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

This show is made possible by you!  To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateThe notorious Rikers, a 10-jail complex situated on an island in the East River of New York City, has become a national symbol and a symptom of our current approach to crime. The jail has over 6,000 inmates — the majority of whom are awaiting trial because they can’t afford bail — living in unconstitutionally inhumane conditions, a federal court once ruled. In October 2019, the New York City Council passed, and then Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law, a plan to permanently close Rikers and replace the jails with four borough facilities by August 2027. But the proposed closure has hit roadblocks — from the left, from the right, from the prison guards union and from concerned residents who live near where new jails would be built. Although many support the Rikers closure, there is little agreement as to how and when — or what should replace it. Why is it so difficult to make changes to our challenged carceral system? Joining Laura to discuss the local and national implications of this story are Journalist Nick Pinto, co-founder of Hell Gate, a worker-owned news outlet covering New York City, and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who helped pass the law to close the jail. Elected Public Advocate last fall, he is now the prime sponsor of legislation that would ban solitary confinement in city jails.“. . . The education that's necessary to bring the voting public along with this sort of change is difficult. It's especially difficult in the face of a concerted fear mongering campaign.” - Nick Pinto“This is the first time I've seen a population of folks in the city and the state who are ready to receive a conversation that's holistic around public safety. And we're squandering it.” - Public Advocate Jumaane WilliamsGuests:Nick Pinto: NYC Journalist & Co-Founder, Hell GateJumaane D. Williams: New York City Public Advocate Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.Music In the Middle:  “Front Line” featuring Puma Ptah by Eric Hilton, from the Farewell to Midnight EP released on Eighteenth Street Lounge Records.  And additional music included- "In and Out" and "Steppin" by Podington Bear FOLLOW The Laura Flanders ShowTwitter: twitter.com/thelfshow Facebook: facebook.com/theLFshow Instagram: instagram.com/thelfshow/YouTube:  youtube.com/@thelfshow ACCESSIBILITY - This episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel  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

The following is the entire conversation from our episode "Forging Alliances for Climate Action: A Conversation with Sierra Club's Ben Jealous."  Please show your appreciation for our dedication to bringing you coverage on movements by becoming a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate  Monthly supporters receive early releases of our full uncut conversations.  Thank you for your continued support! In this enlightening conversation on climate change, Laura Flanders sits down with Ben Jealous, the dynamic leader of the Sierra Club, to discuss the pressing challenges and opportunities in the realm of climate change news. As we navigate the climate crisis in 2023, Jealous delves deep into the Sierra Club's transformative journey, shedding light on its historical figures and the organization's evolution towards inclusivity and environmental justice.Drawing from personal narratives and the ongoing climate change debate, Jealous shares the inspiring story of his ancestor, Edward David Bland, emphasizing the power of collaboration across racial and political divides in the face of global warming. The conversation also touches upon recent environmental incidents like the chemical train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, underscoring the disparities in media attention and within our world news.Jealous passionately speaks about the Sierra Club's innovative efforts, from wilderness outings to urban "Toxic Tours," highlighting the organization's commitment to connecting people with both nature and pressing urban environmental issues. This episode highlights the broader environmental movement's need to resonate with a diverse audience, offering solutions that not only address the climate crisis but also promise economic benefits and social change.Laura concludes the conversation with insightful commentary on the environmental challenges that the Biden administration is facing, spotlighting the Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy (SASS) as a beacon of hope for sustainability.Join us for a deep dive into the world of environmental activism, the challenges we face, and the collaborative solutions that promise a greener, more equitable future in the face of the climate crisis.“. . . We've got to show up to the American people with a vision that says we can build a better economy that lifts all boats. We have the technology, we have the resources, we have the demand, we have the will.” - Ben Jealous Guest:  Ben Jealous: Executive Director, Sierra Club Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.Music Included:    "In and Out" and "Steppin" by Podington Bear FOLLOW The Laura Flanders ShowTwitter: twitter.com/thelfshow Facebook: facebook.com/theLFshow Instagram: instagram.com/thelfshow/YouTube:  youtube.com/@thelfshow ACCESSIBILITY - This episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel  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

The following is the entire conversation from our episode "The Inspiring Battle for Cooper Square: Community Land Trusts and the Future of Affordable Housing."  Please show your appreciation for our dedication to bringing you coverage on movements by becoming a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate  Monthly supporters receive early releases of our full uncut conversations.  Thank you for your continued support! Low income Americans face an acute housing shortage. But our guests have a victory to share. “Rabble Rousers: Frances Goldin and the Fight for Cooper Square" is a newly-released documentary telling the story of how a diverse group of New Yorkers, led by housing organizer Frances Goldin, fought a 50-year struggle against abandonment, white flight, violence, drugs and "Power Broker" Robert Moses to save a 12-block section of lower Manhattan from being destroyed. They created the first urban Community Land Trust (CLT), and thousands of homes and businesses were saved from speculation. The CLT established permanent low-income housing for Cooper Square residents. The film, which is out now from New Day Films, was directed and produced by our guests Kelly Anderson and Ryan Joseph, with Kathryn Barnier. Anderson and Joseph, along with historian Johanna Fernández join Laura to discuss the significance of Goldin, rabble rousing and the Cooper Square story for today. Plus, a commentary from Laura on “lost causes” that aren’t. “The housing situation is only getting worse…We need policy solutions to address problems that were created through racist and classist policies to begin with.” - Kelly Anderson“What [Frances Goldin] creates is a model for others to follow. And that is the notion that public lands should be connected to the idea of the public good, meaning that they can never be sold at a profit in the future by people who live there.” - Johanna Fernández“[Frances Goldin] wanted to make sure that the movement was integrated from the start. And in doing so, she formed coalitions quickly between Blacks, Browns, Jews, Puerto Ricans . . . She was able to take the movement to City Hall because she had people in numbers.” - Ryan JosephGuests:•  Kelly Anderson: Producer/Director, “Rabble Rousers: Frances Goldin and the Fight for Cooper Square”•  Johanna Fernández: Professor, 20th Century US History & the History of Social Movements at Baruch College & the Graduate Center CUNY•  Ryan Joseph: Producer/Director, “Rabble Rousers: Frances Goldin and the Fight for Cooper Square” Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.Music Included:    "In and Out" and "Steppin" by Podington Bear FOLLOW The Laura Flanders ShowTwitter: twitter.com/thelfshow Facebook: facebook.com/theLFshow Instagram: instagram.com/thelfshow/YouTube:  youtube.com/@thelfshow ACCESSIBILITY - This episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel  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

This show is made possible by you!  To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateAffirmative action's foes worked with conservative Chinese American organizations to sue two colleges over their admissions processes. The result was a victory for activists who have been trying to do away with affirmative action for years. What led to the June 29 decision by the Trump-packed Supreme Court finally to ban race-conscious affirmative action? In this month’s “Meet the BIPOC Press” feature with URL Media, our guests fill in the blanks in the media coverage and correct some of the misconceptions about affirmative action, systemic racism, and how we got here. This time, Laura Flanders and co-host Sara Lomax of Philadelphia’s WURD Radio are joined by Washington DC-based journalist Brandon Tensley, the National Politics Reporter at Capital B, a nonprofit national and local newsroom reporting for Black communities across the country, and Claire Jean Kim, a political scientist and Asian American studies professor at UC Irvine in Southern California. Kim is also the author of the forthcoming book “Asian Americans in an Anti-Black World”. How will the recent Supreme Court decision affect diversity and fairness in US institutions, and what does solidarity with African Americans specifically look like in the US today? “As someone who teaches about anti-Blackness and race, I can tell you how much that impacts the classroom to not have more diversity in the classroom . . . It affects the quality of education for everybody.” - Claire Jean Kim“One of the professors I spoke to  put it very clearly when I asked him, ‘What will the higher education landscape look like post affirmative action?’ He was like, we don't need to theorize, we don't need to sort of imagine it. We can look to where this has already happened . . . “ - Brandon Tensley Guests:Claire Jean Kim: Professor of Political Science & Asian American Studies, UC Irvine; Author, Asian Americans in an Anti-Black World (Cambridge University Press, 2023)Sara Lomax: Co-Founder, URL Media; President & CEO, WURD RadioBrandon Tensley: National Politics Reporter, Capital B News Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.Music In the Middle:   “Sometimes I Wonder” by The Allergies from their full length album Tear The Place Up released on Jalapeno Records.  And additional music included- "In and Out" and "Steppin" by Podington Bear FOLLOW The Laura Flanders ShowTwitter: twitter.com/thelfshow Facebook: facebook.com/theLFshow Instagram: instagram.com/thelfshow/YouTube:  youtube.com/@thelfshow ACCESSIBILITY - This episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel  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

This show is made possible by you!  To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate  Thank you for your continued support!Description:  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990, a significant milestone in the fight for civil rights, with a vision of inclusion and respect for people with disabilities. But ableism, or discrimination in favor of able-bodied people, persists, affecting the one in four Americans with a disability. What does ableism mean and why is it still a prominent problem? Anita Cameron and Keith Jones, leaders in the disability rights and disability justice movements, have answers.Cameron, who has been arrested nearly 150 times, participated in the "Capitol Crawl" for the passage of the ADA in 1990 and, later in 2017, she was part of the widely-publicized Rotunda Takeover with the disability advocacy group, ADAPT, to protest proposed Medicaid cuts. Her influential writings shed light on topics like ableism in media and the intersection of ableism and mental health. She currently heads the Minority Outreach at "Not Dead Yet", an organization committed to fighting ableism, or discrimination veiled as physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia of persons with disabilities.As an African-American activist, entrepreneur, and father living with cerebral palsy, Keith Jones advocates for quality independent living for persons with disabilities. He also strives for equal access to housing, education, and voting rights - for all. In addition to his human rights work, Jones is the founder of SoulTouchin’ Experiences and has earned an Emmy award for his song "Rising Phoenix," a documentary about the Paralympic Games. This far-ranging feature, timed to coincide with the signing of the ADA on July 25, 1990, concludes with a commentary by Flanders.“The lives of people with disabilities are so regulated, we don't have true autonomy. I can guarantee you that the access to healthcare, reproductive rights and all of that, we disabled women have to fight for that access anyway.” - Anita Cameron“They like to either say, you're disabled or you’re a woman, you're disabled or you're queer, you're disabled or you're Black. That's not the case. We are an intricate mosaic of identities.” - Keith JonesGuests:Anita Cameron: Disability Justice Activist; Director of Minority Outreach, Not Dead YetKeith Jones: Human Rights & Disability Justice Activist; President, SoulTouchin’ Experiences Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.Music In the Middle:   “So Hip Hop” by Fezo de Mad One featuring Toni Kickman courtesy of the artist and Soul Touchin’ Experiences.  And additional music included- "In and Out" and "Steppin" by Podington Bear FOLLOW The Laura Flanders ShowTwitter: twitter.com/thelfshow Facebook: facebook.com/theLFshow Instagram: instagram.com/thelfshow/YouTube:  youtube.com/@thelfshow ACCESSIBILITY - This episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel  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

You can watch The Laura Flanders Show report on The Jubilee Justice Black Farmers Rice Project on PBS stations across the nation, or on YouTube. In addition, we offer an audio version by subscribing to this free podcast or airing on community radio. Check our community radio listings for stations airing the show, and if your favorite community radio station is airing the program.  If they are not, please let them know to add the show.  More details are  at LauraFlanders.org.And my latest article for The Nation  is now available, also on The Jubilee Justice Black Farmers Rice Project.The F-Word is released bi-weekly featuring timely commentaries by Laura Flanders and guests. The Laura Flanders Show is made possible by our listeners and viewers. Please become a sustaining member or make a one time donation at LauraFlanders.org/donate  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

This show is made possible by you!  To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate  Thank you for your continued support!Description:  A bold experiment is taking place among Black farmers in the Southeast — a story of hope in an area with a history of plantation slavery, land theft and white violence. The Jubilee Justice Black Farmers' Rice Project is pioneering regenerative farming practices as a means to address systemic racism and make repair. This innovative project combines restorative economics, regenerative agriculture, and asset ownership as the path to address the harm done to Black farmers, and the environmentally harmful methods of rice production. In this exclusive report from The Laura Flanders Show, Laura Flanders reports on-location from Alexandria, Louisiana, where she meets Jubilee Justice Co-Founder and President Konda Mason, veteran civil rights crusader Shirley Sherrod and the Black farmers at the center of this story. Through knowledge sharing, collaboration and community support, this project endeavors to bridge the racial divide and foster a future rooted in justice and healing. Join us to discover how Jubilee Justice helps repair the damage from long-term racism and plant the seeds for a healthful and healing future.“Restorative economics calls on us to first acknowledge the hurt and structural harm caused by economic systems of extraction and exploitation. It then requires us to engage in a conversation about repair.” - Nwamaka Agbo“My goal is to not just grow organically and to be regenerative . . . but to do it in a way that's affordable so that everybody has access. Everybody has a right to good, nutritious food.” - Donna Isaac“How can we balance all of the farming principles that we want to hold on to? How can we build soil health? How can we have a productive mill? . . . That’s the mission.” - Myles Gaines“As Black farmers, we rarely own the land . . . And we are completely dependent upon a third party to say yes to my crop . . . What that mill represents is a vertical integration of their crop from growing it to milling it, to distributing it, and making their own decisions . . . We have to own the means of production.” - Konda Mason“. . . It's not just the big guys who can come in and grow rice where it's not even healthy and feed it to all of us . . . We can pick our area, we can do it right, we can show care and love for each other, and that comes out in the food we provide.” - Shirley Sherrod“We as a cohort have the deeds to this [rice mill]. It's going to be ours. If all else fails, we still have a building for people to come to, that they need . . . This building here is a stronghold for me and my heart.” - Bernard Winn“Farmers are aging and their kids don't want to take [the farmland] over. So that land's going to go somewhere. Is it going to go to developers or is it going to go to people who care passionately about changing how the food that we eat is grown, for the betterment of society?” - Ken Lee“. . . If you take care of the soil and if you farm regeneratively, you are going to not only get a better crop . . . but it's going to be more nutritious for the consumer and better for the environment. Regenerative is the future and we're totally committed to it.” - Caryl LevineGuests:Nwamaka Agbo: CEO, Kataly Foundation & Managing Director, Restorative Economies FundDonna Isaac: Farmer, Jubilee Justice Black Farmers Rice ProjectMyles Gaines: Head of Innovation & Experimentation, Jubilee Justice Black Farmers Rice ProjectKonda Mason: Founder & President, Jubilee JusticeShirley Sherrod: Executive Director, Southwest Georgia Project for Community Education; Co-Founder, New Communities, Inc.; U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Equity CommissionBernard Winn: Operations Specialist & Mill Manager, Jubilee Justice Black Farmers Rice ProjectCaryl Levine and Ken Lee: Co-Founders & Co-CEOs, Lotus Foods; Partners with Jubilee Justice Black Farmers' Rice Project Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more.Music In the Middle:  “Freedom and Progress” by Nicole Conte featuring Zara McFarlane from his full length album Umoja released on Far Out Recordings. FOLLOW The Laura Flanders ShowTwitter: twitter.com/thelfshow Facebook: facebook.com/theLFshow Instagram: instagram.com/thelfshow/YouTube:  youtube.com/@thelfshow ACCESSIBILITY - This episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel  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

This show is made possible by you!  To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate  Thank you for your continued support!What if there was a way to trade time and share skills with your neighbors in a way that met a range of needs without involving cash?In this episode, we have an in-depth conversation with Mike Strode, the Founding Coordinator behind an innovative solution that offers just that: The Kola Nut Collaborative. This Chicago-based initiative, operating since 2017, stands as a beacon of the solidarity economy, promoting timebanking as a means of social and economic transformation. Timebanking, distinct from traditional bartering, targets relationship-building over wealth accumulation, providing an alternative to profit-driven capitalist systems. Part of a growing new economy coalition, The Kola Nut Collaborative forges reciprocal networks of support and encourages a sharing economy.In a timebank, time is treated as a currency, fostering fairness and enhancing community cooperation. Timebanking reshapes the conventional economic narrative and exposes participants to new economic thinking.This enlightening conversation reminds us that there are multiple, co-existing economies within our society which transcend the confines of capitalism.Tune in for more on timebanking, and how it just might work in your community.  “The notion of the lone entrepreneur funneling out on the boat is impossible. We get together by community. So starting a time bank involves you actually being in community.” - Mike Strode“Solidarity economy is a post-capitalist framework. Ultimately we are still in capitalism . . . so until we rest ourselves from capitalism, we will continue to be very far from the solidarity economy.” - Mike StrodeGuest:  Mike Strode, Founding Coordinator, Kola Nut Collaborative Timebank Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more to dive deeper.Music In the Middle:  “Fill My Cup” by POSY (pronounced Pose -ee) and Markell Holmes courtesy of Bastard Jazz Records. FOLLOW The Laura Flanders ShowTwitter: twitter.com/thelfshow Facebook: facebook.com/theLFshow Instagram: instagram.com/thelfshow/YouTube:  youtube.com/@thelfshow ACCESSIBILITY - This episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel   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

This show is made possible by you!  To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate  Thank you for your continued support!What kind of country do we want as Americans? Gerrymandered Red by the Republican minority, Texas is a testing ground for restrictive policies and ideologies that export themselves to the rest of the country. We follow up on our episode from last year, “Forget Everything You Know About Texas,” to mark the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and opened the door for states to ban or severely restrict the availability of abortion care. For this episode, we’ve reconvened a panel of organizers and activists in Texas to discuss what has (or hasn’t) changed on the abortion, trans and voting rights fronts, and the ongoing impact on women, girls, LGBTQ lives and democracy across the country. Our guests say that Texas may just be a predictor of how 21st-century change happens when people organize differently. They also acknowledge that the backlash has grown and are finding creative strategies to push back. Caroline Duble is the political director of Avow: Unapologetic Abortion Advocacy; Eesha Pandit is co-founder of the Center for Advancing Innovative Policy (CAIP) and Emmett Schelling is the director of the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT). This July 4, we discuss whose rights are in the crosshairs, and what Texas can teach us all about movement strategy. Plus, a commentary from Laura.“In order for these bans on healthcare to be enforced, they require policing and surveillance and criminalization. We need to look to the leadership of Black advocates, of people who have been fighting the carceral state for decades. They were warning us about the dangers of criminalization and over-policing and surveillance long before this abortion ban existed.” - Caroline Duble “The legal and legislative responses are vital. They are however, in a state like Texas, harm reduction approaches . . . We're trying to protect people's rights, and that often looks like stemming a legislative tide rather than enacting proactive things that will actually protect us and our families and our vision for our state.” - Eesha Pandit“This was horrifically bad. We saw a record number of Texans come out in full opposition, to oppose seeing medical care rolled back and families targeted, physicians targeted, especially in a post-pandemic world that we still live in.” - Emmett SchellingGuests:Caroline Duble: Political Director, Avow: Unapologetic Abortion AdvocacyEesha Pandit: Co-founder, Center for Advancing Innovative Policy (CAIP)Emmett Schelling: Executive Director, Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) Full Episode Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more to dive deeper. Music In the Middle:  “State of the Nation” by Bokani Dyer featuring Damani Nkosi from his album ‘Sechaba’ released on Brownswood Records.   FOLLOW The Laura Flanders ShowTwitter: twitter.com/thelfshow Facebook: facebook.com/theLFshow Instagram: instagram.com/thelfshow/YouTube:  youtube.com/@thelfshow ACCESSIBILITY - This episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel   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

"It’s being called the Minnesota miracle, but  Minnesota’s historic legislative session was no act of god."The F-Word features timely commentaries by Laura FlandersThe Laura Flanders Show is made possible by our listeners and viewers. Please become a sustaining member or make a one time donation at LauraFlanders.org/donate TEXT:It’s being called the Minnesota miracle, but  Minnesota’s historic legislative session was no act of god. Democrats in Minnesota wrote abortion rights into law and passed paid family and medical leave; they funded free breakfast and lunch for all k-12 students and passed protections for transgender people. Going forward, undocumented people will be able to get drivers' licenses and people released from prison or jail will be able to vote. There’s a one-time tax rebate, and a tax credit aimed at low income parents and a $1 billion investment in affordable housing including for rental assistance. Minnesotans passed stronger protections for workers seeking to unionize, banned conversion therapy for LGBTQ people and set a date by which the electric grid has to be carbon free. They tightened gun laws, loosened marijuana regs, and sent more money to nursing homes. That list’s probably still incomplete. In a tweet Barack Obama commented: “If you need a reminder that elections have consequences, check out what’s happening in Minnesota.” The stunning session is certainly proof that voting matters. The Democratic Farmers and Labor Party (DFL) owed its trifecta power this session to midterm elections in which they won not just the Governor’s mansion, but also majorities in both houses thanks to a one-vote majority in the state Senate and narrow victories by a handful of candidates, one of whom won by just 321 votes. But voting alone won’t do it. As the beloved late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone knew, legislative action doesn’t happen without massive, ongoing organizing by strong coalitions. In this case, long time labor, environmental and social justice activists worked in coalition, the Wellstone way, sometimes for years.  Minnesotans for Paid Family Medical Leave for example —a coalition of 70 labor, faith, and community groups—set their sights and worked to rally support for what they won this year for as much as a decade. And not all majorities matter. Minnesota Democrats have held majorities before, but acted cautiously -- carefully conducting partisan calculus -- in the style of if you don’t mind me saying - Obama. Cautionary politics lost them the majority a decade ago. It’s taken that long to reboot. In other words, Democrats in Minnesota learned the lesson that Democrats nationally should have learned from the Sen. Mansion experience  Partisanship’s nice but principles are better.Finally, Minnesota Democrats didn’t just win political capital. They spent it, and they spent it in a bold way, with time to have an impact on real people’s lives before the next elections to the Governor’s office or the state Senate.There’s more to be learned from the Minnesota story. Let’s hope some learn it. But the biggest takeaway? Suffice to say, there are no miracles in politics.You can catch Laura's conversation with activists in Texas about how they’re surviving abortion bans and trumped up trans laws this time on the Laura Flanders Show on PBS stations, community radio stations and as a podcast or online at Lauraflanders.org.@GRITlaura@TheLFShowThe TV & radio show where the people who say it can't be done take a backseat to the people who are doing it! Watch on a PBS station near you or subscribe to the free podcast. LauraFlanders.org  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