Laura Flanders and Friends: Solutions-Focused Progressive Perspectives on Politics, News, and Culture

Synopsis:  Journalists Investigating Far-Right Extremism Face Growing Threats: As the Trump administration scales back investigations into far-right extremist groups, journalists on the front lines are facing increased attacks and threats from powerful figures.Make a tax deductible YEAR END DONATION and become a member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate. This show is made possible by you! Description: Today’s guests have paid a price for their reporting on far Right extremists. But if journalists don’t do this critical work, then who will? The Trump administration is deprioritizing domestic terrorism to serve a political agenda, scaling back investigations of far-Right extremism while redirecting DHS agents to immigration crackdowns. As programs tracking domestic extremism are dismantled and January 6 rioters are recast as "patriots," journalists find themselves on the frontlines — and their attackers are now people in power. Jordan Green is an investigative reporter for Raw Story whose coverage on far-Right extremism has spanned from Charlottesville to January 6. He is currently working on a book about militant accelerationism. Green also reported on a story we’ve covered extensively on the show: the attack on two power stations in Moore County, North Carolina. A correspondent for the Texas Observer, investigative journalist Steven Monacelli has been tracking extremism, disinformation, social movements, and the influence of dark money in politics. He received the The Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award for revealing the identities of far-Right extremists, including government employees. Freelance journalist Amanda Moore embedded with the far Right in 2020 and has faced backlash from far-Right groups for her reporting. Her reporting at present focuses on ICE and Border Control, and her work has appeared in the Nation, Politico, and the Intercept. Join us for this chilling conversation on threats against journalists and the implications for democracy, plus a commentary from Laura.Guests:•  Jordan Green: Investigative Journalist, Raw Story•  Steven Monacelli: Freelance Investigative Journalist; Correspondent, The Texas Observer;  publisher of Protean Magazine, a nonprofit literary magazine; co-founder of Apprentice Creative Space•  Amanda Moore: Freelance Investigative Journalist Full Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters. Watch the episode released on YouTube; PBS World Channel December 7th, 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 December 10th.Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit:  'Thrum of Soil' by Bluedot Sessions, and original sound design by Jeannie Hopper Support Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends RESOURCES:Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:•  Power Grids Under Attack: The Threat is Domestic Terrorism – Not Drag Artists:  Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut•  What is Political Violence? Uncovering MAGA Militancy & Strategies to Protect Democracy:  Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation•  Congresswoman Jayapal & Marine Vet Goldbeck: Standing Against the Administration’s War on Civilians:  Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut and Full Uncut ConversationRelated Articles and Resources:•  I’ve Seen How the Neo-Nazi Movement Is Escalating. You Should Worry.  By Jordan Green, July 14, 2025, The Assembly NC•  Pentagon Marine tied to ‘6 bullets to head’ threat against Pete Hegseth won’t face probe, by Jordan Green, November 7, 2025, Raw Story•. Ex-Soldier linked to far-right groups pleads guilty to gun charge, by Jordan Green, September 17, 2205, Raw Story•  I Was Banned From CPAC, but the Extremists Weren’t, by Amanda Moore, February 27, 2024, The Nation•  Undercover With the New Alt-Right, by Amanda Moore, August 22, 2023, The Nation•  Trump Inauguration Official’s “Phony Charity” Allegedly Pocketed East Palestine Train Disaster Funds, by Amanda Moore, January 19, 2025, The Intercept•  Revealed:  The Operators Behind Four Major Neo-Nazi X Accounts, by Steven Monacelli and Tristan Lee, December 4, 2024, Texas Observer•  The GOP Mega Donor Behind The Big to Break Dallas City Government, by Steven Monacelli, October 14, 2024, Texas Observer•  Parker County ‘White Nationalist Fight Club’ Leader Exposed, by Steven Monacelli, February 15, 2024, Texas Observer•  “The Federal Government Is Gone:  Under Trump, the Fight Against Extremist Violence Is Left Up to the States, by Hannah Allam, May 29, 2025, ProPublica•  How MAGA Took Over America’s 250th Birthday, by Amanda Moore and Dan Friedman, June 13, 2025, Mother Jones CHAPTERS:00:00:00Defending Democracy Through Investigative Journalism00:03:17Journalists Share Harrowing Personal Attacks and Harassment00:05:59Amanda Moore Details Her Personal Doxxing and Swatting00:09:46Uncovering Neo-Nazi Infrastructure Attacks and Youth Radicalization00:12:11From Fringe to Power: Dark Money and Political Influence00:14:29How Attacking Journalists Hides Government Failures00:17:53Powerful Figures and Government Inaction Fueling Threats00:21:03Strategies for Journalists and Supporting Independent Reporting00:26:01Journalists' Ongoing Investigations into Extremism and Corruption00:32:29Reflecting on the Future of Journalism and Society00:37:34Amanda Moore's Stalker and Supporting Independent Journalism00:42:34  Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer;  Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O’Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky:  https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon:   https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

Synopsis:  In a call to action, Sara Nelson urges workers to move beyond defense and set the agenda for change, declaring "our world is burning" but asserting that collective power can be used to create a better future.Make a tax deductible YEAR END DONATION and become a member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate. This show is made possible by you! Description [original release date July 2025]: Sara Nelson knows how to leverage worker power — and so do the 55,000 flight attendants she represents. A union member since 1996, she’s been the International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO since 2014. You may remember her integral role in threatening a strike, which helped pressure the Trump administration to end the 2019 government shutdown. But under the second Trump term, the administration plans to gut many government agencies and has canceled one million contracts for federal workers so far. “We have to understand that if one group is under attack, we're next,” she tells Laura Flanders in this exclusive interview. “So we have to rush to each other's sides.” In this episode, Nelson and Flanders explore labor movement tactics and strategies, wins and losses, and why general strikes and cross-industry worker solidarity are critical in this moment. What is her message and her mission for 2025? All that, plus a commentary from Laura on floods and profits.“We have to understand that if one group is under attack, we're next. So we have to rush to each other's sides. But we can also turn this around and not just be on defense. . . We are in a crisis. Yeah. Our world is burning. We can actually set the agenda and make things better.”Guest:  Sara Nelson: International President of the Association of Flight Attendants- (AFA-CWA) (representing 55,000 Flight Attendants at 20 airlines)  Watch the episode released on YouTube July 18th 5pm ET; PBS World Channel July 20th, 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 23rd.Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit: “Be the Change” by Nation Beat from their album Archaic Humans released on Rope a Dope Records, "Steppin" by Podington Bear, and original sound design by Jeannie HopperSupport Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriendsRESOURCES:*Recommended book:“The Work of Living: Working People Talk about Their Lives and the Year the World Broke” by Maximillian Alvarez, Get the Book*(*Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. The LF Show is an affiliate of bookshop.org and will receive a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.)Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:• Labor Safety, Project 2025, & the Far Right’s Plot Against Workers: What You Need to Know:  Watch / Listen:  Episode• Labor Movement v. Fascism: Worker Organizers & Labor Educators Are Under Attack: Watch / Listen:  Episode• UAW President Shawn Fain: "Workers are still up against the same billionaires": Watch• Special Report- Bernie Sanders & AOC:  “Fighting Oligarchy” with People Power Watch / Listen:  Special Report, Uncut Interview- Bernie Sanders• Watch: Episode, Bernie Sanders’ Speech at the Fight Oligarchy rally, Kenosha, WI•  Special Report- Labor Movement v. Fascism:  Worker Organizers & Labor Educators Are Under Attack. Watch / Listen   Related Articles and Resources:•  Is America Pissed Off Enough at Trump and Musk for a General Strike?  By Susan Miligan, April 24, 2025, The New Republic•  In Chicago, a Coalition of Unions, Community Organizers, and Riders Have Forced Uber to Come to the Table, by Will Tanzman and Lori Simmons, July 16, 2025, The Nation•  US aviation agency reinstating fired employees after court order, union says, by David Shepardson, March 17, 2025, Reuters•  Unions sue to stop Trump from ending collective bargaining rights for many federal employees, by Tami Luhby, April 4, 2025, CNN• The Sleeping Giant That could Stop Trump’s Agenda in Its Tracks, by Mary Harris, April 25, 2025, SLATE• The Call Is Out for Mass, Simultaneous Strikes in 4 Years, by Sarah Lazare, October 14, 2024, The Nation• How Association of Flight Attendants President Sara Nelson became America’s most powerful voice for labor, by Morgan Clendaniel, September 9, 2024, Fast Company Magazine•  Sara Nelson:  Let’s Show Bosses They’re Lucky to Have Our Work, by Sara Nelson, February 13, 2024, Jacobin Magazine  Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer;  Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O’Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky:  https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon:   https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

Synopsis:  US Labour Leader Sounds Alarm on Government Attacks.  Sara Nelson's urgent call to action for cross-industry worker solidarity and general strikes as a powerful countermeasure against the Trump administration's plans to gut government agencies ending federal contracts is both timely and crucial.  The uncut conversation includes the entire rich and inspiring discussion ringing in at 50minutes.This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateFull Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters.Description [original release date July 2025]: Sara Nelson knows how to leverage worker power — and so do the 55,000 flight attendants she represents. A union member since 1996, she’s been the International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO since 2014. You may remember her integral role in threatening a strike, which helped pressure the Trump administration to end the 2019 government shutdown. But under the second Trump term, the administration plans to gut many government agencies and has canceled one million contracts for federal workers so far. “We have to understand that if one group is under attack, we're next,” she tells Laura Flanders in this exclusive interview. “So we have to rush to each other's sides.” In this episode, Nelson and Flanders explore labor movement tactics and strategies, wins and losses, and why general strikes and cross-industry worker solidarity are critical in this moment. What is her message and her mission for 2025? All that, plus a commentary from Laura on floods and profits.“We have to understand that if one group is under attack, we're next. So we have to rush to each other's sides. But we can also turn this around and not just be on defense. . . We are in a crisis. Yeah. Our world is burning. We can actually set the agenda and make things better.”Guest:  Sara Nelson: International President of the Association of Flight Attendants- (AFA-CWA) (representing 55,000 Flight Attendants at 20 airlines)  Watch the episode released on YouTube July 18th 5pm ET; PBS World Channel July 20th, 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 23rd.Full Episode Notes are located HERE. CHAPTERS:2:44 thoughts on today, forward on your mind: 911, lay-offs, bankruptcy & crisis capitalism, fighting back, immigration issues facing colleagues5:29 How safe is flying today?  Safety:  air traffic controllers, pilots, flight attendants.  Attacks on the industry.  Dismantling of departments that help aviation including national weather service, USAID intersecting with rising pandemics.8:27 What is coming in this moment and the cuts to agencies and a move to privatize the national weather service or air traffic controllers.  An opportunity for the labor movement in this moment.11:22 Sara’s origin story and the importance of unions and putting a check on unchecked capitalism.14:00 Union fights for flight attendants including no smoking, weight restrictions, sexism, high heels.  Fighting for ‘rest rules (10 hours of rest)’, health care, pay and pensions.  Cross-Union solidarity. Win for the labor movement, FAA Reauthorization bill.19:06 When we fight we win.  Power mapping then and now in the industry.  Labor movement strategy.21:40. The plight of Air Traffic Controllers in the Reagan years then informing the labor movement now.23:14   The New Deal and union power to the decline of unions. Imbalance of power.  The power of organizing on many levels.  Call to action, ‘what you can do’.  Building labor solidarity.29:40 Union’s in the Trump era.  Now is the moment to lean in, organize and pushing back.Your not going to win if you don’t fight.  Mother Jones and the Colorado miners fight.33:56  Communities rising to the occasion.  Democratic candidate, Zohran Mamdani’s run for Mayor of New York City.   Working class agenda and the spirit of solidarity.37:30 General strikes.  History lessons including Iceland’s Women’s day off. The need for more women and young people to participate in union organizing.41:29  Are there potential allies perhaps like some ICE workers who are expressing moral concerns?  Systems are the problem, not the majority of workers. 44:45 What do you think the future will tell of this moment?49:00 Bonus  RESOURCES:*Recommended book:“The Work of Living: Working People Talk about Their Lives and the Year the World Broke” by Maximillian Alvarez, Get the Book*(*Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. The LF Show is an affiliate of bookshop.org and will receive a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.)Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:• Labor Safety, Project 2025, & the Far Right’s Plot Against Workers: What You Need to Know:  Watch / Listen:  Episode• Labor Movement v. Fascism: Worker Organizers & Labor Educators Are Under Attack: Watch / Listen:  Episode• UAW President Shawn Fain: "Workers are still up against the same billionaires": Watch• Special Report- Bernie Sanders & AOC:  “Fighting Oligarchy” with People Power Watch / Listen:  Special Report, Uncut Interview- Bernie Sanders• Watch: Episode, Bernie Sanders’ Speech at the Fight Oligarchy rally, Kenosha, WI•  Special Report- Labor Movement v. Fascism:  Worker Organizers & Labor Educators Are Under Attack. Watch / Listen   Related Articles and Resources:•  Is America Pissed Off Enough at Trump and Musk for a General Strike?  By Susan Miligan, April 24, 2025, The New Republic•  In Chicago, a Coalition of Unions, Community Organizers, and Riders Have Forced Uber to Come to the Table, by Will Tanzman and Lori Simmons, July 16, 2025, The Nation•  US aviation agency reinstating fired employees after court order, union says, by David Shepardson, March 17, 2025, Reuters•  Unions sue to stop Trump from ending collective bargaining rights for many federal employees, by Tami Luhby, April 4, 2025, CNN• The Sleeping Giant That could Stop Trump’s Agenda in Its Tracks, by Mary Harris, April 25, 2025, SLATE• The Call Is Out for Mass, Simultaneous Strikes in 4 Years, by Sarah Lazare, October 14, 2024, The Nation• How Association of Flight Attendants President Sara Nelson became America’s most powerful voice for labor, by Morgan Clendaniel, September 9, 2024, Fast Company Magazine•  Sara Nelson:  Let’s Show Bosses They’re Lucky to Have Our Work, by Sara Nelson, February 13, 2024, Jacobin Magazine  Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer;  Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O’Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky:  https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon:   https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

Joy Harjo’s new book is a guide to find our way during transformation.This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription: We are in what today’s guest calls a dark night of our national soul. Many of us are feeling hopeless, uncomfortable and stuck, but it is possible to make it through the darkness. Generations before us survived the unthinkable; if the past has a story to tell, what’s today’s? This notion of coming into ourselves and embracing our stories is what Joy Harjo, the internationally renowned poet, performer, writer and activist of the Muscogee Creek Nation takes up in her long-spanning career. Harjo is just out with “Girl Warrior: On Coming of Age”, a guide, dedicated especially to Indigenous girls, for people trying to find their way in a time of transformation. She is the author of two American Book Awards winners: “In Mad Love and War” and “Crazy Brave”, and was executive editor of the groundbreaking “When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through: A Norton Anthology of Native Nations Poetry”. She was the first Indigenous Poet Lau­re­ate and served three terms from 2019 to 2022. Join Harjo and Flanders for this illuminating conversation on finding courage this winter, plus a commentary from Laura on releasing the files on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. “We have to stand for what's right. You can't stand and watch a neighbor starving. We have to realize that ultimately we were created by a creator who loves diversity . . . The universal law is diversity. Universal law is love and connection. We're all connected.”  - Joy Harjo“The bone and the muscle of being human is stories. That's what we do. I remember years ago, thinking about what use are human beings to the ecosystem. I really couldn't find a reason that we were here, except that we make stories. It's important we express gratitude and that we're helpful to the other beings who live here.” - Joy HarjoGuest:  Joy Harjo (Mvskoke): Poet, Performer & Writer; Author, Girl Warrior: On Coming of AgeWatch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel, 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 is airing the show and air date & time) & available as a podcast.RESOURCES:*Recommended book:  “Girl Warrior: On Coming of Age” by Joy Harjo: *Get the Book(*Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. The LF Show is an affiliate of bookshop.org and will receive a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.) Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:• Jacqueline Woodson & Catherine Gund: Breathing Through Chaos & the “Meanwhile”: Watch / Listen-  Episode and Full Uncut Conversation• Survival Guide for Humans Learned from Marine Mammals with Alexis Pauline Gumbs: Watch / Listen-  Episode and Full Uncut Conversation• Red Road to the Future: Native Sovereignty is Key to Climate Justice: Watch / Listen-  Episode•  Dolores Huerta & Ellen Gavin:  Creative Courage in the Face of Fascism:  Watch / Listen- Episode and Full Uncut Conversation•. Resistance and Revolutionary Poetry:  Aja Monet:  Watch / Listen- Episode Related Articles and Resources:•  The Contagious Gen Z Uprisings, by Katrin Bennhold, October 19, 2025, The New York Times•  Exclusive:  Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery Unveils Four New Portraits, by Emily Burack, October 22, 2025, Town & Country• High youth death rates are an ‘emerging crisis’, global health study, by Kat Lay, October 12, 2025, The Guardian•  Joy Hard Honored With Portrait of a Nation Award at Smithsonian Gala, by Levi Rickert, November 16, 2025, Native News Online•  Joy Harjo’s Inaugural Reading as U.S. met Laureate, September 19, 2019, Library of Congress•  Health Disparities in Suicide, Suicide Prevention, May 16, 2024, CDC•  Joy Harjo, U.S. Poet Laureate, 2019-2022 - Library of Congress•  “Shelter in Place Sessions”, 2020, featuring Joy Harjo, Southwest Roots Music - Watch Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit: “Fire” by Brightdarkdawn featuring Joy Harjo, "Steppin" by Podington Bear, and original sound design by Jeannie HopperAdditional Performance Soundbites:  Joy Hajo performing “We the Peoples Before” at the Kennedy Center for First Peoples Fund;  and Joy Harjo performing “witchi Tai To” for Southwest Roots Music’s “Shelter in Place Sessions”Support Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends   Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer;  Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O’Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky:  https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon:   https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

Synopsis:  Join acclaimed poet Joy Harjo for an illuminating conversation on finding courage and embracing our stories, as she discusses her new guide "Girl Warrior: On Coming of Age"This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription:  We are in what today’s guest calls a dark night of our national soul. Many of us are feeling hopeless, uncomfortable and stuck, but it is possible to make it through the darkness. Generations before us survived the unthinkable; if the past has a story to tell, what’s today’s? This notion of coming into ourselves and embracing our stories is what Joy Harjo, the internationally renowned poet, performer, writer and activist of the Muscogee Creek Nation takes up in her long-spanning career. Harjo is just out with “Girl Warrior: On Coming of Age”, a guide, dedicated especially to Indigenous girls, for people trying to find their way in a time of transformation. She is the author of two American Book Awards winners: “In Mad Love and War” and “Crazy Brave”, and was executive editor of the groundbreaking “When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through: A Norton Anthology of Native Nations Poetry”. She was the first Indigenous Poet Lau­re­ate and served three terms from 2019 to 2022. Join Harjo and Flanders for this illuminating conversation on finding courage this winter, plus a commentary from Laura on releasing the files on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. “We have to stand for what's right. You can't stand and watch a neighbor starving. We have to realize that ultimately we were created by a creator who loves diversity . . . The universal law is diversity. Universal law is love and connection. We're all connected.”  - Joy Harjo“The bone and the muscle of being human is stories. That's what we do. I remember years ago, thinking about what use are human beings to the ecosystem. I really couldn't find a reason that we were here, except that we make stories. It's important we express gratitude and that we're helpful to the other beings who live here.” - Joy HarjoGuest: Joy Harjo (Mvskoke): Poet, Performer & Writer; Author, Girl Warrior: On Coming of AgeFull Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters.Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel November 23rd, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio starting November 26th  (check here to see if your station is airing the show and air date & time) & available as a podcast.RESOURCES:Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:• Jacqueline Woodson & Catherine Gund: Breathing Through Chaos & the “Meanwhile”: Watch / Listen-  Episode and Full Uncut Conversation• Survival Guide for Humans Learned from Marine Mammals with Alexis Pauline Gumbs: Watch / Listen-  Episode and Full Uncut Conversation• Red Road to the Future: Native Sovereignty is Key to Climate Justice: Watch / Listen-  Episode•  Dolores Huerta & Ellen Gavin:  Creative Courage in the Face of Fascism:  Watch / Listen- Episode and Full Uncut Conversation•. Resistance and Revolutionary Poetry:  Aja Monet:  Watch / Listen- Episode Related Articles and Resources:•  The Contagious Gen Z Uprisings, by Katrin Bennhold, October 19, 2025, The New York Times•  Exclusive:  Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery Unveils Four New Portraits, by Emily Burack, October 22, 2025, Town & Country• High youth death rates are an ‘emerging crisis’, global health study, by Kat Lay, October 12, 2025, The Guardian•  Joy Hard Honored With Portrait of a Nation Award at Smithsonian Gala, by Levi Rickert, November 16, 2025, Native News Online•  Joy Harjo’s Inaugural Reading as U.S. met Laureate, September 19, 2019, Library of Congress•  Health Disparities in Suicide, Suicide Prevention, May 16, 2024, CDC•  Joy Harjo, U.S. Poet Laureate, 2019-2022 - Library of Congress•  “Shelter in Place Sessions”, 2020, featuring Joy Harjo, Southwest Roots Music - Watch Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit:  'Thrum of Soil' by Bluedot Sessions, and original sound design by Jeannie HopperSupport Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends Chapters:Introducing Joy Harjo's Guide for Our Times00:00:00Joy Harjo on Humanity's Spiritual Transformation00:02:14From Caterpillar to Butterfly: Navigating Collective Chaos00:05:29Finding Community: Real Life vs. Digital Connections00:08:06Humans as Storytellers: Navigating Contradictions and Gratitude00:12:47Finding Calm Amidst Anxiety and Embracing Inner Stillness00:17:42Joy Harjo Shares "Overwhelm" and Creative Healing00:23:24Finding Inspiration and Wisdom in Mentors and Humor00:26:52Embracing Curiosity for a Collective Vision of Harmony00:29:56Nurturing Youth for a Spiritual Renaissance00:34:31Joy Harjo's Upcoming Works and Final Wisdom00:37:59  Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer;  Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O’Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky:  https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon:   https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

Synopsis:  Dems win big on Election Day, but what's next? Join Cori Bush and Kat Abughazaleh as they discuss the future of progressive politics.This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription: What do the results of this past Election Day signal for politician-activists running for office and the future of the Democratic Party? “Politivists” Cori Bush and Kat Abughazaleh say the tides are changing. In what was widely viewed as a rebuke of the Trump administration’s policies, Democrats won races at every level in blue and red states on November 4, including Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayor’s race. Today’s guests know firsthand how challenging and costly it can be to run for office as a progressive — especially when mega donors and backdoor deals are the name of the game in our political system. Cori Bush is fighting to retake the seat she won in 2021, Missouri’s First District, which covers the city of St. Louis. She’ll be up against incumbent Wesley Bell, whose successful campaign against her in 2024 was heavily funded by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, a zionist political action committee. Kat Abughazaleh is a 26-year old Palestinian-American, former journalist and political commentator who is currently facing a federal indictment related to her protests outside an ICE facility in Western Chicago. She’s making waves in a crowded Democratic field to represent Illinois’ Ninth District, covering the Chicago-area. How can modern progressives keep up this political momentum? And where does the Democratic Party go from here? Join us for that conversation, plus a commentary from Laura on making Congress less classist.“I've been in Congress and I know the change that can happen when someone not only works for their district, but fights for the district . . . I have heard from my community, their frustrations with the lack of leadership. I've heard their despair as it relates to what happens tomorrow, because this manufactured chaos coming down from the Trump administration is not being dealt with . . . We are saying, ‘Wait till 2026 because things will get better.’ People are living it right now.” - Cori Bush“A lot of people have lost faith in our political system, from every political stripe, because politicians are about words and not actions. We are using our resources to not only reach voters, but materially improve their lives. We do backpack drives, food drives, our campaign office doubles as a mutual aid hub . . . We are genuinely making a change on the ground and win or lose, this campaign is a net benefit to this community.” - Kat AbughazalehGuests:• Kat Abughazaleh: Congressional Candidate (D-IL-09)• Cori Bush: Former Congresswoman (D-MO-01); Current Congressional Candidate (D-MO-01)Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel, 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 is airing the show and air date & time) & available as a podcast.RESOURCES:Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:• Mamdani v. The Establishment: What His Campaign Means for America:  Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation• “They Targeted Me”: Mayor Ras Baraka on His Arrest, Immigration Rights & Leading New Jersey: Watch / Listen:  Episode cut and Full Uncut Conversation• Bernie Sanders & AOC: “Fighting Oligarchy” with People Power:  Watch / Listen:  Episode cut and Full Uncut Conversation with Bernie SandersRelated Articles and Resources:• Democrats Flip Two Seats in Deep Red Mississippi, Break GOP Supermajority, by Daniel Orton, November 5, 2025, Newsweek•  Here are the key races to watch in Tuesday’s off-year elections, by Caroline Vakil, November 3, 2025, The Hill•  Anti-genocide protests attacked and beaten at St. Louis town hall event for Democrat Wesley Bell, by Andrew Clyde & Kristina Betinis, August 21.2925, World Socialist Web Site•  How Kat Abughazaleh’s Parents Shaped Her Identity and Political Worldview, by Trisha Faulkner, October 30, 2025, Distractify• Deciding To Win:  Toward a Common Sense Renewal of the Democratic Party, Principal Author Simon Bazelon, Co-Authors, Lauren Harper Pope and Liam Kerr. October 27, 2025,  Politico• AOC and the Squad’s List of Left-Wing Accomplishments Is Quite Long, by Branko Narcotic, Jacobin Magazine•  Mamdani opens floodgates of younger Democrats running for office, by Surina Venkat, November 11, 2025, The Hill•  Kat Abughazaleh On the Right to Protest, November 1, 2025, The Intercept Briefing - Listen•  Press Release:  Congresswoman Bush Endorsed by Justice Democrats, October 23, 2025, Coribush.org•. House candidate Kat Abughazaleh indicted over ICE confrontation, by Andrew Solender, October 29, 2025, Axios Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit: “The World Is Cold” by Cookin’ the Books featuring Mantra and Jane Tyrell from their album Cookin’ On 3 Burners released on Soul Messin’ Records, "Steppin" by Podington Bear, and original sound design by Jeannie HopperSupport Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends  Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer;  Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O’Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky:  https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon:   https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

Synopsis:  What does this past Election Day signal for politician-activists running for office?This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription:  What do the results of this past Election Day signal for politician-activists running for office and the future of the Democratic Party? “Politivists” Cori Bush and Kat Abughazaleh say the tides are changing. In what was widely viewed as a rebuke of the Trump administration’s policies, Democrats won races at every level in blue and red states on November 4, including Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayor’s race. Today’s guests know firsthand how challenging and costly it can be to run for office as a progressive — especially when megadonors and backdoor deals are the name of the game in our political system. Cori Bush is fighting to retake the seat she won in 2021, Missouri’s First District, which covers the city of St. Louis. She’ll be up against incumbent Wesley Bell, whose successful campaign against her in 2024 was heavily funded by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, a zionist political action committee. Kat Abughazaleh is a 26-year old Palestinian-American, former journalist and political commentator who is currently facing a federal indictment related to her protests outside an ICE facility in Western Chicago. She’s making waves in a crowded Democratic field to represent Illinois’ Ninth District, covering the Chicago-area. How can modern progressives keep up this political momentum? And where does the Democratic Party go from here? Join us for that conversation, plus a commentary from Laura on making Congress less classist.“I've been in Congress and I know the change that can happen when someone not only works for their district, but fights for the district . . . I have heard from my community, their frustrations with the lack of leadership. I've heard their despair as it relates to what happens tomorrow, because this manufactured chaos coming down from the Trump administration is not being dealt with . . . We are saying, ‘Wait till 2026 because things will get better.’ People are living it right now.” - Cori Bush“A lot of people have lost faith in our political system, from every political stripe, because politicians are about words and not actions. We are using our resources to not only reach voters, but materially improve their lives. We do backpack drives, food drives, our campaign office doubles as a mutual aid hub . . . We are genuinely making a change on the ground and win or lose, this campaign is a net benefit to this community.” - Kat AbughazalehGuests:• Kat Abughazaleh: Congressional Candidate (D-IL-09)• Cori Bush: Former Congresswoman (D-MO-01); Current Congressional Candidate (D-MO-01) Full Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters.Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel November 16th, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio starting November 19th  (check here to see if your station is airing the show and air date & time) & available as a podcast.RESOURCES:Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:• Mamdani v. The Establishment: What His Campaign Means for America:  Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation• “They Targeted Me”: Mayor Ras Baraka on His Arrest, Immigration Rights & Leading New Jersey: Watch / Listen:  Episode cut and Full Uncut Conversation• Bernie Sanders & AOC: “Fighting Oligarchy” with People Power:  Watch / Listen:  Episode cut and Full Uncut Conversation with Bernie SandersRelated Articles and Resources:• Democrats Flip Two Seats in Deep Red Mississippi, Break GOP Supermajority, by Daniel Orton, November 5, 2025, Newsweek•  Here are the key races to watch in Tuesday’s off-year elections, by Caroline Vakil, November 3, 2025, The Hill•  Anti-genocide protests attacked and beaten at St. Louis town hall event for Democrat Wesley Bell, by Andrew Clyde & Kristina Betinis, August 21.2925, World Socialist Web Site•  How Kat Abughazaleh’s Parents Shaped Her Identity and Political Worldview, by Trisha Faulkner, October 30, 2025, Distractify• Deciding To Win:  Toward a Common Sense Renewal of the Democratic Party, Principal Author Simon Bazelon, Co-Authors, Lauren Harper Pope and Liam Kerr. October 27, 2025,  Politico• AOC and the Squad’s List of Left-Wing Accomplishments Is Quite Long, by Branko Narcotic, Jacobin Magazine•  Mamdani opens floodgates of younger Democrats running for office, by Surina Venkat, November 11, 2025, The Hill•  Kat Abughazaleh On the Right to Protest, November 1, 2025, The Intercept Briefing - Listen•  Press Release:  Congresswoman Bush Endorsed by Justice Democrats, October 23, 2025, Coribush.org•. House candidate Kat Abughazaleh indicted over ICE confrontation, by Andrew Solender, October 29, 2025, Axios Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit:  'Thrum of Soil' by Bluedot Sessions, and original sound design by Jeannie HopperSupport Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends CHAPTERS:Recent Election Victories Signal Hope for Progressive Candidates00:00:00Cori Bush and Kat Abughazaleh React to Election Outcomes00:01:53Shaping the Democratic Party with Authentic Progressive Values00:05:15Kat Abughazaleh's Mutual Aid Campaign and Political Transformation00:10:13Embracing the Politivist Role: Activism Meets Politics00:19:09Help Sustain Solutions-Focused Progressive Journalism00:23:45Addressing the Class Divide and Big Money in Congress00:24:30Fighting for Free Speech Amidst Federal Indictment00:27:29The Power of Progressives to Transform Party Leadership00:30:26Building a Better Future Through Collective Community Action00:37:38Final Thoughts and Supporting the Laura Flanders Show00:43:54     Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer;  Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O’Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky:  https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon:   https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

Synopsis:  Uncover the truth behind over 1,000 police killings per year: Watch CYCLE to learn about one family's fight for justice after their son's tragic death at hands of law enforcementThis show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription: Would we know from our media that over 1,000 people are killed by police every year in the U.S.? The stories of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are exceptions, but for the victims we don’t hear about, there’s CYCLE. The newly-released investigative feature documentary from LionArt Media focuses on the 2019 killing of Ty’rese West, an 18-year-old Black teenager from Racine, Wisconsin who was shot to death after being pulled over by a Mount Pleasant police officer for riding a bicycle with no headlights. No videos were taken, the details of West’s death were withheld from the community and the subsequent police report. Made in close collaboration with West’s mother, Monique West, the film follows the story of Ty’rese’s death and the lawsuit that ensued.  CYCLE is an invitation, “. . . to interrupt the silence that follows so many cases that never go viral — cases where there’s no footage, no public pressure, and no accountability,” say director Laura Dyan Kezman and co-director William Howell, both Racine natives. Dyan Kezman is an award-winning director, DP, and editor, and the founder of LionArt Media committed to telling bold, socially driven stories that examine justice, culture, and civic engagement. Howell is a cinematographer, editor, and director based in Milwaukee. He was the cinematographer of ‘The Rise and Fall of Coo Coo Cal’ and the director of the 2020 film ‘You Don’t Know Me’. Join the CYCLE directors and Laura Flanders for this powerful conversation on police accountability and community action, plus a commentary on the media quiet about Trump’s massive military build-up in the Caribbean.“. . . We started this film in 2019 with the intention of not making an angry film, but we didn't quite know what the film needed to be yet. Then COVID hit, Ahmaud Arbery was killed, and then Breonna Taylor was killed, and then George Floyd was killed . . . We felt it then, that this was something so much bigger than us in terms of us telling Tyrese's story in that moment.” - Laura Dyan Kezman“The call to action, that's when I see, more than anything, that we achieved our goal. People are not leaving these theaters angry . . . They're leaving and saying, what can we do? What can I do? What can we do together as people to help create this change?” - William HowellGuests:• William Howell: Co-Director & Producer, CYCLE• Laura Dyan Kezman: Director, Editor & Producer, CYCLE Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel, 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 is airing the show) & available as a podcast.RESOURCES:Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:•  Police Violence Against Latinos: The Shocking Data We Now Know:  Watch / Listen:  Episode•  Jacqueline Woodson & Catherine Gund: Breathing Through Chaos & the “Meanwhile”:  Watch / Listen:  Episode and Full Uncut Conversation•  The Defund Movement in 2024: Frontline Reporters Separate Myth from Reality:  Watch / Listen:  Episode Related Articles and Resources:•  ‘CYCLE’ comes home:  Racine premiere unites community in a call for action, by Heather Asiyanbi and Grant Ritchey, July 21st, 2025, Racine County Eye• Mapping Police Violence: “Law enforcement agencies across the country are failing to provide us with even basic information about the lives they take. So we collect the data ourselves…”•  The U.S. Dept. of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Dismisses Biden-Era Police Investigations and Proposed Police consent Decrees in Louisville and Minneapolis, May 21, 2025, Justice.gov•  Wisconsin DOJ reversed decision to release cop names after pushback from police groups, by Annie Pulley, April 2025, The Badger Project•  Trump administration drops police oversight spurred by Floyd, Taylor Killings, by Sarah N. Lynch and Andrew Goudsward, May 21, 2025, Reuters•  Trump signs orders targeting sanctuary cities, seeking military involvement in law enforcement, April 28, 2025, by Alex Galbraith, Salon.com•  MAIT:  How Wisconsin’s investigations into police shootings protect officers, by Isiah Holmes, February 12, 2025, Wisconsin Examiner Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit:  "Oxygen" by Jhelisa, courtesy of Dorado Records, 'Steppin' by Podington Bear, and original sound design by Jeannie HopperSupport Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends  Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer;  Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O’Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky:  https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon:   https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

Synopsis: The directors of CYCLE invite viewers to confront the eerie stillness that follows many cases of police brutality, where no footage, public pressure, or accountability exist, and instead, inspire collective change.This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription: Would we know from our media that over 1,000 people are killed by police every year in the U.S.? The stories of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are exceptions, but for the victims we don’t hear about, there’s CYCLE. The newly-released investigative feature documentary from LionArt Media focuses on the 2019 killing of Ty’rese West, an 18-year-old Black teenager from Racine, Wisconsin who was shot to death after being pulled over by a Mount Pleasant police officer for riding a bicycle with no headlights. No videos were taken, the details of West’s death were withheld from the community and the subsequent police report. Made in close collaboration with West’s mother, Monique West, the film follows the story of Ty’rese’s death and the lawsuit that ensued. CYCLE is an invitation, “. . . to interrupt the silence that follows so many cases that never go viral — cases where there’s no footage, no public pressure, and no accountability,” say director Laura Dyan Kezman and co-director William Howell, both Racine natives. Kezman is an award-winning director, DP, and editor, and the founder of LionArt Media committed to telling bold, socially driven stories that examine justice, culture, and civic engagement. Howell is a cinematographer, editor, and director based in Milwaukee. He was the cinematographer of ‘The Rise and Fall of Coo Coo Cal’ and the director of the 2020 film ‘You Don’t Know Me’. Join the CYCLE directors and Laura Flanders for this powerful conversation on police accountability and community action, plus a commentary on the media quiet about Trump’s massive military build-up in the Caribbean.“. . . We started this film in 2019 with the intention of not making an angry film, but we didn't quite know what the film needed to be yet. Then COVID hit, Ahmaud Arbery was killed, and then Breonna Taylor was killed, and then George Floyd was killed . . . We felt it then, that this was something so much bigger than us in terms of us telling Tyrese's story in that moment.” - Laura Dyan Kezman“The call to action, that's when I see, more than anything, that we achieved our goal. People are not leaving these theaters angry . . . They're leaving and saying, what can we do? What can I do? What can we do together as people to help create this change?” - William HowellGuests:• William Howell: Co-Director, CYCLE• Laura Dyan Kezman: Director, Editor & Producer, CYCLEFull Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters.Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel November 9th, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio November 12th  (check here to see if your station is airing the show) & available as a podcast.RESOURCES:Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:•  Police Violence Against Latinos: The Shocking Data We Now Know:  Watch / Listen:  Episode•  Jacqueline Woodson & Catherine Gund: Breathing Through Chaos & the “Meanwhile”:  Watch / Listen:  Episode and Full Uncut Conversation•  The Defund Movement in 2024: Frontline Reporters Separate Myth from Reality:  Watch / Listen:  Episode Related Articles and Resources:•  ‘CYCLE’ comes home:  Racine premiere unites community in a call for action, by Heather Asiyanbi and Grant Ritchey, July 21st, 2025, Racine County Eye• Mapping Police Violence: “Law enforcement agencies across the country are failing to provide us with even basic information about the lives they take. So we collect the data ourselves…”•  The U.S. Dept. of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Dismisses Biden-Era Police Investigations and Proposed Police consent Decrees in Louisville and Minneapolis, May 21, 2025, Justice.gov•  Wisconsin DOJ reversed decision to release cop names after pushback from police groups, by Annie Pulley, April 2025, The Badger Project•  Trump administration drops police oversight spurred by Floyd, Taylor Killings, by Sarah N. Lynch and Andrew Goudsward, May 21, 2025, Reuters•  Trump signs orders targeting sanctuary cities, seeking military involvement in law enforcement, April 28, 2025, by Alex Galbraith, Salon.com•  MAIT:  How Wisconsin’s investigations into police shootings protect officers, by Isiah Holmes, February 12, 2025, Wisconsin Examiner Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit:  'Thrum of Soil' by Bluedot Sessions, and original sound design by Jeannie HopperSupport Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends Chapters:00:00:00Personal Connections Fuel the Creation of "Cycle"00:04:15Exposing Systemic Power: Police and DA's Narrative Control00:08:14Nancy Kowalchek's Warning: A Precedent of Police Violence00:13:28"Cycle" as a Guide for Community Change00:19:42Monique's Trust and the Film's Evolving Vision00:24:35"Cycle" Inspires Action and Brings Healing to Victims00:33:38The Enduring Legacy and Transformative Power of "Cycle"00:41:51   Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer;  Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O’Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky:  https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon:   https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

North Carolina leads a new wave of gerrymandering battles ahead of the 2026 midterms. Laura Flanders revisits how redistricting there reveals the national struggle over democracy and fair representation.This show is made possible by you!  To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate  Thank you for your continued support!Description [original release date May 7, 2023] As the 2026 midterm elections approach, North Carolina has once again become ground zero in the fight over American democracy. In this re-release of “Deciding the Fate of Democracy in North Carolina,” Laura Flanders and her guests revisit how extreme gerrymandering has reshaped political power and voter representation in one of the nation’s key swing states.North Carolina is now the first swing state to draw new congressional districts amid a nationwide push by both parties to lock in advantages before the next election. What’s at stake for democracy—not just in North Carolina, but across the country?Tune in as Laura Flanders & Friends explore the local stories behind this national struggle, and what it reveals about the future of fair representation in America.Guests:Hilary Harris Klein: Senior Counsel of Voting Rights, Southern Coalition for Social JusticeIrving L. Joyner: Professor of Law, North Carolina Central University School of LawSerena Sebring: Executive Director, Blueprint NCJosh Stein: Attorney General, North Carolina (note: He served as NC's A.G. 2017 to 2024.  Currently he is serving as the 76th governor of North Carolina since 2025.) Angela M. Thorpe: Executive Director, Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice Watch this episode on YouTubeFull Show Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more to dive deeper.Music In the Middle:   "Wings" by Terry Callier courtesy of Mr. Bongo Records.  Additional music,  'Steppin' & 'Electric Car' by Podington Bear.  "Unsilenced" by Ketsa.  Original Sound Design by Jeannie Hopper. RESOURCES:Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:•  The Forgotten Coup, January 6th & the Small Town Americans on the Frontlines of Democracy  Watch / Download Podcast•  Community Safety in a Time of  Insurrection  Watch / Download Podcast•  North Carolina:  Courageous Conversations in a Climate of Fear  Watch / Download Podcast•  Lisa Graves:  The Extremist Revolutions & Democracy Hanging by a Thread  Watch / Download Podcast•  Democratizing Democracy:  Redistricting by the People  Watch / Download PodcastRelated Articles and Resources:•  North Carolinas Republicans Just Took Gerrymandering to a Whole New Level, by Laura Flanders, The Nation,  Read Here•  Moore vs. Harper Explained, by Eliza Sweren-Becker & Ethan Herenstein, The Brennan Center, Read Here•  North Carolina Supreme Court delivers three sweeping blows to voting rights, opinion.  by The Editorial Board, The News & Observer,  Read Here•  What Happens to Moore v. Harper after the latest North Carolina Supreme Court decision in the partisan gerrymandering case?  by Derek Muller, ElectionLawBlog.org  Read Here• The ‘Independent State Legislature Theory,’ Explained, by Ethan Herenstein & Thomas Wolf, The Brennan Center, read here  Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer;  Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O’Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky:  https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon:   https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel