We recorded on election night, but you're going to have to pay to hear more. Full episode coming later this morning. https://www.patreon.com/TheHighlandsBunker

ATTENTION loyal podcast listeners! Dr. Tanya Whittle has joined Rob IN THE BUNKER and we need your help to make sure that EVERYONE hears about her work on the New Castle County Police Accountability Board!!! All listens are 8X MATCHED (1 listen = 8 listens), so can we count on YOU today??

HBP Stop2Quit

Show Notes:

• New Castle County Police Accountability Form
• November 1st Project Return event

ACLU Legal Director and former Wilmington Democrats parliamentarian Dwayne Bensing joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the Delaware Call/ACLU lawsuit against Delaware's police, some of the other lawsuits the ACLU is involved in, and then some of his experiences with the Democratic Party in Chicago and a little bit closer to home.

Show Notes:

• Arms shipments to Israel and @MenchOsint
• ACLU's vanity plate lawsuit
• ACLU voting rights
• Obama’s Lost Army

Red Clay School Board member Jose Matthews and freelance journalist Jordan Howell join Rob in the bunker to talk about the recent controversy around lead testing in schools in Delaware, the systemic failures that led to this crisis, and what is and isn't being done to fix it.

Show Notes

• Jordan's Call piece on the Realtors

• Original article about the lead testing

• More on the public town hall

National athletes Jess Scarane and Jordyn Pusey joins Rob in the bunker to go through the latest reports of abuse in the National Women's Soccer League and how that plays out from the highest levels all the way down to local sports.

Show Notes:

• Yates Report

• Rory Dames accusations

• Ooh ah, up the Ra

The general election is finally over, so we get together to talk about what the results in Delaware and nationwide mean both in the short-term and the long-term.

Show Notes:

• For those confused by the first two minutes

• Election Results

• Delaware Call Fundraiser

State House candidate Terrell Williams joins Rob in the bunker about his background, some of the reasons why he's running for office, and his views on various issues from police reform to homeownership.

Show Notes:

• Terrell's website

• Donate to Terrell

• Debunking vote by mail myths

• Full Bernie video

Wilmington resident Sharee Congo and journalist Lauren Gill join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the horrible story behind Operation Safe Streets and how it forced its way into Sharee's life.

Trigger warning for description of police violence.

Show Notes:

• ACLU-DE's report

A sentence puts a period on the Kathy v Kathy saga, for now, as the Kathy trial finishes off with spears, Narcan, and a resignation letter lost in the ether. Rob, Bill, Kirsten, and Karl finish off the saga by talking about what happened and what's next.

Show Notes:

• News Journal coverage

• Karl Baker's Delaware Call piece

• ACLU Report

• Delaware Call Fundraiser

In the wake of the latest hurricane, activist Maria Beauchamp joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the fallout of the latest storm in Puerto Rico and how that connects to longer-running issues in the colony.

Show Notes:

• Maria's first episode

ACLU-DE President Mike Brickner joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the Delaware Supreme Court striking down vote by mail and same-day voter registration. What happened, what happens next, and why these bills were so important.

Show Notes:

• Call article on initial bill

• Call article on vote by mail concerns

• Call article on the lawsuit

• Supreme Court decision

• Early Voting information

Author and activist Claire Snyder-Hall joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her new book "Battling the Prince" and how her background in political theory combined with her experiences in Rehoboth Beach politics.

Show Notes:

• Buy the Book

Food and Water Watch activist Greg Layton joins Rob in the bunker to give an update on the planned biogas plant in Seaford and what still needs to be done to fight for environmental justice in Sussex.

Show Notes:

• Greg's op-ed in the Delaware Call

• Greg's previous episode

Former Delaware Public Media reporter Rachel Sawicki joins Rob in the bunker to talk about their experience in the Delaware media landscape, the parallels between the Kathy McGuiness and Bethany Hall-Long situations, and then a case study on how police violence gets covered.

Show Notes:

• Rachel's most recent Kathy McGuiness story
• Esteban's police violence story

Jason Scott, Jordyn Pusey, and Tye Grier join Rob and Karl in the virtual bunker to talk about the results of the 2022 state primaries. What were the results, what do they mean, and what happens next?

Show Notes:

• News Journal coverage of the results

• Join the Delaware Working Families Party

• Primary Election Results

First State Abortion Fund chair Kori Beaman joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the conception and function of the FSAF, how they plan to actually help people seeking abortions in and out of state, and what political changes need to be made to protect that right for everyone.

Show Notes:

• First State Abortion Fund

• ACLU Polling

• Abortion Hotline Announcement

Musician, writer, and podcast host Jason Myles joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his background in music and radical politics, his essay on Woodstock '99, and what we can do in everyday life to advance a better world.

Show Notes:

• This is Revolution podcast

• TIR Video Essays

• Remembering Woodstock '99

Judge Carpenter has decided: Kathy McGuiness is still guilty, though slightly less so. Rob and Bill go through the latest decision and what it means for sentencing and how the rest of state government will respond.

Show Notes:

• News Journal coverage of the decision

Local author and historian Steven Leech joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the history of jazz in Wilmington, covered in his book Boysie's Horn, and how that related to larger changes over the history of Wilmington.

Show Notes:

• Boysie's Horn

RD13 Vice Chair Jordyn Pusey joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the many grievances surrounding the recent endorsement process in the 1st District County Council Race.

Show Notes:

• Cookout Canvass with DeShanna

Soon-to-be-former News Journal Visual Journalist Jerry Habraken joins Rob in the bunker in an episode from the archives where they talk about his background, some fun stories from his past, the rules of cricket, and what Wilmington looks like to an outsider.

Show Notes:

• Jerry's work on Delaware Online

Southbridge Civic Association Vice President Haneef Salaam joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how a community-supported development process was blocked by the city of Wilmington, and what that might mean for their broader goals to remake the city in BPG's image.

See you Monday at noon.

Show Notes:

• Amanda Fries's article on the process

• Trouble at the Christina Landing townhomes

• Four Keys to Success

State Treasurer Colleen Davis joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how a path through health care brought her into politics, what the role of the Treasurer entails, and what someone in that position can and can't do.

Show Notes:

• Colleen Davis's campaign website

• Treasurer's website

• Patriotic Millionaires

The Kathy fight moves across the green to Legislative Hall as the State Senate considers a resolution to remove Kathy McGuiness from office. We walk through the play by play before talking about what might be next in the legislative process.

Show Notes:

• Pete's statement

• The DOJ responds

Wilmington activist Haneef Salaam joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the upcoming Justice For All edition of the monthly Positive Vibes in the Park event, the state of the 2024 elections, and the theory of an Old School vs New School Delaware Way.

Show Notes:

• New Book from Maya
• Justice For All Event on 8/23

Councilwoman Shané Darby joins Rob in the bunker to talk about why she's primarying Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha and what she wants to accomplish once she's in the State House.

Show Notes:

• Shané's site

• Donate to Shané

• Shané's story in the News Journal

• Nnamdi Town Hall

State House candidate James Taylor joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about how his background in Wilmington led him to Berklee and back again, why he's running for office, and what needs to be done to fix Delaware government.

Show Notes:

• James's site

• Donate to James

• Pascal Robert article

• Gulftainer update

The trial of the century has (mostly) wrapped up. Rob and Bill walk through the charges, the reactions, and what happens next. Then, we recap the last two days leading up to the verdict, and the various goofs and gags that ensued.

Show Notes:

• John Carney's statement

• General Assembly statement

• Donate to WFP Candidates

• Volunteer for WFP Candidates

State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how the last few weeks of the legislative session has gone, giving a deeper look into how several progressive priorities (and some corporate priorities) have failed. We then talk about how it might be possible to make real progressive change.

Show Notes:

• Coverage of the Admin Committee

• Donate to Madinah

• Nnamdi Town Hall

• Sign up for the Working Families Party

In a miraculous turn of events, the trial of the century is now running ahead of schedule. The defense rests, but not before bashing MLB Hall of Famer Frank Robinson a few more times and trying to determine what Kathy knew and when she knew it. Ahead of closing arguments and a potential verdict, Rob and Bill discuss the their thoughts on the case so far.

The state finally rested its case today after calling a few more witnesses. After trying to get the whole case thrown out again, the defense begins with its slate of hardcore Kathy-heads and their favorite person: former Pennsylvania auditor Eugene DePasquale. Also, more phone calls from MLB Hall of Famer Frank Robinson.

Week 3 of the Kathy trial has begun. After we learn a little bit about court procedure, the state's witnesses continue with more insight on the Lovecraftian nightmare that makes up the Office of the Auditor of Accounts. Then, Hall of Famer and DOJ Investigator Frank Robinson comes to the stand to discuss his many phone calls with Kathy whistleblowers.

As the Kathy McGuiness trial ended its second week, Kathy's hyper-paranoid office shenanigans are explored by even more witnesses. Also, is Judge Carpenter finally tamping down on the razzle dazzle?

More witnesses on Day 6 of the Kathy McGuiness trial: more haters, more p-cards, and more hostile workplace environments. We also learn more about the man, the myth, the legend: Thomas Van Horn.

RD18 Candidate Sophie Phillips joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how her background led her to get involved in environmental justice advocacy, her tenure as Miss Delaware, and what her priorities will be as a state legislator.

Show Notes:

• Sophie's website

• Donate to Sophie's campaign

• Volunteer for Sophie

Activists James and Henry join Rob in the bunker to talk about their journey into leftist politics and advocacy for Palestine, and some of their takeaways after recent protests in Delaware and Washington DC.

On Day 5 of the Kathy trial, we hear from the infamous but largely innocent My Campaign Group, as well as Kathy's infamous but largely innocent daughter. Also, why it's hard to prosecute for a crime when everyone's doing it.

This is the time of fake friends. As the Kathy McGuiness trial enters its second week, we begin to hear from former (and current) employees about how Kathy treats people who speak out against her. Also, how a oppo-driven trek across the state indirectly led to witness intimidation charges.

As the first week of the trial came to a close, we got to take a closer look into what it was like working inside the Office of the Auditor of Accounts, especially if you're her daughter or a friend of her daughter. We then talk about the end of a depressing week in another part of Dover.

Housing activist Shyanne Miller joins Rob in the bunker to talk about some of the latest bills to make housing worse, how the city handled the evictions on Adams St, and what is still left to be done in this legislative session.

Show Notes:

• SB 311 - Property Bundling

• Water shutoff vote

• Contact your legislature about the eminent domain bill

As the Kathy McGuiness trial continues on, we expand our scope to all of Dover. We discuss if it's normal to request the inboxes of dozens of former employees and walk through how house leadership holds up some bills while letting others sail through.

Show Notes:

• Tell your legislators to vote no on HB458

After a false start in Wilmington, the Kathy McGuiness Trial has resumed in Dover. Join us through a Thompson-esque journey through employee categorization, document management, and the ol Steve Wood razzle dazzle.

Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence Executive Director Traci Murphy joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the recent slate of mass shootings, the different solutions needed for different types of gun violence, and what is being worked on in Delaware right now.

Show Notes:

• Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence

• Brandywine Buzz

• Leadership's announcement on gun bills

• More on Camden's example

Day 1 of the Kathy McGuiness Trial ended in a stalemate as the defense made a motion to try the case in a different county. Hear Rob and legal correspondent Bill Martin talk about the sights, sounds, and arguments of the first day of the trial of the century.

Show Notes:

• News Journal coverage of Day 1

Karl the Producer joins Rob in the bunker in his capacity as Working Families Party Organizer to talk about the latest updates at legislative hall, why it's important to elect more progressives, and what it takes to make lasting change in Delaware.

Show Notes:

• Delaware WFP site

• Become a WFP Member

• Become a WFP Volunteer

• Carney's weed veto

• Spiegelman's blow-up

Delaware DSA Co-Chair Jonathan Tate joins Rob to talk about what DE DSA has been working on this year and the place for DSA in Delaware politics. Peppered in are some live PA primary updates.

Show Notes:

• Delaware DSA Site

• DE DSA's Facebook

• Become a DSA Member

Former Delaware Democratic Party Executive Director Erik Raser-Schramm joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his unique path into politics, his time in the political establishment, and why he wrote an op-ed calling out Bethany Hall-Long and endorsing Matt Meyer for governor.

Show Notes:

• Lt. Gov. Hall-Long’s campaign team is getting shaken up — again
• Erik's op-ed

Abortion activist Nick Beard and ACLU-DE Executive Director Mike Brickner join Rob in the bunker to talk about the recent leaked Roe v Wade decision, what that means for activism around abortion in Delaware, and what the demands need to be now that the worst-case scenario has happened.

Show notes:

• Essay from the beginning

• Alito's decision

• Join the march on Saturday

• Yellowhammer abortion fund

• Local abortion fund

• Guest bartender event

ACLU Voter Campaign Manager Meera Devotta joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her education experience in Delaware and abroad and the voter education work that she'll be doing for Delaware ACLU.

Show Notes:

• Delaware Voting Rights Coalition

• ACLU's new voting tool

• Register to vote or check your registration

• Information on the school board elections

Local author Timeless Thomas joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his path through the criminal justice system and how that led him to write 101 Things You Should Know About Jail, giving the important of information and reform in making a better criminal legal system.

Show Notes:

• 101 Things You Should Know About Jail

• Timeless Thomas on Facebook

• Timeless Thomas on YouTube