Media Cyphers Kalamazoo

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 

Power to the WMU Professors, Anti-Genocide Protests on Campus, and More

In this post Labor Day episode we begin with an update about some local organized labor. The WMU Association of American University Professors are still fighting for what they are owed and points out how the administration has disinvested from faculty and made their jobs both more expensive and more difficult. The union also saw tattered fliers on the steps of their HQ, and points the finger at how the administration is attempting to pit WMU workers against each other.

 

We then pivot to how the ongoing protests against the genocide in Gaza will be playing out on college campuses. An article from LeftVoice provides us a broad national overview, and some coverage from the World Socialist Web Site and Bridge Michigan paint a concise picture on how suppression is playing out at the University of Michigan.

 

We close by starting the school year properly with a deft summation of the state of affairs at the American university from author, organizer, and scholar Henry A. Giroux.

 

1:30- 14:30 Updates on WMU AAUP's Contract Negotiations w/ Administration

 

15:20- 40:20 Suppression of Campus Anti-Genocide Protests Around the U.S. and at U of M

 

42:00- 1:02:45 Henry A. Giroux on How Whitewashing History Paves the Road to Fascism

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

Destruction at union headquarters as WMU ramps up its campaign against its own employees
https://thewmuaaup.com/2024/08/29/destruction-at-union-headquarters-as-wmu-ramps-up-its-campaign-against-its-own-employees/

 

Stolen wages at Western Michigan University: The nickel and diming of WMU-AAUP employees
https://thewmuaaup.com/2024/09/01/stolen-wages-at-western-michigan-university-the-nickel-and-diming-of-wmu-aaup-employees/

 

As Classes Start, Universities Begin a New Wave of Repression Against the Palestine Movement
https://www.leftvoice.org/as-classes-begin-universities-begin-a-new-wave-of-repression-against-the-palestine-movement/

 

University of Michigan institutes authoritarian attacks on due process and free speech rights
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/08/26/clvc-a26.html

 

As University of Michigan classes resume, so do pro-Palestinian demonstrations
https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/university-michigan-classes-resume-so-do-pro-palestinian-demonstrations

 

The Right’s Push to Whitewash History Is a Precursor to Fascism
https://truthout.org/articles/the-rights-push-to-whitewash-history-is-a-precursor-to-fascism/

 

Student Debt and Class Struggle in the U.S.
https://mediacyphers.podbean.com/e/bonus-student-debt-and-class-struggle-in-the-us/

 

DNC 2024: We're Speaking on Imperialism, Capitalism, and More

In a special nearly 3 hour episode of Media Cyphers, we talk about the 2024 Democratic National Convention- to summarize- "Americans can have a :little: social safety net, as a treat. Thoughts and prayers to the victims of the genocide that we're gonna continue to materially support."

 

While taking some baby steps away from neoliberal austerity the Democrats are going full force with xenophobia at the border and imperialism abroad.

 

We interview several special guests who were at the convention- Emerson Wolfe of Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids discusses organizing protests over the summer and the emerging internationalism of the U.S. working class, and Liona Sharon talks about their personal experience and political philosophy as an uncommitted delegate from Michigan around his actions at the DNC unfurling the "Stop Arming Israel" banner- and we discuss the idea more broadly of how the U.S. left should interface with the Democratic Party.

 

01:45- 8:45 Brief Thoughts on the Olympics and TERFs in Trouble

 

8:50- 17:30  Cornell West is Back on the Ballot in Michigan

 

17:35- 58:00 Norah, Lawrence, and Andy Discuss the DNC

 

58:00- 1:27:55 Interview w/ Emerson Wolfe of Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids

 

1:27:55- 2:42:20 Interview w/ Liano Sharon on the Michigan State Democratic Party Convention, His Actions at the DNC, Gaza, and More

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

Do trans women have an unfair advantage in sports? 
https://aridrennen.substack.com/p/do-trans-women-have-an-unfair-advantage

 

Cornel West is back on Michigan's presidential ballot, judge rules
https://wwmt.com/news/state/cornel-west-is-back-on-michigans-presidential-ballot-judge-rules

 

“Two Faces of American Capitalism”: Juan González on What the RNC & DNC Reveal About U.S. Politics
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/8/23/juan_dnc

 

AOC: From the Great Hope of Democratic Socialism to Just Another Shill for the Democratic Party
https://www.leftvoice.org/aoc-from-the-great-hope-of-democratic-socialism-to-just-another-shill-for-the-democratic-party/

 

The Right Lost the Culture War
https://www.jphilll.com/p/the-right-lost-the-culture-war

 

Muslim, Immigrant & Jewish Delegates Unfurl “Stop Arming Israel” Banner During Biden DNC Speech
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/8/20/dnc_biden_speech_palestine_protest

 

Uncommitted Delegates Explain Why They Disrupted the DNC For Gaza
https://therealnews.com/uncommitted-delegates-explain-why-they-disrupted-the-dnc-for-gaza

 

Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids
https://linktr.ee/palestinesolidarity_gr

 

MI Solidarity
https://www.misolidarity.org/

 

Interview w/ WMU AAUP President Cathryn Bailey

We are joined by Cathryn Bailey, President of the WMU chapter of the American Association of University Professors. We talk about the state of contract negotiations with the university- the pay disparity between professors and certain administrators, the actions of the university to hire anti-union attorneys to stonewall union negotiators, how the university is attempting to pit workers against each other, and how people in the community can stand with professors at WMU and the larger implications for working class struggle in Kalamazoo.

 

WMU Chapter of the American Association of University Professors

https://www.wmuaaup.org/

Housing Funds Deadlocked in Kzoo, DNC 2024, and More

We open with a story about how grant funds from the American Rescue Plan to address houselessness in Kalamazoo are getting hamstrung by budgetary concerns. We talk about how decisions and political economy at the city, state, and national level exacerbate the housing crisis in Kzoo.

Portage's own right-wing weirdo Matt DePerno is running for the Michigan Supreme Court.

We spend the rest of the hour covering the DNC- from how people in Michigan are organizing protests to some critical history about how movements for social justice can and have spoken truth to power at the DNC now and in the past.

 

2:00- 13:35 ARPA grant funds and Kalamazoo's Housing Crisis

 

13:50- 21:35 Matt DePerno, far-right weirdo, runs for Michigan Supreme Court

 

24:00- 31:00 Kamala Harris Met with Mayor of Dearborn

 

31:10- 37:10 Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids Goes to Chicago

 

38:30- 55:00 Historical Lessons from the 1964 DNC

 

55:20- 1:00:40 Police Presence Amps in Chicago with DNC

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

Kalamazoo approves $1.2M ARPA grant for homelessness, faces MSHDA delays
https://wwmt.com/news/local/city-commissioners-approve-1m-grant-address-kalamazoos-growing-homeless-crisis-arpa-president-biden-monica-best-super8-substandard-housing-oshtemo-sharilyn-parsons-development#

 

DePerno, a 2020 election denier, seeks GOP nod for Michigan Supreme Court
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/deperno-2020-election-denier-seeks-gop-nod-michigan-supreme-court

 

Kamala Harris met with Dearborn mayor amid anti-war push by 'uncommitted'
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/kamala-harris-met-dearborn-mayor-amid-anti-war-push-uncommitted

 

West Michigan Palestinian advocacy groups travel to Democratic National Convention
https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/michigan-based-palestinian-advocacy-groups-march-on-dnc/69-844e7e96-d4c4-4a9b-a3fa-cfbc4ac17e8c?

 

“Incomprehensible”: U.S. Approves $20 Billion in New Arms for Israel as Gaza Death Toll Tops 40,000
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/8/15/gaza_death_toll_israel_us_weapons

 

As DNC Kicks Off, Palestine Solidarity Activists Look to 1964 for Inspiration
https://truthout.org/articles/as-dnc-kicks-off-palestine-solidarity-activists-look-to-1964-for-inspiration/

 

DNC Swarms With Police as Activists March for Palestine, Reproductive Rights
https://truthout.org/articles/dnc-swarms-with-police-as-activists-march-for-palestine-reproductive-rights/

 

"And Now They Want Our Votes"
Eman Abdelhadi’s speech from the “Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws” demonstration on Aug. 18 in Chicago.
https://inthesetimes.com/article/harris-votes-abdelhadi-dnc

 

Do You Want Genocide to Win? We're Speaking on Harris/ Walz, Gaza, Policing, and More

Me and Lawrence break down Kamala Harris' condescension to anti-genocide protestors at a recent rally and expand outward into some deeper analysis about the state of play in today's Democratic Party. In particular- the relationship currently and historically between working class militancy and progressive policy, the highs and lows of Tim Walz's record, and what this might all mean for the genocide in Gaza.

 

We then update you on a situation out of Wayne, MI where a young black man was murdered by police during a mental health episode. At a recent public meeting the Wayne City Council refused to make the body cam footage public.

 

Black farmers are getting their due after historic discrimination, and workers in Detroit walked out after their bagel shop was bought up by a local gentrifier and Zionist.

 

We close by looking at the inaugural inclusion of breakdancing at the Olympics, and the possibility that it will be a one-and-done.

 

2:20- 36:35 "Do You Want Genocide to Win?" We're Speaking on Kamala Harris, Gaza, and Tim Walz's Record

 

36:50- 52:40 Police Murder of John Zook Jr. In Wayne, MI

 

53:00- 56:00 Black Farmers Get Their Due for USDA Discrimination

 

56:50- 1:04:35 One Bagel, Hold the Settler- Colonialism: Workers in Detroit Walk Out Over Zionist, Gentrifying New Owner

 

1:04:35- 1:18:00 Our B-Boy Stance on Breaking at the Olympics

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

In Michigan, criminal charges and election denying no barrier to ballot victory
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-criminal-charges-and-election-denying-no-barrier-ballot-victory

 

AIPAC Hijacks Rep. Cori Bush’s Race–and Our Elections
https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/08/08/aipac-hijacks-rep-cori-bushs-race-and-our-elections

 

Tens of Thousands Rally Against Racism and Islamophobia in U.K. Following Days of Far-Right Rioting
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/8/8/uk_far_right_riots_faiza_shaheen

 

“Uncommitted” Co-Chair Layla Elabed on Meeting Kamala Harris, Pressing VP for Arms Embargo on Israel
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/8/9/layla_elabed_kamala_harris_palestine_policy

 

City of Wayne Refuses to Release Bodycam Footage in Police Killing of John Zook Jr.
https://www.leftvoice.org/city-of-wayne-refuses-to-release-bodycam-footage-in-police-killing-of-john-zook-jr

 

“Historic”: Black Farmers Celebrate $2 Billion Payout for USDA Discrimination, Still Seek Debt Relief
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/8/6/black_farmers

 

A Jewish bagel shop in Detroit closes after staff walk out on new ‘Zionist’ owner
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-813814

 

Tim Walzes In, "Transvestigating" the Olympics, Police Murder in Michigan, and More

Well, would you look at that? For the first time in nearly 50 years the Democratic Party is allowing a politician supported by their progressive wing on the presidential ticket. We talk about the big Tim Walz announcement, how movements and public pressure made it possible, and the natural limits of presidential politics under capitalism. We also discuss the recent assassination of a Hamas leader and culture wars at the Olympics.

 

We look at a story from the east side about a young Michigan man killed by police. 

 

We give some updates on the genocide in Gaza, how U.S. sanctions exacerbate the migrant crisis both Republicans and Democrats are fearmongering about, and close with a piece about how those fearmongering politics are playing out in the fascist riots in the U.K. 

 

*The piece on the U.K. was accidentally unrecorded but discussed on air, it is linked below.

 

7:00- 28:50 Tim Walz: A "Moderate Progressive" for Vice President

 

29:00- 43:00  "Transvestigating" at the Olympics

 

49:20- 54:00 John Zook Jr. Killed by Police in Michigan

 

54:50- 57:55 Money in Michigan Politics Update

 

58:00- 1:07:00 U.S. Sanctions and the Tail Wagging the Dog on the Fake "Migrant Scare"

 

1:07:10- 1:15:30 Israel Levels Schools in Gaza, Recent Riots on the IDF's "Right" to Torture

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

Tim Walz, the Progressive’s Moderate, Is the Obvious VP Choice
https://jacobin.com/2024/08/tim-walz-kamala-harris-vice-president

 

Activists and Community Members Hold Public Hearing for the Police Murder of John Zook Jr. in Michigan
https://www.leftvoice.org/activists-and-community-members-hold-public-hearing-for-the-police-murder-of-john-zook-jr-in-michigan/

 

Big bucks fuel battle for Michigan House. See top donors to Democrats, GOP
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/big-bucks-fuel-battle-michigan-house-see-top-donors-democrats-gop

 

Smotrich: It may be ‘justified’ to starve 2 million Gazans, but world won’t let us
https://www.timesofisrael.com/smotrich-it-may-be-justified-to-starve-2-million-gazans-but-world-wont-let-us/

 

Money War: How the U.S. Unleashed Economic Warfare Across the Globe, from Venezuela to Iran
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/8/1/jeff_stein_us_sanctions_economic_warfare

 

Israel Has Damaged or Destroyed 85 Percent of Schools in Gaza
https://truthout.org/articles/israel-has-damaged-or-destroyed-85-percent-of-schools-in-gaza

 

Israel’s Torture & Rape of Palestinian Prisoners Defended by Knesset Members, Far-Right Mobs
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/8/1/israel_gaza_palestinian_prisoners_torture

 

Riots Sweep UK as Fascist Influencers Use Stabbing Attack to Fuel Racist Rampage
https://truthout.org/articles/riots-sweep-uk-as-fascist-influencers-use-stabbing-attack-to-fuel-racist-rampage/

 

Union Negotiations at WMU, Poverty in Michigan, July 2024: "Weeks Where Decades Happen," and More

After a much needed hiatus we open with a story about frustration coming from the WMU chapter of the American Association of University Professors about their negotiations with the university administration in regards to transparency in health-care costs.

 

We then look at several Michigan stories. The much reviled "gay/trans" panic legal defense has been banned in Michigan, a worker at a Dexter Stamping plant near Jackson was killed, and an article zooming in on rising poverty in the mitten.

 

Lawrence joins us to discuss the forthcoming U.S. senate primary which is poised to be contest between a grassroots progressive from Detroit versus a centrist, C.I.A. Democrat.

 

We spend the rest of hour talking about the news that was in July 2024- to quote Lenin "there are weeks where decades happen." 

 

3:50- 11:30 WMU AAUP Alleges Lack of Transparency on Health-Care Costs in University Negotiations

 

11:35- 17:20 Michigan Bans Gay/ Trans "Panic" Defense

 

18:00- 23:20 Worker Killed at Michigan Based Dexter Stamping Plant

 

24:30- 34:00 41% of Michiganders Living in Poverty

 

36:00- 58:30 U.S. Senate Primary in Michigan: Hill Harper vs. Elissa "CIA" Slotkin

 

58:30- 1:51:50 July 2024: There Are Weeks Where Decades Happen. 
Assassinations, Democratic Party Resignations and Coronations, Netanyahu, and More

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

Negotiations at Western Michigan University: the Administration’s questionable tactics
https://thewmuaaup.com/2024/07/25/negotiations-at-western-michigan-university-the-administrations-questionable-tactics/

 

Michigan bans gay and trans panic defense in criminal cases
https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2024/07/26/michigan-bans-gay-trans-panic-defense/74555409007/

 

Worker killed by falling equipment at Michigan stamping plant slated for closure
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/07/26/pgan-j26.html

 

Michigan mired in poverty, with 41 percent living paycheck to paycheck
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/07/22/xvnj-j22.html

 

Our interview with WSWS Reporter Patrick Martin on The CIA Democrats (Elissa Slotkin)
https://youtu.be/YghX5WQCVSU?si=BDKFew6QjK_6YPKG

 

Episode from 1/23/19 Discussing Kamala Harris' Track Record
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg8L_nu2QSg

 

Tensions Brew In Teamsters After Leader Speaks At RNC, Endorses Anti-LGBTQ+ Views
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/tensions-brew-in-teamsters-after