Media Cyphers Kalamazoo

Lame Duck Democrats, Trump's "Cabinet of Horrors," and More

We start our show by highlighting some critical analysis from WMU students about the state of the Democratic Party and how the university is responding to the genocide in Gaza.

 

We then spend the next half hour looking at several pieces of legislation that grassroots organizers are pushing the Democrats in Lansing to pass before they lose their "trifecta" in 2025- including housing rights, criminal justice reform, and defending libraries from censorship and book bans.

 

We briefly touch on an article from Common Dreams about campus surveillance, then are joined by co-host Lawrence to discuss Trump's "Cabinet of Horrors"- a brain-wormed oligarch may be making our health care decisions, an alleged pedophile may be the attorney general, and so on and so forth.

 

02:00- 12:30 WMU College Dems on the Democratic Party's 2024 Failure

 

12:30- 18:30 WMU Students for Justice in Palestine Response to Campus Event

 

19:20- 27:40 Kalamazoo City Commission Limiting Citizen's Comments at Meetings

 

28:20- 53:00 Lansing Democrats and Lame Duck Legislation- Will They Prove They're Not Useless?

 

53:30- 1:02:20 The College Campus and the Surveillance State

 

1:07:00- 1:38:00 Trump's "Cabinet of Horrors"

 

1:38:15- 1:41:00 Dem Establishment Blames "Woke" for Their Election Loss

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

WMU College Democrats on 2024 Election Results
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=994093916096514&set=pcb.994093929429846

 

WMU Students for Justice in Palestine Responds to "Moral Courage for Messy Times" We Talk Event
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mwi1XBvU165f7o5Tl8QpkejaVKPAai-p/view

 

Demand that the city commission reinstate call-in public comments and policy 10​.​1
https://www.change.org/p/demand-that-the-city-commission-reinstate-call-in-public-comments-and-policy-10-1?signed=true

 

Dems eye cash bail, ‘second look’ criminal justice reforms in Michigan lame-duck
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/dems-eye-cash-bail-second-look-criminal-justice-reforms-michigan-lame-duck

 

Housing advocates march to Michigan Capitol, demand lawmakers ‘show the people you’re not useless’
https://michiganadvance.com/2024/11/14/housing-advocates-march-to-michigan-capitol-demand-lawmakers-show-the-people-youre-not-useless/

 

Demand Dems Use Last Chance to Deliver for Working-Class Michiganders 
https://secure.everyaction.com/8ClHO4CLNECn82bzgOHWxw2

 

Democratic bills aim to rein in library book challenges in Michigan
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/democratic-bills-aim-rein-library-book-challenges-michigan

 

The Fight Against Fascism Starts on Campus 
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/fight-fascism-on-campus

 

Trump selects anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head Dept. of Health and Human Services
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/11/15/aked-n15.html

 

Trump Begins Appointing Cabinet of Strikebreakers and Warmongers
https://www.leftvoice.org/trump-begins-appointing-cabinet-of-strikebreakers-and-warmongers

 

Election 2024 Post-Mortem OR Ah S--t, Here We Go Again

Andy begins the show by breaking down local elections and what it says about the state of Kalamazoo's working class.

 

We talk about the implications of Republicans taking the house in Lansing and how the extremists in Ottawa County had less Impact this election.

 

We are then joined by co-hosts Lawrence and Norah with an in-depth post-mortem of the 2024 election- the death of neoliberalism, media nonsense laying the blame on progressives, and more. We also offer insight and strategize as the second Trump administration emerges on the horizon and discuss how organizers can prepare.

 

We close the show doing some media deciphering on the recent football riots in Amsterdam, and talk briefly about Trump's support among young men.

 

0:00- 26:30 Local Election Discussion

 

26:30- 1:38:00 2024 Election Post-Mortem 

 

1:39:00- 1:50:00 Media Propaganda in Amsterdam: Anti- Semitic "Pogrom" or Fascist Football Hooliganism?

 

1:50:00- 2:00:00 All The Young Dudes- Misogyny, Elections, and the Andrew Taint Problem

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

Kalamazoo County Election Results
https://app.enhancedvoting.com/results/public/kalamazoo-county-mi/elections/November52024General

 

In Michigan House, time for Democrats is running out. What to expect
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-house-time-democrats-running-out-what-expect

 

‘I’m not worried’: Ottawa Impact leader speaks out after losing board majority
https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2024/11/im-not-worried-ottawa-impact-leader-speaks-out-after-losing-board-majority.html

 

Why did Democrats Lose in 2024?
https://thedemocratist.substack.com/p/why-did-democrats-lose-in-2024

 

Despite Red Wave, Election Brought Some Victories for Economic Equality
https://truthout.org/articles/despite-red-wave-election-brought-some-victories-for-economic-equality/

 

The Democrats Couldn’t Beat Trump with Hot Air and Coconut Trees — An Organized Working Class Can
https://www.leftvoice.org/the-democrats-couldnt-beat-trump-with-hot-air-and-coconut-trees-an-organized-working-class-can/

 

“Open Celebration of the Oligarchy”: Both Dems & GOP Sucked Up to Billionaires in 2024 Election
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/11/8/david_sirota_billionaires_election_2024_trump

 

Democrats Abandoned the Working Class: Robin D.G. Kelley on Trump’s Win & Need for Class Solidarity
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/11/7/robin_dg_kelley

 

CNN Panelists Say Harris Didn’t Back Israel Enough — as She Funds Its Genocide
https://truthout.org/articles/cnn-panelists-say-harris-didnt-back-israel-enough-as-she-funds-its-genocide

 

Steps For Transgender People Preparing For Federal Crackdowns Under Trump
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/steps-for-transgender-people-preparing

 

Time to prepare
https://www.jphilll.com/p/time-to-prepare

 

Mouin Rabbani on What Really Happened in Amsterdam Between Israeli Soccer Fans & Local Residents
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/11/11/netherlands_riots

 

Election Nite 2024: Armageddon? It's Been in Effect...

Come get a late pass.

 

The Media Cyphers team is joined by several special guests including Socialist Party USA presidential candidate William Stodden and their running mate Stephanie Cholensky, Michigan organizer Liano Sharon, and more.

 

We try to elevate our election night coverage above the typical horserace stuff on mainstream media, talking about the failures that paved the way for the result and how the working class should organize in the face of what is to come.

 

We talk about the power of people's organizing and the importance of exercising our sense of collective hope in these dark times.

Rest in Power Mom, October 7th, and More

We begin our show with some words on grief, bereavement capitalism, and how Andy's mom laid out the foundation for us calling out the BS week after week.

 

The WMU AAUP has reached an agreement with the university after weeks of tenacious organizing, and we look at an article from LeftVoice about the increasingly authoritarian tenor from the University of Michigan administration.

 

We spend most of the rest of the show discussing the anniversary of October 7th, a year of genocidal carnage, the innate biases of western media, and what the complicity of the U.S. empire in recent escalations.

 

We close with an article linking climate change with the monstrous Hurricane Milton.

 

0:30- 11:10 Rest in Power Mom

 

12:18- 17:20 WMU AAUP Reaches Agreement with University

 

18:20- 24:50 University of Michigan Clamping Down on Student Dissent

 

25:40- 1:07:00 October 7th

 

1:08:00- 1:12:00 Hurricane Milton and Climate Change

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

WMU-AAUP reaches Tentative Agreement in negotiations
https://thewmuaaup.com/2024/10/03/wmu-aaup-reaches-tentative-agreement-in-negotiations/

 

University of Michigan Moves to Eliminate Due Process for Students
https://www.leftvoice.org/university-of-michigan-moves-to-eliminate-due-process-for-students/

 

A Single Day of Genocide Would Be Too Much. What Then When It Lasts a Year?
https://truthout.org/articles/a-single-day-of-genocide-would-be-too-much-what-then-when-it-lasts-a-year

 

U.S. Media’s Doublespeak: Israelis Live in “Densely Populated Areas,” Palestinians Are “Human Shields” 
https://theintercept.com/2024/10/04/israel-human-shields-hypocrisy

 

Biden Allowing Israel to March US Into War With Iran 
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/biden-israel-war-with-iran

 

Ocean Heat Fueling Hurricane Milton Was Made Up to 800 Times More Likely by Climate Crisis 
https://www.commondreams.org/news/hurricane-milton-climate

 

"I Didn't Think the Leopards Would Eat MY Face!" and More

We begin our show with updates about the WMU AAUP and how the three instructors unions at Western Michigan University have issued a historic joint statement expressing 'no confidence' in university leadership.

 

Lawrence joins us and we talk a bit about the recent allegations against P Diddy and the overall propensity of billionaires to engage in audacious and sometimes criminal activity.

 

Several stories we talk about then fall firmly under the "I endorse the leopards eating my face party and will be shocked when they eat my face" category- from a self-described black Nazi in North Carolina to a Michigan mayor from a majority Arab city government lending their endorsement to Donald Trump. Later in the show we also talk about Sean O Brien and the Teamsters endorsement drama- in this case a union leader who seems to think the leopard is REALLY COOL and he can surely negotiate with the leopard if they win the election.

 

We give some pertinent updates to voter suppression across the country and we also briefly touch on Israel's recent acts of terrorism in Lebanon.

 

1:00- 8:20 Instructors Unions at WMU Have 'No Confidence' in the Administration

 

8:25- 13:50 WMU Divestment Coalition Pushing for Board of Trustees on Gaza Ceasefire Resolution

 

16:25- 26:00 P Diddy and the Criminality of the Ruling Class

 

26:00- 41:10  North Carolina, "Black Nazis," and Endorsing the Leopard Who Will Eat Your Face

 

41:00- 52:30 Voter Suppression

 

53:00- 1:00:10 The Lebanon, and Israel's "Hollywood Villain" Escalations

 

1:00:10- 1:04:10 Teamsters and their Non-Endorsement

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

Three Western Michigan University unions issue historic joint No Confidence Resolution
https://thewmuaaup.com/2024/09/20/three-western-michigan-university-unions-issue-historic-joint-no-confidence-resolution/

 

WMU Divestment Coalition Calls for Ceasefire Resolution
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=944320547737214&set=g.1722304174948788

 

Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib endorses Donald Trump, calling him a 'man of principles'
https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/23/hamtramck-mayor-amer-ghalib-endorses-donald-trump-president/75345853007/

 

MAGA-Allied Georgia Election Board Votes to Hand-Count Ballots: Move Could Throw National Election
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/9/23/georgia_election

 

Israel Bombs Lebanon After Blowing Up Pagers in “Act of Mass Mutilation.” Is Ground Invasion Next?
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/9/23/israel_lebanon

 

Israel Bombed Lebanon Today, Killing Hundreds. The U.S. Is Sending More Bombs. 
https://theintercept.com/2024/09/23/israel-bombs-lebanon-us-weapons/

 

The Weird and Stupid Teamsters Non-Endorsement Fiasco
https://inthesetimes.com/article/teamsters-endorsement-obrien-harris-trump-2024

 

Interview w/ Casey Grooten on Radiant Church's Space Downtown and Their Anti- LGBTQ Bigotry (RE-UPLOAD)

Originally published on May 18th, 2022. We are re-uploading due to a recent story about Radiant buying up a hot dog place in the downtown area.

 

Out with the old dogs in with the new: Youz Guys ends run on Kalamazoo Mall

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2024/09/out-with-the-old-dogs-in-with-the-new-youz-guys-ends-run-on-kalamazoo-mall.html

 

We are joined by local artist and journalist Casey Grooten to talk about the space Radiant Church has taken up on the downtown walking mall. Following the shuttering of several Kalamazoo Mall businesses following the COVID-19 pandemic, Radiant Church seized on the opportunity by buying up several properties in the area (with aims to continue gaining more properties and expanding).

 

Grooten talks about the incentives Radiant has to buy up properties, and we dive into the theological stance of the church that is decidedly at odds with the Kalamazoo community when it comes to being welcoming to LGBTQ residents. Describing homosexuality as a "spiritual illness" we look at how the church obfuscates these bigoted views at their businesses and what their goals of perpetual expansion mean for Kalamazoo and spaces in the downtown area.

The Harris- Trump Debate, and More

We briefly talk about the second attempt on Donald Trump's life and the way the media responded then spend most of our time breaking down the presidential debate.

 

Towards the end we talk about a mass shooting in the NYC subway from a police officer and a potential lynching in North Carolina.

 

1:30- 16:20  The "2nd Amendment People" Go After Trump Again

 

16:20- 1:32:00 The Debate- "Neoliberal Populism," Immigrant Misinformation, Imperialism, and More

 

1:32:00- 1:40:00 Potential Lynching in North Carolina

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

Harris Beat Trump in the Debate, But the Real Winner Was a Right-Wing Status Quo
https://www.leftvoice.org/harris-beat-trump-in-the-debate-but-the-real-winner-was-a-right-wing-status-quo/

 

America’s Racist, Xenophobic, and Highly Specific Fear of Haiti
https://theintercept.com/2024/09/12/trump-springfield-haiti-cats-dogs-racism-immigration/

 

Here’s Why Trump Is Talking About “Transgender Operations on Illegal Aliens”
https://www.them.us/story/donald-trump-presidential-debate-transgender-operations-prison-kamala-harris

 

The King
https://sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/the-king

 

The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
By John Perkins
https://www.bkconnection.com/books/title/the-new-confessions-of-an-economic-hit-man

 

NYPD: Mass Shooters
https://www.jphilll.com/p/nypd-mass-shooters

 

What Happened To Javion Magee? TikTok Video Goes Viral After Black Man Found Hanging In North Carolina
https://chicagocrusader.com/what-happened-to-javion-magee-tiktok-video-goes-viral-after-black-man-found-hanging-in-north-carolina/

 

From the archive: Interview w/ Obama's Homeland Security Director Daryl Johnston
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFgQ8HnJlV0

 

POD Housing Project Shelved, Election Deniers in Kzoo, Gang Hysteria and Misinformation, and More

On today's show we focused heavily in the first hour on some critical Kalamazoo and Michigan based stories. Through a new program in Kalamazoo expectant mothers may be eligible for a $7,500 cash payment over their first year. We look at how this important development in the city's social safety net came to be.

 

A Kalamazoo County election official is being sued by the ACLU after making comments that he thought Trump won in 2020 and would not certify the election results if it quote "went the same way."

 

In some deeply disappointing news, Housing Resources Inc is not moving forward with their POD housing project, which would have provided small 8x8 foot individual shelters and on site services for the city's houseless population. 

 

We briefly look at a "new racist" judge from the Detroit suburbs and close with some media deciphering on the panic in Aurora, Colorado over supposed Venezuelan gangs taking over apartment complexes. As it turned out, it was less of a "violent immigrant" mystery and more of a "Scooby Doo" mystery, involving a slumlord's self-serving lies and a media ecosystem all too happy to echo them.

 

2:25- 11:50 Program for New Kzoo Moms Offers $7500 in First Year

 

11:50- 24:40 Kzoo County Election Official/ Denier Sued by ACLU

 

25:15- 35:20 HRI Ends POD Housing Project for the Houseless

 

36:12- 38:40 A "New Racist" Judge Suspended Near Detroit

 

38:50- 45:20 Some Thoughts on the "Venezuelan Gangs" Hysteria in Colorado

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

Kalamazoo moms can apply to get $7,500 next year. Detroiters could be next.
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-health-watch/kalamazoo-moms-can-apply-get-7500-next-year-detroiters-could-be-next

 

Michigan canvasser suit part of growing effort to preempt election deniers
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-canvasser-suit-part-growing-effort-preempt-election-deniers

 

HRI ends Kalamazoo's temporary housing POD project as community explores other solutions
https://wwmt.com/news/local/kalamazoo-temporary-housing-pod-project-ends-lake-street-clark-logic-property-michelle-davis-executive-director-exploring-options-homeless-shelter-two-years-community-west-michigan

 

Michigan judge loses docket after she's recorded insulting gays and Black people
https://wwmt.com/news/state/michigan-judge-loses-docket-after-shes-recorded-insulting-gays-and-black-people

 

HAVE VENEZUELAN GANGS TAKEN OVER APARTMENTS IN AURORA COLORADO???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQEotZRBJ3k

 

Jeremy Cronk on Resigning from Harper Creek High School Over "Kindness" Flag

We are joined by educator Jeremy Cronk, who recently resigned from Harper Creek High School. 

 

The administration recently ordered Jeremy to remove a flag from his classroom that read "Science is Real, Black Lives Matter, No Human is Illegal, Love is Love, Women's Rights are Human Rights, Kindness is Everything" because they perceived it to be "partisan messaging." Jeremy refused and subsequently resigned.

 

We discuss the circumstances around his resignation and what is says about the current culture, aversion to controversy from administrators, and the importance of educators standing up for their students.

 

Harper Creek teacher resigns following dispute over 'partisan' classroom flag
https://wwmt.com/news/local/harper-creek-community-school-teacher-resigns-classroom-flag-partisan-superintendent-rob-ridgeway-letter-families-staff-permission-curriculum-education-calhoun-county-west-michigan

 

Huwaida Arraf, U of M Regent Candidate on MDP Vote Irregularities, Palestine, and More

We are joined by Huwaida Arraf, a Civil Rights attorney and lifelong activist fighting for Palestinian rights. We discuss their recent run for regent at the University of Michigan, which garnered tremendous excitement from young people in the area but was met with a peculiar response at the Michigan Democratic Party Convention- where data was withheld and strange "extra votes" materialized.

Arraf's campaign has filed a lawsuit in a demand for transparency. We discuss what this means against the backdrop of a political party claiming to be the saviors of democracy against Trumpism and we discuss how the University of Michigan has responded to anti-genocide protests over the last several months.

https://www.huwaida4umich.com/about