Podcasts about Service Employees International Union

Today's conversation with Daivid Rothkopf begins at 1:02 Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. This show is Ad free and fully supported by listeners like you! Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 700 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Subscribe to Rothkopf's new Substack  https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/ Follow Rothkopf Listen to Deep State Radio Read Rothkopf at The Daily Beast Buy his books David Rothkopf is CEO of The Rothkopf Group, a media company that produces podcasts including Deep State Radio, hosted by Rothkopf. TRG also produces custom podcasts for clients including the United Arab Emirates. He is also the author of many books including Running the World: The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power, Superclass, Power, Inc., National Insecurity, Great Questions of Tomorrow, and Traitor: A History of Betraying America from Benedict Arnold to Donald Trump. Joe Jacobson is a political strategist with eight years of electoral, lobbying, and government experience. Prior to founding the Progress Action Fund, Joe worked for the Service Employees International Union, where he oversaw endorsements, independent expenditures, and government relations operations in four purple counties in Southern California. In response to COVID-19, he co-founded a bipartisan task force to persuade the GOP led San Diego County Board of Supervisors to allocate $10 million for free childcare for essential workers Before SEIU, Joe worked at AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC, where he devised strategies with union leaders in 21 states to support local, state, and federal candidates. Joe also has a variety of policy experience, including for President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers and Senator Ron Wyden. Joe's start in politics began at 6 years old, when his Grandma Judy gave him a book about the presidents. Grandma Judy was Joe's inspiration for politics, the two of them talking on the phone every few weeks about progressive politics. During her life Grandma Judy was involved with Seattle's League of Women Voters, 33rd District Democrats, and Planned Parenthood. The Progress Action Fund is dedicated to her memory. Be sure to visit https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/membership and scroll down where you should see a "Connect to Discord" button. You can also look at https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/212052266-How-do-I-get-my-Discord-Rewards- for more info. Join the SUPD Marketplace! Watch the video to learn how to post at StandUpWithPeteDominick.com/marketplace Join us Thursday's at 8EST for our Weekly Happy Hour Hangout!  Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on YouTube  Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Follow and Support Pete Coe Buy Ava's Art  Hire DJ Monzyk to build your website or help you with Marketing Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift

The largest legal challenge yet to President Donald Trump's federal reorganization plan is now underway. A sweeping coalition of labor unions, cities and nonprofits — including San Francisco, Baltimore, the American Federation of Government Employees, the Service Employees International Union and VoteVets — is asking a federal judge to block what they call an unconstitutional dismantling of the U.S. government. At the center is Executive Order 14210 — Trump's so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — which demands massive federal layoffs and agency shutdowns without congressional approval. The administration calls it a "Manhattan Project" to shrink government. Critics call it an illegal power grab. The lawsuit argues Trump is violating core separation of powers by ordering reductions in force and agency overhauls that only Congress can authorize. If granted, the restraining order would stop layoffs and protect thousands of federal jobs — many of which directly serve Black, brown and low-income communities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can the right song, painting, or museum exhibit spark real political change? What if culture is the missing strategy in today's social movements?From the Center for the Study of Art & Community, this is Change the Story / Change the World: A chronicle of art and social change, where activist artists and cultural organizers share and learn what they need to thrive as creative change agents. My name is Bill Cleveland.If you've ever felt like your efforts for justice aren't hitting deep enough, it might be because the culture hasn't caught up with your message. In this episode, labor organizer and social change strategist Ken Grossinger shares how his journey from labor organizing to cultural advocacy revealed a truth many overlook: policy changes fade, but stories—and the art that tells them—have staying power. In this episode:Discover how blending power analysis with artistic expression can amplify grassroots campaigns and drive long-term social change.Hear powerful case studies—from a revolutionary museum exhibit in Louisville to a musical uprising in Alaska—that reveal how art can expose injustice and build movements.Learn from real-world collaborations between artists and organizers that shift narratives, challenge power, and activate communities in ways no policy paper ever could.Tune in now to hear how Ken Grossinger's book ART WORKS and his work in communities across the U.S. show us why art isn't just a reflection of justice—it's how we get there.BIOKen Grossinger, has been a leading strategist in movements for social and economic justice for thirty-five years, in unions, philanthropic and community organizations.For two decades, Ken was one of the labor movement's leading strategists. He represented workers in the Service Employees International Union and then directed legislative field operations for the AFL-CIO, running large-scale issue campaigns including against the privatization of Social Security and for health care reform, economic and civil rights. Grossinger is widely regarded as an expert in pioneering national field strategies for labor and community organizations and is well known for building long-enduring alliances between the two.Formerly a community organizer, Grossinger co-launched the Human SERVE Fund, a national advocate organization that initiated and led the successful decade-long fight for passage of the National Voter Registration Act, commonly known as Motor Voter.Grossinger is active on several boards including the University of the District of Columbia (Trustee), Hirshhorn Museum (Trustee), People's Action Institute (Director), Skylight Pictures (Director), and the CrossCurrents Foundation, (Chair).Among other cultural projects, he co-executive produced the award-winning Netflix documentaries Social Dilemma and Bleeding Edge and served as Executive Producer of Boycott and the forthcoming film Borderland.Ken is the author of ART WORKS: How Organizers and Artists are Creating a Better World Together, published by the New Press in July 2023. He lives part-time in Washington, DC., and Telluride, Colorado.Change the Story / Change the World is a podcast that chronicles the power of art and community transformation, providing a platform for activist artists to share their experiences and

Stand Up is a daily podcast that I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 700 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Check out StandUpwithPete.com to learn more Subscribe to Rothkopf's new Substack  https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/ Follow Rothkopf Listen to Deep State Radio Read Rothkopf at The Daily Beast Buy his books David Rothkopf is CEO of The Rothkopf Group, a media company that produces podcasts including Deep State Radio, hosted by Rothkopf. TRG also produces custom podcasts for clients including the United Arab Emirates. He is also the author of many books including Running the World: The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power, Superclass, Power, Inc., National Insecurity, Great Questions of Tomorrow, and Traitor: A History of Betraying America from Benedict Arnold to Donald Trump. Joe Jacobson is a political strategist with eight years of electoral, lobbying, and government experience. Prior to founding the Progress Action Fund, Joe worked for the Service Employees International Union, where he oversaw endorsements, independent expenditures, and government relations operations in four purple counties in Southern California. In response to COVID-19, he co-founded a bipartisan task force to persuade the GOP led San Diego County Board of Supervisors to allocate $10 million for free childcare for essential workers Before SEIU, Joe worked at AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC, where he devised strategies with union leaders in 21 states to support local, state, and federal candidates. Joe also has a variety of policy experience, including for President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers and Senator Ron Wyden. Joe's start in politics began at 6 years old, when his Grandma Judy gave him a book about the presidents. Grandma Judy was Joe's inspiration for politics, the two of them talking on the phone every few weeks about progressive politics. During her life Grandma Judy was involved with Seattle's League of Women Voters, 33rd District Democrats, and Planned Parenthood. The Progress Action Fund is dedicated to her memory. Be sure to visit https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/membership and scroll down where you should see a "Connect to Discord" button. You can also look at https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/212052266-How-do-I-get-my-Discord-Rewards- for more info. Join the SUPD Marketplace! Watch the video to learn how to post at StandUpWithPeteDominick.com/marketplace Join us Thursday's at 8EST for our Weekly Happy Hour Hangout!  Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on YouTube  Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Follow and Support Pete Coe Buy Ava's Art  Hire DJ Monzyk to build your website or help you with Marketing Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift

Stand Up is a daily podcast that I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 700 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Check out StandUpwithPete.com to learn more GET TICKETS TO PODJAM II In Vegas March 27-30 Confirmed Guests! Professor Eric Segall, Dr Aaron Carroll, Maura Quint, Tim Wise, JL Cauvin, Ophira Eisenberg, Christian Finnegan and The Ladies of The Huw will all join us! On today's show I start with Rothkopf at about 30 mins  Subscribe to Rothkopf's new Substack  https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/ Follow Rothkopf Listen to Deep State Radio Read Rothkopf at The Daily Beast Buy his books David Rothkopf is CEO of The Rothkopf Group, a media company that produces podcasts including Deep State Radio, hosted by Rothkopf. TRG also produces custom podcasts for clients including the United Arab Emirates. He is also the author of many books including Running the World: The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power, Superclass, Power, Inc., National Insecurity, Great Questions of Tomorrow, and Traitor: A History of Betraying America from Benedict Arnold to Donald Trump. Joe Jacobson is a political strategist with eight years of electoral, lobbying, and government experience. Prior to founding the Progress Action Fund, Joe worked for the Service Employees International Union, where he oversaw endorsements, independent expenditures, and government relations operations in four purple counties in Southern California. In response to COVID-19, he co-founded a bipartisan task force to persuade the GOP led San Diego County Board of Supervisors to allocate $10 million for free childcare for essential workers Before SEIU, Joe worked at AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC, where he devised strategies with union leaders in 21 states to support local, state, and federal candidates. Joe also has a variety of policy experience, including for President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers and Senator Ron Wyden. Joe's start in politics began at 6 years old, when his Grandma Judy gave him a book about the presidents. Grandma Judy was Joe's inspiration for politics, the two of them talking on the phone every few weeks about progressive politics. During her life Grandma Judy was involved with Seattle's League of Women Voters, 33rd District Democrats, and Planned Parenthood. The Progress Action Fund is dedicated to her memory. Be sure to visit https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/membership and scroll down where you should see a "Connect to Discord" button. You can also look at https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/212052266-How-do-I-get-my-Discord-Rewards- for more info. Join the SUPD Marketplace! Watch the video to learn how to post at StandUpWithPeteDominick.com/marketplace Join us Thursday's at 8EST for our Weekly Happy Hour Hangout!  Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on YouTube  Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Follow and Support Pete Coe Buy Ava's Art  Hire DJ Monzyk to build your website or help you with Marketing Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift

Our Sponsor, FLESHLIGHT, can help you reach new heights with your self-pleasure. Fleshlight is the #1 selling male sex toy in the world. Looking for your next pocket pal? Save 10% on your next Fleshlight with Promo Code: PRIVATE at fleshlight.com. For the 198th episode of Private Parts Unknown, host Courtney Kocak welcomes historian and former Lusty Jayne Swift. Swift specializes in the history of sexuality, gender, and labor in the U.S., and she's writing a book about the history of sex worker social movements in which the Lusty Lady features prominently. A couple of years ago, I covered Star Garden, a strip club in North Hollywood, which unionized through SAG-AFTRA. But there's a classic example of stripper unionization that's THE case study often pointed to: Strippers at San Francisco's Lusty Lady organized into the Exotic Dancers Union in 1996. The Exotic Dancers Union was affiliated with the Service Employees International Union. Eventually, the strippers bought the club and ran it as a worker-owned co-op until The Lusty Lady closed in 2013.  This episode dives into Jayne's research on sex worker social movements and how sex workers are responsible for the rise of sex positivity and sex-positive politics/feminism. For more from today's guest, Jayne Swift: Check out Jayne's website drjayneswift.com Follow Jayne Swift on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/jayne-swift-8439ba126 Psst, Courtney has an 0nIyFan$, which is a horny way to support the show: https://linktr.ee/cocopeepshow Private Parts Unknown is a proud member of the Pleasure Podcast network. This episode is brought to you by: Feeld: The dating app for open-minded individuals. Download Feeld on the App Store or Google Play. Our Sponsor, FLESHLIGHT, can help you reach new heights with your self-pleasure. Fleshlight is the #1 selling male sex toy in the world. Looking for your next pocket pal? Save 10% on your next Fleshlight with Promo Code: PRIVATE at fleshlight.com. STDCheck.com is the leader in reliable and affordable lab-based STD testing. Just go to ppupod.com, click STDCheck, and use code Private to get $10 off your next STI test. Explore yourself and say yes to self-pleasure with Lovehoney. Save 15% off your next favorite toy from Lovehoney when you go to lovehoney.com and enter code AFF-PRIVATE at checkout. https://linktr.ee/PrivatePartsUnknownAds If you love this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and sexy review! —> ratethispodcast.com/private  Psst... sign up for meour Private Parts Unknown newsletter for bonus content related to our episodes! privatepartsunknown.substack.com Let's be friends on social media! Follow the show on Instagram @privatepartsunknown and Twitter @privatepartsun. Connect with host Courtney Kocak @courtneykocak on Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stand Up is a daily podcast that I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 700 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Check out StandUpwithPete.com to learn more GET TICKETS TO PODJAM II In Vegas March 27-30 Confirmed Guests! Professor Eric Segall, Dr Aaron Carroll, Maura Quint, Tim Wise, JL Cauvin, Ophira Eisenberg, Christian Finnegan and The Ladies of The Huw will all join us! On today's show I start with Rothkopf at about 33 mins  Subscribe to Rothkopf's new Substack  https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/ Follow Rothkopf Listen to Deep State Radio Read Rothkopf at The Daily Beast Buy his books David Rothkopf is CEO of The Rothkopf Group, a media company that produces podcasts including Deep State Radio, hosted by Rothkopf. TRG also produces custom podcasts for clients including the United Arab Emirates. He is also the author of many books including Running the World: The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power, Superclass, Power, Inc., National Insecurity, Great Questions of Tomorrow, and Traitor: A History of Betraying America from Benedict Arnold to Donald Trump. Joe Jacobson is a political strategist with eight years of electoral, lobbying, and government experience. Prior to founding the Progress Action Fund, Joe worked for the Service Employees International Union, where he oversaw endorsements, independent expenditures, and government relations operations in four purple counties in Southern California. In response to COVID-19, he co-founded a bipartisan task force to persuade the GOP led San Diego County Board of Supervisors to allocate $10 million for free childcare for essential workers Before SEIU, Joe worked at AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC, where he devised strategies with union leaders in 21 states to support local, state, and federal candidates. Joe also has a variety of policy experience, including for President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers and Senator Ron Wyden. Joe's start in politics began at 6 years old, when his Grandma Judy gave him a book about the presidents. Grandma Judy was Joe's inspiration for politics, the two of them talking on the phone every few weeks about progressive politics. During her life Grandma Judy was involved with Seattle's League of Women Voters, 33rd District Democrats, and Planned Parenthood. The Progress Action Fund is dedicated to her memory. Be sure to visit https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/membership and scroll down where you should see a "Connect to Discord" button. You can also look at https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/212052266-How-do-I-get-my-Discord-Rewards- for more info. Join the SUPD Marketplace! Watch the video to learn how to post at StandUpWithPeteDominick.com/marketplace Join us Thursday's at 8EST for our Weekly Happy Hour Hangout!  Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on YouTube  Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Follow and Support Pete Coe Buy Ava's Art  Hire DJ Monzyk to build your website or help you with Marketing Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift

A new memo from the Office of Personnel Management has recommended that federal agencies reclassify the position of chief information officer, in what appears to be an attempt to make the technical position far more political than it's previously been. Specifically, the new designation would have the chief information officer serve as a “general” employee rather than a “career reserved” employee. General employees, according to OPM, can be filled by a range of people, including “career, noncareer, limited term or limited emergency” senior executive branch appointees. Career reserved positions, meanwhile, are supposed to be impartial and can only be filled by career appointees. The memo argues that CIOs have served increasingly policy-based positions, given their focus on issues including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and machine learning. The document argues that reclassifying the position could also help increase the potential talent pool for CIOs. A coalition of labor unions is suing the Treasury Department and Secretary Scott Bessent over the disclosure of Americans' personal and financial information to Elon Musk and the tech billionaire's Department of Government Efficiency surrogates. In a lawsuit filed Monday to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the Alliance for Retired Americans, the American Federation of Government Employees and the Service Employees International Union allege that the Treasury Department under Bessent allowed Musk and his DOGE associates to access the personal information of millions of individuals who have transacted with the federal government. That personal information includes names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, birth places, home addresses and telephone numbers, email addresses, and bank account information, according to the lawsuit. A Treasury employee initially prevented DOGE workers from accessing those records, the department's Bureau of the Fiscal Service. But according to the lawsuit, once Bessent was confirmed, he placed that employee on leave and provided the DOGE crew with “full access to the Bureau's data and the computer systems that house them.” The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Stand Up is a daily podcast that I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 700 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Check out StandUpwithPete.com to learn more GET TICKETS TO PODJAM II In Vegas March 27-30 Confirmed Guests! Professor Eric Segall, Dr Aaron Carroll, Maura Quint, Tim Wise, JL Cauvin, Ophira Eisenberg, Christian Finnegan and More! On today's show I start with Rothkopf at about 30 mins then I welcome Joe Jacobson for the first time at about 1 hour. Subscribe to Rothkopf's new Substack  https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/ Follow Rothkopf Listen to Deep State Radio Read Rothkopf at The Daily Beast Buy his books David Rothkopf is CEO of The Rothkopf Group, a media company that produces podcasts including Deep State Radio, hosted by Rothkopf. TRG also produces custom podcasts for clients including the United Arab Emirates. He is also the author of many books including Running the World: The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power, Superclass, Power, Inc., National Insecurity, Great Questions of Tomorrow, and Traitor: A History of Betraying America from Benedict Arnold to Donald Trump. Joe Jacobson is a political strategist with eight years of electoral, lobbying, and government experience. Prior to founding the Progress Action Fund, Joe worked for the Service Employees International Union, where he oversaw endorsements, independent expenditures, and government relations operations in four purple counties in Southern California. In response to COVID-19, he co-founded a bipartisan task force to persuade the GOP led San Diego County Board of Supervisors to allocate $10 million for free childcare for essential workers Before SEIU, Joe worked at AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC, where he devised strategies with union leaders in 21 states to support local, state, and federal candidates. Joe also has a variety of policy experience, including for President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers and Senator Ron Wyden. Joe's start in politics began at 6 years old, when his Grandma Judy gave him a book about the presidents. Grandma Judy was Joe's inspiration for politics, the two of them talking on the phone every few weeks about progressive politics. During her life Grandma Judy was involved with Seattle's League of Women Voters, 33rd District Democrats, and Planned Parenthood. The Progress Action Fund is dedicated to her memory. GET TICKETS TO PODJAM II In Vegas March 27-30 Confirmed Guests! Professor Eric Segall, Dr Aaron Carroll, Maura Quint, Tim Wise, JL Cauvin, Ophira Eisenberg, Christian Finnegan and More! Be sure to visit https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/membership and scroll down where you should see a "Connect to Discord" button. You can also look at https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/212052266-How-do-I-get-my-Discord-Rewards- for more info. Join the SUPD Marketplace! Watch the video to learn how to post at StandUpWithPeteDominick.com/marketplace Join us Thursday's at 8EST for our Weekly Happy Hour Hangout!  Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on YouTube  Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Follow and Support Pete Coe Buy Ava's Art  Hire DJ Monzyk to build your website or help you with Marketing Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift

Today is a national day to remember Jimmy Carter, the 39th president. This morning, we’re taking a look at Carter’s “malaise” speech. It was given in mid-July 1979, when inflation was running high in the midst of the second oil crisis, and includes a direct economic plea. Also, after 20 years apart, the Service Employees International Union is going back into the collection of unions known as the AFL-CIO.

Today is a national day to remember Jimmy Carter, the 39th president. This morning, we’re taking a look at Carter’s “malaise” speech. It was given in mid-July 1979, when inflation was running high in the midst of the second oil crisis, and includes a direct economic plea. Also, after 20 years apart, the Service Employees International Union is going back into the collection of unions known as the AFL-CIO.

Ralph welcomes Vani Hari, also known as “The Food Babe,” to tell us about her campaign against Kellogg's to stop using artificial dyes in their cereals that have been linked to various health problems and have been banned in Europe. Plus, noted labor organizer, Chris Townsend gives us his take on the AFL-CIOs obeisant relationship to the Democratic Party.Vani Hari is an author and food activist. A former corporate consultant, she started the Food Babe blog in 2011, and she is the co-founder of the nutritional supplement startup Truvani.It is a game of whack-a-mole because we get these corporations to change, or they announce that they're going to change, and then they go back on their commitment. And that is what's happened with Kellogg's.Vani HariChris Townsend is a 45-year union member and leader. He was most recently the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International Union Organizing Director. Previously he was an International Representative and Political Action Director for the United Electrical Workers Union (UE), and he has held local positions in both the SEIU and UFCW.These workers who have been betrayed, lied to, wrecked, destroyed, poisoned, all of these things—this becomes the breeding ground for Trumpist ideology. And the Democrats won't face this.Chris TownsendOur media largely ignores the labor movement. Our small labor press—left press—generally subscribes to the “good news only” school of journalism. So these endemic problems and even immediate crises are never dealt with. Now, some of that is because the existing labor leadership generally is not fond of criticism or is not fond of anyone pointing out shortcomings (or) mistakes.Chris TownsendWe're a cash cow—and a vote cow— to be milked routinely and extensively by this Democratic machinery… The leadership today in the bulk of the unions is an administrative layer, business union through and through to the core. The historic trade union spirit that always animated the unions in various levels is not extinguished, but in my 45 years, I would say it is at a low ebb. In the sense that we just have been sterilized because of this unconditional and unholy alliance or domination by the Democratic Party. And there's no room for spark. There's no room for dissent. There's no room for anyone to even raise the obvious.Chris Townsend[Leaders of the AFL-CIO are] basically bureaucrats in that building on 16th Street, collecting their pay and their nice pensions. Completely out of touch with millions of blue collar workers that have veered into the Republican Party channels—the so-called Reagan Democrats, which have spelled the difference in election after election for the Senate, for the House, for the Presidency.Ralph NaderIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 11/20/241. In his new book Hope Never Disappoints, Pope Francis writes “what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of genocide,” and called for the situation to be “studied carefully…by jurists and international organisations,” per the Middle East Eye. These comments come on the heels of a United Nations committee report which found that Israel's actions are “consistent with characteristics of genocide,” and alleged that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war. The Catholic pontiff has long decried violence in all forms and has previously criticized Israel's “disproportionate and immoral” actions in Gaza and Lebanon, per AP.2. On November 14th, the AP's Farnoush Amiri reported that more than 80 Congressional Democrats sent a letter to President Biden on October 29th, urging the administration to sanction Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Only made public after the election, this letter called for sanctions on these individuals “Given their critical roles in driving policies that promote settler violence, weaken the Palestinian Authority, facilitate de facto and de jure annexation, and destabilize the West Bank.” This letter was principally authored by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, and in addition to dozens of House Democratic signatories, was signed by no less than 17 Senators.3. Another remarkable post-election Israel story concerns outgoing Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who was ousted from his seat by a flood of AIPAC money. In an interview with Rania Khalek, Bowman relates a remarkable anecdote about the presidential campaign. Bowman says he specifically requested to campaign for Kamala Harris in Michigan – where he was so popular his AIPAC-backed primary challenger disparagingly said “[Bowman's] constituency is Dearborn, Michigan” – but the campaign ignored him and instead deployed surrogates that seemed almost designed to alienate Arab-Americans: Liz Cheney, Ritchie Torres, and Bill Clinton who went out of his way to scold these voters. These voters were likely decisive in Kamala Harris' loss in that state.4. On November 13th, Senator Bernie Sanders announced that he intends to bring Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to the Senate floor. As Sanders writes in a press release, the “The JRD is the only mechanism available to Congress to prevent an arms sale from advancing.” Unlike previous efforts however, Sanders no longer stands alone. According to Reuters, “Two of the resolutions, co-sponsored with…Senators Jeff Merkley and Peter Welch, would block the sale of 120 mm mortar rounds and joint direct attack munitions (JDAMS). A third, sponsored by Democratic Senator Brian Schatz, would block the sale of tank rounds.” Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Van Hollen have announced their intention to support the JRD. Certain heavy-hitting Democratic-aligned institutions have also bucked precedent to back this effort, including the massive Service Employees International Union and leading Liberal-Zionist group J Street.5. In the House, Republicans and many Democrats are pushing H.R. 9495, a bill which would grant the executive branch the power to unilaterally strip non-profit organizations of their tax-exempt status based on accusations of supporting terrorism. As the Intercept notes, “The law would not require officials to explain the reason for designating a group, nor…provide evidence.” The ACLU and over 150 other “civil liberties, religious, reproductive health, immigrant rights, human rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+, environmental, and educational organizations,” sent a letter opposing this bill in September, and celebrated when the bill was blocked on November 12th – but it is back from the grave, with Nonprofit Quarterly reporting the bill has cleared a new procedural hurdle and will now advance to the floor. Yet even if this bill is successfully blocked, little stands in the way of Republicans reviving it in the next Congress, where they will hold the House, Senate, and the Presidency.6. Back in October, we covered Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib's letter to Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen expressing grave concern over the company's decision to roll out facial recognition-based price gouging technology. According to Tlaib, Kroger has stonewalled Congress, so she is leading a group of House Democrats in a new letter demanding answers to the critical questions that remain, such as whether Kroger will use facial recognition to display targeted ads, whether consumers can opt out, and whether the company plans to sell data collected in stores. This letter is co-signed by progressives like AOC, Barbara Lee, and Eleanor Holmes Norton, among others.7. In new labor news, the NLRB has issued a rule banning anti-union “captive audience meetings,” per the Washington Post. This report notes that these meetings, in which employers warn workers of the risks in unionizing, are considered highly effective and are commonly used by companies like Amazon, Starbucks, Apple and Trader Joe's. According to the Post, Amazon alone spent more than $17 million on consults to do exactly this between 2022 and 2023. On the other hand, Bloomberg Law reports a federal judge in Texas has blocked a Labor Department rule that would have expanded overtime eligibility to four million mostly lower-level white collar workers. This was seen as among the Biden Administration's key achievements on labor rights and foreshadows the rollback of worker protections we are likely to see in a Trump presidency redux.8. Donald Trump has signaled that he will nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy will likely face a difficult confirmation process; his past environmental activism is anathema to Republican Senators, while his more recent vaccine-skepticism is unpopular among Democrats. Yet just as Donald Trump emerged as an improbable RFK ally, a surprising opponent has emerged as well: former Vice-President Mike Pence. In a “rare” statement Pence writes “For the majority of his career, RFK Jr. has defended abortion on demand during all nine months of pregnancy, supports overturning the Dobbs decision and has called for legislation to codify Roe v Wade. If confirmed, RFK, Jr. would be the most pro-abortion Republican appointed secretary of HHS in modern history…I…urge Senate Republicans to reject this nomination.” As with other unpopular Trump nominees, many expect RFK to be appointed on an acting basis and then possibly installed via the recess appointment process.9. In some positive news, Drop Site reports that in Sri Lanka, the Leftist president Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who wrested the office from the corrupt clique that has ruled the nation since independence has won a resounding victory in the recent parliamentary elections. Reuters reports that Dissanayake's coalition won a “sweeping mandate,” with enough seats to pass his anti-corruption and poverty-alleviation agenda. More shocking is the fact that Dissanayake's coalition ran up the score in the Tamil-dominated north and east of the country. As Drop Site notes, only 15 years ago the Sri Lankan government crushed the Tamil Tigers and carried out large-scale massacres of the Tamil minority. Dissanayake has vowed to end the occupation and release Tamil political prisoners, as well as take on the International Monetary Fund which is seeking to impose economic control on the country in exchange for a fiscal bailout. Neither goal will be easily achieved, but the size of Dissanayake's victory at least provides the opportunity for him to try.10. Finally, AP reports that three of Malcolm X's daughters have filed a $100 million lawsuit against the CIA, FBI, and NYPD. This lawsuit alleges that these agencies were “aware of and…involved in the assassination plot,” and that law enforcement was engaged in a “corrupt, unlawful, and unconstitutional [relationship with]…ruthless killers that…was actively concealed, condoned, protected, and facilitated by government agents.” Two of Malcolm X's alleged assassins were exonerated in 2021 after an extensive re-investigation found that authorities withheld crucial evidence, per AP, and new evidence reported earlier this year by Democracy Now! supports the theory of an assassination plot involving collusion between the FBI and NYPD, if not others.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

Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump are working hard to earn the support of a key voting bloc this election: union voters. While most major unions have kept up the tradition of backing Democrats by endorsing Harris, two of the country's biggest unions — the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the International Association of Fire Fighters — opted not to endorse either candidate, citing internal divisions among their ranks. April Verrett, president of the Service Employees International Union, joins us to talk about why her union endorsed Harris, and what's driving divisions within unions.And in headlines: Georgia's Republican secretary of state says local officials are prepared to fight election misinformation, A Nevada man says he'll sue a California county sheriff who accused him of plotting to assassinate Trump, and NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft is on its way to Jupiter's ocean moon.Show Notes:Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Representative Glenn Grothman (R-WI) says Vice President Kamala Harris will be cornered into debating former President Donald Trump because she's “hidden so much from the public.” “We now know what Joe Biden was hiding, that he had early dementia. But what is Kamala Harris hiding? We think she's hiding the fact that there are a lot of questions she doesn't want to answer,” he says. Additional interviews with Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron Withe on Service Employees International Union, one of the most powerful labor unions in America, spends hundreds of millions of dollars on politics and a fraction on union members and Retired U.S. Army Colonel Thomas Chalifoux on his run for Florida's 9th Congressional District.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We sat down and talked to Sean Collins, a union representative and organizer with Service Employees International Union, Local 200 United who is also a delegate president of the Troy Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO. Here, Sean will share his journey to union organizing and then discuss some of the complicated factors going into organizing in the non-profit sector. The interview was conducted in 2022 by Chloe Hanrahan, and Elena Shostak. and edited by Emma Gill in 2023 as part of the Saratoga Labor History Digital Archive founded by Eric Morser. To listen to the full interview or discover new stories, visit mediasanctuary.org/labor-oralhistory.

Ralph welcomes Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, an American trauma surgeon who worked at the European Hospital in Khan Younis. They'll discuss Dr. Sidhwa's experience on the ground in Gaza, as well as his letter (co-signed by 45 other American medical practitioners) to President Biden, VP Harris, and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. Then, Ralph is joined by University of Chicago Booth School of Business Professor Luigi Zingales to look at why business schools are setting capitalism up to fail.Dr. Feroze Sidhwa is a trauma and critical care surgeon as well as a Northern California Veterans Affairs general surgeon, and he is Associate Professor of Surgery at the California Northstate University College of Medicine. Dr. Sidhwa served at the European Hospital in Khan Younis in March and April of this year, and he has done prior humanitarian work in Haiti, the West Bank, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe. Dr. Sidhwa and 45 other American doctors and nurses who have served in Gaza recently sent a letter exhorting President Biden, VP Harris, and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to effect an immediate ceasefire. Gaza is definitely unique compared to anywhere else that I've been—the level of violence, the level of displacement, the level of deprivation of normal things that society provides.Dr. Feroze SidhwaThere's so much in this letter, listeners, that you need to know about because it's such heartfelt and professionally documented close observation. This short interview cannot do justice to the horrors that Dr. Sidhwa and others observed—and they were just there for a few weeks. Ralph NaderOne of the things that we tried to emphasize in the letter is that we don't have anything to say about the politics of the Israel-Palestine conflict…We, as physicians, that's not what we're talking about.  We're talking about our own participation in a massive unprecedented assault on a civilian population. By a military that we fund—we supply, literally every day. We provide the training. We provide all the diplomatic cover. The economic support. Everything is coming from the United States. And in the end, the Israelis have already decided what they're going to do. They have decided to destroy Gaza. If half the people there die, oh well, if all of the people there die, oh well. But we don't have to be involved in it.Dr. Feroze SidhwaI think the situation in Gaza has reached such a level, the political moment in the U.S. with Biden not running again, has reached a certain level, and then with Netanyahu's bonker address to Congress—when Nancy Pelosi is openly criticizing the Prime Minister of Israel, he's really screwed up.Dr. Feroze SidhwaLuigi Zingales is the Robert C. McCormack Distinguished Service Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He co-developed the Financial Trust Index, which is designed to monitor the level of trust that Americans have toward their financial system. He is currently a faculty research fellow for the National Bureau of Economic Research, a research fellow for the Center for Economic Policy Research, a fellow of the European Governance Institute, and the director of Chicago Booth's Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State. Professor Zingales is the co-host (with Bethany McLean) of the podcast Capitalisn't, and co-author (with Raghuram G. Rajan) of the book Saving Capitalism from Capitalists. These days, there is a lot of attention in business school about the environment, about so-called social responsibility, about all these aspects…but business schools like to keep separate the social aspects from the business aspects. So, in many places now there are classes on social entrepreneurship—which is something very interesting where people try to use their entrepreneurial skills to promote an initiative that is good for society at large, even if it's not necessarily profitable. But then if you are not a social enterprise, then you have to be the most capital, profit-maximizing firms on the face of the earth. There is nothing in between.Professor Luigi ZingalesOne year there was a management conference, and I organized a session on corporate fraud. And I expected a lot of people to show up and listen to the panel. In fact, it was a fiasco. Almost nobody showed up, because they don't want to confront their own limitations and problems. They want to see the more glitzy and shiny aspects of success. And that's what attracts them to business school, and that's what we end up selling to them. So I think that we are in part responsible because we cater too much to their own demand. Professor Luigi ZingalesIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 7/31/241. On Monday, nine Israeli soldiers were arrested on suspicion of raping a Palestinian prisoner at the Sde Teiman detention facility. In response, the Middle East Eye reports “Dozens of people…including members of parliament and Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, gathered outside Sde Teiman and stormed the…facility…[and] Hours later, some 1,200 rioters gathered outside the Beit Lid base, where the nine suspects were taken for questioning.” This piece quotes military chief of staff Herzi Halevi who described the riots as “bordering on anarchy” and said the rioters harmed the military. Yet, “Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the suspects as as ‘heroic warriors'…[and] National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees the prisons where Palestinians are detained, called [the suspects] the ‘best heroes' and described the arrests as ‘shameful'.” One of these soldiers has now been released, according to the Middle East Monitor.2. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed Congress last week amid mass protests in Washington D.C. During his speech, Axios reports six spectators were arrested for “disrupting” the address. All six of these demonstrators are family members of the Israeli hostages. Capitol Police spokesperson Brianna Burch is quoted saying “demonstrating in the Congressional Buildings is against the law.”3. In the U.K., the new Labour government is sending mixed messages on their Middle East policy. Late last week, the government announced that they would drop the United Kingdom's opposition to the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Netanyahu, per CNN. Yet this week, Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that despite campaign promises, “Labour will…delay recognition [of a Palestinian state] indefinitely, making it conditional on Israel feeling ‘safe and secure,'” as reported by British blog Stats for Lefties. Labour continues to face pressure from independent MPs like Jeremy Corbyn on this issue.4. This week, President Nicolas Maduro was reelected in Venezuela. Elon Musk was caught spreading misinformation implying that Maduro engaged in election fraud – sharing a video that he claimed showed ballot boxes being stolen, when in fact the ballot boxes in question were actually air conditioning units, per Mediaite. The National Lawyer's Guild International Committee however, which sent a delegation to monitor the election, “observed a transparent, fair voting process with scrupulous attention to legitimacy, access to the polls and pluralism.” The NLG statement went on to decry “Despite the soundness of the electoral process, the U.S. backed opposition, with support from an anti-Maduro western press has refused to accept the results, undermining the stability of Venezuela's democracy.”5. Forbes reports that Disney has reached a deal with the unionized workers at Disneyland, ratifying a three-year contract that includes “a $24 hourly minimum wage…wage increases, seniority increases, more flexible attendance and sick leave policies, and other benefits.” This deal thus averts the first strike at the Anaheim park in four decades. Last week, More Perfect Union reported that the 14,000 unionized Disneyland workers “authorized a strike by 99%.”6. Jacobin reports “SpaceX [has won] a First Battle in Its Assault on the NLRB.” In this piece, People's Policy Project founder Matt Bruenig lays out how “SpaceX...[winning] a preliminary injunction in a Texas federal district court against the National Labor Relations Board… moves us closer to a potential Supreme Court decision declaring the NLRB unconstitutional.” This is the latest installment in the corporatist war on administrative law, which has already scored major victories in the SEC v. Jarkesy and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo cases. Bruenig notes that “For now, the district court's decision simply prevents the NLRB from processing a fairly run-of-the-mill unfair labor practice charge against SpaceX. The real question is going to be what the Supreme Court does once this case makes it to their docket. But in the meantime…it is likely that other companies subject to NLRB proceedings will seek similar injunctions.”7. A storm is brewing within the Kamala Harris campaign over Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan. Democracy Now! Reports “some of the Democratic Party's biggest donors, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, are openly pushing Harris to fire…Khan, who has led Biden's antitrust efforts.” NBC notes that Hoffman is a billionaire megadonor and that other megadonors like Barry Diller are also calling for Khan's removal, and adds that “Khan's pro-consumer, pro-worker, anti-monopoly agenda has attracted no small amount of hate from powerful and monied interests.” On the other side, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and the Service Employees International Union – a close labor ally of Harris – have defended Khan. This battle illustrates the cross-cutting interests Harris will have to navigate as the Democratic nominee, and possibly, as president. We urge the Vice President to back Khan, not the billionaire donor class.8. The Washington Post is out with a heartbreaking new report on the increase of homelessness among “Working Americans with decent-paying jobs who simply can't afford a place to live.” This report cites data showing that homelessness, already at record highs, is only getting worse – growing by 61% in Southeast Texas over the past year, 35% in Rhode Island, and 20% in northeast Tennessee. Throughout the country, rents have risen by over 32% in four years and overall homelessness by 12%.9. In another disturbing economic trend, a new academic working paper out of UCLA and USC analyzes how the “widespread legalization of sports gambling over the past five years has impacted consumer financial health.” The most-discussed findings of this paper have to do with debt, with a “roughly 28% increase in bankruptcies and an 8% increase in debt transferred to debt collectors,” along with substantial increases in auto loan delinquencies and use of debt consolidation loans. As the researchers put it “these results indicate that the ease of access to sports gambling is harming consumer financial health by increasing their level of debt.”10. Finally, for some good news, the White House issued a statement Monday celebrating that “As of today, over 600,000 Teamster workers and retirees have pensions protected from devastating cuts,” as part of Biden's signature American Rescue Plan. This announcement came after the administration acted to protect 70,000 worker pensions in New England, building on similar actions in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. As the Boston Globe explains “The [American Rescue Plan] set up a special financial assistance program that allows struggling multi-employer pension plans to apply for assistance from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, a federal agency that protects the retirement incomes of workers in defined benefit pension plans.” The administration is paying particular attention to the protection of Teamsters, as that union's leadership has been flirting with an embrace of the GOP. Not one Republican voted for the American Rescue Plan.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

What just happened in Venezuela? Matt Duss is joined by two great Latin America experts to talk about Maduro's very shady re-election, and how the US should respond. Paarlberg's piece: https://internationalpolicy.org/publications/venezuelas-people-not-government-deserve-solidarity/Michael Paarlberg is an associate professor of political science at Virginia Commonwealth University and associate fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies. His research focuses on Latin America, migration and security issues. He previously worked for the Service Employees International Union and was a journalist with the Guardian, and was a Latin America adviser for the Bernie 2020 campaign. María José Espinosa is the executive director of the Center for Engagement and Advocacy in the Americas (CEDA) and a Senior Non-Resident Fellow with CIP. Her work focuses on shaping U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean on issues such as U.S.-Cuba relations, regional migration cooperation, climate, LGBTQ+ and women's rights, and protections for refugees and migrants. 

Ralph welcomes Jeff Cohen from the activist group “Roots Action,” whose “Step Aside Joe” campaign was years ahead of the curve urging Joe Biden – for many reasons – to keep his promise to be a one-term president. Plus, Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog, updates us on how the insurance industry in cahoots with governor Gavin Newsom wants to roll back the immensely successful Prop 103 that over the years has saved Californians billions of dollars in insurance premiums and why this struggle has implications for auto and homeowner insurance premiums across the country.Jeff Cohen is Co-Founder and Policy Director at RootsAction. He is a media critic, columnist, documentary filmmaker, and retired journalism professor who founded the media watch group FAIR—Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting— in 1986. For years, he was a regular pundit on CNN, Fox News and MSNBC discussing issues of media and politics, and he is the author of Cable News Confidential: My Misadventures in Corporate Media.Now, the challenge is reminiscent of Hubert Humphrey and Lyndon Baines Johnson. And when Hubert Humphrey ran for President in 1968—he was LBJ's Vice President—he had to face the question, is he gonna stay loyal to Johnson's position on the Vietnam War…or is he going to be faithful to his own personal judgment, which was to find a way to get out of the Vietnam War. He chose the former, to be loyal—he didn't distance himself—and he lost the election.Ralph NaderYou have all of these constituencies that want a change in policy…The base of the party is for peace and social justice. Not for continual expansion of the military budget. People forget that the Democratic platform in 2020 called for a reduction in military spending, and Joe Biden has increased military spending every year.Jeff CohenWe've organized around that point that if we cut the military budget—which has grown year after year under Joe Biden—and we took that money and spent it on healthcare and housing and education, imagine what a society we would have. If we uplifted working-class people. And when I look at what Joe Biden ran in in 2020—and the promises that were made that have been broken—if he had kept even half of these promises the Democrats would be winning in a landslide.Jeff CohenHarvey Rosenfield is one of the nation's foremost consumer advocates and founder of the advocacy group, Consumer Watchdog. Among many other accomplishments, Mr. Rosenfield authored Proposition 103 that has saved consumers hundreds of millions of dollars in auto insurance premiums. He has also co-authored groundbreaking initiatives on HMO reform and utility rate deregulation and is the author of the book, Silent Violence, Silent Death: the Hidden Epidemic of Medical Malpractice.The insurance industry never stopped fighting [Prop 103]. Even though they lost at the ballot box, they constantly tried to relitigate that election. They couldn't believe that the voters would have the temerity to tell the insurance companies how to conduct business in the state of California.Harvey RosenfieldThis kind of economic blackmail—boycotting state after state in order to up their profits—has worked in the past for insurance companies and this is what they're doing now. And it's easy to predict that as their bottom line improves, as the stock market improves…they'll start coming back into these states with the promise of far higher rates, and things will calm down. But in the meantime, people will have been soaked for tens of billions, hundreds of billions of dollars nationwide.Harvey RosenfieldIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantis1. This week, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will address the United States Congress for an unprecedented fourth time. According to the Wall Street Journal, presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris will skip Netanyahu's address, but will meet with the Prime Minister – who is wanted on war crimes charges by the International Criminal Court – and is expected to tell him that “it is time for the war to end” and to stop the “suffering of Palestinian civilians.” Harris is expected to take a new foreign policy approach, likely doing away with key Biden administration figures like Jake Sullivan, Anthony Blinken and Lloyd Austin. Jim Zogby, founder of the Arab American Institute, has stated that Harris has shown “far greater empathy for Palestinians than Biden.”2. With Harris taking center stage, the Intercept's Prem Thakker reports that Representative Rashida Tlaib has released a statement saying “I welcome the opportunity to engage Vice President Harris as my team and I work hard to inspire our Democratic base...They want to see a permanent ceasefire and an end to the funding of genocide in Gaza…They want us to fight against corporate greed that wants to eliminate unions and keep our families in the cycle of poverty. I am eager to speak to Vice President Harris about all of these issues and more.” Unlike other prominent progressive lawmakers – such as Bernie Sanders and AOC – Tlaib did not back Biden against the campaign to have him step aside as the Democratic nominee, and crucially, appears to be using whatever leverage she has to demand Harris push vigorously for a ceasefire in Gaza.3. The New York Times reports several major unions – including the The American Postal Workers Union, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, the Service Employees International Union, United Auto Workers, United Electrical Workers, and the National Education Association, the largest union in the U.S. – have sent a letter to the Biden Administration demanding they “halt all military aid to Israel.” This letter emphasizes that “it is clear that the Israeli government will continue …until it is forced to stop,” and that “Stopping US military aid to Israel is the quickest and most sure way to do so.” APWU President Mark Dimondstein said in a statement “Our unions are hearing the cries of humanity as this vicious war continues…Working people and our unions are horrified that our tax dollars are financing this ongoing tragedy.”4. Reuters reports that in talks hosted in China this week, “Palestinian rivals including Hamas and Fatah agreed to form a unity government.” Al Maydeen reports “The meetings saw the participation of 14 Palestinian factions, including Fatah, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.” The so-called Beijing Declaration promises to “end the Palestinian national division [and] unify national efforts to confront…[Israeli] aggression and stop the genocide.” Implementation of this agreement will be monitored by Egypt, Algeria, China, and Russia.5. In the United Kingdom, “Five climate activists who planned a protest to cause gridlock and block traffic over four days on a major highway circling London were sentenced…to as much as five years in prison,” per ABC. Just Stop Oil, the group planning the protest, “called the prison terms ‘an obscene perversion of justice... for nothing more than attending a Zoom call.'” Protesting this decision, many prominent climate activists – ranging from Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn to Rowan Williams, Former Archbishop of Canterbury to musician Brian Eno – have signed a letter calling this “one of the greatest injustices in a British court in modern history…making a mockery of the right to a fair trial.” This letter also notes that these sentences are “higher than those given to many who commit serious sexual assault.” This letter also cites the United Nations special rapporteur on environmental defenders, who called this “a dark day for peaceful environmental protest, the protection of environmental defenders and indeed anyone concerned with the exercise of their fundamental freedoms in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”6. In more climate related news, in New York City landlords are required to provide heat for tenants in the winter. Yet, there is no equivalent rule for landlords to provide air conditioning for tenants during the increasingly blistering summers. Now, Gothamist reports New York City Councilmember Lincoln Restler of Brooklyn plans to introduce a bill “requiring [landlords] to ensure tenants can cool their homes to at least 78 degrees when it is 82 degrees or warmer during the summer.” Restler is quoted saying “Heat is the number one climate or weather-related killer – not just nationally, but right here in New York City…We've already suffered three awful heat waves this summer. Can you imagine what it's like to try to manage it without air conditioning or any cooling device in your apartment?” This move comes amid other attempts to legislate heat protections as temperatures continue to rise.7. In an infuriating example of corporate greed, the Guardian reports that pharmaceutical giant Gilead is charging outrageous prices for a new drug described as “the closest we have ever been to an HIV vaccine.” According to this report, “Lenacapavir, sold as Sunlenca…currently costs $42,250 for the first year…[yet] In a study…experts calculated that the minimum price for mass production of a generic version…allowing for 30% profit, was $40 a year.” This report continues “Given by injection every six months, lenacapavir can prevent infection and suppress HIV in people who are already infected…In a trial, the drug offered 100% protection to more than 5,000 women in South Africa and Uganda.”8. In a welcome check against corporate greed, the Federal Communications Commission has “voted to end exorbitant phone and video call rates that have burdened incarcerated people and their families fordecades.” The new rules will cap the cost of a 15-minute phone call at 90 cents for large jails and $1.35 for small ones. As of now, a 15-minute phone call can cost as much as $11.35 in a large jail and over $12 in a small one. The new rules also bar added fees.9. In more positive regulatory news, the Federal Trade Commission has “issued orders to eight companies offering surveillance pricing products and services that incorporate data about consumers' characteristics and behavior. The orders seek information about the potential impact these practices have on privacy, competition, and consumer protection.” The companies in question include Mastercard, JPMorgan Chase, and perennial corporate malefactor, McKinsey. Indicating the universality of this move, no more than 3 members of the FTC can be of the same party yet the Commission voted 5-0 to issue these orders.10. Finally, in some local news, NBC4 Washington reports that “Former President Donald Trump has threatened a federal takeover of Washington, D.C., if he wins a second term in November.” Leaving aside the ever-present bluster and bombast that accompany such Trump pronouncements, NBC4 makes the crucial point that because D.C. lacks statehood “The president can take over the police department and many of the powers the mayor and D.C. Council have.” In light of this credible threat, it is more critical than ever that Congress act on D.C. Statehood and end the unjust status quo of taxation without representation.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

Over 3,000 janitors in Houston are ready to go on strike, but why? Service Employees International Union's President Elsa Flores joins host Raheel Ramzanali to explain what their members are currently going through with low pay and not enough hours, what they are bargaining for, and how we can help janitors in our community.  Learn more: More info on the strike  More info on SEIU  Disaster Recovery Resources Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don't have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we will hear why Ken Grossinger believes that "organizers can't work effectively without culture, and that art is essential to creating the narrative shifts that make effective organizing possible. In our conversation we explore his new book , ART WORKS: How Organizers and Artists are Creating a Better World Together. BIOKen Grossinger, has been a leading strategist in movements for social and economic justice for thirty-five years, in unions, philanthropic and community organizations.For two decades, Ken was one of the labor movement's leading strategists. He represented workers in the Service Employees International Union and then directed legislative field operations for the AFL-CIO, running large-scale issue campaigns including against the privatization of Social Security and for health care reform, economic and civil rights. Grossinger is widely regarded as an expert in pioneering national field strategies for labor and community organizations and is well known for building long-enduring alliances between the two.Formerly a community organizer, Grossinger co-launched the Human SERVE Fund, a national advocate organization that initiated and led the successful decade-long fight for passage of the National Voter Registration Act, commonly known as Motor Voter.Grossinger is active on several boards including the University of the District of Columbia (Trustee), Hirshhorn Museum (Trustee), People's Action Institute (Director), Skylight Pictures (Director), and the CrossCurrents Foundation, (Chair).Among other cultural projects, he co-executive produced the award-winning Netflix documentaries Social Dilemma and Bleeding Edge and served as Executive Producer of Boycott and the forthcoming film Borderland.Ken is the author of ART WORKS: How Organizers and Artists are Creating a Better World Together, published by the New Press in July 2023. He lives part-time in Washington, DC., and Telluride, Colorado.How Are Artists & Organizers Creating a Better World Together?In this episode of 'Change the Story / Change the World,' host Bill Cleveland interviews Ken Grossinger, a labor movement strategist turned advocate for the significant role of arts in social and economic justice. Grosinger discusses his journey from traditional labor organizing to recognizing the vital contribution of arts to narrative shifts needed for effective change. Highlighted is his book, 'ART WORKS: How Organizers and Artists are Creating a Better World Together,' which underscores the power of collaborations between artists and organizers. The dialogue explores various case studies and personal anecdotes that demonstrate the intersection of art, activism, and community building, including impactful art-centric social movements, the strategic use of power analysis in organizing, and the role of museums and artists in fostering social change. Special attention is given to the unique capacity of music and art to drive narrative transformations and mobilize communities against injustice.00:00 Introduction to Change the Story / Change the World00:08 Ken Grosinger: From Labor Strategist to Arts Advocate01:09 The Power of Art in Social Change03:20 The Strategic Mind of a Social Change Leader08:01 Art and Organizing: A Synergistic Approach11:36 Exploring the Impact of Art and...

This Day in Legal History: WWI German Use of Chemical Weapons on Canadian TroopsOn April 24, 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres in World War I, German forces launched one of the first large-scale chemical weapon attacks in history. This attack targeted Canadian troops stationed near the town of Ypres in Belgium. The Germans released chlorine gas, which spread over the Allied trenches, causing widespread injury and death. This marked a grim milestone in the use of modern chemical warfare. Initially unprepared for such a method of warfare, the Allies soon developed their own chemical weapons and retaliatory tactics. British and French forces began incorporating gas warfare into their strategies, leading to an escalation of chemical weapon use on all sides. The devastating effects of gas attacks during World War I highlighted the urgent need for regulation. Efforts to ban the use of chemical weapons gained momentum after the war. One significant advocate for such measures was the International Committee of the Red Cross, which pushed for international agreements to prohibit chemical warfare. Their advocacy was crucial in shaping public and political opinion on the issue.This advocacy culminated in the drafting of the Geneva Protocol in 1925. Formally known as the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, this treaty marked a significant step forward in international law. Signed on June 17, 1925, the protocol was initially signed by 38 countries. The Protocol prohibited the use of asphyxiating, poisonous gases, and bacteriological methods of warfare in conflicts. Despite its limitations—such as not restricting the production, storage, or transfer of these weapons—it represented a key milestone in the efforts to control and eventually eliminate the use of chemical weapons in conflicts. This agreement laid the groundwork for later treaties that aimed to further control or eradicate weapons of mass destruction.Boeing Co. executives Dave Calhoun and Stan Deal are set to retire with substantial compensation packages totaling approximately $45 million, despite their tenure overlapping with significant manufacturing issues in the 737 series jets. This substantial payout is possible because they are retiring rather than being dismissed, allowing them to avoid the company's clawback policy which could have otherwise enabled Boeing to reclaim some of their earnings due to negligence or misconduct. Their strategic retirement comes at a time when Boeing is under heavy scrutiny following a safety incident involving a 737 Max 9, which led to a 32% drop in the company's share prices and raised serious quality concerns among stakeholders.In response to these quality issues, Boeing shareholders are expected to approve new compensation guidelines that tie executive pay more closely to safety and operational performance. This policy change follows a leadership reshuffle initiated two months after the incident, signaling a concerted effort to pivot towards stringent safety measures. The new policy is a shift from the previous model, where operational performance was less significantly weighted compared to financial metrics.The existing clawback policy at Boeing allows for the recovery of incentive-based compensation in cases of misconduct or negligence that impacts the company's product safety. However, this policy requires significant misconduct for activation, which has not been pursued in the case of Calhoun and Deal according to the latest reports.An element of law relevant here is the clawback provision under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, enhanced by the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010. These laws were designed to improve corporate governance and accountability, especially in the wake of financial scandals. Under these regulations, public companies can reclaim executive compensation in the event of misconduct that leads to financial restatements or significant failures in corporate governance. This legislative framework is crucial for understanding how companies like Boeing create and enforce policies meant to ensure executive accountability, especially in situations impacting public safety and investor interests. Boeing Leaders' Windfall Predates New Safety Goals Tied to PayBoeing to face questions on potential CEO candidates, Spirit talks | ReutersThe U.S. Senate has passed a bill requiring ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to divest its U.S. operations within nine months or face a nationwide ban. President Joe Biden intends to sign the bill, initiating a 270-day period for ByteDance to complete the sale, potentially extendable by 90 days. If no sale occurs by then, the fate of TikTok could depend on the incoming U.S. president after the January 2025 inauguration.Once the law is enacted, TikTok is expected to file a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality and seek a preliminary injunction to prevent the law's enforcement while the case is considered. This legal strategy mirrors TikTok's successful efforts in Montana, where it obtained an injunction against a state-level ban.If TikTok secures a preliminary injunction, the sale could be delayed, allowing TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. during the legal proceedings. This situation recalls previous attempts by the Trump administration to ban TikTok and WeChat, which were thwarted by legal challenges, leading to Biden rescinding those orders in 2021.The outcome of this legislation and TikTok's legal challenges could significantly impact its 170 million U.S. users, although no immediate changes to the app are expected until the divestment period concludes in early 2025.Regarding international considerations, the divestment of TikTok might require approval from the Chinese government due to export controls on certain technologies, including TikTok's recommendation algorithm.TikTok ban: What happens next after US Senate passed the bill? | ReutersThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has adopted a comprehensive ban on non-compete clauses, which are contractual agreements that limit employees' ability to switch jobs within their industry. This decision, prompted by an executive order from President Biden three years ago, aims to mitigate the restrictions that roughly 20% of U.S. workers face due to such clauses. FTC Chair Lina Khan highlighted that this rule is about protecting economic liberty and dismissed claims that the FTC lacks the authority to enforce such regulations.The new rule, passed with a 3-2 vote, will prohibit most new non-compete agreements, including those for senior executives. However, pre-existing agreements for high-earning executives in policymaking positions will remain unaffected. Lower-level employees' existing non-compete agreements will become void six months after the rule is implemented, potentially boosting U.S. earnings by over $400 billion in the next decade. This rule excludes employees of non-profits and franchises.The rule has significant support from labor organizations like AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union, as well as Democratic senators and attorneys general from various states. The public largely favors the ban, as evidenced by the overwhelming majority of supportive comments received during the FTC's consultation period.Opposition comes from business groups and some FTC members who argue that the rule is too broad and infringes on companies' rights to protect confidential information. Critics, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, argue that the FTC oversteps its regulatory bounds and threatens economic micromanagement. This has sparked promises of legal challenges against the rule's enforcement.The key debate here is over the FTC's rulemaking authority. This aspect is crucial because it underpins the entire legal challenge likely to follow. Opponents argue the FTC lacks the explicit congressional authorization needed to enact such broad economic regulations, a point of contention that echoes recent Supreme Court skepticism towards perceived agency overreach. This legal argument could significantly influence the rule's future and its impact on American labor markets.FTC Issues Worker Non-Compete Ban as Chamber Lawsuit Looms (2)U.S. bans noncompete agreements for nearly all jobsChangpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, is facing a proposed sentence of 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to money laundering violations. U.S. prosecutors have made this recommendation due to the severity of Zhao's infractions, emphasizing that his actions knowingly violated U.S. laws. Although federal guidelines suggest a maximum of 18 months for such offenses, the prosecution argues for a longer sentence given the case's circumstances.Zhao resigned as CEO of Binance in November following his and the company's admission of these violations, resulting in a staggering penalty of $4.32 billion for Binance. This penalty includes a $1.81 billion criminal fine and $2.51 billion in restitution. Additionally, Zhao has agreed to a personal fine of $50 million and to sever all ties with Binance, which he originally founded in 2017.Binance itself was found to have failed in reporting over 100,000 transactions suspected of being linked to terrorist groups such as Hamas, al Qaeda, and ISIS. Furthermore, the platform was implicated in facilitating the sale of child sexual abuse materials and processing a significant amount of ransomware payments.Zhao, who is out on a $175 million bond in the U.S., has consented to these penalties and has opted not to appeal any sentence up to 18 months. His sentencing is scheduled for April 30 in Seattle.US seeks 36 months' jail for Binance founder Zhao | Reuters Get full access to Minimum Competence - Daily Legal News Podcast at www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. University of Chicago Medical Center medical residents and fellows are forming a union. More than 1,000 of them have announced plans to join the Committee of Interns & Residents, a division of Service Employees International Union. They’ve filed a petition for […]

Legendary basketball player Magic Johnson said, “The only thing that matters is the score.”Well, the score is 13 to 2, considering the votes for a union representing the Dartmouth College men's basketball team. For college basketball hounds, it's tournament time, but for the NCAA, it is a strange turn of events. Dartmouth, an Ivy League bench warmer in men's basketball, has not played an NCAA Tournament game since 1959; however, it is now a leader in organized labor, choosing to become represented by the Service Employees International Union, since the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found that the institution exercises control and provides compensation—in the form of shoes—but not athletic scholarships. In its decision, the NLRB cited the players' estimate that team members receive equipment valued at over $44,000 per year.Husch Blackwell partners Tyler Paetkau and Jason Montgomery join Labor Law Insider host Tom Godar to explore this development, as organized labor continues to apply a full-court press to institutions of higher education.

This Day in Legal History: UK's House of Lords Becomes Elected BodyOn March 7, 2007, a pivotal moment in British legal and political history unfolded as the House of Commons, Britain's lower house of Parliament, voted in favor of transforming the House of Lords into an elected body. This significant decision marked the beginning of the end for the centuries-old tradition of appointments based on noble birth, a system that had shaped the composition of the United Kingdom's upper chamber of Parliament. For hundreds of years, the House of Lords had been composed largely of hereditary peers, bishops, and appointed life peers, a reflection of a hierarchical society rooted in aristocracy and privilege.The vote by the House of Commons was not just a legislative act; it was a profound statement about the evolution of democratic principles and the push for greater accountability and representation in the UK's legislative process. The move towards an elected House of Lords aimed to enhance the democratic legitimacy of the Parliament by ensuring that members of the upper house were chosen by the public or their representatives, rather than by accident of birth or political appointment.This historic vote was the culmination of years of debate and reform efforts aimed at modernizing the United Kingdom's parliamentary system. Previous attempts to reform the House of Lords, including the significant House of Lords Act of 1999, which removed the automatic right of hereditary peers to sit in the House, laid the groundwork for this dramatic shift. The 2007 vote was a clear indication of the changing attitudes towards governance and representation, emphasizing the importance of aligning the UK's legislative bodies with contemporary democratic standards.The decision to make the House of Lords an elected body faced both applause and criticism. Proponents argued that it would lead to a more democratic and transparent legislative process, while detractors raised concerns about the potential implications for the balance of power and the traditional roles of the Houses of Parliament. Regardless of the varied opinions, the vote on March 7, 2007, remains a landmark in the journey towards reforming one of the oldest parliamentary institutions in the world, reflecting the ongoing evolution of democracy and governance in the United Kingdom.The Dartmouth College men's basketball team's decision to unionize, with a 13-2 vote in favor of being represented by the Service Employees International Union on March 5, could potentially initiate a wave of unionization across Ivy League schools. This move comes after a protracted legal battle culminating in a National Labor Relations Board official's February 5 decision, recognizing the athletes as employees under the National Labor Relations Act, despite Dartmouth College's ongoing appeal. This decision represents a significant challenge to the NCAA, which has been entrenched in legal disputes regarding athletes' labor and employment rights. Dartmouth's case, while seemingly atypical due to the school's lower-profile athletic program and lack of scholarships or deals for name, image, and likeness (NIL) for its players, reflects a broader discontent with current NCAA policies. Economic and legal experts suggest that the lack of NIL deals makes unionization more appealing for athletes at Ivy League schools, where players often balance academics, sports, and part-time jobs without athletic scholarships.The resurgence of union activity at Dartmouth, highlighted by undergraduate dining hall workers' successful organization with SEIU Local 560, demonstrates a wider trend of labor organizing in higher education. The legal struggle for the Dartmouth basketball team is far from over, indicating that future unionization efforts at other institutions may encounter similar challenges. Dartmouth College's steadfast position that its athletes are not employees, juxtaposed with the NLRB's contrasting view, underscores the ongoing debate over the classification and compensation of college athletes. This case, and the broader movement it may inspire, challenges longstanding norms regarding athlete compensation and labor rights in college sports, signaling a potentially transformative period in the relationship between student-athletes and collegiate athletic programs.Dartmouth Players' Vote Poised to Spark Ivy League Union WaveCigna Group has entered into agreements with Eli Lilly & Co. and Novo Nordisk A/S to enhance coverage for obesity medications, specifically aiming to mitigate the financial burden on employer-sponsored health plans for drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound. These deals, orchestrated through Cigna's Express Scripts pharmacy benefits manager, introduce a novel financial guarantee, capping annual spending increases for these medications at 15%. This initiative is designed to broaden access to these in-demand treatments by offering companies a safeguard against the soaring costs associated with GLP-1 treatments. Adam Kautzner, president of Cigna's Express Scripts, highlighted the unprecedented demand for weight-loss medications and the financial strain they impose on employers, with some witnessing annual spending surges of 40% to 50%.Express Scripts, serving 120 million individuals under various health plans, is now offering EncircleRx, a program that besides the drug coverage, includes patient support aimed at fostering lifestyle changes essential for the drugs' effectiveness. This program represents a strategic response to the challenges of covering high-cost obesity treatments, providing a structured framework for managing these expenses. Despite the reluctance of Lilly and Novo to discuss the specifics of their agreements with Cigna, these partnerships signal a significant shift towards addressing the affordability and accessibility of obesity treatments. The deals reflect a broader industry challenge in balancing drug costs with patient access, amidst calls from insurers for drug manufacturers to lower prices. Cigna's move to revise its long-term earnings growth forecast upwards underscores the financial implications and potential benefits of these strategic agreements in managing the costs of high-demand medications.Cigna Strikes Deals With Lilly, Novo for More Obesity CoverageThe Republican-led House Oversight Committee has formally requested Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, to testify in an open hearing on March 20 as part of their ongoing impeachment investigation into the president. This inquiry has scrutinized Hunter Biden's business dealings in Ukraine and China during the time his father was vice president from 2009 to 2017, although no evidence implicating Joe Biden in any wrongdoing has been found. Alongside Hunter Biden, the committee also extended invitations to three of his former business associates to appear for testimony. Despite previous indications from Hunter Biden that he would only testify publicly, he participated in a closed-door deposition with the committee last month after facing potential contempt charges. During this contentious deposition, Hunter Biden emphasized that his father had no involvement in or benefit from his business activities. Hunter Biden's legal team has acknowledged receipt of the committee's latest request and plans to respond in writing.US House Republicans ask Hunter Biden to testify in open March 20 hearing | ReutersFTX and BlockFi, both of which declared bankruptcy in 2022, have reached a settlement agreement where FTX will pay BlockFi up to $874 million. This settlement follows lawsuits between the two companies over financial dealings and loans made to each other before their respective financial collapses. A significant part of the settlement, $250 million, is to be prioritized for BlockFi, with the balance contingent on FTX's ability to repay its own customers and creditors. The relationship between the two firms became complicated after a market crash in 2022 exposed FTX's misuse of customer funds, leading to BlockFi turning to FTX for rescue financing. Furthermore, FTX has committed to an additional payment of $185.3 million to BlockFi to cover funds held in FTX trading accounts at the time of the collapse. Despite the agreement, full repayment to FTX customers remains uncertain, and BlockFi has indicated that it is unlikely to fully repay its interest-bearing account holders, projecting that they might only recover between 39.4% and 100% of their account values. The deal also includes BlockFi's decision to withdraw its lawsuit concerning 56 million Robinhood shares previously pledged as collateral, which were seized by the U.S. Department of Justice following FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried's arrest and subsequent conviction for embezzling $8 billion from FTX customers.FTX reaches settlement with BlockFi, may pay up to $874 million | Reuters Get full access to Minimum Competence - Daily Legal News Podcast at www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

The remarkable story of a couple who came together during the civil rights movement and made fighting for equality and civil and workers' rights their purpose for more than sixty years, overcoming adversity--with the strength of their love and commitment--to bring about meaningful change, When Velma Murphy was knocked unconscious by a brick thrown by a man from an angry white mob and was carried away by Norman Hill, it was the beginning of a six-decade-long love story and the turmoil, excitement, and struggle for civil rights and labor movements. In Climbing the Rough Side of the Mountain: The Extraordinary Story of Love, Civil Rights, and Labor Activism (Regalo Press, 2023), the Hills reflect upon their more than half a century of fighting to make America realize the best of itself. Through profound conversations between the two, Velma and Norman Hill share their earliest memories of facing racial segregation in the 1960s, working with Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, and A. Philip Randolph, crossing paths with Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael. They also reveal how they kept white supremacists like David Duke from taking office, organized workers into unions, met with Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and continued to work tirelessly, fighting the good fight and successfully challenging power with truth. Norman Hill was the national program director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), staff coordinator for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, staff representative of the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO, and president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute from 1980 to 2004, the longest tenure in the organization's history. He remains its president emeritus. Velma Murphy Hill, a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, was a leader of the Chicago Wade-In to integrate Rainbow Beach, East Coast field secretary for CORE, and assistant to the president of the United Federation of Teachers, where she unionized 10,000 paraprofessionals, mostly Black and Hispanic, working in New York public schools. She was vice president of the American Federation of Teachers and International Affairs and civil rights director of the Service Employees International Union. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

The remarkable story of a couple who came together during the civil rights movement and made fighting for equality and civil and workers' rights their purpose for more than sixty years, overcoming adversity--with the strength of their love and commitment--to bring about meaningful change, When Velma Murphy was knocked unconscious by a brick thrown by a man from an angry white mob and was carried away by Norman Hill, it was the beginning of a six-decade-long love story and the turmoil, excitement, and struggle for civil rights and labor movements. In Climbing the Rough Side of the Mountain: The Extraordinary Story of Love, Civil Rights, and Labor Activism (Regalo Press, 2023), the Hills reflect upon their more than half a century of fighting to make America realize the best of itself. Through profound conversations between the two, Velma and Norman Hill share their earliest memories of facing racial segregation in the 1960s, working with Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, and A. Philip Randolph, crossing paths with Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael. They also reveal how they kept white supremacists like David Duke from taking office, organized workers into unions, met with Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and continued to work tirelessly, fighting the good fight and successfully challenging power with truth. Norman Hill was the national program director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), staff coordinator for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, staff representative of the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO, and president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute from 1980 to 2004, the longest tenure in the organization's history. He remains its president emeritus. Velma Murphy Hill, a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, was a leader of the Chicago Wade-In to integrate Rainbow Beach, East Coast field secretary for CORE, and assistant to the president of the United Federation of Teachers, where she unionized 10,000 paraprofessionals, mostly Black and Hispanic, working in New York public schools. She was vice president of the American Federation of Teachers and International Affairs and civil rights director of the Service Employees International Union. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The remarkable story of a couple who came together during the civil rights movement and made fighting for equality and civil and workers' rights their purpose for more than sixty years, overcoming adversity--with the strength of their love and commitment--to bring about meaningful change, When Velma Murphy was knocked unconscious by a brick thrown by a man from an angry white mob and was carried away by Norman Hill, it was the beginning of a six-decade-long love story and the turmoil, excitement, and struggle for civil rights and labor movements. In Climbing the Rough Side of the Mountain: The Extraordinary Story of Love, Civil Rights, and Labor Activism (Regalo Press, 2023), the Hills reflect upon their more than half a century of fighting to make America realize the best of itself. Through profound conversations between the two, Velma and Norman Hill share their earliest memories of facing racial segregation in the 1960s, working with Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, and A. Philip Randolph, crossing paths with Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael. They also reveal how they kept white supremacists like David Duke from taking office, organized workers into unions, met with Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and continued to work tirelessly, fighting the good fight and successfully challenging power with truth. Norman Hill was the national program director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), staff coordinator for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, staff representative of the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO, and president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute from 1980 to 2004, the longest tenure in the organization's history. He remains its president emeritus. Velma Murphy Hill, a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, was a leader of the Chicago Wade-In to integrate Rainbow Beach, East Coast field secretary for CORE, and assistant to the president of the United Federation of Teachers, where she unionized 10,000 paraprofessionals, mostly Black and Hispanic, working in New York public schools. She was vice president of the American Federation of Teachers and International Affairs and civil rights director of the Service Employees International Union. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

The remarkable story of a couple who came together during the civil rights movement and made fighting for equality and civil and workers' rights their purpose for more than sixty years, overcoming adversity--with the strength of their love and commitment--to bring about meaningful change, When Velma Murphy was knocked unconscious by a brick thrown by a man from an angry white mob and was carried away by Norman Hill, it was the beginning of a six-decade-long love story and the turmoil, excitement, and struggle for civil rights and labor movements. In Climbing the Rough Side of the Mountain: The Extraordinary Story of Love, Civil Rights, and Labor Activism (Regalo Press, 2023), the Hills reflect upon their more than half a century of fighting to make America realize the best of itself. Through profound conversations between the two, Velma and Norman Hill share their earliest memories of facing racial segregation in the 1960s, working with Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, and A. Philip Randolph, crossing paths with Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael. They also reveal how they kept white supremacists like David Duke from taking office, organized workers into unions, met with Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and continued to work tirelessly, fighting the good fight and successfully challenging power with truth. Norman Hill was the national program director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), staff coordinator for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, staff representative of the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO, and president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute from 1980 to 2004, the longest tenure in the organization's history. He remains its president emeritus. Velma Murphy Hill, a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, was a leader of the Chicago Wade-In to integrate Rainbow Beach, East Coast field secretary for CORE, and assistant to the president of the United Federation of Teachers, where she unionized 10,000 paraprofessionals, mostly Black and Hispanic, working in New York public schools. She was vice president of the American Federation of Teachers and International Affairs and civil rights director of the Service Employees International Union. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

The remarkable story of a couple who came together during the civil rights movement and made fighting for equality and civil and workers' rights their purpose for more than sixty years, overcoming adversity--with the strength of their love and commitment--to bring about meaningful change, When Velma Murphy was knocked unconscious by a brick thrown by a man from an angry white mob and was carried away by Norman Hill, it was the beginning of a six-decade-long love story and the turmoil, excitement, and struggle for civil rights and labor movements. In Climbing the Rough Side of the Mountain: The Extraordinary Story of Love, Civil Rights, and Labor Activism (Regalo Press, 2023), the Hills reflect upon their more than half a century of fighting to make America realize the best of itself. Through profound conversations between the two, Velma and Norman Hill share their earliest memories of facing racial segregation in the 1960s, working with Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, and A. Philip Randolph, crossing paths with Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael. They also reveal how they kept white supremacists like David Duke from taking office, organized workers into unions, met with Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and continued to work tirelessly, fighting the good fight and successfully challenging power with truth. Norman Hill was the national program director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), staff coordinator for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, staff representative of the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO, and president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute from 1980 to 2004, the longest tenure in the organization's history. He remains its president emeritus. Velma Murphy Hill, a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, was a leader of the Chicago Wade-In to integrate Rainbow Beach, East Coast field secretary for CORE, and assistant to the president of the United Federation of Teachers, where she unionized 10,000 paraprofessionals, mostly Black and Hispanic, working in New York public schools. She was vice president of the American Federation of Teachers and International Affairs and civil rights director of the Service Employees International Union. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

The remarkable story of a couple who came together during the civil rights movement and made fighting for equality and civil and workers' rights their purpose for more than sixty years, overcoming adversity--with the strength of their love and commitment--to bring about meaningful change, When Velma Murphy was knocked unconscious by a brick thrown by a man from an angry white mob and was carried away by Norman Hill, it was the beginning of a six-decade-long love story and the turmoil, excitement, and struggle for civil rights and labor movements. In Climbing the Rough Side of the Mountain: The Extraordinary Story of Love, Civil Rights, and Labor Activism (Regalo Press, 2023), the Hills reflect upon their more than half a century of fighting to make America realize the best of itself. Through profound conversations between the two, Velma and Norman Hill share their earliest memories of facing racial segregation in the 1960s, working with Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, and A. Philip Randolph, crossing paths with Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael. They also reveal how they kept white supremacists like David Duke from taking office, organized workers into unions, met with Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and continued to work tirelessly, fighting the good fight and successfully challenging power with truth. Norman Hill was the national program director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), staff coordinator for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, staff representative of the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO, and president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute from 1980 to 2004, the longest tenure in the organization's history. He remains its president emeritus. Velma Murphy Hill, a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, was a leader of the Chicago Wade-In to integrate Rainbow Beach, East Coast field secretary for CORE, and assistant to the president of the United Federation of Teachers, where she unionized 10,000 paraprofessionals, mostly Black and Hispanic, working in New York public schools. She was vice president of the American Federation of Teachers and International Affairs and civil rights director of the Service Employees International Union. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The remarkable story of a couple who came together during the civil rights movement and made fighting for equality and civil and workers' rights their purpose for more than sixty years, overcoming adversity--with the strength of their love and commitment--to bring about meaningful change, When Velma Murphy was knocked unconscious by a brick thrown by a man from an angry white mob and was carried away by Norman Hill, it was the beginning of a six-decade-long love story and the turmoil, excitement, and struggle for civil rights and labor movements. In Climbing the Rough Side of the Mountain: The Extraordinary Story of Love, Civil Rights, and Labor Activism (Regalo Press, 2023), the Hills reflect upon their more than half a century of fighting to make America realize the best of itself. Through profound conversations between the two, Velma and Norman Hill share their earliest memories of facing racial segregation in the 1960s, working with Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, and A. Philip Randolph, crossing paths with Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael. They also reveal how they kept white supremacists like David Duke from taking office, organized workers into unions, met with Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and continued to work tirelessly, fighting the good fight and successfully challenging power with truth. Norman Hill was the national program director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), staff coordinator for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, staff representative of the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO, and president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute from 1980 to 2004, the longest tenure in the organization's history. He remains its president emeritus. Velma Murphy Hill, a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, was a leader of the Chicago Wade-In to integrate Rainbow Beach, East Coast field secretary for CORE, and assistant to the president of the United Federation of Teachers, where she unionized 10,000 paraprofessionals, mostly Black and Hispanic, working in New York public schools. She was vice president of the American Federation of Teachers and International Affairs and civil rights director of the Service Employees International Union. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-south

Mullissa Willette is serving her first term on the CalPERS Board of Administration.She's an estate administrator with the County of Santa Clara, president of Service Employees International Union 521, and has served on multiple committees and commissions.Mullissa has a Bachelor of Management, Public Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. She also holds certifications in public pension investment management from UC Berkeley, and advanced assessment analysis at the California State Board of Equalization.

Mary Kay Henry is the president of the Service Employees International Union, which represents 2 million people in unions across the US and Canada.In this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Mary Kay discuss the current surge in the labor movement and what it means for American companies and workers. Mary Kay breaks down some recent developments, including Microsoft's agreement with the Communications Workers of America around unions for game developers.  The conversation also delves into political dynamics, exploring the evolving relationship between Republicans and labor, with Mary Kay providing nuanced insights into why some newly elected figures in the Republican party seem to be evolving on labor issues. They also discuss the effects of immigration on the country's labor market over the last 50 years, and where the labor movement stands on immigration today. The episode concludes with Mary Kay sharing advice for CEOs, discussing term limits, and even delving into a conspiracy theory she finds intriguing. The conversation offers a unique glimpse into Mary Kay's leadership philosophy, advocating for a culture of agility and a proactive approach to challenges within the labor movement.World of DaaS is brought to you by SafeGraph & Flex Capital. For more episodes, visit safegraph.com/podcasts.You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Mary Kay Henry on X at @MaryKayHenry.

How can Jewish identity inform labor organizing and what might a Jewish labour movement look like in the 21st century? This week we spoke to Laura Jaffee and Ely Flores, two Jewish labour organizers with the SEIU, the Service Employees International Union, who are based in Syracuse New York. With our guests we explore the strategy and structure of the historical and present labour movement to better understand how the movement can become more intersectional and socially-transformative. Support our work on Patreon with as little as 1$ a month: https://www.patreon.com/TheJewishDiasporistYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJewishDiasporistInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejewishdiasporistpod/?hl=en

For the 141st episode of Private Parts Unknown, host Courtney Kocak welcomes Velveeta, a Star Garden stripper and organizer, to explain how their 15-month fight for union recognition ended in victory in May. This was the most popular episode of 2023. The spark that ignited the unionization campaign was lit in March of 2022 when the club's security guards repeatedly failed to protect dancers from threatening and abusive behavior from patrons. Dancers were illegally fired for bringing concerns about safety and security to management. With the assistance of Strippers United, a 501(c)3 organization led by strippers that advocates for strippers' rights, Star Garden's strippers began picketing outside the strip club to protest unsafe working conditions. Picketing continued every week through November outside the club's location on Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood, California. Last August, the dancers announced they had affiliated with Equity. Shortly afterward, the national union filed for an election with the NLRB on behalf of the dancers. In the fall, the labor board conducted an election by mail. A vote count was scheduled for November, but the results were put on hold by the NLRB due to employer objections and legal filings. On Monday, May 15th, lawyers representing the owners of the Star Garden withdrew all election challenges, agreed to recognize the union and meet with the Actors' Equity Association across the bargaining table within 30 days to negotiate a first contract. The club reopened for business as a union club in August. Star Garden's dancers are not the first strippers to seek union recognition. Strippers at San Francisco's Lusty Lady organized the Exotic Dancers Union in 1997. They were affiliated with the Service Employees International Union. The Lusty Lady closed in 2013. For more from today's guest: For more about Stripper Strike Noho! and how you can support the cause linktr.ee/stripperstrikenoho Follow the Star Garden dancers on Instagram @equitystrippersnoho Follow Strippers United on Instagram @strippersunite Psst, Courtney has an OnlyFans, which is a horny way to support the show: onlyfans.com/cocopeepshow Private Parts Unknown is a proud member of the Pleasure Podcast network. This episode is brought to you by: Flure is a dating app where fun, wild, and safe collide. Download the Flure app, set your relationship goals — whether it's a long-term thing or a rendezvous with a hot stud — be real, be shamelessly you, and I promise, you'll have a blast! flure.com Explore yourself and say yes to self-pleasure with Lovehoney. Save 15% off your next favorite toy from Lovehoney when you go to ppupod.com, click Lovehoney, and enter code Private at checkout. Fleshlight is the #1 selling male sex toy in the world. Fleshlight is offering Private Parts Unknown listeners 10% off with code PRIVATE. Go to ppupod.com, click Fleshlight, and enter code PRIVATE at checkout. https://linktr.ee/PrivatePartsUnknownAds If you love this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and sexy review! —> ratethispodcast.com/private  Psst... sign up for our Private Parts Unknown newsletter for bonus content related to our episodes! privatepartsunknown.substack.com Let's be friends on social media! Follow the show on Instagram @privatepartsunknown and Twitter @privatepartsun. Connect with host Courtney Kocak @courtneykocak on Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chrissy and Wheeler cover NIL petitions from Ivy League athletes. Recently, 15 members of the Dartmouth men's basketball team signed a petition to join Local 560 of the Service Employees International Union. Dartmouth has objected, saying the players are not employees. Additionally, the CBPA filed a charge with the NLRB alleging that the conference misclassified athletes as amateurs, rather than as professionals. They also discuss the Florida High School Athletic Association's NIL proposal draft and potential changes to NCAA NIL guidance.They discuss their favorite nillies including Ladd McConkey's deal with Shuman Farms and Isaac Bealer's deal with Webb Wealth Advisors.To learn more about our Nillie platform, visit nillie.io or email contact@victreefi.com. To learn more about our Framework platform, visit victreefi.com. - - - - - - - - - -Name Image Likeness is produced and edited by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

What would it mean if an Ivy League MBB team was given the right to unionize? What would promotion-regulation look like in college football? Welcome to THE Sports Law Podcast! We keep you informed on everything at the intersection of sports and the law. Lots going on in the world of college sports this week. Tarun (@tksharmalaw), Mike (@MikesonofLaw), and Holly (@SlamDunkSummers) are joined by frequent guest host, Amanda Christovich (@achristovichh) from Front Office Sports to discuss the big stories from this week including the promotion-regulation proposal that Amanda broke on Thursday. Dartmouth's men's basketball team filed a petition to unionize with the NLRB with the help of the Local 560 chapter of the Service Employees International Union. Dartmouth has the opportunity to recognize the union voluntarily, but doing so would violate the NCAA's amateurism model. But, if successful, the players would not gain the right to collectively bargain, but would also be considered university employees. The team discusses how the petition compares to Northwestern's misclassification case. The Superior Court of Washington ruled in favor of Oregon State and Washington State on Monday, granting a temporary restraining order against the Pac-12. This will restrict the conference from conducting board meetings until the court rules further. Washington State and Oregon State are the only continuing Pac-12 members beyond this year. The schools filed a complaint to prevent votes on the Pac-12's future from occurring until legal clarity is obtained on who controls the leftovers. This week, Amanda broke the news about the first official pitch for Promotion-Regulation in College Football created by Mountain West administrator, Mike Walsh. The proposal comes in the form of a 22-slide PowerPoint that lays out what the schedule would look like, how structuring would work, and its effect on Olympic sports. The team speculates on its success and how it would change college athletics as we know it. Finally, Lincoln Riley is stirring up commotion at USC by banning Orange County Register beat reporter Luca Evans for two weeks. Riley took issue with a story that Evans wrote featuring Quinton Joyner, freshman running back. USC contended that this violated a policy that prohibits reporting on the team outside of media-permissive areas. **Lincoln Riley ended Evans' suspension on Thursday night, after a "long conversation" with Evans** Have a topic you want to write about? ANYONE and EVERYONE can publish for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ConductDetrimental.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Let us know if you want to join the team. Hosts: Dan Wallach (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@WallachLegal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) | Dan Lust (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SportsLawLust⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Producers: Mike Lawson (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Mike_sonof_Law⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/condetrimental/support

Almost everyone agrees that immigration policy in the United States is lacking, but despite decades of debate, Congress has not been able to pass comprehensive reform on the issue. For some, the primary issues are border security and economic concerns, and for others, labor needs and a commitment to humanitarianism take precedence. Why is it so hard to find common ground, and what are some visions for a different immigration future? NBC correspondent Tom Llamas moderates a panel of experts at the Aspen Ideas Festival who identify the key immigration pressure points and share thoughts on moving forward. Former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey joins Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, the head of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, U.S. representative Tony Gonzales from Texas and Mary Kay Henry, the international president of the Service Employees International Union.

Australian woman named Suzie Cheikho was fired from her job at an insurance company for not typing enough while working from home. The Fair Work Commission, which handles employment disputes in Australia, rejected her unfair dismissal application, stating that she was fired for valid reasons of misconduct.  The Fresno County Board of Supervisors meeting was forced into recess Tuesday morning after it was interrupted by members of the Service Employees International Union.  Wednesday 8/9/2023 - Hour 2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thomas Kennedy, originally from Argentina, immigrated to the United States at the age of 9. Growing up, he witnessed the struggles his undocumented parents faced, inspiring him to become involved in progressive activism and immigration reform advocacy. He earned a degree in International Relations from Florida International University and a Master's in Community and Social Change from the University of Miami. Thomas has worked for various nonprofits and civil rights organizations, including the Service Employees International Union, The New Florida Majority, and the Florida Immigrant Coalition. As Political Director for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, he managed statewide electoral campaigns and led successful voter registration efforts, registering 29,000 voters in 2018 and 2019. He also played a significant role in passing amendment 4, which restored voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians. Thomas was involved in campaigns to improve conditions for migrant children in detention camps, including one in Homestead. He worked for the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign, managing volunteers across all 50 states. As National Campaign Manager at United We Dream, he continued his advocacy for immigrant rights. Currently, he advises progressive and immigrant rights organizations, works for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, and serves as a Democratic National Committee member. Thomas Kennedy's journey from an undocumented immigrant to a prominent activist demonstrates his dedication to improving the lives of immigrants and pursuing progressive causes. Through his voter registration efforts, electoral campaigns, and advocacy work, he has made a lasting impact on communities and continues to fight for inclusive policies and immigrant rights across the United States.

Editor's note: Unfortunately, the original audio recording of this event contained a significant amount of echo picking up from the multiple microphones. We have done our best to diminish the echo interference while still maintaining listenable audio quality. Bill Fletcher, Jr. is a world-renowned racial justice, labor, and international activist, scholar, and author; he has served in leadership positions with many prominent labor organizations, including the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union; he is the former president of TransAfrica Forum and the author of numerous books, including “They're Bankrupting Us!” And 20 Other Myths about Unions. He is also the author of two works of fiction: The Man Who Fell from the Sky and a new novel, The Man Who Changed Colors. At a book-launch event hosted by Red Emma's cooperative bookstore and cafe in Baltimore, TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez sat down with Fletcher, Jr. to talk about his new novel, what fiction gives us that other realms of writing and thinking don't, why the right is so much better than the left at harnessing the political power of storytelling—and what we can do to change that. Post-Production: Jules TaylorClick here to read the transcript for this episode: Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer: Donate: https://therealnews.com/donate-podSign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/newsletter-podLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnewsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews

Christopher Cano is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force where his military career was unfortunately cut short by a knee injury. Chris matriculated to the University of South Florida where he continued his public service, interning in the Florida House of Representatives and later seeking to represent his community in public office as a state representative. Chris was an organizer for Charlie Crist for Governor in 2014, United for Care's Medical Marijuana Amendment campaign in 2015, and oversaw a successful field campaign for the Hillsborough County State Attorney's race in 2016. Today Christopher spends his days working as a labor organizer for the Service Employees International Union building faculty unions for college professors around the country. Yet, the reason most people know him is his advocacy work as a founder of the Florida Suncoast Chapter for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

Our guest in this episode is Shea Cunningham. I met Shea on LinkedIn way back in July 2022. We recorded our time together in early February 2023 and both commiserated about the cold Southern California weather. She is an extremely busy, productive, and visionary woman. Currently, among other jobs, she is the director of Sustainability at ASGN. She will tell us all about ASGN and other organizations with which she works and has worked. Shea studied and majored in International Relations and minored in Latin American Studies at San Francisco State University. Through an internship, she received the opportunity to work in Thailand for two years working on a number of international-related issues. As she says, that wasn't a part of her plan for herself, but “it was a wonderful opportunity”. After Thailand, she went to UCLA's School of Public Policy where she obtained her master's degree in urban planning with an emphasis on Sustainability. Shea will tell us a lot about the subject of “Sustainability” and why it is so important. She uses her life story to discuss how she got so involved in addressing sustainability issues and will show you why it can be an important subject for all of us to ponder and address. About the Guest: Shea Cunningham (she/her) is the Director of Sustainability of ASGN Incorporated. She is a sustainability planning and ESG strategy expert with over twenty years of consulting experience across multiple industry sectors, from the community to international levels. Ms. Cunningham established several sustainability-focused organizations including the Balanced Approach, Focus on the Global South (Bangkok, Thailand), the Culver City Sustainable Business Certification Program, and the US Department of Education Green Ribbon Award-wining sustainability program for the Culver City Unified School District. Ms. Cunningham was also an analyst for the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (Paris, France), and a consultant for Sony Pictures, Athens Services and the Malibu Foundation, amongst numerous other businesses, municipalities, and academic institutions. She is the lead author of “Our Climate Crisis: A Guide for SoCal Communities in the Wildland Urban Interface,” and co-author of many other articles, reports and books. In 2021, Shea was awarded the Women in Business Leadership Visionary Award from the Culver City Chamber of Commerce. She holds an MA in Urban and Regional Planning from the UCLA School of Public Policy and is a LEED Green Associate. Shea's recommended links on climate change: The Nature Conservancy's Chief Scientist (and evangelical Christian) Katharine Hayhoe's Ted Talk Katharine Hayhoe's article How to Talk About Climate Change across the Political Divide in the New Yorker A Washington Post article on the US Army's Climate Strategy Methodist Church's Resolution on a Response to Climate Change 1% for the Planet's 10 Viable solutions to climate change Article from NASA on Scientific Consensus on Climate Change http://www.newclimatevoices.org/ About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes Michael Hingson  00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i  capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson  01:20 Well, hi, and yes, we are here once again for another episode of unstoppable mindset. Shea Cunningham is a sustainability expert with over 20 years of experience, and we're going to talk about that she works for a company now. For the company she works for is ASGN. She's the director of sustainability and we're going to have to talk about that and see what all that means. But first, che thanks for being here. And welcome to unstoppable mindset.   Shea Cunningham  01:52 Thank you so much, Michael. I'm really happy to be here with you.   Michael Hingson  01:56 Well, we're we're excited now, where are you located?   Shea Cunningham  02:00 I am in Culver City, which is basically, yeah, it's LA County, West LA adjacent to Santa Monica. That sort of area.   Michael Hingson  02:10 So from up here in Victorville. I could just kind of Chuck a rock down the past and maybe it would find you and pound on your window.   Shea Cunningham  02:18 Yeah, we're not too far apart. That's right.   Michael Hingson  02:20 And we have reasonably decent weather.   Shea Cunningham  02:24 Yeah, today is gorgeous. I actually just took a bike ride i just i That's one of my passions is bike riding road road biking. So it was a lovely, lovely day this morning.   Michael Hingson  02:36 Much better place to do within going and trying to do it in Oh, Buffalo, New York.   Shea Cunningham  02:42 That is true. Yes. I have some friends in Chicago right now. There. Yeah, it's like four degrees. So yeah, I'm very grateful.   Michael Hingson  02:50 Yeah, not quite this pleasant is here. It was 31 degrees this morning when I got up in Victorville. And like yesterday, I think it was or Wednesday, it was down to 22. So but we're a little bit up in the mountains, we're in the high desert. So we get a little bit more of the cold weather, but not nearly as much as the precipitation. As you all saw down there. The the water doesn't tend to drop in Victorville very much. We're in a valley. So clouds have to go up over mountains and other things. So by the time it gets here, it loses a lot of its moisture.   Shea Cunningham  03:24 So you didn't get to experience the atmospheric rivers that we were having around my area, then.   Michael Hingson  03:30 Not so much. I think we maybe got three quarters of an inch of rain, but that was about all.   Shea Cunningham  03:35 Yes, that's good. Because yeah, there was quite destructive not in my community, but around around the larger region.   Michael Hingson  03:44 So yeah, well, I I know, right now, they're saying we have in the Sierras, what about 250% of the normal snowfall for this time here? And it's just going to be a question of how soon it melts. And hopefully it won't too quickly.   Shea Cunningham  03:59 Correct. Yeah. And yeah, it's been hasn't rained this much and produce this much snowpack for over a decade. So it's it's definitely welcomed. But I know, we're also not capturing as much as we need to. And then because our infrastructure is still inadequate. So I'm hoping I'm optimistically hopeful, then that there will be our cautiously optimistic that that there's going to be progress in that regard.   Michael Hingson  04:27 Oh, I hope so. Well, I want to get to a lot of the things that you do and so on, but I'd like to start by you telling us kind of your your roots where you came from going to school and all that and what you what you studied and learned and anything else like that that you want to tell us about the earlier che   Shea Cunningham  04:45 Okay, sure. Well, I I got well, actually, before I went to graduate school, I was at San Francisco State University where I studied international relations and I minored in Latin American Studies, and I had the great fortune too, to actually be my my internship and end my undergrad program basically turned into a real job, I was the research assistant to the executive director. And I got the opportunity opportunity to actually live and work in Bangkok, Thailand for a couple of years, which is not obviously not Latin America was not really on my, my, the planned path that I had. But it was a fantastic experience, I helped to build a sort of a think tank at Chulalongkorn University focused on looking at the impacts of Trade and Development on communities, economies, and the environment. So I basically started working in the sustainability world, before the buzzword sustainability kind of came into the picture. And I was working at the Institute for Food and development policy in San Francisco as well. And then I went to graduate school, at UCLA in the School of Public Policy and got my master's degree in urban and regional planning with a focus on sustainability. And, and I have always been sort of a nature lover at heart, like as a young girl, I was already like, I would be upsetting to see trash on the ground. And, you know, I just I very much have always loved to camp and hike and be in the ocean, that sort of thing. So I'm sort of naturally, you know, became a sustainability. Professional   Michael Hingson  06:36 Chulalongkorn University, is that an outgrowth of the king? And I?   Shea Cunningham  06:41 Well, it is actually the oldest university in, in Bangkok, the very first university ever built right in the center of the city. And it is it is basically named after the king. Yes.   Michael Hingson  06:56 Cool. Well, that I've heard of it before never had a chance to ask the question. But it, it is certainly something that comes to mind. So that's pretty cool. But you spend time there. Well, you you in undergraduate work, you did Latin American Studies and so on. Growing up what got you interested in that, that you decided to go to college and study that?   Shea Cunningham  07:19 That's a good question. Well, I definitely had always, we I had gone with my parents a few times to Mexico for holidays, and, you know, sort of summer vacations. And, and I really was always very curious about learning Spanish, because I wanted to be able to understand what people were saying. And I also had friends who were actually farmworker families in grade school. And so I was just always fascinated with learning Spanish, because that was the second language that I heard in my, in my young life. So and I also just started to really pay attention to the disparities in wealth between my family and the other families, that farmworker families as well as obviously, in Mexico, in some of the places that we stay, we know we'd stay in a resort, and then we'd go into town and was very obvious that there was a lot of poverty. And that was upsetting to me. So that's something that I wanted to sort of learn more about, and see how I could be somehow, you know, improve the situation to, you know, in my own way. So that's kind of where I came into this is because as I mentioned, sustainability is not just about the environment, it's also about the social aspects, social well being as well as, as the economics.   Michael Hingson  08:43 And I would assume that at least to a degree, your parents encouraged the concept and the the idea of those kinds of studies.   Shea Cunningham  08:51 You know, I was kind of like a free range kid, quite frankly. My dad, I live in my parents, sadly divorced at a young age and my I ended up living with my dad and my brother, and you know, so he was kind of like, Mr. Mom. And, and so, you know, he was kind of hands off and my mom as well. So I just sort of just kind of created my own path. And they've always been supportive. Both of them have always been supportive with everything I've chosen to do.   Michael Hingson  09:23 It is so good to have parents who are supportive, no matter what the circumstances like that. It's great that they were what did they do for work?   Shea Cunningham  09:32 Well, I am actually the first person in my family to get a master's degree. And so my mom, she is she actually is an amazing interior designer. She doesn't she's never really done it for money. But she's like, jaw dropping capabilities in that, in that regard. She also got a real estate license and she was As a realtor for quite some time, and my father, he did go and got he got his a degree and then ended up, you know, back in the day when it was not that unusual for people in their early 20s To get married and have babies. That's what they did back in the day. And so he did not enough finished college. And but he did. I'm very proud of him. He started in the mailroom at IBM, and worked his way up to regional manager over the years.   Michael Hingson  10:28 Wow. And that's a pretty good feat. It company like IBM to do that.   Shea Cunningham  10:34 I think so, too. He did. Yeah. He's a smart guy.   Michael Hingson  10:38 He's still doing that. Nope. He retired. He retired.   Shea Cunningham  10:41 Yeah, he was kind of forced into retirement. Actually, he was given the, the sort of the Golden Handshake. When they're, I think when you know, when 2008 When things were falling apart, the wheels were coming off the economy.   Michael Hingson  10:56 Yeah. happens all too often. So did he? Did he find something else to do? Or is he just enjoying retired life after now? What 15 years almost?   Shea Cunningham  11:07 Yeah, he's he's enjoying retirement. And he did a little bit of, of, sort of what was it was like, delivery of legal documents, in a kind of in his car driving around town. He kind of had fun doing that for a couple of years. And then he realized he didn't really need to do that. So he's just just enjoying his life.   Michael Hingson  11:28 Well, that's cool. Well, so you went off to do things in Bangkok, and so on, got a degree and started to deal with public policy? And then what did you do? So what did you do out of college when she got your master's degree?   Shea Cunningham  11:43 Yes, I actually I first Well, first, I did a little exploring in South America. I did you. Thank you. I did I actually lived in, in my, in my undergraduate I didn't mention this. And when I was in my undergraduate program, in my senior year, I did live in Mexico for for like, not not quite a full year in Wahaca, which was amazing. So if you ever get a chance to go to a haka, Mexico, I think it's one of the most special places on earth. So, after graduate school, I did take a little bit of time to do some exploring, and South America, which was an amazing, amazing trip. Being in the Andes, for instance, was just incredible. And just the different cultures, the different cities, I'm especially enamored with Buenos Aires in Argentina. But I, so I kind of brushed up on my Spanish and whatnot. And then I, I was very fortunate, I had the chair of my thesis committee started teaching at last or bone and in Paris, and wait, see, see ASBO I think actually, it's which is an another, like a science based university in Paris. And, and so I got the opportunity to be introduced to the OECD, which is the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris is sort of a I liken it to a mini think tank or not, it's really not that many sort of a smaller version of the United Nations. But it's, it's really a think tank between between the Western world countries. So it's like a, it's like, membership. You know, there's member countries basically, so, and it's headquartered in Paris. And I was offered a position there. So I ended up working there for about a year and living in Paris, which is a magnificent opportunity, as well. And I was focused on looking at social innovations across the, across the European region, specifically looking at sort of community community based projects that focused on improvement of both, again in sustainability, looking at the environment impacts on the environment of certain sorts of projects, and impacts on the community. And just also spotlighting just innovations, innovative community projects.   Michael Hingson  14:10 When you were you said in your senior year, you spent most of the year and Wahaca. How did how did that work from a studying standpoint? Was that just part of the university assignment? And did you sort of work remotely? Or how did that work?   Shea Cunningham  14:22 It was really wonderful. It was through the School of International Training. So it was a it was an abroad program that that we didn't have coursework. And we did have field work as well. And so my, so we did have classes, we had a lot of guest lectures, everything from culture to politics to history. And then I had I did a we had to do like a focus project. And so I selected looking at the sea turtles of Wahaca Nick problem, it's actually called Laguna state chicawa, which is where two different types of sea turtles come to lay their eggs. And the and as you probably know, the sea turtles got on the endangered species list. And so that had to stop. And so this was a project run by marine biologists. And so I basically live with them for about six weeks and experienced their project. And I helped it was it was magical I, I was able to help you know, bring the little little, the well the, the eggs that were being laid, and then we would transfer them into a safe area. And then in the evenings, we would liberate them into the sea and watch them watch a little babies crawled down to the sea was incredible. And at night, we would watch the, the moms coming up, the female turtles coming up onto the shore, and then making their nest and laying their eggs. And the reason why that project was happening was because the community there was reliant upon the sea turtle sea turtles for you know, making lotions and, and using their shells to create combs and all sorts of things like that. So then, there was also a project focused on helping to create a new economy, you know, new economic options for the community,   Michael Hingson  16:22 to not so much doing the turtles.   Shea Cunningham  16:25 Exactly. So it became a more sustainable, you know, operation for the community. And obviously, for the turtles.   Michael Hingson  16:33 How big were the adult turtles? Or are they How big are the adult turtles?   Shea Cunningham  16:38 I don't remember exactly in terms of measurement, but I would say, I mean, they're huge. The the green turtles are they get to be like, at least four feet long. Okay. Yeah, yeah, they're pretty big.   Michael Hingson  16:53 So they're big, like some of the Galapagos turtles and so on. Well, not   Shea Cunningham  16:56 as large as those because those the Galapagos are the largest turtle, I believe on Earth, but, but there, there are some moral big ones that kind of take your breath away.   Michael Hingson  17:05 I'm more used to desert tortoises and we don't see them nearly as much now I grew up in Palmdale, we had a pet tortoises growing up. And then later, after I was married, my mother in law went out of her house in Mission Viejo one day, and there was a tortoise just walking up the driveway. And clearly it had been someone's pet. But no one could ever claim it or find it. So we ended up deciding that we would take him and putting him in our yard. And later we got another another tortoise. So it was kind of fun. So we had a male and a female, very sweet bar, like desert tortoises were fun, and we could pet them. And we would give them rose petals and lead us and things like that. And they would also just stick their necks out if you're going to scratch under their necks. They would love it. Oh, yeah. So we made good friends. And actually, it got to the point where they decided that one day they wanted to come into the house. And our screen door or screen door was closed but not locked. And they just popped it open and came in to the consternation of our cat at the time, but everyone got along.   Shea Cunningham  18:19 That's really cute. I love it. I love any kind of turtle.   Michael Hingson  18:25 Yeah, I like turtles and tortoises. I saw one Galapagos turtle, but I was pretty young, only seven or eight at the San Diego Zoo. Oh, wow. But yeah, I like turtles and tortoises in there. They're kind of fun. Well, you so you eventually went off and went to graduate school. And then what did you do after graduate school?   Shea Cunningham  18:46 Well, then, I mean, after working at the the the OECD, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, I ended up coming back to Los Angeles area. And I started to do some consulting actually for the Thai Community Development Center. And another the Community Development Center, which my goodness, I'm forgetting the name of it, but there are I basically started to consult as a sustainability planner for some different organizations. And I also was invited back to UCLA. I was a graduate student researcher at the North American Integration and development center. So I continue to take on some research projects there. I also worked as, as the research director for the Service Employees International Union, focused on the the public sector and actually worked with one of the projects that was especially rewarding and interesting was with people with developmental disabilities. So it was working with people there called people first I'm not sure if you're familiar with that organization, little David I think they're based in Sacramento. So that was that was an interesting project and you know, working also with the with the, with the helpers that you know that the in home care workers and then I, you know, so I bopped around a bit i i also had a full day and I still I still practice it yoga, I started teaching yoga I was I had two children. So my first one, I was really into yoga, and I ended up ended up being asked, well, I just found this really interesting and cost efficient program. And I ended up becoming a teacher through it. And I really just wanted to do that, because I was interested in learning more about the roots of yoga, and you know, just not not just the actual poses and postures. And, and, and then I started teaching and I as a young as a mom with young kids, that was that was a nice sort of side path. And then it took, and then after, after my kids got a little bit older, and I started going to, to elementary school and in my first kid and in elementary school in kindergarten, that's when I noticed that there was not any even recycling happening at the school. And so I kind of kicked it into high gear and said, Okay, we need to, we need to change things here at the school district. And I connected with some like minded parents, and some like minded teachers and the principal. And we, we sort of piloted a waste reduction and recycling program at the elementary school. And then from there, we raised some money through CalRecycle. And then we, I was asked to be a part of a new sort of committee for sustainability for the school district. And then I ended up leading that, and I really went all in with it. So we we raised a couple of large grants and created composting recycling bins across the entire 10 School 10 site school district. And then we worked with we started with that, but then we we really got into building our sort of co curricular awareness program and worked with the with the the janitorial staff and brought in green cleaning supplies so that they're moving. So it's basically healthier for them as well as the teachers and then students, we brought in solar to offset the you know, the fossil fuel burning, and to reduce the carbon emissions and to provide Sun shading for the parking lots and and playground areas. And we also worked on water reduction or water conservation. We we worked in brought in some new landscaping. So it was like for about five or six years, I was really I was very focused on that while doing other sort of consulting projects on the side. I also worked for help Sony Studios, which is also in Culver City, become a become a zero waste studio, because it's really neat. They they, they being the studio, they have friendly competitions with other studios across the region. And so they're they're really into becoming more green and more sustainable. And so I was brought in to help them create a zero waste studio at the headquarters, which was fun. And I mean, I could go on I have a few other projects that I actually because of the work I was doing at the schools, I gave a speech at a green schools Conference, which is an annual conference that happens in Pasadena. And from there I was invited to work. There's a proposition 39 That was created kind of a loophole that there was found for funding, energy efficiency and renewables in public schools. That money is sunsetted. This is bad for about six years, there was a really good amount of money for different schools for LED lighting retrofits and solar panels. And so I basically helped with that program. And and then I and then my sort of biggest, longest term project that I have that's continuing. And I think I haven't mentioned yet that I developed my own business called balanced approach. And it is a certified woman owned business. It's a sustainability doing sort of a micro sustainability planning firm. And I collaborated with a colleague of mine who who is the co director of sustainable works. And we pitched a Culver City sustainable business certification program to the city council took a couple of years to get it going. But now we're in the sixth year of the program. And we have certified over 70 businesses now as sustainable and kind of on the same model of what we did for the or what I did for the school district with my my other colleagues, which is, you know, from working on green cleaning, you know, taking out toxics working on energy efficiency, working on bringing it bringing in renewables, water conservation, and awareness building. And also transportation. That's another aspect because that's a big transportation is a large factor in terms of carbon emissions.   Michael Hingson  25:58 When How long ago was it that you discovered that the school needed to deal with recycling and so on your kid your child was in kindergarten, how long ago was at   Shea Cunningham  26:08 dating myself? Now? My, my son is 18. Now, okay, yeah, that was like 13 years ago.   Michael Hingson  26:17 It is sort of surprising. And that's This is why I was asking the question that that late in the game, well, maybe not. But it's sort of surprising that they hadn't gotten very conscious about doing recycling and so on. So 13 years ago, would have made it about 2010, you would have thought that they would have done more to address the issue, but then you're getting you're dealing with the innocence the government.   Shea Cunningham  26:45 Yes, I would like that's why I was like, Okay, with this is not okay, we need to teach our kids how to be environmental stewards. And it's not it as we know, recycling is not you know, what's, well, there's like the you've heard of the three R's, right? Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Right? And it really isn't that priority, like first we got to focus on reducing our waste and reducing our our plastics and our disposables, and then it's reusing whatever we can, and then, you know, recycle what we can't, you know, reduce and reuse. But yes, too, as to your question, or, yeah, I, I agree with you, it was really surprising that they didn't have that in place, you would think that that would be something that that is everywhere, universally, but it still isn't, I mean, it just still isn't. So we still have a long road to the hall that Culver City Unified now. Thankfully, there, it's become part of the culture. And we actually received a state level and federal level Green Ribbon Award for the work that we did in Culver City. So I'm pretty proud of that.   Michael Hingson  27:50 And you talked about solar and creating shade for parking lots, and so on. So you put the solar panels above the parking lots and so on. So that created shade, but it also generated power through the solar energy process.   Shea Cunningham  28:04 Exactly. Yeah. And then we also in one of the elementary schools, we have also shading the playground. And as you know, we have how, you know, we're having more heat waves, and it's gonna continue, unfortunately, until we, you know, really slow the ship down on terms of our fossil fuel burning. But, yeah, so that's really been helpful, because we've had a lot of hot days out on the playground, so it's nice to have that additional shade.   Michael Hingson  28:28 Oh, is all of that surviving in the winter with the heavy winds and all?   Shea Cunningham  28:33 Ah, so far, so good. It's pretty solid. Thankfully, yes.   Michael Hingson  28:38 Which is cool. And I suppose you could say, in a sense that maybe helps a little bit in sheltering from some of the winds because they're up there, but they're, they're sort of flat. So I'm not sure that it shelters all that much, but it must help a little, yeah, helps   Shea Cunningham  28:51 a little, and it helps reduce also the bills, the costs. Energy,   Michael Hingson  28:58 where does the where does the solar power go to the school? Or how does that work?   Shea Cunningham  29:03 It goes back to the grid, you know, so it goes to the grid, but then, you know, what happens is the because it is a, at least as of when I was, you know, really in the weeds on the program, it was over 50% of the energy needs were met by by the solar panels. So yeah, but yeah, so that's yeah, because it is on the grid, it's not an off grid system, but that is you know, that's something that resilience, climate resilience is is really would be the next step is to have like a battery backup system. So when the when the blackouts happen as we know, they do happen, especially in heat waves and whatnot, then the school will be able to stay and keep the lights on basically. So I was gonna   Michael Hingson  29:55 actually ask you about batteries. I know that the technology hasn't probably progressed as nearly as much as we would like, but has battery backup technology advanced to the point where it makes economic sense to to get batteries. So for example, in our home here, my home, we have solar, we sell back to the grid, and we don't have battery backups. And when we bought solar and set it up six years ago, when the house was built, the person who did it said, batteries are still not worth it. They don't get warranted long enough. And they're very expensive for what you actually get. What do you think?   Shea Cunningham  30:34 Well, I mean, I'm not a full on expert and up on up on that. But I would say this, in general, it's the technology just keeps improving rapidly, the costs keep coming down. And when I was I actually also worked for a couple of years in the city of Malibu and, and battery backups, were going in very rapidly across the, you know, the residents. And I know that's a little bit more affluent. community, but but there are more and more certainly, sort of government agencies and buildings that are that recognize the importance of the battery backup for for sort of public safety. So you might want to weigh it out. I mean, I would just keep I would keep looking out. And also, the other thing I meant to say, is they also have a lot of rebates and what not, because they're, you know, there is government programs that are encouraging people to do this. So I would just say Keep it keep an eye out.   Michael Hingson  31:38 What do you think about the new rules in California, the Public Utility Commission just adopted some new rules that I guess are gonna make a significant change in how much people get back from solar and so on. Are you familiar with those?   Shea Cunningham  31:51 You know, I'm not super up to date on it. But I know that there's stuff going on. And and I think some of it is not in a good direction. Yeah. So yeah. So I think that, yeah, there's that is something to stay abreast of. But I think in the end, you know, it's got to get move in the right direction, because we I can just, I mean, in terms of emission reduction targets, yes, tonsa municipalities have made them, certainly the state has made them a lot of cities have made them, you know, going net zero by 20 2040, I believe is Los Angeles, by 2050, for the state of California. And also, if I'm not mistaking, I think that's also the case for the federal government has made that commitment as well. And then corporations are publicly traded corporations are actually going to be mandated to do so beginning January 1 2024. Because the SEC, the Security and Exchange Commission is going to be there any day. Now, q1, when this this first quarter here in this this year, 2023. They're supposed to be publishing their new regulations, which will be effective January 1 2024. And that's going to that's going to include greenhouse gas inventories, they need to be third party certified, there needs to be target emission reduction targets made and there needs to be progress made upon those targets on an annual basis through reporting. So things are definitely moving in that direction.   Michael Hingson  33:35 Well, we said at the beginning that you were a sustainability expert. And so I'd love to get into some of that what it really is sustainability.   Shea Cunningham  33:45 Sustainability, the the UN, I believe the United Nations calls, defines it as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs a future generations. So that's it in a nutshell. But it's also seen there. There's also a term called the three P's, which is people planet and profit. So it's definitely not just about the environment. It is also equally about the impacts on the community, you know, community well being social well being, as well as the finances of it, like is it? Is it financially sustainable? There's another sort of visual of the three legged stool. So you need each pillar because they won't stand up if it if, if if you have a pillar that's missing. So it's the environment, it's the social aspect, and it's the, like I said, the economy or the financial aspect of it.   Michael Hingson  34:46 So, the the idea, though, is that we do need to look not only for now, but we do need to look for the future. And it just seems to me that when I hear a lot of the debates, and I hear are a lot of the discussions coming out of Washington and other places. There's a cadre of people who just tend to not seem to be thinking much about the future at all. How do we change that? How do we get people to really look more toward the fact that we are all responsible, and we have to take an active effort and all this   Shea Cunningham  35:22 very good point, you really hit it on the head, but it is, it is perplexing to me that there are so many people that are not not really taking the responsibility and not really accepting the fact that that we all need to work together to sort of do our part, because the signs are all out there. I mean, we are we are living in the reality of climate change at a much more rapid pace than the scientists predicted. By but at the end of the day, it Yeah, it's not political. And I think that it's become politicized, sadly. And I think we got to, I think it to really answer your question, I think everybody, everybody wants to live in a clean world, everybody wants, doesn't want to see, you know, a garbage and pollution. Nobody likes that stuff. I think everybody is, is shares that, that desire. And I think that, you know, we, I think that's part of the message that we need to get across is like, you know, we're not, this is not a blame game, we just, you know, we just need to work together on this. And it's not about I mean, the earth is going to be fine. I mean, quite frankly, if humans humans go, the earth is going to repair itself, because we know Mother Nature is amazing. So it's really more about like saving ourselves, quite frankly, and saving our, you know, our, our grandchildren, our children, our grandchildren. So and it's, again, it's not something I want to emphasize, it's not something that's in the future, we're already living in this situation, as you know, the extreme weather events, like very massive storms, elongated storms, larger fires than ever long, long term droughts. We're in a 20 year drought. Now, even though we already have this. Tons of precipitation happening now, that's probably not going to continue. That's, so we have, you know, it's kind of like Global Weirding. I'm not sure if you heard of that term, but I think I really feel like that encapsulates it, there's just crazy weather patterns going on. It's very destructive. And, and that's why businesses are really waking up. In fact, the US military has woken up to this, you know, a couple decades ago, they've been building climate resilient systems because of that. So and then corporations, larger corporations are really, they're out in front of the SEC regulations already, because they're seeing that their supply chains are starting to go wonky, because when you have flooding happening, when you have fires happening, you know, it destabilizes the supply chain, it, you know, obviously cuts into productivity cuts into the cost the revenues. And, and it makes things much more in, you know, it's it's, it's not a shirt, you know, and I'm saying it's, it's, it makes it much more challenging, basically. So they're waking up. And they're, it's, and I think they really, especially with the United Nations, and the Global Compact, which is the sort of corporate member corporate kind of club for engaging in the United Nations and their sustainable development goals and whatnot. They're working together with corporations to, to achieve, you know, to work on progressing and to work on getting more renewables out there. So we have the options to start really bringing down the carbon.   Michael Hingson  38:53 Yeah. And you said that this isn't really a political issue, or shouldn't at least be a political issue. And that makes perfect sense. But unfortunately, it's become so much of a political issue, let's say, at least in this country, you've got people who say, Well, this isn't really set, there's no such thing as climate change, because it's really just nature. And it's the way it's always been, it's the way it's always going to be, how do we get people to recognize that there really is a difference?   Shea Cunningham  39:23 Well, I think it's really there's so much evidence, you know, so I think it's, it's really boils down to education. I think we need to have more kind of roundtable discussions. I think we need to, you know, meet people where they are and and sort of focus in on what what's impacting them personally, and what might be impacting their family personally, but also the coming back to it's really the sciences there. The evidence is there, I think and I'd be happy I don't know if we if this is a possibility, but I'd be happy to, to to I'm give you some links that you can share on your in your program, please do. Okay, so I'll do that. But I think at the end of the day, it's really the education piece.   Michael Hingson  40:12 And people need to be open to be educated, before it gets too late, because this is it's not a new concept that there are things happening. I mean, you can go back to the Silent Spring with Rachel Carson years ago. That's right. So we're not dealing with anything magical here. And the more some people protest, and the more things happen, it's pretty clear that there really is an issue that we have to deal with.   Shea Cunningham  40:41 Absolutely. And so So for you,   Michael Hingson  40:43 you, you did a lot of work and public policy and so on, but what really then drew you to get so incredibly involved in sustainability and so on, was it what happened in kindergarten? Or is it just that you always notice those things are what?   Shea Cunningham  41:01 Yeah, you know, it's, I think it's just in my DNA, Michael, I just, it just really was a no brainer for me that this is what I wanted to do with my, you know, professionally with my life. So I very much, you know, I feel very fortunate actually, to be in this to be in this field. Because it's, it's, for me, it's just deeply meaningful. And I sort of live and breathe it, like I try to be as sustainable as I can in my own life. And, you know, so I make sure that I am, you know, I tried to reduce my own carbon footprint. So I'm, I'm also walking the talk, but it just was a natural fit for me. And, again, as I mentioned, like, I've, I'm a big nature lover, I've always felt better when I'm outside and, you know, taking a walk in the forest, or, or, you know, watching the sunset on the beach. And I mentioned, I loved them or ride my bike, and, you know, go through in being different, explore different routes, you know, and, and I just feel very compelled to do my part to help preserve and conserve and repair and restore our, our environment.   Michael Hingson  42:18 Well, it's, it really is, I think, relevant and important to step out and look at things that are different from what we're used to. I love, for example, going to, when we were in Northern California, places like near woods, and forests, and so on, I love forest, just because the sounds are so different, or in the environment is so different. It was so much fun to be able to be in there and experience a different environment like that. And I've kind of always thought to myself, I can live here. But it's so important that we understand different places then we're specifically used to and as a public speaker, who has been traveling for now, the last 21 and a half years, I've always been so interested and excited to explore new places and just experience different environments, caves and other things like that as well.   Shea Cunningham  43:19 Yeah, I'm with Yeah, I definitely feel the same way. And it's just, it's, you know, it's, it's a way for us to repair ourselves when we when we're out in nature.   Michael Hingson  43:31 You haven't lived until you've been in the middle of New York City just after a blizzard, and you're walking down Madison Avenue, when there are no cars around, and it's so quiet. And nothing is going on. Because there's just way too much snow it was it was so much fun to get to do that once.   Shea Cunningham  43:49 Right on. It's awesome. And there's also nature, you know, I think it's so important to bring nature to the cities to, you know, in terms of like, you know, there's urban forests, for instance. I mean, when we have a lot of trees in the city, it just makes everybody feel better.   Michael Hingson  44:10 Yeah, absolutely. It's, it really is important to, to, if you can't bring people to it, then bring it to people, at least as much as you can.   Shea Cunningham  44:21 Absolutely.   Michael Hingson  44:22 So you talked earlier about what you did when your son was in kindergarten and really noticing the whole issue about recycling and so on. Overall, I guess two thoughts. One, how is it effective and why is it effective to explore and bring sustainability into elementary schools?   Shea Cunningham  44:49 Very good question. I think it is imperative to do that. To bring it to young really young kids, because they are like sponges, you know, so they're are, they're able to pick up these new habits and make them just habits that they don't have to think about in terms of, you know, being good at and reducing their waste, for instance, not bringing, you know, reuse are like water, plastic water bottles, for instance, in plastic bags. And like, in saying, No, I'm going to bring reusable as I have a reusable water bottle, and you know, that's better for the environment, it's better for me. And, and, and being careful about recycling and that sort of thing. It when, when you teach the young kids they are like, like I mentioned, they're little sponges, and so it just becomes habit for them. And then it's not something that they really have to learn and, and whatnot. So that's really, you know, when you get to like, high school, as we all know, something happens to the teenage brain. And, and they are, you know, sometimes it's, they're a little defiant, and, you know, they don't necessarily want to do with what the adults are saying and whatnot, so. So it's harder, it's harder. And as we all know, it's also it's always hard, hard to change, especially for adults. You know, not everybody, it's usually change is hard. I mean, you've heard that term before. But that's one only one thing you can ever, ever really be sure of in life is change, because everything changes. And so we might as well go with the flow, and learn how to be skillful at riding the waves of change. Right. So that Yeah, I mean, I just think that the younger, the better. And if we all did that, if it was universal, you know, within a within a half a generation we'd be we'd be, you know, doing great.   Michael Hingson  46:45 What's ironic, of course, is that, however it happens, we're taught to fear change. Yep. You know, we all say yeah, change is all around us. Change happens. But when it really comes down to it, we're afraid of it.   Shea Cunningham  46:59 Yes, chain. Well, that yeah, they talked about change being hard. And yeah, we kind of go into that reptilian brain of like, oh, yeah, no fear. We gotta watch out for this. And I think it's, I think that makes it the biggest challenge, you know, and it's, and I do think that he is a politician and Al Gore. And if you remember his Inconvenient Truth, Inconvenient Truth. Yeah. I think that's a brilliant phrase, because that's really what it is. Yeah, it's not it's not, you know, we we have built especially in in this country, as you mentioned, it's it's more political in this country than anywhere else in terms of climate action, and, you know, and the awareness of climate change or lack of awareness, but it is it is something that you know, we what am I trying to say, Where am I going with my thoughts? I'm having a moment   Michael Hingson  47:53 well, we continue to fear change, it's yes. And it's it it shouldn't be an inconvenient truth the change happens but you have it on the hand. He's right. I was a while before I actually saw it. I was actually flying to Japan after my first book thunder dog was published and that's where when I actually watched the movie, it was on the on the airplane, but it was so enjoy I watched it twice. But I I really appreciated what he had to say and he is absolutely right. Yeah. And it's it shouldn't be An Inconvenient Truth but we make it something that's inconvenient we just don't like to deal with all of that   Shea Cunningham  48:36 good point and that's what I the the word convenient is what I was get trying to get back to that we have created this culture and in America I think it really started in the 1950s of convenience creating a culture of convenience Yeah, so you know like Oh, TV dinners and fast food and disposable water bottles and you know does everything is to go coffee to go with with a disposable you know, cup and lid and we've we we are we are literally swimming and like we're you know way over our heads and waste now we have a serious waste problem, which of course is also carbon emission problem as well. And we have so much waste in this country and it's and it's all because of like oh you know creating this sort of like it's a mirage really of like, oh we're better off because we have all this stuff that we can collect and we can you know just enjoy once and throw away and you know and so that's the kind of stuff that it is hard but we got to change that that we can't keep living like that. Are there   Michael Hingson  49:42 any water bottles so they throw away water bottles that actually are recycle and Will are biodegradable and so on? Have we done any of that?   Shea Cunningham  49:51 There are there are bio plastics, but that's actually a whole nother problem. Because our infrastructure, our recycling info structures inadequate, and to handle those bio plastics, they have to be basically heated up to a really high degree. And very, very few municipalities have that capacity at this point in time. But, you know, there is something about like being up, you know, in terms of the source is better, because it's not fossil fuel driven, or, you know, it's not made by fossil fuels are made from fossil fuels. But, but, you know, standard plastic bottles can be recycled, but at the end of the day, you know, only about I mean, it's really, it's really kind of like, oh, like, only about like, 10% of total recycling stream really gets recycled. And it's because they're, you know, so I know, there is some hope in California, there is a bill that finally got passed. It's been like up for passage for many, many, many years. But all I forget exactly the year, I think it's not till 2025, maybe 2030, which is too far into the future, from my perspective, but that all packaging has to be actually recycled or composted by that date in in, in California. And you know, when California when something as big as the California economy makes a change like that, then it will, it will have reverberate reverberations across other states as well. So I'm somewhat hopeful that we're moving in a in a good but very slow direction, in the right direction. But, you know, besides just like the disposable, sort of packaging and whatnot, it's, it's just, you know, like a fast fashion, I'm sure you've heard of that term of like, you know, Textiles and Apparel, that sort of thing, and, you know, purchasing of stuff, we don't really need, that. That's the kind of stuff that I think we just need to be more reflective and mindful in our in our society.   Michael Hingson  51:57 Yeah, we, we need to recognize that we need to be the solution and not the problem are not part of the problem. And we're just not collectively doing nearly as much of that as we should. And another example of some of that we hear about a lot is greenhouse gases, where where do they come from? And where do greenhouse gases fit into the whole equation of what we're talking about? Right.   Shea Cunningham  52:23 Good question. So greenhouse gases, I have been mentioning emissions, and I was referring to greenhouse gas emissions. So that is basically what is what happens when fossil fuels are burned. So fossil fuels are, you know, mined or are extracted from the earth. very, they're very, very polluting. And they, they're basically through the through the energy industry. That's one of the major sources of fossil fuel burning and greenhouse gas emissions in our country, and actually, mostly around the entire world. Industry. And transportation is another another source of the greenhouse gas emissions, it's up to depends on you know, it's kind of any, there's different ways to slice and dice the pie of in terms of where the emissions come from. But I've read many, many different sources that say about 40% of our emissions come from fossil fuel burning of in cars, and trucks. So that's one of the reasons why it's so important to move away from fossil fuel burning cars and move into electric cars. I know that there is gap greenhouse gases that are emitted in the making of the cars, but in terms of in terms of driving the electric vehicle vehicles, especially if you are charging, you know, in a house or a home that is that is has solar energy, right? Yes, then you really are making a big impact and big positive impact.   Michael Hingson  54:06 Yeah, and that, that makes a big difference. And I know we're going to get there. I do hope it happens sooner than later. I I'm absolutely, totally supportive of the whole concept of electric vehicles. Although I do think that we need to be responsible. And there have been laws passed about this. But too many electric vehicles still Don't make a noise. So those of us who don't see those cars coming are put in danger. And it's now been 13 or 12 years. And since the law was passed the pedestrian enhancement Safety Act that said the cars need to make noise, and they're still playing with standards and trying to deal with it and the reality is that the best ironically, from at least my perspective, maybe scientifically, someone will come up with something different but I happen to hurt it. At the best way for me to deal with a vehicle and making noise is the sound of an internal combustion engine. And they ought to be able to emulate that sound in cars because I can tell the difference between a bus and a car and a truck. And I can tell more about whether the car is speeding up or slowing down because of all the different nuances of an internal combustion engine sound. So one tone isn't going to do it. But they haven't done that yet, really. And at some point, once again, it's going to have to be addressed because even NITSA has said that when cars are quiet, for the total population, there's 1.5 times as likely hood of an accident happening and the pedestrian doesn't just blind people anymore. Right? You know, that that's what got the law passed in the first place?   Shea Cunningham  55:59 How interesting. Thank you for telling me that, because that's something I never thought about that's really opens my mind to that?   Michael Hingson  56:05 Well, it is it is something that needs to be dealt with. And but I love the concept of electric vehicles. And you know, I have I've actually driven a Tesla down i 15. And the driver was the the normal owner and driver was in the car and said you want to drive it? I said, Sure. So I drove about 15 miles and appreciate what it can do. And I realized that we've really are on the cusp of the whole concept of autonomous vehicles. What we have now is not anything like what we're going to have in 20 years, and the viability and the the foolproof nature of what they can do is going to come. But we have to start somewhere.   Shea Cunningham  56:49 Absolutely. Yeah, that's, that's gonna be fair. I mean, I'm a little nervous about it. But you know, again, change is hard.   Michael Hingson  56:57 Well, I think there's reason to be nervous. Because we can't move too quickly or otherwise, we're going to push the cars beyond the limits of what they can do today. But we're seeing constant improvements in the whole concept of autonomous vehicles. And the time is going to come when they really will be as safe and as foolproof as we would like them to be. Or as we read about in science fiction books, that's coming.   Shea Cunningham  57:25 Pretty wild.   Michael Hingson  57:26 I know, isn't it? Well, how about carbon, a measurable carbon emissions and so on measuring them. And dealing with all the reporting and studying of such such things? That's obviously important. And I would assume that one of the values of that is it really helps us get to a better understanding of whether we are we're not having an effect on the environment in a positive way.   Shea Cunningham  57:53 Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. So that's the greenhouse gas inventory that we you can do, you know, on a personal residential level? And of course, you know, municipalities do it. And businesses do it. And a lot of businesses are not doing it yet. But as I mentioned, many corporations are doing it and are demanding that their suppliers do it. And and the Security Exchange Commission will be mandating it. So that is, you know, in a nutshell, it's basically, you know, for for business, it's looking at the different sources of greenhouse gases, which I'm not sure if I mentioned, it's really the major cause to global warming, which is like, which I think is it's more aptly called Global Weirding. Because there's, there's extreme cold, that's snaps that happen, as well as extreme heat. And as you know, glaciers are melting ice, and sea levels are rising the whole business. But But so, in terms of the greenhouse gas inventory, and we look at the different sources, which of course, buildings are a major source, you know, using the energy in the buildings, and then we calculate, you know, what, what is that in greenhouse gases, in terms of energy, and we look at the transportation, we look at business travel, we look at, you know, so airplanes, as we know, our jet fuel is very polluting, thankfully, we're seeing the aviation industry start to starting to move toward making commitments at least to have electric planes, at least starting to phase them in by 2030. Because 2030, by the way, is sort of the year that the United Nations has focused on and to like, we need to have really measurable reductions and like half of our emissions need to be reduced by 2030 globally. And then, in terms of going back to like the business travel, you know, there's more hotels as well that are just starting to make commitments as well to be net zero hotels by a certain date. So, you know, and it's really the the proof is gonna be in the pudding like, we need to see the progress. We can't just say, Okay, we're gonna do that and then share best practices and 2030 No, every year, we need to win, you know, we need to redo the inventory, we need to put programs into place to incentivize people to, to take alternative transportation to work, including public transportation, carpooling, you know, if you're going to buy a new car, go, Evie. You know, if you can ride your bike to work, if you're not that far away, choose to do that do active transportation, that sort of thing. So we need to get those sorts of things in place and incentivize people tend to make it fun, because Because change is hard, you gotta kind of gotta be smart about it, and be creative about it, and make it something that is going to be engaging, and is going to, you know, people are going to open their minds to it. So and So basically, we take all the different sources of the data, where the greenhouse gases are coming from, and then we crunch the numbers. And then we like we, you know, we have our, our carbon emissions, sort of portfolio, so to speak. And then we know where, okay, this is where we are this year, this is where we need to get next year. So we have to do short term, medium term and longer term planning for year after year for, you know, reducing the carbon and in terms of the corporations as well, there's, at least in terms of like office based work, I think it's very important that we maintain, and it's looking like it's feasible to maintain sort of hybrid work schedules and flexible work schedules. So we are not, you know, needlessly driving back and forth to the office every single day,   Michael Hingson  1:01:43 I think we're starting to grow to realize that there's value in so many ways to allow people at least to have a hybrid schedule and do some work at home, helps family helps mindset, it helps everyone to sometimes be able to do a little bit more on your own schedule, rather than, Oh, there's just one process to do it. Right. And so you are the director of sustainability for ASTN   Shea Cunningham  1:02:12 ASGN incorporated in and what is ASGN. ASGN is a is a company that is it's a publicly traded firm in the Fortune 600. And there and they are an IT consulting and staffing firm. And as Jan's main clients are really the top sort of 25 of the Fortune 500 Club. And so Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, IBM, and others are the main clients. And so that's where the and especially Microsoft have to give a shout out to Microsoft, they're the ones who are really the most sort of at the at the forefront of of making target reductions, and also requiring suppliers to follow their lead.   Michael Hingson  1:03:01 All well, it's going to be exciting to see how things evolve over time. I really appreciate what you're doing. And I hope the people who are out here listening will learn from it. And definitely please send me links and maybe links to things you have written and so on. And we will ensure that those are in the show notes so that people will have access to all of   Shea Cunningham  1:03:25 that. We'll do we'll do thank you so much, Michael. Well, this   Michael Hingson  1:03:28 has been really fun. Well, I definitely want to thank you Shea for being here. How can people reach out to you or get in contact?   Shea Cunningham  1:03:36 Well, you can either go on LinkedIn and look me up Shea Cunningham, S H E A Cunningham. And also, as I mentioned, I still have my certified woman owned business balanced approach. And my email is just Shea S H E A  at balanced approach.net.   Michael Hingson  1:03:53 There you go. Direct contact all the way. Well, absolutely. This has been fun. I hope you've enjoyed listening to us today in this conversation. I'd love to hear your comments, feel free to email me at Michaelhi at accessibe A C C E S S I B E.com. And while you're thinking about access to be go to the website and do a free audit of your own website and see how accessible it is, which is another whole story. But you can also go to Michael hingson.com/podcast hingson is h i n g s o n and we hope that you'll give us a rating wherever you're hearing the podcast and that you go back and listen to some of the other podcasts. We really appreciate it. But a five star rating and your comments are absolutely invaluable and we hope that you'll give us any thoughts that you have. Shea for you and anyone listening. If you have any thoughts of other people we should have on his guests on unstoppable mindset. Please let us know please email me. Let us know about guests. Give us introductions. We'll bring them on.   Shea Cunningham  1:04:57 Well do.   Michael Hingson  1:04:58 I appreciate that? Well again, Shea, thanks very much for being here with us and doing this today.   Shea Cunningham  1:05:04 Thank you so much, Michael. Take care. You too.   Michael Hingson  1:05:12 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com. accessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

The 15-month effort to gain union recognition by dancers employed at the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood, California, ended in victory this week. For the 116th episode of Private Parts Unknown, host Courtney Kocak welcomes Velveeta, one of Star Garden's newly unionized strippers, to explain how this historic milestone came to be. On Monday, May 15th, lawyers representing the owners of the Star Garden withdrew all election challenges, agreed to recognize the union, and will meet with the Actors' Equity Association across the bargaining table within 30 days to negotiate a first contract. The club also will reopen for business and bring back dancers who were dismissed last year. The spark that ignited the unionization campaign was lit in March of 2022 when the club's security guards repeatedly failed to protect dancers from threatening and abusive behavior from patrons. Dancers were illegally fired for bringing concerns about safety and security to management. With the assistance of Strippers United, a 501(c)3 organization led by strippers that advocates for strippers' rights, Star Garden's strippers began picketing outside the strip club to protest unsafe working conditions. Picketing continued every week through November outside the club's location on Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood, California. Last August, the dancers announced they had affiliated with Equity. Shortly afterward, the national union filed for an election with the NLRB on behalf of the dancers. In the fall, the labor board conducted an election by mail. A vote count was scheduled for November, but the results were put on hold by the NLRB due to employer objections and legal filings. The NLRB was scheduled to hold a hearing this week over the employer objections. That hearing is now unnecessary and has been canceled. Star Garden's dancers are not the first strippers to seek union recognition. Strippers at San Francisco's Lusty Lady organized the Exotic Dancers Union in 1997. They were affiliated with the Service Employees International Union. The Lusty Lady closed in 2013. So that's how the Star Garden dancers became America's only unionized strippers at the moment. Perhaps they will inspire others just like they were inspired by the Lusties. For more from today's guest: For more about Stripper Strike Noho! and how you can support the cause linktr.ee/stripperstrikenoho Follow Stripper Strike Noho on Instagram @stripperstrikenoho Follow Strippers United on Instagram @strippersunite Psst, Courtney has an OnlyFans too: onlyfans.com/cocopeepshow Private Parts Unknown is a proud member of the Pleasure Podcast network. This episode is brought to you by: https://linktr.ee/PrivatePartsUnknownAds If you love this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and sexy review! —> ratethispodcast.com/private  Psst... sign up for our Private Parts Unknown newsletter for bonus content related to our episodes! privatepartsunknown.substack.com Let's be friends on social media! Follow the show on Instagram @privatepartsunknown and Twitter @privatepartsun. Connect with host Courtney Kocak @courtneykocak on Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

February marked the one-year anniversary of President Biden's announcement of historic nursing home reforms. Creating a minimum staffing standard, which would be the most significant increase in protections for nursing home residents in decades, was central to his plan. In this episode, we are sharing the audio from Consumer Voice's webinar that was part of the “Dignity for All: Staffing Standards Now!” campaign. This campaign is advocating for a minimum staffing standard in nursing homes. The implementation of a minimum staffing standard would not only protect nursing home residents it would address the long-standing job quality problems that plague nursing homes. On average, nursing home staff turnover is 52% each year, which is the result of low-wages, poor benefits, inadequate training, and little opportunity for job growth. The burden of providing essential and critical care falls largely on women, a majority of whom are women of color, while they are treated poorly by nursing home owners and operators. In this episode, you will hear a conversation with Consumer Voice and several direct care workers, also members of the Service Employees International Union, who discuss what it is like to work in an understaffed facility and what a minimum staffing standard would mean to direct care staff in nursing homes.

Swipe Up 232: Unfiltered Opinions on the News and Entertainment World from the Ray Taylor ShowShow topic: Welcome to Swipe Up, part of the Ray Taylor Show! In each episode, host Ray Taylor gives his honest and unfiltered opinions on the latest news, current events, entertainment updates, and other random posts he finds on Instagram. Join Ray every Thursday as he shares his thoughts and insights on a variety of topics. Whether you're looking for a fresh perspective on the news or just want to be entertained, Swipe Up has something for everyone. Don't miss an episode - subscribe now! Story 1 (00:01:10): Richard Golden, a mid-30s 4Chan user living with his mother, was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood. Chitwood had recently gone viral for a passionate rant against neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups in Florida. Golden's IP address was flagged by authorities after he posted a threatening message on 4Chan. In this video, we discuss the details of the case and the larger issues of online threats and hate speech.Story 2 (00:11:04): OpenAI research reveals that up to 80% of US workers may see their jobs impacted by GPTs. The study shows that some jobs, such as mathematicians, tax preparers, writers, and legal secretaries, will be more impacted than others, while occupations requiring science and critical thinking skills are less likely to be affected. Google and Microsoft have already announced that they would incorporate AI in their office products. In this video, we discuss the implications of GPTs and how they will shape the future of work. Story 3 (00:28:12): The Los Angeles Unified School District and Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union have reached a tentative agreement after a massive strike that lasted several days. The agreement provides raises of about 30% or more for the lowest-wage workers over time, affected by the length of service and current salary. Some workers will receive less than 30% and some more. The deal, which is not yet official and must be approved by union members, is not an across-the-board increase but spread out over time. If approved, the agreement could prevent campuses from being closed again for 420,000 students and spare workers from difficult job actions. The agreement reflects a broader context of the problems affecting working-class families and the importance of unions for working-class people. Unions allow workers to negotiate better wages, benefits, and working conditions than they could as individuals. They also help protect workers from arbitrary termination or layoffs, enforce workplace safety regulations, provide training and education opportunities, and ensure that all workers are treated fairly and equally. Unionized workers often receive better health care, retirement, and other benefits than non-unionized workers, and report higher job satisfaction and better morale.Shout Out To: @ViceNews @MotherboardVice @LATimes JOIN Inspired Disorder +PLUS Today! InspiredDisorder.com/plus Membership Includes:Ray Taylor Show - Full Week Ad Free (Audio+Video)Live Painting ArchiveEarly Access to The Many FacesMember Only Discounts and DealsPodcast Back Catalogue (14 Shows - 618 Episodes)Ray Taylor's Personal BlogCreative WritingAsk Me AnythingDaily Podcast: Ray Taylor Show - InspiredDisorder.com/rts Daily Painting: The Many Faces - InspiredDisorder.com/tmf ALL links: InspiredDisorder.com/links

#82: Last week, more than 60,000 workers and teachers in the nation's second largest school district went on strike. It was led by SEIU Local 99 — members of the Service Employees International Union, representing about 30,000 essential workers in Los Angeles Unified. These are LAUSD's bus drivers, teachers' aides, custodians food service workers and other school workers – and they're among the lowest paid workers in the district. The teacher's union joined in solidarity.  On Friday, after three days of striking, LAUSD reached a tentative labor deal with the district effectively meeting the workers' demands for a 30% increase in salary and healthcare benefits for part-time employees. SEIU 99 union members will be able to vote on the agreement in-person and online throughout next week. The voting results will be announced on Saturday, April 8.  But it got us thinking, how effective are strikes anyway? What other tools do unions have to get their demands met? And how are they even organized?   Guests: Joshua Grunland, choir and music production teacher at Manuel Arts High School; Jonathan Harris, associate professor at Loyola Law School; Diana Reddy, doctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley.Shout out to LAist newsroom for assist with voice from the picket line!

Downed trees, widespread power outages, flooded roadways -- it was all part of the latest atmospheric river to hit California. At least two people died due to falling trees in the Bay Area on Tuesday. In Tulare County, where signs reading “pray for rain” line the highway, many communities are still underwater. And so are agricultural fields. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR We're still waiting to hear whether the Service Employees International Union will appeal last week's court ruling upholding most of Proposition 22. That's the voter approved measure that lets Uber, Lyft and the like classify their drivers as independent contractors, rather than employees. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

For the 107th episode of Private Parts Unknown, host Courtney Kocak welcomes historian and former Lusty Jayne Swift. Swift specializes in the history of sexuality, gender, and labor in the U.S., and she's writing a book about the history of sex worker social movements in which the Lusty Lady features prominently. Currently, a strip club in North Hollywood called Star Gardens is trying to unionize. But there's a classic example of stripper unionization that's THE case study often pointed to: Strippers at San Francisco's Lusty Lady organized into the Exotic Dancers Union in 1996. The Exotic Dancers Union was affiliated with the Service Employees International Union. Eventually, the strippers bought the club and ran it as a worker-owned co-op until The Lusty Lady closed in 2013.  Stay tuned for full episodes about the Lusty Lady and Star Gardens in the near future, but first, we're going to lay a little groundwork and dive into Jayne's research on sex worker social movements and how sex workers are responsible for the rise of sex positivity and sex-positive politics/feminism. For more from today's guest, Jayne Swift: Check out Jayne's website drjayneswift.com Follow Jayne Swift on Twitter @touchysubjects Follow Jayne Swift on Instagram @touchysubject Private Parts Unknown is a proud member of the Pleasure Podcast network. This episode is brought to you by: Dipsea is an audio erotica app full of short, sexy stories and guided sessions designed to turn you on. Dipsea is offering a 30-day free trial when you go to dipseastories.com/private. Chef Green Chef is a CCOF-certified meal kit company that makes eating well easy with plans to fit every lifestyle. Whether you're Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, or just looking to eat more balanced meals, Green Chef offers a range of recipes to suit your preferences. Go to GreenChef.com/private60 and use code private60 to get 60% off plus free shipping. https://linktr.ee/PrivatePartsUnknownAds If you love this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and sexy review! —> ratethispodcast.com/private  Psst... sign up for our Private Parts Unknown newsletter for bonus content related to our episodes! privatepartsunknown.substack.com Let's be friends on social media! Follow the show on Instagram @privatepartsunknown and Twitter @privatepartsun. Connect with host Courtney Kocak @courtneykocak on Instagram and Twitter.

California has another tool in its toolbox to help close the housing gap. It's legislation that will make it easier to convert dilapidated strip malls, half-empty office buildings, and weed-filled parking lots into multi-family housing.Hi, I'm Kathy Fettke and this is Real Estate News for Investors. If you like our podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 6 and Assembly Bill 2011 on September 28th. The legislation will allow the adaptive reuse of properties that are zoned for retail, offices, and parking in suburban and rural city centers.The new rules are expected to help California reach a goal of 2.5 million new housing units by the end of the decade. One million of those homes need to be affordable, according to the Statewide Housing Plan.It will also help eliminate resistance from local governments, unions, environmentalists, and developers. Supporters are calling it a win-win for housing and for run-down commercial areas that make some cities look like ghost towns. (1)Two Policies, One GoalLawmakers approved both bills to satisfy two sides of a dispute involving unions, developers, and other groups. The powerful State Building and Construction Trades Council of California supported SB 6 along with builders and business groups. The California Conference of Carpenters and the Service Employees International Union of California supported AB 2011. (2)After weeks of tense negotiations and no deal, lawmakers decided to approve both bills. They each give developers different options, but they both work toward the same goals. They both make it easier and faster to build homes in vacant or underused commercial space. They both have requirements for the amount of affordable housing produced. And they both guarantee that workers will be paid union wages.They are also both designed to keep new development near city centers and transit corridors which will help support the state's carbon reduction goals. Developers will have the option to follow whichever policy works best for a specific project.Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins called it a “game changer when it comes to producing desperately needed housing for all income levels.” SB 6 author, Senator Anna Caballero, also sees this as a way to expedite the process of building as many as 2 million housing units. Assembly member Buffy Wicks, who wrote AB 2011, says the legislation provides land to build homes, incentives to attract workers to the construction industry, and reduces the red tape to get projects going in areas that make sense for transit-oriented affordable housing.YIMBY CEO, Brian Hanlon says this legislation “could unlock the potential for millions of affordable homes in California.” He says: “California has a huge amount of under-utilized and abandoned commercial properties that could see rapid development of subsidized affordable housing… and would include good jobs with fair wages for construction workers.” (3)Closing the Housing Gap in CaliforniaThis is just the latest in a long list of bills to create more housing in California. Among the more significant ones is Senate Bill 9, or what's known as the California Home Act. It was approved last year, and allows single-family homeowners in most parts of California to divide their properties into two lots, and build as many as two homes on each lot. It also streamlines the permitting process. (4)That bill follows several other bills in recent years that allow more housing density, including ADU's on properties with single family homes. As reported by The Atlantic, there's been an ADU boom since new laws made them legal and desirable. They've reportedly increased 1,421% from 2016 to 2021. About one out of every seven California homes is now, reportedly, an ADU.The newest adaptive-reuse legislation is another step for California in the affordable housing direction. Governor Newsom says it will help address what he calls the golden state's “original sin” of housing affordability. Both bills go into effect on July 1st of next year. The JDSupra website has a concise list of features for both bills. If you want to take a look, you'll find a link in the show notes for this episode (at newsforinvestors.com).Please visit our website for more real estate news. You can also find out more about housing markets across the U.S. and how you can invest in those markets. Just hit the “Join for Free” button at the top of the page, for access to our Learning Center and our Investor Portal.And please remember to subscribe to our podcast and leave a review!Thank you! And thanks for listening. I'm Kathy Fettke.Links:1 -https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiegold/2022/09/30/california-passes-adaptive-reuse-legislation-to-address-housing-crisis/?sh=61f2738246482 -https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-09-28/california-affordable-housing-commercial-properties3 -https://cayimby.org/california-yimby-statement-on-governor-signing-major-housing-legislation/4 -https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/10/california-accessory-dwelling-units-legalization-yimby/671648/5 -https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/governor-newsom-signs-major-development-2869605/