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In The Age of Insecurity, Astra Taylor traces the historical roots of capitalism's reliance on fear and debt, arguing that insecurity is not a flaw but a feature of the system. Drawing on history, myth, and activism, she reveals how confronting our vulnerabilities can become a collective source of power.Stay informed and engaged! Don't miss out on our captivating weekly episodes that dive deep into the heart of our economy, culture, and politics from the past to the present. Please hit the podcast subscribe button if you've yet to subscribe.[Original Release Date: December 18, 2023] Description: Can we turn our insecurity into power? Consumer debt stands at $17.29 trillion and many Americans are drowning in debt, with the average household owning over $100 thousand. The climate crisis, threats to democracy, and global wars add more worry to our already stressful lives. In her new book out from House of Anansi Press, “The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart”, writer, filmmaker, organizer, and the 2023 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Massey Lecturer, Astra Taylor uses mythology. psychology and the history of capitalism to break down the different kinds of insecurities we face, and explore how our insecurities help capitalism flourish. Without it, the system would cease to function, she says. In her years of work as Co-Founder of the Debt Collective, which emerged from Occupy Wall Street, Taylor has used debt as a tool for bringing people together and organizing. She is the author of The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, Democracy May Not Exist But We'll Miss It When It is Gone, and The People's Platform (winner of the American Book Award), and the director of What Is Democracy?, among other books and films. In this wide-ranging discussion, Astra Taylor and Laura Flanders discuss the history of capitalism, the rights of debtors, and what we can do to lessen insecurity and expand security both as individuals and as a society. All that, plus a commentary from Laura about language and disruption..“There is a debate here about motivation and what motivates us, and we are constantly being told that if people are too secure, that society's going to collapse and that we can't afford to invest in other folks. And I really want to challenge that idea.” - Astra Taylor“. . . When you start talking about [debt] with others, you realize you're actually in the same boat and you start coming together to demand change, to demand debt cancellation, to demand the provision of these public goods. Debt actually can become a source of power.” - Astra TaylorGuest: Astra Taylor, Co-Founder of the Debt Collective & Author, The Age of Insecurity*(*Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. The LF Show is an affiliate of bookshop.org and will receive a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.) This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate RESOURCES: Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes: • Watch this episode•. Listen to the full uncut conversation or search in this podcast feed 'Astra Taylor, Age of Insecurity'• Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor: Are We Entering “End Times Fascism”? Episode and/or Full Uncut• Peter Linebaugh on International Workers' "May Day" Origins. Plus, Commentary: 19th Century Anarchist Lucy Parsons, REWIND•. Catastrophic Capitalism: Marjorie Kelly & Edgar Villanueva on “Wealth Supremacy” Watch / Download Podcast Download Full Conversation• Stimulus Checks Every Month? Watch / Download Podcast Research Articles:• “Your Debt is Someone Else's Asset” with Astra Taylor illustrated by Molly Crabapple, The Intercept, Watch Here• “Freedom Dreams: black Women and the Student Debt Crisis by The Intercept with support by the, Economic Hardship Reporting Project, Watch Here Full Episode Notes are available HERE. Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders, along with Sabrina Artel, Jeremiah Cothren, Veronica Delgado, Janet Hernandez, Jeannie Hopper, Gina Kim, Sarah Miller, Nat Needham, David Neuman, and Rory O'Conner. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel
Abdul and Katelyn break down the latest in public health, including: RFK's Jr's push to test all future vaccines against placebos Why the phrase “Do Your Own Research” often leads to mis and disinformation New threats to MRNA vaccine research A huge NIH investment toward a future universal flu vaccine Why some leading medical journals received accusatory letters from a Trump surrogate A new poll that shows Americans agree on the most pressing public health needs, but disagree on the solutions Then Abdul sits down with Astra Taylor and Lindsey Muniak from The Debt Collective to talk about their work fighting medical debt while building solidarity among debtors. Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don't miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts! This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by: de Beaumont Foundation: For 25 years, the de Beaumont Foundation has worked to create practical solutions that improve the health of communities across the country. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org. Quince: Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Our Big Shot: Search for and subscribe to “Our Big Shot: Wiping Out Disease” on Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.insurgentspod.comDuring the Biden Administration there were brief moments of hope that the US Government could meaningfully act to address the growing student debt crisis affecting millions of Americans. If you can believe it, they opted for a more targeted means-tested approach that failed to address the issue, and now these current and former students are facing down …
Clearing the FOG with co-hosts Margaret Flowers and Kevin Zeese
The Trump Administration is dismantling the Department of Education, placing tens of millions of student loan debtors in an uncertain situation. Clearing the FOG speaks with Braxton Brewington of the Debt Collective about the weaponization of debt as a form of social control and the ongoing efforts to erase federal student loan debt. Brewington explains the bipartisan effort to block debt relief and what student loan holders should be doing now to protect themselves. He also discusses the April 17 National Day of Action for Free College for All and the actions that need to be taken to create an educational system that empowers and protects all students, faculty and staff. For more information, visit PopularResistance.org.
Subscribe to Bad Faith on Patreon to instantly unlock this episode and our entire premium episode library: http://patreon.com/badfaithpodcast Debt Collective spokesperson Braxton Brewington joins Bad Faith to unpack what Biden could still do to alleviate student debt, and what the student loan fight looks like going into a second Trump administration. Subscribe to Bad Faith on YouTube for video of this episode. Find Bad Faith on Twitter (@badfaithpod) and Instagram (@badfaithpod). Produced by Armand Aviram. Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).
If you're on the left and you've spent time on the internet in the past few weeks, you've probably observe or participated in debates about the strategic value and moral status of voting in the 2024 election: Is it okay to vote for Kamala Harris even though her administration is complicit in a genocide? Is voting an exercise in signaling one's moral convincetions and identity? Or merely a tactical decision calculated to create better or worse terrain on which to organize in the future? Or is it something else altogether?Perhaps these debates have stimulated you; perhaps they've filled you with despair; or perhaps (like Sam) they've driven you nuts. The intention of this conversation — with three of my favorite writers and thinkers — is to help us see further: past the stale categories and tendentious arguments that leave us, on the left, feeling frustrated and mistrustful, rather than mobilized and oriented toward a future beyond November 5th.Our guests include: Astra Taylor, filmmaker, writer, organizer, and cofounder of The Debt Collective; author and organizer Malcolm Harris; and Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, author, political philosopher, and co-editor of Hammer & Hope — a new magazine of black politics and culture.Further Reading/Viewing/Listening:Malcolm Harris, Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World, (2023)Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics (And Everything Else), (2022)Astra Taylor, The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, (2023)— "What is Democracy?" (Zeitgeist Films, 2019)Josie Ensor, "They voted Democrat for years — but the war in Lebanon changes everything," The Times, Oct 25, 2024."Arizona Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and Progressive Democrats and Community Leaders Statement on Presidential Election," Oct 24, 2024.KYE, The Uncommitted Movement (w/ Waleed Shahid & Abbas Alawieh), Sept 4, 2024.
If you're one of the 43 million Americans currently living under the crushing weight of student loan debt, that's by design, not personal failure. Under our late-stage capitalist system, the cost of a college degree has far outpaced the wages offered to pay for it. Tiffany Konyen, a Doctoral Candidate in the Anthropology and Social Change department at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, wants to change how America thinks about financing education for its citizens. Their research offers insight into the impacts of student loan debt on material life conditions and processes of transformation within graduate education in the US. GUEST BIO Tiffany Konyen (she/they) is a Doctoral Candidate in the Anthropology and Social Change Department at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, CA. Their research offers insight into the impacts of student loan debt on material life conditions, as well as on processes of transformation within graduate education in the US. They are a member and organizer with the Debt Collective, the country's first Debtor's Union with the expressed purpose of collectively de-stigmatizing and leveraging experiences of indebtedness towards systemic change. Authentic Leaders Group Are you a therapist stepping into leadership for the first time? Or maybe you've been in a leadership position for a while, but are bumping up against new struggles? Our Authentic Leadership Group is here to help you become the authentic and wholehearted leader you aspire to be. Next cohort starts November 2024! Join Sarah in this journey of self-discovery and leadership mastery, where you'll enhance your leadership skills and forge meaningful connections with fellow therapists who are committed to their own growth and the betterment of the therapy field. Register now at https://bit.ly/cwhauthenticleaders Right Use of Power™ Basics Training in Chicago Right Use of Power™ is a dynamic, inspiring, and relational approach to the ethical use of power to promote well-being, the common good and right relationship. Our Basics Training is a 5-hour in-person learning experience for people who want to deepen their understanding of power and start to learn how to use power with strength and heart. When: Friday, November 15, 2024 - 10:00am-4:00pm CST Where: Head/Heart Therapy, 4411 N. Ravenswood, Suite 250, Chicago Cost: Pay what you can $100-$225 includes 4 ethics CEs! Learn more and sign up at https://bit.ly/cwhrup Know the Numbers/Navigate the Feelings: Financial Literacy for Group Practice Owners Join Aggie Chydzinski and Sarah Buino for an engaging and interactive online workshop designed specifically for group practice owners. Gain valuable insights into financial literacy and begin to build confidence in your business management skills. This workshop will equip you with essential tools to understand the numbers and address the emotions surrounding your business finances. Designed for group practice owners of businesses large and small. Details: 7pm CST Live on Zoom - Third Thursday of every month (starting Oct. 17, 2024) Cost: Pay what you can. Guests who pay $17 or more will receive access to the recorded webinar. Save your spot here: https://bit.ly/cwhgpfinancial The New Perimenopause: What Every Psychotherapist Should Know Perimenopause is a natural developmental stage and yet women (and folks with uteruses) are so often caught off guard by this important (albeit bumpy) rite of passage. Now more than ever before there are options to support women with both the mental and physical health vulnerabilities that can pop up during these years that lead up to menopause. Join Jessica Fruchter in partnership with Head/Heart Business Therapy Friday, December 6 to discuss all things perimenopause through the lenses of mind, body and spirit. RSVP at tinyurl.com/perimenochicago SUPPORT THE SHOW Conversations With a Wounded Healer Merch Join our Patreon for gifts & perks Shop our Bookshop.org store and support local booksellers Share a rating & review of this show *** Let's be friends! You can find us in the following places… Sarah's Website: https://www.headheartbiztherapy.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeadHeartBizTherapy/ Instagram: @headheartbiztherapy Anne's Website: https://www.spareroomwellness.com Instagram: @spareroomwellness
Listen to the rest of this premium episode by subscribing at patreon.com/knowyourenemyIf you're on the left and you've spent time on the internet in the past few weeks, you've probably observe or participated in debates about the strategic value and moral status of voting in the 2024 election: Is it okay to vote for Kamala Harris even though her administration is complicit in a genocide? Is voting an exercise in signaling one's moral convincetions and identity? Or merely a tactical decision calculated to create better or worse terrain on which to organize in the future? Or is it something else altogether?Perhaps these debates have stimulated you; perhaps they've filled you with despair; or perhaps (like Sam) they've driven you nuts. The intention of this conversation — with three of my favorite writers and thinkers — is to help us see further: past the stale categories and tendentious arguments that leave us, on the left, feeling frustrated and mistrustful, rather than mobilized and oriented toward a future beyond November 5th.Our guests include: Astra Taylor, filmmaker, writer, organizer, and cofounder of The Debt Collective; author and organizer Malcolm Harris; and Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, author, political philosopher, and co-editor of Hammer & Hope — a new magazine of black politics and culture.Further Reading/Viewing/Listening:Malcolm Harris, Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World, (2023)Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics (And Everything Else), (2022)Astra Taylor, The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, (2023)— "What is Democracy?" (Zeitgeist Films, 2019)Josie Ensor, "They voted Democrat for years — but the war in Lebanon changes everything," The Times, Oct 25, 2024."Arizona Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and Progressive Democrats and Community Leaders Statement on Presidential Election," Oct 24, 2024.KYE, The Uncommitted Movement (w/ Waleed Shahid & Abbas Alawieh), Sept 4, 2024.
The Culture Journalist is a podcast about culture in the age of platforms. After disappearing into a black hole of summertime sadness, inflationary headwinds, and soul searching in Eastern Europe, we are back with a fresh batch of episodes and bonus content, so buckle up.Also, this podcast recently turned four years old. To celebrate, between now and Friday, November 8, we are offering 50% off on all annual paid subscriptions.Paid subscribers get access to the entire CUJO Cinematic Universe, including 1-2 monthly bonus episodes, an invite to our private Discord server, and our eternal parasocial friendship. Sign up at The Culture Journalist. What is it about life in the 2020s that makes us feel so anxious about what tomorrow will bring? In her book The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, the writer, filmmaker, and organizer Astra Taylor looks at how insecurity — both as an emotional phenomenon and a material one — can help us make sense of the myriad stressors and challenges of modern life.It's not just worrying about the election. It's not just high prices and the difficulty so many people are having finding a stable job. It's not just climate change, or how social media makes us feel like our skin isn't smooth enough. These days, it seems like everyone feels insecure — even (maybe especially?) the billionaires. On this week's episode, Astra joins us to talk about how insecurity differs from inequality, and how examining the psychic dimension of precarity can help us explain why things feel hard for so many people right now — even in the face of an ostensibly “strong” economy and labor market. We also get into the story of how the enclosure of the Commons in feudal England was the original sin that paved the way for our current “insecure” mode of capitalism. Finally, Astra tells us about her work as co-founder of the Debt Collective, the first union for debtors — and how returning to the ancient idea of the right to the Commons can help us organize in the face of decades of neoliberal austerity and a decaying social safety net.Follow Astra on XPurchase The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart.Watch Astra's CBC Massey Lectures on the book. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theculturejournalist.substack.com/subscribe
On this week's episode of Economic Update, Professor Richard Wolff addresses the numerous requests for financial planning or investment advice that he receives from many of you. We touch on the truth about investing in the stock and/or bond markets. In addition, Professor Wolff offers a basic understanding of the economics of US capitalism's century-long, profit-driven failure to adequately provide housing to its people. Finally, an interview with Professors Eleni Schirmer and Sofya Aptekar about their new book "Lend and Rule", from Common Notions Press, and their fight against the financialization of US public universities, and why it is so necessary. Sofya Aptekar is an associate professor of urban studies at the City University of New York School of Labor and Urban Studies. She is the author of Green Card Soldier (MIT, 2023) and a delegate of the Professional Staff Congress. She can be found on X/Twitter at @sofyaaptekar Eleni Schirmer is a writer living in Montréal. She currently holds a postdoc at Concordia University's Social Justice Centre and organizes with the Debt Collective, the nation's first union of debtors. She can be found on X/Twitter at @EleniSchirmer. The d@w Team Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a DemocracyatWork.info Inc. production. We make it a point to provide the show free of ads and rely on viewer support to continue doing so. You can support our work by joining our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork Or you can go to our website: https://www.democracyatwork.info/donate Every donation counts and helps us provide a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world they can't get anywhere else. We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info
Debt is a tool of control wielded by rich people. Maddy Clifford and Debt Collective (the union for people dealing with debt) want to wipe it out. Maddy's Linktree https://linktr.ee/madlines Debt Collective https://debtcollective.org/ Tenant Power Toolkit https://tenantpowertoolkit.org/ "They Want to Keep You in Debt" (Maddy at More Perfect Union) https://perfectunion.us/the-secret-student-debt-fight/ “It's a system that's rigged. It's messed up, and we're the ones that have to bear that burden." (Maddy at In These Times) https://inthesetimes.com/article/leimert-park-jubilee-debt-collective "Debt" by David Graeber https://linkencore.iii.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb42088729 Support us and find links to our past episodes: patreon.com/sadfrancisco
Hello!This week we're extremely excited to have on Astra Taylor, a filmmaker, author, and organizer with the Debt Collective. We talk about Walz, whether VP picks matter, good vibes and joy for once, and also what the hell was RFK Jr. thinking when he dumped that dead bear cub in Central Park. Astra also talks to us about the book she co-authored with Leah Hunt-Hendrix titled “SOLIDARITY: THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF A WORLD CHANGING IDEA,” which all of you should pick up and read as it's extremely relevant to everything we discuss on the show. Enjoy!Jay and Tyler This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodbye.substack.com/subscribe
The 2024 US election is the People vs. the autocrats. Trump is supported by Putin and Netanyahu. They would love to see him back in power. As part of the dictator's playbook, they want to divide and conquer, including weaponizing social movements so that we're fighting each other rather than building power together. How can we tell fact from fiction if progressive social movements are infiltrated by bad actors? For more on that, this week's bonus show is a continuation of the inspiring conversation with Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor, authors of Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea. Hunt-Hendrix, who holds a PhD in Religion, Ethics, and Politics from Princeton University, and is a founder of the progressive organizations Solidaire and Way to Win, met Taylor, a co-founder of the Debt Collective (a union of debtors), a filmmaker, and the author of The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, Democracy May Not Exist But We'll Miss It When It's Gone, and The People's Platform (winner of an American Book Award), among other works, at Occupy Wall Street. They share what they've learned since then on how to stay hopeful while building collective power. To our subscribers at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher, get your questions in by July 11th for our next Q&A bonus show, publishing Saturday July 13th. And be sure to tune into our next live-taping featuring cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, author of the books Take Back Your Life and Bounded Choice. She is the founder of the nonprofit, the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion. To get your ticket to the live-taping, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 11 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September 4 7pm ET Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - July 18 at 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!
In a time of hyper-polarization, how do we build the coalitions we need and expand our power against the fascist oligarchs we're up against? To help us make sense of these times, relying on history during eras of social unrest and revolution, are the authors of a new book, Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea, Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor. Hunt-Hendrix, who holds a PhD in Religion, Ethics, and Politics from Princeton University, and is a founder of the progressive organizations Solidaire and Way to Win, met Taylor, a co-founder of the Debt Collective (a union of debtors), a filmmaker, and the author of The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, Democracy May Not Exist But We'll Miss It When It's Gone, and The People's Platform (winner of an American Book Award), among other works, at Occupy Wall Street. They share what they've learned since then on how to stay hopeful while building collective power. To our subscribers at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher, get your questions in by July 11th for our next Q&A bonus show, publishing Saturday July 13th. And be sure to tune into our next live-taping featuring cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, author of the books Take Back Your Life and Bounded Choice. She is the founder of the nonprofit, the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion. To get your ticket to the live-taping, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 11 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September 4 7pm ET Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - July 18 at 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! The song you heard at the top of the show was 'Bouge' by Marine Futin. You can find more music by Marine Futin on all streaming platforms or at marinefutin.com.
This week, we're getting serious. Serious about the price of the prison industrial complex. Fred Bell from The Debt Collective, the nation's first debtors union, joins X Mayo to unpack each of their experiences with carceral debt. Fred talks about the financial realities of our prison system, the shame surrounding the cycle of debt, and how the Debt Collective is organizing to abolish it all. This series was created in partnership with Flourish Ventures, an early-stage global investment firm backing mission-driven entrepreneurs and industry influencers working toward a fair finance system for all. Learn more at flourishventures.com. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. You can find Fred on Instagram @fred.bjr and check out the Debt Collective on Twitter @strikedebt, on Instagram @thedebtcollective, and on their website https://debtcollective.org/ Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Happy Monday! Sam & Emma speak with Astra Taylor, writer, documentarian, & co-founder of the Debt Collective, and Leah Hunt-Hendrix, co-founder of Way to Win & the philanthropy network Solidaire, to discuss their recent book Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea. First, they run through updates on Israel's genocide in Gaza, skyrocketing executive pay in the US, the electoral impact of Trump's conviction, the GOP's $895B culture war defense bill, Maryland's marijuana pardons, AIPAC's $20 Million investment in George Latimer, the threat to public health that is Social Media, and Alex Jones' legal woes, before parsing through Donald Trump's continued insistence that he is the most mentally fit President of all time (certified by the guy that ran his presidential pill mill). Astra Taylor and Leah Hunt-Hendrix then join, diving right into the idea of “solidarity” as a material concept of social cohesion, with roots in the holding of a common debt between Roman farmers, and as a central tenant in the development of France's welfare state during the Industrial Revolution. Expanding on this, Taylor and Hunt-Hendrix unpack the role self-interest plays alongside solidarity, painting a distinction between the strict divisions of reactionary solidarities (e.g. White Supremacy, ruling class) and the malleable identity of transformational solidarity as they demonstrated the failure of “zero-sum” thinking, and how transformational solidarity extends the benefits of social progress to all. Next, Astra, Leah, Sam, and Emma have an extensive conversation on the “Scam” of philanthropy, from how it promotes movement capture by major capitalist donors to it's effective purpose as a tax haven for the wealthy, before they wrap up the interview with the role of the state in undermining the ability to foster solidarity, and how its power can just as well be used to promote it. And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma watch George Latimer do the classic liberal tap-dance around his unconditional support for Israel's genocide, parse through Israel's crystal-clear messaging on their goal of collective punishment, and talk with Jose from LA about the problems of Market Socialism. Michael Knowles and Colorado State Rep. Holtorf perfectly demonstrate the right's enthusiasm for subjugating women, and a former WH Communications Director takes on the ELITIST concern that just because Trump tried to overturn one election, he might do it again, plus, your calls and IMs! Check out Astra & Leah's book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740355/solidarity-by-leah-hunt-hendrix-and-astra-taylor/ Find out more about the Debt Collective here: https://debtcollective.org/ Follow Leah on Twitter here: https://x.com/lhunthendrix?lang=en Check out Way to Win here: https://waytowin.us/ Check out Solidaire here: https://solidairenetwork.org/ Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Check out all volunteering opportunities ahead of Rep. Jamaal Bowman's primary on Tuesday 6/25!: https://www.mobilize.us/jamaalbowman/ Check out this canvassing event for Rep. Jamaal Bowman and volunteer if you can!: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/new-york-canvassing-event?source=tmr Phone bank for Rep. Jamaal Bowman through the Working Families Party here!: https://www.mobilize.us/workingfamiliespartycoordinated/event/624109/ Phone bank for Rep. Jamaal Bowman through "Jews For Jamaal" here!: https://www.mobilize.us/nea/event/618446/ Find our Rumble stream here!: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Join Sam on the Nation Magazine Cruise! 7 days in December 2024!!: https://nationcruise.com/mr/ Check out the "Repair Gaza" campaign courtesy of the Glia Project here: https://www.launchgood.com/campaign/rebuild_gaza_help_repair_and_rebuild_the_lives_and_work_of_our_glia_team#!/ Check out StrikeAid here!; https://strikeaid.com/ Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! http://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: http://majority.fm/app Check out today's sponsors: Babbel: Here's a special, (limited time) deal for our listeners. Right now get up to 60% off your Babbel subscription - but only for our listeners - at https://Babbel.com/MAJORITY. Get up to 60% off at https://Babbel.com/MAJORITY. Rules and restrictions may apply. Neoplants: Go to https://neoplants.com/majority to get your 7th pouch of Power Drops free of charge at checkout. That's one extra month of pure air. Thanks to Neoplants for sponsoring today's video! Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech @BradKAlsop Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on Youtube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder - https://majorityreportradio.com/
This week, we're getting serious. Serious about the price of the prison industrial complex. Fred Bell from The Debt Collective, the nation's first debtors union, joins X Mayo to unpack each of their experiences with carceral debt. Fred talks about the financial realities of our prison system, the shame surrounding the cycle of debt, and how the Debt Collective is organizing to abolish it all. This series was created in partnership with Flourish Ventures, an early-stage global investment firm backing mission-driven entrepreneurs and industry influencers working toward a fair finance system for all. Learn more at flourishventures.com. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. You can find Fred on Instagram @fred.bjr and check out the Debt Collective on Twitter @strikedebt, on Instagram @thedebtcollective, and on their website https://debtcollective.org/ Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Paris Marx is joined by Nora Kenworthy to discuss how people rely on GoFundMe to access healthcare and the further inequities that adds to an already deeply unequal healthcare system. Nora Kenworthy is the author of Crowded Out: The True Costs of Crowdfunding Healthcare and an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies at the University of Washington Bothell.Tech Won't Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.Also mentioned in this episode:Nora is doing an online event with the Debt Collective on June 13.GoFundMe bought many of its competitors through the 2010s.In 2020, GoFundMe posted in a campaign it set up in response to Covid: “We're in a growth industry: pain.”Support the Show.
Today's information war in the United States is a battle between censorship and the right to tell the truth, particularly about Palestine and Apartheid Israel. For our monthly special on media and culture, we speak to journalist Jon Jeter. And at a high school in DC, Arab students are banned from screening the film "The Occupation of the American Mind," but we listen to portions of it on this show. Plus headlines on Debt Collective, funeral for Iran president, Kenya troops to Haiti, a combined celebration for Africa and Palestine liberation at Malcolm X Park in DC. The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people's voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be and support our own media! Please click here or click on the Support-Donate tab on this website to subscribe for as little as $3 a month. We are so grateful for this small but growing amount of monthly crowdsource funding on Patreon. PATREON NOW HAS A ONE-TIME, ANNUAL DONATION FUNCTION! You can also give a one-time or recurring donation on PayPal. Thank you!
Authors and organizers Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor join co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to talk about the concept of solidarity, its reliance on relationship-building, and how it has been expressed in political movements, from recent pro-Palestine activism in the U.S. to the Polish organization Solidarność, a trade union founded in the 1980s. Hunt-Hendrix and Taylor, authors of a new book called Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea, also reflect on how solidarity relates to their own work. Hunt-Hendrix recalls her dissertation on solidarity, and Taylor discusses her role as a founder of the Debt Collective, a union of debtors. They interrogate two kinds of solidarity, transformative and reactionary, as they exist across the political spectrum, and read from Solidarity. To hear the full episode, subscribe through iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app (include the forward slashes when searching). You can also listen by streaming from the player below. Check out video versions of our interviews on the Fiction/Non/Fiction Instagram account, the Fiction/Non/Fiction YouTube Channel, and our show website: https://www.fnfpodcast.net/ This episode of the podcast was produced by Anne Kniggendorf and Llewyn Crum. Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea by Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor Capitalism Cries: Class Struggles in South Africa and the World by Leah Hunt-Hendrix, William K. Carroll, Vishwas Satgar The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart by Astra Taylor Others: The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee There's Going To Be Trouble by Jen Silverman The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, a Study in Religious Sociology by Emile Durkheim Fiction/Non/Fiction: Season 7, Episode 29, “Jen Silverman on Generational Divides in American Politics” “Zibby Owens withdraws sponsorship for the National Book Awards over its ‘pro-Palestinian agenda,'” by Dan Sheehan | LitHub Solidarność “The Triumph and Tragedy of Poland's Solidarity Movement,” by David Ost | Jacobin | August 24, 2020 A Land for All Standing Together Emory is Everywhere (via Twitter) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In 2020, I talked about democracy with filmmaker/writer/organizer/activist, ASTRA TAYLOR. Four years later, following a pandemic, waves of protests, an insurrection, and a couple of ongoing wars, we revisit our fragile and threatened way of political life. She's been busy - working with the Debt Collective, a union of debtors she co-founded, and writing two new books, THE AGE OF INSECURITY and SOLIDARITY: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea.
Original Air Date 9/14/2022 Today, we take a look at the history and hysteria behind debt and debt forgiveness while Biden is canceling student debt and opponents of the idea are reacting in the most predictable way possible because they misunderstand the relationship between debt and morality. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Cancel It All: Debt Collective's Astra Taylor on Biden Plan & Need for Full Student Debt Relief - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-25-22 We speak to Astra Taylor, writer, filmmaker, and co-director of the Debt Collective, a union for debtors and one of the original advocates for a debt jubilee that would cancel all student debt. Ch. 2: Freedom Dreams: Black Women and the Student Debt Crisis - The Intercept - Air Date 8-22-22 The Intercept's new documentary, “Freedom Dreams: Black Women and the Student Debt Crisis,” profiles Black women educators and activists struggling under the weight of tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, in student loan debt. Ch. 3: Hidden History of Student Debt - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 8-25-22 Many woke up to find news that $10k of their student debt would be forgiven, Thom Hartmann and Jefferson Smith break down what this means and what happens next. Ch. 4: Bidens Big Student Debt Announcement: PITOTWIU for the Indebted Masses - Unf*cking The Republic - Air Date 8-28-22 Max breaks down the politics, the details, and biggest misses of the Biden student debt relief plan and why it's in danger of being PITOTWIU SEE FULL SHOW NOTES FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 11: Final comments on morality and money MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions) SHOW IMAGE: Description: A dark gray, 3D image of the word "DEBT" sits in a white void, a connected chain and open shackle with an open padlock lie in front of it. Credit: "3D Shackled Debt" by Chris Potter, Flickr | License: CC by 2.0 | Changes: Enlarged with more white background Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
In 2020, I talked about democracy with filmmaker/writer/organizer/activist, ASTRA TAYLOR. Four years later, following a pandemic, waves of protests, an insurrection, and a couple of ongoing wars, we revisit our fragile and threatened way of political life. She's been busy - working with the Debt Collective, a union of debtors she co-founded, and writing two new books, THE AGE OF INSECURITY and SOLIDARITY: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea.
“None of us benefit from a burning planet,” says activist and documentarian Astra Taylor on this week's Deconstructed. Taylor and Leah Hunt-Hendrix join Ryan Grim to discuss their new book, “Solidarity: The Past, Present, And Future of a World-Changing Idea.” Delving into the philosophical depths of solidarity, they trace its origins back to ancient Rome and explore its relevance in today's interconnected world.Focusing on transformative solidarity, they highlight its potential to bridge diverse experiences and causes, offering a unified approach to address the multifaceted crises we face. Taylor, a co-founder of the Debt Collective, a union of debtors, and Hunt-Hendrix, co-founder of progressive philanthropy networks Solidaire and Way to Win, draw on their experience to underscore the necessity of transformative solidarity in movement building.If you'd like to support our work, go to theintercept.com/give, where your donation, no matter what the amount, makes a real difference.And if you haven't already, please subscribe to the show so you can hear it every week. And please go and leave us a rating or a review — it helps people find the show. If you want to give us additional feedback, email us at Podcasts@theintercept.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Braxton Brewington is the Press Secretary of the Debt Collective. We discuss the origins of the Debt Collective in the Rolling Jubilee and its history in canceling student debt. Their example is a powerful model for canceling student debt, which continues to be important for all Americans in this election cycle and beyond.Education is a public good, yet the cost of college over the past couple of decades has risen eight times faster than the average wages. The average student debt is $30,000-$35,000. Two thirds of student debt is owed by women, and a large number of student loan borrowers don't have a college degree. This means that they are paying down student debt on non-college degree wages. The Debt Collective started out as the Rolling Jubilee, which canceled tens of millions of dollars of debt and gave instant relief to borrowers. Canceling student debt creates millions of jobs, boosts the economy, and advances racial and gender justice. Although the Biden administration has canceled billions in student debt, it is only making a small dent in over $1.7 trillion worth of student loans. Follow Ken on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Team_HarbaughFollow Mila on Twitter: https://twitter.com/milaatmosAdditional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyFuture Hindsight PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group
President Joe Biden on Monday announced another round of student debt relief that could help tens of millions of borrowers. He made the announcement in Madison, Wisconsin, a major college town in a swing state that's key to the president's re-election effort. We talk to Braxton Brewington, press secretary for The Debt Collective, an organization dedicated to student debt cancellation. He gives his opinion on whether Biden's plan will be enough to energize young voters heading into November.And in headlines: Former President Donald Trump said states should have the final say on abortion access, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a date has been set for the invasion of Rafah, and Missy Elliot announced her first-ever solo headlining tour.Show Notes:White House: “President Biden Announces New Plans that would Provide Relief to Borrowers Disproportionately Burdened by Student Loan Debt” – https://tinyurl.com/2xq4b22rThe Debt Collective – https://debtcollective.org/What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday
Braxton Brewington is the Press Secretary of the Debt Collective. We discuss the origins of the Debt Collective in the Rolling Jubilee and its history in canceling student debt. Their example is a powerful model for canceling student debt, which continues to be important for all Americans in this election cycle and beyond. Education is a public good, yet the cost of college over the past couple of decades has risen eight times faster than the average wages. The average student debt is $30,000-$35,000. Two thirds of student debt is owed by women, and a large number of student loan borrowers don't have a college degree. This means that they are paying down student debt on non-college degree wages. The Debt Collective started out as the Rolling Jubilee, which canceled tens of millions of dollars of debt and gave instant relief to borrowers. Canceling student debt creates millions of jobs, boosts the economy, and advances racial and gender justice. Although the Biden administration has canceled billions in student debt, it is only making a small dent in over $1.7 trillion worth of student loans. Follow Braxton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/braxtonbrew96 Follow Mila on Twitter: https://twitter.com/milaatmos Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/ Sponsor: Thanks to Shopify for supporting Future Hindsight! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful. Love Future Hindsight? Take our Listener Survey! http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=6tI0Zi1e78vq&ver=standard Take the Democracy Group's Listener Survey! https://www.democracygroup.org/survey Want to support the show and get it early? https://patreon.com/futurehindsight Check out the Future Hindsight website! www.futurehindsight.com Read the transcript here: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/cancel-student-debt-braxton-brewington Credits: Host: Mila Atmos Guests: Braxton Brewington Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis
In conversation with author and Pennsylvania State Senator, Nikil Saval In Solidarity, Astra Taylor and Leah Hunt-Hendrix offer a comprehensive look at not just the popular and ethereal idea of solidarity, but how it can be used by political organizing movements to affect real societal change. Also a lively history of such movements from Ancient Roman revolts to Occupy Wall Street and BLM, it reveals the nuts-and-bolts methods through which solidarity is built and sustained. Leah Hunt-Hendrix earned a PhD in Religion, Ethics, and Politics from Princeton University, where she wrote her dissertation on the Ethics of Solidarity. In 2012 she co-founded Solidaire, a nationwide network of philanthropists who fund progressive movements; and in 2017, she co-founded Way to Win, an organization devoted to electoral strategy. A Senior Advisor at the American Economic Liberties Project and a member of the Board of Directors of the Solutions Project, she is an advisor to her family foundation, the Sister Fund. The cofounder of the Debt Collective, a union of debtors, Astra Taylor is the director of several documentaries and the author of The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, Democracy May Not Exist But We'll Miss It When It's Gone, and The People's Platform, winner of an American Book Award. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and n+1, among other publications. She sits on the editorial board of Hammer & Hope and is an advisor to Lux Magazine. Because you love Author Events, please make a donation to keep our podcasts free for everyone. THANK YOU! The views expressed by the authors and moderators are strictly their own and do not represent the opinions of the Free Library of Philadelphia or its employees. (recorded 3/19/2024)
President Biden delivers his third State of the Union address Wednesday night ahead of this November's election. Part of the challenge for Biden is to show voters that he's still got the energy for another four year term. But he also has to motivate his base, including progressives who are following his campaign with varying amounts of enthusiasm. Activists and organizers across the country told us about the issues they're most concerned about, and what they want Biden to say when he steps up to the podium.And in headlines: Nikki Haley cedes the Republican primary race to Trump, a Russian missile hits near the President of Ukraine, and a Texas company says it's one step closer to bringing back woolly mammoths.Show Notes:“Rep. Allred to Host Dr. Austin Dennard at State of the Union” – https://tinyurl.com/24s5646jListen To Michigan campaign – https://www.listentomichigan.com/United We Dream Action – https://unitedwedreamaction.org/Debt Collective – https://debtcollective.org/What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/
The following full uncut conversation is from our recent episode Debt, Democracy & Disarray: Astra Taylor on “The Age of Insecurity.” It is available here as a podcast thanks to generous contributions from listeners like you. Thank you. Support the podcast by becoming a member => LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription: Can we turn our insecurity into power? Consumer debt stands at $17.29 trillion and many Americans are drowning in debt, with the average household owning over $100 thousand. The climate crisis, threats to democracy, and global wars add more worry to our already stressful lives. In her new book out from House of Anansi Press, “The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart”, writer, filmmaker, organizer, and the 2023 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Massey Lecturer, Astra Taylor uses mythology. psychology and the history of capitalism to break down the different kinds of insecurities we face, and explore how our insecurities help capitalism flourish. Without it, the system would cease to function, she says. In her years of work as Co-Founder of the Debt Collective, which emerged from Occupy Wall Street, Taylor has used debt as a tool for bringing people together and organizing. She is the author of The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, Democracy May Not Exist But We'll Miss It When It is Gone, and The People's Platform (winner of the American Book Award), and the director of What Is Democracy?, among other books and films. In this wide-ranging discussion, Astra Taylor and Laura Flanders discuss the history of capitalism, the rights of debtors, and what we can do to lessen insecurity and expand security both as individuals and as a society. All that, plus a commentary from Laura.Guest: Astra Taylor: Co-Founder of the Debt Collective & Author, The Age of InsecurityFull Episode Notes are located HERE. They include related episodes, articles, and more. The Laura Flanders Show Crew: Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper FOLLOW The Laura Flanders ShowTwitter: twitter.com/thelfshowTikTok: tiktok.com/@thelfshowFacebook: facebook.com/theLFshowInstagram: instagram.com/thelfshowYouTube: youtube.com/@thelfshow ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel
Astra Taylor, filmmaker, writer, and organizer, most prominently with the Debt Collective. Her new book is entitled The Age of Insecurity: Coming together as things fall apart [re-broadcast from September 2023] The post Astra Taylor on the Age of Insecurity appeared first on KPFA.
Paris Marx is joined by Astra Taylor to discuss how capitalism creates insecurity to sustain itself, the way tech is used to make us more insecure, and what it will take to change that. Astra Taylor is a writer, filmmaker, and political organizer. She's the author of The Age of Insecurity and co-founder of the Debt Collective. Her next book Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea, written with Leah Hunt-Hendrix, comes out in March. Tech Won't Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry. Also mentioned in this episode:Astra wrote about the Insecurity Machine for Logic Magazine and the Dads of Tech for The Baffler.Find excerpts from The Age of Insecurity in The New York Times and The Walrus.Become a supporter on Patreon to join our giveaway.Support the show
This show is made possible by you! Help us meet our year-end goal to raise $25,000, the cost of producing an episode. The next 25 people who donate will receive a free digital & print subscription to The Nation. Please make a year-end donation => https://LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription: Can we turn our insecurity into power? Consumer debt stands at $17.29 trillion and many Americans are drowning in debt, with the average household owning over $100 thousand. The climate crisis, threats to democracy, and global wars add more worry to our already stressful lives. In her new book out from House of Anansi Press, “The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart”, writer, filmmaker, organizer, and the 2023 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Massey Lecturer, Astra Taylor uses mythology. psychology and the history of capitalism to break down the different kinds of insecurities we face, and explore how our insecurities help capitalism flourish. Without it, the system would cease to function, she says. In her years of work as Co-Founder of the Debt Collective, which emerged from Occupy Wall Street, Taylor has used debt as a tool for bringing people together and organizing. She is the author of The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, Democracy May Not Exist But We'll Miss It When It is Gone, and The People's Platform (winner of the American Book Award), and the director of What Is Democracy?, among other books and films. In this wide-ranging discussion, Astra Taylor and Laura Flanders discuss the history of capitalism, the rights of debtors, and what we can do to lessen insecurity and expand security both as individuals and as a society. All that, plus a commentary from Laura.“There is a debate here about motivation and what motivates us, and we are constantly being told that if people are too secure, that society's going to collapse and that we can't afford to invest in other folks. And I really want to challenge that idea.” - Astra Taylor“. . . When you start talking about [debt] with others, you realize you're actually in the same boat and you start coming together to demand change, to demand debt cancellation, to demand the provision of these public goods. Debt actually can become a source of power.” - Astra TaylorGuest: Astra Taylor: Co-Founder of the Debt Collective & Author, The Age of Insecurity Full Episode Notes are located HERE. They include related episodes, articles, and more.Music In the Middle: “Positivity” by Outside from their album Almost In courtesy of Dorado Records. Additional music included- "Steppin," by Podington Bear.
Charles Dickens would recognize our predicament at once: the winter of despair and the spring of hope; an age of foolishness and an age of wisdom; Darkness in combat with Light. Life is never one thing isolated from every other thing; a lot of things can be—and are—happening at once. Contradiction—the dynamic, noisy, frenetic magnificence of life as it's actually lived—is the universal experience of humanity.We're fortunate to be joined by the smart and inspiring organizer/activist/artist Astra Taylor, someone willing to dive into rather than run away from contradiction as she illuminates both our problems and our possibilities in new ways. Taylor is a founding member of the Debt Collective and author, most recently, of The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart. Taylor's work—and this conversation—is an antidote to despair and a call to action.
Amanda brings us stories to celebrate Black Joy Friday. First up Seales highlights Morehouse College's remarkable initiative, collaborating with the Debt Collective to clear nearly 3,000 students' debts. Amanda then proceeds with "A Public Seales Announcement" and checks voicemails. Another story for Black Joy Friday comes from Calvin T. Mann's inspirational mobile mentoring bus in Detroit, and Heman Bekele, a 14-year-old named America's Top Young Scientist for his cancer-fighting soap invention. The show features "The People Versus" segment, discussing Keith Lee and restaurant reviews, and "Amanda's Things I Learned This Week." It also introduces "The Word Game" and the bonus word of the day, "regale," meaning to entertain or amuse by telling stories. The celebration continues with Stephen Curry's support for Black designers and a segment on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. Listen, Laugh, and Learn with The Amanda Seales Show FOLLOW ALONG AS WE COVER: (2:08) - Nearly 3,000 Morehouse men have had their debts with the college wiped clean. Morehouse is teaming up with an organization known as the Debt Collective, the nation's first union of debtors to cancel pending debt. (3:52) - It's A Public Seales Announcement. (5:34) - We'll check the voicemail. (11:33) - A STORY OF BLACK JOY: Calvin T. Mann has launched both a mobile mentoring bus and an apparel line to inspire Black youth called Encourage Me I'm Young in Detroit. (14:04) - JEREMIAH'S THE PEOPLE VERSUS…KEITH LEE. #Atlanta #Restaurants #OldLadyGang #KandiBurress. (18:22) - Amanda's Things I Learned This Week! (23:35) - We'll Check the Voicemail. (28:23) - COMING UP THIS HOUR: WE'RE SPREADING MORE BLACK JOY. FOR THE RECORD THINGS I LEARNED THIS WEEK AND WE'LL CHECK THE VOICEMAIL. (31:06) - A STORY OF BLACK JOY: Heman Bekele, a 14-year-old young man from Virginia, has been named America's Top Young Scientist for his Cancer-fighting soap invention. (33:16) - THE WORD GAME – Part 1. (36:01) - THE WORD GAME – Part 2. (38:30) - WE'VE GOT A BONUS WORD FOR THE DAY… REGALE TO ENTERTAIN OR AMUSE BY TELLING STORIES, DESCRIBING EXPERIENCES. COMING UP THIS HOUR: SHARING MORE BLACK JOY! WE'RE CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF HIP HOP WITH THE BLACKSPIN. (42:50) - A STORY OF BLACK JOY: Stephen Curry Is Supporting Black Designers with His Tunnel Walks This NBA Season. Four-time NBA champion has a new partnership during the 2024 NBA season with e-commerce site Rakuten: which was created to support Black designers from the Black In Fashion Council. (45:01) - WE'RE CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF HIP HOP with THE BLACK SPIN. First-week sales. (48:59) - Thanks for listening to The Amanda Seales Show! FOLLOW THE SHOW ON ALL SOCIALS: @Sealessaidit @Amandaseales @Jeremiahlikethebible If You Have A Comment Leave Amanda A Message At 1 855-Amanda-8 That's 1-855-262-6328See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Debt Collective, a debtors union, recently announced that it had canceled $10 million of student loans at Morehouse College, a historically Black university in Atlanta.
Almost 3,000 students at Morehouse College had their student debts canceled. According to a news release, the HBCU partnered with Debt Collective, the first union of debtors to cancel pending debt in the nation, to wipe clean collections for the Fall 2022 term and prior for 2,777 students. Morehouse transferred the collections to the Rolling Jubilee Fund, a sister organization of Debt Collective's sister organization, for $125,000 — or a little more than one penny on the dollar. The “no strings attached” gift was used for ”unpaid parking tickets, library fines, and even unpaid tuition totaling up to $30,000.” Because of the debt being cleared, students can now access their transcripts, receive their diplomas, and continue their education at the graduate level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this podcast episode, Talia and Nikki discuss The Debt Collective Zine -In The Red: Out of the Darkness. In our spotlight section, Talia chats with Eleni Schirmer and Thomas Gokey about the Debt Collective's student debt release tool. The conversation also touches on the significance of building collective power to address the student debt crisis effectively. References The Debt Collective Zine -In The Red: Out of the Darkness Thousands of Borrowers File Appeals as Student Loan Payments Loom How the Government Cancelled Betty Ann's Debts The Aging Student Debtors of America B**** Better Have Our Money
There is no honor among clowns. Days after Democrats helped Speaker Kevin McCarthy avoid a government shutdown, the Republican sideshow known as Matt Gaetz led House Republicans in ousting their speaker, effectively bringing the government to a standstill anyway. Genius big-brained move for someone who doesn't want any investigations into his personal misconduct. Francesca and comedian Gianmarco Soresi break it down plus a look at the late Senator Dianne Feinstein's lowest moment, her replacement, and the delightfully goofy judge in Trump's New York trial. Then, the Debt Collective's Braxton Brewington explains how Biden's new student debt forgiveness program is good but confusing as all hell. (Head to www.studentdebtreleasetool.org to advocate for your debt to be canceled.) And finally we're instituting our own dress code in the Senate and it's not a suit or sweats!Featuring:Gianmarco Soresi, https://twitter.com/GianmarcoSoresiSee Gianmarco LIVE: https://www.gianmarcosoresi.com/Braxton Brewington, https://twitter.com/Braxtonbrew96*Catch Francesca and Matt Lieb LIVE at the Punchline in San Francisco on Tuesday October 17th! Tickets: https://www.punchlinecomedyclub.com/EventDetail?tmeventid=G5vYZ9RNLFg8L&offerid=147245The Bitchuation Room Streams LIVE every TUESDAY and FRIDAY at 1/4pmEST on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/franifio and Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/franifioSupport The Bitchuation Room by becoming a Patron: www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom to get special perks and listen/watchback privileges of the Friday *BONUS BISH*Tip the show via Venmo:@TBR-LIVE Cash-App:@TBRLIVEMusic by Nick StarguFollow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPodGet your TBR merch: www.bitchuationroom.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Your favorite Inebriated Oracles raised a glass as the celebrated Beyoncé's RENAISSANCE tour (and Mel's new stipulations) and Paul Wall. In darker news, they also talked about the return of student loans and Gordon getting his pilot's license. No one is pleased. The nation's first debtor's union, The Debt Collective can help with student loans. Follow them on [Twitter] or their [website](https://debtcollective.org/). Learn about their October 8 event in Los Angeles at Leimert Park and the incredible work they're doing to eradicate debt. Gordon's pilot shenanigans will be left to Cerrome and the Lord. Follow the Oracles on Twitter: [Cerrome](http://twitter.com/cerromerussell) [Gordon](http://twitter.com/bakerbone) [Melanie](http://twitter.com/thegates0fmel) And of course, don't forget to support us on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/badadviceshow)! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/badadviceshow/support
Interest on federal student loans has officially resumed, and payments are set to restart on October 1st. On Tuesday, however, a group of Senate Republicans introduced legislation to block President Biden's Saving on Valuable Education Plan — or SAVE Plan — from going into effect, despite how it could help millions of people struggling to pay off their debt. For more, we're joined by Braxton Brewington from the Debt Collective, a progressive organization fighting for full student debt cancellation.And in headlines: a court struck down Alabama's Republican-drawn congressional map again, the impeachment trial of Texas's Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton started yesterday, and a pair of construction workers severely damaged a part of the Great Wall in northern China. Show Notes:The Debt Collective – https://debtcollective.org/What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastCrooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffeeFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday
Braxton Brewington of The Debt Collective joins Jordan for a conversation about how the Biden administration has tried and is continuing to try to cancel some student loan debt. Braxton and The Debt Collective, along with other student borrower advocates, have shown there are other ways—completely within Biden's authority—the administration can still cancel student loan debt. We explore some of those avenues and discuss a new tool The Debt Collective has created that might help some borrowers have their loans cancelled sooner.You can learn more about The Debt Collective at debtcollective.org and you can find the tool we discuss here: https://tools.debtcollective.org/run/student/#/1Our premium episode from this week featured Dave Anthony, host of The Dollop. It was great getting him worked up over Bidenomics, the homelessness crisis, student loans, Exxon and more. You can subscribe to hear that episode here: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.insurgentspod.com/subscribe
Subscribe to Bad Faith on Patreon to instantly unlock our full premium episode library: http://patreon.com/badfaithpodcast Two of the best student debt experts around join Briahna to break down last Friday's SCOTUS judgment, evaluate how serious Biden is about his "plan B," and discuss next steps for the movement. Persis Yu is Deputy Executive Director and Managing Counsel at the Student Borrower Protection Center, and Sparky Abraham is a strategist with the Debt Collective and founder of Jubilee Legal. Check out these resources for next steps: https://debtcollective.org/forms/scotus-lawsuit-survey https://debtcollective.org/forms/student-debt-strike Subscribe to Bad Faith on YouTube for video of this episode. Find Bad Faith on Twitter (@badfaithpod) and Instagram (@badfaithpod). Produced by Armand Aviram. Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).
It's a special All Calls Casual Friday! Call into the show at 646-257-3920! Sam and Emma also talk to Astra Taylor, co-founder of the Debt Collective, about what's next in the fight to maintain student debt forgiveness as the Supreme Court gears up to rule on President's Biden's plan. First, Sam and Emma run through updates on the Supreme Court's recent decision impacting native sovereignty, peace in Ukraine, Iowa's abortion ban, labor action, and climate change, also diving into Boris Johnson's exit from Parliament and the MASSIVE updates on the Biden crime family (turns out there's still not much). Nathan from Kansas City dives into the bigger picture of pistol brace legislation, Kaley from Boston discusses the relationship between queer acceptance and legislation, and Mike from Troy takes on the absurd lack of comprehension Matt Walsh and Jordan Peterson have on the topic of trans medical issues. Sam and Emma also listen to JP's Antifanalysis, Eric from Pittsburgh brings up criterion censorship, and Dave from Charlottesville explores the dem-ification of NC and the impact it has on local corruption. Astra Taylor then walks through the state of Biden's student debt relief, why his admin insisted on using the HEROES Act, and why other avenues remain open to him. They also assess the impending Supreme Court cases on the issue, and explore what Biden actually would be open to. And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma talk with Anonymous about the world of political consulting, Jake from Rhode Island discusses the impact of a local school board takeover, and Steven from Mississippi explores the relationship between fundamentalist religion and the rejection of non-religiously-affiliated welfare. DJ Cold Case clears up some of yesterday's Discord drama, Michael Knowles is offended by a flag, and Billy from Sacramento dives into her experiences transitioning, and the lack of understanding around hormone therapy, plus, your calls and IMs! Check out the "Against The Web" audiobook by Michael Brooks, narrated by Sam here: https://www.audible.com/pd/Against-the-Web-Audiobook/B0C62G3P38 Check it out at Scribd as well: https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/640237251/Against-the-Web-A-Cosmopolitan-Answer-to-the-New-Right Learn more about the Debt Collective here: https://debtcollective.org/ Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! http://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: http://majority.fm/app Check out today's sponsors: Sunset Lake CBD: sunsetlakecbd is a majority employee owned farm in Vermont, producing 100% pesticide free CBD products. Great company, great product and fans of the show! Use code Leftisbest and get 20% off at http://www.sunsetlakecbd.com. Zippix Toothpicks: Ditch the cigarettes, ditch the vape and get some nicotine infused toothpicks at https://zippixtoothpicks.com/ today, and get 10% off your first order by using the code MAJORITY at checkout. Your lungs will be glad you did. Rhone: Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use MAJORITYREPORT to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/MAJORITYREPORT Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattBinder @MattLech @BF1nn @BradKAlsop Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on Youtube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Subscribe to Discourse Blog, a newsletter and website for progressive essays and related fun partly run by AM Quickie writer Jack Crosbie. https://discourseblog.com/ Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder - https://majorityreportradio.com/
Breaking news! It's not just the Supreme Court that sucks - it's ALSO the executive and legislative branches! This week we're sharing Michael's appearance on Bloc Party, talking about how oral arguments went down in the SCOTUS cases that could make or break Biden's student loan cancellation initiative. Eleni Schirmer from the Debt Collective also joins in, to cringe at Roberts' lawnmower commentary and reflect on the way Biden is (or more notably…is not) exercising his executive authority. Bloc Party is a show from Justice Democrats about the fight for the soul of the Democratic Party, featuring progressive champions challenging the status quo from inside the halls of power and the organizers transforming the party's agenda from the outside. You can find it wherever you found this podcast.5 to 4 is presented by Prologue Projects. Rachel Ward is our producer. Leon Neyfakh and Andrew Parsons provide editorial support. Our production manager is Percia Verlin. Our website was designed by Peter Murphy. Our artwork is by Teddy Blanks at Chips NY, and our theme song is by Spatial Relations.Follow Peter (@The_Law_Boy), Rhiannon (@AywaRhiannon) and Michael (@_FleerUltra) on Twitter. You can follow the show on Twitter and Instagram @fivefourpod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Yes, undocumented immigrants take jobs from working Americans. Here's the proof," an opinion piece in The Washington Post tells us. "Save our truckers, not affluent students seeking a free ride," pleads longtime Republican consultant Douglas MacKinnon in The Hill. "Biden's Student Debt Cancellation Robs Hard-Working Americans, Will Make Inflation Even Worse," proclaims a so-called Expert Statement from the Heritage Foundation. There's a warning we hear again and again, particularly from the Right: A policy that would actually help people must be stopped, because it'll harm the Working Man. According to demagogues like Tucker Carlson and JD Vance – as well as many of their more liberal counterparts – immigration, labor organizing, protest rights, and student debt cancellation simply can't be allowed, lest they harm hardworking, meat-and-potatoes plumbers and truckers. But these cynical admonitions disguise some very important truths. Progressive policies serve the interests of many of these plumbers and truckers, many of whom might want to organize their workplaces or have their debt relieved. And the supposed menaces of job-stealing immigrants or entitled lawyers who want others to pay off their loans aren't actually responsible for depressed wages or plummeting standards of living–corporations bolstered by U.S. policymaking are. On this episode, we examine the right-wing trope of ventriloquizing an imaginary “Working Man” in order to divert attention from policies that serve the corporate bottom line, We'll detail how this tactic obscures class dynamics between labor and capital, reinforces racist conceptions that harm workers of color, and ultimately suppresses the rights of all workers while absolving their employers of wrongdoing. Our guest is filmmaker, author and Debt Collective co-founder Astra Taylor
Subscribe to Bad Faith on Patreon to instantly unlock our full premium episode library: http://patreon.com/badfaithpodcast It's spooky season, but millions of Americans who have been haunted by student debt for years will be able to shake that scary specter this month now that the student debt cancellation application is live. Briahna speaks to The Debt Collective's Astra Taylor and Sparky Abraham about the status of ongoing lawsuits intended to thwart debt relief, the open application process, and a debt strike for all of those who don't qualify, and who will still have thousands of dollars of debt even after Biden's plan comes into effect. This is one you're going to want to share widely: Comrades don't let comrades leave money on the table. Subscribe to Bad Faith on YouTube for video of this episode. Find Bad Faith on Twitter (@badfaithpod) and Instagram (@badfaithpod). Produced by Armand Aviram. Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).
Air Date 9/14/2022 Today, we take a look at the history and hysteria behind debt and debt forgiveness while Biden is canceling student debt and opponents of the idea are reacting in the most predictable way possible because they misunderstand the relationship between debt and morality. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) Join our Discord community! OUR AFFILIATE LINKS: BOMBAS.COM/BEST BUY ONE/GIVE ONE TO SOMEONE IN NEED ExpressVPN.com/BestOfTheLeft GET INTERNET PRIVACY WITH EXPRESS VPN! BestOfTheLeft.com/Libro SUPPORT INDIE BOOKSHOPS, GET YOUR AUDIOBOOK FROM LIBRO! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Cancel It All: Debt Collective's Astra Taylor on Biden Plan & Need for Full Student Debt Relief - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-25-22 We speak to Astra Taylor, writer, filmmaker, and co-director of the Debt Collective, a union for debtors and one of the original advocates for a debt jubilee that would cancel all student debt. Ch. 2: Freedom Dreams: Black Women and the Student Debt Crisis - The Intercept - Air Date 8-22-22 The Intercept's new documentary, “Freedom Dreams: Black Women and the Student Debt Crisis,” profiles Black women educators and activists struggling under the weight of tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, in student loan debt. Ch. 3: Hidden History of Student Debt - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 8-25-22 Many woke up to find news that $10k of their student debt would be forgiven, Thom Hartmann and Jefferson Smith break down what this means and what happens next. Ch. 4: Bidens Big Student Debt Announcement: PITOTWIU for the Indebted Masses - Unf*cking The Republic - Air Date 8-28-22 Max breaks down the politics, the details, and biggest misses of the Biden student debt relief plan and why it's in danger of being PITOTWIU Ch. 5: Republican Veteran Concerned By Negative Military Recruitment Amidst Student Loan Forgiveness - The Majority Report - Air Date 8-29-22 Florida Representative Michael Waltz believes the military recruiting crisis will worsen with President Biden's student loan forgiveness. He also believes it is unfair to those who have not incurred debt. Ch. 6: Forgiving (and Unforgiving) Debts - Now & Then - Air Date 9-6-22 Heather and Joanne discuss the history of debtors' prisons in early America, the rise of bankruptcy laws after the Civil War, and the Cold War origins of federal student loans. MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 9: Bidens Big Student Debt Announcement: PITOTWIU for the Indebted Masses Part 2 - Unf*cking The Republic - Air Date 8-28-22 Ch. 10: Forgiving (and Unforgiving) Debts Part 2 - Now & Then - Air Date 9-6-22 FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 11: Final comments on morality and money MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions): Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent Activism Music: This Fickle World by Theo Bard (https://theobard.bandcamp.com/track/this-fickle-world) Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent SHOW IMAGE: Description: A dark gray, 3D image of the word "DEBT" sits in a white void, a connected chain and open shackle with an open padlock lie in front of it. Credit: "3D Shackled Debt" by Chris Potter, Flickr | License: CC by 2.0 | Changes: Enlarged with more white background Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
President Biden announced on Wednesday a plan that would cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for millions of Americans, and $20,000 for Pell grant recipients. That will allow millions of borrowers to become debt-free, but critics say it won't benefit those with larger balances nearly as much as full forgiveness – a goal that progressives have pursued for years. Braxton Brewington with the Debt Collective, an organization that works to empower student loan borrowers, joins us to discuss the decision's impact, and why more needs to be done.And in headlines: a Russian missile strike killed at least 22 people at a train station in central Ukraine, the Uvalde school district fired its police chief, and a new study shows that long COVID has taken out as many as 4 million Americans from the workforce.Show Notes:The Debt Collective – https://debtcollective.org/Associated Press: “Biden's student loan plan: What we know (and what we don't)” – https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-program-explained-d248f3b049c292856bb1c74be6aedef2Vote Save America: Fuck Bans Action Plan – https://votesaveamerica.com/roe/Crooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffeeFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday
Today, with the Biden Administration weighing whether to extend the federal student loan payment freeze, we're re-airing one of our most timely debates from last year: Canceling student loan debt. The problem of student loan debt has reached crisis proportions. As a college degree has grown increasingly necessary for economic mobility, so has the $1.7 trillion in student loan debt that Americans have taken on to access that opportunity. President Biden has put some debt cancellation on the table, but progressive Democrats are pushing him for more. So what is the fairest way to correct course?Astra Taylor — an author, a documentarian and a co-founder of the Debt Collective — dukes it out with Sandy Baum, an economist and a nonresident senior fellow at the Center on Education Data and Policy at the Urban Institute. While the activist and the economist agree that addressing the crisis requires dramatic measures, they disagree on how to get there.Is canceling everyone's debt progressive policy, as Taylor contends? Or does it end up being a regressive measure, as Baum insists? Jane hears them both out. And she offers a royal history tour after Oprah Winfrey's interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.Mentioned in this episode:Astra Taylor in The Nation: “The Case for Wide-Scale Debt Relief”Sandy Baum in Education Next: “Mass Debt Forgiveness Is Not a Progressive Idea”Astra Taylor's documentary for The Intercept: “You Are Not a Loan”Sandy Baum for the Urban Institute: “Strengthening the Federal Role in the Federal-State Partnership for Funding Higher Education”Jane's recommendation: Lucy Worsley's three-episode mini-series “Secrets of the Six Wives”