Podcasts about democratic socialists

Mike tries his hand at investigative journalism, a disgruntled listener puts Jonny's life in jeopardy, Mike works out monologue jokes with Rosa, and the leader of the Democratic Socialist movement calls into the show.  Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/APqAfGxSD1c  Become a member on Patreon or YouTube and get a bonus episode every week for $5 a month.

As the masked goons of the MAGA nanny-state continue to disappear students for holding views upsetting to hysterical Zionists and their sweaty, senile leader continues to rule by deranged imperial decree executive order, we sit down with Erica Thomas, a union organizer, professor and artist, to talk about what's going on in our increasingly unhinged southern neighbour, the USA. We talk about the Portland police force's weird attempt to join the Oregon labour movement, the enshittification of higher education and everything else, and the state of Palestine organizing on campuses today. We also talk about union art, the Democratic Socialists of America, and the possibility, at long last, of the emergence of a true third party in US politics. Show NotesErica's websiteErica's IGPortland's police union is trying to use the labor movement to avoid budget cutsFive Things I Did This Week by Laurie WimmerThe Palestine Exception by Jan Haaken and Jennifer RuthEmergency Workplace Organizing Committee for new unionization support and general how-to-union basic educationJane McAlevyClass Struggle Unionism by Joe BurnsGeneral Strike 2028Join DSA Bread & Roses - the Marxist caucus of DSAThe Bread & Roses reading listThe Bread & Roses blogBullshit Jobs by David GraeberFree Pre-K in OregonCouncilor Mitch Green, District 4, PortlandPortland city councilor threatens PSU project funding over response to pro-Palestinian library takeoverFederal investigation into 5 universities for “antisemitism” which targeted Portland State and 4 othersIHRA definition of antisemismLinksInstagramMerchfuckingcancelled.comclementinemorrigan.comjaylesoleil.comTheme songFucking Cancelled has no ads and is a supported by our listeners. To help us continue our work, consider subscribing. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fuckingcancelled.com/subscribe

In October 2024, Zohran Mamdani launched his New York City mayoral campaign in relative obscurity. Half a year later, excitement about the state assemblymember from Queens is palpable. Mamdani, whose campaign is focused on housing justice and transit affordability, is the first in the race to hit its fundraising cap, raising $8 million dollars from more than 17,000 donors. A member of the Democratic Socialist of America, he boasts over 15,000 volunteer canvassers. Mamadani is now polling in second place, behind Andrew Cuomo, former New York governor who resigned in disgrace following sexual harassment allegations. Meanwhile, Cuomo, who began a lackluster second act in Israel advocacy following his resignation from office, is attempting to make Israel and antisemitism central issues in the campaign. In a speech earlier this month at a Modern Orthodox synagogue on Manhattan's Upper West Side, he blasted Mamdani, as well as fellow competitors Brad Lander and Adrienne Adams, for being insufficiently supportive of Israel, while asserting that anti-Zionism is unequivocally antisemitism. He also zeroed in on Mamdani's “Not On Our Dime” legislation, which targets charities funding Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Mamdani has continued to stress an adherence to international law, and a commitment to the principle of the equality of all human life. As the mayoral race enters its final months, Jewish Currents editor-at-large Peter Beinart interviewed Mamdani in a conversation that first appeared in the Beinart Notebook on Substack. They discussed how Israel/Palestine is making its way into New York politics, how Mamdani would stand up to President Trump, and his detailed plan for public safety. Jewish Currents is a non-profit organization and does not endorse candidates for office. We hope that our listeners in New York City will vote in the primary on June 24th.Thanks to Jesse Brenneman for producing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).” FURTHER READING: “Cuomo's ‘most important issue,'” Jeff Coltin, Nick Reisman, and Emily Ngo, Politico“Cuomo and Mamdani gain ground as Democratic primary turns into two-person race,” Adam Daly, amNY“Socialist Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani Wants to End Columbia and NYU's Tax-Exempt Status,” Sarah Wexler, Jacobin“Feds seized $80 million in FEMA funds given to NYC to house migrants, city comptroller says,” Jennifer...

JP Lyninger is a proud JCPS graduate of Dupont Manual High School, as well as the University of Louisville. J.P. Lyninger has spent much of his time Fighting for a better Louisville at protests against police violence, anti-war rallies, direct actions, and standing in solidarity with workers on picket lines. JP is a long-time activist and organizer. In 2022, he served as campaign manager for Shelby Park resident Robert LeVertis Bell's campaign for State Representative. Later that year, JP managed Access For All KY's “No On 2” campaign, working in coalition with other campaigns to successfully defeat Amendment 2's permanent ban on abortion access in Kentucky. JP Lyninger is an active and engaged member of the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. While currently a rank-and-file member of the chapter, he has previously held various leadership offices, including three terms as chapter Co-Chair. JP Lyninger is currently a member of the Louisville Metro Council representing District 6. JP ran for Metro Council because he knows a better world is possible. Louisville needs big changes to reverse economic and racial inequality. Louisville needs leaders ready to fight for the working class against budgets that prioritize tax deals for wealthy real estate developers over public transportation and basic infrastructure. JP is ready to fight with you for District 6, and for the needs of the working class across our city. In 2025, he serves as a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Efficiencies of Boards & Commissions, Budget, Government Oversight/Audit & Appointments, and Parks & Sustainability Committees.

Ralph talks about his new book, “Civic Self Respect” which reminds us that our civic lives have different primary roles—not only voter, but also worker, taxpayer, consumer, sometimes soldier and sometimes parent—and how each one offers special opportunities for people to organize to make change. Plus, we welcome back former commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, John Koskinen, who tells us exactly how the Trump/Musk cabal is both gutting and weaponizing the IRS.John Koskinen served as the IRS Commissioner from 2013 to 2017.This is not a how-to book. It starts at a much more elementary level and therefore should interest a much greater number of people. Because, as I say, if you can expand your civic dimension as a part of your daily role without disrupting the rhythms of your daily life (in fact, actually making them more gratifying and more interesting, less boring), you're on your way.Ralph Nader author of Civic Self-RespectThe people who really fight for justice in this country have to fight for recognition, they have to fight for media, they have to fight an onslaught. And the people who lie and cheat and say the most terrible things and do the most terrible things are really the best-known people in the country. I mean, if you say who are the best-known people in Congress? They're the blowhards, the cruel and vicious people who've said things that are illegal, outrageous against innocent groups here and abroad.Ralph NaderI used to say to the Congress (trying to get appropriations) that the IRS is the only agency where if you give it money, it gives you more money back. Because the more you can actually audit people who aren't paying the proper amount or aren't filing at all, the better off you are. So no one has ever disagreed with that.John KoskinenGoing back a thousand years, tax collectors have never been particularly popular. And so when you talk about the IRS, people say, "Oh, the poor old IRS." In some ways, they don't understand just the points you're making about the impact on them, on the country, of an ineffective IRS going forward. And that's why my thought is this move toward using the IRS to attack people ought to be a way for everyone to say, "You know, I may not love paying taxes, but I certainly don't want the government and the president or the treasury secretary or somebody else ordering an audit of my taxes just because they don't like my political position or what I'm teaching in my course.”John KoskinenRalph Nader's new book Civic Self-respect is available now from Seven Stories Press.News 4/16/251. On Thursday April 17th, Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland departed for El Salvador in an effort to personally track down Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an immigrant who was arrested and deported to CECOT, the notorious Salvadoran prison camp, WUSA9 reports. Garcia was legally protected against deportation by a 2019 court order and a Trump administration official admitted in court that he “should never have been on that plane.” Last week, the Supreme Court unanimously ordered that he be returned to the U.S. Van Hollen is quoted saying “You go out, you get disappeared, they say they did it in error, but they're not helping bring you back…it's a very short road to tyranny.” Gracia has not been heard from since he was deported, raising concerns about his health and wellbeing. This comes after ICE Director Todd Lyons said he wanted to see a deportation process “like [Amazon] Prime, but with human beings,” per the Guardian. This episode is among the most chilling in American history and we are less than four months into a four-year term.2. Another gut-wrenching immigration story concerns Palestinian Columbia University student, Mohsen Mahdawi who was tricked, trapped, and abducted by ICE. The Intercept reports “Even before his friend and fellow Columbia activist Mahmoud Khalil was arrested by immigration authorities, Mahdawi asked university administrators to help him find a safe place to live so he would not be taken by ICE agents…The school did nothing.” Then, “After ICE abducted Khalil last month, Mahdawi sheltered in place for more than three weeks for fear of being picked up himself.” So, the immigration authorities apparently devised a scheme. “Instead of taking him off the street…immigration authorities scheduled the citizenship test at the Colchester USCIS office and took Mahdawi into custody when he arrived.” This action is clearly intended not only to capture Mahdawi but to frighten immigrants and discourage them from seeking citizenship through the legal immigration channels for fear of being deported. Not only that, Mahdawi will be sent back to Palestine, which continues to be the target of relentless Israeli bombing. Mahdawi is quoted saying, “It's kind of a death sentence…my people are being killed unjustly in an indiscriminate way.”3. In more international news, CNN reports China has “halted” its deliveries of Boeing planes. According to President Trump, will “‘not take possession' of fully committed to aircraft.” According to CNN, Boeing is particularly vulnerable in a trade war scenario because “Boeing builds all of its planes at US factories before sending nearly two-thirds of its commercial planes to customers outside the United States.” Boeing anticipated China purchasing 8,830 new planes over the next 20 years. The aircraft manufacturer's stock value fell in the wake of this announcement and is unlikely to fully recover unless some accommodation is reached with China.4. On the other side of the trade war, the Trump administration is preparing to roll out steep sectoral tariffs in addition to the country-specific tariffs already announced, per the Washington Post's Jeff Stein. Stein reports these will target imports of various "critical" products, including autos, steel and aluminum, copper, lumber and semiconductors. Yet, likely no sectoral tariff will bite American consumers more than the proposed tariff on pharmaceutical drugs. On April 8th, POLITICO reported that Trump told the RNC he is planning to impose “major” tariffs on pharmaceuticals. FIERCE, a healthcare news service, reports these could be as high as 25%. Coalition for a Prosperous America, an advocacy group opposed to free trade with China, reports that “Over 90% of all Generic Drugs [are] Dependent on Imports.”5. Turning to domestic matters, the Federal Trade Commission is proceeding with their anti-trust case against Facebook. According to the FTC, “The…Commission has sued Facebook, alleging that the company is illegally maintaining its personal social networking monopoly through a years-long course of anticompetitive conduct.” Further, “The complaint alleges that Facebook has engaged in a systematic strategy—including its 2012 acquisition of…Instagram, its 2014 acquisition…WhatsApp, and the imposition of anticompetitive conditions on software developers—to eliminate threats to its monopoly.” According to Ars Technica, “Daniel Matheson, the FTC's lead litigator, [started the trial with a bang] flagg[ing] a "smoking gun"—a 2012 email where Mark Zuckerberg suggested that Facebook could buy Instagram to ‘neutralize a potential competitor.'” It is hard to see how the company could argue this was not anticompetitive corporate misbehavior.6. A dubious tech industry scheme is also underway at the highest levels of the federal government. WIRED reports that the Social Security Administration is shifting their communications exclusively to Elon Musk's X app, formerly known as Twitter. Wired quotes SSA regional commissioner Linda Kerr-Davis, who said in a meeting with managers earlier this week, “We are no longer planning to issue press releases or…dear colleague letters to inform the media and public about programmatic and service changes…Instead, the agency will be using X to communicate to the press and the public … this will become our communication mechanism.” WIRED further reports that, “The regional [SSA] office workforce will soon be cut by roughly 87 percent,” going from an estimated 547 employees to 70. Musk has called Social Security “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time,” per the AP.7. Over at the National Labor Relations Board, a whistleblower claims Elon Musk and his cronies at DOGE may have extracted data including “sensitive information on unions, ongoing legal cases and corporate secrets,” per NPR. If that wasn't shady enough, “members of the DOGE team asked that their activities not be logged on the system and then appeared to try to cover their tracks…turning off monitoring tools and manually deleting records of their access.” This whistleblower took his concerns to Congress and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel – whistleblower activities that are protected by law – but faced retaliation in the form of someone, “'physically taping a threatening note' to his door that included sensitive personal information and overhead photos of him walking his dog that appeared to be taken with a drone,” clear attempts to intimidate and silence this employee. The Trump administrations have been rife with leaks at every level and instead of responding by addressing the issues raised, the administration has launched a permanent inquisition to plug the leaks by any means.8. In better news, the Independent reports that DOGE itself is finally being subjected to an audit. The audit is being undertaken by the Government Accountability Office at the urging of Congressional leaders after “'alarming' media reports of DOGE infiltrating federal systems,” according to a congressional aide. One DOGE worker has reportedly been identified by as “a 19-year-old high school graduate who was booted from an internship after leaking company information to a rival firm,” raising ever-deeper concerns about the purpose of the “fishing expeditions” DOGE is undergoing at every level of the federal government.9. Another uplifting story comes to us from New York City. In the latest round of public matching fund awards, Zohran Mamdani – the Democratic Socialist candidate surging from obscurity into second place in the polls – was granted nearly $4 million in public matching funds, “the largest single payment to any candidate in the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary race to date,” according to Gothamist. Meanwhile, former Governor Andrew Cuomo was awarded exactly $0. As Jeff Coltin of POLITICO New York explains, “Cuomo's campaign [was] scrambling to get the necessary info from donors to get matched…sending…dire warning to [his] entire email list, rather than…targeted outreach to donors.” If he had collected the necessary information, Cuomo would have been awarded $2.5 million in matching funds, Coltin reports. Cuomo still leads in the polls; as it becomes increasingly clear that Zohran is the only viable alternative, there will be increased pressure on other candidates to throw their support behind him.10. Finally, let's take a peek into the political climate's effect on Hollywood. New York Magazine, in an extensive profile of Warner Brothers-Discovery mogul David Zaslav, includes a piece about Zaslav seeking to ingratiate himself with Trump. According to this report, “a company representative recently reached out to the Trump0 orbit seeking advice about how the company might advantageously interact with the Whitte House.” Their answer: “look at the example of…Jeff Bezos paying Melania Trump $40 million to participate in a documentary about herself. Don Jr. might like a hunting and fishing show on the Discovery Channel, they were told.” Just like the Ivy League universities and the big law firms, if given an inch Trump will take a mile and use it for nothing short of extortion. Hollywood would be wise to steer clear. But wisdom has never been their strength.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Ralph speaks to Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank about the Trump Administration's path of destruction in our federal government. Then, Ralph welcomes legendary public interest lawyer Alan Morrison to discuss the President's authority to impose tariffs and other constitutional questions.Dana Milbank is a nationally syndicated op-ed columnist for the Washington Post. He also provides political commentary for various TV outlets, and he is the author of five books on politics, including the New York Times bestseller The Destructionists and the national bestseller Homo Politicus. His latest book is Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theories and Dunces who Burned Down the House.I shouldn't be amazed, but Mike Johnson never ceases to amaze me with the rapidity with which he'll just drop to his knees whenever Trump says something.Dana MilbankWe're going to know this shortly, but it does appear that Trump's honeymoon may be over in the House as the conservatives finally seem to be finding their backbones. But I've thought that might happen before and then only to find out that they, in fact, they could not locate their backbones. So I don't want to be premature.Dana MilbankTrump seems to be gambling (and the administration seems to be gambling) that ultimately the Supreme Court is going to a wholesale reinterpretation of the Constitution to grant these never-before-seen executive powers, and it's possible that he's right about that. We're not going to know that. There have been a couple of preliminary rulings that seem friendly to Trump, but none of those is final, so we can't really be sure of it.Dana MilbankMy guess is that Chief Justice Roberts is seeing his legacy heading toward the ditch after his decision of Trump v. United States, where he said that Presidents cannot be criminally prosecuted….My guess is he's going to unpleasantly surprise Trump in the coming months.Ralph NaderAlan Morrison is the Lerner Family Associate Dean for Public Interest & Public Service at George Washington Law School. He currently teaches civil procedure and constitutional law, and previously taught at Harvard, NYU, Stanford, Hawaii, and American University law schools. He has argued 20 cases in the Supreme Court and co-founded the Public Citizen Litigation Group in 1972, which he directed for more than 25 years.It's inevitable that even for a non-economist like myself to understand that [the costs of tariffs] are going to be passed on. Other than Donald Trump, I don't think there's anybody who believes that these taxes are not going to be passed on and that they're going to be borne by the country from which the company did the exporting.Alan MorrisonIt's an uphill battle on both the statutory interpretation and the undue delegation grounds, but our position is rather simple: If the Congress doesn't write a statute so that there's something that the government can't order or do, then it's gone too far. In effect, it has surrendered to the President its power to set policy and do the legislative function. Interestingly, Trump has trumpeted the breadth of what he's doing here. He calls it a revolution. Well, if we have revolutions in this country, my copy of the Constitution says that the Congress has to enact revolution and the President can't do it on its own. So we think we've got a pretty strong case if we can get it to court.Alan MorrisonOne of the things that I've been struck by is that laws alone cannot make this country governable. That we can't write laws to cover every situation and every quirk that any person has, especially the President. We depend on the norms of government—that people will do things not exactly the way everybody did them before, but along the same general lines, and that when we make change, we make them in moderation, because that's what the people expect. Trump has shed all norms.Alan MorrisonNews 4/9/251. Our top story this week is the killing of Omar Mohammed Rabea, an American citizen in Gaza. Known as Amer, the BBC reports the 14-year-old was shot by the Israeli military along with two other 14-year-old boys “on the outskirts of Turmus Ayya” on Sunday evening. Predictably, the IDF called these children “terrorists.” According to NJ.com – Rabea formerly resided in Saddle Brook, New Jersey – Rabea's uncle sits on the board of a local Palestinian American Community Center which told the press “The ambulance was not allowed to pass the checkpoint for 30 minutes, a denial in medical treatment that ultimately resulted in Amer's death…[his] death was entirely preventable and horrifically unjust. He was a child, a 14-year-old boy, with an entire life ahead of him.” The Rachel Corrie Foundation, founded in honor of the American peace activist killed by an Israeli bulldozer while protesting the demolition of a Palestinian home, issued a statement reading “Rabea's death…was perpetuated by Israeli settlers who act with impunity…We believe that if our own government demanded accountability…Rabea would still be alive.” The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has sent a letter to Attorney General Bondi demanding an investigation, but chances of the Trump administration pursuing justice in this case are slim.2. Meanwhile, President Trump seems to be driving the U.S. economy into a deep recession. Following his much-publicized tariff announcement last week – which included 10% tariffs on uninhabited Heard and McDonald Islands – the S&P dipped by 10.5%, among the largest drops in history, per the New York Times. Far from making Trump back off however, he appears dead set on pushing this as far as it will go. After the People's Republic of China responded to the threat of a 54% tariff with a reciprocal 34% tariff, Trump announced the U.S. will retaliate by upping the tariff to a whopping 104% on Chinese imports, according to the BBC. Reuters reports that JP Morgan forecasts a 60% chance of a recession as a result of these tariffs.3. In more foreign affairs news, on Friday April 4th, South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol was officially removed from office by that country's Constitutional Court, “ending months of uncertainty and legal wrangling after he briefly declared martial law in December,” per CNN. The South Korean parliament had already voted to impeach Yoon in December of 2024. The court's decision was unanimous and characterized the leader's actions as a “grave betrayal of the people's trust.” Upon this ruling being handed down, Yoon was forced to immediately vacate the presidential residence. A new election is scheduled for June 3rd. Incredible what a political and judicial class unafraid to stand up to lawlessness can accomplish.4. Speaking of ineffectual opposition parties, one need look no further than Texas' 18th congressional district. This safe Democratic district – including most of central Houston – was held by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee from 1995 until her death in 2024. According to the Texas Tribune, Lee planned to run yet again in 2024, triumphing over her 43-year-old former aide Amanda Edwards in the primary. However, Lee passed in July of 2024. Edwards again sought the nomination, but the Harris County Democratic Party instead opted for 69-year-old former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, per the Texas Tribune. Turner made it to March of 2025 before he too passed away. This seat now sits vacant – depriving the residents of central Houston of congressional representation and the Democrats of a vote in the House. Governor Gregg Abbot has announced that he will not allow a special election before November 2025, the Texas Tribune reports. This is a stunning Democratic own-goal and indicative of the literal death grip the gerontocratic old guard continue to have on the party.5. One ray of hope is that Democratic voters appear to be waking up the ineffectual nature of the party leadership. A new Data for Progress poll of the 2028 New York Senate primary posed a hypothetical matchup between incumbent Senator Chuck Schumer and Democratic Socialist firebrand Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – and found AOC with a staggering lead of 19 points. This poll showed AOC winning voters under 45 by 50 points, over 45s by eight points, non-college educated by 16 points, college educated by 23 points, Black and white voters by 16 points, and Latinos by 28. Schumer led among self-described “Moderates” by 15 and no other group. It remains to be seen whether the congresswoman from Queens will challenge the Senate Minority Leader, but this poll clearly shows her popularity in the state of New York, and Schumer's abysmal reputation catching up with him.6. Another bright spot from New York, is Zohran Mamdani's mayoral candidacy and specifically his unprecedented field operation. According to the campaign, between April 1st and April 6th, volunteers knocked on 41,591 doors. No mayoral campaign in the history of the city has generated a grassroots movement of this intensity, with politicians traditionally relying on political machines or enormous war chests to carry them to victory. Mamdani has already reached the public financing campaign donation cap, so he can focus all of his time and energy on grassroots outreach. He remains the underdog against former Governor Andrew Cuomo, but his campaign appears stronger every day.7. Turning to the turmoil in the federal regulatory apparatus, POLITICO reports Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has eliminated the Freedom of Information Act offices at the Centers for Disease Control, and other HHS agencies. An anonymous source told the publication that HHS will consolidate its FOIA requests into one HHS-wide office, but “Next steps are still in flux.” In the meantime, there will be no one to fulfill FOIA requests at these agencies. This piece quotes Scott Amey, general counsel at the Project on Government Oversight, who said this “sends a wrong message to the public on the administration's commitment to transparency.” Amey added, “I often say that FOIA officers are like librarians in knowing the interactions of the agency…If you don't have FOIA officers with that specific knowledge, it will slow down the process tremendously.”8. At the Federal Trade Commission, Axios reports the Trump administration has “paused” the FTC's lawsuit against major pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, related to “the drug middlemen…inflating the price of insulin and driving up costs to diabetes patients.” The case, filed against CVS Caremark, OptumRx and Express Scripts was halted by the FTC in light of “the fact that there are currently no sitting Commissioners able to participate in this matter.” That is because Trump unlawfully fired the two remaining Democratic commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter. In a statement, former FTC Chair Lina Khan called this move “A gift to the PBMs.”9. One federal regulatory agency that seems to be at least trying to do their job is the Federal Aviation Administration. According to the American Prospect, the FAA has “[has] proposed [a] rule that would mandate Boeing update a critical communications malfunction in their 787 Dreamliner plane that could lead to disastrous accidents.” As this piece explains, “very high frequency (VHF) radio channels are transferring between the active and standby settings without flight crew input.” The FAA's recommendation in is that Boeing address the issue with an update to the radio software. Yet disturbingly, in one of the comments on this proposed rule Qatar Airways claims that, “[they have] already modified all affected…airplanes with … [the recommended software updates] …However … flight crew are still reporting similar issues.” This comment ends with Qatar Airways stating that they believe, “the unsafe condition still exists.” Boeing planes have been plagued by critical safety malfunctions in recent years, most notably the 2018 and 2019 crashes that killed nearly 350 people.10. Finally, on a somewhat lighter note, you may have heard about Bryan Johnson, the tech entrepreneur dubbed “The Man Who Wants to Live Forever.” Johnson has attracted substantial media attention for his unorthodox anti-aging methods, including regular transfusions of plasma from his own son. But this story is not about Johnson's bizarre immortality obsession, but rather his unsavory corporate practices. A new piece in New York Magazine focuses on the lawsuits filed against Johnson by his all-too-mortal workers, represented by eminent labor lawyer Matt Bruenig. This piece relays how Johnson “required his staffers to sign 20-page NDAs,” and an “opt-in” document which informed his employees they had to be comfortable “being around Johnson while he has very little clothing on” and “discussions for media production including erotica (for example, fan fiction including but not limited to story lines/ideas informed by the Twilight series and-or 50 Shades of Grey.)” Bruenig says, “That stuff is weird,” but his main interest is in the nondisparagement agreements, including the one Johnson's former employee and former fiancée Taylor Southern entered into which has further complicated an already thorny legal dispute between Johnson and herself. Now Bruenig is fighting for Southern and against these blanket nondisparagement agreements in a case that could help define the limits of employer's power to control their workers' speech. Hopefully, Bruenig will prevail in showing that Johnson, whatever his pretensions, truly is a mere mortal.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

We have a cool one for you today, a conversation with New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Currently, Mamdani is a member of the New York State Assembly. He’s a Democratic Socialist running in the Democratic primary against a pretty busy slate of contenders, and he’s polling second to former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who only recently entered the race. Now Mamdani was the first candidate to hit the fundraising threshold for city matching funds—setting it in record time—and doing it primarily through small dollar donations. His campaign is extremely organized, and it’s galvanized New Yorkers in every borough with a stunning clarity of message. Now, in many ways, to us, at least, Zohran has captured the zeitgeist as it feels like his campaign is a proxy for the discontent felt not just in urban areas, but throughout the country. So it’s our great pleasure to welcome to the show Zohran Mamdani. Resources Zohran for NYC Website Zohran on Facebook Zohran on Instagram Zohran on TikTok Zohran on Bluesky UNFTR Resources Watch the interview on YouTube. Access the transcript. -- If you like #UNFTR, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Bluesky, TikTok and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com. Join our Discord at unftr.com/discord. Become a member at unftr.com/memberships. Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee at shop.unftr.com. Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations. Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility. Unf*cking the Republic is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com). The show is hosted by Max and distributed by 99.Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sudip Bhattacharya joins us to unravel the post-Trump landscape of socialist strategy, wading through the murky waters of political transitions and internal leftist tensions. How can we nurture class consciousness and fight against anti-DEI rhetoric that threatens to strip away essential rights? Together, Sudip and I confront these urgent questions, examining the evolution of the Republican Party towards Western chauvinism and the unsettling alliance between tech oligarchs and Trump's agenda. As we navigate this complex terrain, we provide insights into the dissatisfaction among socialists with elite discourses on identity politics and misleading media narratives about the working class.Our conversation also dives into the challenges of maintaining unity within diverse organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Drawing on personal experiences in union organizing, we emphasize the importance of staying focused on core objectives like job protection and workplace diversity, even when faced with ideological divides. Sudip shares anecdotes from a DSA town hall event, offering a firsthand look at the debates surrounding strategy and the need for both domestic and international perspectives within the movement. This dialogue highlights the importance of thoughtful public discourse and effective collaboration to strengthen class unity.Finally, we explore the broader implications of American foreign policy and the potential for global solidarity in challenging U.S. hegemony. By engaging with international perspectives, we uncover the impact of American political actions on global relations and the potential shifts in alliances. From understanding the complexities of radicalization to critiquing rhetoric-driven strategies, we underscore the necessity of addressing tangible issues that people care about. Join us for a compelling episode that navigates the intricate dynamics of socialist strategy and outreach in today's volatile political climate.Sudip Bhattacharya is a former journalist and will be focused on exploring race in the United States at Rutgers University. He has written articles for CNN, the Washington City Paper, Lancaster Newspapers, The Daily Gazette, and The Jersey Journal. He also graduated from Rutgers as an undergrad and earned a Master's in Journalism from Georgetown University.  He is a member of the Red Star caucus in the DSA, and has recently written an article for From the Academy to the Streets: Notes from a Working Class Think Tank edited by Colin Jenkins (Iskra Books 2025). Send us a text Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan

Ralph welcomes journalist Chris Hedges to talk about his new book "A Genocide Foretold: Reporting on Survival and Resistance in Occupied Palestine." Then, Ralph speaks to David Swanson of World BEYOND War about what his organization is doing to resist this country's casual acceptance of being constantly at war. Finally, Ralph checks in with our resident constitutional scholar Bruce Fein.Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, who spent nearly two decades as a foreign correspondent in Central America, the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans. He is the host of The Chris Hedges Report, and he is a prolific author— his latest book is A Genocide Foretold: Reporting on Survival and Resistance in Occupied Palestine.We not only blocked the effort by most countries on the globe to halt the genocide or at least censure Israel to the genocide, but of course have continued to sendbillions of dollars in weapons and to shut down critics within the United States… And that sends a very, very ominous message to the global south, especiallyas the climate breaks down, that these are the kind of draconian murderous measuresthat we will employ.Chris HedgesIt's a very, very ominous chapter in the history of historic Palestine. In some ways, far worse even than the 1948 Nakba (or “Catastrophe”) that saw massacres carried out against Palestinians in their villages and 750,000 Palestinians displaced. What we're watching now is probably the worst catastrophe to ever beset the Palestinian people.Chris HedgesIt's a bit like attacking somebody for writing about Auschwitz and not giving the SS guards enough play to voice their side. We're writing about a genocide and, frankly, there isn't a lot of nuance. There's a lot of context (which is in the book). But I expect either to be blanked out or attacked because lifting up the voices of Palestinians is something at this point within American society that is considered by the dominant media platforms and those within positions of power to be unacceptable.Chris HedgesIt eventually comes down to us, the American people. And it's not just the Middle East. It's a sprawling empire with hundreds of military bases, sapping the energy of our public budgets and of our ability to relate in an empathetic and humanitarian way to the rest of the world.Ralph NaderDavid Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, radio host and Nobel Peace Prize nominee. He is executive director of World BEYOND War and campaign coordinator for RootsAction. His books include War Is A Lie and When the World Outlawed War.The biggest scandal of the past two days in the United States is not government officials secretly discussing plans for mass killing, for war making, but how they did it on a group chat. You can imagine if they were talking about blowing up buildings in the United States, at least the victims would get a little mention in there.David SwansonThe Democrats are the least popular they've been. They're way less popular than the Republicans because some of the Republicans' supporters actually support the horrendous behavior they're engaged in. Whereas Democrats want somebody to try anything, anything at all, and you're not getting it.David SwansonYou know how many cases across the world across the decades in every hospital and health center there are of PTSD or any sort of injury from war deprivation? Not a one. Not a single one, ever. People survive just fine. And people do their damnedest to stay out of it, even in the most warmongering nations in the world. People try their very hardest to stay out of war personally, because it does great damage.David SwansonBruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law. Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.If there were really an attorney general who was independent, they would advise the President, “You can't make these threats. They are the equivalent of extortion.”Bruce FeinVigorous Public Interest Law DayApril 1, 2025 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm at Harvard Law School the Harvard Plaintiffs' Law Association is hosting Vigorous Public Interest Law Day with opening remarks by Ralph Nader. The program will feature highly relevant presentations and group discussions with some of the nation's most courageous public interest lawyers including Sam Levine, Bruce Fein, Robert Weissman, Joan Claybrook, and Pete Davis, to name a few. More information here.News 3/26/251. Starting off this week with some good news, Families for Safe Streets reports the Viriginia Assembly has passed HB2096, also known as the Stop Super Speeders bill. If enacted, this bill would allow would judges to “require drivers convicted of extreme speeding offenses to install Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology in their vehicles, automatically limiting their speed to the posted limit.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA, established by Ralph Nader, speeding was responsible for 12,151 deaths in 2022 and is a contributing factor in the skyrocketing number of pedestrians killed by automobiles which hit a 40-year high in 2023, per NPR.2. In more troubling auto safety news AP reports NHTSA has ordered a new recall on nearly all Cybertrucks. This recall centers on an exterior panel that can “detach while driving, creating a dangerous road hazard for other drivers, [and] increasing the risk of a crash.” This panel, called a “cant rail assembly,” is attached with a glue that is vulnerable to “environmental embrittlement,” per NHTSA. This is the eighth recall of the vehicles since they hit the road just one year ago.3. At the same time, the Democratic-controlled Delaware state legislature has passed a bill to “award…Musk $56 billion, shield corporate executives from liability, and strip away voting power from shareholders,” reports the Lever. According to this report, written before the law passed, the bill would “set an extremely high bar for plaintiffs to obtain internal company documents, records, and communications — the core pieces of evidence needed to build a lawsuit against a company.” On the other hand, “Corporate executives and investors with a controlling stake in a firm would no longer be required to hold full shareholder votes on various transactions in which management has a direct conflict of interest.” As this piece notes, this bill was backed by a pressure campaign led by Musk and his lawyers that began with a Delaware Chancery Court ruling that jeopardized his $56 billion compensation package. In retaliation, Musk threatened to lead a mass exodus of corporations from the state. Instead of calling his bluff, the state legislature folded, likely beginning a race to the bottom among other corporate-friendly states that will strip anyone but the largest shareholders of any remaining influence on corporate decision making.4. Speaking of folding under pressure, Reuters reports Columbia University will “acquiesce” to the outrageous and unprecedented demands of the Trump administration. These include a new mask ban on campus, and placing the school's Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies department – along with the Center for Palestine Studies –under academic receivership for at least five years. By caving to these demands, the University hopes the administration will unfreeze $400 million in NIH grants they threatened to withhold. Reuters quotes historian of education, Professor Jonathan Zimmerman, who decried this as “The government…using the money as a cudgel to micromanage a university,” and Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors, who called the administration's demands “arguably the greatest incursion into academic freedom, freedom of speech and institutional autonomy that we've seen since the McCarthy era.”5. The authoritarianism creeping through higher education doesn't end there. Following the chilling disappearing of Mahmoud Khalil, the Trump administration has begun deploying the same tactic against more students for increasingly minor supposed offenses. First there was Georgetown post-doc student Badar Khan Suri, originally from India, who “had been living in Virginia for nearly three years when the police knocked on his door on the evening of 17 March and arrested him,” per the BBC. His crime? Being married to the daughter of a former advisor to Ismail Haniyeh, who in 2010 left the Gaza government and “started the House of Wisdom…to encourage peace and conflict resolution in Gaza.” A court has blocked Suri's deportation. Then there is Rumeysa Ozturk, a PhD student at Tufts who was on her way home from an Iftar dinner when she was surrounded and physically restrained by plainclothes agents on the street, CNN reports. Video of this incident has been shared widely. Secretary of State Marco Rubio supposedly “determined” that Ozturk's alleged activities would have “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences and would compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest.” These activities? Co-writing a March 2024 op-ed in the school paper which stated “Credible accusations against Israel include accounts of deliberate starvation and indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinian civilians and plausible genocide.” The U.S. has long decried regimes that use secret police to suppress dissident speech. Now it seems it has become one.6. Yet the Trump administration is not only using deportations as a blunt object to punish pro-Palestine speech, it is also using it to go after labor rights activists. Seattle public radio station KUOW reports “Farmworker activist and union leader Alfredo Juarez Zeferino, known…as ‘Lelo,' was taken into custody by [ICE].” A farmworker and fellow activist Rosalinda Guillén is quoted saying “[Lelo] doesn't have a criminal record…they stopped him because of his leadership, because of his activism.” She added “I think that this is a political attack.” Simultaneously, the Washington Post reports “John Clark, a Trump-appointed Labor Department official, directed the agency's Bureau of International Labor Affairs…to end all of its grants.” These cuts are “expected to end 69 programs that have allocated more than $500 million to combat child labor, forced labor and human trafficking, and to enforce labor standards in more than 40 countries.”7. All of these moves by the Trump administration are despicable and largely unprecedented, but even they are not as brazen as the assault on the twin pillars of the American social welfare system: Social Security and Medicare. Social Security is bearing the brunt of the attacks at the moment. First, AP reported that Elon Musk's DOGE planned to cut up to 50% of the Social Security Administration staff. Then, the Washington Post reported that the administration planned to force millions of seniors to submit claims in person rather than via phone. Now the administration is announcing that they are shifting Social Security payments from paper checks to prepaid debit cards, per Axios. Nearly half a million seniors still receive their payments via physical checks. These massive disruptions in Social Security have roiled seniors across the nation, many of whom are Republican Trump supporters, and they are voicing their frustration to their Republican elected officials – who in turn are chafing at being cut out of the loop by Musk. NBC reports Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Finance subcommittee on Social Security, said “he had not been told ahead of time about DOGE's moves at the agency.” Senators Steve Daines and Bill Cassidy have echoed this sentiment. And, while Social Security takes center stage, Medicare is next in line. Drop Site is out with a new report on how Trump's nominee to oversee the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services – Dr. Oz – could shift millions of seniors from traditional Medicare to the insurer-controlled Medicare Advantage system. Medicare and Social Security have long been seen as the “third rail” of American politics, meaning politicians who try to tamper with those programs meet their political demise. This is the toughest test yet of whether that remains true.8. The impact of Oscar winning documentary No Other Land continues to reverberate, a testament to the power of its message. In Miami Beach, Mayor Steven Meiner issued a draft resolution calling for the city to terminate its lease agreement with O Cinema, located at Old City Hall, simply for screening the film. Deadline reports however that he was forced to back down. And just this week, co-director of the film Hamdan Ballal was reportedly “lynched” by Israeli settlers in his West Bank village, according to co-director Yuval Abraham, an anti-occupation Jewish Israeli journalist. The Guardian reports “the settlers beat him in front of his home and filmed the assault…he was held at an army base, blindfolded, for 24 hours and forced to sleep under a freezing air conditioner.” Another co-director, Basel Adra of Masafer Yatta, told the AP “We came back from the Oscars and every day since there is an attack on us…This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment.” Stunningly, it took days for the Academy of Motion Pictures to issue a statement decrying the violence and even then, the statement was remarkably tepid with no mention of Palestine at all, only condemning “harming or suppressing artists for their work or their viewpoints.”9. In some more positive news, Zohran Mamdani – the Democratic Socialist candidate for Mayor of New York City – has maxed out donations, per Gothamist. Mamdani says he has raised “more than $8 million with projected matching funds from about 18,000 donors citywide and has done so at a faster rate than any campaign in city history.” Having hit the public financing cap this early, Mamdani promised to not spend any more of the campaign raising money and instead plans to “build the single largest volunteer operation we've ever seen in the New York City's mayor's race.” Witnessing a politician asking supporters not to send more money is a truly one-of-a-kind moment. Recent polling shows Mamdani in second place, well behind disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo and well ahead of his other rivals, including incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, per CBS. However, Mamdani remains unknown to large numbers of New Yorkers, meaning his ceiling could be much higher. Plenty of time remains before the June mayoral election.10. Finally, in an extremely bizarre story, Columbia Professor Anthony Zenkus reports “Robert Ehrlich, millionaire founder of snack food giant Pirate's Booty…tried to take over the sleepy Long Island town of Sea Cliff.” Zenkus relays that Ehrlich waged a “last minute write-in campaign for mayor in which he only received 62 votes - then declared himself mayor anyway.” Though Ehrlich only received 5% of the vote, he “stormed the village hall with an entourage, declaring himself the duly-elected mayor, screaming that he was there to dissolve the entire town government and that he alone had the power to form a new government.” Ehrlich claimed the election was “rigged” and thus invalid, citing as evidence “One of my supporters voted three times. Another one voted four times…” which constitutes a confession to election fraud. Zenkus ends this story by noting that Ehrlich was “escorted out by police.” It's hard to make heads or tails of this story, but if nothing else it indicates that these petty robber barons are simply out of control – believing they can stage their own mini coup d'etats. And after all, why shouldn't they think so, when one of their ilk occupies perhaps the most powerful office in the history of the world. Bad omens all around.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

After a few weeks off, Austin G is back to bring you a solo interview pod with previous guest and union organizer Luisa Martinez @LuisaKnuckles. Austin and Luisa discuss an exciting new project of theirs within the Democratic Socialists of America as they officially launch the 21st Century Socialism Caucus, a new caucus within DSA for members who believe in furthering the vision of 21st Century Socialism. To get involved check them out on twitter and youtube @21CSocialism and check out their Programa de Lucha.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he breaks down today's biggest stories shaping America and the world. White House Security Breach Exposes Houthi Strike Debate - National Security Advisor Michael Waltz accidentally added a journalist to a secure group chat with VP JD Vance and other top officials, revealing internal disagreements over military action in Yemen. The leak sparks political fallout and raises serious questions about operational security. The Rise of American Socialism: Sanders and AOC Draw Record Crowds - A rally in Denver with over 30,000 attendees highlights a broader effort to rebrand socialism and take over the Democratic Party - part of a plan laid out by the Democratic Socialists of America back in 2012. Get the facts, the analysis, and the truth - only on The Wright Report. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32

I have a soft spot for the Dirtbag Left now that I never used to have. Listening to them viciously destroy the Democratic Party scratches that itch. They were ahead of the curve, and the Democrats would have been better off not snuffing out the movement way back when.But snuff it out, we did. Back in 2016, I was in a Facebook group devoted to doing nothing but hating on the “Bernie bros.” I spent too much of my precious time trying to stop them as a movement because they threatened Hillary Clinton's win. Like every Democrat now, I was afraid of democracy.The Democrats find themselves in that place where the three characters from Jaws end up. They've tried harpoons and three barrels on him, and nothing has worked. They finally decide to try Hooper's shark cage, even though Brody knows there's no chance it will work. “You got any better suggestions?” barks Hooper.That Quint entertains the idea of bringing in Hooper's cage at all was the miracle. And the desperation.The Democrats are ready for the anti-shark cage, and so Bernie Sanders and AOC are on a western tour to “stop the oligarchy.” They finally have the exact right enemy in Elon Musk and Bernie's “billionaires.” Musk represents the death of their dream, that no one can get there on their wits, hard work, and ambition alone. No, this is a country where no one can rise unless everyone can rise.Trump's tariffs are a potential solution to America's crippling problem of income inequality that has destroyed the middle class. That's the MAGA populism at work. Bernie's populism fixes the problem with much bigger government. The rich pay more to redistribute the wealth.Is this finally the moment when we can Make America Socialist Again? A major step forward from FDR's New Deal and Johnson's Great Society? Do the Democratic Socialists have a real shot at winning the nomination away from the feckless, flaccid centrists?Is this finally the moment when the Dirtbag Left and the identity politics utopians merge to create one big movement, a Green New Deal? Will Trump's radical change finally be the thing that pushes the majority in a direction they never would have gone?Recent polls show that younger generations are much more accepting and fond of socialism than older generations. It's not that hard to do the math and see what might be coming next.How it StartedAccording to Neil Howe and William Strauss's 1997 book, 2008 was the crisis that sparked our Fourth Turning. This pattern plays out every 80 years, with each generation being born and living a lifetime before everything radically changes to restart America in a new direction, like the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Great Depression, and World War II.We still don't know how big or how bad our Fourth Turning will be. To Strauss and Howe, the $700 billion bank bailout was the moment the public woke up to the imminent disaster of income inequality and a bloated oligarchy. The bailout birthed two populist movements: Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party.Occupy Wall Street became the Bernie movement which, after Hillary's loss in 2016, was dissolved into the Democrat machine. The Tea Party became Trump and MAGA. The question we have to ask is which side will prevail when the Fourth Turning comes to a close, when the policies are cemented and the country is united?According to Howe's new book, The Fourth Turning is Here, he edges ever so slightly to the Left's side of things because the dominant generation, the Millennials, are a “go along to get along” personality type.At the moment, at least to me, the MAGA side offers more for ambitious millennials, especially young men. MAGA is now the side of innovation and economic growth. If they succeed, there will be no need for a rescue mission.But if they fail? Ben Shapiro has been dropping the prediction for a few weeks now that if Trump's economy begins to fail, the power that will rise is the equal and opposite reaction to Trump's populism: a lurch to the hard left.Bernie and AOC are ready to bring the movement back.Is this finally the moment where both Bernie and AOC have the right kind of anger and the right enemy they need to tap into the collective outrage of all of those crazy people out there losing their minds? People like this: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sashastone.substack.com/subscribe

"Democrats in general tend to show up to gun fights with bar graphs," Queens Assemblymember and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani said as he sat down with the FAQ NYC crewto make his case. That boils down, he explained, to driving down the cost of living for New Yorkers and "less lecturing, more listening." In a wide-ranging interview — the latest in the pod's series with the Democratic candidates — the Democratic Socialist with surging support discussed why "absolutely there's space to have my campaign staff unionized," why he's aiming his fire at the "disgraced former governor and the disgraced current mayor" in the race, how hawking mix CDs helped prepare him for politics, and much more.

United States President Donald Trump has used his first month in office to push through a whirlwind of changes on a range of fronts. Green Left spoke to US socialists Cyn Huang and Michaela Brangan, members of the Democratic Socialists of America Bread and Roses caucus, about Trump's attacks on immigrants, workers and human rights. Huang and Brangan also discuss the shifting role of the US in world politics and the Trump administration's position on Gaza and Ukraine. We acknowledge that this video was produced on stolen Aboriginal land. We express solidarity with ongoing struggles for justice for First Nations people and pay our respects to Elders past and present. If you like our work, become a supporter: https://www.greenleft.org.au/support Support Green Left on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/greenleft Green Left online: https://www.greenleft.org.au/ X: https://x.com/GreenLeftOnline YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/greenleftonline TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greenleftonline Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenleftonline/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@greenleftonline Bluesky: https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/did:plc:46krhuuuo6xjpofg6727x6fi Podbean: https://greenleftonline.podbean.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/greenleftonline Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563834293752

What happens when a party-loving, vintage-hunting, anti-capitalist powerhouse decides to take on billionaires, landlords, and the status quo? You get Jen Snyder—a political strategist, campaign manager, and all-around force for working-class people. In this episode, Jen and I dive deep into how she went from the world of advertising to running political campaigns, using the same persuasion tactics that sell products to fight for real change. We break down the psychology of propaganda, how billionaires trick people into voting against their own interests, and why local government is where real power lies. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by politics or unsure where to start, Jen lays out tangible steps you can take to get involved without burning out. We also discuss immigration rights, the fight for social housing, and how taxing the rich can fund the programs we all deserve. The future isn't written yet, but it will be built by those who fight for it—so let's get to work. Listen now, share widely, and join the movement. Resources & Links Jen Mentioned: Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights: https://lccrsf.org/ SFILEN – San Francisco Immigrant Legal & Education Network: https://sfilen.org/ Immigration Institute of the Bay Area: https://iibayarea.org/ Dean Preston: https://www.deanprestonsf.com/ Democratic Socialists of America SF: https://dsasf.org/ Join a Know Your Rights Workshop with SFILEN: https://sfilen.org/ Attend a canvassing event (check out DSA SF events): https://dsasf.org/events/ Look up your local reps & policies and start asking questions ▶▶▶ Please rate, commnet, and share this episode to share the magic, and join the Magic Inclined community to connect with magical peeps from all aroud the world: https://magicinclined.mn.co All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's spodify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

Jeff is joined by Co-Chair of the Democratic Socialists of America Ashik Saddique. Jeff and Ashik discuss the current situation in America and how organizations like DSA can build power.    Follow Ashik Check out Ashik's pieces in Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/anti-trump-resistance-didnt-go-too-far-it-didnt-go-far-enough-opinion-2028158 https://www.newsweek.com/anti-trump-resistance-didnt-go-too-far-it-didnt-go-far-enough-opinion-2028158   SUPPORT GOOD MORNING COMRADE Support us on Patreon Follow us on Tiktok Subscribe on Youtube  Follow Jeff on Twitter Email us! goodmorningcomrade.com Twitter Facebook Leave a review! 5 stars and say something nice to spread the word about the show!

It's the Wednesday politics show. Host Trenae Nuri catches up with State Representative Elizabeth Fiedler, who represents South Philly, about her work-life balance (she's a mother of two who's now expecting twins) and the issues she's focused on in Harrisburg. Fiedler is one of just a few elected officials in the country who's a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, and she has some thoughts on the future of the Democratic Party.   Want some more Philly news? Sign up for our daily newsletter, Hey Philly We're also on Instagram: @citycastphilly Have a question or comment? Call or text us at 215-259-8170 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textJoin us for a thought-provoking conversation with Chris Catron as we dissect the evolving dynamics of leftist movements, from the millennial wave to the emerging Zoomer left. We're making the bold statement that the recent Leninist turn intertwined with neo-Kautskyism is reshaping contemporary leftist politics. Exploring the rise of neo-Stalinist and Trotskyist tendencies, we also tackle the challenges faced by groups like the Democratic Socialists of America in integrating Trotskyist organizations.Our dialogue with Chris ventures into the heart of leftist ideological shifts, scrutinizing the friction between radical liberalism and Marxist-Leninism, especially in the wake of MAGA-Communism. There's an intriguing spotlight on historical figures such as Earl Browder and William Z. Foster, juxtaposed with modern platforms like the PSL and Monthly Review. The discussion critically examines the left's response to mainstream political figures, including the complexities of Bernie Sanders' and Jeremy Corbyn's influence on progressive politics.Finally, we unravel the layers of U.S.-Israel relations since the 1980s and the intricacies of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Chris offers insights into the paradoxes within leftist politics, from protest voting frustrations to the psychological barriers of breaking away from the Democratic Party. We also reflect on Marxist critiques, the frustrations with critical theory, and the cycles of generational shifts in political sentiment. This episode promises an enlightening exploration of historical memory, political norms, and the enduring challenges of building solidarity within leftist movements. Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf

This episode is all about Canada's political situation, Canada's "right-wing" shift, and the rise of Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party and most likely Canada's Next Prime Minister. For this episode, I am joined by Rose, Matthias, and Umer, three members of the Democratic Socialists of Canada (The DSC). In the Backroom on Patreon, we talk about the prospect of "Left Nationalism" in Canada, "Red Toryism," and socialist strategy more broadly. Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime. Timestamps: 00:00 Trump Making Canada a 51st State 02:50 What's going on with Canada 08:46 Canada's Conservative Turn 22:07 The Trucker Convoy and Its Impact 45:32 The Housing Crisis and The Primary Contradiction in Canada 52:09 The DSC (Democratic Socialists of Canada) 01:10:31 Rural Organizing and Community Building 01:23:13 All of Canada's Parties Suck 01:37:52 Canadian Nationalism? Check out the DSC: https://www.democraticsocialists.ca/ Follow me on X: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial Follow me on Insta: ⁠instagram.com/1dimeman⁠ Outro Music by Karl Casey Give the Podcast a 5-star Rating, a like, or a comment. Share with your friends Become a Patron of 1Dime and get access to around 50 Exclusive podcast episodes + my discord server: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime

We talk to Megan Romer, National Co-Chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, on the future of DSA, what to expect in the next four years, and how to get off the couch and start organizing.

My guest on the show today is Geoff Shullenberger, managing editor of Compact magazine and host of their Blame Theory podcast. Geoff emailed me a few months back, after a post of mine that touched on the the risks of hitching one's identity too thoroughly to hating on the left. What do I think, he asked, about the “post-left.”To which my answer was, “What's that?”That's the topic of much of this episode of the podcast. One answer comes from a piece on the phenomenon that Park MacDougald wrote a few years ago for Unherd. In it, he wrote:The core assertion of the post-Left is relatively simple: The real ruling class in America is the progressive oligarchy represented politically by the Democratic Party. The Democrats are the party of Silicon Valley, Wall Street, the Ivy League, the media, the upper layers of the national security state and federal bureaucracy, and of highly educated professionals in general. The Republicans, however loathsome, are largely a distraction — a tenuous alliance between a minority faction of the ruling class and petit bourgeois.… Although professing commitment to traditionally Left-wing goals such as anti-capitalism, the post-leftists are defined mostly by their aggressive hostility to both the Democratic Party and the radical Left — including the Democratic Socialists of America and the academic-literary Left of magazines such as Jacobin, n+1 and Dissent.Aside from Cryptofash, other leading lights include What's Left? co-hosts Aimee Terese and Oliver Bateman, editor of The Bellows Edwin Aponte, the Irish writer Angela Nagle and a coterie of pseudonymous Twitter accounts, such as @ghostofchristo1. Red Scare co-hosts Anna Khachiyan and Dasha Nekrasova might be considered fellow travellers.To put it another way, this was not the class-first, anti-woke internal critique that I think is more familiar to many us. It shares some DNA with that critique. Like that crew, the post-lefties thought identitarian politics were a fraud, a way for already elite actors to make themselves out to be tribunes of the people, to claim oppressed status in order to advance themselves. But unlike that class firsters, the post-lefties also thought the class first critique was a fraud too. It's all fraud all the way down, wholly disconnected from the vulnerable people it claims to represent, all a project of the elite for the elite. Geoff and I talk about the origins of this group, his own adjacency to it for a little while, the distinctions between the post-left and other post-something groups, including his own crew at Compact, the dangers of finding your identity in pure critique, and just in general the challenges of staying thoughtful in a politically chaotic time. Get full access to Eminent Americans at danieloppenheimer.substack.com/subscribe

Harbinger Showcase is a weekly podcast featuring highlights from Canada's #1 coast-to-coast community of politically and socially progressive podcasts.On this week's episode we explore what the US election results could mean for Gaza and the Middle East with Norman Finkelstein on OATS FOR BREAKFAST, respond to Trump's return with Spectre Magazine and the Democratic Socialists of America on VICTOR'S CHILDREN, exorcize the ghosts of neoliberalism haunting Canadian progressive movements on The Broadbent Institute's PERSPECTIVES and speak with political cartoonists Ben Clarkson and Matt Bors about their new Ahoy Comics satire Justice Warriors: Vote Harder on ALBERTA ADVANTAGE.The Harbinger Media Network includes 77 podcasts focusing on social, economic and environmental justice and featuring journalists, academics and activists on shows like The Breach Show, Tech Won't Save Us, Press Progress Sources & more.Harbinger Showcase is syndicated for community and campus radio and heard every week on CKUT 90.3FM in Montreal, at CFUV 101.9FM in Victoria, on CJUM 101.5FM and CKUW 95.9FM in Winnipeg, at CiTR 101.9FM and CFRO 100.5FM in Vancouver, at CJTM in Toronto and at CJBU 107.3FM in Sydney, Nova Scotia.Financial support on this episode is courtesy of THE ALBERTA ADVANTAGE - find out more about Calgary's #1 podcast albertaadvantagepod.com. Find out more about the network, subscribe to the weekly newsletter and support our work at harbingermedianetwork.com.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.comLike most years, New York City spent much of 2024 at the epicenter of the most pressing stories in the United States, from college campus protests for Palestine to the trial of Donald J. Trump, to the indictment of their own Democratic mayor, Eric Adams.“One of the few things [on] the ever-growing list of things in common between Eric Adams and Donald Trump is a sense of impunity and a belief that accountability does not apply to them,” New York Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani says to Mehdi.In an exclusive Zeteo interview, the 33-year-old Mamdani – who will be running against Adams in the 2025 New York City Democratic primaries – talks to Mehdi about calls for Adams to resign over his recent corruption charges, and whether or not the indicted mayor is trying to cozy up to Trump for a potential pardon.“What we've seen with Eric Adams is a continued insistence that he is not going to step down. In his own words, he is going to step up. He's not going to resign, he's going to reign,” Mamdani tells Mehdi. “I think he understands that his future is tied up with the sentiments of Donald Trump towards him.”Mamdani – a member of the Democratic Socialists of America – responds to the critics who say that it was progressives like him that not only cost Democrats this year's presidential election, but also shrank their margin of victory in traditionally Democratic strongholds like the Big Apple itself.“I would ask them who was running the Kamala Harris campaign, what were the policies that were being run on? Who are the surrogates?” Mamdani tells Mehdi. “You are not going to see me in any one of these five boroughs, with Liz Cheney or Mark Cuban backing away from taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers.”Watch Mehdi's full interview with Mamdani to hear more on why Mamdani is running for mayor, how he would have responded to the pro-Palestine student protests, and how he would uphold the ICC arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Free subscribers have access to a free preview of this interview. Become a paid subscriber to watch the full interview.

On the day before the Thanksgiving holiday, today's guests are prepared to talk politics. Host, Ali Muldrow is joined by three representatives of the Madison area Democratic Socialists of America: […] The post Politics before Turkey with the DSA appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

We're joined by Democratic Socialists of America's national co-chairs Ashik Siddique and Megan Romer to talk about the state of DSA going into Trump's second term. But first, we discuss a viral interview for the movie "Wicked" and the Oz extended universe. JOIN DSA: https://www.dsausa.org/get-involved/ PAID PROTEST 12/6: bit.ly/PaidProtestDec Ashik's article: https://www.newsweek.com/we-democratic-socialists-america-will-not-apologize-we-stand-what-right-opinion-1989801

While most political junkies have their eyes on DC in the wake of Donald Trump's successful bid to return to the White House, we're looking south, where Los Angeles voters delivered a seismic shift to the region's politics, passing Measure G, which expands the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from five members to nine, and Charter Amendment DD, which creates an independent redistricting commission for the city. Support for reform measures exploded after the 2022 release of "The Tape," a secret recording of council members Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon and LA County Labor Fed President Ron Herrera making racist and derisive comments about their colleagues and constituents, and planning a gerrymander of Nithya Raman's district in order to oust her. Two years after the release of the tape, de Leon was the only one of the four still in place, and on November 5, District 14 voters handed the former state senator his walking papers in favor of DSA candidate Ysabel Jurado, giving the Democratic Socialists a four seat bloc on the city council. We asked political consultant and California Target Book co-editor Robb Korinke to walk us through what just happened and what it all means.Plus: Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?2:01 Measure G4:37 County Executive5:52 What will the new districts look like?9:30 Charter Amendment DD11:48 KDL15:38 Nithya Raman16:15 Adrin Nazarian17:02 George Gascon19:20 Turnout23:00 Incumbency25:24 #WWCAWant to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/ Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang "#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io

The Democratic Socialists of America have some thoughts on why Amendment 4 for abortion access failed and what to do next.

MDJ Script/ Top Stories for November 7th  Publish Date:  November 7th      Commercial:   From the BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.      Today is Thursday, November 7th and Happy Birthday to Jim Katt  ***11.07.24 - BIRTHDAY – JIM KATT***  I'm Dan Radcliffe and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia.   GOP Keeps Cobb School Board Majority  Smyrna Socialist Wins Seat in Georgia Legislature  Phillips Unseats Cobb State Court Clerk    Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on food apps      All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!     BREAK: CU of GA (06.26.24 CU OF GA FREE CHECKING_REV_FINAL)  STORY 1:  GOP Keeps Cobb School Board Majority  Despite a Democratic surge elsewhere, Republicans retained control of the Cobb County Board of Education, winning all three contested seats to maintain their majority. Incumbent Randy Scamihorn, Brad Wheeler, and newcomer John Cristadoro secured victories, ensuring GOP leadership through at least 2026. The election highlighted debates over change versus stability, with Republicans emphasizing academic performance and Democrats advocating for leadership changes. Allegations of gerrymandering and significant campaign funding marked the election, with both parties receiving substantial support from various organizations. Defeated Democrats vowed to remain active in local education politics.  STORY 2:  Smyrna Socialist Wins Seat in Georgia Legislature  Gabriel Sanchez, a self-identified Socialist, won a Georgia Legislature seat, defeating Republican Diane Jackson with 63% of the vote. Sanchez attributed his victory to voter engagement and a desire for change, focusing on workers' rights, affordable housing, and healthcare. He is the first Democratic Socialists of America-endorsed candidate to win a Georgia House seat since Julian Bond. Sanchez aims to advocate for working people and has criticized state financial support for large corporations. Despite her loss, Jackson expressed pride in her campaign's focus on common-sense policies and remains committed to representing her community.    STORY 3:  Phillips Unseats Cobb State Court Clerk  Democrat Tahnicia Phillips is projected to win the Cobb State Court clerk race, defeating incumbent Republican Robin Bishop by 4%, with Phillips securing 52% of the vote. Phillips, a Marietta native with over 23 years of experience in Cobb's Magistrate Court, aims to modernize and make the court more accessible. She emphasized community engagement during her campaign. Bishop, who took over the clerk role in 2020, found the campaign schedule challenging but valued the connections made. The election results will be certified by the Cobb Board of Elections on Nov. 12.     We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.      We'll be right back   Break: DRAKE (Drake Realty (Cobb County)  STORY 4:  Sheriff Owens Reelected for Second Term  Incumbent Democratic Sheriff Craig Owens won reelection in Cobb County, defeating Republican David Cavender with 56% of the vote. Owens highlighted his achievements, such as receiving the Triple Crown Award and implementing new technology, as reasons for his support. Despite facing negativity and threats during the campaign, Owens remains committed to serving all residents, regardless of political affiliation. Cavender, who ran his campaign independently, expressed no regrets and acknowledged the challenge of balancing campaign efforts with family and work responsibilities. The election results will be certified on Nov. 12.  STORY 5:  Cobb County Water System Reports 1,300 Gallon Sewage Overflow  The Cobb County Water System reported a 1,300-gallon wastewater overflow on Nov. 4 at 3134 Twin Lakes Drive NE in Marietta, caused by roots. The overflow, which lasted just over an hour, discharged into a tributary of Piney Grove Creek. Upon arrival, crews found a four-inch clean-out spilling and a manhole with a secured lid also overflowing. They used a jet machine to clear the blockage and applied lime to the affected area. A gray discoloration was noted in the water, but no fish kills were observed. For more details, contact the Maintenance Division at 770-419-6351.    We'll be back in a moment     Break: Ingles Markets (Ingles Table Magazine) 2     And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on food apps   *** INGLES 2 'ASK LEAH' FOOD APPS***    We'll have closing comments after this.    Break: Marietta Theatre (06.10.24 MARIETTA THEATRE MARGARITAVILLE_FINAL)    Signoff-    Thanks again for hanging out with us on today's Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at mdjonline.com  Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  Produced by the BG Podcast Network     Show Sponsors:  www.ingles-markets.com    www.cuofga.org    www.drakerealty.com  www.mariettatheatresquare.com    #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani announced his mayoral run last week, looking to unseat Mayor Eric Adams, who faces an uphill battle for reelection as he fights federal corruption charges. Mamdani is running as the most progressive candidate in the crowded race so far and has already received the endorsement of the New York City Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. Mamdani joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss his decision to run for mayor. The conversation also touched on his thoughts on the Adams administration, his role in helping taxi drivers, the war between Israel and Hamas and ways to improve the MTA through new technology. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.

In Part 2, we pick up where we left off in Part 1.   Jackie considers it an honor to have worked for Lateefah Simon, who's running for Congress in the East Bay for the seat currently held by Barbara Lee. Jackie was tasked with writing memos, and she took that job and ran with it, digging deeply into the weeds of policy. What she found in the existing systems of that time piqued her curiosity around what it might mean if she herself were to enter the fray. Her life up to that point formed her world views, as these things tend to do. But the policies, she says, ticked her off.   She had been studying to take the LSAT, with the idea that she would go to law school ... all while volunteering for the campaign to get Lateefah Simon elected to the BART Board. But that November, in 2016, the 45th president was elected, and everything changed ... for a lot of us, but especially for Jackie.   It all threw Jackie for a loop. Standing Rock and protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAP) were also happening, which further disillusioned her. She traveled east to join the resistance. She met folks and had deep conversations with her Native American brothers and sisters. She spent time in Minnesota doing more work with indigenous folks.  It all created a sense of hope despite the doom seemingly all around. She also noticed the protests in Seattle demanding Wall Street disinvestment.   In February 2017, Jackie was back home, full of "let's do it" energy, ready to tackle issues in The Bay. She had moved to The City and started digging further into the weeds of policy in San Francisco. In 2018, she decided that she wanted to make a difference here at home. She helped found the San Francisco Public Bank Coalition. She was tapped to lead the campaign against the Police Officers Association's use of force measure. For that, she worked with Democratic Socialists of America San Francisco and the ACLU of Northern California. She also worked on the No on H campaign, which succeeded.   Alicia Garza, cofounder of Black Lives Matter, asked Jackie to teach her class at SF State, and Jackie seized that opportunity. At State, she taught Race, Women, and Class, where she talked with students about DAP and indigenous rights, among other topics. While teaching, she also worked restaurant jobs, mostly on the Peninsula.   When 2019 came around, Jackie wasn't sure what to do. Looking back, she was experiencing undiagnosed ADHD. She had a nagging feeling that year, though, that she should run for office. Someone pointed out to her that State Sen. Scott Wiener was running for election unopposed. She thought of the successful ballot measure campaigns she'd been part of. She had spent time living in her van. She'd bounced around between apartments. She decided to go for it.   The Jackie Fielder for State Senate campaign was off to a good start. Then lockdown happened in March 2020. Everything about the campaign turned virutal—Zoom speeches and meetings, phone banking on another level, social media like never before. She centered issues like affordable housing, climate change, renters' rights, homelessness, education. She got the backing of teachers, iron workers, electricians, tenants' rights groups, affordable housing groups, and various progressive cultural affinity groups in SF.   Jackie didn't win that race, though.   She took a step back and got into therapy, where she learned about self-care and self-compassion. She got to a point where she could take better care of herself so that she could then take care of others.   Jackie also started a PAC in the time between the 2020 election and now. The Daybreak PAC's main purpose is to support candidates and ballot measures that reject corporate money. Also, Stop the Money Pipeline hired her to be its communications manager in 2021. Through that work, she was able to reconnect with many folks she met years earlier in her Dakota stays. By early 2023, Jackie was co-director of the organization. This summer, in 2024, she took an official leave to come home and campaign for supervisor.   Then the conversation shifts to District 9. Of all the places Jackie has lived in San Francisco, she's spent the most time in the district. She's queer and loves the embrace of her community in D9. She also notes that the American Indian Cultural District and Latino Cultural District, two groups that are a big part of her identity, are located in D9.   After our mutual love fest of the Mission, we shift to issues that Jackie hopes to address as the next D9 supervisor—public safety, how best to engage law enforcement, drug use, houselessness, housing, jobs, and more.   Please visit Jackie's website for more info, especially if you live in D9 (if you're not sure, look up your supervisorial district here).   We recorded this episode at Evil Eye in the Mission in September 2024.   Photography by Jeff Hunt

Send us a textNote: This was recorded in September during the early parts of the Harris campaign, some characterizations now I don't agree with.   Get ready to unpack the complexities of progressive politics in Nevada with grassroots organizer Zee Cohen-Sanchez. As we navigate this battleground state's unique blend of libertarian and progressive influences, Z shares insights on the challenges faced by working families and the pivotal role of organized labor, particularly the culinary union, in supporting progressive candidates. Discover why the disconnect between the Democratic Party and progressives could be addressed by local elections and ranked choice voting, paving the way for systemic change in rural and urban areas alike.Our discussion takes a critical look at the strategic paths for progressives seeking meaningful reforms. From the potential of Medicare for All to the hurdles of healthcare professional shortages, Z sheds light on the need for incremental steps and unified messaging. Explore how models from New York City and California could inform national strategies, and consider the potential for political shifts in traditionally conservative states. The debate within the Democratic Socialists of America about balancing electoral system engagement and grassroots organizing is also on the table, as we advocate for realistic strategies to protect and advance progressive agendas.Finally, we tackle the generational gap in political engagement and the Democratic Party's need to restructure its approach to empower younger voters. With a focus on the influence of consulting industries and the barriers faced by young, less affluent candidates, Z's insights reveal the importance of initiatives like New York City's matching funds program. We also highlight the value of grassroots strategies in building political power from the ground up, underscoring the significance of local election laws like ranked-choice voting. Listen in to learn how these elements contribute to a more inclusive and representative governance system. Support the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon

Tell us whatcha' think! Send a text to us, here!The newest installment of the Monday Briefing covers significant developments in education policy across various states. Suzanne focuses on youth voting rights in New Jersey, the partnership between the Oregon Education Association and the Democratic Socialists of America, a Virginia teacher's settlement over pronoun use, and the broader implications of civil rights in educational settings. The discussion emphasizes the importance of parental rights and advocacy in the face of changing educational policies.Support the showDONATE TODAY!www.ParentsRightsInEducation.com

This week's topic:The issues for younger voters in 2024With guests:Brittany Jean, President, Tampa Bay Young RepublicansJake Hoffman, Executive Director, Tampa Bay Young RepublicansGrace Tabor, President, USF College RepublicansMarley Price, Community Activist, Democratic Socialist, DemocratDavid Moscrip, Chair, Hillsborough County Libertarian PartyRichie Floyd, St. Petersburg City Councilman, District 8, DemocratJonathon Chavez, President, Hillsborough County Young DemocratsBree Wallace, Non-Profit Director and Community Activist, Democrat

BrownTown invites Rabbi Brant Rosen and Lesley Williams of Tzedek Chicago, a proudly anti-Zionist intentional Jewish congregation based on core values of justice, equity, and solidarity. In this installment, they discuss this current moment in the struggle to Free Palestine with special regards to Brant and Lesley's positionality as Jewish faith leaders and scholars. The gang distinguishes "anti-Zionism" from "anti-Semitism", discusses AIPAC's consistent meddling in US elections, the strategy behind ceasefire resolutions, the work of Palestinian and other scholars writing in solidarity, and more! Ultimately, BrownTown and guests uplift the work in the past 11 months (and beyond) while trying to answer what real solidarity looks like and how to reclaim Judaism from Zionism. #FreePalestine. Originally recorded August 12, 2024, a week before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. GUESTSBrant Rosen is the founding rabbi of the congregation Tzedek Chicago and the co-founder of the Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council. His writings have appeared in many journals and publications, including Newsweek, the Chicago Tribune, The Nation, and Truthout. He is also the author of the popular Jewish social justice blog, Shalom Rav; his curated collection of blog posts and reader comments, Wrestling in the Daylight: A Rabbi's Path to Palestinian Solidarity was published by Just World Books in 2012 (updated in 2017). In 2020, he was named as a Topol Fellow in Conflict and Peace in the Religion, Conflict and Public Life Institute at Harvard Divinity School. Follow Brant on his blog, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Lesley Williams has organized around anti-racism, Islamophobia and Palestinian rights for Jewish Voice for Peace in Chicago and served on the national board of Jewish Voice for Peace Action. As part of the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, Lesley participated in two solidarity and resistance West Bank delegations with Palestinian and Israeli peace activists and is on the CJNV strategies and values team. She has spoken on Islamophobia and antisemitism at the American Studies Association conference,  Democratic Socialists of America, the MAS-ICNA conference  the American Muslims for Palestine conference, and at several universities and church groups, and recently appeared on the Friends of Sabeel program: Countering Christian Zionism. She is a consultant and speaker for the PARCEO "Antisemitism From a Framework of Collective Liberation" curriculum. She reviews books on race, Islamophobia and Palestine for Booklist magazine, and her writing has appeared in Truthout, Mondoweiss and AWBC Magazine. Follow Lesley on her blog, Facebook, and Instagram.Follow Jewish Voice for Peace on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter;  Jewish Voice for Peace Action on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. Follow Tzedek Chicago on Facebook and Instagram.--Writings by Lesley:To be Black and Jewish after CharlottesvilleThe Anti-Defamation League Kills the Black/Jewish AllianceWe Cannot Fight Anti-Semitism and Anti-Black Racism in IsolationWhite Jews: deal with your privilege and call out Jewish support for white supremacyMessage to my white Jewish friends: I feel no more fear and rage after Pittsburgh than I feel every day as a black person in this countryThis is NOT What America Looks LikeWritings by Brant:Zionism and the Quest for Peace in the Holy LandOn Antisemitism: Solidarity and the Struggle for JusticeReclaiming Judaism from Zionism: Stories of Personal Transformation. Op-ed in support of Chicago's Ceasefire ResolutionAmid Israel's Brutality in Gaza, It's Time to Commit to Anti-ZionismProtesting Genocide at the DNC in Chicago: Beyond “One Issue”Mentioned Topics & More Info: Ep. 102 - Palestinian Liberation: In This Moment ft. Muhammad SankariHoda Katebi on holding your institutions accountableDrop The ADL CampaignInternational Jewish Collective for Justice in Palestine - Webinar featuring Lesley and BrantPalestine Book AwardsBlack Power and Palestine: Transnational Countries of ColorThe Message by Ta -Nehesi CoatesAIPAC be AIPAC'n (Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Ilhan Omar)Gazans say "thank you" to American university encampmentsCeasefire Resolution in EvanstonJournalists Ghassan Kanafani and Ali Abunimah of the Electronic IntifadaWe Charge Genocide: 1951 and 2014--CREDITS: Intro soundbite from Brant Rosen at a Jewish Voice for Peace rally during the Democratic National Convention week. Outro song from Rap Street Palestine (Ard Kan3an & ana Palestine) cypher. Audio engineered by Kiera Battles.--Bourbon 'n BrownTownFacebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | PatreonSoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Support

A recording of the latest Socialism 101 class from the Denver chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, presented by comrades Jeremy and Bryant.Download the slideshow here, not all slides are visible online: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XxDKrV0O9H3J5kEqrXlLvbnWbJ6pMTWX //Denver DSA calendar of events: https://denverdsa.org/events //Email Bryant here: carsandcomrades@gmail.com //Email Denver DSA here: membership.chair@denverdsa.org //

Writer and activist Helen Raleigh has paired up with Professor and economist Paul Prentice to provide “three counterpunches” to socialism. The first counterpunch is about defining our terms. What is Democratic Socialism? According to Helen and Paul, it is a oxymoronic term we simply made up to “soften” socialism. However, when they ask others what it means the typical response is sharing and caring, versus capitalism that is equated with greed. Through political, economic and personal examples, they show how government sharing, much like Democratic Socialism, is just another oxymoron. Following along with these ideas, their second counterpunch looks at the popular fallacy that many Nordic countries are thriving Democratic Socialist regimes. They are market capitalist countries with a heavy welfare system. The Nordic countries themselves use the term Social Democrat, which is a nuanced, but widely divergent term from Democratic Socialism. In their third counterpunch, they try to change the messaging around capitalism to highlight its more compassionate attributes. Through both personal stories of Helen's life in China and Paul's incisive economic perspective, when put side-by-side, “compassion” is more the domain of capitalist systems. In order to see this more clearly we have to disassociate true capitalism from other forms of capitalism, e.g., “crony capitalism” (another oxymoron), which is really just fascism in disguise. In the end, they conclude that the most important question is not one of partisan politics (e.g., left vs right), but one of human nature and which system fosters the “better angels” of our humanity. Podcast Resources: Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation: https://victimsofcommunism.org/ Helen Raleigh: https://www.helenraleighspeaks.com/about Paul Prentice: https://i2i.org/about/our-people/paul-prentice/

Step into the complex world of geopolitics as we engage in a provocative dialogue with Donald Parkinson from the Marxist Unity Group and Cosmonaut Magazine. Ever wondered how Aleksandr Dugin's perspectives on Vladimir Putin shift when viewed from Russia's internal lens? Discover the nuances of his book "Putin vs. Putin: Vladimir Putin Viewed from the Right," and how it provides clarity on Dugin's ideological leanings compared to his more globally recognized "Fourth Political Theory." We unpack the influences of far-right esoteric thinkers like Julius Evola on Dugin, his critical take on Putin and Medvedev, and the convoluted relationship he has with Nazi ideology, all while maintaining his Russian patriotism.We then scrutinize Dugin's admiration for Putin's centralizing strategies as outlined in "The 12 Labors of Putin." Find out how Putin's efforts to stave off Russia's disintegration, particularly in the Caucasus, and his suppression of ethnic separatism align with Dugin's vision. Our conversation spans from the federal structure of the Russian Federation to Putin's methods of curbing regional autonomy and disciplining oligarchs. We also delve into the intricate dance between Eurasianism and Islamism, and how Dugin selectively aligns with certain Islamist factions. This discussion paints a comprehensive picture of the ideological and geopolitical strategies at play within Russia.Finally, we tackle broader geopolitical ideologies, juxtaposing right and left strands of Eurasianism with insights from thinkers like Zbigniew Brzezinski and John Mearsheimer. We navigate the complexities of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, the contentious "land back" movement, and the evolving nature of counter-systemic politics, including the rise of MAGA communism. Reflect with us on the future of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and the critical need for a cohesive programmatic vision. This episode offers a treasure trove of insights into Dugin's political theories and their far-reaching implications on global geopolitics. Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation! The Animal TurnAnimals are increasingly at the forefront of research questions – Not as shadows to...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.Crew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on Youtube

Massive increases in government debts, much of it to foreigners, a willingness to pay for ongoing bureaucratic expenses with budget deficits, and a tidal wave of interest payments on the national debt. Could a so-called Democratic Socialist government be described as a role model for the United States? Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard's What Has Government Done to Our Money? at Mises.org/IssuesFree.Follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

After a few months off, Austin G is back to bring you a solo interview pod with previous guest and union organizer Luisa Martinez. Luisa was able to attend Venezuela's recent presidential election in person as an election observer on behalf of the Democratic Socialists of America International Committee (dsaic.org) and gives us her on the ground perspective of how the situation unfolded. Austin and Luisa go back and forth on some of the particulars of Venezuelan society, what it all means for socialists in the United States, as well as what brought us to this point and what we can look forward to in the future. You can find more of Luisa and her work on her twitter @LuisaKnuckles. If you support our mission in providing reliable English-language analysis on Latin American affairs consider showing your solidarity at Patreon.com/macheteymate.

We've been a way for a week and come back to find that The Democratic Socialists of America have endorsed Kamalalal after she brought Tim Walz onboard. We look into all of the awful things that Tim brings to the table for the American people. The UK is now a Shira Law driven communist stronghold. Don't believe us? Listen to the comments from their police and judiciary. If you get caught at a protest, you're going to jail. Say anything but "I love the UK" you're going to go to jail. Some much happened this week AND we talk to Godzilla to get his view on the world around him.  Thanks to Lisa for the show name this week.  Think Critically Act Accordingly.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/whiskey-hell-podcast--5683729/support.

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank is joined by Jake Coleman, Minnesota State Director for Americans for Prosperity (AFP), and RaeAnna Lee, the state's Legislation Director, to discuss the tumultuous end to the Minnesota state senate session. The conversation highlights how a last-minute delay by a Democratic Socialist senator led to the rushed passage of a controversial Omnibus Bill, bypassing transparency and public debate. Coleman and Lee critique the Democratic-controlled legislature's focus on consolidating power rather than engaging in bipartisan negotiations, which culminated in a chaotic legislative session marked by poor leadership and a lack of accountability. They also delve into the bizarre and disruptive events surrounding the session, including the absence of a senator involved in a cat burglar incident, and the legislature's failure to pass essential bonding bills. Join us as Coleman and Lee share their perspectives on the critical need for transparency, accountability, and active citizen engagement in holding legislators responsible for their actions. Check out American Potential here: https://americanpotential.com Check out our Spanish episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8wSZydeKZ6uOuFlT_1QQ53L7l6AmC83c Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanPotentialPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americanpotentialpodcast/ X: https://twitter.com/AMPotentialPod 

Sometimes a logo tells you everything you need to know about an organization, and when it comes to the Fabian Society they clearly let the people know that they have hostile intentions in disguise, and intend to move slowly to achieve their goals. Formed as an organization to publicly push “Democratic Socialism”, their true intentions were much more devious and included an organized blueprint for a one-world government financed by some of the most Imperialistic ruling families of the time and organized by the so-called great thinkers of their era. This isn't some long-forgotten group that lives on in folklore, it is actually been rebranded as the British Labour Party and Democratic Socialists of America, led by the feeble-minded AOC. God help us all if these people achieve their plans for world domination. The Octopus of Global Control Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3xu0rMm Anarchapulco 2024 Replay: www.Anarchapulco.com Promo Code: MACRO Sponsors: Chemical Free Body: https://www.chemicalfreebody.com Promo Code: MACRO C60 Purple Power: https://c60purplepower.com/ Promo Code: MACRO Wise Wolf Gold & Silver: www.Macroaggressions.gold True Hemp Science: https://truehempscience.com/ Haelan: https://haelan951.com/pages/macro Solar Power Lifestyle: https://solarpowerlifestyle.com/ Promo Code: MACRO LegalShield: www.DontGetPushedAround.com EMP Shield: www.EMPShield.com Promo Code: MACRO Christian Yordanov's Health Transformation Program: https://christianyordanov.com/macro/ Privacy Academy: https://privacyacademy.com/step/privacy-action-plan-checkout-2/?ref=5620 Coin Bit App: https://coinbitsapp.com/?ref=0SPP0gjuI68PjGU89wUv Macroaggressions Merch Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/macroaggressions?ref_id=22530 LinkTree: linktr.ee/macroaggressions Books: HYPOCRAZY: https://amzn.to/3VsPDp8 Controlled Demolition on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ufZdzx The Octopus Of Global Control: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VDWQ5c Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/39vdKeQ Online Connection: Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/Macroaggressions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macroaggressions_podcast/ Discord Link:  https://discord.gg/4mGzmcFexg Website: www.Macroaggressions.io Facebook: www.facebook.com/theoctopusofglobalcontrol Twitter: www.twitter.com/macroaggressio3 Twitter Handle: @macroaggressio3 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-4728012 The Union Of The Unwanted LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/uotuw RSS FEED: https://uotuw.podbean.com/ Merch Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/union-of-the-unwanted?ref_id=22643&utm_campaign=22643&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source

In this episode of "Sara Gonzales Unfiltered," Sara rips back the curtain on the Biden campaign after the disastrous “big boy press conference” to find staffers in chaos and top leaders admitting they've had two “bad f***ing weeks.” With the wheels coming off, campaign leadership is leaning on motivational calls from California Gov. Gavin Newsom to keep staffers from quitting. Sara talks about Marvel's newest release, “Captain America: Brave New World,” and why Disney ditched the original title, “New World Order.” She also discusses Serena Williams blasting Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during the ESPY awards and why AOC is not “anti-Zionist enough” for the Democratic Socialists of America, which revoked its campaign endorsement. BlazeTV contributors Matthew Marsden and Eric July join the show.  Today's Sponsors: Jase Medical  Take your family's health into your own hands at https://jasemedical.com and enter code SARA at checkout for a discount on your order.  Cardio Miracle Discover the secret weapon from Cardio Miracle at https://www.cardiomiracle.com/sara and use code SARA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank Morano discusses some of the hottest topics and gives his opinion. Frank talks about the Police Commissioners decisions for disciplinary action and then Frank talks about The problem with the Opioid Settlement Funds money and where its going. Frank talks about AOC losing the endorsement of The Democratic Socialists of America and then Frank talks about Randy Mastro having trouble becoming the Corporation Counsel for NYC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today's Daily Signal Top News, we break down: President Joe Biden to hold a critical press conference.Biden's aides, according to Politico, are making phone calls to delegates to make sure they remain loyal to the president. China claims NATO is seeking security at others expense. Elon Musk says he is suing “the perpetrators and collaborators in the advertising boycott racket.”The Democratic Socialists of America unendorse Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. Relevant LinksListen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcastsSign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered why smaller Marxist groups are financially stable while larger organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America struggle? Our guest, Amogh Sahu, brings clarity to this and other enigmas within leftist movements by pulling back the curtain on the role of wealthy individuals and funding transparency in these organizations. Explore the ethical considerations of independently wealthy leaders in Marxist organizations and the impact this has on their credibility and operations.Shifting our focus to the broader American political landscape, we navigate through the evolving dynamics within the Republican and Democratic parties. From the rise and fall of alt-right movements to the unpredictable behavior of the "don't care" voters, we scrutinize trends that could reshape future elections. We delve into the changing voter composition, particularly among Zoomers, and the public's growing desire for a third party, despite historical voting patterns.Finally, we traverse the complex terrain of modern warfare and geopolitical strategies, comparing historical and contemporary conflicts like Russia-Ukraine and Gaza. Our discussion sheds light on the brutal realities of counterinsurgency and the critical need for local population support. Reflecting on global political shifts, we examine China's dissatisfaction with Russia, the complications within BRICS, and the evolving nature of the global proletariat. Join us for a comprehensive and thought-provoking conversation on the critical issues shaping today's political landscape. Support the Show.Crew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on Youtube

This week on the Mark Levin Show, Senator Bernie Sanders pretends he's a Democratic Socialist, but he's actually a Marxist Stalinist who's always on the wrong side of liberty vs tyranny. Bernie puts ideology and his party ahead of everything else. He's learned what Saul Alinsky taught - target, personalize, and destroy and that's exactly what he's trying to do with Benjamin Netanyahu. Bernie has backed the Palestinian terrorists. The Biden Administration is considering bringing Palestinian refugees into the United States according to documents obtained by CBS News. President Biden and Antony Blinken are plotting to bring an unknown number of people from Gaza into America and fast-track them as citizens without any statutory authority from Congress because we are living in a Biden dictatorship. Red-blooded Americans are waking up and have had enough of the Democrat Marxists destroying our country from within, who are now trying to import people from Gaza while we have protests tearing down the American flag and replacing it with the Palestinian flag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Monday's Mark Levin Show, Sen Bernie Sanders pretends he's a Democratic Socialist, but he's actually a Marxist Stalinist who's always on the wrong side of liberty vs tyranny. Bernie puts ideology and his party ahead of everything else. He's learned what Saul Alinsky taught - target, personalize, and destroy and that's exactly what he's trying to do with Benjamin Netanyahu. Bernie has backed the Palestinian terrorists. Remember when Bernie Sanders worked on a Stalinist kibbutz in 1963? This is why he hates Netanyahu. Also, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is threatening to issue criminal arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his senior staff. Rather than tell the ICC that America won't tolerate this – President Biden has been silent. Speaker Mike Johnson is far more presidential than Biden because he slammed the ICC for these warrants. Later, Biden and Antony Blinken have blood on their hands for the October 7th attack on Israel. They take no responsibility for funding Iran. Why do we keep seeing a looped video of the Gaza Strip but no video of what happened on October 7th on TV? By not showing it they are giving aid and comfort to the terrorists. October 7th should never be forgotten. Afterward, a Fund manager indicated that Joe Biden's brother, James Biden was in business with Qatari officials. But Joe doesn't know anything right? The idea that there's not a special counsel investing the entire Biden family is so shameful. Finally, Sen Ted Cruz calls in to explain that the same paid pro-Hamas protestors who are outside his house harassing his neighborhood are the same ones on the college campuses. He explains that antisemitism is a real problem in the Democrat Party, and that this is the most anti-Israel administration in history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Not a lot of lawyers can say that they helped create a whole new legal field, but William Shernoff can. On this week's episode, Ralph welcomes trailblazing attorney William Shernoff to discuss predatory insurance practices, and how consumers can protect themselves. This special episode was co-presented by The American Museum of Tort Law, and was recorded in front of a live virtual audience.William Shernoff is the founding partner of Shernoff Bidart Echeverria, a law firm specializing in insurance bad faith litigation. A longtime consumer advocate, he has made a career of representing insurance consumers in their cases against insurance companies. Often called the “father” of bad faith insurance law, in 1979, Mr. Shernoff persuaded the California Supreme Court to establish new case law that permits plaintiffs to sue insurance companies for bad faith seeking both compensatory and punitive damages when they unreasonably handle a policyholder's claim (Egan v. Mutual of Omaha).A frequent lecturer and writer, Mr. Shernoff co-authored the legal textbook, Insurance Bad Faith Litigation, which has become the field's definitive treatise, as well as How to Make Insurance Companies Pay Your Claims . . . . And What To Do If They Don't, Fight Back and Win – And How To Make Your HMO Pay Up, and Payment Refused. Under bad faith law in California and in most states, you not only could get the benefits you deserve under the insurance policy—whether it be life insurance or disability insurance or health insurance. But you can also get damages over and above the policy limits, which are emotional distress damages…Not only can you get the emotional distress damages, but any aggravation of your medical condition. And then punitive damages are on top of that. And attorney's fees are on top of that. So all of these damages are coming from insurance bad faith if the insurance bad faith law applies. And punitive damages are designed to punish the insurance company so that they correct their wrongful conduct in the future, and deter them from unfair claims practices. William ShernoffMost people, if they get a letter from an insurance company—which they consider to be an authoritative source— and the insurance company says, “Your claim is denied because…” and then they cite all kinds of fine print in the insurance policy, most people accept that and don't do anything. They don't see a lawyer. They just accept what their insurance company told them because it sounded quite official to them.William ShernoffInsurance regulation is state-controlled. The federal government has been blocked for decades and the Congress has imposed itself on the federal Federal Trade Commission and said that they can't even investigate the insurance companies without being allowed to by a committee in the House or the Senate that has jurisdiction over such matters. So the privileges of the insurance lobby are quite extraordinary even by comparison with other corporate lobbies.Ralph Nader More people should know about bad-faith cases rights—and use them. And not take whatever is dealt to them by insurance companies—denials, rescission of insurance policies, refusing to renew, other delays, or other crazy obstructions. Learn about your rights.Ralph Nader In Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 3/27/241. CNN reports the United Nations Security Council has passed a Gaza ceasefire resolution. The resolution itself is imperfect, calling only for a ceasefire during the month of Ramadan, but this watered down language paved the way for the United States to allow the resolution to pass. The U.S. has vetoed every previous ceasefire resolution before the Security Council and disputes the extent to which this resolution is legally binding. For its part, Israel's Foreign Minister stated unequivocally that Israel “will not cease fire,” per CNN.2. Following the passage of the Security Council resolution, Prime Minister Netanyahu canceled a planned high-level Israeli delegation visit to Washington, per CNBC. The planned visit, which would have included an address to Congress, was staring down scathing criticism from Congressional Progressives. Axios reports Representative Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian member of Congress and the most outspoken on the Israeli campaign of terror, said “[Netanyahu] shouldn't come to Congress, he should be sent to the Hague.”3. In another sign of the rift between the Biden Administration and Netanyahu, Haaretz reports that Congressional Democrats are sending formal warnings to the administration stating that Israel is not in compliance with U.S. laws governing the dispensation of military aid.  Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas, said “Congress and [the] White House need to make clear to Israel that we will enforce US law to protect Palestinian children from starvation in Gaza.”4. Professor Jana Silverman, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America International Committee, reports “After a totally last-minute, ad-hoc, no-budget campaign, 13.2% of voters in the Democrats Abroad primary said no to genocide in Gaza and voted Uncommitted!” This impressive performance signals that the Uncommitted electoral protest movement isn't going anywhere. The next major test for the movement will be Pennsylvania, where Uncommitted PA is aiming for at least 40,000 votes in the state's April primary, per Lancaster Online.5. In an open letter, over 100 prominent American Jews condemned AIPAC. The letter reads “We are Jewish Americans who have…come together to highlight and oppose the unprecedented and damaging role of AIPAC…in U.S. elections, especially within Democratic Party primaries. We recognize the purpose of AIPAC's interventions in electoral politics is to defeat any critics of Israeli Government policy and to support candidates who vow unwavering loyalty to Israel, thereby ensuring the United States' continuing support for all that Israel does, regardless of its violence and illegality.” Signatories include the Ralph Nader Radio Hour's own Alan Minsky, celebrated academic Judith Butler, Postal Workers Union president Mark Dimondstein, Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry's, and the actor Wallace Shawn among many others. The full letter is available at USJewsOpposingAipac.org.6. Oscar winning director Jonathan Glazer continues to be the target of phony outrage by pro-Israel groups like the Anti-Defamation League. Coming to the defense of the filmmaker however are other prominent Jewish organizations, like Jewish Voice for Peace and the Auschwitz Memorial, whose director said “In his Oscar acceptance speech, Jonathan Glazer issued a universal moral warning against dehumanization,” per the Guardian. Decorated Jewish playwright Tony Kushner, a signatory on the anti-AIPAC letter, told Haaretz “There's been a concerted attempt by right wing American Jews to sort of sell the idea that American college campuses are awash with virulent antisemites – professors and students and so on. And the Jewish students are walking these campuses in terror for their lives. I think this is nonsense. I see no evidence of it.”7. Both the Gannett and McClatchy newspaper companies have announced they will no longer use AP journalism in their publications, AP reports. This is yet another indication of the dire financial straits the news business finds itself in. The AP notes “Gannett's workforce shrank 47% between 2020 and 2023 because of layoffs and attrition…The company also hasn't earned a full-year profit since 2018… Since then, it has lost $1.03 billion.”8. In Honduras, the Intercept reports “an almost-impossible-to-believe scenario: A group of libertarian investors teamed up with a former Honduran government — which was tied at the hip with narco-traffickers and came to power after a U.S.-backed military coup — in order to implement the world's most radical libertarian policy, which turned over significant portions of the country to those investors through so-called special economic zones. The Honduran public, in a backlash, ousted the narco-backed regime, and the new government repealed the libertarian legislation. The crypto investors are now using the World Bank to force Honduras to honor the narco-government's policies.” While this story has certain unique angles – crypto and narco-trafficking chief among them – the key element is actually quite familiar: international ‘free trade' regimes superseding sovereign governments. We offer Honduras solidarity against these contemporary crypto-filibusters.9. On March 11th, Congressmen Jimmy Gomez and Joaquin Castro sent a letter to the heads of the CIA and FBI demanding disclosures of surveillance efforts on Latino civil rights leaders during the 1960s and ‘70s, citing the well-documented pattern of surveillance on Black civil rights leaders during that period and the wealth of circumstantial evidence indicating that these organs of national security did the same toward prominent Latino figures such as Cesar Chavez. The following day, in a hearing before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Castro pressed CIA Director Bill Burns on the matter, and Burns committed to working with his office to bring these activities to light. We hope that further transparency will beget further transparency and that some day the complete account of the CIA and FBI's domestic surveillance programs will be a matter of public record.10. Finally, in Mississippi, CBS reports that authorities have successfully convicted all six members of a police gang calling themselves the “Goon Squad.” These six white officers plead guilty to “breaking into a home without a warrant and torturing two Black men…The assault involved beatings, the repeated use of stun guns and assaults with a sex toy before one of the victims was shot in the mouth in a mock execution.” Lawyers representing the criminal cops allege that “their clients became ensnared in a culture of corruption that was not only permitted, but encouraged by leaders within the sheriff's office.” If true, then a federal investigation – and likely more than a few exonerations of individuals victimized by this “Goon Squad” – are in order. Justice demands it.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe