Natasha Explains It All: Recent Episodes
Natasha Távora Baker
My two cents on current affairs, criminal justice, Brazil, how yes you can make the world a better place, and more. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natasha-t-baker/support
As part of my election series, today's episode is about why I am voting for Nikki Bas for Alameda County Supervisor, District 5.
To hear directly from the candidates, check out the candidate forum on zoom on September 5th from 4-5:30pm.
I discuss the Oakland Reimagining Public Safety Task Force Report that Nikki was highly involved in and why that's a great thing.
I talk about the MACRO program, which Nikki was instrumental in making a reality.
I also discuss why Nikki is more likely to implement the Care First, Jails Last Taskforce Final Report, which is one of Supervisor Carson's legacies and critical to public safety.
A couple of articles on some recent scandals with the Alameda County sheriff's office and why we need county supervisors who will provide oversight of the sheriff.
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A gorgeous work of historical fiction that tells the story of a woman born during the Spanish flu pandemic and who dies during the coronavirus pandemic 100 years later. Allende introduces us to multiple generations of a family and their loves and losses, hopes and disasters, while exploring historical events like the military dictatorships in Chile and Argentina during the 1970s and 80s. I reflect on how this book reminds me of my own grandmother and what this book can teach us about the current moment.
I recommended the following movies for a deeper dive:
Machuca
La Historia Oficial
I referenced the following articles during the episode:
https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/southern-cone/2021-03-23/argentinas-military-coup-what-us-knew
https://www.mediamatters.org/russ-vought/undercover-interview-project-2025-architect-gets-candid-initiatives-radical-goals-and
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My reflections on the 2024 US presidential election.
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In California, slavery is still legal — as long as you're incarcerated. Incarcerated people are forced to labor for little-to-no-pay under threat of punishment. In November, California voters have the opportunity to change that by voting YES on ACA 8, the End Slavery in California Act.
I mentioned the Foresty & Fire Recruitment Program, which was founded by formerly incarcerated firefighters and which helps formerly incarcerated firefighers obtain careers in firefighting upon release from prison. For more info, check out https://www.forestryfirerp.org/.
For more about ACA 8 and the broader movement to #EndTheException, check out:
https://endtheexception.com/
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/27/californians-slavery-ban-ballot-initiative-00165466
https://laist.com/news/criminal-justice/california-voters-to-weigh-in-on-ending-forced-labor-in-prison
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You may have heard recently about #flaggate - the scandals related to Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito flying flags at his homes in support of the Jan. 6th insurrection and Christian nationalism.
More news has also come out about Justice Thomas' corruption, specifically around his receipt of millions of dollars worth of gifts from GOP donors.
All of these developments are more reason to put pressure on Congressional Dems to put pressure on the Supreme Court, especially in light of this fall's presidential election. An ethics bill is not enough.
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Did you know you can call your elected officials and share your thoughts on what matters to you? In this episode, I explain how to do that, why it matters, and how to stay informed on what your elected officials are up to.
To be connected to the offices of your federal elected officials, you can dial the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121.
A couple of options of newsletters to sign up for to stay up to date on what Congress is doing: https://www.govtrack.us/; https://idueprocess.org/
I also mentioned that the Justice Reinvestment Coalition is hosting a training on May 23rd on how to provide public comment at public hearings. 1-4pm at the Cal Endowment in Oakland, CA. For more, check out the Justice Reinvestment Coalition on Instagram @jrcofac
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I'm back with another book report and this one is all about family, love, activism, identity, politics, and American and Puerto Rican culture.
Other resources mentioned in the episode:
The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein
Independent reporter Bianca Graulau @biancagraulau
Author and poet Elisabet Velasquez @elisabetvelasquezpoetry
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It's an election year and the deluge of negative news can make it easy to feel disillusioned and want to check out. I offer some tips and tools to help you feel informed, engaged, and yes, even hopeful.
Tldr: pick a handful of journalists and/or a podcast or two to follow and one cause or campaign to support. And set a daily timer on your news apps! Quality over quantity is the key here.
Folks I mentioned as suggestions on who to follow on social media/subscribe to their newsletters/read their stuff:
- Oliver Willis (I have 3 one-month subscriptions to his newsletter to give away, so contact me if you're interested)
- Teri Kanefield
- Judd Legum
- Dan Rather
- Heather Cox Richardson
- Adam Serwer
- Keith Edwards
- Marc Elias
- Sherrilyn Ifill
- Elie Mystal
- Molly Jong-Fast
- Nikole Hannah-Jones
- Robert Reich
- Jay Kuo
The podcasts I mentioned:
- The Nation
- Boom Lawyered
- Small Doses with Amanda Seales
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On March 5th, residents of District 4 of Alameda County will be voting for their supervisor, who will represent them on the county's Board of Supervisors. The candidates are 24-year incumbent Nate Miley and his challenger, Jennifer Esteen. Esteen joins me to talk about her campaign and why voters should support her. We talk about public safety, mental health, housing and homelessness, the Coliseum, and more.
To learn more about Jennifer Esteen, visit jenniferesteen.com.
Two upcoming candidate forums:
Feb. 25th, Skyline Church in Oakland, 5-6:30pm, in-person and virtual. More info here: https://skylineucc.org/forum/
Feb. 29th, virtual forum, 7-8:30pm, hosted by Restore Oakland and Oakland Rising
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Last week, there were major developments in the insurrection cases against both former Brazilian president Bolsonaro and former US president Trump. Let's explore.
Early in the episode, I mention another podcast called "Alexandre," which is focused on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. You can listen here.
I also recommend checking out this interview with Elie Mystal on Political Roots to get more in depth on what's at stake in the US.
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I want to share a fun collaborative podcast project I did with Singing for Survival host Mike Pinto to discuss the abolitionist movement in Brazil. We focus on one key person in that struggle, Dragão do Mar, and explore the ties to capoeira and the ongoing struggle for a better world. I hope you'll take a listen: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FjaP2hpSj81aRNT7xfkEO?si=5gwxVIdvTryeVLKm4ljWNQ
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As of Jan. 1, 2024, new laws have gone into effect in California regarding traffic stops and enforcement. These laws have implications for pretext stops, racial profiling, and road safety. I explore. does not constitute legal adviceFor more:AB2773, requiring police to explain why they have pulled you overAB645, Speed Safety Systems Pilot Program I also recommended Allow Me to Retort by Elie Mystal if you want to learn more about the seminal case on pretext stops, Whren v. United States.This is the last episode of Season 3. Stay tuned for Season 4, coming soon. :)--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natasha-t-baker/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natasha-t-baker/support
What's the difference between civil and criminal courts? A recent conversation with friends led me to this topic. I dive in and also talk about how the public can access court records online.
Another example of civil cases I didn't touch on in this episode: product liability/consumer protection. A product is defective, dangerous, and/or there was false advertising and the company gets sued over it - that suit will be in civil court.
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A recent interview I watched with @AGoodWitchOfficial and the fact that Ohio just became the 24th state to legalize marijuana sparked this episode. I share some thoughts on why legalization is good policy and that the continued illegality of marijuana at the federal level and in some states, as well as criminal court policies, actually exacerbate the opioid epidemic.
Plus, I share some fun stats about where listeners of Natasha Explains It All are tuning in from around the world.
If you want to learn more about drug policy in the US, I recommend checking out the Drug Policy Alliance.
You can watch the A Good Witch interview on What's Underneath here.
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Today I share my first foreign title, still currently unavailable in English: Pequena Coreografia do Adeus (Little Choreography of the Goodbye) by Brazilian author and poet Aline Bei. This book, written as one long poem, is beautiful and painful. It is about how a family (particularly the daughter) navigates a divorce. Aline Bei plays a lot with format to convey meaning, which reminds me of another excellent book I read recently, Maps of our Spectacular Bodies by Maddie Mortimer.
Click here for an interview with Aline Bei about the book.
You can buy Pequena Coreografia do Adeus here and Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies here.
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Oakland is giving out grants for individuals, groups, and orgs to host free public events to build community and safety. I talk about this initiative (deadline is October 12th!) and share personal stories about the importance of public spaces. We can be part of the solution!
For more info on the Activate Oakland grants, check out the grant website and read this Oaklandside article.
In this episode I also mention the Trash Falcons and the Urban Compassion Project, two groups doing fantastic work to beautify Oakland that are always looking for volunteers.
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If you live or work in Oakland, CA, you've likely noticed illegal dumping/blight/trash heaps. One organization -- founded by a formerly unhoused Oakland native -- is tackling this problem, one cleanup at a time. The Urban Compassion Project does weekly clean ups around the city (in addition to other awesome work) and is always looking for volunteers and donations. Please consider supporting.
Check out the Urban Compassion Project at www.urbancompassionproject.org, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/urbanparkcleanup and on Instagram @urbancompassionproject
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The real-life novela of Spanish soccer federation head Rubiales clinging desperately to power following his sexual misconduct at the Women's World Cup trophy ceremony continues. Let us hope that #SeAcabó.
For more:
I brought World Cup glory to Spain, so I can kiss whomever I want by Sally Jenkins: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/08/26/luis-rubiales-spanish-soccer-kiss/
When a sports administrator like Rubiales thinks he's a rock star, it's time to get rid of him by Malachy Clerkin: https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2023/08/25/malachy-clerkin-when-a-sports-administrator-like-rubiales-thinks-hes-a-rock-star-its-time-to-get-rid/
David Squires on … Luis Rubiales and the gaslighting scandal in Spanish football: https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2023/aug/29/david-squires-on-luis-rubiales-and-the-gaslighting-scandal-in-spanish-football
It took Luis Rubiales’ public behavior to validate Spain players’ concerns by Claire Watkins: https://justwomenssports.com/reads/spain-womens-soccer-luis-rubiales-fifa-world-cup-kiss/
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The Women's World Cup just wrapped up and was filled with excitement, firsts, and joy. But it was also mired by sexism and sexual harassment, taking focus and energy away from the incredible accomplishments of these incredible athletes. I explore the situations faced by the Spanish and Zambian national teams and hope for a day where women players can just focus on winning.
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A recent survey of Brazilians found that the vast majority of Brazilians believe Brazil is a racist nation, but only a small minority believe that they themselves hold discriminatory views. I share more about this survey and make comparisons to American attitudes on race.
Cited during the episode:
Instituto Peregum: https://peregum.org.br/
The Seta Project: projetoseta.org.br
Boletim Folha podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/br/podcast/boletim-folha/id1501368386
2021 Gallup study: https://news.gallup.com/poll/352544/larger-majority-says-racism-against-black-people-widespread.aspx
2023 Pew Research Center study: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/08/10/views-of-the-countrys-progress-on-racial-equality/
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On Nov. 7th, Ohioans will have the chance to vote on a constitutional amendment to protect reproductive rights. This amendment is polling very well, with about 59% of the public in support. Upset by this, Republican legislators have added an election on August 8th to vote on Issue 1, which would change the threshold to amend the state constitution by referendum from 50% + 1 vote to 60% — virtually guaranteeing that the Nov. reproductive rights measure will fail.
We need to stop Issue 1 by boosting turnout for the August 8th election (which is a historically low turnout time, which is why they picked it). In this episode, I talk about how.
VoteNoInAugust
To find your polling place: VoteOhio.gov
To volunteer to help spread the word, visit PostcardsToVoters.org
To read more about what's at stake, check out this Indivisible piece
To support abortion funds in Ohio, visit the Abortion Fund of Ohio
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The City of Atlanta wants to spend $90 million in taxpayer dollars to tear down forest and build a police training center, where they will build a mock city for training for urban warfare, engage in explosions testing, have shooting ranges, and controlled building burns. This proposal is deeply unpopular among Atlanta residents, who want the money to be spent on several other areas where there are pressing needs, including education and healthcare. The major supporters of Cop City are major corporations - not the actual residents who will be targeted by the police trained at Cop City.
The good news is community organizers have organized an opportunity to put Cop City to a public vote. By August 14th, they need to collect 70,000 signatures from registered voters in Atlanta to secure a referendum on the November 7th ballot on whether Cop City should be funded.
Let's spread the word!
https://www.copcityvote.com - all the info you need about the petition and signature gathering
https://stopcop.city/ - all the info you need about what Cop City is
Also check out @copcityvote and @cpdaction for more and @atlantabeltlinehatesyou for great memes about #NoCopCity
You can also donate to the Atlanta Solidarity Fund at https://atlsolidarity.org/
To learn more about the major corporations backing Cop City, check out: https://news.littlesis.org/2022/11/15/meet-the-major-corporations-and-cultural-institutions-helping-build-cop-city-in-atlanta/
StopCopCity
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Welcome to season 3! Today's episode focuses on one of the Supreme Court cases decided last week, 303 Creative v. Elenis, which held that businesses can refuse service to gay customers. This case is bad news, and in this episode, I explain why.
I also mention the website www.oyez.org, where you can listen to all Supreme Court oral arguments and read the opinions (the decisions of the justices).
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Last episode of season 2!
Today I talk about the quick yet powerful read called Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey. In a capitalist society, our worth is measured by our productivity. Unfortunately, that measurement is unsustainable, not only for us, but for the planet as well. I reflect on Tricia's book and examples from various countries around the world about how we can make the world better if we prioritized rest more.
Buy it on Bookshop.org at https://bookshop.org/p/books/rest-is-resistance-a-manifesto-tricia-hersey/18255493?ean=9780316365215
Buy it on BetterWorldBooks.com at https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/rest-is-resistance-a-manifesto-9780316365215?_gl=1r2vl3p_gaMzYzNDUzNDQuMTY4NjE5OTg3Mw.._up*MQ..
Or buy it at your local bookstore
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Today we continue exploring how criminal courts work. We start by building off of last episode's discussion about the prohibitive cost of jail/prison phone calls with good news that Minnesota is making calls in its state prisons free. To learn more about that, check out Worth Rises: https://worthrises.org/pressreleases/minnesota-connecting-families-win. We then skip ahead in the criminal court process to talk a little bit about the reentry process and how incarceration sets people up for a very difficult road in reintegrating into society. As an example, I talk about Mary Henderson-Uloho, who was featured in the latest season of the tv show Queer Eye. Mary was incarcerated for about 12 years, followed by another 12 years on parole. She is the founder of Sister Hearts (www.sisterhearts.org), which helps formerly incarcerated people through the reentry process. Mary's story is inspirational and educational; I highly encourage listeners to watch her Queer Eye episode. You can also learn more about Mary through the Atlantic-award-winning short film "Women After Prison" (https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/591364/sister-hearts/). You can also follow Mary on instagram @maryamuloho. I also mention an article I wrote for Well + Good about the unlikely connections between the wellness industry and prison abolition, which you can read here: https://www.wellandgood.com/wellness-prison-abolition/
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Immigration has been in the news a lot lately and the usual fear mongering about the southern border seems to be everywhere. To help understand what’s actually happening, I interview immigration lawyer (and immigrant herself) Natalia Santanna. To learn more, Natalia recommended the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies: www.cgrs.uchastings.edu. To learn more about Santanna Law, please visit: www.santannalaw.com--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natasha-t-baker/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natasha-t-baker/support
Today's episode is another in the Book Report series. I review this memoir composed of a series of essays. Ever wondered what is was like to grow up in a cult? Be a cable guy? Be gay in the army? Go to jail? Be a bouncer? Question the American Dream? Well, Lauren Hough has a perspective for you.To purchase:Better World BooksBookshop.org--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natasha-t-baker/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natasha-t-baker/support
You may have seen headlines about a corruption scandal involving Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. I explore. You may not have heard about another corruption scandal concerning former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. I explore that as well. In this episode I also mention legal scholar Steve Vladeck, whom you can follow on Twitter at @steve_vladeck to learn more about what’s happening with the Supreme Court. I also mentioned the organization Demand Justice, which is pushing to expand the Supreme Court. You can learn more about Demand Justice at www.demandjustice.org--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natasha-t-baker/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natasha-t-baker/support
Some positive criminal justice news today!
Expansion of voting rights for people with felony convictions in New Mexico
Expansion of voting rights for people with felony convictions in Minnesota
The Sentencing Project report on felony disenfranchisement
Rikers Island jail is not going to digitize mail (for now)
The problem of digitizing prison mail
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In this episode, we talk about plea bargaining and how expensive it is to stay in jail.
Read the Prison Policy Initiative's report on how jails and prisons across the country are privatizing (read $$$) mail for incarcerated people.
Check out Worth Rises' work to make calls from jails and prisons free.
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I'm starting a new series called Book Report, where I share books I've read/listened to and liked enough to recommend to listeners. This memoir, You Can't Be Serious, is a funny and touching look into what it's like being the son of immigrants and making it in Hollywood (while also doing a stint at the Obama White House).
If you're interested in purchasing this book, rather than buying it on Amazon, please consider buying it at your local independent bookstore or on these websites:
Bookshop.org
Better World Books
And no, I'm not making any commissions on these recommendations. :)
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You are invited to come to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, CA on April 1st at 1pm to demand an end to deaths at the jail and for funding of community-based mental health services. This rally is being organized by the Care First Coalition, which you can follow on Instagram @freesrj.
Four people have already died in the jail this year alone, and we're only in March. That's in addition to dozens of other deaths in the past decade. The jail is unsafe and county officials need to do better. Please come out to support and learn more.
The demands of the organizers:
- Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez and all law enforcement agencies in Alameda County immediately end their deadly practice of arresting and incarcerating people with mental health and substance needs.
- Alameda County Board of Supervisors order an investigation of deaths in Santa Rita Jail, including a review of the contract with the private medical provider in the jail, Wellpath, which has utterly failed to prevent these deaths of people on intake.
- Alameda County Board of Supervisors immediately fund $50M of life-saving community mental health services they committed to last year but have stalled to implement.
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First guest interview! Joining me today is Kevin Mulshine, former deputy general counsel for the Architect of the Capitol and current Special Advisor to Demand Progress Education Fund. We talk about efforts to unionize congressional employees, how those efforts tie into broader labor trends across the country, what the Architect of the Capitol does and how that relates to the Jan. 6th insurrection, and how Kevin and I met as volunteers for Herd on the Hill.
For more reading:
Unions in the House of Representatives - report by Kevin Mulshine
Union Organizing Rights on Capitol Hill - report by Kevin Mulshine
House Republicans’ attempt to block staffer unions may have missed mark - Roll Call article
The House GOP’s questionable attempt to shut down congressional unions, explained - Vox article
House Republicans want to wipe out staff unions, but it’s not that simple - Roll Call article
Congress looks for new architect of the Capitol as calls rise for oversight - Roll Call article
With voluntary recognition, Ed Markey’s staff will be the first in the Senate to unionize - Roll Call article
Congressional Workers Union
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Last episode we talked about how to have hope, and this episode is a great example of a reason for hope. In a pair of recent cases called Ely v. Saul and Thorton v. Commissioner of Social Security, the non-profit legal organization Lambda Legal has secured some really important wins: queer people who were previously denied Social Security Survivors' Benefits because they and their partners were not able to get legally married (and therefore be eligible for survivors' benefits upon the death of one spouse) are now eligible! Listen to this episode to learn more. For more, see the FAQ put together by Lambda Legal on these cases.
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Things seem heavy and dark. There is a never-ending doom-and-gloom news cycle. And yet. There is reason to be hopeful. Some thoughts on how and why to stay hopeful.
Here is a song I love to listen to when things get heavy and need some help to keep going: The Keep Going Song by The Bengsons
I also mention the news outlet Rewire News and the podcast Boom Lawyered in this episode.
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Former Brazilian president Bolsonaro recently spoke at CPAC - the Conservative Political Action Conference. CPAC is held annually in the US as a platform for conservative leaders. Bolsonaro's presence is an example of how Brazil continues to be a relevant testing ground for US-origined, far-right messaging and policy priorities. Let's explore.
***Correction to make: in this episode, I said that Nikki Haley was President Trump's Secretary of State. She was not. She was Trump's ambassador to the United Nations. My apologies.
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Welcome to Season Two of Natasha Explains It All! (Yes, each season will consist of 13 episodes, or a Baker's dozen).
In this episode, we continue to explore pretrial supervision and then talk about how prosecutors use pretrial detention to coerce pleas. To learn more about how prosecutors upcharge, read The Trial Penalty.
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Tyre Nichols' murder has prompted conversations about internalized racism because the main police officers who killed Tyre are also Black. Let's unpack.
For data on how often police kill, see Mapping Police Violence.
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Action Alert: CBP/DHS has resumed family separation at the border. Lawyers for Good Government is organizing a public awareness campaign around it and urging people to call CBP/DHS and object to this change in policy.
Here is what to do:
Call the public comment lines for CBP (Customs & Border Partrol) at 877-CBP-5511 and DHS (Dep't of Homeland Security) at 202-282-8495 and share that you oppose the new "dangerous and impossible policy of forcing all members of a family to secure a separate appointment and to instead KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER." (Language in quotes from Lawyers for Good Government)
You can also urge your Representatives to join Reps. Chuy Garcia (D-IL) and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)'s congressional letter by today at 2PM ET. That means calling your member of Congress and asking them to sign onto the letter. Don't know who your member of Congress is? Call the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 to be connected to your rep.
To read more about what's going on, visit Lawyers For Good Government.
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As we continue to explore how criminal courts work, I use this episode to talk about what happens if you're able to post bail: most people will be put on some sort of pretrial supervision, with tons of conditions (like drug testing and electronic monitoring) that they'll likely have to pay for. Can't pay? You're likely to go back to jail.
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This is the first of "action alert" episodes, where I will share a time-sensitive action for all of us to participate in that yes, can make a difference. Today's is to stop the execution of Leonard "Raheem" Taylor, who is scheduled to be executed by the state of Missouri on Feb. 7th, despite his innocence.
Please call Governor Parson at 573-400-0357 or 573-751-3222 today and say the following (script provided by Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty):
"Hello, my name is [name], and I am from [add city] calling today to ask that Governor Parson halt the execution of Leonard Taylor. Leonard Taylor has an innocence claim that needs to be reviewed. Please use your executive clemency powers to issue a stay of execution and call for a Board of Inquiry to review these claims."
For more details, please visit The Innocence Project and Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
JusticeForRaheem
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Hertz filed (at least) hundreds of false police reports against customers falsely accusing them of stealing Hertz's vehicles. This resulted in life-altering changes to innocent people's lives: arrests, jailing, criminal records, losing employment, suffering health problems, etc. Even after getting sued, Hertz has tried to escape responsibility by trying to keep documents sealed that detail their abuse. Corporations don't change until their bottom line is hurt. Let's use our power as consumers to vote with our dollar and #BoycottHertz #truthHertz
For more reading:
‘I Could’ve Been Dead’: Hundreds of False Stolen Car Reports Put Black Hertz Customers At Risk, Leading to Arrests at Gunpoint, Lost Wages, a Miscarriage and Other Traumas - Atlanta Black Star
Hertz will pay $168 million to customers it falsely accused of stealing its cars - NPR
Senators call for investigations into Hertz following CBS News reports of hundreds of customers allegedly being falsely arrested - CBS News
Hertz agrees to pay $168 to settle false arrest claims by hundreds of customers - USA Today
Hertz to pay $168M to settle lawsuits involving false police reports filed against its own customers - 13 WTHR
And the Supreme Court case that allows police to conduct pretextual traffic stops? Whren v. US Some arguments on why we need to get police out of traffic stops:
The Case For Ending All Traffic Stops - Jalopnik
Get Police Out of The Business of Traffic Stops - The Washington Post
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In part two, we talk more about money bail and how it's an example of the financial incentives baked into the criminal court system. We also talk about diversion programs.
For more reading on why money bail needs to go:
After Cash Bail: A Framework for Reimagining Pretrial Justice by The Bail Project
Money Bail Might Be the Most Racist, Immoral Part of America’s Criminal Injustice System by Michael Harriot (The Root)
Bail Reform by The Vera Institute
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How do criminal courts work? This episode is part one of a series where I dive into how the system actually works (sorry, tv and news stories are generally not that accurate or representative). In this episode, I mention the importance of bail funds to help those who cannot afford bail, so that fewer people are in jail simply because they can't afford bail. Here is a list of some bail funds:
The Bail Project (national focus)
LGBTQ Freedom Fund (national focus)
Colorado Freedom Fund (greater Denver area)
Bukit Bail Fund (Pittsburgh, PA)
Little Rock Freedom Fund (Little Rock, AR)
Connecticut Bail Fund
Bay Area Anti-Repression Committee Bail Fund (San Francisco Bay Area, CA)
NorCal Resist (greater Sacramento area, CA)
The Massachusetts Bail Fund
The North Carolina Community Bail Fund of Durham
Luke 4:18 Bail Fund (greater Dallas area, Texas)
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More mass shootings in the US. Through the ties between the Trump and & Bolsonaro camps, Brazil is adopting US gun culture. The newly-elected Brazilian president Lula is undoing a lot of the gun expansions enacted under former president Bolsonaro. I sincerely hope that Brazil does not become home to the type of mass shootings so commonplace in the US.
For additional reading, some suggestions:
Jair Bolsonaro and guns: A US culture war raging in Brazil
Jair Bolsonaro wants every Brazilian to have a gun
Lula decreta redução de normas que facilitam acesso às armas
Brazil’s New President Reverses His Predecessor’s Loosened Gun Laws
Lula tightens Brazil’s gun controls and curbs gold mining in Amazon
Newly-elected Republican member of Congress George Santos has lied about a lot of stuff, yet somehow the lies have only surfaced after he was elected. Some have argued that his story illustrates the importance of local journalism and that makes sense to me. I explore.
In this episode, I highlight one local news outlet I support called San Jose Spotlight.
Since today is MLK Day and we've been discussing voting and democracy in prior episodes, here is one way that you can promote voting and voter engagement: volunteering with Postcards to Voters. I'm a volunteer, so in this episode I'll share what my experience has been.
Last time we talked about voter suppression in the US. We talked about tactics like reducing polling locations, reducing early voting, not allowing vote by mail, etc. Let's look at a couple of additional ways that suppression plays out: prison gerrymandering and felony disenfranchisement.
In the episode, I talked about the Prison Gerrymandering Project by the Prison Policy Institute.
I also mentioned the book Let My People Vote by Desmond Meade, about the Amendment 4 fight in Florida to restore the right to vote for people with felony convictions.
Some follow up thoughts from the last episode. Let's dive in deeper to the history of democracy in the US and Brazil.
An insurrection in Brazil on Jan. 8th closely parallels an insurrection in the US from Jan 6, 2021. Why? I explore.