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Mamdani, Black Farmers, USDA & ICE: The Stories BIPOC Journalists Uncover [Uncut Conversation]

Jul 25, 2025

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Snyopsis: A pair of investigative reporters shine light on underreported stories affecting marginalized groups, including employer intimidation tactics against undocumented workers speaking out about labor exploitation and biased media coverage distorting community narratives.

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Description: Explore the top headlines of the month — and stories you won’t find in mainstream media — in this timely episode of Meet the BIPOC Press. From New York City, Documented’s Labor Reporter Amir Khafagy returns to fill us in on mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s win in the primary election, and how mainstream media overlooked the immigrant vote. Was this a “political upset” to journalists from those very communities? And reporting from the U.S. South, Capital B Rural Issues Reporter Aallyah Wright discusses new legislation from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will have devastating impacts on Black farmers. Also in this episode: employers allegedly threatening immigrant workers with ICE and deportation for speaking up about wage theft, the independent media model and holding journalists accountable. As you’ll hear, these reporters are not just covering their communities — they're helping to build the infrastructure for more inclusive, accurate storytelling about race, place, and power.

“In the mainstream media there was this conversation happening around, maybe the gentrifier class and the hipsters were the ones coming out and voting for [Zohran Mamdani]. And that may have been true to some extent, but immigrant communities, especially Asian immigrant communities, were really excited for him . . . Some of the districts in Queens that even went Trump voted for Zohran. - Amir Khafagy

“I've been seeing a lot of news coverage about the USDA, when we talk about office closures or folks being laid off, or these grants that are being cut . . . But they're not always focused on the realities of what that looks like for Black farmers, given the history of the fraught relationship between Black farmers and the USDA and the historic discrimination.” - Aallyah Wright

Guests:

• Amir Khafagy: Senior Labor Reporter, Documented NY

• Aallyah Wright: Rural Issues Reporter, Capital B

Watch the episode released on YouTube July 25th 5pm ET; PBS World Channel July 27th, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio (check here to see if your station airs the show) & available as a podcast July 30th.

Full Episode Notes are located HERE.

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*Recommended book:

“Unbuild Walls: Why Immigrant Justice Needs Abolition” by Silky Shah, Get the Book*

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Mamdani, Black Farmers, USDA & ICE: The Stories BIPOC Journalists Uncover [Uncut Conversation]

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