Meta pirated books for its AI. Trump is sending immigrants to Guantanamo. The Justice Department orders prosecutors to drop their case against Eric Adams. Trump bans plastic straws. RFK is coming for your SSRIs. And Worcester becomes a sanctuary city for trans people. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/worcester-massachusetts-becomes-sanctuary-city-trans-people-council-vo-rcna192022

https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2025/02/13/nazi-flags-can-fly-utah-school-not/

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/02/meta-torrented-over-81-7tb-of-pirated-books-to-train-ai-authors-say/

https://grist.org/accountability/exxon-plastics-plant-point-comfort-texas/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/14/trump-guantanamo-bay-migrants

https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-us-attorney-0395055315864924a3a5cc9a808f76fd

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/14/economy/plastic-paper-straws-trump?cid=ios_app

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/14/climate/nuclear-nnsa-firings-trump?cid=ios_app 

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/rfk-jr-goes-after-antidepressants-claiming-threat-to-americans?srsltid=AfmBOopisPR5DYWZ8ZT9TsGOQEapK1rOVqm3OjuTcnpU0LyiGueLoHFI

https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2025/02/heres-whos-running-new-york-city-mayor-2025/401994/ 

Kanye’s Twitter rant. Stories from the Trump Administration. The gleam in Netanyahu’s eye. A Petersburgh judge who knows you’re guilty. And Japanese micro forests.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/31/politics/us-government-agencies-order-employees-to-remove-gender-pronouns-from-email-signatures?cid=ios_app

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/06/netanyahu-trump-golden-pager-lebanon-hezbollah-attack 

https://apnews.com/article/new-york-judge-petersburgh-resigns-1634b59d392c834f561d9f992864395f

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/02/07/kanye-west-goes-on-antisemetic-rant-online-says-hitler-was-so-fresh/

https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/12/29/the-japanese-micro-forest-method-is-transforming-cities

Trump cabinet picks are a veritable who’s who of unstable warmongers and knuckleheads. AI slop of Elon Musk has Facebook users thinking he’s gonna save the world. News reporting on the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer hooligans is pure disinformation. Senate Dems have a chance to strengthen the NLRB–will they take it? And Colombia outlaws child marriage. 

DDN analysis of reporting on Maccabi Tel Aviv Soccer Hooliganism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvTyg1kJGzM

https://mondoweiss.net/2024/11/no-there-were-no-antisemitic-pogroms-in-amsterdam-heres-what-really-happened/

https://www.404media.co/absurd-ai-slop-about-how-elon-musk-will-fix-america-is-megaviral-on-facebook/ 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/14/business/media/alex-jones-infowars-the-onion.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare 

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/senate-democrats-nlrb-nominees_n_67351dbfe4b0b5b61d3f91fa

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/14/americas/colombia-child-marriage-law-intl-latam/index.html 

In one of our more casual episodes, Britney and David are back from the Ren Faire with stories. David went on TrueAnon to talk about cities and the trends that ruin them. The Queen is dead. It is (was) 9/11. Credit card companies are beginning to tag all firearm sales and track purchasers. And a non-profit discount grocery store is coming to one of Troy’s biggest food desserts! 

Visa, Mastercard, and Amex to track gun sales: https://apnews.com/4aae50c67e40f9683f604a8683acc391 

Discount grocer coming soon to Central Troy: https://www.timesunion.com/churchill/article/Churchill-A-Trader-Joe-s-for-Troy-s-poor-17430486.php

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This week we’re missing David, but are joined by previous guests/friends of the show Sean and Ashley to talk about local union organizing, the potential of a national railroad strike, the weirdo ex-CEO spending millions of dollars to prove that Trump won in 2020, the Albany Police Review Board’s requests for more power and funds, and Germany’s program to cut fuel dependency with cheap rail transit. Don’t miss David’s appearance on TrueAnon where he discusses his forthcoming book! 

David on TrueAnon: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1PQNdrvNSZmYdT1yslDpAa?si=ITNeB1ArScuQgFgm2Ly4Gw

Election conspiracy theory conference: https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-presidential-biden-cabinet-b4a3422d188fdd921d8e6f38f53ea0d0

Rail workers unions: https://www.labornotes.org/2022/09/rail-workers-reject-contract-recommendations-say-theyre-ready-strike

Albany Police Review Board: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Albany-police-review-board-to-request-budget-boost-17415478.php

Germany’s cheap transit project: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germanys-cheap-transit-offer-prevents-18-mln-tonnes-co2-group-2022-08-29/

Support the show on Patreon!

There’s more than one way to discipline a worker, but the sack may be the most effective. Manhattan is further infecting upstate with a bar targeted at lobbyists. UFOs are not only real, and not only non-human, but they are an exponentially growing threat. Apparently. An Alabama Pastor was arrested for watering his neighbors flowers. And a bald eagle caught a baby falcon for lunch, but ended up raising it as its own.  

Exponential UFOs: https://www.vice.com/en/article/3adadb/congress-admits-ufos-not-man-made-says-threats-increasing-exponentially 

Using the sack to discipline workers: https://theintercept.com/2022/08/24/unemployment-recession-worker-power-douglas-emmett/ 

'Political junkies' tavern eyeing fall opening near state Capitol: https://www.timesunion.com/tablehopping/article/War-Room-Tavern-eyeing-fall-opening-near-state-17391598.php.

Eagle catches baby falcon: https://pickduck.com/an-eagle-caught-a-baby-falcon-for-dinner-and-ended-up-adopting-it/

Alabama Pastor arrested for watering plants: https://www.al.com/news/2022/08/officer-who-arrested-alabama-pastor-while-watering-neighbors-plants-how-do-i-know-thats-the-truth.html

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Men, am I right? Oof. This week we’re talking about two real gems of masculinity–violent misogynist Andrew Tate and violent fake liberal CEO Dan Price. Also, did you know Brandon massively scaled back the drone war? Us neither. I wonder why… Then, a father who took a photo of his toddler’s penis to consult with a doctor has had his entire Google account deleted. And for our wildflower, retail sale of legal cannabis is in sight for NY State!

Andrew Tate’s MLM: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/aug/20/andrew-tate-money-making-scheme-for-fans-of-extreme-misogynist-closes

Dan Price’s Social Media: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/18/technology/dan-price-resign-social-media.html 

Biden’s Drone War: https://theweek.com/foreign-policy/1007579/biden-nearly-ended-the-drone-war-and-nobody-noticed 

Google Account Deleted for Medical Photo: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/21/technology/google-surveillance-toddler-photo.html

We’re back, baby! Hope you didn’t miss us too much. We catch up a bit before getting into such topics as minor league baseball, guns, Trump’s beautiful safe, a DEA agent who murdered his neighbor with no consequences, an update on the Capital Roots unionization effort, and a bit of good news about the Great Barrier Reef. Keep your eyes peeled for our episode on the Albany Warehouse, coming soon to a Patreon feed near you!

DEA agent kills neighbor, gets off scot free: https://apnews.com/article/shootings-mississippi-veterans-us-drug-enforcement-administration-bc9d8e9152f3b46cf4555010eda0735d

Great Barrier Reef: 

https://apnews.com/article/australia-queensland-united-nations-trending-news-f716b3e6ef7a798b5bfd32260aae2b79

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-04/great-barrier-reef-report-says-coral-recovering-after-bleaching/101296186

EKY Mutual Aid donation link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/ekymutualaid

The venerable Star Trek universe is really the only major pop culture property that can be claimed as certifiably leftist. But how do the newest batch of shows hold up? In a special crossover episode, Lyta Gold of Art for the End Times teams up with a lively panel of fellow podcasters and Trekkies—David Banks and Britney Gil (Iron Weeds), Leslie Lee III (Struggle Session), and Aaron Thorpe (Trillbilly Workers Party, Struggle Session, and Everybody Loves Communism)—to discuss the most recent Star Trek show to hit the airwaves, Strange New Worlds. Drawing on decades of collective Trekkie experience, they debate Paramount’s increasingly cynical approach to making Trek, and how the whole series succeeds (or fails) in imagining fully automated luxury space communism while still being created by capitalists.

Something is rotten in the state of New York. A vicious attack on Representative and gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin feels suspiciously like a set up. On the other side of the fence, one family has donated $300k to Kathy Hochul’s campaign, with an impressive ROI of $637m. Republicans are having a really tough time with the whole gay marriage issue, so please send thoughts and prayers. And for our wildflower, a randy little parrot is at the height of its game! 

A family donated $300K to Hochul. New York has paid the family business $637M. https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/A-single-family-has-donated-300K-to-Hochul-17310875.php  

“Attack” on Lee Zeldin: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/22/nyregion/lee-zeldin-suspect-bail.html

Poor republicans and the gay marriage debate: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3570528-same-sex-marriage-debate-poses-problems-for-republicans/ 

Don’t call it a Kakapo Komeback: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/471219/kakapo-population-at-its-highest-in-almost-50-years

Shagged by a rare parrot: https://youtu.be/9T1vfsHYiKY 

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A story sandwich this week–good stuff, bad stuff, and good stuff to leave your palate cleansed. Congressional staffers are unionizing! But the climate is actively killing us and our poor, poor grass. We’ll show them tho, by using plastic grass! Progress! Arizona has effectively outlawed filming the police. But David wrote an essay on psychedelics and architecture! And the good folks at the New Jersey Medieval Times are unionizing! 

Congressional staffers unionizing: https://newrepublic.com/article/167058/dear-white-staffers-instagram-interview-unionize-capitol-hill?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=EB_TNR&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1658031609

Delivery drivers succumbing to heat: https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/scottsdale-homeowner-shares-video-ups-driver-collapsing-on-porch-keep-others-safe/75-9b067ffa-b039-4161-8068-6322898707b5 

https://abc7news.com/california-ups-driver-dies-signs-of-heatstroke-esteban-chavez-heat-related-deaths/12023790/ 

Artificial turf: https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2022-artificial-turf-grass-lawns-climate-change/

Filming police outlawed in Arizona: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/thinking-filming-police-encounter-arizona-make-sure-s-not-8-feet-rcna37566

Read David in Dwell Magazine! https://www.dwell.com/article/rick-doblin-maps-arcturus-sarasota-florida-psychedelics-1970s-9060cbd6

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We got a real grab bag for you this week. A Goop smores station gone wrong, a horrifying I Voted sticker, a cartoonist’s regret over not killing his stepson, the most ambitious assassination in recent history, and much more. Check out our Patreon for the final part of our MK Ultra series at patreon.com/ironweeds! 

Fire at the Goop Store: https://news.yahoo.com/2-men-hospitalized-explosion-gwyneth-170049836.html 

Elon the bullshit artist: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-tears-into-bullshit-artist-elon-musk-at-anchorage-rally 

Storming the palace in Sri Lanka: https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/storming-the-palace-and-then-tidying-up-sri-lanka-s-civil-uprising-20220710-p5b0i3.html 

Fetus on board, HOV lane denied: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/watchdog/2022/07/08/pregnant-woman-says-her-fetus-should-count-as-a-passenger-in-hov-lanes-she-got-a-ticket/ 

I Voted McVoteface: https://mashable.com/article/ulster-county-i-voted-sticker-contest 

Kill your son: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/dilbert-scott-adams-kill-sons-b2117427.html

Shinzo Abe Links: 

• https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/09/04/shinzo-abe-japan-south-korea-war-nationalism/ 
• https://apnews.com/article/shinzo-abe-obituary-de5d5c3a798e1ac4fde4073763cf76df 
• https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/why-yasukuni-shrine-is-controversial-symbol-japans-war-legacy-2021-08-13/ 
• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/03/moonie-cult-leader 
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/09/shinzo-abe-assassination-election-blinken/ 

India outlaw single-use plastics: https://apnews.com/article/science-india-new-delhi-climate-and-environment-d886865b46014c216878e52331145926 

Ironweeds 3 Year Podiversary Link: https://youtu.be/El4Z4pqyoss

Capital Roots Union recognized! https://www.troyrecord.com/2022/07/10/capital-roots-announces-formal-action-to-voluntarily-recognize-employee-union/ 

After a rough week of news, we chat about the Supreme Court’s stranglehold on civil rights and what comes next (not good!). The FBI is doing its favorite thing–manufacturing an extremist group, this time with Satan! Q is back in business baby. And a cute little bird from Florida is getting some help from Audubon to increase their numbers in the wild. 

Q Returns! https://mashable.com/article/q-qanon-conspiracy-theory-returns-8kun 

Satanist Neo Nazis: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/the-satanist-neo-nazi-plot-to-murder-u-s-soldiers-1352629/ 

https://www.audubon.org/news/efforts-save-north-americas-most-endangered-bird-are-succeeding

Support the show!

That’s right folks, the real winner of the election is Chris for being right about everything! This ep we talk about Trump’s win, how the dems lost, and what comes next. 

https://www.latintimes.com/did-joe-biden-drop-out-google-trends-presidential-election-trump-harris-564875

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/harris-cheney-democrats-campaign-trump-election-2024-1235158805/

https://www.dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/exit-right/

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/06/harris-democrats-union-harris-votes-00187943 

https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2024/1107/Brazil-Amazon-deforestation-Lula-environment-climate-change

We have an Ironreads for you this week, courtesy of the Times Union’s Chris Churchill. Stop letting Andrew Cuomo live rent free in your head! The J6 hearings aren’t convincing swing state republicans to switch teams, and are in fact further entrenching both sides. The Fed has decided that workers have had it too good for too long and need some disciplining. A bitcoin mine in the Finger Lakes has everybody pissed off–will Kathy care? Gilded Age is set to return to the Capital District, and David has some choice words for Julian Fellows and the inaccurate historical representation of streets in 1882. Finally, the workers at Capital Roots have requested recognition of their union with SEIU Local 200. Please email their CEO to express your support for the staff–link at the bottom!

https://www.timesunion.com/churchill/article/Churchill-Letting-go-of-Andrew-Cuomo-17249155.php?IPID=Times-Union-HP-column-list

https://www.levernews.com/the-fed-declares-war-on-workers/ 

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/impeachment-no-3-jan-6-panel-isnt-swaying-swing-state-republicans-rcna34037

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/The-Gilded-Age-sets-up-for-second-season-of-17249675.php 

https://www.fingerlakesdailynews.com/2022/06/15/1473612/ 

https://gothamist.com/news/bitcoin-mining-operation-finger-lakes-runs-against-new-yorks-climate-law 

https://www.seiu200united.org/news/capital-roots-staff-request-voluntary-recognition-of-their-union-with-seiu-local-200united/ 

Email Amy Klein, CEO of Capital Roots: https://act.seiu.org/a/capital_roots 

Support the show!

This week we’ve got some local and national stories that are certain to restore your faith in the democratic system. J/k, this is Ironweeds, you know what you’re in for. District 2 City Councilor Kim Ashe-McPherson has resigned after pleading guilty to felony ballot fraud. Local activists have been arrested after protesting police brutality at the Albany courthouse and releasing cockroaches into the building. Howard Schultz shocks the world by saying he’ll never support the Starbucks Union… and really this is Bernie’s fault because if Hillary had won she would have made Schultz head of the Department of Labor and he would have certainly learned the value of workers’ rights. A man is suing American Airlines after they reported his name to police for shoplifting, landing him in jail for 17 days with no explanation. Patriot Front is trying to prove their status as a right wing militia by crashing a Pride event. And finally, national parks are phasing out single use plastics!

Kimberly Fash-McFearSon: https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/Troy-councilwoman-resigns-day-after-pleading-to-17230155.php

https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/Ballot-fraud-probe-17222508.php 

Man jailed for 17 days with no explanation: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article262126407.html

Howard Schultz says he will never support union: https://perfectunion.us/howard-schultz-says-starbucks-will-never-engage-with-union/

Phasing out plastics at national parks: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/interior-department-to-phase-out-single-use-plastics-at-national-parks

Three arrested for releasing cockroaches into court: https://cbs6albany.com/amp/news/local/albany-city-court-back-open-state-senate-worker-fired-after-cockroaches-released

Incident that lead to courthouse protest and arrests: https://100bmobc.medium.com/rally-planned-in-response-to-nys-troopers-caught-assaulting-disabled-black-woman-354175d68286

31 Patriot Front members arrested for conspiring to crash Pride event: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/11/patriot-front-members-arrested-idaho-00039000 

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/12/us/idaho-pride-white-supremacists-arrested.html

We’re in a New York State of mind this week. The end of the legislative session brings with it no significant action on climate, power, or tenant protections. With a years-long super majority, the failure of Democrats in one of the most liberal states in the union to take bold action is alarming. They did, however, put a moratorium on granting new permits to fossil fuel burning cryptocurrency mines. Trucks are running into bridges left and right and it’s costing a fortune. And for our wildflower, Kingston is poised to become the first city north of NYC to adopt rent stabilization!

Hostage situation at Stewarts: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Man-crashes-car-holds-hostages-at-Troy-Stewart-s-17216957.php#taboola-1

Crypto moratorium: https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/3/23151622/new-york-bitcoin-mining-moratorium-bill-state-senate 

Kingston could become first Hudson Valley city to adopt rent stabilization: https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/news/article/Kingston-rent-stabilization-vacancy-17215721.php 

End of the legislative session: https://citylimits.org/2022/06/04/new-yorks-legislative-session-ends-with-mixed-results-on-housing-heres-what-passed-what-didnt/

A truck hits a NY bridge almost daily. It's costing taxpayers millions: https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/new-york-bridge-strikes-17177659.php 

Public Power failure spells disaster: https://newrepublic.com/article/166663/democrats-build-public-renewables-act-new-york

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This week, we’re doing what we do best–hating cops. From the tragedy of the Uvalde shooting and the cowardice of local police, to a drunk driving cop who lied about dealing with the deer, to Albany detectives hiding evidence in a sexual abuse case, there can only be one conclusion: all cops are bastards. Also, the boys report back on the latest city council session where everyone yelled at our councilors, Chris biked for his life away from road ragers, and Britney got stung by a wasp and is being a big baby about it. Wildflower? OSHA is cracking down on a pork processing plant over repetitive injuries.

Lawyer: Albany detectives hid evidence, corrupted 2000 sexual abuse case https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Lawyer-Albany-detectives-hid-evidence-corrupted-17201975.php 

State Trooper Drove Drunk: https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/state-trooper-charged-after-crashing-unit-open-bottle-rum-found-passenger-seat-police-say/Z26HRDCS65ECNK22OLJ6LZLP4Q/ 

Retired Federal Agent May Have Known About Buffalo Shooting: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/authorities-investigating-if-retired-federal-agent-knew-of-buffalo-mass-shooting-plans-in-advance/article_bd408f18-dd39-11ec-be53-df8fdd095d6f.html 

Bandcamp link for Billionaire Death Squad: https://zombiegiuliani.bandcamp.com/album/billionaire-death-squad

Meat Packing Plant Must Address Repetitive Injuries: https://civileats.com/2022/05/23/seaboard-meatpacking-plant-must-address-workers-repetitive-motion-injuries/

What’s the deal with inflation? It’s all fake, but in, like, a weird way. Two master posters face off over the latest sexual harassment allegations. The greatest country in the world is letting little babies die rather than interfere with monopoly capitalism. And another country, Spain, is poised to ensure paid menstrual leave for workers. Pretty neat!

Biden says hello: https://twitter.com/kannoyoungs/status/1528208720869478401?s=21&t=W-2lrr2r8d2PeNC40XLFBg 

Economy sucks: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/cracks-in-us-economy-start-to-show-as-recession-warnings-mount/2022/05/20/de2f580a-d81e-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html 

The Fed may trigger a recession: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-05-17/forget-the-put-the-fed-will-risk-recession-to-tame-inflation 

Scary graphs: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LABSHPUSA156NRUG 

Tim Barker interview: https://jacobinmag.com/2021/09/socialist-primer-monetary-policy-inflation-federal-reserve-volcker-shock-class-tim-barker-interview 

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This episode we discuss the white supremacist mass shooting in Buffalo and the shooter’s self-described ideology. Then we once again enter the wild world of crypto to discuss David’s recent essay in The Guardian. In some local good news, Troy is getting a skate park!

Crypto readings:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/12/nft-scams-mines-cryptocurrency-crypto-con 

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/05/the-crash-of-cryptos-perpetual-motion-machine.html 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-did-cryptocurrencies-terrausd-and-luna-unravel-stablecoin-price-crash-explained-11652462779 

Support the show!

With Chris still under the weather, we’re taking it easy this week. And it’s not like there’s much going on anyway. The domestic shortage of infants rears its ugly head in Amy Coney Barret’s draft opinion on the overturning of Roe v. Wade. NFTs are in freefall, and crypto in general is destroying lives, the planet, and Twitter. For a little bright spot in this hellish world, we’re bringing you an Ironreads on how Javanka’s neighbors absolutely hate them. Our wildflower celebrates Delta Airlines finally paying their attendants for boarding! 

Bitcoin mine destroys Appalachian town: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/03/18/bitcoin-mining-noise-pollution-appalachia/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acq-intl&utm_campaign=eng-rem-biz&utm_content=bitconappa&twclid=230z0ect5r5c20qdqmjyz7r20p

Delta attendants to be paid for boarding: https://news.yahoo.com/160-000-people-complained-flight-184549383.html

Javanka aren’t beloved in the neighborhood: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/ivanka-trump-jared-kushner-surfside-florida-neighbor-drama.html 

This week we are sadly apart, as Chris has contracted Covid. Apologies for David’s kind of crappy audio for a short time. We’re talking about the Bitcoin Dark Tetrad that explains why crypto bros are so awful, an underground digital meth consumption culture, and short men who are undergoing invasive, painful surgery to increase their height. Why do they do it? What does it say about our society that they feel like they have to? Why is David, a short man, so lacking in empathy for his fellow short kings? We may never know. We touch on Wynn Bruce, the climate activist who self-immolated in front of the Supreme Court, and the tragic futility of spectacular activism. Finally, a Lyme Disease shot is in the final stages of development. It’s Lyme season, so make sure to check your special areas for ticks!

Limb Lengthening: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/elaminabdelmahmoud/limb-lengthening-surgery-height-stigma-short-kings 

Disney to lose special status: https://www.wsj.com/articles/florida-bill-to-end-disneys-special-tax-district-heads-to-gov-desantis-for-signature-11650562007?mod=flipboard 

Wynn Bruce: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/24/us/politics/climate-activist-self-immolation-supreme-court.html 

There is no Zoom without Methhttps://www.nbcnews.com/specials/internet-meth-underground-hidden-in-plain-sight/index.html 

Evil Crypto Bros: https://www.the-sun.com/tech/5105986/dark-tetrad-evil-bitcoin-personality-type-revealed/ 

Lyme disease shot inches closer to reality: https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/news/article/Lyme-disease-prevention-shot-17078270.php 

As Brit takes the week off, David and Chris are #blessedwithaguest! Indi Samarajiva (@indica on twitter and medium and indi.ca) drops by to chat about the debt and fuel crises and recent political unrest in Sri Lanka, and how it connects to White Empire, IMF, and the general terrible state of the world we’re all living in. We touch on many topics, from how imperialism works these days, to how liberals should consider taking a hippocratic oath and chilling out in terms of their interventionist zeal. From discussing climate realism, scolding Christopher Nolan, and stanning Hayao Miyazaki, we had such a nice time talking with Indi!

Check out Indi: http://indi.ca/

Read Marx: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/

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For the holiday, please enjoy this very special bonus episode in which we talk about the history of criminalization and decriminalization of cannabis. One of the oldest intoxicants in human history, cannabis is finally being legalized throughout the US, but it’s been a long road to the slow end of prohibition.

Like this kind of content? There's more where that came from! Support the show on Patreon

The election is almost here and campaigns have been bilking the elderly for everything they’re worth. A DuPont factory in Louisiana gets a slap on the wrist for emitting benzene. Your spatula is killing you. Israel is conducting an extermination campaign in north Gaza. And airlines are gonna have to pay up for making you wait.

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2024/10/politics/political-fundraising-elderly-election-invs-dg

https://www.nola.com/news/environment/louisiana-cancer-alley-dupont-epa-pollution-environment/article_41429cd2-9329-11ef-985a-735db2aff7a2.html

https://www.beyondplastics.org/fact-sheets/black-plastic

https://mondoweiss.net/2024/10/survivors-of-north-gaza-invasion-report-israeli-extermination-campaign/

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/29/travel/airline-fees-refunds-dot-rules.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare 

A bit doom and gloom this week, we’re talking about the latest IPCC climate report, and guess what? We have a lot of work to do. Like, a lot. Meanwhile, we’re quibbling over whether or not public transport kills businesses (it doesn’t). A Texas woman was charged with murder for a self-induced abortion, a likely sign of things to come if the court overturns Roe v. Wade this summer. And in some more cheery labor news, airport workers around the country are rallying for better wages and working conditions. We’re playing you out with Zombie Guiliani’s Let’s Go Extinct!

Climate report: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/04/climate/climate-change-ipcc-un.html?referringSource=articleShare 

Massachussettes needs way, way more electric vehicles: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/04/09/science/massachusetts-needs-least-750000-electric-vehicles-road-by-2030-it-is-nowhere-close/ 

Woman charged with murder over abortion: https://www.tpr.org/news/2022-04-08/texas-woman-charged-with-murder-for-self-induced-abortion

Parking actually kills businesses: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/ideasroom/parking-kills-businesses-not-bikes-or-buses 

Airport workers have had enough: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/airport-workers-rally-better-wages-airlines_n_62448ffae4b0d7ac3d550f91 

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Multi millionaire President of Black Rock thinks you’re entitled, and you better buckle up for shortages that you’ve never experienced. Except, ya know, the last two years. Will Smith slapped Chris Rock. Mo Brooks went woke. The House is giving the Senate an opportunity to not end prohibition. Albany drug addict advocates are calling for prevention centers. And unions are in bloom!

Brace for shortages you little twerps: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10667971/BlackRock-president-warns-entitled-generation-needs-brace-shock-shortages.html

Lead Baloon Legalization Bill: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/bill-legalize-marijuana-passes-us-house-faces-dim-prospects-senate-2022-04-01/

Woke Mo:https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/us/politics/trump-mo-brooks-senate.html

'It's hard to argue with lives saved.' As overdoses soar, calls for prevention centers grow: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/It-s-hard-to-argue-with-lives-saved-As-17050912.php 

Latham Starbucks Union Drive: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Workers-at-Latham-Plaza-Starbucks-want-to-unionize-17044819.php 

Cybertruck is dead. Long live Cybertruck: https://carbuzz.com/news/canceled-tesla-cybertruck-is-dead 

Amazon Union: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/02/business/amazon-union-christian-smalls.html 

More Amazon Union: https://perfectunion.us/staten-island-warehouse-workers-win-first-amazon-union-in-the-u-s/

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This week we’re back with a nice smattering of weird and disturbing stories. The number of workers who believe their boss cares about them has plummeted in the last year, which is pretty obvious given that an Applebee’s franchising executive recently expounded the virtues of worker suffering for his bottom line. Saudi Arabia is considering accepting Chinese yuan for oil, which, like, hello? We’ve been backing you up for years, and this is how you treat us? Wow. In related news, Antarctica saw an unexplainable spike in temperature that has climate scientists confused and very, very concerned. Ginni Thomas’ unhinged texts to Mark Meadows reveal the degree of the elites’ disconnection from reality. Biden shouldn’t have said that, and Boston is making its busses free for the next two years.

Finding out your boss isn’t your family: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/390776/percent-feel-employer-cares-wellbeing-plummets.aspx

Ginni Thomas calls for the release of The Kraken: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/26/us/politics/ginni-thomas-donald-trump.html?referringSource=articleShare 

Free busses in Boston: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/03/14/boston-free-public-transit/ 

Franchise executive things serfdom is great for business: https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article259689425.html

Saudi Arabia is a fake friend: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/598257-saudi-arabia-considers-accepting-yuan-instead-of-dollar-for-oil 

Antarctica is on fire: https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/03/18/antarctica-heat-wave-climate-change/

Biden accidentally calls for Putin’s overthrow: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/03/26/world/ukraine-russia-war/russia-ukraine-biden 

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The forces of Men’s Rights Activists take control of South Korea in a record-breaking election year for that country thanks in part to Seo Cheon-seok’s digital double. Meanwhile, in Texas, where they have the matriarchy on the run, a woman is forced to fly to Colorado for a life-saving abortion on her wedding day. To help Ukraine realize the kind of freedom enjoyed in America, the world’s third largest military --the combined force of America’s collective police departments-- have started donating their combat gear to that country. We’re not without a wildflower of course: New York is putting those impacted the worst by the Drug War at the front of the line for legal Cannabis growing.  

Cops donate tactical gear to Ukraine:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/dypkjx/us-police-donates-tactical-gear-ukraine

Texas’ abortion law forces a woman to get care in Colorado: 

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/28/1083536401/texas-abortion-law-6-months

Deepfake candidate videos, hair insurance and anti-feminism in South Korea’s election:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vx8k/south-korea-incel-gender-wars-election-womens-rights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5bnjr0bhKk

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorea-candidates-woo-young-voters-with-deepfakes-hair-insurance-2022-03-03/

Wildflower: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/First-dispensaries-to-go-to-New-Yorkers-with-past-16992669.php

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As things continue to heat up in Ukraine, the manufacturing of consent here in the US intensifies. A New York State County Executive is holding a gun drive to send poorly maintained long rifles purchased from Field and Stream at a discount to Ukraine. The US trucker convoy is making its way to DC just in time to protest Covid restrictions that are no longer in place, and we thank them for their service. Albany Police Chief says that officers who covered their badges last summer while crushing protests did no wrong, and their actions were the result of a miscommunication. Also, protestors are very mean. And finally, unionizing efforts at a Manhattan REI see huge success.

Trucker Convoy: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/05/us/trucker-convoy-washington-protest.html 

NY Gun Drive: https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-york-gun-drive-ukraine-russia-war

Report: Police violated policy by covering badges before protest: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Report-Police-violated-policy-by-covering-badges-16946814.php 

This week we’ve got one thing on the brain: Ukraine. David fills us in on the long history of US interventionism and context for the current conflict. This is a tragic, catastrophic story full of bad actors on all sides. From the expansion of NATO to covert CIA actions that installed bloodthirsty regimes, Western governments’ interventionism fuels so much war. One bit of good news though! Covid cases are down 90% in the United States and we’re looking forward to seeing people in person!

The history of the CIA in Ukraine:

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-02-25/ukraine-cia-insurgents-russia-invasion 

A brief and incomplete list of American election meddling: 

https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/02/26/msnbc-needs-a-history-lesson/ 

“This is what happens in banana republics around the world where the United States takes a very active role in preventing that kind of military coup.”

https://archive.org/details/MSNBCW_20220204_210000_Deadline_White_House/start/4320/end/4380 

You never forget your first, the CIA overthrows Syria’s first elected president:

​​https://time.com/4735438/america-syria-war-coup-history/ 

When the U.S. installed Boris Yeltsin: https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/06/26/russian-election-interference-meddling/  

We even bragged about it on the cover of Time Magazine:

http://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19960715,00.html 

Remember that time“Obama directed the release of 12 Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft, 20 Boeing Harpoon missiles, and up to 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits… Obama told Sisi he would continue to ask the U.S. Congress for $1.3 billion in military aid for Egypt per year…”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-egypt-military/obama-ends-freeze-on-u-s-military-aid-to-egypt-idUSKBN0MR2GR20150401 

Jeffrey Goldberg’s 2016 interview with Obama:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/04/the-obama-doctrine/471525/ 

Brookings Institute goons call for even more weapons to Ukraine https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2016/03/18/the-obama-doctrine-and-ukraine/ 

The Bidens and Ukraine:

https://covertactionmagazine.com/2021/02/20/escalating-the-new-cold-war-with-russia-via-ukraine-bidens-unprincipled-stands-involving-covert-operations-blackmail-corruption-nepotism-and-state-terrorism/ 

This week we talk about a white supremacist rally in Woodstock, a WaPo food critic who wants to be pampered, and because we love you so much, a double whammy wildflower of labor and cannabis. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2022/02/17/restaurant-service-problems-pandemic/

https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/news/article/White-Lives-Matter-rally-Woodstock-raises-concerns-16918415.php 

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/02/20/world/queen-elizabeth-covid/queen-elizabeth-icoronavirus 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/18/apple-retail-stores-union-labor/ 

https://mjbizdaily.com/new-york-senate-oks-bill-to-allow-hemp-farmers-to-grow-adult-use-marijuana/

The horrors of the modern world greet us this week, with tortured monkies, conspiracy-fueled spousal murder, whatever is going on at Fort Bragg, and Anti-China propaganda that paints Western Imperialism as the responsible parent of a wayward Africa. But German weasels are doing god’s work.

These bears aren’t even bears, let alone horny! https://www.cnet.com/news/build-a-bear-just-launched-an-after-dark-series-of-horny-teddy-bears/?TheTime=2022-02-03T03%3A36%3A52&ftag=COS-05-10aaa0b&ServiceType=twitter&PostType=link&UniqueID=87175AA6-84A2-11EC-93FE-40CF4744363C

Fort Bragg is not OK: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/ftbragg-army-beheading-charges-filed-1283450/ 

Man pleads insanity after murdering wife because Q Anon told him to: https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgd49n/qanon-man-killed-wife-cia-sex-trafficker

Imperialism and Development in Africa: https://fair.org/home/why-comparing-chinese-africa-investment-to-western-colonialism-is-no-joke/  

Anti-Car Aktion: https://www.bavariannews.com/blog/2020/01/17/marten-a-misunderstood-pest-and-how-to-deter-from-vehicle-wiring/

Boss Baby Steve’s lackeys have had their phones confiscated, and David wants to see the groypers. The infamous Renalli memo commissioned by Mayor Madden is being released, and our boy Chris Churchill is not impressed. Albany is using millions of dollars in American Rescue Plan funds to give cops raises–look they’ve really struggled in this economy, OK? Green Island is getting green micro transit that is BY New Yorkers, FOR New Yorkers! Got it? And lastly, a big round of applause for all of the Starbucks workers unionizing. You’re killin it!

WoW guilds and Market Socialism?: https://youtu.be/BKGx5xrr5eg

FBI seizes cell phones: https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/FBI-seizes-mobile-phones-of-top-Rensselaer-County-16829935.php

Green Island gets EV factory: https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/news/2022/01/13/green-island-new-york-electric-vehicle-factory.html?ana=TRUEANTHEMFB_AL&csrc=6398&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR3rOZRS2Rz9FHS9BoFNxEy-kgLWoIMQu0q2wxDvfUwHOlftLJvvn5rzpVY

Churchill: For mayor, truth about Thevenin shooting was never the goal https://www.timesunion.com/churchill/article/Churchill-For-Troy-s-mayor-truth-about-police-16832172.php 

Rescue Plan funds go to police: https://www.albanyproper.com/albany-to-use-9-8mil-of-rescue-plan-funds-to-cover-police-raises/

Our boy Ross Douthat has a bad case of tick borne illness and takes the entirely wrong lessons from his journey to wellness. Fuel tax dollars meant to repair infrastructure in Pennsylvania took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in the state police’s pockets. All crypto is a fake scam, but this crypto especially is a fake scam! Some good news coming out of Saratoga and the Gulf of Mexico. 

Ross Douthat gets Lyme, learns nothing: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/opinion/lyme-disease-health-care.html 

Douthat’s Lyme coming out story: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/23/opinion/lyme-disease-chronic-illness.html?referringSource=articleShare 

Fuel tax for cops: https://whyy.org/articles/pa-fuel-tax-meant-for-bridge-repair-went-to-state-police-instead/

Crypto Scam: https://www.vice.com/en/article/epxakz/crypto-co-founder-revealed-to-be-infamous-fraudster-investors-shaken 

Judge dismisses BLM charges: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Judge-dismisses-charges-against-BLM-protester-16800379.php 

Court revokes leases to drill in Gulf of Mexico: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/27/climate/federal-court-drilling-gulf.html 

Donald Trump will spank the nation. Nearly half of Americans want to round up undocumented immigrants in militarized camps. Newspapers are withholding endorsements for the president. Veteran entrepreneurs are using their unique skill set to rise and grind. The federal government is investing in rural power. 

https://apnews.com/article/military-extremism-pentagon-veterans-terrorism-capitol-riot-jan-6-0c1fdd7b6b761e9c9e8556a9b9e45dc9

https://www.axios.com/2024/10/22/trump-mass-deportation-immigrant-camps

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/26/anticipatory-obedience-newspapers-endorsement-refusal

https://www.marijuanamoment.net/snoop-dogg-confirms-he-has-a-staffer-who-makes-sure-people-hes-smoking-marijuana-with-dont-get-too-high/

As Covid peaks in the Capital District, its complications surge around the globe. From indentured servitude to scam testing to trigger happy parents to presidential quackery, we have a lot of depressing covid news that we can’t wait to share with you. Also Dry January is pure evil and New York is keeping farty food out of landfills. 

Medical workers barred from beginning new jobs: https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/2022/01/21/what-we-know-ascension-thedacare-court-battle-over-employees/6607417001/

Bolsonaro guilty of crimes against humanity: https://unicornriot.ninja/2021/covid-commission-finds-bolsonaro-committed-crimes-against-humanity/ 

Pop up Covid testing scams: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-testing-company-300-pop-sites-us-faces-multiple-probes-rcna12261

Deliberate hospital understaffing driving nursing crisis: https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000008158650/covid-nurse-burnout-understaffing.html?smid=tw-share

Mother threatens to bring gun to school over masks: https://wjla.com/news/local/page-county-public-schools-luray-virginia-increase-security-police-presence-mom-threatens-to-bring-loaded-gun-over-mask-mandate

Dry January is pure evil: https://nypost.com/2022/01/18/dry-january-is-pure-evil-to-bars-reeling-from-covid/

New laws on food waste to go into effect: https://www.ecowatch.com/new-york-food-waste-recycling-law.html

In Biden’s America, parents face fines for keeping sick kids home in a pandemic, blue-pilled Senators flagrantly violate public health and safety rules, and the plebes are told to treat Covid testing like going to your favorite brunch place. The Spanish Secret Service was behind the 2017 terror attack in Barcelona in an attempt to keep Catalonia in line. The 1/15 hostage situation in Fort Worth surrounds a shadowy figure called the Gray Lady of Bagram. How the decision to have kids is personal, regional, global, and everything in between. And great news on the Covid front: a cannabis cure and a vaccine for all. 

Latham restaurateur: Senator doesn't get pass on mask mandate https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Latham-restaurateur-says-Gillibrand-doesn-t-get-16778202.php 

Secret Service was behind Barcelona attack: https://www.thenational.scot/news/19841925.secret-service-behind-barcelona-terror-attacks-says-ex-cop/ 

To breed or not to breed: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/20/style/breed-children-climate-change.html

Aafia Siddiqui: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/24/aafia-siddiqui-al-qaida

More on Siddiqui: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/21/us-pakistan-protests-release-neuroscientist-aafia-siddiqui

Texas hostage situation: https://abcnews.go.com/US/armed-man-takes-hostages-texas-synagogue-source/story?id=82285896

Weed and covid: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/01/14/marijuana/can-cannabis-really-prevent-covid-not-quite-new-study-shows-promise/

Patent Free Vax Development: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/15/corbevax-covid-vaccine-texas-scientists

This week we’re talking about the strange connection between cryptocurrency and the unrest in Kazakhstan, the strange connection between Maxwell trial juror number 50 and the Carlyle Group, and the strange connection between Coca Cola and a live action role playing park for cops in Atlanta. Chris shows his true loyalty as Worcester says no to invasive facial recognition technology. 

Worcester bans facial recognition tech:

https://www.telegram.com/story/news/2021/12/15/worcester-city-councilors-turn-away-facial-recognition-technology/8905136002/

Scotty David and the Carlyle Group: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-06/maxwell-juror-who-could-upend-conviction-works-for-carlyle-group 

Quotes from this book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/292103/american-dynasty-by-kevin-phillips/ 

Cop City in Atlanta: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/12/27/2071361/-Atlanta-city-council-secretly-approved-an-90-million-militarized-police-training-facility

Color of Change Report: https://colorofchange.org/press_release/color-of-change-releases-first-of-its-kind-report-exposing-police-foundation-ties-to-fortune-500-companies-corporate-mega-donors/

Video shows officers run away after tasered man bursts into flames https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/catskill-taser-police-video-16756717.php 

Kazakhstan:

https://eurasianet.org/kazakhstan-gripped-by-protests-as-popular-frustration-spills-over 

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/06/bitcoin-btc-slides-cryptocurrencies-drop-on-hawkish-fed-minutes.html 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/06/kazakhstan-bitcoin-internet-shutdown 

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/06/kazakhstan-bitcoin-mining-shuts-down-amid-fatal-protests.html

https://fortune.com/2021/11/24/kazakhstan-bitcoin-crypto-mining-energy-power-crisis-china-xive-shuts-down/ 

https://thediplomat.com/2021/09/kazakhstans-cryptocurrency-mining-grows-despite-emissions-worries/ 

We’re back, baby! New Year, same us! We’re talking Matrix 4, Don’t Look Up, Covid Gone Wild, political retaliation in Rensselaer County, and the leftist smoke show who’s now President of Chile! What does 2022 have in store for us? It’s anybody’s guess. Middling movies, a runaway virus, and a few glimmers of hope on the political horizon are setting the tone. 

The Covid-19 case surge is altering daily life across the US. Things will likely get worse, experts warn https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/01/health/us-coronavirus-saturday/index.html

Rensselaer County legislator says vehicle towing was political retaliation https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Rensselaer-County-legislator-says-vehicle-towing-16740909.php 

Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin arraigned in state probe https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Rensselaer-County-Executive-Steve-McLaughlin-16665993.php 

Boric’s win in Chile

https://kawsachunnews.com/interview-what-can-we-expect-from-boric 

A Nation on Hold Wants 7o Talk to a Manager: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/01/business/customer-service-pandemic-rage.html

One of Marjorie Taylor Greene's verified Twitter accounts permanently suspended from Twitter: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/02/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-twitter-suspension/index.html

For our last show of 2021, we talk about the latest school shooter and the unique culpability of the parents. Also in the news is the danger Roe v. Wade is in after recent Supreme Court arguments. With Ghislaine Maxwell on trial, we share a bizarre and compelling conspiracy theory that she is a Master Poster. Rod Dreher is very upset that our elites are into butt stuff. And… Steve McLaughlin got arrested. Amazing. We love you so much, and we’ll see you next year!

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/hiney-lickers-of-princeton-decadence/

https://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/ocbgl6/today_is_the_one_year_anniversary_of_ghislaine/

With Britney out of commission, the boys hold it down this week to talk about the Omicron variant, the panic over crime and policing, and the epidemic of people being cool and doing crimes. The West’s vaccine hoarding has come back to haunt us with a new Covid variant. Despite press and police freak outs over defund activism, cops have more money than ever. The supposed crime spree of smash-and-grabbers is just another element of the false narrative that cops prevent crime. But you already knew that. And for our wildflower, the Portland Loo project. 

Omicron: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/11/28/world/covid-omicron-variant-news/told-you-so-african-countries-feel-the-brunt-of-the-wests-scattershot-pandemic-response 

Police departments spend more than ever: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Despite-calls-to-defund-Capital-Region-16632083.php 

Smash & Grab Nation: https://www.wbaltv.com/article/why-some-us-cities-are-facing-a-spree-of-smash-and-grab-crimes/38337956

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/23/us/smash-and-grab-thefts-explainer-cec/index.html

https://theappeal.org/retail-theft-ben-dugan-cVs-walgreens-shoplifting/ 

Prefab Public Restrooms: https://portlandloo.com/

Support the show!

With Kyle Rittenhouse being acquitted, we reflect on his violent acts and the trial. NYPD cops are having a very sad time and regret entering the force. Poor things. In Troy, fear mongering surrounds Barker Park and the presence of people who dare to be homeless in public. The go-to boogeyman in both of these cases is, of course, bail reform. As we predicted ages ago, Republicans are routing Democrats on cannabis legalization, because heaven forbid Democrats ever do something that is widely popular across the political spectrum. And finally, are you tired? Because you’ve been running through your cat’s mind all day.  

Republicans push legalization bills: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/21/cannabis-democrats-republicans-523119

Churchill: In Troy small park, big problems: https://www.timesunion.com/churchill/article/Churchill-In-Troy-small-park-big-problems-16603061.php 

Cats can track your 'invisible presence' using only their ears: https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/10/world/cats-track-owners-location-voice-scn/index.html

More than half of the NYPD regrets entering the force: https://nypost.com/2021/11/20/survey-says-more-than-half-nypd-wishes-they-werent-blue/

What legal experts say led to Rittenhouse’s acquittal: https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/19/us/legal-experts-what-helped-rittenhouse-acquittal/index.html

PLEASE SIGN! Make the Green Island Bridge safe for cyclists: https://www.change.org/p/mayor-mcnulty-ryan-safe-route-on-the-green-island-bridge

… the truth is I’ll never pay you! This week we’re doing a deep dive into the history of Argentinian debt repayment, or lack thereof. As the country has yoyo-ed between populist and neoliberal political leadership, Argentina’s relationship to IMF loans has changed. Repaying debt is cringe, defaulting is based. 

Sources on Argentina:

https://www.ft.com/content/09a8cd83-616c-48a0-8066-0c96fdeb16b9

https://www.ft.com/content/cdd1ce4e-8cd8-46fc-b0a2-d48c98afc726 

https://www.ft.com/content/ce0d1647-0bd7-4bb4-b787-d1301a8a3bc0 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/26/argentina-imf-biggest-loan

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jn0d6e0flqgeczl/Datz%20-%202009%20-%20What%20Life%20after%20Default%20Time%20Horizons%20and%20the%20Out.pdf?dl=0 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ro8f41qy1qa9zr/Ranis%20-%202005%20-%20Argentina%27s%20worker-occupied%20factories%20and%20enterpri.pdf?dl=0 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/e7zor5xu5y6t53e/Helleiner%20-%202005%20-%20The%20Strange%20Story%20of%20Bush%20and%20the%20Argentine%20Debt%20C.pdf?dl=0 

Fanta Bility killed by police: https://www.inquirer.com/news/angelo-ford-hasein-strand-fanta-bility-shooting-arrest-20211110.html

Don’t text your employees after hours you douchebag: https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkpdan/portugal-makes-it-illegal-for-your-boss-to-text-you-after-work

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This week we do a pretty depressing election recap and then promise to not talk about electoral politics for a very long time. Biden is allowing BLM protesters to face domestic terrorism charges from the Trump Administration for engaging in property destruction and harming no one. Starbucks sent management into 3 Buffalo area stores to quell talks of unionizing, and they can’t even take out the trash without pissing off workers. Marjorie Taylor Greene promises to abolish the prison industrial complex, and Sleepy Joe let one rip in front of the Duchess of Cornhole. What a time to be alive.

India Walton’s loss: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/india-walton-buffalo-loss/

Election Round Up: https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/04/politics/elections-2021-roundup-race-deconstructed-newsletter/index.html

Biden stands by as protestors are charged with terrorism: https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-biden-plays-hardball-with-black-lives-matter-20211019-37fgfctxorhzpcvvnpf7wqrmh4-story.html 

Starbucks employees make unionizing effort: https://www.wivb.com/news/top-stories/workers-accuse-starbucks-of-using-aggressive-tactics-to-thwart-union-drives/

Based MTG: https://twitter.com/mtgreenee/status/Ret do do cc?s=21

Fffrrrrtttttt: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10172959/Camilla-stopped-talking-hearing-President-break-wind-chat-Cop26-summit.html

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With the election looming large over Rensselaer County, Sex Pest Steve is helping out his pals by handing out contracts to donors. While at the national level Dems abandon child care in their reconciliation bill, Capital District parents are unable to find spots for their own kids. Handsy Andy is being charged for a groping incident, but apparently is too important to be perp walked. With a wave of strikes around the country, it’s time for a sober evaluation of the state of labor today. And Ryan from The Office is selling ponchos. 

Incumbency's rewards shape the Rensselaer County executive race https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Incumbency-s-rewards-shape-the-Rensselaer-County-16576307.php 

Capital Region families seeking child care find themselves in a desert https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/I-can-t-afford-to-do-that-Families-16545818.php 

BJ Novak is the face of lots of random products: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/27/business/bj-novak-photo-public-domain-products.html 

Delaware Avenue businesses rally against redesign https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Delaware-Avenue-businesses-rallying-against-16572402.php 

Biden shares an amusing anecdote with the pope: https://twitter.com/dumbandawful/status/1454425738615173122?s=21

Sex pest Cuomo charged for forcible touching: https://abcnews.go.com/US/york-gov-cuomo-charged-misdemeanor-sex-crime/story?id=80840731

Striketober: https://labornotes.org/2021/10/viewpoint-beneath-striketober-fanfare-lower-frequencies-class-struggle 

Troy DSA Voter Guide: https://twitter.com/TroyDSA/status/1452709803978076165?s=20

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Don is fixated on Arnold Palmer’s swangin thang. Canada accidentally invested millions in a monument to fascists. Two Texas oil tycoons are changing the face of conservative politics. An Arkansas Tyson factory may be employing children as young as eleven. The private bail industry is going after charities. Israel continues its bloody assault on Gaza. And the UK is off coal for good. 

https://apnews.com/article/trump-arnold-palmer-closing-arguments-latrobe-pennsylvania-2bea9620c523e531a55259200215284e 

https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/coal-phaseout-UK/ 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/02/magazine/texas-politics-billionaire-preachers.html 

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/government-should-remove-more-than-330-names-on-victims-of-communism-memorial-because-of-potential-nazi-or-fascist-links-report-recommends

https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/department-labor-child-labor-tyson/527-21c0bd01-6313-45a7-843a-f5f00582b841

https://jacobin.com/2024/10/bail-bonds-lobbyists-insurers-reform

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/17/us-says-b2-bombers-launched-precision-strikes-against-houthis-in-yemen

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/17/israel-claims-hamas-leader-yahya-sinwar-has-been-killed

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/west-bank-woman-fatally-shot-back-israeli-soldiers-while-harvesting-olives

https://www.404media.co/this-is-exactly-how-an-elon-musk-funded-pac-is-microtargeting-muslims-and-jews-with-opposing-messages/

This week we’re talking about the spooky history of the New York State Capitol Building, where the devil is in the details. Tesla is paying out a whopping $137 million dollars due to its toxic, racist work environment, and your boss can’t fire you for being high. Too high, yes, but not like, normal high.

Tesla Pays $137 million for racist work environment: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/05/tesla-must-pay-137-million-to-ex-worker-over-hostile-work-environment-racism.html 

You can’t be fired for smoking weed: https://wnyt.com/news/marijuana-weed-pot-being-high-at-work/6276980/

Haunted Capitol Building virtual tours

Pt 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMJZ72lR7cQ

Pt 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAx7Uu5rqQs&t=14s

Pt 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTsbUJGt-H4

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This week we’re blessed with a guest! Ashley joins us to share her experiences working in child care activism and to inform us about the dismal state of child care in the US. We also discuss dreadful conditions at the Rensselaer County Jail, the rights of vapers, and Zuck’s massive pay cut in the wake of whistleblower allegations and Facebook downage. 

Vapers’ rights https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/12/health/ecigarettes-fda-vuse.html?referringSource=articleShare 

Child care:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Child-care-crisis-worsens-in-Capital-Region-14928093.php 

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/The-health-impact-of-Cap-Region-childcare-shortage-14942105.php 

https://nystateofpolitics.com/state-of-politics/new-york/politics/2021/08/02/new-york-s-child-care-crisis 

She's been detained at 5 NY jails, says Rensselaer County's is the worst. https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/She-s-been-detained-at-five-New-York-jails-16536616.php

Wildflower: 

https://t.co/Qw1BMwVZTQ  

This week we ask ourselves: What is the good life? American men are dropping out of the above board workforce in huge numbers, while women are increasing their numbers. We talk about the Buen Vivir movement and the tensions between Deep Ecology and Social Ecology, with David channeling cranky Bookchin. In China, workers are celebrating Tangping, or Lying Flat, in response to brutal work schedules. What does it mean to work? To rest? To care for oneself in a broken world? Ya know, just some light conversation among friends.

7 Ways men living without working in America:

https://news.yahoo.com/7-ways-men-live-without-working-in-america-092147068.html

Enough is Enough:

https://annamercury.medium.com/enough-is-enough-5dcb30b52b94

Buen Vivir:

https://theconversation.com/buen-vivir-south-americas-rethinking-of-the-future-we-want-44507

Tangping, or lying flat:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/03/world/asia/china-slackers-tangping.html

Deep ecology vs social ecology

http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bookchin/socecovdeepeco.html

http://gudynas.com/wp-content/uploads/GudynasBiocentricAndesR17-1.pdf 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800916308771

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800914000640