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    The Laura Flanders Show

    Award winning host, author and journalist Laura Flanders interviews forward-thinking people from the world of politics, business, culture and social movements. The show explores actionable models for creating a better world by reporting on the people and movements driving systemic change. We spotlight the solutions of tomorrow, today. The show airs on PBS stations in over 200+ US markets, and airs on 40+ community radio stations, and is available on YouTube and as a podcast. Online subscribers receive lots of video and audio web exclusives. Recent specials include "Indigenous People's Power", "James Baldwin: Lessons for the US", "Building Public Trust for Public Health", "Countering the Coup From the Grassroots Up". Recent special guests include Representative Karen Bass, environmental activist Jane Fonda, economist Robert Reich, author/activist Naomi Klein, agrarian reformer Shirley Sherrod, novelist Arundhati Roy, economist Michael Hudson and ’Next System” theorist Gar Alperovitz.
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    Episodes (599)

    Women's History Month- Andrea J. Ritchie: Emergent Strategies for Abolition Toolkit

    Women's History Month- Andrea J. Ritchie: Emergent Strategies for Abolition Toolkit

    Andrea J. Ritchie, a self-described “Black lesbian immigrant survivor” who has been engaged since the 1980s in anti-violence, labor, and LGBTQ organizing, and in movements against state violence and for racial, reproductive, economic, environmental, and gender justice, offers a toolkit for organizers. If you’ve been wondering how to create a world that is collectively based, safer and more just — and curious as to what is actually required to make the changes that we want to see in society — Ritchie’s newest book, Practicing New Worlds: Abolition and Emergent Strategies, published by AK Press, is a visionary and practical workbook and toolkit. Some of her other books include Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color and No More Police, co-authored with Mariame Kaba. She also co-founded Interrupting Criminalization and the In Our Names Network, a network of over 20 organizations working to end police violence against Black women, girls, trans and gender nonconforming people.

    “Change happens by acting as though the future that you are dreaming of is present now. And then practicing that with people who share your vision and values and then bringing more and more people into the conversation.” - Andrea J. Ritchie

    “[Emergent strategies are] a way of approaching a world that interrupts violence in all its forms and creates new possibilities that we can't imagine yet.” - Andrea J. Ritchie

    Guest:

    Andrea J. Ritchie: Author, Practicing New Worlds: Abolition and Emergent Strategies; Co-Founder, Interrupting Criminalization

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  “I Keeps It Moving” David Anthony and Dani Vassar courtesy of Planet Hum Records and Pitch Control.  And additional music included- "Steppin"  by Podington Bear.

     

    April 2024 The Laura Flanders Show is rebranding as ‘Laura Flanders & Friends’:  This change marks a new era for the award-winning host, Laura Flanders.  The upcoming season will introduce a collaborative hosting format, featuring a diverse array of co-hosts from different backgrounds and different regions of the country. Expect new faces, unique perspectives, and impactful conversations that will leave viewers feeling inspired.

    This podcast is made possible thanks to our member supporters.  Join our members by making a one time donation, or make it monthly => LauraFlanders.org/donate  Thank you!

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

    FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Post Dobbs Crisis: Visions for Abortion Access & Radical Care

    Post Dobbs Crisis: Visions for Abortion Access & Radical Care

    This podcast is made possible thanks to our member supporters.  Join our members by making a one time donation, or make it monthly => LauraFlanders.org/donate  Thank you!

    There are more anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers than there are abortion clinics in the U.S., even in states like New York where abortion is legal. Fake clinics are feeding people disinformation, laws are criminalizing doctors and patients, and the climate of stigma and fear has only worsened since the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health in 2022. The Dobbs decision took away the constitutional right to abortion, abandoned almost fifty years of precedent, and paved the way for states to ban abortion entirely, as more than a dozen have. In this episode, Laura Flanders and co-host Adaku Utah explore the situation in a so-called safe haven (New York), and the frameworks for care that BIPOC reproductive justice activists — whose people have never been served well by the health system — are drawing on for strength and survival today. Our guests are Elizabeth Estrada, New York Field & Advocacy Manager at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice and Chelsea Williams-Diggs, Executive Director of the New York Abortion Access Fund. Join us to hear why community care and “chisme” are critical in this moment.

    “The Supreme Court went against the will of the people. What we're doing now is asking people to join in advocacy, join in the streets . . . Talk to your loved ones about why you support abortion access and try to do it with compassion, understanding, and a fierce heart because now is the time and we need everybody's voice.” - Elizabeth Estrada


    “. . . I feel both hope and heartbreak right now as we are speaking. Cops and courts are increasingly punishing and investigating people who are trying to seek basic healthcare as abortion. There is less access to gender affirming care. And of course, the genocides that are happening in Palestine, Sudan, and the Congo are stripping people of their lands and literally their lives.” - Adaku Utah


    “The worst has already happened, and it happened under a democratic president. Let's be very clear. Dobbs happened. Abortion is no longer a nationally protected right. There are people who are struggling to access care today. They can't wait for November . . .” - Chelsea Williams-Diggs


    Guests:

    •  Elizabeth Estrada: NY Field & Advocacy Manager, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice

    •  Adaku Utah: Senior Manager of Movement Building Programs, Building Movement Project; Organizer, Grassroots Strategist, Politicized Healer

    •  Chelsea Williams-Diggs: Executive Director, New York Abortion Access Fund

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  “Audacity of Free Thought” by Delasi featuring Noah Dreiblatt released on Brownswood Records.  And additional music included- "Steppin"  by Podington Bear.

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

    FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Full Conversation- Looking at the Unbearable with Dr. Gabor Maté & V (formerly Eve Ensler)

    Full Conversation- Looking at the Unbearable with Dr. Gabor Maté & V (formerly Eve Ensler)

    How do we deal with personal and societal trauma and pain in this moment of war, political polarization, increasing violence, domestic terror, and despair? Experts say we must look at the root causes of our pain, and yet the US is in the grip of a battle over exactly that — with efforts to ban books, censor news, cancel truth-tellers and hide history. How do we come together and overcome  what the US surgeon general says is loneliness on an “epidemic” scale, when our society and culture work to separate us and tell us to heal alone? Today’s guests have experienced personal trauma and turned it into fuel for making social change. V, formerly known as Eve Ensler, is the co-founder of One Billion Rising and V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls. Her latest book, “Reckoning”, is out in paperback this month. Dr. Gabor Maté, a Holocaust survivor, is a retired physician and author of several groundbreaking books on healing personal and collective pain. His latest, written with his son Daniel Maté is “The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture”. What are the things making people feel desperate, broken and afraid? And what can we do to help one another look at what feels unbearable with a view to changing it? All that, plus V lays out the plans for V Day on February 14, where this year’s theme is Rise for Freedom, and a commentary from Laura on the power of feelings and the teachings of the late great queer author/activist Amber Hollibaugh.

    Guests:

    • Gabor Maté: Physician (retired), Public Speaker & Bestselling Author, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture

    • V (formerly Eve Ensler): Playwright, Activist, Author, Founder V-Day & One Billion Rising

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

     

    The following full uncut conversation is from our recent episode 'Looking at the Unbearable with Dr. Gabor Maté & V (formerly Eve Ensler).' It is available here as a podcast thanks to generous contributions from listeners like you. Thank you. Support the podcast by becoming a member => LauraFlanders.org/donate

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

    FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Idaho’s United Vision Project: Confronting Extremism in America's Heartland

    Idaho’s United Vision Project: Confronting Extremism in America's Heartland

    As the 2024 presidential election campaign heats up, Idaho is not a place that Democratic campaign strategists will be thinking much about, but writing off places like Idaho is a mistake, say two anti-authoritarian activists based in the US Northwest. Adrienne Evans is the executive director for United Vision for Idaho, the state’s only multi-issue, progressive coalition. Scot Nakagawa, director of the new 22nd Century Initiative, has worked for decades to counter extremism, starting in the 1980s, confronting white militias in Oregon. In this episode, Laura asks her guests why places like Idaho — one of the most conservative states in the country — remain so important to US democracy, and Laura participates in a rural tour around Boise, Idaho's capital. All that, plus a commentary from Laura on how Americans once toppled autocracy — and what the writers of the Constitution did in response.


    "People on both sides of the political spectrum no longer believe that government is for them; that they have access or the ability to change the things in their lives . . . When you lose faith in institutions like that, no wonder authoritarianism comes in and offers to break that, it sounds pretty good.” - Adrienne Evans


    “It's often in the most difficult places that people come up with the best ideas, that kind of repression can be the mother of invention . . . What we can learn from Idaho about the future is tremendous.” - Scot Nakagawa


    Guests:

    • Adrienne Evans: Executive Director, United Vision for Idaho

    • Scot Nakagawa: Director, 22nd Century Initiative

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  Miles James remix of “Something’s Going On” by Kokoroko from their “Could We Be More Remixes” released on Brownswood Records.  And additional music included- "Steppin"  by Podington Bear.

     

     

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

    FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Faith & Fascism: Rob Reiner & Dan Partland Tackle Christian Nationalism with “God & Country”

    Faith & Fascism: Rob Reiner & Dan Partland Tackle Christian Nationalism with “God & Country”

    How does a religion that claims to be rooted in love and peace fire people up to commit violence, as at the Capitol on January 6, 2021? In a brand-new documentary, “God & Country”, producer Rob Reiner and director Dan Partland explore Christian Nationalism — a toxic brew of patriarchal White Nationalism and messianic faith. Based on the book “The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism” by Katherine Stewart, “God & Country” exposes how Christian Nationalism poses a real and immediate threat, not only to the very idea of secular democracy but also to Christianity itself. Reiner is an Emmy-winning actor and acclaimed director, best known for his work on “All In The Family”, “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride”. He is also a political activist dedicating his time to numerous social justice causes. Partland, a veteran documentary producer and director for film and television, is a five-time Emmy nominee with two Emmys for Best Nonfiction Series including American High on Fox. Whether you’re a Christian or a concerned citizen, this episode is a must-watch. Plus, a closing commentary from Laura on becoming actively engaged in our democracy.


    “If you believe the United States has a God-ordained role to play in human history as a Christian nation and democracy is taking us away from those principles, then you can justify doing anything to make sure that God's will is done. That's what I think you see happening on January 6th.” - Dan Partland


    “Christian nationalism . . . as this political movement is not the majority. It is far from the majority. What is scary is that because of the way our system works, a very virulent minority can control our politics and that's what they've done.” - Rob Reiner


    Guests:

    • Dan Partland: Director, God & Country

    • Rob Reiner: Producer, God & Country

    This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate  Thank you for your continued support!

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  Micky More & Andy Tee Club Mix of “Promised Land (Homage)” a rework by Barbara Tucker and The BCrew of the Joe Smooth Classic courtesy of B Star Music Group.  And additional music included- "Steppin"  by Podington Bear.

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

    FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Full Conversation: Organizing for Ceasefire Through Policy & Protest: Meet the People of JVP & NY Assemblymember Mamdani

    Full Conversation:  Organizing for Ceasefire Through Policy & Protest: Meet the People of JVP & NY Assemblymember Mamdani

    The following full uncut conversation is from our recent episode “Organizing for Ceasefire Through Policy & Protest: Meet the People of JVP & NY Assembly member Mamdani.”  It is available here as a podcast thanks to generous contributions from listeners like you. Thank you.  Support the podcast by becoming a member => LauraFlanders.org/donate

     

    You’ve seen them in protests since the start of the Israel/Hamas war — from New York City’s Grand Central Station and the Statue of Liberty, to the Capitol in DC, the highways of Durham, North Carolina, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and more. Who are the people of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), the largest progressive Jewish-led pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist organization in the world? The Grand Central Station sit-in made history as the largest act of civil disobedience in New York City since the Iraq War. In this episode, Laura Flanders talks with two JVP members, Rosalind Petchesky, veteran political scientist and a leading theorist on international reproductive rights and Jay Saper, an artist and Yiddish translator, about their heroes and their inspirations — including Israeli peace activists and the families of Israeli hostages; and we meet New York State Assembly member Zohran K. Mamdani, a Muslim, a Democratic Socialist and the first South Asian man in the NYS Assembly. Long before October 7, 2023, Mamdani, who represents Astoria, Queens introduced the Not On Our Dime! Bill that would make it illegal for New York State-registered charities to fund Israeli settler organizations. As you'll hear, these guests see connections between white supremacy, Zionism, antisemitism, anti-Black racism, militarism and violence against women. What are the tools for building freedom and equity that connect us rather than divide us? Plus a commentary from Laura on news and no-news on Gaza.  Thank you.  Support the podcast by becoming a member => LauraFlanders.org/donate

    Guests:

    • Zohran K. Mamdani: New York State Assembly Member (D-Astoria/Long Island City)

    • Rosalind Petchesky: Distinguished Professor Emerita (retired) of Political Science, Hunter College & the Graduate Center, CUNY

    • Jay Saper: Member Leader, Jewish Voice for Peace; Coeditor, Questions to Ask Before Your Bat Mitzvah

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.


     

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

    FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Looking at the Unbearable with Dr. Gabor Maté & V (formerly Eve Ensler)

    Looking at the Unbearable with Dr. Gabor Maté & V (formerly Eve Ensler)

    How do we deal with personal and societal trauma and pain in this moment of war, political polarization, increasing violence, domestic terror, and despair? Experts say we must look at the root causes of our pain, and yet the US is in the grip of a battle over exactly that — with efforts to ban books, censor news, cancel truth-tellers and hide history. How do we come together and overcome  what the US surgeon general says is loneliness on an “epidemic” scale, when our society and culture work to separate us and tell us to heal alone? Today’s guests have experienced personal trauma and turned it into fuel for making social change. V, formerly known as Eve Ensler, is the co-founder of One Billion Rising and V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls. Her latest book, “Reckoning”, is out in paperback this month. Dr. Gabor Maté, a Holocaust survivor, is a retired physician and author of several groundbreaking books on healing personal and collective pain. His latest, written with his son Daniel Maté is “The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture”. What are the things making people feel desperate, broken and afraid? And what can we do to help one another look at what feels unbearable with a view to changing it? All that, plus V lays out the plans for V Day on February 14, where this year’s theme is Rise for Freedom, and a commentary from Laura on the power of feelings and the teachings of the late great queer author/activist Amber Hollibaugh.


    “If you don't want to look at the history of what happened to the Indigenous people in this country, it is where you must look. If you are afraid to look at what happened to African Americans in the 400 years of slavery and Jim Crow, and that is where you must look.” - V (formerly Eve Ensler)


    “. . . Loneliness is not an accident . . . It's an outcome of economic and political decisions made at the top over the last several decades. The loneliness epidemic is not simply an individual, or even communal human problem. It's a manifestation of what I call a toxic culture.” - Dr. Gabor Maté


    Guests:

    Gabor Maté: Physician (retired), Public Speaker & Bestselling Author, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture

    V (formerly Eve Ensler): Playwright, Activist, Author, Founder V-Day & One Billion Rising

     

    This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate  Thank you for your continued support!

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  “Dancefloor Intifada” by Ghost Producer, from the project Sonically Dismantling Western Imperialism courtesy of Underground Producers Alliance.  And additional music included- "Steppin"  by Podington Bear.

     

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

    FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Marjorie Kelly on the Capitalism Crisis: “Wealth Supremacy” is Killing Us

    Marjorie Kelly on the Capitalism Crisis: “Wealth Supremacy” is Killing Us

    This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate  Thank you for your continued support!

    Description: "Capital bias" prioritizes wealth over people and the planet. What are the consequences? That question is at the core of “Wealth Supremacy: How the Extractive Economy and the Biased Rules of Capitalism Drive Today’s Crises”, the new book from Marjorie Kelly. There’s too much financial wealth in our system, she says, yet capitalism encourages us to keep scaling up, building our portfolios and maximizing profits. Like white supremacy, wealth supremacy is both entirely obvious and oddly hidden. But it shows up everywhere, and it’s brought us to a deadly brink. What is to be done? As you’ll hear in the episode, meaningful conversations about wealth supremacy can help us shift away from capitalism and imagine better economic models. Tune in as Marjorie Kelly and Laura Flanders do just that. Marjorie Kelly is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Democracy Collaborative and a longtime business observer. Her book is out now via Berrett-Koehler Press.

    “. . . Big capital is out there right now buying water rights . . . Communities are saying no . . . water needs to be declared a public trust. You have these two completely different worldviews, which really show us we can have a financialized world or we can have a democratic world . . .” - Marjorie Kelly

    “White supremacy and wealth supremacy are entirely entangled and you can't solve for racial equity without also looking at this wealth inequity. It hits people of color hardest, but it's hitting all of us, including the planet.” - Marjorie Kelly

    GUEST:  Marjorie Kelly: Distinguished Senior Fellow, The Democracy Collaborative; Author, Wealth Supremacy: How the Extractive Economy and the Biased Rules of Capitalism Drive Today’s Crises

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  “Brooklynville” by Opa from their album Back Home released on Far Out Recordings.  And additional music included- "Steppin"  by Podington Bear.

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

    FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Full Conversation: Debt, Democracy & Disarray: Astra Taylor on “The Age of Insecurity”

    Full Conversation:  Debt, Democracy & Disarray: Astra Taylor on “The Age of Insecurity”

    The following full uncut conversation is from our recent episode Debt, Democracy & Disarray: Astra Taylor on “The Age of Insecurity.”  It is available here as a podcast thanks to generous contributions from listeners like you. Thank you.  Support the podcast by becoming a member => LauraFlanders.org/donate

    Description:  Can we turn our insecurity into power? Consumer debt stands at $17.29 trillion and many Americans are drowning in debt, with the average household owning over $100 thousand. The climate crisis, threats to democracy, and global wars add more worry to our already stressful lives. In her new book out from House of Anansi Press, “The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart”, writer, filmmaker, organizer, and the 2023 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Massey Lecturer, Astra Taylor uses mythology. psychology and the history of capitalism to break down the different kinds of insecurities we face, and explore how our insecurities help capitalism flourish. Without it, the system would cease to function, she says. In her years of work as Co-Founder of the Debt Collective, which emerged from Occupy Wall Street, Taylor has used debt as a tool for bringing people together and organizing. She is the author of The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, Democracy May Not Exist But We'll Miss It When It is Gone, and The People's Platform (winner of the American Book Award), and the director of What Is Democracy?, among other books and films. In this wide-ranging discussion, Astra Taylor and Laura Flanders discuss the history of capitalism, the rights of debtors, and what we can do to lessen insecurity and expand security both as individuals and as a society. All that, plus a commentary from Laura.

    Guest:  Astra Taylor: Co-Founder of the Debt Collective & Author, The Age of Insecurity

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

    FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Not Wanted at Harvard? BIPOC Media on Claudine Gay, Anti-Zionism & Diversity in Education

    Not Wanted at Harvard? BIPOC Media on Claudine Gay, Anti-Zionism & Diversity in Education

    This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate  Thank you for your continued support!

    Dr. Claudine Gay, a widely esteemed scholar, made history as the first Black President of Harvard in the university’s 387 years. Many saw her tenure as a step forward for diversity in higher education, but today, her resignation speaks volumes about the challenges Black women face in academia. Gay faced fierce backlash this winter over the school’s statements on the Israel-Hamas War. A politically-motivated grilling in Congress followed by an organized campaign to attack Gay’s credibility and intellect, led to her resignation on January 2. What does this all mean for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in education? In this timely installment of “Meet the BIPOC Press,” our monthly collaboration with URL Media, a network of independent media owned and operated by people of color, Laura is joined by co-host Amir Khafagy, labor and immigration reporter for Documented, which is a member of the URL Media network. We unpack the crusade against Gay, DEI and the lack of support that students and faculty of color, and especially women of color, receive from their universities. Also joining us are Zaire Dinzey-Flores, Professor and Chair of Latino and Caribbean Studies at Rutgers University, and Jamiee Swift, the Founder and Executive Director of Black Women Radicals. Tune in to hear what the media got right — and wrong — about this story.


    “Academia is not an inclusive space. Academia is a hard place for many people, and we have to decide if we want institutions that are diverse and inclusive of multiple viewpoints . . . We belong and we contribute.” - Zaire Dinzey-Flores


    “There’s a new age of McCarthyism taking place not only in academic spaces, but also media spaces. We're seeing reporters losing their jobs or being forced to resign if they have a pro-Palestinian stance. In academia, we're seeing regulations on campuses that say that you have to support Israel, almost like in the McCarthy era where you had to denounce communism in order to get a job.” - Amir Khafagy


    “If the university is supposed to be the marketplace of ideas, why are Black people and people of color's ideas, advocacy and activism always targeted, surveilled and pushed out?” - Jamiee Swift

    Guests:

    •  Zaire Dinzey-Flores: Associate Professor & Chair of Latino and Caribbean Studies, Rutgers University

    •  Amir Khafagy (Co-host): Journalist, Report for America Member, Documented

    •  Jaimee Swift: Founder, Black Women Radicals; Professor of Black Politics

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  “Awakening” by Climbing PoeTree from their 2017 album INTRINSIC. And additional music included- "Steppin"  by Podington Bear.

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

    FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    How to Fortify Democracy in 2024: A Citizen’s Guide by Sam Daley-Harris

    How to Fortify Democracy in 2024: A Citizen’s Guide by Sam Daley-Harris

    This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support!  Members are invited to our next "Ask Laura Anything" virtual event taking place Thursday, 8 pm, January 24th, 2024.  Check your inbox for the details. Any questions, please email us at info@lauraflanders.org

     

    Civic courage — what does it look like and how can more of us embody it? In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, a study by Pew Research highlights a concerning trend among Americans: nearly two-thirds feel exhausted, 55% express anger, and a mere 10% report feeling hopeful about politics. Our guest Sam Daley-Harris believes we need advocacy organizations to train individuals to take bold actions — the sort that have an impact and leave volunteers feeling empowered and transformed. Daley-Harris is the founder of the anti-poverty lobby RESULTS in 1980 and Civic Courage in 2012. Jimmy Carter hailed the first edition of his book, "Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy,"  as a “roadmap” for global involvement in shaping a better future. Kirkus Reviews praises the updated 2024 edition as "A handbook for aspiring activists that readers will find to be both inspiring and practical." A conversation to kick off election year, Daley-Harris suggests how to head off despair, and Laura shares some closing comments on citizenship and spaceships. Recorded at CUNYtv in NYC.


    “Those who benefit from the status quo are perfectly happy with a large population who thinks nothing will get any better . . . Cynicism is obedience. If I'm cynical, I'm being obedient to the way things are rather than getting involved” - Sam Daley-Harris


    Guest:  Sam Daley-Harris: Founder, RESULTS & Civic Courage; Author: Reclaiming Our Democracy

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  “Losing Steam” by Salami Rose Joe Louis from her latest album Akousmatikous released on Brainfeeder Records. And additional music included- "Steppin"  by Podington Bear.

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Organizing for Ceasefire Through Policy & Protest: Meet the People of JVP & NY Assemblymember Mamdani

    Organizing for Ceasefire Through Policy & Protest: Meet the People of JVP & NY Assemblymember Mamdani

    This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support!

    You’ve seen them in protests since the start of the Israel/Hamas war — from New York City’s Grand Central Station and the Statue of Liberty, to the Capitol in DC, the highways of Durham, North Carolina, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and more. Who are the people of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), the largest progressive Jewish-led pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist organization in the world? The Grand Central Station sit-in made history as the largest act of civil disobedience in New York City since the Iraq War. In this episode, Laura Flanders talks with two JVP members, Rosalind Petchesky, veteran political scientist and a leading theorist on international reproductive rights and Jay Saper, an artist and Yiddish translator, about their heroes and their inspirations — including Israeli peace activists and the families of Israeli hostages; and we meet New York State Assemblymember Zohran K. Mamdani, a Muslim, a Democratic Socialist and the first South Asian man in the NYS Assembly. Long before October 7, 2023, Mamdani, who represents Astoria, Queens introduced the Not On Our Dime! Bill that would make it illegal for New York State-registered charities to fund Israeli settler organizations. As you'll hear, these guests see connections between white supremacy, Zionism, antisemitism, anti-Black racism, militarism and violence against women. What are the tools for building freedom and equity that connect us rather than divide us? Plus a commentary from Laura on news and no-news on Gaza.

    “I moved to Cape Town in South Africa. I lived there until I was seven . . . and it was right after the fall of apartheid. And I always remember the words of Nelson Mandela saying that we know all too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of Palestinians.” - Zohran K. Mamdani


    “[My aunt’s] synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi was bombed during the Jim Crow era because of her rabbi's commitment to support the Black freedom struggle . . . [This] makes it clear that antisemitism needs to be confronted by challenging all forms of white supremacy by speaking out against Islamophobia, by taking action against anti-Black racism, and by committing to a world where we build safety through solidarity.” - Jay Saper


    “. . . When I went to Israel at the age of 16, I witnessed racism. I was so angry and so disillusioned that I turned away from Judaism for many years. Only now through JVP, through the young people of Jewish Voice for Peace, I'm rediscovering my connection and my identity as Jewish.” - Rosalind Petchesky


    Guests:

    Zohran K. Mamdani: New York State Assembly Member (D-Astoria/Long Island City)

    Rosalind Petchesky: Distinguished Professor Emerita (retired) of Political Science, Hunter College & the Graduate Center, CUNY

    Jay Saper: Member Leader, Jewish Voice for Peace; Coeditor, Questions to Ask Before Your Bat Mitzvah

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  “Dem Militarize Democracy” by Femi Kuti from his album One People One World released on Knitting Factory Records. And additional music included- "Steppin"  by Podington Bear.

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Full Conversation - Israel, Hamas & Human Rights: UN Insider on the Way Forward

    Full Conversation - Israel, Hamas & Human Rights: UN Insider on the Way Forward

    The following full uncut conversation is from our recent episode "Israel, Hamas & Universal Human Rights: Former UN Official Craig Mokhiber Describes Path Forward."  It is available here as a podcast thanks to generous contributions from listeners like you. Thank you.  Support the podcast by becoming a member => LauraFlanders.org/donate

    Description: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations 75 years ago this December, as was the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. But that same year also saw the institutionalization of apartheid in South Africa, and the Palestine War or Nakba which displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs in the course of creating the state of Israel. What does it mean to commemorate this anniversary in a time of genocide and gross violation of human rights — particularly in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas? Until recently, Craig Mokhiber was the director in the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), where he had served since 1992. A specialist in international human rights law, policy, and methodology, he worked through genocides against Tutsis in Rwanda, Muslims in Bosnia, Yazidis in Iraq, and Rohingya in Myanmar. In his resignation letter, sent October 28th this year, he wrote, “Once again, we are seeing a genocide unfolding before our eyes, and the organization that we serve appears powerless to stop it.” Both Israel and Hamas have now been accused of committing gross violations of human rights in their current conflict, including acts of genocide. But what exactly is genocide? And what is the responsibility of the world to stop it? In this timely episode, Laura and Mokhiber explore the promise of the Universal Declaration and ask how we can honor this historic achievement while also acknowledging the hypocrisies of 1948 — and now. What can be learned from the South African experience that might offer a way forward for peace with justice for Israelis and Palestinians? All that and a commentary from Laura on what it takes for us to recognize one another's humanity.

    Guest:  Craig Mokhiber: Human Rights Lawyer, Former Senior United Nations Official

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Episode Rewind - Josh Paul: Resigns State Dept. Over Arms to Israel

    Episode Rewind - Josh Paul: Resigns State Dept. Over Arms to Israel

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    -Episode Rewind -

    Description: "We cannot be both against occupation, and for it. We cannot be both for freedom, and against it. And we cannot be for a better world, while contributing to one that is materially worse,” writes Josh Paul in his letter of resignation. After 11 years in the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs — the entity most responsible for arms transfers to allies and partners — Paul quit October 18, over increased, “indeed expedited” arms sales to Israel. In this conversation, one of the first full-length interviews with Paul since his resignation, he sits down with Laura Flanders to discuss why he resigned, his concerns about how the weapons will be used, the unique way that Israel is treated when it comes to US arms sales and why the US approach to creating peace in the Middle East is clearly not working. US double standards and hypocrisy when it comes to human rights crimes, he says, are dangerous for all concerned. All that, plus a commentary from Laura on the war economy.

    Guest:  Josh Paul: Former State Department Director, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  “Fear of an Equal Planet” by Warriors of the Dystotheque. And additional music included- "Steppin," "Beachhead," and "Ocean Point" by Podington Bear.

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Episode Rewind- Naomi Klein: How Disinformation and Conspiracy Theories Gain Power

    Episode Rewind- Naomi Klein:  How Disinformation and Conspiracy Theories Gain Power

    This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support!

    Description: Politics abhors a vacuum. Without credible explanations for the things that bewilder and exasperate us, people become susceptible to extremist conspiracy theories, hate and lies. So how does truth survive? In her brand new book, "Doppelgänger: A Trip into the Mirror World”, award-winning journalist Naomi Klein, (author of No Logo, The Shock Doctrine, et al), describes being confused with Naomi Wolf, author of The Beauty Myth, as Wolf morphed into a conspiracy-minded anti-vaxxer during the Covid pandemic. In an era of all important "personal brands", Klein became absorbed in the deep fake, double worlds surrounding and sometimes coming to represent her online. Right-wing conspiracies feed off Left-wing silences, she concludes. In this far-ranging interview from her home in British Columbia, Canada, Klein describes listening to hours and hours of conspiracist Steve Bannon's podcasts, and researching doppelgängers in history and literature, in order to uncover why we have shadow selves, and how disinformation and conspiracy theories gain power. Join Laura Flanders for this charming conversation as Naomi Klein challenges us to overcome divide-and-conquer individualism if we are ever to tackle our real-life, systemic crises. And Laura shares a few thoughts on learning from our elders about the pre-digital age.

    Guest:  Naomi Klein: Journalist & Best-Selling Author, Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World, The Shock Doctrine, No Logo, This Changes Everything & On Fire

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  “Connections” featuring lyrics  by Reg E. Gaines and music by Calvin Gaines.  Additional music included- "Steppin," by Podington Bear.

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Episode Rewind- Jubilee Justice Black Farmers' Rice Project: Tackling Racism & Rice

    Episode Rewind- Jubilee Justice Black Farmers' Rice Project:  Tackling Racism & Rice

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    Description: A bold experiment is taking place among Black farmers in the Southeast — a story of hope in an area with a history of plantation slavery, land theft and white violence. The Jubilee Justice Black Farmers' Rice Project is pioneering regenerative farming practices as a means to address systemic racism and make repair. This innovative project combines restorative economics, regenerative agriculture, and asset ownership as the path to address the harm done to Black farmers, and the environmentally harmful methods of rice production. In this exclusive report from The Laura Flanders Show, Laura Flanders reports on-location from Alexandria, Louisiana, where she meets Jubilee Justice Co-Founder and President Konda Mason, veteran civil rights crusader Shirley Sherrod and the Black farmers at the center of this story. Through knowledge sharing, collaboration and community support, this project endeavors to bridge the racial divide and foster a future rooted in justice and healing. Join us to discover how Jubilee Justice helps repair the damage from long-term racism and plant the seeds for a healthful and healing future.

     

    Guests:

    Nwamaka Agbo: CEO, Kataly Foundation & Managing Director, Restorative Economies Fund

    Donna Isaac: Farmer, Jubilee Justice Black Farmers Rice Project

    Myles Gaines: Head of Innovation & Experimentation, Jubilee Justice Black Farmers Rice Project

    Konda Mason: Founder & President, Jubilee Justice

    Shirley Sherrod: Executive Director, Southwest Georgia Project for Community Education; Co-Founder, New Communities, Inc.; U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Equity Commission

    Bernard Winn: Operations Specialist & Mill Manager, Jubilee Justice Black Farmers Rice Project

    Caryl Levine and Ken Lee: Co-Founders & Co-CEOs, Lotus Foods; Partners with Jubilee Justice Black Farmers' Rice Project

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  “Freedom and Progress” by Nicole Conte featuring Zara McFarlane from his full length album Umoja released on Far Out Recordings.  Additional music included- "Steppin," by Podington Bear.

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Debt, Democracy & Disarray: Astra Taylor on “The Age of Insecurity”

    Debt, Democracy & Disarray: Astra Taylor on “The Age of Insecurity”

    This show is made possible by you! Help us meet our year-end goal to raise $25,000, the cost of producing an episode. The next 25 people who donate will receive a free digital & print subscription to The Nation.  Please make a year-end donation => https://LauraFlanders.org/donate

    Description: Can we turn our insecurity into power? Consumer debt stands at $17.29 trillion and many Americans are drowning in debt, with the average household owning over $100 thousand. The climate crisis, threats to democracy, and global wars add more worry to our already stressful lives. In her new book out from House of Anansi Press, “The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart”, writer, filmmaker, organizer, and the 2023 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Massey Lecturer, Astra Taylor uses mythology. psychology and the history of capitalism to break down the different kinds of insecurities we face, and explore how our insecurities help capitalism flourish. Without it, the system would cease to function, she says. In her years of work as Co-Founder of the Debt Collective, which emerged from Occupy Wall Street, Taylor has used debt as a tool for bringing people together and organizing. She is the author of The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, Democracy May Not Exist But We'll Miss It When It is Gone, and The People's Platform (winner of the American Book Award), and the director of What Is Democracy?, among other books and films. In this wide-ranging discussion, Astra Taylor and Laura Flanders discuss the history of capitalism, the rights of debtors, and what we can do to lessen insecurity and expand security both as individuals and as a society. All that, plus a commentary from Laura.


    “There is a debate here about motivation and what motivates us, and we are constantly being told that if people are too secure, that society's going to collapse and that we can't afford to invest in other folks. And I really want to challenge that idea.” - Astra Taylor

    “. . . When you start talking about [debt] with others, you realize you're actually in the same boat and you start coming together to demand change, to demand debt cancellation, to demand the provision of these public goods. Debt actually can become a source of power.” - Astra Taylor

    Guest:  Astra Taylor: Co-Founder of the Debt Collective & Author, The Age of Insecurity

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  “Positivity” by Outside from their album Almost In courtesy of Dorado Records.  Additional music included- "Steppin," by Podington Bear.

     

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Full Conversation- Prison Creative Arts Project: Imagination in the Face of Incarceration

    Full Conversation- Prison Creative Arts Project: Imagination in the Face of Incarceration

    The following full uncut conversation is from our recent episode "Imagination in the Face of Incarceration."  It is available here as a podcast thanks to generous contributions from listeners like you. Thank you.  Become a member supporter at LauraFlanders.org/donate

    Take Our Survey: Vote for your favorite LF Show episodes 

    Description:  What difference can art make for people in prison? The state of Michigan spends $48,000 per prisoner every year — with little to no money going towards funding for prison education, art and rehabilitation programs. The Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) is an independent program of the University of Michigan that supports formerly incarcerated artists, facilitates creative arts workshops and even hosts an annual exhibition to showcase incarcerated artists’ work. PCAP was founded by William “Buzz” Alexander, the late husband of Janie Paul, the curator of PCAP and author of the book based on the project: “Making Art in Prison: Survival and Resistance”, out now via Hat and Beard Press. As you’ll hear in the program, the work of PCAP has built a vibrant community of artists inside and outside prison walls. Joining us for this conversation are Janie Paul and artist Yusef Qualls, known as Q. He was released from prison five months ago after being sentenced to life as a minor and serving 28 years. Danny Valentine is a formerly incarcerated artist also featured in the book, who credits PCAP for saving his life. What can incarcerated artists teach us about why humans make art and the power it holds? All that, plus a commentary from Laura on poets imagining Gaza.

    Guests:

    •  Janie Paul: Author, Making Art in Prison: Survival and Resistance; Emerita Professor of Art, University of Michigan; Curator, Prison Creative Arts Project

    •  Q (Yusef Qualls): Former Juvenile Lifer & Incarcerated Artist

    •  Danny Valentine: Formerly Incarcerated Artist

     


    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Israel, Hamas & Universal Human Rights: Former UN Official Craig Mokhiber Describes Path Forward

    Israel, Hamas & Universal Human Rights: Former UN Official Craig Mokhiber Describes Path Forward

    This show is made possible by you! Help us meet our year-end goal to raise $25,000, the cost of producing an episode. Please make a year-end donation => https://LauraFlanders.org/donate 

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    Description: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations 75 years ago this December, as was the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. But that same year also saw the institutionalization of apartheid in South Africa, and the Palestine War or Nakba which displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs in the course of creating the state of Israel. What does it mean to commemorate this anniversary in a time of genocide and gross violation of human rights — particularly in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas? Until recently, Craig Mokhiber was the director in the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), where he had served since 1992. A specialist in international human rights law, policy, and methodology, he worked through genocides against Tutsis in Rwanda, Muslims in Bosnia, Yazidis in Iraq, and Rohingya in Myanmar. In his resignation letter, sent October 28th this year, he wrote, “Once again, we are seeing a genocide unfolding before our eyes, and the organization that we serve appears powerless to stop it.” Both Israel and Hamas have now been accused of committing gross violations of human rights in their current conflict, including acts of genocide. But what exactly is genocide? And what is the responsibility of the world to stop it? In this timely episode, Laura and Mokhiber explore the promise of the Universal Declaration and ask how we can honor this historic achievement while also acknowledging the hypocrisies of 1948 — and now. What can be learned from the South African experience that might offer a way forward for peace with justice for Israelis and Palestinians? All that and a commentary from Laura on what it takes for us to recognize one another's humanity.


    “Israel is responsible for its own crimes. That responsibility does not extend to Jewish people around the world and certainly not to those who are standing up to say that this is not in their name.” - Craig Mokhiber


    “We want to see justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators, but we want it to be done peacefully. And what are the peaceful means? We have legal action, we have political action, we have mass mobilizations, we have divestments, we have boycotts.” - Craig Mokhiber


    Guest:  Craig Mokhiber: Human Rights Lawyer, Former Senior United Nations Official

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

    Music In the Middle:  Funk 4 Peace by Fort Knox Five from their album Radio Free DC courtesy of Fort Know Recordings.  Additional music included- "Steppin," by Podington Bear.

     

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

    Full Conversation- BIPOC Media on the Fight for Fair Wages — & Anti-racist Unions

    Full Conversation- BIPOC Media on the Fight for Fair Wages — & Anti-racist Unions

    The following full uncut conversation is from our recent episode "BIPOC Media on the Fight for Fair Wages — & Anti-racist Unions." It is available here as a podcast thanks to generous contributions from listeners like you. Thank you.  Become a member supporter at LauraFlanders.org/donate

    Take Our Survey: Vote for your favorite LF Show episodes 

    Description: From auto plants to Amazon warehouses, to Hollywood studios, pharmacies and hospitals, almost half a million workers have gone on strike so far this year. Many are celebrating this revival of labor power, but what does it mean for workers of color — often hardest hit — and least well treated even by traditional labor organizations? Worker rights and racial justice are linked, but mainstream media often fails to make the connection. In this “Meet the BIPOC Press” episode co-hosted by Laura Flanders and Sara Lomax, Co-founder of URL Media, we explore the diversity of today’s unionized workforce and their demands. What happens when media bring a race-smart angle to their reporting? Joining us are Queens, New York-based reporter Amir Khafagy, reporting on the intersection of labor and immigration at Documented; and News Editor Carolyn Copeland, who is tracking national labor coverage with her team at Prism.


    “Whenever you're talking about unions, you're always talking about people of color because people of color are more likely to belong to a union . . . Union issues are always a racial justice issue.” - Carolyn Copeland


    “We have this sense of the burly Trade Union white guy that sometimes votes Republican. But lately, what we've seen now is the trade unions have come to realize that the historical animosity they had, especially towards immigrant workers and Black and Latino workers, has actually hurt their movement.“ - Amir Khafagy


    “There has been a generational concern in Philadelphia about the racial gap in access to union participation . . . A lot of Black and BIPOC workers have not been able to join some of the unions in Philadelphia, skilled trades, et cetera. And it's really created a racial hierarchy in the unions.” - Sara Lomax


    Guests:

    Carolyn Copeland: News Editor, Prism

    Amir Khafagy:  Journalist, Report for America Member, Documented

    Sara Lomax: Co-Founder, URL Media; President & CEO, WURD Radio

     

    Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.

     

     

     

    The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

     

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    ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel