks. Then we get practical. VR is evolving past flat screens to full‑immersion, haptics, and branching scenarios that pressure‑test distance, cover, and tone. AI on bodycams is poised to surface department policy, state law, and translations in real time—recording the questions you ask and the logic you use. Drone first responder programs give “eyes on” in under a minute, buying the only commodity that truly boosts survivability: time.Two high‑stakes clips ground the talk. In a Walmart detention, a teen's concealed pistol misfires at contact distance; the officer's restraint and a bystander Marine's control prevent a disaster and spotlight the cost of a poor pat‑down. In a hallway call, a suicidal subject with a knife sprints toward officers; commands collapse, and the priority of life takes over. We pull apart what went right and where training needs to adapt: holster discipline, obstacle use, disengagement, and scenario‑based constitutional drills that force choices under pressure, not just recitation in a classroom.We don't dodge the tough policy questions either. Fixed “25‑foot” filming laws are brittle; “reasonable distance” tied to a clear marker is smarter. Case law like Pennsylvania v. Mims exists for officer safety, not convenience—abuse it and we'll lose it. Transparency shouldn't stop at patrol; bodycams shouldn't mute, and courts should meet the same standard with smart redaction. The throughline is simple: better training beats tough talk. Build reps that blend law and tacticsend us a message! twocopsonedonut@yahoo.comPeregrine.io: Turn your worst detectives into Sherlock Holmes, head to Peregrine.io tell them Two Cops One Donut sent you or direct message me and I'll get you directly connected and skip the salesmen.Support the showPlease see our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/TwoCopsOneDonut Join our Discord!! https://discord.gg/BdjeTEAc *Send us a message! twocopsonedonut@yahoo.com

Chalk, Tasers, And The Line Between Law And Sense

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2025 101:59 Transcription Available

Livestream chat, A gun goes click in a cramped Walmart loss prevention office—and everything that happens next becomes a quiet masterclass in officer safety, close-quarter decision-making, and restraint. We walk through the moment frame by frame: why a simple pat-down could have changed everything, how cooperation lulls even experienced cops into skipping steps, and why attacking the presented gun beat reaching for a holster when the room shrank to a few feet. Credit where it's due: an alert LP employee and quick-thinking officers likely prevented a deadly outcome. The charges? Think attempted murder—and think about the chain of small choices that got them there.From high-stakes to head-scratching, we unpack calls that shouldn't escalate. Sidewalk chalk that washes away isn't a public safety crisis; it's an opportunity to educate, warn, and move on. Same for plate frames and obstruction laws—if a reasonable person can read the state and number, straining the statute erodes trust and invites dropped cases. Sensible enforcement and clear laws do more for legitimacy than any press release. And when we talk about what truly protects kids, we draw a hard line: stop doxxing undercover units. Viral clout that outs ICAC teams doesn't “expose” anything—it teaches predators what to avoid and puts children at risk.We also analyze a Florida taser clip with nuance: back probes, clear commands, and post-compliance de-escalation suggest policy alignment, but necessity depends on context—paraphernalia risk, ground surface, suspect history, and officer fitness all matter. The recruiting debate lands where it should: set rigorous, relevant standards and hold everyone to them. Command presence flows from training, judgment, and team tactics, not height alone. If you want better policing, push for clear statutes, realistic training, and hiring that prioritizes character and skill—and use your voice. Body cams, de-escalation, crisis response, and pursuit reforms didn't appear out of nowhere; communities demanded them.If this breakdowsend us a message! twocopsonedonut@yahoo.comPeregrine.io: Turn your worst detectives into Sherlock Holmes, head to Peregrine.io tell them Two Cops One Donut sent you or direct message me and I'll get you directly connected and skip the salesmen.Support the showPlease see our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/TwoCopsOneDonut Join our Discord!! https://discord.gg/BdjeTEAc *Send us a message! twocopsonedonut@yahoo.com

The Crime Crisis In America and How Technology Fixes It

a16z

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 59:30

What if America tried to eliminate crime instead of just reacting to it? Not with slogans, but with staffing, technology, and strategy scaled to the problem. In this episode, Erik Torenberg speaks with Garrett Langley, founder and CEO of Flock Safety, and Ben Horowitz, cofounder of a16z, about what is happening in the cities that are trying. Flock now works with over 5,000 communities to detect crime, recover missing children, and close cases faster than ever. Ben has been closely involved in Las Vegas, where Flock technology, drones, and community policing have raised clearance rates while reducing use of force. They outline what a real national crime-reduction strategy could look like: solving the police staffing crisis, using intelligence to make policing safer, understanding why clearance rates have collapsed, and how public–private partnerships are filling gaps cities cannot. They also tackle the hard questions around privacy, criminal justice failures, and the hidden role of organized crime in everyday offenses. Timecodes: 0:00 — Introduction and the Cost of Crime1:09 — Technology, Privacy, and Trust in Policing1:22 — Eliminating Crime: A National Strategy2:54 — People: Staffing, Culture, and Recruitment8:45 — Products: Technology in Modern Policing9:41 — Policy: Accountability and Prosecution20:11 — Community Policing and Clearance Rates25:16 — Case Study: Las Vegas and Public-Private Partnerships32:00 — Criticisms, Privacy, and Trust35:23 — Economic Mobility, Safety, and Social Impact36:44 — Reform, Recidivism, and Alternative Approaches52:14 — Organized Crime and Policy Challenges54:32 — The Future of Policing: Intelligence and Precision57:24 — Success Stories and ConclusionResources: Follow Garrett on X: https://twitter.com/glangley Follow Ben on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Find a16z on X: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details, please see a16z.com/disclosures. Stay Updated:Find a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Show on SpotifyListen to the a16z Show on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Caitlin Wiesner, "Between the Street and the State: Black Women's Anti-Rape Activism Amid the War on Crime" (U Pennsylvania, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 75:08

Beginning in the 1970s, a series of government agencies established to carry out the federal “war on crime” offered financial and ideological support to the fledgling feminist movement against sexual violence. These entities promoted the carceral tactics of policing, prosecution, and punishment as the only viable means of controlling rape, and they expected anti-rape organizers to embrace them. Yet Black women anti-rape organizers viewed police as a source of violence within their communities, not a solution to it. Between the Street and the State: Black Women's Anti-Rape Activism amid the War on Crime (U Pennsylvania, 2025) examines how Black anti-rape organizers critically engaged both the feminist movement against sexual violence and the federal War on Crime between 1974 and 1994. In Philadelphia, Washington, DC, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, and Atlanta, activists inflected Black women's longstanding tradition of community-based caring labor with the Black feminist condemnation of patriarchal and state violence. Their multifaceted and adaptable brand of anti-rape advocacy was premised on sustaining the survival of Black women and girls individually and Black communities more broadly. In this way, Black anti-rape activists countered the growing emphasis within the feminist movement on controlling rape through carceral collaborations. They acted subversively, redirecting state funds and state-funded research premised on rape control to projects that offered care to Black victims. In public education, social welfare, and public health, they instituted preventative education and emotional healing as modes of justice. At times, they outspokenly resisted carceral legislation that displaced their caring labor with punitive programs of rape control. Spotlighting Black anti-rape organizers' enduring commitment to care work shows that the cooptation of the feminist movement against sexual violence by law enforcement entities was never total. Between the Street and the State deepens our historical understanding of Black women's tradition of anti-rape activism by attending to how their tactics shifted in response to the political realignments of the post–civil rights era. Guest: Caitlin Wiesner is an assistant professor of history at Mercy University who specializes in the history of gender, sexuality, race and crime control policy in the 20th century United States. She is also the author of “The War on Crime and the War on Rape: The LEAA and Philadelphia WOAR, 1974-1984," which appeared in the journal, Modern American History, in March 2024, as well as numerous book chapters and reviews. When she is not writing or in the classroom, Dr. Wiesner enjoys cooking (and eating) new foods and exploring the natural and historic wonders of her native New Jersey. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

united states university black chicago washington state war philadelphia dc new jersey pennsylvania crime amid activism black women rape toledo san francisco bay area community policing pennsylvania press wiesner modern american history state black

Caitlin Wiesner, "Between the Street and the State: Black Women's Anti-Rape Activism Amid the War on Crime" (U Pennsylvania, 2025)

New Books in Gender Studies

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 75:08

Beginning in the 1970s, a series of government agencies established to carry out the federal “war on crime” offered financial and ideological support to the fledgling feminist movement against sexual violence. These entities promoted the carceral tactics of policing, prosecution, and punishment as the only viable means of controlling rape, and they expected anti-rape organizers to embrace them. Yet Black women anti-rape organizers viewed police as a source of violence within their communities, not a solution to it. Between the Street and the State: Black Women's Anti-Rape Activism amid the War on Crime (U Pennsylvania, 2025) examines how Black anti-rape organizers critically engaged both the feminist movement against sexual violence and the federal War on Crime between 1974 and 1994. In Philadelphia, Washington, DC, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, and Atlanta, activists inflected Black women's longstanding tradition of community-based caring labor with the Black feminist condemnation of patriarchal and state violence. Their multifaceted and adaptable brand of anti-rape advocacy was premised on sustaining the survival of Black women and girls individually and Black communities more broadly. In this way, Black anti-rape activists countered the growing emphasis within the feminist movement on controlling rape through carceral collaborations. They acted subversively, redirecting state funds and state-funded research premised on rape control to projects that offered care to Black victims. In public education, social welfare, and public health, they instituted preventative education and emotional healing as modes of justice. At times, they outspokenly resisted carceral legislation that displaced their caring labor with punitive programs of rape control. Spotlighting Black anti-rape organizers' enduring commitment to care work shows that the cooptation of the feminist movement against sexual violence by law enforcement entities was never total. Between the Street and the State deepens our historical understanding of Black women's tradition of anti-rape activism by attending to how their tactics shifted in response to the political realignments of the post–civil rights era. Guest: Caitlin Wiesner is an assistant professor of history at Mercy University who specializes in the history of gender, sexuality, race and crime control policy in the 20th century United States. She is also the author of “The War on Crime and the War on Rape: The LEAA and Philadelphia WOAR, 1974-1984," which appeared in the journal, Modern American History, in March 2024, as well as numerous book chapters and reviews. When she is not writing or in the classroom, Dr. Wiesner enjoys cooking (and eating) new foods and exploring the natural and historic wonders of her native New Jersey. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

united states university black chicago washington state war philadelphia dc new jersey pennsylvania crime amid activism black women rape toledo san francisco bay area community policing pennsylvania press wiesner modern american history state black

Caitlin Wiesner, "Between the Street and the State: Black Women's Anti-Rape Activism Amid the War on Crime" (U Pennsylvania, 2025)

New Books in History

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 75:08

Beginning in the 1970s, a series of government agencies established to carry out the federal “war on crime” offered financial and ideological support to the fledgling feminist movement against sexual violence. These entities promoted the carceral tactics of policing, prosecution, and punishment as the only viable means of controlling rape, and they expected anti-rape organizers to embrace them. Yet Black women anti-rape organizers viewed police as a source of violence within their communities, not a solution to it. Between the Street and the State: Black Women's Anti-Rape Activism amid the War on Crime (U Pennsylvania, 2025) examines how Black anti-rape organizers critically engaged both the feminist movement against sexual violence and the federal War on Crime between 1974 and 1994. In Philadelphia, Washington, DC, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, and Atlanta, activists inflected Black women's longstanding tradition of community-based caring labor with the Black feminist condemnation of patriarchal and state violence. Their multifaceted and adaptable brand of anti-rape advocacy was premised on sustaining the survival of Black women and girls individually and Black communities more broadly. In this way, Black anti-rape activists countered the growing emphasis within the feminist movement on controlling rape through carceral collaborations. They acted subversively, redirecting state funds and state-funded research premised on rape control to projects that offered care to Black victims. In public education, social welfare, and public health, they instituted preventative education and emotional healing as modes of justice. At times, they outspokenly resisted carceral legislation that displaced their caring labor with punitive programs of rape control. Spotlighting Black anti-rape organizers' enduring commitment to care work shows that the cooptation of the feminist movement against sexual violence by law enforcement entities was never total. Between the Street and the State deepens our historical understanding of Black women's tradition of anti-rape activism by attending to how their tactics shifted in response to the political realignments of the post–civil rights era. Guest: Caitlin Wiesner is an assistant professor of history at Mercy University who specializes in the history of gender, sexuality, race and crime control policy in the 20th century United States. She is also the author of “The War on Crime and the War on Rape: The LEAA and Philadelphia WOAR, 1974-1984," which appeared in the journal, Modern American History, in March 2024, as well as numerous book chapters and reviews. When she is not writing or in the classroom, Dr. Wiesner enjoys cooking (and eating) new foods and exploring the natural and historic wonders of her native New Jersey. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

united states university black chicago washington state war philadelphia dc new jersey pennsylvania crime amid activism black women rape toledo san francisco bay area wildcat community policing pennsylvania press wiesner modern american history state black

Caitlin Wiesner, "Between the Street and the State: Black Women's Anti-Rape Activism Amid the War on Crime" (U Pennsylvania, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 75:08

Beginning in the 1970s, a series of government agencies established to carry out the federal “war on crime” offered financial and ideological support to the fledgling feminist movement against sexual violence. These entities promoted the carceral tactics of policing, prosecution, and punishment as the only viable means of controlling rape, and they expected anti-rape organizers to embrace them. Yet Black women anti-rape organizers viewed police as a source of violence within their communities, not a solution to it. Between the Street and the State: Black Women's Anti-Rape Activism amid the War on Crime (U Pennsylvania, 2025) examines how Black anti-rape organizers critically engaged both the feminist movement against sexual violence and the federal War on Crime between 1974 and 1994. In Philadelphia, Washington, DC, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, and Atlanta, activists inflected Black women's longstanding tradition of community-based caring labor with the Black feminist condemnation of patriarchal and state violence. Their multifaceted and adaptable brand of anti-rape advocacy was premised on sustaining the survival of Black women and girls individually and Black communities more broadly. In this way, Black anti-rape activists countered the growing emphasis within the feminist movement on controlling rape through carceral collaborations. They acted subversively, redirecting state funds and state-funded research premised on rape control to projects that offered care to Black victims. In public education, social welfare, and public health, they instituted preventative education and emotional healing as modes of justice. At times, they outspokenly resisted carceral legislation that displaced their caring labor with punitive programs of rape control. Spotlighting Black anti-rape organizers' enduring commitment to care work shows that the cooptation of the feminist movement against sexual violence by law enforcement entities was never total. Between the Street and the State deepens our historical understanding of Black women's tradition of anti-rape activism by attending to how their tactics shifted in response to the political realignments of the post–civil rights era. Guest: Caitlin Wiesner is an assistant professor of history at Mercy University who specializes in the history of gender, sexuality, race and crime control policy in the 20th century United States. She is also the author of “The War on Crime and the War on Rape: The LEAA and Philadelphia WOAR, 1974-1984," which appeared in the journal, Modern American History, in March 2024, as well as numerous book chapters and reviews. When she is not writing or in the classroom, Dr. Wiesner enjoys cooking (and eating) new foods and exploring the natural and historic wonders of her native New Jersey. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

united states university black chicago washington state war philadelphia dc new jersey pennsylvania crime amid activism black women rape toledo san francisco bay area wildcat community policing pennsylvania press wiesner modern american history state black

Caitlin Wiesner, "Between the Street and the State: Black Women's Anti-Rape Activism Amid the War on Crime" (U Pennsylvania, 2025)

New Books in Women's History

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 75:08

Beginning in the 1970s, a series of government agencies established to carry out the federal “war on crime” offered financial and ideological support to the fledgling feminist movement against sexual violence. These entities promoted the carceral tactics of policing, prosecution, and punishment as the only viable means of controlling rape, and they expected anti-rape organizers to embrace them. Yet Black women anti-rape organizers viewed police as a source of violence within their communities, not a solution to it. Between the Street and the State: Black Women's Anti-Rape Activism amid the War on Crime (U Pennsylvania, 2025) examines how Black anti-rape organizers critically engaged both the feminist movement against sexual violence and the federal War on Crime between 1974 and 1994. In Philadelphia, Washington, DC, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, and Atlanta, activists inflected Black women's longstanding tradition of community-based caring labor with the Black feminist condemnation of patriarchal and state violence. Their multifaceted and adaptable brand of anti-rape advocacy was premised on sustaining the survival of Black women and girls individually and Black communities more broadly. In this way, Black anti-rape activists countered the growing emphasis within the feminist movement on controlling rape through carceral collaborations. They acted subversively, redirecting state funds and state-funded research premised on rape control to projects that offered care to Black victims. In public education, social welfare, and public health, they instituted preventative education and emotional healing as modes of justice. At times, they outspokenly resisted carceral legislation that displaced their caring labor with punitive programs of rape control. Spotlighting Black anti-rape organizers' enduring commitment to care work shows that the cooptation of the feminist movement against sexual violence by law enforcement entities was never total. Between the Street and the State deepens our historical understanding of Black women's tradition of anti-rape activism by attending to how their tactics shifted in response to the political realignments of the post–civil rights era. Guest: Caitlin Wiesner is an assistant professor of history at Mercy University who specializes in the history of gender, sexuality, race and crime control policy in the 20th century United States. She is also the author of “The War on Crime and the War on Rape: The LEAA and Philadelphia WOAR, 1974-1984," which appeared in the journal, Modern American History, in March 2024, as well as numerous book chapters and reviews. When she is not writing or in the classroom, Dr. Wiesner enjoys cooking (and eating) new foods and exploring the natural and historic wonders of her native New Jersey. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

united states university black chicago washington state war philadelphia dc new jersey pennsylvania crime amid activism black women rape toledo san francisco bay area community policing pennsylvania press wiesner modern american history state black

Caitlin Wiesner, "Between the Street and the State: Black Women's Anti-Rape Activism Amid the War on Crime" (U Pennsylvania, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 75:08

Beginning in the 1970s, a series of government agencies established to carry out the federal “war on crime” offered financial and ideological support to the fledgling feminist movement against sexual violence. These entities promoted the carceral tactics of policing, prosecution, and punishment as the only viable means of controlling rape, and they expected anti-rape organizers to embrace them. Yet Black women anti-rape organizers viewed police as a source of violence within their communities, not a solution to it. Between the Street and the State: Black Women's Anti-Rape Activism amid the War on Crime (U Pennsylvania, 2025) examines how Black anti-rape organizers critically engaged both the feminist movement against sexual violence and the federal War on Crime between 1974 and 1994. In Philadelphia, Washington, DC, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, and Atlanta, activists inflected Black women's longstanding tradition of community-based caring labor with the Black feminist condemnation of patriarchal and state violence. Their multifaceted and adaptable brand of anti-rape advocacy was premised on sustaining the survival of Black women and girls individually and Black communities more broadly. In this way, Black anti-rape activists countered the growing emphasis within the feminist movement on controlling rape through carceral collaborations. They acted subversively, redirecting state funds and state-funded research premised on rape control to projects that offered care to Black victims. In public education, social welfare, and public health, they instituted preventative education and emotional healing as modes of justice. At times, they outspokenly resisted carceral legislation that displaced their caring labor with punitive programs of rape control. Spotlighting Black anti-rape organizers' enduring commitment to care work shows that the cooptation of the feminist movement against sexual violence by law enforcement entities was never total. Between the Street and the State deepens our historical understanding of Black women's tradition of anti-rape activism by attending to how their tactics shifted in response to the political realignments of the post–civil rights era. Guest: Caitlin Wiesner is an assistant professor of history at Mercy University who specializes in the history of gender, sexuality, race and crime control policy in the 20th century United States. She is also the author of “The War on Crime and the War on Rape: The LEAA and Philadelphia WOAR, 1974-1984," which appeared in the journal, Modern American History, in March 2024, as well as numerous book chapters and reviews. When she is not writing or in the classroom, Dr. Wiesner enjoys cooking (and eating) new foods and exploring the natural and historic wonders of her native New Jersey. Host: Michael Stauch is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

united states university black chicago washington state war philadelphia dc new jersey pennsylvania crime amid activism black women rape toledo san francisco bay area wildcat community policing pennsylvania press wiesner modern american history state black

From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey

Law Enforcement Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 38:52

From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio. In a special episode available for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and most major podcast platforms, listeners are taken deep inside the world of American law enforcement through the story of Rodney Muterspaw, the retired Chief of Police from Middletown, Ohio. His journey, from a young rookie officer to one of the most respected police leaders in the United States, is chronicled in his brutally honest book, The Blue View, and shared across Facebook, Instagram, and other major news platforms. A Three-Decade Rise Through the Ranks Muterspaw's career is the embodiment of the theme “From Rookie to Chief of Police.” Born and raised in the Middletown area, he began as a patrol officer and steadily moved through the ranks: Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Deputy Chief, and ultimately Chief of Police in January 2015. Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. Colleagues often describe him as a leader who treated Community Policing not as an assignment but as a “philosophy.” Under his leadership, the department shifted toward change, community, and transparency, transforming both culture and morale. From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio. Look for supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin . His assignments over the years included Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Narcotics Detective, Bike Patrol Officer, Community Policing Supervisor, Field Training Officer, and leadership roles in Investigations and Narcotics. It was a full spectrum career, one that exposed him to every triumph and hardship policing can offer. The Book That Was Never Meant to Be Released What makes Rodney Muterspaw's journey stand out isn't only his service, it's the book that came out of it. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms. The Blue View began as a private, personal journal he kept for thirty years. As he explains in the interview: “The hardest thing about being a police officer is you have to solve everyone else's problems when you can't even solve your own.” From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio. Originally never intended for public eyes, these raw entries follow him from his first day in the police academy to his final day as Chief. Readers experience the emotions and pressure of the job, from riding in a cruiser to sitting in the Chief's office, up close and without filters. The book has been praised for its authenticity and for revealing the “behind-the-scenes” reality that most officers never talk about. Politicians, community leaders, and everyday citizens have all commented on its impact. Regardless of one's views on policing, The Blue View provides an essential perspective. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms. JD Vance's Connection: Middletown, Hillbilly Elegy and National Recognition Muterspaw's story intersects with another well-known Middletown narrative: Hillbilly Elegy, the bestselling memoir by JD Vance, now the Vice President of the United States. The book, film, and cultural conversation put Middletown, a city of nearly 51,000 residents, into national focus. Vance himself praised Muterspaw's book and work, recommending The Blue View and recognizing the Chief's deep commitment to the community. Middletown's history, struggles, and resilience are woven throughout Muterspaw's writings, giving readers an intimate look at a city that has become emblematic of America's Rust Belt challenges. From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio. The full podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Awards, Leadership, and National Appearances Throughout his career, Muterspaw earned numerous awards and honors, including: The Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award The History Maker Award for his impact on Middletown The NAACP Award for Leadership Multiple City Manager Pro Awards Outstanding Attainment Recognition by the Ohio Senate Selection as a guest of the United States Congress at the Presidential State of the Union He appeared frequently on television, radio, and national media outlets to advocate for stronger community-police relations. From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB. Life After the Badge Though retired from policing, Muterspaw remains deeply active in the community through speaking engagements, volunteer work, and leadership in local initiatives. A graduate of Middletown Christian High School, the Police Executive Leadership College, and the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville, he now dedicates much of his time to helping others learn from the lessons he documented in his journals. Married with three children and two grandchildren, he continues to speak openly about the pressures of policing, the cost of leadership, and the love he has for the city that shaped him. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. Why The Blue View Matters The Blue View isn't just a book, it's a record of a man's life lived in service. It is a transparent and emotional account of what it means to protect a community while confronting personal challenges and professional obstacles. It offers insight into law enforcement, politics, family, and the complexities of public service. From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio. Readers come away changed. As the podcast host notes in the special episode: “This is more than a police story. It's an American story, one that everyone should hear.” You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website . Get the latest news articles, without all the bias and spin, from the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on Medium , which is free. “If you enjoy the show,” John Jay Wiley adds, “please share it with a friend or two, or three. And if you're able to leave an honest rating or review, it would be deeply appreciated.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast is available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and LETRadio.com, among many other platforms. Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms. Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo. Be sure to check out our website . Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news. Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB. You can help contribute money to make the Gunrunner Movie . The film that Hollywood won't touch. It is about a now Retired Police Officer that was shot 6 times while investigating Gunrunning. He died 3 times during Medical treatment and was resuscitated. You can join the fight by giving a monetary “gift” to help ensure the making of his film at agunrunnerfilm.com . Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer. From Rookie To Chief of Police: His Journey in Ohio. Attributions Wikipedia Amazon.com Wikipedia Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eric King, "A Clean Hell: Anarchy and Abolition in America's Most Notorious Dungeon" (PM Press, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 60:55

A Clean Hell opens the doors of America's most secretive prison and lets the reader step into the cell to experience all the horrors the Federal Bureau of Prisons tries to keep hidden underground. The federal supermax ADX Florence is the most secure facility in the United States, a dungeon of isolation, sensory deprivation, and psychological disintegration. Here, cruelty isn't accidental; it's the design. Built in 1995, the “Alcatraz of the Rockies” was made to cage the so-called worst of the worst: bombers, gang leaders, political enemies, and anyone the government deems too rebellious, too inconvenient, or too visible. Among them was antifascist prisoner Eric King, targeted for his politics, brutally tortured by the Bureau of Prisons, and ultimately entombed at ADX after beating a politically motivated federal prosecution. A Clean Hell: Anarchy and Abolition in America's Most Notorious Dungeon (PM Press, 2025) is a searing firsthand account from inside the most repressive prison in the United States, a place built not for rehabilitation but for disappearance. It tells the story of Eric's decade behind bars: the years of surveillance and retaliation, the years locked in solitary confinement, the reality of being known as a “race traitor,” and the daily acts of resistance that kept him—and others—alive. More than just a firsthand survival story and exposé, this is a blistering indictment of the carceral state and the sanitized violence it tries to hide. A Clean Hell is a crucial document of solidarity and struggle inside the belly of the beast and required reading for anyone concerned with mass incarceration, political repression, or the inhumane architecture of the US prison system. Guest: Eric King is an anarchist who was imprisoned in 2014 for acts of solidarity with the Ferguson, Missouri, uprising. During his time in prison, which included almost two years in Federal Supermax, or ADX, Eric coedited the political prisoner anthology, Rattling the Cages: Oral Histories of North American Political Prisoners, published by AK Press, and wrote many other essays about his experiences in prison. In addition to his writing, Eric is also an activist, antifascist, and loving father and husband. Host: Michael Stauch (he/him) is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

How A First Amendment Auditor Sparked Real Police Training And Hard Truths

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 140:17 Transcription Available

A school police officer told an auditor that filming an officer is illegal. It wasn't—and what followed became a masterclass in rights, ego, and how quickly a routine moment can unravel when the law takes a back seat. We invited David from San Joaquin Valley Transparency to walk us through the viral arrest and the lessons he's learned after years of auditing—then put those claims under the microscope with three cops who train recruits and call out bad policing.Together we map the real line between lawful public recording and unlawful interference and explain why prior restraint and, in California, the Bain Act matter on the street—not just in court. We talk through field-tested approaches any patrol officer can use today: speak to the caller first, observe before you engage, and treat auditors as a chance to educate the public. We also get into the cultural stuff you won't see in a policy binder: how ego fills the gap when an officer isn't sure, why a simple “let me verify” can defuse a confrontation, and how confidence from jiu‑jitsu or boxing training lowers hesitation and reduces force.David shares concrete wins achieved through public records, complaint routing, and sustained local pressure, including leadership changes that followed documented misconduct. We push for more transparency, including body‑worn cameras that stay on with no muting during calls, and accountability that extends past police to prosecutors, judges, and corrections. The conversation lands on a nuanced truth: yes, we need professionals to handle real violence, and yes, citizens must know their rights. When both are true in practice, cameras become bridges, not battlegrounds.If you care about First Amendment audits, police reform that actually works, and the kind of training that protects everyone, this one's worth your time. Listen, share with a friend, and tell us where you think accountability should start. And if you haven't yet, subscribe and leave a review—your feedback helps us keep building this conversation.send us a message! twocopsonedonut@yahoo.comPeregrine.io: Turn your worst detectives into Sherlock Holmes, head to Peregrine.io tell them Two Cops One Donut sent you or direct message me and I'll get you directly connected and skip the salesmen.Support the showPlease see our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/TwoCopsOneDonut Join our Discord!! https://discord.gg/BdjeTEAc *Send us a message! twocopsonedonut@yahoo.com

Young, Elected, and Ready to Govern - A Conversation with Stockbridge, Georgia's Mayor Elect Jayden Williams

The Political Mike

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 43:36

Join me for a one-on-one conversation with Mayor-Elect Jayden Williams, recently elected as the youngest mayor in Stockbridge's history and a rising voice in next-generation leadership.

Eric King, "A Clean Hell: Anarchy and Abolition in America's Most Notorious Dungeon" (PM Press, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 60:55

A Clean Hell opens the doors of America's most secretive prison and lets the reader step into the cell to experience all the horrors the Federal Bureau of Prisons tries to keep hidden underground. The federal supermax ADX Florence is the most secure facility in the United States, a dungeon of isolation, sensory deprivation, and psychological disintegration. Here, cruelty isn't accidental; it's the design. Built in 1995, the “Alcatraz of the Rockies” was made to cage the so-called worst of the worst: bombers, gang leaders, political enemies, and anyone the government deems too rebellious, too inconvenient, or too visible. Among them was antifascist prisoner Eric King, targeted for his politics, brutally tortured by the Bureau of Prisons, and ultimately entombed at ADX after beating a politically motivated federal prosecution. A Clean Hell: Anarchy and Abolition in America's Most Notorious Dungeon (PM Press, 2025) is a searing firsthand account from inside the most repressive prison in the United States, a place built not for rehabilitation but for disappearance. It tells the story of Eric's decade behind bars: the years of surveillance and retaliation, the years locked in solitary confinement, the reality of being known as a “race traitor,” and the daily acts of resistance that kept him—and others—alive. More than just a firsthand survival story and exposé, this is a blistering indictment of the carceral state and the sanitized violence it tries to hide. A Clean Hell is a crucial document of solidarity and struggle inside the belly of the beast and required reading for anyone concerned with mass incarceration, political repression, or the inhumane architecture of the US prison system. Guest: Eric King is an anarchist who was imprisoned in 2014 for acts of solidarity with the Ferguson, Missouri, uprising. During his time in prison, which included almost two years in Federal Supermax, or ADX, Eric coedited the political prisoner anthology, Rattling the Cages: Oral Histories of North American Political Prisoners, published by AK Press, and wrote many other essays about his experiences in prison. In addition to his writing, Eric is also an activist, antifascist, and loving father and husband. Host: Michael Stauch (he/him) is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

29 Years Wrongfully Convicted: Bruce Bryan's Journey With Cops Who Listen

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2025 117:47 Transcription Available

The episode almost didn't happen. Our guest fell through, the feed glitched, and then Bruce Bryan hopped on from a car in Midtown and delivered the most human, unflinching conversation we've had about wrongful conviction, prison violence, and what real reform could look like. Bruce grew up in Manhattan and Queens during the crack era, got swept into a homicide case he says he didn't commit, and spent years on Rikers Island before a trial with a traumatized public defender and a prosecutor later tied to misconduct. He survived 29 years inside, studied relentlessly in the law library, mailed more than a thousand legal letters, and ultimately won executive clemency after a law professor built a 499-page case for his humanity and impact.We dig into the mechanics that break people: lost evidence, overloaded defense, Brady violations, and corrections units where force too often goes unseen. Bruce describes everyday violence behind walls and why the absence of body cameras in prisons keeps the worst behavior unaccountable. Then he points to a model that instantly changes the room: Justice Defenders. In Kenya and Uganda, incarcerated people and officers study the law together, write motions, argue appeals, and reduce violence through shared purpose. It's radical because it's simple—teach the law to everyone with skin in the game, and you get outcomes built on dignity and facts.From there, we talk solutions that scale: mental health treatment for the huge share of people inside with disorders, dyslexia and literacy support, community-focused policing that prizes consistency and local trust, and real accountability for deliberate prosecutorial misconduct. Bruce refuses bitterness, even at a parole board that expected false remorse; he chose truth, and still walked out. His line sticks: “Where there's life, there's hope.” That's not a cliché here—it's a strategy. If this conversation moved you, share it with a friend, leave a review, and hit follow. And if you have connections near Topeka who can support officers shosend us a message! twocopsonedonut@yahoo.comPeregrine.io: Turn your worst detectives into Sherlock Holmes, head to Peregrine.io tell them Two Cops One Donut sent you or direct message me and I'll get you directly connected and skip the salesmen.Support the showPlease see our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/TwoCopsOneDonut Join our Discord!! https://discord.gg/BdjeTEAc

From Tarot Reading To Tactical Reality: Policing, Mental Health, And Myths About “Better” Countries

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2025 120:45 Transcription Available

A canceled guest and a sudden pivot turned into one of our most honest nights on the mic. We brought in Marsha, a tarot reader with a near‑death story that reshaped her faith, and asked the tough questions: Where does intuition belong in a world of evidence, policy, and risk? Can a deck of cards actually help someone cut noise, check ego, and choose better? The debate stayed respectful and real—some of us leaned hard on Scripture, others leaned into curiosity—and that tension set the stage for a deeper look at how we make decisions when the pressure rises.From there, we got practical. Marsha broke down Tarot 101 as a framework for clarity—cups, wands, pentacles, swords—and read a live question about the future of our media project, pressing us toward temperance, not force. That theme carried us into policing: a viral “other countries do it better” claim unraveled as we watched overseas punishment clips, a Halloween stop with a real gun, and a reminder that context matters more than soundbites. We didn't crown any nation “best.” We called for nuance: training depth, legal norms, surveillance culture, and population challenges all shape outcomes.The heart of the episode hit with mental health and tactics. A trembling voice on a bridge call, teen suicides that haunt veterans, and the case for anonymous, third‑party counseling. We outlined an ego class rooted in neuroscience—how to recognize when your brain flips from logic to fight‑or‑flight, and how to reset before force decisions go sideways. Then we dissected bodycam: measured K9 deployments, when a shield should pin instead of provoke, and why hallway crossfire discipline saves lives. Accountability matters, too; if police hit the wrong door, restitution shouldn't be optional.If you care about law enforcement reform, officer wellness, and truth over hot takes, this one's for you. Listen, share with a friend who thinks policing is simple, and tell us what you'd change first—training, culture, or both. And if you're new here, follow the show, leave a rsend us a message! twocopsonedonut@yahoo.comPeregrine.io: Turn your worst detectives into Sherlock Holmes, head to Peregrine.io tell them Two Cops One Donut sent you or direct message me and I'll get you directly connected and skip the salesmen.Support the showPlease see our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/TwoCopsOneDonut Join our Discord!! https://discord.gg/BdjeTEAc

brian bean, "Their End Is Our Beginning: Cops, Capitalism, and Abolition" (Haymarket, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2025 60:38

Where do cops come from and what do they do? How did “modern policing” as we know it today come to be? What about the capitalist state necessitates policing? In this clear and comprehensive account of why and how the police—the linchpin of capitalism—function and exist, organizer and author brian bean presents a clear case for the abolition of policing and capitalism. Their End Is Our Beginning traces the roots and development of policing in global capitalism through colonial rule, racist enslavement, and class oppression, along the way arguing how police power can be challenged and, ultimately, abolished. bean draws from extensive interviews with activists from Mexico to Ireland to Egypt, all of whom share compelling and knowledgeable perspectives on what it takes to—even if temporarily—take down the cops and build a thriving community-organized society, free from the police. The lessons they offer bring nuance to the meaning of “solidarity” and clarity to what “abolition” and “revolution” look like in practice. Featuring illustrations by Chicago-based artist Charlie Aleck, Their End Is Our Beginning is an incendiary book that offers a socialist analysis of policing and the capitalist state, a vital discussion of the contours of abolition at large, and the revolutionary logic needed for liberation. Guest: brian bean is a Chicago-based socialist organizer, writer, and agitator originally from North Carolina. They are one of the founding editors of Rampant magazine. Their work has been published in Truthout, Jacobin, Tempest, Spectre, Red Flag, New Politics, Socialist Worker, International Viewpoint, and more. In addition to Their End Is Our Beginning, brian coedited and contributed to the book Palestine: A Socialist Introduction, also published by Haymarket Books. Host: Michael Stauch (he/him) is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

brian bean, "Their End Is Our Beginning: Cops, Capitalism, and Abolition" (Haymarket, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2025 60:38

Where do cops come from and what do they do? How did “modern policing” as we know it today come to be? What about the capitalist state necessitates policing? In this clear and comprehensive account of why and how the police—the linchpin of capitalism—function and exist, organizer and author brian bean presents a clear case for the abolition of policing and capitalism. Their End Is Our Beginning traces the roots and development of policing in global capitalism through colonial rule, racist enslavement, and class oppression, along the way arguing how police power can be challenged and, ultimately, abolished. bean draws from extensive interviews with activists from Mexico to Ireland to Egypt, all of whom share compelling and knowledgeable perspectives on what it takes to—even if temporarily—take down the cops and build a thriving community-organized society, free from the police. The lessons they offer bring nuance to the meaning of “solidarity” and clarity to what “abolition” and “revolution” look like in practice. Featuring illustrations by Chicago-based artist Charlie Aleck, Their End Is Our Beginning is an incendiary book that offers a socialist analysis of policing and the capitalist state, a vital discussion of the contours of abolition at large, and the revolutionary logic needed for liberation. Guest: brian bean is a Chicago-based socialist organizer, writer, and agitator originally from North Carolina. They are one of the founding editors of Rampant magazine. Their work has been published in Truthout, Jacobin, Tempest, Spectre, Red Flag, New Politics, Socialist Worker, International Viewpoint, and more. In addition to Their End Is Our Beginning, brian coedited and contributed to the book Palestine: A Socialist Introduction, also published by Haymarket Books. Host: Michael Stauch (he/him) is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Joshua Clark Davis, "Police Against the Movement: The Sabotage of the Civil Rights Struggle and the Activists Who Fought Back" (Princeton UP, 2025)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2025 85:36

Police Against the Movement: The Sabotage of the Civil Rights Struggle and the Activists Who Fought Back (Princeton UP, 2025) shatters one of the most pernicious myths about the 1960s: thast the civil rights movement endured police violence without fighting it. Instead, as Joshua Clark Davis shows, activists from the Congress of Racial Equality and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee confronted police abuses head-on, staging sit-ins at precinct stations, picketing outside department headquarters, and blocking city streets to protest officer misdeeds. In return, organizers found themselves the targets of overwhelming political repression in the form of police surveillance, infiltration by undercover officers, and retaliatory prosecutions aimed at discrediting and derailing their movement. The history of the civil rights era abounds with accounts of physical brutality by county sheriffs and tales of political intrigue and constitutional violations by FBI agents. Turning our attention to municipal officials in cities and towns across the US—North, South, East, and West—Davis reveals how local police bombarded civil rights organizers with an array of insidious weapons. More than just physical violence, these economic, legal, and reputational attacks were designed to project the illusion of color-blind law enforcement. The civil rights struggle against police abuses is largely overlooked today, the victim of a willful campaign by local law enforcement to erase their record of repression. By placing activism against state violence at the center of the civil rights story, Police Against the Movement offers critical insight into the power of political resistance in the face of government attacks on protest. Guest: Joshua Clark Davis Blackmer (he/him) is an associate professor of U.S. history at the University of Baltimore. Davis is also the author of an earlier book, From Head Shops to Whole Foods, which examines organic food stores, feminist enterprises, Black bookstores and other businesses that emerged from movements of the ‘60s and ‘70s. His research has earned awards from the Fulbright Program, the Silvers Foundation, and the NEH Public Scholars Program, and he has written for The Atlantic, The Nation, Slate, Jacobin, and The Washington Post, and that work has been featured in The New York Times and CNN among other venues. Host: Michael Stauch (he/him) is an associate professor of history at the University of Toledo and the author of Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

university black new york times turning movement south police congress east fbi cnn baltimore atlantic washington post slate whole foods sabotage toledo activists fought jacobin racial equality community policing pennsylvania press princeton up fulbright program civil rights struggle joshua clark davis

Spooky San Francisco: Jim Dudley - Bonus Ep 46

Hey Chaplain

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2025 25:06

Text a Message to the ShowIt's that time of year again to talk about those spooky stories and things that go bump in the night. This time we're looking at San Francisco and talking to friend of the show, JIm Dudley. Jim has been on the show multiple times and just to remind you he's a retired deputy chief from the San Francisco PD with over 30 years experience, he teaches at San Francisco State University, and hosts the Policing Matters podcast. Even though Jim and I both share the opinion that most spooky things can be easily explained by natural causes, that doesn't mean we haven't had a few moments that give you pause as you sort out what this means.Music is by Brian BolgerHey Chaplain Podcast Bonus Episode 46Tags:Halloween, Aliens, CIT, Chainsaws, Community Policing, Costumes, Drugs, Ghosts, Hauntings, Holidays, Kidnapping, Patrol, Police, Spooky, Superstitions, Warlocks, San Francisco, CaliforniaSupport the showThanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city.Subscribe/Follow here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CGK9A3BmbFEUEnx3fYZOY Email us at: heychaplain44@gmail.comYou can help keep the show ad-free by buying me a virtual coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/heychaplain

Peter D. Blackmer, "Unleashing Black Power: Grassroots Organizing in Harlem and the Advent of the Long, Hot Summers" (UVA Press, 2025)