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Ralph speaks to economist Dean Baker about the hypocrisies behind the supposed Social Security shortfall and Republicans' "waste, fraud, and abuse" panic. Then, Ralph talks to journalist and ocean activist David Helvarg about his new book: Forest of the Sea: The Remarkable Life and Imperiled Future of Kelp.Dean Baker is a Senior Economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, where he authors “Beat the Press,” his regular commentary on economic reporting. He has written several books, including Getting Back to Full Employment: A Better Bargain for Working People, The End of Loser Liberalism: Making Markets Progressive, False Profits: Recovering from the Bubble Economy, and The Conservative Nanny State: How the Wealthy Use the Government to Stay Rich and Get Richer.People will hear big numbers. They'll hear “$300 billion” and they'll go “Oh my God, that's a lot of money. That's money out of my pocket. It's causing the government deficit,” whatever. That's because they haven't given it any context…If we could, in any conceivable world, afford to pay $500 billion to increase the military budget, surely we can afford to pay $300 billion to ensure that everyone gets their Social Security benefits. It's just a case of: put it in context. I'm not going to say it's a small number. It isn't. But it's smaller— $300 billion is smaller than $500 billion, and that's really not a disputable point.Dean BakerWhere [DOGE] had the biggest consequences is with foreign aid. [Musk] just got a big kick out of that— USAID, he just shut it down. He boasted about that. He goes, “Last weekend I fed USAID into the wood chipper.” That's almost verbatim what he said. Now, what this meant was that you have people— and you could find waste in that program just like any other program, but this is a program that provided millions of people with medicine, with nutrition, with healthcare. And suddenly they couldn't get it…And Elon Musk was boasting that he killed that program. That's great. But millions of people, I mean, thankfully, I don't think it's millions yet, but if that program doesn't get restarted or funded somewhere else, you're going to see millions of people lose their lives.Dean BakerSo we're saying we have people on Medicaid that are committing fraud? No one gets a check from Medicaid. What would that even mean? Like, you signed up for Medicaid and you weren't eligible, so that would mean that they might be making a payment to a doctor or hospital that they don't actually have to make because you didn't qualify? I'm sure that happens sometimes but it's not like someone's living high on the hog because they were able to get Medicaid to pay for their doctor's visit when it actually shouldn't have.Dean BakerDavid Helvarg is a journalist and ocean activist. He is the founder and executive director of Blue Frontier, an ocean policy and media group, and producer of Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast. He has produced more than 40 documentaries for media outlets, including PBS and the Discovery Channel. And he has written several books, including Blue Frontier, The War Against the Greens, and Forest of the Sea: The Remarkable Life and Imperiled Future of Kelp.I've been pushing with my colleagues in journalism the idea of the “blue beat.” The only resource in the ocean not fully exploited at this point is good investigative reporting and narrative storytelling. Because people don't connect with it, a lot of people think the environment ends at the shoreline. And that's really where 95% of the living space on the planet begins.David HelvargPeople at least know that corals are in trouble and they have some sense of what a coral reef is. People don't know that the planet has this other forest crisis—that kelp forests cover an area larger than the Amazon basin, and they're also being impacted by these marine heat waves that are growing every year. And as you add more heat to the system, it gets more energetic, which is why we have more and more extreme storms. I covered Katrina in 2005. I thought that would be a turning point (we had 1,800 people killed and a million environmental refugees). But the propaganda by the oil and gas industry is such that we keep having these disasters from a warming ocean planet, we see the melting of the Arctic ice, and instead of an alarm bell, it became a dinner bell for all the shipping industries and people who want to exploit the oil and gas in the increasingly open Arctic waters. So we're in this crisis point. I'm more frustrated than despairing because we know what the solutions are. It's creating the political will to enact them.David HelvargWhen I started Blue Frontier 20 years ago, the main threats were overfishing and pollution—oil, chemical, plastic, nutrient pollution. Today, that's being overwhelmed by these marine heat waves.David HelvargNews 6/26/26* Our top story this week comes to us from New York City, where democratic socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani has pulled off a stunning hat trick, with all three candidates for Congress endorsed by the Mayor winning their primaries on Tuesday. The most surprising victory is that of Darializa Avila Chevalier, who ousted the powerful incumbent Congressman Adriano Espaillat, head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in New York's 13th congressional district. This primary had turned ugly, with Espaillat's campaign seeking to weaponize anti-Haitian racism in the Dominican community against Avila Chevalier, per the Haitian Times, despite the fact that she is not in fact Haitian. Impressive in another way is the victory of UAW organizer and New York State Assemblywoman Claire Valdez in New York's 7th district. Much has been made of this race being a proxy battle between Mamdani and his onetime supporter, retiring Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, who backed her protégé, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso to succeed her in this seat. Reynoso enjoyed the support of a broad range of New York elected officials – including Velazquez along with New York Attorney General Letitia James, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and a broad range of unions and civil society groups, most notably the Working Families Party – but was absolutely trounced by Valdez, who won by over 20 points with the support of Mamdani and NYC-DSA. Meanwhile, in the 10th district, Brad Lander won by an even greater margin, outrunning incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman by over 30 points while running on a pro-Palestine platform in the most Jewish congressional district in America. These victories send a clear signal to the sclerotic, ossified leadership of the Democratic Party. The only question now is will they listen.* Beyond the congressional races, DSA won a remarkable number of races at the state level. According to Democratic Left, DSA will send as many as seven new legislators to Albany this cycle, for a total of “four state senators and 11 or 12 members of the state assembly.” As the magazine notes, this means that the “2027-2028 socialist bloc in Albany will be the second largest in a state legislature in U.S. history…behind 20 members in Wisconsin in 1919 and ahead of 14 members in Wisconsin in 1911.” Within New York City, DSA endorsed candidates won seven out of eight races for seats in the state legislature, per NYC-DSA. All told, it was a thunderous victory for the left in New York and raises the clout of Zohran and his compatriots to dizzying heights.* Meanwhile, in Washington DC, NOTUS reports the local DSA has exploded in membership, adding nearly 1,000 new members since this time last year. This growing bloc flexed its political muscle in the recent Democratic primaries, electing DSA members Janeese Lewis George for Mayor and Aparna Raj for the Ward 1 seat on the DC Council, as well as Oye Owolewa for an at-large seat. Axios notes that they are already eying, “two more openings — to fill Lewis George's Ward 4 seat and the at-large seat of Congress-bound Robert White.” If these votes go in DSA's favor, Lewis George could assume the mayoralty with a progressive majority of seven out of 13 members on the Council. Since her victory last Tuesday, Lewis George has emphasized her plan to lower utility costs through “expanding government solar,” and “balcony solar” for apartment tenants, optimizing efficiency at local government agencies and maximizing federal housing grants.* In Maryland, the results for DSA and progressives more generally were not quite so decisive but the left notched key victories nonetheless. DSA endorsed candidate McKayla Wilkes won her primary for the Charles County Commission and incumbent State Delegate Gabriel Acevero won reelection to his seat. Senators Dalya Attar and Nancy King, both centrist incumbents, lost to progressive challengers, per Maryland Matters. Will Jawando in Montgomery County won the County Executive position with broad support from the Maryland political establishment and progressives, while Maryland Senate Majority Leader Bill Ferguson fended off his first real challenge in years only after a last minute pledge to reverse his position on Maryland congressional redistricting. However, in the 5th congressional district, Steny Hoyer protégé and “AIPAC-backed” Adrian Boafo won the primary to succeed his mentor in Congress. According to the Jerusalem Post, “AIPAC poured $5.7 million into his campaign through its super PAC.” Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn came in a distant third place, despite scoring the endorsement of Nancy Pelosi. In short, the left has more work to do in order to build a political machine in Maryland as they have in New York and DC.* The next major contest between the factions of the party will occur next week in Colorado, where Melat Kiros, a DSA-backed progressive challenger born in 1997, is taking on Congresswoman Diana DeGette, who first took office that same year, per Zeteo. According to a poll conducted on behalf of the Kiros-aligned Justice Democrats, she leads DeGette by five points and she has now won the endorsement of Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator and former Governor John Hickenlooper is also facing a progressive primary challenge from State Senator Julie Gonzales and, according to the polls, he holds but a single digit lead, the Coloradan reports. We will be watching both of these races closely.* Meanwhile in Congress, the Senate has passed a new resolution on Iran, this time directing Trump to “remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by Congress, other than to defend America, an ally or partner from ‘imminent attack,'” according to the Wall Street Journal. The Journal notes that while the resolution is nonbinding, it was previously passed by the House, marking “the first time both chambers of Congress have passed the same measure to curb” presidential power to wage war on the Islamic Republic. The resolution passed 50-48, with the support of Republican Senators Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul. Senators Mitch McConnell and Dave McCormick were absent, and Senator John Fetterman again broke ranks with the Democrats to vote no.* Turning from the Senate floor to the shop floor, the United Auto Workers (UAW) concluded their 39th Constitutional Convention last week, with a momentous vote to divest the union's investments from Israel bonds. UAW's divestment decision is the latest victory in the campaign to disentangle the finances of American organized labor from the state of Israel, following the United Electrical Workers (UE) in 2015 and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in 2023. UAW members also heard from Abdul El-Sayed, the candidate the union has endorsed in the Michigan Senate race. This contentious campaign will not be over until August, but El-Sayed, occupying the progressive lane, has moved into the lead and appears to be consolidating his lead, winning the endorsement of Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen just this week, per the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Van Hollen himself has recently begun hinting that he may seek higher office, recently telling NOTUS that he is “kicking the tires” on a 2028 presidential bid.* Turning to foreign affairs, this week saw the fall of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer, a centrist who was elected Labour Party leader in 2020 following the ouster of leftist Jeremy Corbyn, has held the post of Prime Minister since 2024 when Labour won an historic landslide. Since then however, his personal approval rating and that of the party has cratered, creating space for the rise of the far-right Reform UK party. The BBC reports Starmer will remain in his post until a new leader is chosen from within the party, with the presumptive successor being MP Andy Burnham who recently beat back a challenge in his own seat by a Reform candidate by a large margin. Starmer is now set to be the shortest serving Labour PM in British history, while Burnham is set to become the UK's seventh Prime Minister in the last ten years, both indications of the precariousness of the post-Brexit British political order.* Our final two stories come to us from Latin America. First, in Bolivia, the country's union confederation has maintained a general strike against the right-wing government of Rodrigo Paz for nearly two months over his administration's initiatives to privatize government services and rescind the land reform program instituted over the last several decades of rule by the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS). On June 19th, journalist Ollie Vargas reported that the government had blinked and signed an agreement to withdraw these plans in exchange for the unions ending the general strike. However, Vargas notes that “most affiliated unions state that they want to maintain strike until [the Paz government] resigns.”* Finally, in Colombia, the right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella emerged victorious from Sunday's runoff presidential election, defeating leftist Ivan Cepeda, the handpicked successor of sitting President Gustavo Petro, by less than one percentage point. In the immediate wake of the election, President Petro “alleged that Israel interfered” in the election, citing “irregularities in the country's vote counting process and calling for a full audit and recount,” per Drop Site News. However, by Wednesday, Cepeda himself formally conceded, framing his decision to do so as “an act of democratic responsibility, to contribute to harmony, peace and dialogue among Colombians,” Al Jazeera reports. As one of his first acts, Abelardo de la Espriella has committed to reestablishing diplomatic relations with Israel, which had been severed under President Petro.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
At the 39th Constitutional Convention of the United Auto Workers (UAW) in Detroit, Michigan, union delegates debated and affirmed the aggressive direction the UAW has taken under current President Shawn Fain, supporting pushes to increase shop-floor militancy, support new organizing efforts, and take stronger stances on the political crises working people face today. Among the major developments to come out of the UAW Constitutional Convention was a historic vote to divest the union from Israel bonds, which provide financial support to Israel's government as it continues to wage a US-backed campaign of genocidal violence and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians. In this episode, we break down this historic vote and what it means for union members with a panel of rank-and-file workers and members of Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD), a left-wing caucus within the UAW. Panelists include: Andrew Bergman, a worker at General Motors in Detroit, Michigan, a member of UAW Local 22, and co-chair of UAWD; Navruz Baum, a paralegal in New York, a member of UAW Local 2325, and a member of the UAWD Steering Committee; Margie Thornton, an attorney in Colorado, a member of UAW Local 2320, and a member of the UAWD Steering Committee; and Mike Davis, an auto parts worker in Ohio, a member of UAW Local 2021, and a member of UAWD Additional links/info: Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD) website, member platform, and donation page Navruz Baum, Daily Struggle, "UAW divests from Israel bonds" Dan DiMaggio & Jane Slaughter, Labor Notes, "Auto worker delegates back union's fighting direction at UAW Convention" Shireen Akram-Boshar, Truthout, "United Auto Workers vote to divest from Israel in historic victory" Featured Music: Jules Taylor, Working People Theme Song Credits: Audio Post-Production: Jules Taylor
WWJ auto analyst Jon McElroy says GM, Ford and Stellantis want to use more robots and automation, which could make cars more affordable. The UAW doesn't like it. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Jim McClary is back with Part 2 With great stories of UAW factory life. We thank Jim for his work and service to all the people he helps. Thank You to AnneFeeney.com CAW-Union.org UAW2209.org MLabobPress.org BACLocal4.org @keds_economist @Slate.Of.The.Union
Will Lehman's nomination for UAW president: A milestone in the fight for rank-and-file power / Free Ercan Akpolat, the Turkish mayor of the historic Prinkipo island where Trotsky lived! Stop the political witch hunt by the Erdoğan regime! / US-Iran deal on the verge of breakdown 48 hours after being signed
The Automotive Troublemaker w/ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
Episode #1375: Shawn Fain kicks off his reelection campaign as UAW leadership tensions heat up, industry leaders debate who really owns pricing in today's complex retail ecosystem, and startup Valar Atomics reaches a major nuclear milestone.Today's sho...
The Madison Metropolitan School District adopts a plan to address teacher salary compression, Group Health Cooperative members vote on a board of directors through June 25th as its workers continue to organize to join SEIU Wisconsin, a CWA local president responds to the indictments and arrest raids of 15 anti-ICE activists in Minnesota, UAW at its convention votes to divest itself of Israel bonds, Black Resilience: Celebrating Our History and Presence is the theme of this year's Juneteenth, it's the 121st birthday of Wisconsin's civil service system and a state worker explains its importance, UAW members ratify a new contract by 80% after a 10-day strike at Dauch (the former American Axle), and a Trump executive order strips civil protections from a tier of federal employees.
Shots fired in the Channel—Britain, Russia and the threat of World War III / Mack Trucks worker and socialist Will Lehman nominated for UAW president / Minneapolis anti-ICE protesters face federal felony charges in Trump administration frame-up
In this episode, Donna and Sam ran down some of the hottest political topics across the city including Mike Duggan's exit from the governor's race, Detroit's census case, UAW endorsements, money out of politics, and more!They also discuss Juneteenth and the importance of telling the story of Black people's freedom. The word "Juneteenth" bleeds "June" and "nineteenth," and the day is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. It became a federal holiday in 2021.Juneteenth marks the arrival of Union troops in Galveston, Texas. Many enslaved people already knew about the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. What they lacked was the power to make freedom real. Union troops enforced emancipation and helped transform freedom from a proclamation into a reality. Freedom on paper and freedom in practice were not always the same thing. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom delayed is freedom denied — and freedom enforced changes lives.To stay up to date on all things Authentically Detroit, click here. THIS WEEK IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE:SHEFFIELD BACKS BENSON IN MICHIGAN GOVERNOR'S RACE Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
- CATL Profit Tops 7 China OEMs - China Critics Say EVs Too Heavy - UAW Attacks GM Over Co-Bots - NHTSA Working on National AV Standard - Larry Burns on AAH - Analysts: VW Cost Cutting Not Enough - Maserati Could Get Partner - NHTSA Wants Plasma in EMT Trucks
- CATL Profit Tops 7 China OEMs - China Critics Say EVs Too Heavy - UAW Attacks GM Over Co-Bots - NHTSA Working on National AV Standard - Larry Burns on AAH - Analysts: VW Cost Cutting Not Enough - Maserati Could Get Partner - NHTSA Wants Plasma in EMT Trucks
Sault Tribe elder works to keep ancestral tradition from dying UAW president Fain celebrates wins, eyes new political strategy at closed-door convention Jack In The Box opens in Battle Creek, Michigan's first location in years
US imperialism's debacle in Iran./ UAW convention opens in Detroit amid rebellion by auto parts workers./ Corporate thugs open fire on miners in Turkiye.
We start this week's episode with headlines from St Mary's hospital (Chicago and Madison), Uber, Starbucks, Amazon, Target Field, Hyundai, the Durham Miners Association, and Walmart. Our first main story follows up on the strike by UAW workers at American Axle, who have won a major new contract. Pro-Palestine student protestors at the University of Michigan were arrested in FBI raids, we discuss the escalating attacks on the movement. The World Cup kicked off this week, and in addition to the sportswashing of Empire, there's a whole lot of exploitation, but thankfully workers are fighting back. Finally, we do a deep dive into the wide range of attacks on higher education, both the workers themselves and the institutional structure as a whole. Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter, John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee
- Renault 4 Troop Designed to Deploy Drones - Daimler Truck Forms Defense Unit - Mercedes Shows Military Versions of SUV and Vans - EU Safety Experts Say FSD Data Misleading - UAW Settles Axle Strike - Honda Generators Feature Swappable Batteries - BMW Readies M-Version Neue Klasse - AMG Aims For 200,000 Cars A Year - Land Rover's $44,000 China-Designed Freelander - BAIC and Changan Form Strategic Partnership
- Renault 4 Troop Designed to Deploy Drones - Daimler Truck Forms Defense Unit - Mercedes Shows Military Versions of SUV and Vans - EU Safety Experts Say FSD Data Misleading - UAW Settles Axle Strike - Honda Generators Feature Swappable Batteries - BMW Readies M-Version Neue Klasse - AMG Aims For 200,000 Cars A Year - Land Rover's $44,000 China-Designed Freelander - BAIC and Changan Form Strategic Partnership
Ralph talks to journalist and M.Div. Chris Hedges about Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on artificial intelligence. Then, Ralph speaks with Rick Engler (former member of the US Chemical Safety and Hazards Investigation Board) about Trump's proposed closing of that agency. Finally, Ralph pays tribute to some recently departed friends.Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, who spent nearly two decades as a foreign correspondent in Central America, the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans. He is the host of The Chris Hedges Report, and he is a prolific author— his latest book is A Genocide Foretold: Reporting on Survival and Resistance in Occupied Palestine.I think that Pope Leo kind of missed the point of AI. In that he describes that it could be a positive force for Catholic education (these are his words), compassionate health care, creative platforms that tell the Christian story with truth and beauty. I think those were all indications to me that he didn't quite understand what AI is about. It's not about education, it's not about compassion, it's not about truth, and it's not about beauty. It is a very pernicious force that will go beyond, of course, replacing all sorts of labor, but creating a world where fact and fiction are blurred together.Chris HedgesI think that mass organization is kind of all we have left as we barrel towards an authoritarian state. Congress doesn't function, certainly doesn't function as Congress was designed to function. They have surrendered their traditional constitutional authority, including, of course, the call for Congress to declare war. And this kind of unitary executive branch—this was put into place, by the way, before Trump. He's just taken advantage of it…And I think that it's absolutely fundamental that we recapture that kind of militancy, that kind of organized workforce that has traditionally throughout our history been such an important corrective to democracy—along with, of course, journalism.Chris HedgesRick Engler is a former U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board member and labor advocate who founded the New Jersey Work Environment Council. He has advocated for successful landmark state and national public policies that ensure workers and the public's “right to know” about potential chemical dangers, and that promote safer processes, chemical incident prevention, and whistleblower protection.The CSB is unique. I mean, nobody would think of abolishing the National Transportation Safety Board. And no one should think about abolishing the Chemical Safety Board, which does the same thing. It's not about issuing, in this case, fines or violations. It's about trying to understand the underlying causes of what led to these incidents.Rick Engler[Trump's allies] have a certain religious fervor about this. When I talk to plant managers, the plant managers of the corporations are much more careful and nuanced in most cases. They don't want their own plants to explode. But somewhere at the higher corporate levels, I think they're just willing to take the risks that the tradeoff for them is: Trump is supporting them in so many ways, why interfere? Why become part of some nuanced opposition to the most extreme EPA attacks? But I do think the elimination of the CSB is driven by the Trump administration in a way that wouldn't be happening if it was just left to the chemical industry trade associations alone. I'm not sure that's an adequate answer. I'm actually kind of puzzled by it. Because it's also really clear that if there was any one major incident, it would cost so much money—not only in the human tragedy of the lives lost and neighbors harmed and evacuations and shelter-in-place and property damage, but these incidents destroy facilities.Rick EnglerNews 6/12/26* Our top stories this week come to us from California, where, after an excruciatingly protracted wait, authorities have finally called some of the most high-profile races. In Los Angeles, Democratic Socialist City Councilwoman Nithya Raman has secured the second slot in the mayoral race, beating out reactionary former reality television star Spencer Pratt, PBS reports. Pratt garnered significant attention from conservative media for his slick AI-generated ads and his false claims about living in an airstream trailer after his LA home burned down in the recent fires. In actuality, he was living in the posh Bel Air hotel, billed as a campaign expense, per TMZ. Now the question becomes whether or not Raman will be able to expand her coalition to unseat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in November.* If Raman's victory is the good news however, the bad news is that Trump-endorsed Republican Steve Hilton will advance in the gubernatorial race. He will face off against former California Attorney General and Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, who has accepted large campaign contributions from the California Association of Realtors, the California Medical Association and even Chevron, per CalMatters. This outcome means progressive billionaire Tom Steyer will not advance. Many are placing the blame for this on former Congresswoman Katie Porter, who remained in the race despite clearly failing to achieve any real viability throughout the race. This has drawn comparisons to Elizabeth Warren's perceived role as a spoiler candidate vis-a-vis Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic Primary, particularly since Porter is a highly visible protégé of Senator Warren. In his concession speech, Steyer closed by telling his supporters “Pay attention. Know what you deserve, and know who is on your side. Understand who the villains are, and say their names out loud. Continue to demand more from your leaders and your government, until they give you the California – and the country – you know you deserve. I will be with you all the way.”* Elsewhere in California however, progressives scored major victories. In California's 22nd congressional district, Bernie Sanders-backed Randy Villegas secured a spot in the top two, beating out his opponent Jasmine Bains, who enjoyed the backing of AIPAC and 53 corporate donors, according to the American Prospect. He will face Republican incumbent Congressman David Valadao in November. Even more impressive is the victory of progressive challenger Mai Vang in California's 7th district primary, where she actually emerged as the top vote getter, beating out longtime incumbent Congresswoman Doris Matsui. However, because Matsui, who is 81 years old, won the second-most votes, she will still advance to the general election.* Another much-anticipated primary was held this week on the exact other end of the country. In Maine, Graham Platner trounced his opponents in the Democratic Senate race, winning over 70% of the vote despite a concerted campaign against him in the national press. In his victory speech, CNN reports Platner wrote off the smears, saying “They don't know Maine.” Furthermore, he said “If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics, and change our country, then you must also believe that people can change…To all those who feel let down, disappointed, or disillusioned. It is my job to earn your trust, your faith, and your support. And I will spend every day of this campaign, and if I have the privilege, every day in the United States Senate, doing exactly that.” Platner will face off against five-term incumbent Senator Susan Collins in a race that will be decisive if Democrats are to have any chance of retaking the Senate in the 2026 midterms.* Turning towards the plains, two candidates are starting to show a surprising level of viability in heavily Republican, rural states. First, in Idaho, Todd Achilles is running as an independent against Republican incumbent Senator Jim Risch. Achilles served as a tank commander and armor officer in the Army before a varied career in the corporate world, education and now politics, according to Independent Voter News. The most striking development in this race is a new poll showing that while “Achilles starts out…behind by 14 points at 48-34…once voters hear biographical information about him and negative messaging about Senator Risch, he gains a full 17 points…[leading] Risch, 41% to 38%.” If accurate, this would be a stunningly close race in a state where registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats by a margin greater than 5-to-1.* In South Dakota, Brian Bengs, another veteran turned educator – turned, in this case, National Park Ranger – is running shockingly close to incumbent Republican Senator Mike Rounds in a head-to-head matchup. According to the South Dakota Standard, the latest polling shows Rounds leading Bengs 44% to 40%, with 16% undecided. Moreover, like the Achilles poll, when voters are given biographical information about Bengs and negative messaging about Senator Rounds, that margin flips to 44% in favor of Bengs, compared to just 42% for Rounds. If these polls are accurate and independent candidates – not just Achilles and Bengs but also Dan Osborn in Nebraska and Seth Bodnar in Montana – prove viable, perhaps even victorious, in states long seen as out of reach for non-Republicans, there will have to be a serious reckoning with the toxicity of the Democratic Party brand in the American heartland.* In Michigan, progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed has picked up perhaps the most critical possible endorsement in the state: that of the United Auto Workers. In a statement, the union wrote that “UAW members in Michigan want a fighter in Washington, D.C. who isn't afraid to push forward a strong working-class agenda with moral clarity…From Medicare for All to banning stock buybacks, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is ready, eager, and well-equipped to move our core issues in the U.S. Senate.” Whether because of this endorsement or not, El-Sayed now seems to be in the driver's seat in this primary. This endorsement dovetails with UAW President Shawn Fain's rumored frustration with the mainstream labor movement for not doing more to back labor candidates, such as Clare Valdez in New York, who was a UAW organizer before entering the State Assembly.* On the House floor meanwhile, lame-duck dissident Republican Congressman Thomas Massie delivered a barn-burner of a speech this week, demanding that the government reopen the investigation into the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty, Al Jazeera reports. The attack on the Liberty, a US Navy vessel, killed 34 service members and injured 171 others. For decades, Israel has claimed that this was nothing more than an accidental incident of friendly fire, but the surviving veterans have long disputed this explanation, contending that it was a deliberate attack, either as a “false flag operation or because they simply didn't want anybody observing what they were doing that day.” Massie called on the House to “give them closure…It's long overdue. And then they can have their justice.”* Looking to Latin America, the presidential election in Peru is, predictably, coming down to a razor thin margin, WLRN reports. This race, between left-wing Senator Roberto Sánchez and Keiko Fujimori, perennial presidential candidate and daughter of former dictator Alberto Fujimori, currently stands at 50.004% for Fujimori and 49.996% for Sánchez, with 98.258% of the votes tabulated. Sánchez was favored to win after the in-country votes were counted, then Fujimori pulled ahead when the votes from Miami came in, other absentee votes eroded that margin and gave Sánchez the edge once again but Fujimori has yet again pulled ahead by a hair. This is Fujimori's fourth presidential campaign, making it to the runoff each time but ultimately losing by the narrowest of margins.* Finally, in Colombia, Progressive International reports that while Colombian President Gustavo Petro presides at the United Nations Security Council, “conservative forces in the country's legislature have conspired against the constitution to ‘SUSPEND' his presidency — just 11 days from the run-off presidential election.” While Reuters adds that the proposal must be “debated and approved by all 16 members of the [legislative Commission of Investigation and Accusation] and subsequently by the Senate before it can take effect,” it is hard to see this as anything besides an opportunistic grab for power while the proverbial cat is away. Petro's four-year term ends in August; the runoff in the presidential election, between leftist Ivan Cepeda and right-wing lawyer Abelardo De La Espriella, will be held on June 21st.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
Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire: The SpaceX IPO and the social physiognomy of oligarchy / Text of tentative agreement exposes UAW bureaucracy's effort to betray American Axle strikers / Reinstate Nexteer worker Antwiane Sanders immediately! An injury to one is an injury to all! Remove the company's cops in the UAW bureaucracy! / European Central Bank lifts interest rate amid rising inflation
On Wednesday, some 1,000 union workers who were on strike at GM supplier Dauch Corporation, formerly American Axle, in Three Rivers, Michigan, reached a tentative deal with the company. The new contract will secure the workers' topline demand of $30 per hour by 2030, a more than 36% increase to the top wage rate over the next four years. Members of the UAW Local 2093 walked out on strike at midnight on June 1, 2026. The plant makes axles for GM's GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado pickup trucks and commercial vans. In a statement, UAW President Shawn Fain, said, "After 18 years of sacrifice, these workers are finally winning back a big chunk of what was taken from them."According to the union, American Axle workers made major sacrifices to save the Three Rivers facility from closure during the Great Recession in 2008. "Many long-time workers who were making as much as $29 an hour in 2008 saw their wages slashed to $14.50," the UAW said. UAW members hired before May 31, 2012, including those who went from $29 per hour in 2008 to $14, will see an immediate $8 per hour increase once the new contract is ratified. Union workers will also see more paid days off and won't have to make any concessions on their current health care costs. For example, workers won't experience any healthcare premium cost increases over the next four years. The union also won time off to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and Veteran's Day, as well as more days off for Christmas. Workers with at least one year of seniority will receive an additional nine vacation days per year as well as a $2,000 ratification bonus.#UAW, #UnitedAutoWorkers, #LaborNews, #Strike, #Manufacturing, #ManufacturingNews, #Automotive, #AutoIndustry, #GeneralMotors, #GMSupplier, #FactoryWorkers, #UnionStrong, #LaborUnion, #MichiganManufacturing, #IndustrialNews, #SupplyChain, #AmericanManufacturing, #Workforce, #ShawnFain, #AutoParts
After week of escalation, Trump threatens ground invasion of Iran / UAW bureaucracy announces deal in bid to end American Axle strike / Nexteer worker fired for opposing UAW sellout
Nurses at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison opt to join SEIU Wisconsin in a landslide vote, Labor Radio speaks to a Wisconsin Democratic Party official about labor ahead of the state party convention, the UAW goes on strike at Dauch (the former American Axle) in Michigan, The House of Representatives passes a law designed to keep bosses from delaying the first union contract after union recognition, funds for daycare that went in place during the pandemic are set to run out, and the Building Trades Council and Sportsmen's Alliance holds its annual Takes Kids Fishing Day.
A tribute to Gordon S. Wood (1933-2026), historian of the American Revolution / “Workers at Flint Assembly and Nexteer should stop production”: Anger mounts against UAW collusion with American Axle strikebreaking
Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he covers today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Monday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan breaks down Iran's first direct ballistic missile attack on Israel since the April ceasefire, Israel's decision to fire back despite Trump's direct orders not to, and what the 100-day mark of this war actually tells us about where it is headed. With global oil stocks now roughly two weeks from critical levels and Iran demanding $24 billion in frozen assets before serious negotiations can begin, Bryan lays out why a fast resolution is increasingly unlikely and what it would actually take to change that calculus. He also digs into a Democratic Socialist professor openly cheering for Iran to bring down the American empire, the Anthropic AI model called Mythos that is alarming even its own creators, and a surprising area of agreement between Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump on government ownership of AI companies. Plus, Bryan profiles the Islamist Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan who just landed the UAW endorsement and could be headed to a razor-thin general election, covers Antifa attacks on the ICE facility in Newark, a fired Hawaii immigration judge who immediately announced plans to work for the Democratic Party, a Biden-appointed Boston judge blocking Trump's DEI and Title IX enforcement, and closes with the geopolitical chess match over Diego Garcia and the Chagos Islands that Bryan says he would personally volunteer to govern. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32 Keywords: Bryan Dean Wright, The Wright Report, Iran missile attack Israel, Iran Israel war, ceasefire collapse, Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump Iran deal, Strait of Hormuz oil crisis, oil prices 150 per barrel, global oil shortage, Iran frozen assets 24 billion, Corinna Mullin Democrat Socialists of America, DSA Iran support, Anthropic Mythos AI, AI recursive self-improvement, AI national security threat, Bernie Sanders AI ownership, Trump sovereign wealth fund, universal basic income UBI, Sam Altman OpenAI UBI experiment, Abdul El-Sayed Michigan Senate, UAW endorsement Michigan, Islamist Democrat candidate, Antifa Newark ICE Delaney Hall, Don Lemon Minneapolis church attack, immigration judge fired Clarence Wagner, Judge Myong Joun Boston DEI ruling, Title IX transgender sports, Diego Garcia Chagos Islands, US territory Indian Ocean, Mauritius China, Candace Owens Russia St. Petersburg, Ukraine satellite imagery Colorado, Russia Ukraine war, Pope Leo Spain, Pedro Sanchez Spain immigration, Catholic Spain Marxism
UAW declares strike at American Axle, a key GM supplier Curious about Xtreme Xperience supercar rides? We gave it a try. Whitmer reconvenes Michigan gun violence task force
EPISODE #482-- We slam headfirst into the car crash of a genre-bender, GOD TOLD ME TO (1976), which tries to combine a police procedural, UFOs, horror, and, I don't know what else, into a real must-see mess of a movie. Seriously. It's almsot good at every single turn. It begs to be watched. We also chat about George Clozeau's LE CORBEAU (1943), Tim Burton's BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (2025), Carol Reed's NIGHT TRAIN TO MUNICH (1940), and Alfred Hitchcock's THE LADY VANISHES (1938). Do we talk about other movies? Yes. Many. If you want to a list of them, check out our Patreon! LINKS-- Join the cause at Patreon.com/Quality. Follow the us on on Bluesky at kislingconnection and cruzflores, on Instagram @kislingwhatsit, and on Tiktok @kislingkino. You can watch Cruz and show favorite Alexis Simpson on You Tube in THEY LIVE TOGETHER. Thanks to our artists Julius Tanag and Sef Joosten. The theme music is "Eine Kleine Sheissemusik" by Drew Alexander. Also, I've got a newsletter on Substack, so maybe go check that one out, too. Listen to DRACULA: A RADIO PLAY on Apple Podcasts, at dracularadio.podbean.com, and at the Long Beach Playhouse at https://lbplayhouse.org/show/dracula And, as always, Support your local unions! UAW, SAG-AFTRA, and WGA strong and please leave us a review on iTunes or whatever podcatcher you listened to us on!
- Sleepy Auto Industry Gets AI Boost - UAW Attack on Axle Supplier Seems Misleading - WeRide and Uber Announce 1st EU Service - Uber Places Big Robotaxi Bets - Chery Could Fill Nissan's UK Plant - Nissan Launching China-Made Vehicles Outside of China - Ford Has Rough May - Social Media Will Decide New BYD Car Name - BYD Getting Into Humanoids
- Sleepy Auto Industry Gets AI Boost - UAW Attack on Axle Supplier Seems Misleading - WeRide and Uber Announce 1st EU Service - Uber Places Big Robotaxi Bets - Chery Could Fill Nissan's UK Plant - Nissan Launching China-Made Vehicles Outside of China - Ford Has Rough May - Social Media Will Decide New BYD Car Name - BYD Getting Into Humanoids
UAW apparatus shuts down grad student strike at Harvard University: The political issues / Democrats enforce crackdown outside Delaney Hall as Congress prepares billions more for ICE and Border Patrol / Trump designates Brazilian gangs as “terrorist organizations” in new imperialist intervention in Latin America
It's News Day Tuesday On the program today: Today is primary day for six states across the country. If you live in California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, or South Dakota make sure you get out and vote today. Self-proclaimed Democratic strategist, Yemisi Egbewole, uses her panel time on CNN to smear Graham Platner and James Talarico. Egbewole calls Graham the "worst of the everyman" and claims her grandmother would label Talarico as "too progressive". Washington Post journalist, Marianna Sotomayor goes after Michigan candidate for senate, Abdul El-Sayed as an "unconventional" candidate that could lose the Democrats a state they already have. Founder and editor-in-chief of Bolts Magazine, Daniel Nichanian joins the program to suss through the more important primary elections happening today. Josh Jager, bargaining committee chair for UAW local 2093, joins the show to discuss the nearly 1,000 workers on strike at the American Axel factory in Three Rivers, Michigan. UAW Local 2093 members are picketing outside the Dauch Three Rivers Manufacturing Facility (formerly American Axle) located at 1 Manufacturing Way, Three Rivers, MI 49093. If you are in the area, then head on down and show them your support. If you are not in the area, maybe send over some pizzas to the picket line. You can also get up-to-date information at the UAW Local 2093 website. In the Fun Half: John from San Antonio calls in to give us his thoughts on the day's primaries. Mason who's Twitch channel is One Hand Politics, joins the show to discuss his experiences as a participant in Dave Rubin's Surrounded on Jubilee. Sid Rosenberg, who is a purple Zionist, claims that Zohran Mamdani wants all Jewish people dead. Governor of Colorado, Jared polis is a lunatic. All that and more. To connect and organize with your local ICE rapid response team visit ICERRT.com The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the AM Quickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors: RITUAL: Get 25% off during your first month. Visit ritual.com/MAJORITY. WILD GRAIN: Get up to 40% off @Ridge with code MAJORITYREPORT at https://www.Ridge.com/MAJORITYREPORT SUNSET LAKE CBD: Use coupon code "Left Is Best" (all one word) for 20% off of your entire order at SunsetLakeCBD.com Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech On Instagram: @MrBryanVokey Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.
June 2, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Lloyd Jackson speak with Marick Masters, Professor Emeritus of Management, about the UAW strike impacting GM truck production. The strike reflects a broader push for gains after years of concessions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
June 2, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Lloyd Jackson find out why the UAW is talking about a strike at American Axle; hear why auto sales are being affected by inflation; learn about Dearborn's new Aggressive Driving Initiative and find out about an initiative to get parents to store their guns safely. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
June 2, 2026 ~ Full Show: Kevin broadcasts live from TreeTops Resort, covering national politics, auto industry developments, and rising public safety concerns. Dennis Darnoi discussed President Trump's plan to eliminate the “weaponization” fund, while Ingrid Jacques raised questions about vehicle privacy and proposed “kill switch” technology. Jamie Butters broke down the UAW strike at American Axle, and Dr. Michael Levas highlighted rising youth gun violence. On-site, guests including Christy Walcott, Barry Owens, Andrew Hart, and Judy Mason spotlighted northern Michigan tourism, golf season, and summer travel momentum. The show wrapped with Dave Galbenski promoting awareness around organ donation and the upcoming Living Donor Awareness game. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
June 2, 2026 ~ Jamie Butters breaks down the latest UAW strike at American Axle and the potential impact on the auto industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Automotive Troublemaker w/ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
Shoot us a Text.Episode #1359: Mitsubishi is jumping back into the pickup market with help from Nissan, a supplier strike threatens GM's truck production at a critical moment, and the internet-famous F-250 robins have finally left the nest, clearing the way for one very patient delivery.Show Notes with links:Mitsubishi is heading back into the U.S. pickup truck market for the first time in nearly two decades, teaming up with Nissan on a midsize truck while also reviving the iconic Pajero/Montero SUV.Mitsubishi will launch a U.S.-built midsize pickup sourced from Nissan, likely tied to the next-generation Frontier platform expected later this decade.The truck marks Mitsubishi's return to the segment after discontinuing the Raider pickup following the 2010 model year.The strategy is part of a three-step U.S. revival plan: expand off-road offerings, enter new segments through Nissan partnerships, and grow the dealer network with urban satellite stores.Mitsubishi is also reviving the Pajero (Montero) SUV this fall, building it on the Triton pickup platform and creating an entire family of Pajero-branded vehicles.“We will prioritize restoring profitability and work to turn the business around through brand strengthening and product strategies.” — Mitsubishi President Keisuke SugiuraA labor dispute at American Axle is putting pressure on one of GM's most important profit centers. Nearly 1,000 UAW workers have walked off the job, threatening the supply of axles used in Silverado, Sierra, Colorado, and Canyon pickups just as GM ramps up truck production.UAW members at American Axle's Three Rivers, Michigan plant began striking after contract talks broke down over wages and mandatory overtime.Workers say they are still living with wage cuts accepted during the 2008 financial crisis, with many production employees topping out around $22 per hour despite years of strong supplier profits.The plant produces critical axles for GM's full-size and midsize pickups, giving the strike potential to impact some of the automaker's most profitable vehicles.Timing is especially challenging for GM as it looks to capitalize on Ford's pickup production constraints and growing competition from Ram, whose truck sales are up 23% this year.“For 18 years, these members have built you an empire of profit, while getting treated like dirt.” — UAW President Shawn Fain.Remember the F-250 that became a federally protected bird sanctuary? The robins have officially left the nest, the truck can finally head to its new owner, and the dealership's unexpected wildlife story turned into an international feel-good headline.Lugnut, Axle, Diesel and Turbo officially flew away last week, ending a month-long delivery delay for the customer's F-250.What started as a quirky dealership story ended up earning coverage from The New York Times, People, The Guardian, Automotive News and even Ford's corporate media channels.Olathe Ford-Lincoln leaned into the moment, giving the birds names, posting updates, and turning a routine vehicle delivery into a viral community story.The customer, a construction company, never pressured the dealership and agreed to let nature take its course before taking delivery.“The new owners said they were in no hurry to get the truck and the robins could finish raising their family.” — Diane Johnson, Executive Director, Operation WildLife.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/
- U.S. Wants More Local Content in Cars - GM Extends Battery Plant Layoffs - Axle Strike Puts GM Trucks at Risk - EU Countries Not Offering Enough Corporate EV Incentives - CATL Sodium Batteries Enter Mass Production - BYD Posts 1st Increase in 8 Months - NIO Abandons PHEVs and EREVs - Nissan Applying Quantum Computing Across Company
- U.S. Wants More Local Content in Cars - GM Extends Battery Plant Layoffs - Axle Strike Puts GM Trucks at Risk - EU Countries Not Offering Enough Corporate EV Incentives - CATL Sodium Batteries Enter Mass Production - BYD Posts 1st Increase in 8 Months - NIO Abandons PHEVs and EREVs - Nissan Applying Quantum Computing Across Company
LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured A look at the UAW strike at a key Michigan auto supplier, examining worker pay concerns, thin profit margins, automation, and the growing pressure for American manufacturers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing global market.
June 1st, 2026 ~ Marie Osborne, WJR's Director of Community Affairs and News discusses the latest UAW strike. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
June 1, 2026 ~ Judge blocks $1.9 Trump's billion lawfare fund. President Trump scraps 250 concert. UAW declares strike against American Axle. Memorial Day to Labor Day is the 100 most deadliest days on the road. US and Iran exchange new fire. Metro airports adds new barricades and the day's biggest headlines. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Roger Anclam interview Part 2. Roger started his career as a UAW local 95 member. He moved to Indiana and was the first UAW 2209 President 40 years ago. He went on to work with the International UAW in Region 4. Thank You AnneFeeney.com UAW2209.org CWA-Union.org MLaborPress.org BACLocal4.org
EPISODE #482-- We go back to Hong Kong with the classic horror/kung fu/folk tale mash-up A CHINESE GHOST STORY (1987), directed by Ching Siu-tung. It's a banger. Great film. Good episode. Listen to it! We also chat about John Frankenheimer's GRAN PRIX (1966), Kurosawa's SCANDAL (1950) and THE IDIOT (1951), as well as Carol Reed's NIGHT TRAIN TO MUNICH (1940) and Howard Hughes' HELL'S ANGELS (1930). Lots of good stuff, folks. LINKS-- Join the cause at Patreon.com/Quality. Follow the us on on Bluesky at kislingconnection and cruzflores, on Instagram @kislingwhatsit, and on Tiktok @kislingkino. You can watch Cruz and show favorite Alexis Simpson on You Tube in THEY LIVE TOGETHER. Thanks to our artists Julius Tanag and Sef Joosten. The theme music is "Eine Kleine Sheissemusik" by Drew Alexander. Also, I've got a newsletter on Substack, so maybe go check that one out, too. Listen to DRACULA: A RADIO PLAY on Apple Podcasts, at dracularadio.podbean.com, and at the Long Beach Playhouse at https://lbplayhouse.org/show/dracula And, as always, Support your local unions! UAW, SAG-AFTRA, and WGA strong and please leave us a review on iTunes or whatever podcatcher you listened to us on!
This episode we talk with Roger Anclam -This show is Part 1. Both, Part 1 & Part 2, are from interviews we did with Roger and others in 2025 preparing for the UAW 2209 40th Anniversary 1986 - 2026. Check your Indiana Voter Registration here. Check your Ballotpedia Ballot choices for this election year here. Thanks to AnneFeeney.com CWA-Union.org UAW2209.org BACLocal4.org MLaborPress.org
Trump's “Anti-Weaponization Fund”: The fusion of the gangster-oligarchy and the state / Rank-and-file candidate for UAW president to Nexteer workers: “Don't accept any more delays. The time for your strike is now.”
“You've got to do the work first and continue the work.” Return guest Angelique Mayberry-Peterson comes back to Detroit is Different, now serving as Wayne County Commissioner for District 5, opening up about stepping into the seat once held by the late Irma Clark-Coleman, who she lovingly calls “Mama Irma.” Angelique reflects on the humility of receiving a unanimous vote from the commission, the weight of not trying to “fill the shoes” of a woman who served community for 50 years, and the responsibility of honoring that legacy by doing homework, asking questions, and showing up. She shares how her time as Detroit Public School Board President, her UAW experience, and years of relationship-building across schools, labor, faith, and neighborhoods prepared her for this role. From Northwestern's community programs to King High School bus rides, from elders still organizing at 93 and 99 to students needing fertile ground to grow, this conversation is about Detroit's past speaking directly into its future. Angelique reminds us, “If you said you're going to do something, then do it. If you can't do it, then say it”—a lesson in honest leadership, community trust, and public service rooted in love. Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different. Follow, like, share, and subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Sticher. Comment, suggest and connect with the podcast by emailing info@detroitisdifferent.com Find out more at https://detroit-is-different.pinecast.co
Why would anyone have been out to harm Walter Reuther?This controversial book details intense internal struggles in the UAW (United Auto Workers), especially between socialists, communists, and more conservative factions. Walter Reuther was a powerful figure in labor, especially within the UAW, and somebody doesn't want him remembered. His work involved leadership in organizing industrial workers, fighting factional conflicts within the union, and pushing for workers' rights and social justice. He was a skilled union leader who combined militancy with negotiation, significantly shaping labor relations in the U.S. Covert Magazine published an article on May 8, 2026, confirming that "Labor Leader Walter Reuther Was Among 1960s Liberal Leaders Who Appear to Have Been Assassinated By 'the Deep State.'" There are no facts to support the theory that Walter Reuther died in an airplane "accident." Newly discovered documents provide solid evidence of an assassination. The more closely this is observed, the more obvious it becomes. Reuther's battles with key figures like Homer Martin and Jay Lovestone—who became a CIA agent—and his eventual opposition to communist influence in the union, shaped the UAW's direction and contributed to his complex legacy. Walter and his brother Victor exposed the CIA's involvement in labor movements abroad, particularly through the AIFLD, linked to covert operations.This led to conflicts within the labor movement and contributed to UAW's withdrawal from the AFL-CIO. Reuther played a leading role in the Civil Rights and Anti-War Movements, too. He was a significant labor ally, supporting civil rights marches and challenging racial discrimination. The suspicious circumstances of Reuther's death have not been officially investigated. Author Rob McKenzie is a former Ford Assembler and long-time UAW leader. Here, he details the incriminating facts he has unearthed surrounding the crash at the Pellston airport as well as the obstruction put up by the FBI, the NTSB and others who hold the evidence of the crime. His connections within organized labor helped dig up long-suppressed documents. First-hand knowledge and decades of experience in the UAW provide a new perspective on Reuther's life, death, and legacy. The book argues that Reuther was assassinated due to his political positions and conflicts with the CIA and other powerful entities.CIA and Intelligence Agency interference is strongly suggested by the circumstances. The long-standing antagonism between Reuther and the CIA, with its covert operations that intersected with labor politics, made him a target. Judging by the decline of the UAW after his removal, the powers-that-be won. The UAW leadership shifted towards more conservative, cooperative relations with employers, moving away from Reuther's social unionism. The book highlights how the union's political and strategic path changed, leading to challenges in adapting to globalization and labor struggles. Despite new evidence and suspicions, the UAW leadership, the FBI and the NTSB have refused to launch thorough investigation. Attempts by family members, private investigators, and researchers to uncover the truth and seek justice have been met with resistance and silence. The book situates Reuther's assassination in its historical context alongside other politically significant assassinations of the era (John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy) and calls for a reassessment of his life and death in light of suppressed information. Walter Reuther was a pivotal labor leader. His assassination shows every sign of being politically motivated and covered up. The author supports his conclusions with extensive documentation, interviews, and references to FBI files, union records, and personal accounts.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.
Why would anyone have been out to harm Walter Reuther?This controversial book details intense internal struggles in the UAW (United Auto Workers), especially between socialists, communists, and more conservative factions. Walter Reuther was a powerful figure in labor, especially within the UAW, and somebody doesn't want him remembered. His work involved leadership in organizing industrial workers, fighting factional conflicts within the union, and pushing for workers' rights and social justice. He was a skilled union leader who combined militancy with negotiation, significantly shaping labor relations in the U.S. Covert Magazine published an article on May 8, 2026, confirming that "Labor Leader Walter Reuther Was Among 1960s Liberal Leaders Who Appear to Have Been Assassinated By 'the Deep State.'" There are no facts to support the theory that Walter Reuther died in an airplane "accident." Newly discovered documents provide solid evidence of an assassination. The more closely this is observed, the more obvious it becomes. Reuther's battles with key figures like Homer Martin and Jay Lovestone—who became a CIA agent—and his eventual opposition to communist influence in the union, shaped the UAW's direction and contributed to his complex legacy. Walter and his brother Victor exposed the CIA's involvement in labor movements abroad, particularly through the AIFLD, linked to covert operations.This led to conflicts within the labor movement and contributed to UAW's withdrawal from the AFL-CIO. Reuther played a leading role in the Civil Rights and Anti-War Movements, too. He was a significant labor ally, supporting civil rights marches and challenging racial discrimination. The suspicious circumstances of Reuther's death have not been officially investigated. Author Rob McKenzie is a former Ford Assembler and long-time UAW leader. Here, he details the incriminating facts he has unearthed surrounding the crash at the Pellston airport as well as the obstruction put up by the FBI, the NTSB and others who hold the evidence of the crime. His connections within organized labor helped dig up long-suppressed documents. First-hand knowledge and decades of experience in the UAW provide a new perspective on Reuther's life, death, and legacy. The book argues that Reuther was assassinated due to his political positions and conflicts with the CIA and other powerful entities.CIA and Intelligence Agency interference is strongly suggested by the circumstances. The long-standing antagonism between Reuther and the CIA, with its covert operations that intersected with labor politics, made him a target. Judging by the decline of the UAW after his removal, the powers-that-be won. The UAW leadership shifted towards more conservative, cooperative relations with employers, moving away from Reuther's social unionism. The book highlights how the union's political and strategic path changed, leading to challenges in adapting to globalization and labor struggles. Despite new evidence and suspicions, the UAW leadership, the FBI and the NTSB have refused to launch thorough investigation. Attempts by family members, private investigators, and researchers to uncover the truth and seek justice have been met with resistance and silence. The book situates Reuther's assassination in its historical context alongside other politically significant assassinations of the era (John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy) and calls for a reassessment of his life and death in light of suppressed information. Walter Reuther was a pivotal labor leader. His assassination shows every sign of being politically motivated and covered up. The author supports his conclusions with extensive documentation, interviews, and references to FBI files, union records, and personal accounts.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.
Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh sit down with single-origin coffees and a 1987 GM Confidential report Mark pulled from the Don Ephlin papers at Wayne State's Reuther Library. The document, "NUMMI Management Practices: Executive Summary," lays out five management strategies behind the joint venture's success and the line that ties them together: "The key to NUMMI's success is not its tools or techniques, but the management philosophy that gives meaning to them." So why couldn't GM replicate it? Episode page with links and more Before NUMMI, the conversation runs through: Jamie's report from a Lehigh symposium on AI in supply chain (Penske, NFI, Crayola, Sharp Services) and judging Lehigh's entrepreneurial pitch competition Mark's two-week run at the LEI Lean Summit in Houston and Shingo Connect in San Diego, plus a regional FIRST robotics competition AI in continuous improvement, including Mark's Socratic Lean coach (free 48-hour trial) Single-origin coffee: Jamie's Peru from Huabal / San Pablo, Mark's Burundi Cankuzo Province bourbon-variety bean from Elliott Coffee in Dayton, KY (sourced via JNP Coffee), and the power dynamics the fair-trade label doesn't fix A Lean Whiskey detour on the rumored Sazerac, Brown-Forman, and Pernod Ricard moves, the bullwhip effect rippling back to a shuttered Kentucky barrel mill, and the cautionary tale of Stroh's (now back, brewed at Brew Detroit) The main segment works through the NUMMI report's five management strategies, why GM tried to redistribute the original "NUMMI commandos" one at a time, why Toyota deliberately avoided hiring auto-industry people for Georgetown, what NUMMI didn't solve (product design, activist investors, the UAW's missed opening), and where Bob Lutz's Car Guys vs. Bean Counters fits in. Mark also notes the Toyota Way 2001 document still isn't freely available online. Some lessons you have to go find. To close: Big Mistakes (Dan Levy, Netflix), and, prompted by the Artemis II launch, the case for Apollo 13 and Hidden Figures as the best of the genre. Resources mentioned: NUMMI Management Practices: Executive Summary, January 1987 (Don Ephlin papers, Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University) Bob Lutz, Car Guys vs. Bean Counters Sweet Maria's green coffee Elliott Coffee, Dayton, KY / JNP Coffee Brew Detroit (Stroh's) Big Mistakes (Netflix) Mark's Socratic Lean coach (48-hour free trial) Jamie's newsletter (Apollo 13 / strategic problem-solving in flight)
After 14 months of fruitless contract negotiations with the Harvard University administration, over 4,000 workers represented by the Harvard Graduate Students Union (HGSU-UAW Local 5118) walked off the job on an indefinite strike on April 21. According to the union, “Graduate student workers will suspend teaching and research labor until Harvard's bargaining team takes substantive action in addressing the union's key issues: pay that keeps pace with the rising cost of living, recourse for harassment and discrimination, support for non-citizen students, protections for academic freedom, and ‘fair share fees' to equitably distribute the expenses of union representation, among others.” In this episode of Working People, we speak with three striking graduate student workers about the issues at the center of this strike, and about what it's like to live, work, and strike at the country's richest university amid political attacks from the federal government, scandals connecting high-ranking Harvard officials to Jeffrey Epstein, and a nationwide cost-of-living crisis. Panelists include: Sara Speller, a fifth-year PhD student in the Music Department at Harvard and president of the Harvard Graduate Students Union; Zoë Feder, a seventh-year PhD student in the program in Biological & Biomedical Sciences at Harvard Medical School and a research assistant in the Microbiology Department; and Jacob Wolf, a third-year PhD student and Teaching Fellow in the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Additional links/info: Harvard Graduate Students Union (HGSU-UAW Local 5118) website, Facebook page, X/Twitter page, TikTok, and InstagramHarvard Graduate Students Union Strike Update/FAQ ZineLydialyle Gibson, Harvard Magazine, “Harvard graduate student workers strike”Noah A. Ferris, The Harvard Crimson, “Grad students rally outside Garber's home as strike enters third week”Hugo C. Chiasson & Elise A. Spenner, The Harvard Crimson, “Harvard promised a ‘full' review of its Epstein ties. Its own files reveal what it left out”Featured Music: Jules Taylor, Working People Theme SongCredits: Audio Post-Production: Jules TaylorBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-news-podcast--2952221/support.Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Follow us on:Bluesky: @therealnews.comFacebook: The Real News NetworkTwitter: @TheRealNewsYouTube: @therealnewsInstagram: @therealnewsnetworkBecome a member and join the Supporters Club for The Real News Podcast today!
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