In today's episode, I interview Joshua Barousse, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit news outlet San Jose Spotlight. We discuss the importance of local, independent journalism.
Looking for your local nonprofit newspaper? Check out the Institute for Nonprofit News to find yours.
I review the excellent, Oscar-nominated film Ainda Estou Aqui (I'm Still Here) about Brazil's military dictatorship and what it says about the current regime in the US.
Continuing on the theme of navigating modern times and the importance of our closest relationships, particularly friendship, I share a piece I wrote recently:Playing Capoeira in Beirut.
I did not buy this book to get through the current moment, but it is helping me get through the current moment. A beautiful story of how to live through dictatorship, particularly about the role of friendship. “The question, arguably the most important question of all, is how to escape the demands of unreasonable men.”
*sorry if you can hear a faint noise in the background of the recording - I had my heater on!
We're a week away from the inauguration, and I keep thinking about my recent visit to the Equal Justice Initiative's Legacy Sites in Montgomery, Alabama. That visit made it all make sense.
I'm back. In the era of billionaire bros, voting with our dollars has taken on great importance. I share some thoughts on how to do that and why there is reason for hope as we go through this Gilded Age reboot.
Bookshop.org alternative to Amazon for books
The StoryGraph alternative to GoodReads for book reviews and tracking
Fossil Free Funds for sustainable investment options
Muckraking journalism by Judd Legum
We are a few days away from the end of voting in the United States, and many are facing long lines to vote. Pizza to the Polls is here to help, by sending pizza to voters facing long lines.
Facing an 1+ hour long wait to vote? Request pizza from Pizza to the Polls here.
Pizza to the Polls is available in all states for this election except Georgia, which criminalized the provision of food and water to voters following 2020, when Georgia voted for Joe Biden and for two Democratic senators.
Welcome to Season 5! If you're feeling election anxiety, I've got a way for you to direct that energy towards winning in November. In addition to winning the White House, we also need to retake the House and keep the Senate; the change we need requires a blue trifecta. With that in mind, here are a few places where you can donate to key congressional races, i.e. races that are really close and underfunded, so a boost in funding can make a difference in the voter turnout needed to ensure a blue trifecta.
key House, Senate, and state races
*full disclosure: I have donated to each of these funds, so I am recommending what I myself have used
I have collaborated again with Mike Pinto, host of the Singing for Survival capoeira history podcast. This time, we discuss sexual abuse in capoeira and what we as capoeiristas can do to address the wrong that has happened and how to prevent it moving forward. One of those ways is to support CapoeirAcolher, an organization in Brazil that supports victims of such abuse.
My thoughts on voting no on Prop. 36.
More information:
LA Times Editorial Board piece on No on Prop. 36
Stop Prop. 36 campaign
Independent journalist Judd Legum has done several pieces on retail theft and Prop. 36:
The Vera Institute Infographic on Prop. 36 and longer analysis
Politico coverage on Prop. 36
How California's incarceration rates compare to other states and countries, by the Prison Policy Initiative
I will be doing a two-part series on why to vote NO on Prop. 36. Part one is a quick share on some upcoming opportunities to learn about Prop. 36 from reputable criminal justice organizations.
Wednesday, September 25th at 5:30pm PST (virtual) - Initiate Justice's No on Prop. 36 Workshop
Thursday, October 3rd at 6pm PST (in-person in Oakland) - Ella Baker Center and Urban Peace Movement Prop. 36 Town Hall
Stay tuned for part two!
With the November election coming up soon, it's time to get out the vote! In this episode, I share some ways you can help boost voter turnout.
As part of my election series, today's episode is about why I am voting for Nikki Bas for Alameda County Supervisor, District 5.
To hear directly from the candidates, check out the candidate forum on zoom on September 5th from 4-5:30pm.
I discuss the Oakland Reimagining Public Safety Task Force Report that Nikki was highly involved in and why that's a great thing.
I talk about the MACRO program, which Nikki was instrumental in making a reality.
I also discuss why Nikki is more likely to implement the Care First, Jails Last Taskforce Final Report, which is one of Supervisor Carson's legacies and critical to public safety.
A couple of articles on some recent scandals with the Alameda County sheriff's office and why we need county supervisors who will provide oversight of the sheriff.
A gorgeous work of historical fiction that tells the story of a woman born during the Spanish flu pandemic and who dies during the coronavirus pandemic 100 years later. Allende introduces us to multiple generations of a family and their loves and losses, hopes and disasters, while exploring historical events like the military dictatorships in Chile and Argentina during the 1970s and 80s. I reflect on how this book reminds me of my own grandmother and what this book can teach us about the current moment.
I recommended the following movies for a deeper dive:
I referenced the following articles during the episode:
https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/southern-cone/2021-03-23/argentinas-military-coup-what-us-knew
https://www.mediamatters.org/russ-vought/undercover-interview-project-2025-architect-gets-candid-initiatives-radical-goals-and
My reflections on the 2024 US presidential election.
In California, slavery is still legal — as long as you're incarcerated. Incarcerated people are forced to labor for little-to-no-pay under threat of punishment. In November, California voters have the opportunity to change that by voting YES on Prop 6 (formerly ACA 8), the End Slavery in California Act.
I mentioned the Foresty & Fire Recruitment Program, which was founded by formerly incarcerated firefighters and which helps formerly incarcerated firefighers obtain careers in firefighting upon release from prison. For more info, check out https://www.forestryfirerp.org/.
For more about Prop 6 and the broader movement to #EndTheException, check out:
voteyesprop6.com
https://endtheexception.com/
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/27/californians-slavery-ban-ballot-initiative-00165466
https://laist.com/news/criminal-justice/california-voters-to-weigh-in-on-ending-forced-labor-in-prison
You may have heard recently about #flaggate - the scandals related to Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito flying flags at his homes in support of the Jan. 6th insurrection and Christian nationalism.
More news has also come out about Justice Thomas' corruption, specifically around his receipt of millions of dollars worth of gifts from GOP donors.
All of these developments are more reason to put pressure on Congressional Dems to put pressure on the Supreme Court, especially in light of this fall's presidential election. An ethics bill is not enough.
Did you know you can call your elected officials and share your thoughts on what matters to you? In this episode, I explain how to do that, why it matters, and how to stay informed on what your elected officials are up to.
To be connected to the offices of your federal elected officials, you can dial the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121.
A couple of options of newsletters to sign up for to stay up to date on what Congress is doing: https://www.govtrack.us/; https://idueprocess.org/
I also mentioned that the Justice Reinvestment Coalition is hosting a training on May 23rd on how to provide public comment at public hearings. 1-4pm at the Cal Endowment in Oakland, CA. For more, check out the Justice Reinvestment Coalition on Instagram @jrcofac
I'm back with another book report and this one is all about family, love, activism, identity, politics, and American and Puerto Rican culture.
Other resources mentioned in the episode:
The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein
Independent reporter Bianca Graulau @biancagraulau
Author and poet Elisabet Velasquez @elisabetvelasquezpoetry
It's an election year and the deluge of negative news can make it easy to feel disillusioned and want to check out. I offer some tips and tools to help you feel informed, engaged, and yes, even hopeful.
Tldr: pick a handful of journalists and/or a podcast or two to follow and one cause or campaign to support. And set a daily timer on your news apps! Quality over quantity is the key here.
Folks I mentioned as suggestions on who to follow on social media/subscribe to their newsletters/read their stuff:
The podcasts I mentioned:
