Media Cyphers Kalamazoo

Empire's Mask Off in the Oval Office, Welcome to the Tariff-dome, and More

WMU SJP and AAUP respond the university administration's neutrality policy.

 

Me and Lawrence talk about geopolitics as reduced to crude gangsterism- what is different and what remains the same when US empire is administered by dull-witted goons via the Zelenskyy meeting.

 

The leopards are eating everyone's faces- and we talk about how DOGE cuts are immiserating Trump's electoral base along with everyone else and how the hysteria around "woke" and "DEI" is a long played tactic of the ruling class to smuggle austerity with bigotry.

 

Wayne State grad students are organizing, and we look at an article from the WSWS on Trump's North American tariffs, which went into effect Tuesday.

 

1:30- 5:00 WMU SJP & AAUP Respond to WMU Admin's Neutrality Policy

 

7:15- 27:10 Taking the Mask off of Empire- Oval Office Goons & Zelenskyy

 

27:45- 38:30 Reactionary Boomerang- DOGE Cuts Come For MAGA

 

39:20- 46:00 Hope Woods Seniors Unite and How Local Media Can Work For the Community

 

46:00- 50:25 Wayne State Grad Students Bargaining for New Contract

 

51:20- 58:45 Welcome the Tariff-dome, Trade Wars w/ Canada and Mexico Begin

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

Neutrality in the Face of Evil: An Open Letter to Western Michigan University’s Leaders
https://thewmuaaup.com/2025/02/13/neutrality-in-the-face-of-evil-an-open-letter-to-western-michigan-universitys-leaders/

 

BOOK CLUB#2: The War in Ukraine with Randy LaPrarie
https://mediacyphers.podbean.com/e/book-club2-the-war-in-ukraine-with-randy-laprairie/

 

Trump cuts hit Forest Service in Michigan; critics fear ‘catastrophic’ loss
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/trump-cuts-hit-forest-service-michigan-critics-fear-catastrophic-loss

 

Great Lakes scientists among latest round of Trump cuts in Michigan
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/great-lakes-scientists-among-latest-round-trump-cuts-michigan

 

Dozens fired from Michigan veteran care facilities as Trump cuts continue
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/dozens-fired-michigan-veteran-care-facilities-trump-cuts-continue

 

Hope Woods Apartments owner given deadline to turn over management
https://wwmt.com/news/local/hope-woods-apartments-eviction-deadline-management-oshtemo-township-seniors-lease-mshda

 

Wayne State University Graduate Employee Union Starts Bargaining for a New Contract
https://www.leftvoice.org/wayne-state-university-graduate-employee-union-starts-bargaining-for-a-new-contract

 

Trump’s 25 percent tariffs against Canada and Mexico to take effect Tuesday
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/03/04/ayvp-m04.html

 

Woke Wars w/ Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor & Mike McCarthy
https://thedigradio.com/podcast/woke-wars-w-olufemi-taiwo-keeanga-yamahtta-taylor-mike-mccarthy/

 

"The Revolution WILL Be Televised," Kzoo County Responds to Federal Funding Freeze, and More

We open by discussing how a local resident is attempting to organize a Metro Transit bus riders union and how Kalamazoo County is responding to the Trump administration's federal funding freezes.

 

We talk a bit more specifically about DOGE, the normalization from some sectors of the media, the power and history behind the Trump admin's adversarial posture towards South Africa, and examine the meaning around Kendrick's Super Bowl halftime performance.

 

We look at Trump's aim to colonize Gaza and turn it into a casino resort, return to Michigan with stories from the state government, and close with some updates on H5N1 (Bird Flu).

 

02:00- 8:30 Local Kzoo Resident Seeks to Organize Metro Transit Riders

 

8:30- 25:30  Kzoo County Responds to Federal Cuts

 

25:30- 36:20 How the Working Class Will Get Dog Walked by DOGE and Media Reaction

 

36:20- 40:00 White Boys Still Mad: Elon, Trump, and South Africa

 

40:00- 51:40 "The Revolution WILL be Televised"- The Super Bowl Halftime Show

 

51:40- 1:02:20 Mar-a-Gaza- Casino Colonialism, the Media's Organized Forgetting, and Blaming the Victim

 

1:02:30- 1:07:20 Michigan GOP Wants to Tie Local Funding to Capitulation to ICE

 

1:07:30- 1:11:05 Michigan Civil Rights Law Protects Trans Students Athletes (All Two of Them)

 

1:11:20- 1:14:30 A Brief Guide to Protecting Your Finances With the Dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

 

1:14:35- 1:23:45 Bird Flu Update

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

A Kalamazoo Township man starts a petition to organize local bus riders 
https://www.wmuk.org/wmuk-news/2025-02-05/a-kalamazoo-township-man-starts-a-petition-to-organize-local-bus-riders

 

Elon Musk is part of a ‘coup’ we must respond to, Kalamazoo County leader says
https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2025/02/elon-musk-is-part-of-a-coup-we-must-respond-to-kalamazoo-county-leader-says.html

 

Constitutional Crisis: Who Is Musk’s ”DOGE Army,” Gutting Gov’t Agencies as Courts Question Legality?
https://www.democracynow.org/2025/2/10/musk_doge_federal_government_vittoria_elliott

 

“The PayPal Mafia”: Meet the South African Oligarchs Surrounding Trump, from Elon Musk to Peter Thiel
https://www.democracynow.org/2025/2/10/elon_musk_doge_south_africa_apartheid

 

Michigan House GOP threatens to block budgets over ‘sanctuary’ city funding
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-house-gop-threatens-block-budgets-over-sanctuary-city-funding

 

Michigan transgender youths to continue high school sports, despite Trump order
https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/michigan-transgender-youths-continue-high-school-sports-despite-trump-order

 

“Trump Does Not See Palestinians as Human Beings”: Plan for U.S. to “Take Over” Gaza Faces Outcry
https://www.democracynow.org/2025/2/6/omar_baddar_trump_gaza_israel_palestine

 

Some Moves to Protect Yourself during the Dismantling of the CFPB
https://ykhong.substack.com/p/some-moves-to-protect-yourself-in

 

Trump’s assault on public health and the growing threat of an H5N1 bird flu pandemic
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/02/08/ocfq-f08.html

 

Tariff-ying Developments for Michigan, Trolls in the U.S. Treasury, and More

On today's show we begin with how the Trump administration is targeting anti-genocide protestors in the U.S. on a student visa and how local groups are responding.

 

We look at the wild, back-and-forth story of Trump's proposed tariffs with Canada and Mexico, how Trump was placated at the 11th hour, and the type of impact tariffs on Canada could have on Michigan whenever the President has his next tantrum at them.

 

We look at a story from LeftVoice about the mayoral race in Detroit, check in on how the opposition party in Washington is largely deciding to oppose human rights, Elon Musk's gremlins that got into the treasury offices over the weekend, and how organizers are responding to corporate chains like Target dropping their DEI initiatives.

 

01:00- 4:50 WMU SJP Responds to Trump Targeting Anti-Genocide Protestors on a Student Visa

 

4:50- 11:00 Tariff-ying Implications- What Trade Wars Could Mean For Michiganders

 

11:30- 19:30 Pander in Detroit- The Mayoral Race in the Motor City

 

19:50- 32:30 Democrats Shifting Right in the Face of Fascism

 

32:40- 38:20 Gremlins 3: Elon Takes the Treasury

 

39:20- 52:30 Go Woke or Go Broke- Boycotts Organizing Against Companies Backtracking on DEI

 

52:30- 1:09:00 More Conversation on Tariffs, Elon's Treasury Coup, Foreign Policy, and More

 

1:09:00- 1:16:00 Not Like Us- Thoughts on the Grammys

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

Michigan braces for Trump tariffs on Canada, a $77B trade partner
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-braces-trump-tariffs-canada-77b-trade-partner

 

None of Detroit’s Mayoral Candidates Represent an Alternative to the Corporate-Driven “Renaissance”
https://www.leftvoice.org/none-of-detroits-mayoral-candidates-represent-an-alternative-to-the-corporate-driven-renaissance/

 

What is the Laken Riley Act? A look at the first bill Trump just signed
https://apnews.com/article/what-is-laken-riley-act-trump-immigration-2667d626139ddf5a16d1533516eab18f

 

Is Elon Musk Staging a Coup? Unelected Billionaire Seizes Control at Treasury Dept. & Other Agencies
https://www.democracynow.org/2025/2/3/elon_musk_gov

 

Walmart Target & Their Ilk’s Stance on DEI Expecting My $$$ Is Like Tryn To Pick The 🌽 From 💩!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6U1methZds

 

The Dems Are Out to Brunch, The REAL Resistance Continues, and More

Kalamazoo Township is responding to Trump with some actions from city officials (maybe, at some point.)

 

Lawrence joins us to talk about the first week of Trump II: The Revenge- the blizzard of reactionary executive orders, the administration's overt class warfare- in particular Trump freezing federal funding earlier this morning and how resistance liberals seemed to have stayed at brunch while the grassroots resistance moves forward.

 

We talk about responding to ICE in SWMI and the unique challenges it gives college students, and discuss an article from Truthout on the Trump's administration's push of "uncritical race theory" in public education.

 

We also discuss Trump kneecapping public health in the U.S. and the potential catastrophic consequences.

 

3:40- 10:40 Kalamazoo Township Responds to Trump (Kind Of)

 

11:00- 22:40 Trump II Week One- Executive Disorder and Class Warfare

 

22:40- 34:40 The Democrats are Out to Brunch

 

34:00- 57:00 The Settler-Colonial Pivot in Israel & Building People Power

 

59:20- 1:15:25 Responding to ICE in Kzoo, and ICE at the University

 

1:15:25- 1:23:50 Uncritical Race Theory- Turing Back the Clock in Public Education

 

1:24:42- 1:35:00 The Sickness is the System- Trump Admin Dismantling and Silencing Public Health

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

Kalamazoo Township pumps brakes on response to Trump orders
https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2025/01/kalamazoo-township-pumps-brakes-on-response-to-trump-orders.html

 

Why Has Trump Paused Federal Grants and Who Could Be Impacted?
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-federal-grants-aid-pause-freeze-2021835

 

Goodbye, ‘Resistance.’ The Era of Hyperpolitics Is Over.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/magazine/trump-hyperpolitics-resistance.html

 

‘Nothing but problems’: Confronting the Living Conditions at Fox Ridge Apartments
https://nowkalamazoo.org/2025/01/nothing-but-problems-confronting-the-living-conditions-at-fox-ridge-apartments/

 

ICE Off Campus! College Students and Workers Must Unite Against Right-Wing Attacks
https://www.leftvoice.org/ice-off-campus-college-students-and-workers-must-unite-against-right-wing-attacks

 

Trump’s Education Agenda for Teachers: Sanitize US History or Leave the Field
https://truthout.org/articles/trumps-education-agenda-for-teachers-sanitize-us-history-or-leave-the-field

 

Trump declares all-out war on public health and science
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/01/24/fgrr-j24.html

 

Welcome to the Terrordome- Trump Returns, Nothing Will Fundamentally Change- The Biden Years, and More

We look at an article from TruthOut that examines the auspicious timing of Trump being inaugurated on MLK Day- and what lessons we can take from the later King, the democratic socialist spiritual leader engaged in class struggle, in the dark days ahead.

 

We look at an article from LeftVoice laying out the internal contradictions of the incoming administration and the potential for organizers to take those weaknesses to their advantage.

 

An article from The Nation lays out how mainstream media is bending the knee to Trump, and we're then joined by our co-host Lawrence to discuss the inauguration, Day One of his presidency, and the legacy of the Biden administration.

 

02:40- 22:30 MLK's Legacy and Class Struggle Under Trump 2.0

 

24:20- 36:10 Capitalist In-Fighting in the Trump Administration

 

36:20- 42:30 The Capitalist Media Capitulates to Trump

 

45:00- 1:18:00 Welcome to the Terrordome, Trump's Inauguration and Day 1

 

1:18:10- 1:37:30 Nothing Will Fundamentally Change: Parting Thoughts on the Biden Years

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

MLK’s Legacy Is One of Class Struggle. To Fight Trump, We Must Carry His Torch.
https://truthout.org/articles/mlks-legacy-is-one-of-class-struggle-to-fight-trump-we-must-carry-his-torch/

 

Trump Has No Mandate and His Incoming Administration Is Full of Contradictions
https://www.leftvoice.org/trump-has-no-mandate-and-his-incoming-administration-is-full-of-contradictions/

 

The Media Is Giving Away Its Rights Even Before Trump Tries to Take Them
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/media-capitulation-to-trump/

 

Kamala Harris Paid the Price for Not Breaking With Biden on Gaza, New Poll Shows
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/kamala-harris-gaza-israel-biden-election-poll

 

Hatebook, Disaster Movie in LA, LGBTQ+ Rights, and More

We begin our show looking at how climate change is shortening Michigan winters and creating problems for farmers in the mitten.

 

A bi-partisan bill is going through congress that would make it easier for the federal government to kidnap immigrants.

 

We spend a good chunk of the show looking at Zuckerberg's turn towards the Trump administration in its content guidelines and moderation. When the chips are down capitalists will pursue the path of least resistance and Meta was all to willing to cede social ground to an overtly bigoted administration to protect their bottom line.

 

We look at the disaster in LA- some of the misinformation and narratives from the media and how the city's Democratic mayor robbed Peter (cut funding to the LAFD) to pay Paul (increase funding to the LAPD).

 

We close with some stories about the ongoing assault on LGBTQ+ rights- both from social media corporations in the U.S. and the government.

 

02:15- 9:00 Climate Change in Michigan- Less Freezing Days, Tumultuous Fruit Harvests

 

9:35- 17:40 Bipartisan Anti-Immigrant Bill Going Thru Congress

 

17:50- 42:00 "Hatebook"- Zuckerberg's Heel Turn Towards Unleashing Bigotry and Misinformation in Pursuit of the Bottom Line

 

42:30- 57:45 A Disaster Movie- LA Wildfires, Misinformation, Climate Capitalism, and the Police State

 

59:00- 1:10:30 Updates on the Assault on LGBTQ+ Rights

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

Study: Climate change means fewer freezing winter days in Michigan
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/study-climate-change-means-fewer-freezing-winter-days-michigan

 

48 Democrats Vote for a Racist Law to Detain More Immigrants and Empower the Right
https://www.leftvoice.org/48-democrats-vote-for-a-racist-law-to-detain-more-immigrants-and-empower-the-right

 

Meta’s Allowance of Hate Speech Is Another Side Effect of Big Tech Monopoly
https://truthout.org/articles/metas-allowance-of-hate-speech-is-another-side-effect-of-big-tech-monopoly

 

Zuckerberg Goes “Full MAGA” as Meta Ends Fact-Checking in U.S. & Paves Way for More Hate Speech
https://www.democracynow.org/2025/1/9/meta_fact_checking_changes_trump_2025

 

Mark Zuckerberg Just Made His Trump Loyalty Pledge
https://www.readtpa.com/p/mark-zuckerberg-just-made-his-trump

 

LA Budgeted Money For Cop Jobs While Cutting Fire Department Positions. Now the City Is Burning. 
https://theintercept.com/2025/01/08/la-police-budget-palisades-fires/

 

Instagram blocked teens from searching LGBTQ-related content for months
https://www.usermag.co/p/instagram-blocked-teens-from-searching

 

Federal Court Rules In Favor of Forcibly Detransitioning Transgender Inmates In Florida
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/federal-court-rules-in-favor-of-forcibly

 

The Media Cyphers Holiday Special 2024

The Media Cyphers crew along with some special guests take a look back at the year that was- the triumphs, the failures, and the B.S.

 

But You Ain't Heard This
A Community Teach-In at the Edison Neighborhood Association
Tuesday, January 7th @ 6PM
https://www.facebook.com/share/1KstsjFXh1/

UnitedHealthcare CEO Got Got, U of M Backtracking on DEI, and More

Me and Lawrence open with some quick hits about legislation grassroots organizers are pushing Democrats in Lansing to pass during the lame duck session and Kendrick.

 

We spend most of the hour discussing the vigilante incident in New York- what the near universal celebration says about the state of the working class and class consciousness in the U.S., the media reaction, individual revenge killings vs. the "social murder" of the ruling class, and how the energy from this event should be channeled into mass action (i.e., medical debt strikes).

 

We discuss a report from Amnesty International calling what is occurring in Gaza a genocide, and look at how the University of Michigan is shying away from its commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

 

We talk with Vine Neighborhood Association Executive Director Steve Walsh about Kalamazoo Public Schools' recently published intentions to relocate El Sol Elementary School and put up a parking lot. The sudden move has been met with backlash from neighborhood residents and brings up critical issues around local democracy, neighborhood planning, and the relationship between local residents and school administrators.

 

0:00- 14:00 Legislation in Lansing, Kendrick

 

14:00- 37:30 UnitedHealthcare CEO Got Got

 

37:30- 44:00 Amnesty International Declares IDF Committing Genocide

 

45:00- 54:50  U of M Dropping DEI in Hiring

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

No Lone Avenger Can Free Us: A Marxist Position on the CEO Shooting
https://www.leftvoice.org/marxist-position-on-the-ceo-shooting/

 

Amnesty International: Israel Is Committing Genocide in Gaza with Full U.S. Support
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/12/6/amnesty_genocide

 

Facing DEI scrutiny, University of Michigan abandons ‘diversity statements’ in hiring
https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/facing-dei-scrutiny-university-michigan-abandons-diversity-statements-hiring

 

El Sol Out of Vine? Interview w/ VNA Executive Director Steve Walsh

We talk with Vine Neighborhood Association Executive Director Steve Walsh about Kalamazoo Public Schools' recently published intentions to relocate El Sol Elementary School and put up a parking lot. The sudden move has been met with backlash from neighborhood residents and brings up critical issues around local democracy, neighborhood planning, and the relationship between local residents and school administrators.

 

Background Music by Quantum Fleek

House Passes Non-Profit Killer Bill, Netanyahu Has a Warrant, and More

On today's episode we begin with WMU's chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine renewing their calls for ceasefire resolution regarding the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

 

Lawrence joins us to discuss an alarming piece of legislation that just passed the house that would allow the Treasury Secretary to strip non-profit organizations of their status if they have ties to "terrorism" (i.e., condemning the genocide in Gaza).

 

We look at how Netanyahu has been issued an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court, and talk about the unhinged response of the U.S. in comparison to the rest of the world.

 

We discuss some local news before talking about the Trump administration's cabinet picks and plans, and what it bodes for the working class. We close with an article from The Nation discussing the history of mass deportation plans in the U.S.

 

4:40- 7:00 WMU SJP Pushes for Ceasefire Resolution

 

10:40- 26:20 House Passes Bill that Would Could Weaponize "Terrorism" to Strip Non-Profits of Their Status

 

27:10- 36:00 WANTED: Netanyahu for Genocide, and the U.S. Gov't as Accomplice

 

36:40- 38:50 Nancy King and the COPE Network

 

38:50- 43:00 Attendance Up in Kzoo Public Schools After High Absence Rates

 

43:30- 1:06:00 Donald Trump's Bait and Switch with the Working Class

 

1:06:20- 1:14:00 America's Sad History of Mass Deportations

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

WMU SJP Calls for WMU Board of Trustees to Pass Ceasefire Resolution
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10225433411574444&set=pcb.10225433411774449

 

The House Just Blessed Trump’s Authoritarian Playbook by Passing Nonprofit-Killer Bill 
https://theintercept.com/2024/11/21/gop-house-trump-nonprofit-authoritarian/

 

US threats against the International Criminal Court and the normalization of genocide 
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/11/23/ljkh-n23.html

 

How grieving survivors help shape Michigan drug policy
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-health-watch/how-grieving-survivors-help-shape-michigan-drug-policy

 

After 2 years of poor attendance, Kalamazoo schools sees positive signs
https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2024/11/after-2-years-of-poor-attendance-kalamazoo-schools-sees-positive-signs.html

 

Trump’s Labor Pick Is a Cynical Ploy to Divide the Labor Movement
https://www.leftvoice.org/trumps-labor-pick-is-a-cynical-ploy-to-divide-the-labor-movement/

 

Trump Is Poised to Dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
https://truthout.org/articles/trump-is-poised-to-dismantle-the-consumer-financial-protection-bureau/

 

America Has Done Mass Deportation Before
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/trump-mass-deportation-history/