It Could Happen Here

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It Could Happen Here Weekly 196

Aug 23, 2025

Guest

Bridget Todd, a D.C. resident and host focusing on local news, discusses the implications of federalizing D.C.'s police force amidst political tensions. Stephen Monticelli, an investigative reporter from Texas, examines corporate control in modern company towns, drawing parallels to Elon Musk's ventures. Michael Phillips, a historian, dissects the oppressive labor conditions of historic company towns and their echoes in today's labor struggles. They also delve into how AI contributes to social alienation, questioning its impact on genuine community engagement.

02:55:36

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INSIGHT

Federal Power Over DC Is Unique And Dangerous

DC's federalization used Section 740 of the Home Rule Act to justify a 48-hour takeover with extensions up to 30 days.
Bridget Todd warns this is unprecedented and highlights DC's unique vulnerability because it is not a state.

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INSIGHT

Show Of Force Targets Vulnerable Communities

The federal show of force in DC appears aimed at intimidating Black, brown, and unhoused communities rather than actually reducing crime.
Bridget Todd and Garrison Davis emphasize the political targeting of cities with majority nonwhite leadership.

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ANECDOTE

Federal Agents Patrolling Safe Neighborhoods

Bridget Todd recounts federal agents patrolling safe areas like Georgetown and the National Mall at odd hours.
She describes a heavy display of federal vehicles and arrests on a residential block that made no sense locally.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Weekly Compilation and Individual Show Feeds Introduction

01:44 • 2min

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Federal Control and D.C.'s Unique Status

03:28 • 13min

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Politics and Public Perception: The D.C. Crime Narrative

16:10 • 8min

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The Dangers of Outsourced Policing

24:15 • 19min

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Exploring Company Towns and Modern Corporate Power

42:59 • 8min

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Oppression in Company Towns

51:00 • 10min

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The Struggle and Sacrifice of the Colorado Coalfield War

01:00:41 • 2min

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Echoes of Ludlow: Labor Struggles and Modern Parallels

01:03:00 • 18min

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Land Ownership and Community Resilience

01:21:22 • 6min

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AI and Alienation: Unpacking Modern Disconnection

01:27:33 • 17min

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Automation, Alienation, and the Search for Meaning

01:44:54 • 16min

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Building Community in the Age of AI

02:01:21 • 4min

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The Illusion of Objectivity in Media

02:05:45 • 6min

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Navigating Objectivity in Journalism and Academia

02:11:19 • 3min

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Challenges in Modern Journalism

02:14:10 • 11min

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Rethinking Journalism's Incentives

02:24:50 • 7min

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Sting Operation and Scandals

02:31:24 • 10min

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The Targeting of Journalists: A Tragic Reality in Conflict Zones

02:41:01 • 5min

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Navigating Immigration and Political Discretion

02:45:43 • 12min

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Humor and Politics: The Quirky Side of International Relations

02:57:15 • 2min

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Tensions and Tragedies: The Complex Landscape of Immigration Enforcement

02:59:00 • 11min

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Weekly Podcast Returns with Exciting Updates and Advertisements

03:10:25 • 3min

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#7892

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

The Company

A Short History of a Revolutionary Idea

John Micklethwait

Adrian Wooldridge

In 'The Company: A Short History of a Revolutionary Idea', John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge chart the rise of the company as a pivotal force in modern society. They highlight innovations like limited liability and transferable ownership rights that have enabled companies to rival states in influence. The book provides a comprehensive history of the corporate form, from its early beginnings to its current global impact.

Struggles for Justice, Social Responsibility and the Liberal State

Alan Dawley

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Building the Workingman's Paradise

The Design of American Company Towns

Margaret Crawford

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#64

• Mentioned in 144 episodes

Brave New World

Aldous Huxley

Written in 1931 and published in 1932, 'Brave New World' is a dystopian novel set in a futuristic World State where humans are bred in vitro and predestined into a rigid social hierarchy. The novel explores themes of technological advancement, social conditioning, and the loss of individuality and freedom. The story revolves around characters such as Bernard Marx, an Alpha who questions the society, Mustapha Mond, the World Controller, and John, a 'Savage' from a reservation who introduces elements of emotion and individuality into the highly controlled World State. The novel critiques the optimism of technological progress and its potential to create a society that values stability and happiness over humanity and freedom.

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

The Great Exception

Jefferson Cowie

Jefferson Cowie's "The Great Exception" examines the unique period in American history from the 1930s to the late 20th century, characterized by a relative degree of egalitarianism and social progress. The book challenges the notion that this period represents the norm, arguing that it was an anomaly compared to the broader historical trend of inequality and social unrest. Cowie explores the factors that contributed to this exceptional period, including the New Deal, the Civil Rights Movement, and the rise of the welfare state. He also analyzes the forces that led to its decline, setting the stage for the current political climate. The book offers a valuable perspective on the fragility of social progress and the cyclical nature of American history. It serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that the gains made during this period were not inevitable and are vulnerable to reversal.

• Mentioned in 968 episodes

1984

George Orwell

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.

#21583

Capitalism’s Terrorists

Klansmen, Lawmen, and Employers in the Long 19th Century

Chad Pearson

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All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file.

- The Federalization of DC Police feat. Bridget Todd

- Elon Musk and the Rebirth of Company Towns feat. Steven Monacelli & Dr. Michael Phillips

- Alienation and AI feat. Andrew

- Objectivity in Journalism

- Executive Disorder: White House Weekly #30

You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today!

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Sources/Links:

Elon Musk and the Rebirth of Company Towns feat. Steven Monacelli & Dr. Michael Phillips

Margaret Crawford, Building the Workingman's Paradise: The Design of American Company Towns

Alan Dawley, Struggles for Justice: Social Responsibility and the Liberal State

Hardy Green, The Company Town: The Industrial Edens and Satanic Mills That Shaped the American Economy

Chad Pearson, Capitalism’s Terrorists: Klansmen, Lawmen, and Employers in the Long Nineteenth Century

Objectivity in Journalism

https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2021/a-widely-shared-video-shows-a-deputy-overdosing-on-fentanyl-experts-say-its-impossible/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/opinion/objectivity-black-journalists-coronavirus.html

Executive Disorder: White House Weekly #30

https://www.972mag.com/israel-gaza-journalists-hamas-hasbara/

https://x.com/IDF/status/1954652255199887516

https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/idf-press-releases-israel-at-war/august-24-pr/eliminated-ismail-al-ghoul-a-hamas-military-wing-operative-and-nukhba-terrorist/

https://cpj.org/2025/07/cpj-calls-for-anas-al-sharifs-protection-in-face-of-israeli-smears/

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16tQckcrui/

https://www.icrc.org/en/article/international-humanitarian-law-protect-journalists-armed-conflict

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20250819-DiscretionaryFactors.pdf

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1424&num=0&edition=prelim

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-alerts/08.15.2025-Restoring_a_Good_Moral_Character_Evaluation_Standard_for_Aliens_Applying_for_Naturalization-Policy_Memorandum_FINAL.pdf

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26054451-20-1/#document/p17/a2667744

https://www.wmtw.com/article/old-orchard-beach-maine-officer-voluntary-departure/65807962?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot

https://edsource.org/updates/immigration-agents-alleged-to-have-boasted-of-1500-for-l-a-student-arrest

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/us/politics/ice-bonuses-immigrants-deportations.html

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