Episodes
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
EP. 635: IS A KAMALA HARRIS PRESIDENCY A GIFT FOR THE BLACK CHATTERING CLASS?
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Introduction:
The political landscape in the United States has shifted dramatically over the past few years. The ascension of Donald Trump, propelled by a wave of racial animus, faux populism, and a fierce rejection of identity politics, seemed to signal the end of the liberal racial identitarianism that flourished during the Obama years. However, the Democratic Party's recent announcement that Vice President Kamala Harris will be their nominee to face Trump in the upcoming election suggests that identity politics may still play a pivotal role in American politics.
Kamala Harris, the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, has long embraced both sides of her heritage. Yet, her identity has been a focal point of political attacks, with Trump recently attempting to question her Blackness in a room full of Black reporters—a move that backfired, eliciting boos from the audience. As the Democratic Party once again leans on the "I'm With Her" slogan, reminiscent of Hillary Clinton's campaign, the question arises: Will Harris's identity galvanize the African American intelligentsia, particularly in a post-George Floyd America where the chattering class has been notably quiet?
This episode of THIS IS REVOLUTION>podcast will delve into how the African American intelligentsia might react to a potential Kamala Harris presidency. Will they see her as a beacon of progress, despite her past role in the tough-on-crime policies of the 1990s, or will they reject her as another establishment figure out of touch with the needs of the Black community?
Tuesday Sep 03, 2024
Tuesday Sep 03, 2024
Monday Sep 02, 2024
EP. 634: RACE RIOTS IN THE U.K ft. RALPH LEONARD
Monday Sep 02, 2024
Monday Sep 02, 2024
(bring in co-host and panel)
UK Race Riots
Introduction:
In the 2016 presidential race, Donald Trump popularized the term "fake news," a simplistic critique aimed at liberal mainstream media outlets like CNN. This phrase captures the way news can be manipulated, reflecting the political leanings of various stations, much like the concept of "Kayfabe" in professional wrestling—where the audience is kept in the dark about the predetermined nature of the matches.
In the wake of recent riots in the UK, this manipulation of information has come to a head. Following the July 29th brutal stabbing of three young girls attending a Taylor Swift-themed yoga session in Southport, a flurry of misinformation swept across social media. It was initially reported that their attacker was a 17-year-old Muslim immigrant, fueling racial tensions. In reality, the assailant was neither Muslim nor an immigrant; he was born in Wales. However, these facts were quickly overshadowed by a wave of false narratives propagated by far-right influencers like Tommy Robinson and Andrew Tate.
As mainstream media struggled to keep pace with these online gossip networks, the lines between verified news and baseless rumor blurred, creating a dangerous cycle of misinformation. This raises critical questions: Do we trust the media to tell us the truth, or simply what we want to believe? What are the deep-seated roots of racial tensions between newly arriving immigrants and the people of England? How will the UK government respond to the rioters who attacked innocent immigrants and destroyed businesses under the guise of "Save the Children"?
These issues echo the moral panics of the past, such as the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, where children were used as a prop to push draconian legislation. With us today to discuss these pressing matters is Unherd columnist Ralph Leonard.
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
THE MAU MAU HOUR w/ PASCAL ROBERT: An Evening with Corey Robin
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
The Champagne Room 8/27/24 (audio)
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
Jason comments on steroid influencers and annoying streamers and their big Black Bucks
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
EP. 633: SURVEILLANCE IN SCHOOLS ft. ALLISON BUTLER
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
Surveillance in Schools
Introduction
In an era where alienation and loneliness have become almost normalized, the proliferation of surveillance technologies in our daily lives is both alarming, pervasive and sadly, accepted. These technologies are not only prevalent in our streets and workplaces but have also seeped into our educational institutions, raising critical questions about privacy, autonomy, and the very nature of schooling. Surveillance systems in schools claim to enhance safety by identifying potential threats, from school shooters to students exhibiting signs of suicidal ideation. However, the validity and ethical implications of these claims are hotly debated. Are these technologies truly protecting students, or are they contributing to a culture of mistrust and control, much like the predictive policing tactics used by law enforcement?
Today, we are joined by Allison Butler and Nolan Higdon, authors of the insightful book “Surveillance Education: Navigating the Conspicuous Absence of Privacy in Schools”. Their work delves into the complex and often troubling landscape of surveillance in educational settings, exploring how these practices affect not just safety, but the very essence of learning and human development. As Higdon and Butler point out, "In a society increasingly defined by surveillance, schools have become testing grounds for technologies that monitor, predict, and control behavior, often at the expense of students' rights and well-being." We will explore the implications of this surveillance, asking whether it is a necessary precaution or a net negative that deepens the sense of alienation and distrust in an already fragmented society.
Please welcome our guests Allison Butler is a Senior Lecturer and Director of the Media Literacy Certificate Program in the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA. She is also Co-Director of the Mass Media Literacy non-profit organization, where she develops and runs training programs for teachers covering critical media literacy in K–12 schools, Vice President on the Board of the Media Freedom Foundation, and a spokesperson for Project Censored. Her research focuses on critical media literacy and critiques of surveillance technologies in education.
Wednesday Aug 28, 2024
EP.632: THE STARK REALITY OF EUTHANASIA ft ASHLEY FRAWLEY
Wednesday Aug 28, 2024
Wednesday Aug 28, 2024
Tuesday Aug 27, 2024
PHILOSOPHY FOR THE PEOPLE Ep. 57: David Moulton and Intelligent Design Interview
Tuesday Aug 27, 2024
Tuesday Aug 27, 2024
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Monday Aug 26, 2024
Monday Aug 26, 2024
EP. 631: IMMIGRATION UNDER BIDEN ft. Dan Melo
Monday Aug 26, 2024
Monday Aug 26, 2024
Immigration Under Biden/Harris
Introduction
As the Democratic National Convention concludes tonight in Chicago, the party's platform is crystal clear: preventing the return of Donald Trump at all costs. But as we look toward the future, critical questions remain. What, if anything, will fundamentally change under a potential Kamala Harris administration, especially when compared to another term for Joe Biden? And what has really changed under Biden’s leadership?
Take immigration, for example. The Biden administration halted the construction of Trump's infamous border wall and temporarily ended the "Remain in Mexico" policy, only to restart it again under pressure. In major metropolitan areas like New York and Chicago, immigration has become a potent political weapon used against the Democratic Party—cities that once proudly declared themselves "sanctuary cities" now find themselves overwhelmed by the influx of migrants, a crisis exacerbated by Republican governors like Ron DeSantis, who have strategically relocated thousands of undocumented immigrants to these urban centers. While these political maneuvers play out, a legitimate and significant increase in migration to the U.S. Southern border continues.
Historically, immigration has been a bipartisan issue focused on determining the "right kind of immigrant" who should be allowed to enter. How does the Biden administration's "Build Back Better" immigration policy stack up against Trump’s hardline approach? And what should we expect from Kamala Harris if she becomes president? If Trump returns to office, could we see the largest jobs program since the New Deal, but this time focused on mass deportation?
Tonight, we're joined by lawyer and author of *Borderlines,* Dan Melo, to explore these pressing questions and more.