FEATURING NORMAN SOLOMON - On January 20, 2021, a majority of Americans heaved a sigh of relief watching Donald Trump leave Washington D.C. for his new Florida residence, and welcoming a new administration that promised truth, decorum, and decency. The all-star lineup of musicians sang tear-jerking syrupy anthems, and many among us cried with joy. And with good reason considering the nightmarish horror of the past four years. But my next guest issues a warning with a quote from I.F. Stone that, incoming presidents “make us the dupes of our hopes.” Read Norman Solomon's latest article “Don't Let President Biden 'Make Us the Dupes of Our Hopes," HERE. Norman Solomon is co-founder and national coordinator of RootsAction.org. His books include "War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death" (2006) and "Made Love, Got War: Close Encounters with America's Warfare State" (2007). His latest article is entitled “Don't Let
Resistance
Big Business Pushes to Oust Seattle’s Socialist CM
FEATURING EMILY MCARTHUR - On Friday President elect Joe Biden laid out an ambitious economic stimulus package during which he made a forceful case for why the federal minimum wage ought to be $15 an hour. The movement to “Fight for $15” gained traction years ago from labor groups in the face of stiff resistance. One of the earliest places where the minimum wage was successfully raised to $15 an hour was Seattle, Washington, where the newly elected openly socialist City Council member Kshama Sawant campaigned for the hard-won victory. Now, those who have long viewed her presence on the City Council as anathema to maintaining the status quo are pushing to recall the fiery activist and politician, just a year after voters reelected her. Emily McArthur, campaign manager of the Kshama Solidarity Campaign.
Workers Form Historic Tech Union
FEATURING HONEY ROSENBLOOM - The U.S.’s growing tech industry has for years successfully fought off unionizing efforts. But a new union formed by workers at Google and its parent company Alphabet has broken precedent and sent shock waves through Silicon Valley. Rocked by sexual misconduct scandals and accusations of racial bias and discrimination, a few hundred workers at Google and their related companies formed the Alphabet Workers Union. The Union says it, “strives to protect Alphabet workers, our global society, and our world. We promote solidarity, democracy, and social and economic justice.” Honey Rosenbloom, Executive Director, Friendship Garden Game Developers, an organizer and spokesperson with Alphabet Workers Union and an employee of Google as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Analyst.
Americans Call on Biden to Cancel Student Debt
FEATURING CODY HOUNANIAN - President elect Joe Biden won election based in part on a promise that he would erase $10,000 of student loan debt per person and make it easier to pay off the rest. Now, groups representing millions of Americans burdened by college loan payments are demanding that on day 1 of his presidency Mr. Biden cancel all student debt. Joining me to make the case for why he should do this is Cody Hounanian, Program Director at the organization Student Debt Crisis. Cody Hounanian, Program Director at Student Debt Crisis. ** This segment originally aired on December 01, 2020.
In Defense of Looting: A Riotous History of Uncivil Action
FEATURING VICKY OSTERWEIL - The Los Angeles Times in June interviewed a number of people who had participated in the ransacking of a drug store during protests against racist police violence. One man explained his actions to the paper saying, “We’ve got no other way of showing people how angry we are.” But a store, whose window sported the sign “Justice for George Floyd,” was also destroyed. The owner, a Guatemalan immigrant who lost $20,000 worth of inventory told the Times, “I’m just very angry at the fact that we are a minority-owned business and we stand so much with the movement.” The idea of looting as a political act is deeply controversial and is the subject of a new book that itself has attracted controversy. Vicky Osterweil, writer, editor, and regular contributor to The New Inquiry. Her writing has also appeared in The Baffler, The Nation, The Rumpus, Real Life, and
2020: A Year Unlike Any Other In Recent Memory
FEATURING ARUN GUPTA - Ah 2020, what a year it has been. Who could have predicted at the start of the year when the U.S. Senate was acquitting President Donald Trump of impeachment charges, or even when the Super Tuesday primary elections took place that we were on the verge of a major global pandemic that would lead to widespread shutdowns? President Trump, who looked like he may win reelection on the strength of a stable economy and low official unemployment, saw his pathway to four more years derailed. His supporters railed against Black Lives Matter, refused to wear masks, insisted that the virus was a hoax, refused to believe Trump lost, and are now claiming that newly developed vaccines are dangerous. Today, as President elect Joe Biden puts together a diverse cabinet that may or may not actually enact progressive change, we’ll survey the past year. Arun Gupta is an investigative journalist
New Film ‘Nasrin’ Highlights Dissident Iranian Lawyer
FEATURING JEFF KAUFMAN - A new documentary about one of Iran’s most celebrated dissident lawyers called simply Nasrin, paints a portrait of one woman’s struggle against authoritarianism. Nasrin Sotoudeh, who is serving a 38-year sentence in Iran, was released from prison in November and then in early December, ordered back. Her story is central to the women-led movement for equality in Iran. The documentary about her was secretly filmed by numerous anonymous women and men inside Iran. Here is part of the trailer. The documentary Nasrin, narrated by Academy Award winner Olivia Colman, opens nationwide in the U.S. on December 18th. Jeff Kaufman, producer and director of "Nasrin", a documentary about Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent dissident Iranian lawyer and human rights activist.
Indigenous Communities Resist “Line 3” Pipeline
FEATURING TAYSHA MARTINEAU - The pipeline corporation Enbridge is facing serious Indigenous opposition to its “Line 3” project bringing tarsands from Alberta, Canada, to Wisconsin, cutting through Minnesota. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, despite claiming to oppose fossil fuel expansion, approved the Line 3 permits prompting hundreds to show up outside his mansion to denounce his actions. For more information visit www.stopline3.org. Watch the 2017 Unicorn Riot mini-documentary about the Line 3 Pipeline here: https://player.vimeo.com/video/236863124?dnt=1&app_id=122963. Taysha Martineau, Co-Founder of Gitchigumi Scouts.
Do Biden’s Appointments Foretell A Centrist Agenda?
FEATURING RICHARD 'RJ' ESKOW - The uneasy alliance between progressives and liberals to elect Joe Biden in order to defeat Donald Trump is already fraying. Barely has Biden been declared president elect when he appears ready to push progressives out the door with his announcements of numerous problematic figures for key cabinet positions. Rahm Emanuel, former Obama White House chief of staff and Chicago Mayor, is a strong contender for Transportation Secretary. But Emanuel is notorious for pushing a center-right agenda on issues of criminal justice, climate, public education, healthcare, and more. Richard “RJ” Eskow, host of The Zero Hour, a weekly TV and radio program, and a Senior Advisor for Health and Economic Justice at Social Security Works.
Dozens Evicted from Occupied Homes Over Thanksgiving in LA
FEATURING JANIL HERNANDEZ - Dozens of people were arrested over the Thanksgiving holiday in East Los Angeles after protesting the eviction of people who had been occupying empty homes owned by Caltrans. California Highway Patrol officers forcibly entered the homes as protesters demanded they stand down. The actions came just as California issued new shelter-in-place restrictions as Covid-19 related hospitalizations hit an all-time high in the state. Reclaim and Rebuild Our Community GoFundMe page, HERE and HERE for its Instagram account. Janil Hernandez, member of Reclaim and Rebuild Our Community.