Media Cyphers Kalamazoo

Ep. 61: Houselessness Solutions in Kzoo and its Discontents, Epoch Times, Israel, Trans Rights in U.K., and More

We start today's program giving a big community thank you to the student directors at 89.1WIDR. The class of 2024 helped steward the station through the COVID19 crisis and brought a vital community institution not only back to life- but more vital than it has been in years.

 

We then look at the public response to a plan from Housing Resources Inc. to install 50 PODS (small, temporary homes) over on Lake Street. Citizen's comments echoed the need for housing and its effectiveness, as well as the NIMBYism and kneejerk prejudices against the houseless that often kneecap efforts to pursue housing solutions.

 

We look at an article from NOWKalamazoo that deep dives into those "Epoch Times" billboards you may have seen across West Michigan. Calling itself "the #1 trusted news source," Epoch is part of a constellation of right-wing conspiracy news sites that have grown exponentially since 2016.

 

In an update to a story we discussed some weeks ago a federal court has rejected the GOP's attempt to strike down ballot initiative laws passed in Michigan that make is easier for the average Michigander to vote.

 

We spend the next part of our show discussing the ongoing genocide in Gaza, international suppression of free speech, the Iranian attack over last weekend, and an assault of villages in the West Bank by Israeli settlers.

 

We talk about the Democratic Party's obsession with cozying up to cops and how the majority of Trump-supporting fash adjacent police couldn't care less. We close with a discussion about an alarming review released in the UK supported by many in the supposedly left Labour Party that would severely restrict trans rights and treatment from the National Health Service.

 

2:30- 5:50 Salute to the Student Directors of 89.1 WIDR

 

5:50- 17:55 Housing vs. NIMBYism in Kzoo- Houselessness Solutions and Deconstructing Its Discontents

 

17:55- 25:35  The Epoch Times- "#1 Most Trusted News Source?" Media Literacy and Calling Out the BS

 

25:50- 30:00 Federal Judge Rejects GOP Lawsuit Against Michigan Election Laws

 

30:00- 37:35 Palestine Conference in Berlin Shut Down By Police

 

41:30- 57:35 What Happened Last Weekend and What The Corporate Media Isn't Saying About the Iranian Missile Strikes

 

57:35- 1:05:10 Israeli Settlers Attack Villages in the West Bank

 

1:05:10- 1:18:10 Liberal Copaganda and The Right-Wing Cops Who Won't Love Them Back

 

1:18:10- 1:30:15 Trans Oppression in the U.S. and Alarming Anti- Trans Review in the U.K.

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

Kalamazoo debates over 'Places of Dignity' for homeless amidst mixed community reactions
https://wwmt.com/news/local/pods-places-of-dignity-kalamazoo-homeless-commission-meeting-city-unhoused-public-comments-residents-reaction-affordable-housing-debate

 

A billboard campaign in southwest Michigan claims the Epoch Times is “#1 trusted news.” Is it?
https://nowkalamazoo.org/2024/03/a-billboard-campaign-in-southwest-michigan-claims-the-epoch-times-is-1-trusted-news-is-it/

 

Federal court rejects GOP challenge to Michigan election laws
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/federal-court-rejects-gop-challenge-michigan-election-laws

 

Thousands of Police Deployed to Shut Down Congress on Palestine in Berlin
https://www.leftvoice.org/thousands-of-police-deployed-to-shut-down-congress-on-palestine-in-berlin

 

Israel and Israel Alone Kicked Off This Escalation — In a Bid to Drag U.S. Into War With Iran 
https://theintercept.com/2024/04/14/israel-iran-drag-us-war-netanyahu-biden/

 

Israel Conflict Spreads to 16 Nations as Biden Admin Says There’s No War 
https://theintercept.com/2024/04/14/israel-iran-regional-war/

 

The Police won't Love you Back
https://www.jphilll.com/p/the-police-wont-love-you-back

 

Cass Met With DeSantis Pick Over Trans Ban: Her Review Now Targets England Trans Care
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/cass-met-with-desantis-pick-over

Ep. 60: Local Media Eats Crow, No Shelter at Crossroads Mall, and More

We begin our show with an update on our story about the workers at Crows Nest. MLive and WWMT both uncritically reported the owner's point of view and cleared pest inspection paperwork while ignoring all of the other worker complaints. We discuss how local media- besides outlets at WMU like us and WMUK- ignored the workers and essentially ran with the owner's POV. Some censorship from one of the city's social media pages also lent to a story about how the lead about working conditions at Crows Nest was being buried.

 

We then set our sights at another local institution- the Crossroads Mall. Kohan Retail Investment Group recently had the bus shelter at the mall removed- this on the heels of their failed attempt to sue Metro Transit for damages. We dig a little deeper and find that the Investment Group has left a trail of mall mismanagement across the country.

 

A story from ABC13 highlights rising rent in the Grand Rapids area, staffers in the Michigan house in Lansing are looking to unionize, and we close with an article about the life and legacy of John Sinclair- a Michigan born cannabis activist, revolutionary, and generally "far-out" guy.

 

02:50- 30:00 Local Media Eats Crow- Burying the Lead on Working Conditions at Crows Nest

 

30:40- 42:00 No Shelter at Crossroads Mall and Kohan Investment Group's "Mauling" of Malls Across America

 

43:00- 49:30 ABC13 Highlights Rising Rent in Grand Rapids

 

49:30- 55:00 Staffers in Michigan House Look to Unionize

 

55:50- 1:16:00 R.I.P. John Sinclair

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

Two employees say Crow's Nest does have pest problems
https://www.wmuk.org/wmuk-news/2024-03-28/two-employees-say-crows-nest-does-have-pest-problems

 

Mall ownership group has checkered history
https://www.timesrepublican.com/news/todays-news/2023/11/mall-ownership-group-has-checkered-history/

 

Judge gives Briarwood One owner 30 days to demolish eyesore, finds other defendants in contempt for inaction
https://www.wlbt.com/2023/12/05/judge-gives-briarwood-one-owner-30-days-demolish-eyesore-finds-other-defendants-contempt-inaction/

 

Port Arthur's Central Mall owes over $355K in property taxes
https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/business/article/kohan-retail-investment-group-owes-back-taxes-17866805.php

 

Michigan House staff aim to unionize in ‘living our values’ test for Democrats
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-house-staff-aim-unionize-living-our-values-test-democrats

 

John Sinclair, Detroit poet, cannabis activist and counterculture icon, dead at 82
https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/04/02/john-sinclair-detroit-poet-cannabis-activist-and-counterculture-icon-dead-at-82

Ep. 59: A Murder of Crows- Workers at Crows Nest Call Out Working Conditions, Sanitary Issues, and More

We begin our show by looking at some shocking allegations about the working conditions and unsanitary problems by workers at Crow's Nest/ Fourth Coast. Serious issues abound- we discuss the history of the location as a Vine Neighborhood cultural institution and "third place" and the potential for workers there to organize.

 

We discuss some statewide stories, from an update on the legal status of the Attorney General's suit against Line 5 to how the end of federal COVID funds are going to be a huge financial hardship on Michigan public schools.

 

We look at the recent U.N. resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza, the U.S.'s role in watering it down, and how while "abstaining" our government is continuing to materially support the genocide.

 

We close by looking at the political situation in Argentina, and how people are rising up against austerity and the far-right.

 

2:00- 22:30 A Murder of Crows- Workers at Crows Nest Blow the Whistle on Reddit

 

24:40- 30:40 Line 5 Update

 

30:40- 39:20 The End of COVID-19 Funds Leads to Deep Budget Cuts in Michigan Schools

 

40:45- 52:00 The "Fine Print" of the U.N. Gaza Ceasefire Resolution

 

53:00- 1:01:00 The Working Class Rises Up in Argentina

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

Boycott Crows Nest & Fourth Coast Cafe
https://www.reddit.com/r/kzoo/comments/1bknsaw/boycott_crows_nest_fourth_coast_cafe/

 

Five years into Line 5 fight, Nessel fears having to ‘start all over again’
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/five-years-line-5-fight-nessel-fears-having-start-all-over-again

 

As ‘COVID cliff’ looms for Michigan schools, Ann Arbor faces cuts, layoffs
https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/covid-cliff-looms-michigan-schools-ann-arbor-faces-cuts-layoffs

 

Ex-U.N. Official Craig Mokhiber: Israel Must Be Held Accountable for Violating Ceasefire Resolution
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/26/un_ceasefire_resolution_israel_gaza

 

48 Years After the Military Coup, Tens of Thousands in Argentina Take to the Streets Against Denialism and the Far Right
https://www.leftvoice.org/48-years-after-the-military-coup-tens-of-thousands-in-argentina-take-to-the-streets-against-denialism-and-the-far-right/

Ep. 58: Pfizer & the Kzoo River, Ottawa Impact Drives Away Young People, Michigan SOS & Voter Suppression, and More

We start the show with a brief bit of funny news about YouTube fool, abuser, and all around scumbag Andrew Taint being arrested yet again.

 

We then pivot to some actual news to talk about Pfizer contaminating the Kalamazoo River with methylene chloride. We tie this in to broader issues and critique how corporations, more often than not, value their bottom line over public safety.

 

In an ongoing story we revisit the hyper-reactionary County Commission in Ottawa (i.e., "Ottawa Impact"). A recent series of polls from MLive has shown that their brand of reactionary far-right hokum is very unpopular with young people and other people the county may try to attract. We break down the numbers and discuss how conservative media's focus on radicalizing their base is coming back to bite them in their capitalist butts.

 

We look at a lawsuit filed by the national Republican Party against the Michigan Secretary of State, claiming that the voter rolls are overinflated and need to be trimmed. We talk about this in its proper historical context, and how Republicans have long used this tactic to prevent people they don't want to vote from voting (i.e., non-white voters).

 

The TikTok ban has passed in the house and we break down the various angles the media hasn't covered- from how the U.S. government's accusations of Chinese spying are pretty rich coming from the world's most pervasive spy (the U.S. gov't), how Palestinian voices on the platform made it a target for AIPAC, and how it may be a trojan horse for future crackdowns on social media.

 

We close with a piece from LeftVoice talking about the situation in Haiti and the legacy of imperialism that has brought us here.

 

3:45- 9:00 Andrew Taint Arrested Again

 

9:00- 19:45 Pfizer Contaminates Kalamazoo River

 

19:50- 37:30 Ottawa Impact's Right- Wing Extremism Driving Young People Away

 

37:45- 52:20 GOP Sues Michigan SOS Over Voter Rolls

 

53:15- 1:06:20 Reading Between the Lines of the TikTok Ban

 

1:06:20- 1:16:00 The Crisis of Imperialism in Haiti

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

ADIN ROSS GOT ANDREW TATE ARRESTED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1os42L3HIs

 

Pfizer chemical spill prompts no-contact advisory of Kalamazoo River
https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2024/03/pfizer-chemical-spill-prompts-no-contact-advisory-of-kalamazoo-river.html

 

‘This isn’t the place for you’ is Ottawa County’s message to college-educated people, pollster says
https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2024/03/this-isnt-the-place-for-you-is-ottawa-countys-message-to-college-educated-people-pollster-says.html

 

The Republican National Committee sues Michigan over the state's voter rolls
https://www.yahoo.com/news/republican-national-committee-sues-michigan-003953242.html

 

3 Smart Takes on the TikTok-alypse
https://www.readtpa.com/p/3-smart-takes-on-the-tiktok-alypse

 

Declaration: End Imperialist Intervention in Haiti, Solidarity with the Haitian People
https://www.leftvoice.org/end-imperialist-intervention-in-haiti-solidarity-with-the-haitian-people/

Ep. 57: Rest in Power Deandre Jones, State of the Union, Super Tuesday, Gaza, Dune, and More

We begin our show by paying tribute to Deandre Jones, a young man who passed at the tragic age of 33 after spending the last few years of his life taking Graphic Packaging to task for their pollution of the Northside neighborhood. 

 

In separate portions of the show, we give updates about the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Andy and Lawrence talk about the political calculus around Biden's rhetoric and actions, and talk about the rogue's gallery of war criminals and imperial managers who are positioning themselves to manage Gaza after the conflict.

 

Lawrence and Andy break down the State of the Union- the good, the bad, and the ugly. We focus on how progressives have secured some concessions, his kiss goodnight to neoliberalism (at least, rhetorically), and some critical fact-checking about the anti-immigrant sentiment being thrown around. We also discuss the GOP's boggling response.

 

Norah and Andy break down Super Tuesday, from the mass outpouring for "Uncommitted" and how the media covered it, to some down-ballot victories around the country. We then look at some more updates out of Gaza- from the NYT's sloppy reporting around October 7th to the torturing of UN employees to get false confessions about ties to Hamas. Norah then speaks about Aaron Bushnell, and a compelling report about their gender identity.

 

Media Cyphers then goes to the movie and talk about "Dune" as a neocolonial allegory, how reactionaries are missing the point, and how the movie brings it closer to Frank Herbert's anarchist-leaning message against charismatic leaders.

 

We do some quick hits and updates and trans rights, and close with another short discussion on the National Guard being tapped to patrol the NYC subways.

 

00:40- 10:15 Rest in Power Deandre Jones, Northside Activist Who Fought For Clean Air

 

10:50- 26:00 Gaza Updates Pt. 1

 

26:00- 58:00 State of the Union

 

58:00- 1:01:40 Lawrence on National Guard in the NYC Subway

 

1:02:48- 1:22:30 Super Tuesday

 

1:22:30- 1:35:25 Gaza Updates Pt. 2

 

1:35:25- 1:45:11 The Spice Must Flow: Dune as Anti-Colonial Allegory

 

1:45:11- 1:50:50 Trans Rights Update, Quick Hits

 

1:50:50- 1:55:00 Norah on National Guard in NYC Subway

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

Man with asthma, who fought for clean air in Kalamazoo, dies at 33
https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2024/03/man-with-asthma-who-fought-for-clean-air-in-kalamazoo-dies-at-33

 

“Between the Hammer and the Anvil” The Story Behind the New York Times October 7 Exposé
https://theintercept.com/2024/02/28/new-york-times-anat-schwartz-october-7/

 

UN agency accuses Israel of detaining, coercing staffers into false confessions about ties to Hamas 
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/04/middleeast/un-israel-confessions-allegations-intl/index.html

 

Task Force That Includes Iraq War Architects Unveils Post-War Plan for Gaza
https://truthout.org/articles/task-force-that-includes-iraq-war-architects-unveils-post-war-plan-for-gaza/

 

The National Guard is in the subway — now what?
https://www.jphilll.com/p/the-national-guard-is-in-the-subway

 

Guilty: U.S.-Backed Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández Convicted of Drug Trafficking
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/11/juan_orlando_hernandez

 

Ep. 56: Rest in Power Aaron Bushnell, Voting "Uncommitted" in Michigan, and More

We open our show with the breaking news on Aaron Bushnell's extreme and fatal act of protest against the genocide in Gaza. Aaron, a U.S. Air Force veteran, set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy. We talk about the historical context of self- immolation as a protest tactic, the thoroughly American response by law enforcement, and how the corporate media has shamefully attempted to dismiss and downplay Aaron's actions with allusions to mental illness and suicide prevention. As Aaron said, "This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal."

 

We are then joined by Norah to talk about a people's win in Chicago and a historic rebuke in Wisconsin against gerrymandering. In more disturbing news, the onslaught against queer rights continues- from Dex Benedict, a non-binary teenager in Oklahoma, being beaten to death in a high school bathroom to the continued 'machine gun' pace of anti-trans legislation across the country and the west more broadly.

 

We close with a discussion on Alexei Navalny. The media have been quick to canonize Navalny as a principled critic of Putin who was (likely) assassinated. We ask, whose saint is this? Navalny held ethno-nationalist views and palled around with Neo-Nazis. We ask why the media has buried his toxic views while ignoring principled left-wing critics of Putin's regime.

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

After Setting Himself on Fire, US Airman Aaron Bushnell Dies Declaring 'Free Palestine' 
https://www.commondreams.org/news/aaron-bushnell

 

Mayor Johnson, City Of Chicago Sues Oil And Gas Companies For Climate Deception
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2024/february/---mayor-johnson--city-of-chicago-sues-oil-and-gas-companies-for.html

 

Michigan’s “Uncommitted” Campaign Is Challenging Biden. It Could Also Save Him.
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/michigan-uncommitted-biden-gaza-democrats/

 

Wisconsin’s extreme gerrymandering era ends as new maps come into force
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/25/wisconsin-new-voting-maps-gerrymandering-republicans-democrats

 

Alexei Navalny Was Ultra-Right Nationalist Who Compared Muslims to Cockroaches
https://medium.com/@matthew.puddister/alexei-navalny-was-an-ultra-right-nationalist-who-compared-muslims-to-cockroaches-1864e0cda000

 

Socialists Get Sh*t Done- Interview w/ Euan Simpson from SWMI DSA on Public Bathrooms in Kzoo

We talk with local organizer Euan from the Southwest Michigan Democratic Socialists of America to talk about their successful campaign to lobby the city to build more public restrooms downtown.

 

In 2019, several candidates- including those who would go on to win that election- pledged to install public bathrooms downtown. After a single unit was installed in 2020, it seemed that the push for public bathrooms was all but flushed down the toilet. Local organizers took up the issue and pushed the city to follow through with additional bathrooms.

 

We talk about why and how SWMI DSA took up the charge, some of the controversies surrounding their campaign, and how their efforts bore fruit.

 

https://swmidsa.com/

 

Ep. 55: Larry Bell Urges Heavier Policing of the Houseless, MSP's Systemic Racism, and More

Andy and Lawrence discuss some critical local issues. Larry Bell cajoles the city to more strictly enforce trespassing by the houseless, Michigan State Police give us a textbook example of systemic racism, and we spend some time talking about the Grammys.

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

‘Fed up’: Brewery founder wants Kalamazoo city manager fired over homeless issue

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2024/01/fed-up-brewery-founder-wants-kalamazoo-city-manager-fired-over-homeless-issue.html

 

Study: ‘Informal quota’ fuels racial disparity of Michigan State Police stops

https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/study-informal-quota-fuels-racial-disparity-michigan-state-police-stops

 

Fund Housing Not Festivals- Interview w/ Local Organizers on COVID Relief Funds and the Arcadia Festival Site

We are joined by local organizers with We The People Michigan Tristen and K to discuss a plan by the City of Kalamazoo to use ARPA (American Rescue Plan) funds- originally allocated for COVID-19 relief- to fund a project to renovate and "secure" the Arcadia Creek Festival Site.

 

We talk with them about why they feel relief funds should be used differently, the actual plan that would involve selling off part of the park to private developers, and how this speaks to larger issues of gentrification and the use of public space.

 

https://wethepeoplemi.org/

 

Fund Housing Not Festivals

Rallying Outside Kalamazoo City Hall

Monday, February 19th @ 6:00PM

https://fb.me/e/58LWqTi2l

 

Ep. 54: The Fascist Crisis at the Border, Trans Rights, Gaza, and Other Stories

On today's show we provide some updates on the ongoing legislative assault on trans people across the country. Maine walks back legislation that would've made them a sanctuary state for trans folks, and a recent expose reveals leaked audio from Michigan and other lawmakers about their endgame to ban trans people entirely.

We provide a quick update on the recent COVID-19 surge then spend much of the hour providing updates on the genocide in Gaza. The International Court of Justice orders Israel to desist in active genocide, but falls short of calling for a ceasefire. At home college protestors are being assaulted with chemical weapons, congress votes to condemn the ICJ, and Nancy Pelosi speculates that the national campaign for a ceasefire comes from the Kremlin.

We then look at the fascist crisis on the border. Texas is defying a Supreme Court order to remove razor wire and more insidious torture traps from the border, and 25 states have indicated their support of Texas- up to and including calling for Civil War. We look at how the U.S. as a country got to this point and ask why the mainstream media barely covered this.

We close on a more light-hearted topic looking at the abject foolishness that is Tom MacDonald and Ben Shapiro's "rap song" "Facts."

 

01:00- 13:20 LGBTQ+ Rights Update

 

13:20- 17:00 COVID-19 Update

 

17:30- 1:06:40 Gaza Updates

 

1:06:40- 1:38:00 The Fascist Crisis on the Border

 

1:38:00- 1:48:00 A Hip-Hop Farce: Ben Shapiro and Tom MacDonald Drop Rhymes

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

 

Democrats Vote Down Trans Refuge Bill In Maine After Right-Wing Attacks
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/democrats-vote-down-trans-refuge

 

Ohio, Michigan Republicans In Released Audio: "Endgame" Is To Ban Trans Care "For Everyone"
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/ohio-michigan-republicans-in-released

 

International Court of Justice Orders Israel to Prevent Genocide in Gaza But Fails to Order Ceasefire
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/1/26/icj_provisional_ruling_israel_genocide_gaza

 

Columbia Scolds Students for “Unsanctioned” Gaza Rally Where They Were Attacked With Chemicals 
https://theintercept.com/2024/01/22/columbia-university-palestine-protest-skunk/

 

62 House Dems Join GOP in Condemning South Africa’s Genocide Case Against Israel
https://truthout.org/articles/62-house-dems-join-gop-in-condemning-south-africas-genocide-case-against-israel

 

The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World
By Antony Loewenstein
https://www.versobooks.com/products/2684-the-palestine-laboratory

 

Texas and fascist governors are defying the federal government
https://www.jphilll.com/p/were-seeing-a-quiet-constitutional