Highlands Bunker

Karl and Bill join Rob in the bunker to talk about Phillies legend Dick Allen (not as a metaphor), the history of the Delaware Way, and even a little bit about the property tax special session. Also, introducing the inaugural "Bill's Picks."57:15 is the timestamp you're looking for.Show Notes:Black AugustLife After BidenCoverage of NOCAP Town Hall

New Castle County Councilman Brandon Toole joins Rob in the bunker to do a deeper dive into the latest set of property reassessments and the drama around it. They discuss what actually happened and what might actually be needed to fix it.Show Notes:Middletown Police BackgroundDelaware Call Fall ClassicTyler Technologies Report

Young lady Jess Scarane joins Rob in the bunker to talk about two of the biggest topics of the day: the planned Delaware City data center and the town hall about it, and the increased property and school taxes from the latest reassessments. Show Notes:NOCAP Dover Town HallNew Castle County residents fight back against proposed data centerDelaware lawmakers to reconvene for special session on taxes amid reassessment fallout

Chance from Chancery Daily and Delaware Call reporter Jordan Howell join Rob in the bunker to revisit Senate Bill 21: both the lawsuits it has caused and the fiscal crisis that never happened. Then, they discuss some of the various tech boondoggles the state is pursuing: from data centers to AI sandboxes.Show Notes:Their Water Taps Ran Dry When Meta Built Next DoorUpdate on the situation in Vaughn prisonDelaware hires Meta executives’ attorneys for Supreme Court defense of SB 21Delaware's new AI Sandbox

Jennifer Chattin, mother of previous guest Josh Chattin, joins Rob and State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton in the bunker to give an update on her son's attempts to organize inmates in Vaughn (and now Howard Young) prison and the backlash they have faced. (To all legislative staff and spouses: the timestamp you're looking for is 26:26, try paying attention to something that actually matters)Show Notes:Previous episode about VaughnAlonna Berry's issues page

State Senator Laura Sturgeon and activist Shyanne Miller join Rob in the bunker to recap the first leg of Delaware's legislative session. We discuss the few things that did get done, and the larger forces and incentives that kept anything particularly substantial from getting through.Show Notes:DE-WFP Legislative DebriefCapital Fight or Flight and Delaware's Bunker MindsetDemocrats told to "get shot" for the anti-Trump resistanceMore on the DREAM Initiative

Inmates Joshua Chattin, Michael Fields, and Fenel Banes join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the atrocious conditions at Vaughn Prison in Smyrna which finally came to light during the latest heat wave, how inmates have been fighting back, and the blowback that they face when advocating for themselves. Then, a brief session recap ahead of our full episode next week.Show Notes:Our original episode about Vaughn Prison in 2019Some Vaughn inmates are without air conditioning during heatwave2025 Legislative Session Report

Karl and Bill join Rob in the bunker to talk about the latest debacle around Rep. Stell Parker Selby's resignation, as well as Karl's op-ed about the anti-democratic nature of Delaware's Democratic leadership.Show Notes:Support and pushback over bill to prevent local agreements with ICECoast TV Interviews One and TwoDelaware’s Bunker Mindset

Police reform activists Vonda Smack and Tom Donovan join Rob in the bunker to talk about the efforts of NOCAP Delaware to bring more police accountability to Dover through a public police accountability form, and what the general state of policing is in Dover right now.Show Notes:NOCAP Announcement, Facebook, and InstagramDover Mayor, Law Enforcement, and State Officials Address Gun Violence, Victims Speak Out

State representative Frank Burns joins Rob in the bunker to get an update on what has happened with Senate Bill 21, how he was best friends with Pope Leo growing up, and how he navigates the strange culture of legislative hall and Delaware politics.Show Notes:Gov. Meyer to defend landmark corporate law against constitutional challenge Senate passes offshore wind bill that overrides Sussex County decision to deny permitMore about Frank Burns