Highlands Bunker: Recent Episodes
Karl Stomberg
Part-time activist hoping to build and deepen solidarity in the local leftist community. Discussion will be focused on local politics, culture and more.
Spotlight Delaware Deputy Editor Karl Baker joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his latest article covering the corporate law firms which are dumping millions of dollars into influencing local Delaware elections. We discuss how to tell the difference between an evil corporation and a non-evil one.
This podcast is sponsored by the Alliance to Protect Delaware’s Future, a coalition of Delaware organizations that represent a diverse cross section of industries and sectors that see the need to advocate for sensible policies that put hardworking Delawareans first, enhance our quality of life, and strengthen our economy. The editorial staff of Highlands Bunker had no role in its production.
Show Notes:
- Karl Baker's article on the corporate law PACs
- Dael Norwood on AI Companies
Marijuana Commissioner Joshua Sanderlin joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his role, how the marijuana industry is currently being developed in Delaware, and how various people have been trying to hold that up.
Show Notes:
- Video captures police pepper-spraying woman during Skinner protest on I-95
- Delaware Governor Signs Bill To Regulate And Tax Hemp THC Drinks
- DATE Arrests Townsend Woman on Drug Charges
We missed some files, so the theme of this episode is taking accountability (we took some recent patrons-only content and are releasing it publicly).
AI slop has taken Delaware politics by storm, so aesthetic experts Jess Scarane and Len Damico are here to talk about what it all means.
Show Notes:
- Melissa Minor-Brown Nurse Legislator
- Ray Seigfried Earth Day
In the wake of the Wilmington Police shooting of Kadir Skinner, Attorney General candidate Dwayne Bensing joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his campaign, what role the Attorney General can and should have in preventing these sorts of shootings, and how the Delaware Way hurts our criminal legal system.
Show Notes:
- Dwyane's website
- Donate to Dwayne
- Shooting of Kadir Skinner
- AG Jennings completes review of OpenAI recapitalization
On Monday, June 15th, the City of Wilmington put up a fence around Christina Park and evicted the remaining residents from the homeless encampment there. In the wake of Eviction Day, Rob speaks with many of the mutual aid workers who were present and have been working in Wilmington for the past several years to discuss how this happened and what's next.
Show Notes:
- Delaware DSA
- Food Not Bombs
- Statement on the shooting of Kadir Skinner
A brief interlude ahead of our big Christina Park episode. Rob provides updates on the park, the big election results in New York, and some of the latest legislative controversies.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Call on the defeat SB 100
State senate candidate and former Red Clay School Board member Adriana Bohm joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her first real election for state senate.
Show Notes:
- Adriana's website
- Donate to Adriana
It is episode 400 and also basically the four-year anniversary of the trial of the century, so we are joined by former journalist Rachel Sawicki to relive some of the highlights of the Kathy McGuiness trial from 2022.
Show Notes:
- The Kathy v Kathy series
- Mike Purzycki Hated Poor People, certified by the Gannett Corporation
Felton commentator Zachary Foust joins Rob in the bunker to talk about Delaware's distorted corporate and real estate markets, Israel's influence on our foreign policy and elections, and a bit about the history of the economy and why people distrust the government so much today.
Show Notes:
- Zach on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook
State senate candidate Shay Frisby joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her background, the issues she's hearing at the doors, and how she's running against an appointed incumbent.
Show Notes:
- Shay Frisby's website
- Delaware officials reveal plan to close $185M shortfall for Edgemoor port
Jordan Howell joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the biggest loss Wilmington has faced this week: the Mother African Union Church in Cool Springs. Then, Rev. Patrick Burke and Shyanne Miller talk about the growing city council fight around the upcoming budget and Christina Park. Finally, we visit the Rae Krantz fundraiser to talk about the future of the legislature.
Show Notes:
- RIP Mike Purzycki
- Jordan Howell's piece about the August Quarterly
- Stephen Metraux's op-ed
- GoFundMe for the Historic Mother African Union Church
- Donate to Rae
The Carney Cartel is at it again. We discuss the latest moves that the mayor is making to punish homeless people in Wilmington, and the broader issue of people in Delaware sticking around much longer than they need to be.
Show Notes:
- Mayor Carney to shut down Wilmington homeless encampment
It's a field trip day down to Dover. On Wednesday, Rob and the crew went to the Delaware Supreme Court to hear oral arguments around a FOIA case where Rob and the Delaware Call are going up against the Delaware State Police. We then travel to legislative hall to hear updates on ex-prisoners lobby day and other legislation being heard this week. Apologies for any weird audio, this was our first time using this set-up.
Show Notes:
- Invisible Institute
- Fee dispute puts Delaware government transparency law to Supreme Court
First, state house candidate Rae Krantz joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her now-open race and upcoming events. Then, Jennifer Chattin and Heather Christopher from the DREAM Initiative join Rob to talk about some exciting news and some special cameos.
Show Notes:
- Rae's website, canvass kickoff, and fundraiser
- WFP Endorsement Kickoff
- Fenel Unchained
For 4/20 week and the three-year anniversary of the legal cannabis law, DelawareCAN President Zoë Patchell joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how Delaware's legal cannabis system has completely failed to live up to expectations.
Show Notes:
- The latest on legal weed
- WFP Endorsement Kickoff
The Crew gives an update on last week's Betar episode and does a brief overview of some of the groundbreaking legislation being introduced by the 153rd General Assembly.
Show Notes:
- DelawareOnline guide on how to tip
- Why restaurants want to not pay credit card fees
- Protect Our Points!
Elizabeth West and Mariah Schnee from Delawareans for Palestinian Human Rights join Rob in the bunker to talk about Betar, a radical Zionist group which has now come to Delaware to take advantage of our loose corporate laws.
Show Notes:
- Donate to Francisca Moreno for Treasurer
- Petition to the Attorney General
State Representative candidate Will Imbrie-Moore, who is challenging Kim Williams, joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his Delaware background, what it means to be a Gen Z candidate running in a weird information age, and what he would like to accomplish in Dover.
Show Notes:
- Will's website
- Donate to Will
We begin with an update from Fenel Baines and the Dream Initiative, and the eternal, unanswerable question: do cops lie? Then, Madinah joins Rob in the bunker for a broader discussion about the various things that are making people forget how to be people. Don't worry legislative staffers, you don't have to listen — no politics talk in this one.
Show Notes:
- Madinah links
New Castle County Councilman Dave Carter joins Rob in the bunker to talk about data centers, and the the county council has been doing to attempt to bring them somewhat in check.
Show Notes:
- After months of debate, New Castle County Council agrees to regulate data center industry
What is money? It might just be whatever helps us do increasingly elaborate financial schemes. Historian of capitalism Dael Norwood joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the current state of cryptocurrency in the broader history of our financial system, and what Delaware might try to do to legitimize flim flams, swindles, and other scams in the name of financial innovation.
Show Notes:
- Congratulations All Around for Fisker
- NOCAP Middletown Town Hall on March 25th
Taking a bit of a break from the homelessness series, we have a crew episode where we finally cancel Senator Eric Buckson and then dive back into Delaware history, talking about the parallels between Jack Markell and Matt Meyer as well as how the weird antisemitism against them came to be.
Show Notes:
- Subscribe on Patreon
- Before the Riots
This is our second part in a series about the homelessness crisis in Wilmington, recorded over the course of the winter storm in late January and early February. In this episode, we move from Christina Park to Saints Andrew and Matthew (SSAM) Episcopal Church, which has served as another one of the front lines for dealing with homelessness in the city.
We speak again to Patrick Burke, rector at SSAM, as well as Brenna, Dawn, and Jax of Food Not Bombs who have been helping staff the kitchens. We discuss the practical matters of feeding people during a winter emergency, preventing death and burnout, and what the issue of homelessness means in a broader spiritual sense.
Show Notes:
- Food Not Bombs Linktree
- Food Not Bombs Instagram
- Get microfic from Jax by donating to FNB
- Friendship House
This is our first part in a series about the homelessness crisis in Wilmington, recorded over the course of the winter storm in late January and early February. In this episode, we head to Christina Park and speak to Professor Steve Metraux and Rev. Patrick Burke of SSAM, and then hear from Friendship House Executive Director Kim Eppehimer about what their plans are for the temporary shelter there.
Show Notes:
- Delaware, we have to fix Wilmington's new Skid Row
Tide Shift Justice executive director Meryem Dede joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her background as a public defender and how that got her involved in the advocacy she is working on how advancing fines and fees reform among broader criminal justice reform.
Show Notes:
- Injuries reported during violent crackdown at Georgetown prison
- Who’s behind Leave Delaware?
- The Reform Room: Talking Criminal Justice with Governor Meyer
Chancery Daily and local historian Dael Norwood join Rob in the bunker to talk about what the near-future might hold for Delaware corporate law updates and how that interacts with the largesse of the General Assembly.
Show Notes:
- What Rough Beach Slouches Towards Dover?
- Elon Musk called on corporations to ditch Delaware. They didn't listen.
- What makes the Delaware Court of Chancery unique
In a twist on the normal formula, we have a full 70+ minute episode with Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton as a bonus episode this week, and a quicker episode with the crew as our main episode. In this episode, Bill and Karl talk with Rob about the violence and occupation in Minneapolis over the last several weeks.
US Senate candidate and Chris Coons challenger Christopher Beardsley joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his own foreign policy experience, the importance of addressing our housing crisis, how to leverage the existing Democratic Party into a statewide primary victory.
Show Notes:
- Christopher Beardsley website
- Donation link
- Delaware, we have to fix Wilmington's new Skid Row
As the legislature returns to session, we look forward to what we can expect them to accomplish this year, and then we look back to legislatures of years past to see what has changed and what hasn't. We look at an op-ed from an old-school News Journal editor and then a profile of Rep. Al O Plant, who was doing it like no one else was.
Show Notes:
- The Press Room updates
- What Rough Beast Slouches Toward Dover?
Redding Consortium Co-Chair and State Senator Tizzy Lockman joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the recent Redding Consortium vote to consolidate all the school districts in northern New Castle County, how it came about, and what it actually means.
Show Notes:
- Redding Consortium site
- Coverage of the Redding decision
- Contact Sen. Lockman at elizabeth.lockman@delaware.gov
Journalists Jordan Howell and Jakim Mohammed join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about another move that is being made to further gut public transportation in Delaware and how we can help stop it. Then, Rae Krantz comes in to discuss her run for state representative and her theory of change for how Delaware's government needs to work differently. Also: introducing the Gumboro Groyper.
Show Notes:
- Episode with Matt Meyer talking about transit
- In SEPTA budget battle, Meyer missed the moment
- Reach out to the governor and your legislator
- Rae's website, Facebook, Instagram, and donation
The crew records another late-breaking episode discussing Julianne Murray's wrongful persecution, the data center and AI slop, the male loneliness epidemic, and why our education system should never change no matter what.
Show Notes:
- Christina Elliot GoFundMe, please give
- Francis Fukuyama and Henry Blodget talk about their weird AI stuff
Another person has been killed by the Department of Corrections' medical neglect. Richard Flippin's aunt Christina joined Rob in the bunker to talk about what happened and what needs to happen next.
Show Notes:
- GoFundMe for the family
- DOC statement
To quote the great Tom Gordon: "My office blew up."
As we wait for new equipment in the wake of a mild electrical explosion incident, the crew discusses one of our oldest topics of interest: Buccini Pollin's attempts to reshape Wilmington's downtown into this video, and how it has played out in their new boutique grocery store.
Show Notes:
- Donate to the Delaware Call
- Crepes, craft brews & more headed to Wilmington's Market Street
- Sneak peek of downtown Wilmington's only grocery store opening on Market Street
- Jordan Howell's east side pieces
Kirsten, Bill, Karl, and Rob discuss One Battle After Another, the novel it was based on Vineland, and the real historical background and context for the types of events covered in the movie.
Show Notes:
- Mother Country Radicals
Journalist Lisa Power joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about how she got connected with the Delaware Call and then going over her first piece exposing a loophole that could allow ICE to access DMV data in Delaware.
Show Notes:
- Obscure loophole in state police database allows ICE access to Delaware DMV information
State Senator Eric Buckson joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his background in Delaware and Delaware politics, his takes on some of the things going through the legislature, and how he became one of Delaware's top Facebook influencers.
Show Notes:
- Wilmington passes new oversight rule for the embattled Land Bank
We begin by discussing the recent reassessment decision in the Court of Chancery, as well as some meta-discussion about how people have been discussing reassessment. Then, reviewing the historic election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City.
Show Notes:
- New Castle County tax bills coming after judge denies landlord lawsuit
- Zohran Victory Speech
- Obama’s Lost Army
Representative Emeritus John Kowalko passed away this past weekend at the age of 80. In this episode, we remember his legacy.
Past Kowalko Episodes:
- E14 - A Cabal of Corruption (w/John Kowalko)
- E167 - Representative Emeritus (w/John Kowalko)
- E268 - Medicare Disadvantage (w/ John Kowalko)
- The Fun Part - The People Gagged
- E296 - They Propose, We Dispose (w/ John Kowalko)
Karl's piece: https://delawarecall.com/2025/10/26/keeper-of-the-flame/
New reassessment expert Jess Scarane joins Rob in the bunker for what is now the third part of a series about the property reassessment meltdown. They discuss the Court of Chancery trial about the legality of split tax rates, Wilmington's undefined internal reassessment, and the reemergence of the evil triangle at the Oct 7th reassessment hearings.
Show Notes:
- Past two episodes
Madinah takes Austin. Then, Spotlight Delaware Deputy Editor Karl Baker joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the state of the media nationally and the pressures facing reporters locally.
Show Notes:
- State Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton shows off comedy chops on 'Kill Tony'
A brief update on ICE, local political candidates, and FOIA requests. You'll have to pay to get more.
Governor Matt Meyer, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions. You have the right to have a lawyer with you during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. If you decide to answer questions now without a lawyer present, you have the right to stop answering at any time.
Show Notes:
- The December 2023 update on reassessment
- Governor Matt Meyer CALLED OUT
- Mass Appraisal of Real Property 2025 Reassessment
- Australian firm buys Boxwood Amazon plant for $392M
Migrant rights activists Maria Beauchamp and Andrew Ramsaran join Rob in the bunker to talk about the state of ICE and immigration in Delaware and how people are taking action to stop the worst atrocities.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Coalition for Immigrant Justice
- Delaware Call Fall Classic
- No Borders Delaware
- La Esperanza
- More on Avelo
Fellow podcaster Rachel Krantz joins Rob in the bunker to talk about some of the various topics she's covered from property taxes to the data center to the general weirdness of legislative hall. Then, the bunker announces its first official endorsement of 2026.
Show Notes:
- This Is The Delaware Way Podcast
- New lawsuit against property taxes
- Delaware Call Fall Classic
Historian Harvey J Kaye joined Rob and Karl in the virtual bunker to talk about the current moment in American politics (recorded before this Wednesday) with an eye towards a surge in leftist candidates across the country. Then, they discuss Karl's recent essay on the labor history of Delaware's chicken plants.
Show Notes:
- The Chicken War
A late-night spiritual exploration of the Delaware Way.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Grapevine: A Tale of Delaware Politics
Friends and family of Josh Chattin and Fenel Baines of the Dream Initiative join Rob in the bunker to talk about the continued fallout of the attempt to get air conditioning in Delaware's prisons, and how the Dream Initiative is building and growing despite those obstacles.
If you have stories about treatment by the DOC and want to get involved, you can reach out to Jennifer and Heather at Jenniferde7@gmail.com or Thedreaminitiative21@gmail.com or send a message to Heather on Facebook.
Karl and Bill join Rob in the bunker to talk about Phillies legend Dick Allen (not as a metaphor), the history of the Delaware Way, and even a little bit about the property tax special session. Also, introducing the inaugural "Bill's Picks."
57:15 is the timestamp you're looking for.
Show Notes:
- Black August
- Life After Biden
- Coverage of NOCAP Town Hall
New Castle County Councilman Brandon Toole joins Rob in the bunker to do a deeper dive into the latest set of property reassessments and the drama around it. They discuss what actually happened and what might actually be needed to fix it.
Show Notes:
- Middletown Police Background
- Delaware Call Fall Classic
- Tyler Technologies Report
Young lady Jess Scarane joins Rob in the bunker to talk about two of the biggest topics of the day: the planned Delaware City data center and the town hall about it, and the increased property and school taxes from the latest reassessments.
Show Notes:
- NOCAP Dover Town Hall
- New Castle County residents fight back against proposed data center
- Delaware lawmakers to reconvene for special session on taxes amid reassessment fallout
Chance from Chancery Daily and Delaware Call reporter Jordan Howell join Rob in the bunker to revisit Senate Bill 21: both the lawsuits it has caused and the fiscal crisis that never happened. Then, they discuss some of the various tech boondoggles the state is pursuing: from data centers to AI sandboxes.
Show Notes:
- Their Water Taps Ran Dry When Meta Built Next Door
- Update on the situation in Vaughn prison
- Delaware hires Meta executives’ attorneys for Supreme Court defense of SB 21
- Delaware's new AI Sandbox
Jennifer Chattin, mother of previous guest Josh Chattin, joins Rob and State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton in the bunker to give an update on her son's attempts to organize inmates in Vaughn (and now Howard Young) prison and the backlash they have faced.
(To all legislative staff and spouses: the timestamp you're looking for is 26:26, try paying attention to something that actually matters)
Show Notes:
- Previous episode about Vaughn
- Alonna Berry's issues page
State Senator Laura Sturgeon and activist Shyanne Miller join Rob in the bunker to recap the first leg of Delaware's legislative session. We discuss the few things that did get done, and the larger forces and incentives that kept anything particularly substantial from getting through.
Show Notes:
- DE-WFP Legislative Debrief
- Capital Fight or Flight and Delaware's Bunker Mindset
- Democrats told to "get shot" for the anti-Trump resistance
- More on the DREAM Initiative
Inmates Joshua Chattin, Michael Fields, and Fenel Baines join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the atrocious conditions at Vaughn Prison in Smyrna which finally came to light during the latest heat wave, how inmates have been fighting back, and the blowback that they face when advocating for themselves. Then, a brief session recap ahead of our full episode next week.
Show Notes:
- Our original episode about Vaughn Prison in 2019
- Some Vaughn inmates are without air conditioning during heatwave
- 2025 Legislative Session Report
Karl and Bill join Rob in the bunker to talk about the latest debacle around Rep. Stell Parker Selby's resignation, as well as Karl's op-ed about the anti-democratic nature of Delaware's Democratic leadership.
Show Notes:
- Support and pushback over bill to prevent local agreements with ICE
- Coast TV Interviews One and Two
- Delaware’s Bunker Mindset
Police reform activists Vonda Smack and Tom Donovan join Rob in the bunker to talk about the efforts of NOCAP Delaware to bring more police accountability to Dover through a public police accountability form, and what the general state of policing is in Dover right now.
Show Notes:
- NOCAP Announcement, Facebook, and Instagram
- Dover Mayor, Law Enforcement, and State Officials Address Gun Violence, Victims Speak Out
State representative Frank Burns joins Rob in the bunker to get an update on what has happened with Senate Bill 21, how he was best friends with Pope Leo growing up, and how he navigates the strange culture of legislative hall and Delaware politics.
Show Notes:
- Gov. Meyer to defend landmark corporate law against constitutional challenge
- Senate passes offshore wind bill that overrides Sussex County decision to deny permit
- More about Frank Burns
Karl joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the first meeting of the Wilmington Homelessness Taskforce, and whether or not we can fix all of our problems with abundance. Then, they talk about whether or not the Democratic Party actually matters and what the Democratic Party even is.
Show Notes:
- Wilmington Homelessness Taskforce
- What We Talk About When We Talk About “The Party”
- Ted Cruz, John Kasich join forces to stop Donald Trump
Councilwoman Shané Darby joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her campaign for state representative and her run-in with the Wilmington police, and then Mr. Cee joins to talk about marijuana legalization and the different types of smokers.
Show Notes:
- The rushed tax brackets bill
- Shané Darby's website
- Hygh Tymes
- WJVS Radio
Activist Michaelena DeJesus joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her experience of political repression over the last year now that the final charges have finally been dismissed.
Show Notes:
- Jordan Howell's original piece
Bill joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the various ways that Delaware Democrats are melting down in public, the attempts of ZIP Code Wilmington to transform the city and its education system, and an update on your Wilmington Blue Rocks.
Show Notes:
- Madinah Comedy Special
- We helped Wilmington baristas become coders. We transformed the city
Rob and Karl head down to Legislative Hall in Dover to interview community members and activists who are lobbying in favor of Senate Bill 10, which would allow for compassionate release for prisoners who have served a certain amount of time.
Show Notes:
- Senate Bill 10
State Representative Sophie Phillips joins Rob in the bunker to talk about SB 21 and the potential Delaware fiscal crisis, her legislation dealing with homelessness in Delaware, and the reason why we need body size discrimination legislation.
Show Notes:
- Storm the Fort episode about May Day
- Body size discrimination legislation
Jordan Howell and Bill Martin join Rob in the bunker to talk about some of the more insidious crackdowns happening at the local level, most notably the trial of a pro-Palestine activist for "assaulting" the police. Then, they talk more about BPG and MBNA and some of their effects on Wilmington.
Show Notes:
- He Was a Crook
- Clearing the good name of Gavin Coco
State Representative Rae Moore joins Rob in the bunker to talk about some of the latest updates in the state legislature, most especially her legislation to expand free school meals for all students and the roadblocks it has faced (since the recording of this episode, it passed out of committee).
Show Notes:
- House Bill 125
- That big BPG news
Lead-Free Delaware activists Amy Roe and Sarah Bucic join Rob in the bunker to talk about where Delaware is far behind (and actually ahead in one case) in handling lead poisoning, and how our state's culture of profit and institutional inertia prevents us from protecting against even the most obvious threats.
Show Notes:
- Stand Up For Madinah Screening
- Comedy Special Tickets
- Lead-Free Delaware
- House Bill 70
Christina School Board members Doug Manley and Monica Moriak join Rob in the bunker to talk about our two favorite things: political dysfunction and the Court of Chancery. We get updates on Naveed Baqir and new attempts to resolve his residency, the upcoming elections and potential leadership election, and what an actual functional school board would look like.
Show Notes:
- Previous Doug episode
- More on the Christina School Board Election
Karl the Producer joins Rob in the bunker to talk about a series of pieces he wrote in the context of the passage of Senate Bill 21, laying out how the modern Delaware Way developed economically and politically in the 70s and 80s against the backdrop of militant teacher action.
Show Notes:
- Wilmington Federations of Teachers Part One, Two, and Three
- Capital Fight or Flight
- Storm the Fort
Shyanne Miller joins Rob in the bunker for a wide-ranging discussion about how much we need to change our tactics given the stagnation of leftist priorities and the acceleration of corporate priorities.
Show Notes:
- Most recent reporting on SB 21
Historian Dael Norwood joins Rob in the bunker to finally talk about Senate Bill 21, this year's attempt to completely undermine Delaware's judiciary in favor of billionaires like Elon Musk. Not that it has anything to do with Elon Musk, why would you even say that? I don't even know who that is.
Show Notes:
- Unrelated tweet less than two weeks before this bill was released
- Senate hearing on Wednesday, March 12th
- Original Hal Weitzman episode
- Last year's corporate law update
Congresswoman Sarah McBride joins Rob and Andrew Galvin in the bunker to talk about how the Democratic Party is responding to the current moment on issues from the economy to Gaza, and how she's navigating a very difficult situation in DC.
After the interview, Rob, Andrew, and Karl have a follow-up conversation diving deeper on the current state of affairs.
Show Notes:
- Rep McBride's first speech
- Four Freedoms Speech
New Castle County Councilman Kevin Caneco joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his path into Delaware politics as a transplant, how he got so interested in land use and why it really matters, and the challenges and benefits of being an insurgent candidate.
Show Notes:
- Battling the Prince
- More on Kevin Caneco
Local historian Syl Woolford joins Rob in the bunker to talk about some of the latest news around Donald Trump and Elon Musk before telling the story of Delaware's 1922 US House Election and the role played by the African American community and an anti-lynching bill.
Show Notes:
- DelDems roll over for Musk
- First part of Wilmington Federation of Teachers piece
- Storm the Fort trailer
Recorded on the same day as our first episode in the renovated bunker, Bill and Karl join Rob to talk about the first days of the Trump administration, more about the port and our former governor, and an upcoming podcast on the Knights of Labor.
Show Notes:
- Bethany at the Trump inauguration
- Follow Storm the Fort on Bluesky
- philadelphiaeagles.com
State senate candidate Riley Figliola and regular guest Madinah Wilson-Anton join Rob in the bunker to talk about the Delaware Way (and its new official bell), and how it affects the upcoming special election and the Port of Wilmington.
Show Notes:
- Riley's website
To break in a newly-renovated bunker, we are joined by multiple different guests this week: Councilwoman Shané Darby talks about the latest police shooting in Wilmington and how we can demand accountability, Rev. Patrick Burke speaks about the chaos of the early Trump administration, community activist Lakeisha Nix talks about NOCAP Delaware, and State Senate Candidate Riley Figliola talks about how she got involved in politics and why she's running for SD1.
Show Notes:
- More on the police shooting
- NOCAP Delaware
- Information about the special elections
Joe Connor joins Rob in the back room of Gallucios to talk about the first few days of the Meyer and Trump administrations, the importance or lack thereof of attacking Bud Freel, and what we're in store for over the next four years. Plus, a message from the new campaign: Neighbors Organized for Credibility and Accountability in Policing.
Show Notes:
- NOCAP Social Media
With the studio under construction, the bunker is on the road. This week, Rob joins Senator Laura Sturgeon and Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton in legislative hall to talk about the first week of the legislature and what they're looking forward to in the upcoming session.
Show Notes:
- Delaware legislative site
Bill and Karl join Rob in the bunker to talk about our new governor, our new mayor, and a variety of other local and national news stories that have been ringing in the new year in 2025.
Show Notes:
- Bethany Hall-Long swearing in
- Governor/Mayor Carney reflects
SD1 and NCC Pres candidate George Frankel joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his experience running for both a real election and the Democrat's special selection process, and where they may agree and disagree.
Show Notes:
- Spotlight Delaware coverage
Various registered Democrats in the 1st Senate District join Rob in the bunker to talk about the latest Democratic Party selection process for the open state senate seats, and what the alternative is.
Show Notes:
- Rae's previous essay
- Spotlight Delaware coverage
Friendship House Executive Director Kim Eppehimer joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the work they're doing among people experiencing homelessness and how that work is running up against the ongoing transformation of the city of Wilmington, as well as the work of the New Castle County Police Accountability Board.
Show Notes:
- Donate to Friendship House
- Police Accountability Board
Rev. Patrick Burke, Rector of the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his path from the corporate world to the church, the role of faith in grassroots organizing, and the challenges that SsAM has been facing from the city of Wilmington around the issue of homelessness.
Show Notes:
- Why a Wilmington church, 250 others, accuse city police of 'harassment and intimidation'
The crew joins Rob in the bunker to talk briefly talk about some of the results of the 2024 election now that. month has passed. Bonus episode coming later this week at https://www.patreon.com/TheHighlandsBunker
Unlocked for this week: Historian Dael Norwood joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about a Thomas Nast's 1869 "Uncle Sam's Thanksgiving Dinner" comic and what it means about for what America could have been and then what it actually became.
Show Notes:
- Rob's thread on the homeless sweep
- Richard White Episode
- The racist Thanksgiving cartoon
- Freedom and Slavery at Delaware College: A Student Research Symposium
Spotlight Delaware Report Nick Stonesifer joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his reporting on the Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission and how it was mismanaged.
Show Notes:
- Delaware’s opioid fund differs from any other state
- Opioid grants mostly funded prevention, but also raised questions
After being one of the comprehensive public high schools in the country, AI DuPont High School has seen a massive enrollment decline and is under threat from a variety of sources. Our panel of AI alums join Rob in the bunker to talk about their former school and what needs to be done to save it.
Show Notes:
- Wilmington PD pressed city to cancel police accountability rally
- November 20th Red Clay School Board Meeting
- Friends of AI Interest Form
- AI Taskforce Summary and Recommendations
- Redding Consortium
We recorded on election night, but you're going to have to pay to hear more. Full episode coming later this morning. https://www.patreon.com/TheHighlandsBunker
ATTENTION loyal podcast listeners! Dr. Tanya Whittle has joined Rob IN THE BUNKER and we need your help to make sure that EVERYONE hears about her work on the New Castle County Police Accountability Board!!! All listens are 8X MATCHED (1 listen = 8 listens), so can we count on YOU today??
HBP Stop2Quit
Show Notes:
- New Castle County Police Accountability Form
- November 1st Project Return event
Regular guest Madinah Wilson-Anton and her uncle long-time comedian Rocky Wilson join Rob in the bunker to talk about stand-up comedy: how they got into it, how it's changed, and the best ways to do bits.
Show Notes:
- For Lack of a Better Word
- Stand Up For Madinah
- Madinah Comedy Info
Whether you're in Wilmington, Tuscon, or St Louis, we still love our boys in blue. Rob joins the bunker virtually to talk about upcoming efforts for police reform, the exploits of police in Delaware and across the country, and some stories about campaign finance and independents.
Show Notes:
- Meyer on police transparency
- Former Delaware State Police officer sentenced to prison for assault on teens
- Robert Tracy still at it
- Bloomberg donated $250K to support Meyer PAC ahead of primary
Several activists from DE Actions 4 Palestine join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the latest protest at the Dover Air Force Base where munitions are being shipped to Israel. We had some technical issues so apologies for the imperfect audio.
Show Notes:
- DE Actions 4 Palestine
- Israel's credit rating downgraded
- More on the Dover protest
Spotlight Delaware Editor-in-Chief Jacob Owens joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the model of Spotlight Delaware, how it fits into the current media landscape, and then how all this falls into the post-primary environment.
Show Notes:
- Spotlight Delaware
Bill and Karl join Rob in the bunker to talk more about what the next few years might look like in the wake of the September 10th primary.
Show Notes:
- Crime rates dropping
Jordyn Pusey and Jason Scott join Rob in the bunker to break down the latest primary election results and what they mean for the future of the movement.
Show Notes:
- Primary Election Results
- A Landmark Election
- The Auditor report
- Delaware Call Fundraiser
Christina School Board member Doug Danger Manley joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the roiling series of scandals that have engulfed the school board from executive sessions to shell LLCs to privatization.
Show Notes:
- Latest Bethany Hall-Long article
- The Naveed Baqir Files
- Delaware Call Fall Classic
Bunker regulars Jess Scarane and Jordan Howell join Rob in the bunker to preview the upcoming primaries from governor to state house to mayor and also begin the #DraftMisterCelery movement.
Show Notes:
- Check your voting info
- Delaware Call Baseball Fall Fundraiser
ACLU Legal Director and former Wilmington Democrats parliamentarian Dwayne Bensing joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the Delaware Call/ACLU lawsuit against Delaware's police, some of the other lawsuits the ACLU is involved in, and then some of his experiences with the Democratic Party in Chicago and a little bit closer to home.
Show Notes:
- Arms shipments to Israel and @MenchOsint
- ACLU's vanity plate lawsuit
- ACLU voting rights
- Obama’s Lost Army
Former Delaware Public Media reporter Rachel Sawicki joins Rob in the bunker to talk about their experience in the Delaware media landscape, the parallels between the Kathy McGuiness and Bethany Hall-Long situations, and then a case study on how police violence gets covered.
Show Notes:
- Rachel's most recent Kathy McGuiness story
- Esteban's police violence story
Wilmington activist Haneef Salaam joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the upcoming Justice For All edition of the monthly Positive Vibes in the Park event, the state of the 2024 elections, and the theory of an Old School vs New School Delaware Way.
Show Notes:
- New Book from Maya
- Justice For All Event on 8/23
Activists James and Henry join Rob in the bunker to talk about their journey into leftist politics and advocacy for Palestine, and some of their takeaways after recent protests in Delaware and Washington DC.
Former Delaware Democratic Party Executive Director Erik Raser-Schramm joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his unique path into politics, his time in the political establishment, and why he wrote an op-ed calling out Bethany Hall-Long and endorsing Matt Meyer for governor.
Show Notes:
- Lt. Gov. Hall-Long’s campaign team is getting shaken up — again
- Erik's op-ed
Oh, you thought it was just New Castle County that had horrible police unaccountability? Tye Grier joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about another instance of Dover police violence, and then more about the failed efforts to make change in that arena.
Show Notes:
- Esteban Parra uses passive voice
State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton joins Rob in the bunker to talk about this week's New Castle County Police Accountability Board meeting, and what it represents in the broader efforts to reform policing in Delaware.
Show Notes:
- Another Day Another Case of Extreme Police Violence
The criminal legal system is back at it again as Bill joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the latest police violence from the New Castle County police department, as well as the trial of one of the arrested Palestine protesters. Then, some discussion about Delaware's favorite elderly president.
Show Notes:
- New Castle County police beat a woman
- New Castle County Police Accountability Board
- Network Delaware Social Change Summit
Wilmington Councilwoman Shané Darby and DSA co-chair Jonathan Tate join Rob in the bunker to talk about the Nathan Field anti-protesting ordinance, the trial of an actual protester, and then some talk about how organizations are handing out endorsements.
Show Notes:
- More on the anti-protester ordinance
Former Kathy McGuiness lawyer Steve Wood joins Rob in the bunker to wrap up some of the loose ends of the Kathy v Kathy trial, the state of the corporate bar and the criminal justice system, and his objection to the term razzle dazzle.
Show Notes:
- Washington Post report on police sexual abuse
- Kathy v Kathy series
As we approach our 300th episode, we go back over the story of the Highlands Bunker from the first episode recorded in late 2018 to nearly six years later in 2024. We review some of the key moments in the bunker, some of the key struggles we've focused on, the biggest goofs, and where we stand today.
Show Notes:
- A trip down memory Saturday
- E01 - Proof of Concept
- BONUS EPISODE - Throwing Stones at Mike Purzycki
- E05 - The Satirical Nature of Sending People to the Gulag
- E10 - It’s Not An Election Cycle Thing
- BONUS EPISODE - The Streets of Puerto Rico
- E34 - In The Shadow of the Grand Opera House
- E43 - A Place to Be Somebody
- BONUS EPISODE - Community Care
- BONUS EPISODE - Reflections from the Streets of Wilmington
- E90 - Mayor Purzycki Hates Poor People (w/Jeanne Kuang, Jerry Habraken)
- E146 - Four Freedoms
- E155 - An Evening with Dr. Mehmet Oz
- Kathy v Kathy series
- E179 - What's the Matter with Delaware
- E262 - Gap in The Wall
Chance from Chancery Daily and local historian Dael Norwood join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk more about the upcoming changes to the Delaware General Corporation Law, which sailed through the senate despite opposition from dozens of leading law professors and scholars. We talk about the arguments that were made and what effects they did or didn't have on legislators.
Show Notes:
- Karl Baker coverage
- Delaware Business Times coverage
- SB 313
Prospective stockholders Bill, Jordan, and Chance join Rob in the bunker to talk about the most important change to the Delaware General Corporation Law in decades: SB313, which is trying to legislatively overturn a recent Chancery Court ruling banning shady stockholder agreements. We talk about how this came about and what might happen next.
Show Notes:
- Travis Laster's LinkedIn
- The Chancery Court pushes back
- Hal Weitzman episode
Corporate nonsense is once again dominating Delaware news, so we brought in Former State Representative John Kowalko to talk about Incyte and corporate incentives, the hospitals' fight against HB 350, and the new amendments to Delaware's corporate law.
Show Notes:
- Massachusetts Millionaires Tax
- Incyte expansion and incentives
- Jordan Howell's two pieces on the corporate bill
Governor candidate Collin O'Mara joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his previous record and residency in Delaware, his views on issues from privatization to criminal justice reform and how he actually plans to accomplish them, and the importance of having a real agenda as governor.
Show Notes:
- Collin's Website
- More on the governor's forum
- Previous governor polls
Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton joins Rob in the bunker to talk about Wednesday's Nakba vigil, some of the legislation going through the General Assembly right now, and the case for Collin O'Mara for governor.
Show Notes:
- Health Care Review Board coverage
- Collin O'Mara website
- WFP Endorsement Process
Professor Samantha Simon joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about her book "Before The Badge", which covers modern police training and how it sets up the violent, oppositional nature of policing as we know it. First, we hear from Mike Abel and Dr. George Zahr about the history of the Nakba ahead of the Vigil to Commemorate the Nakba next Wednesday.
Show Notes:
- Nakba Remembrance Event
- Comptroller's report on police training may require 'further action'
- Before The Badge
Housing Alliance of Delaware Executive Director Rachel Stucker joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the problem of housing and homelessness in Delaware, the efforts to pass a Homeless Bill of Rights and stop a horrible Supreme Court decision, and the upcoming Housing Day of Action in Dover.
Show Notes:
- Day for Housing Day of Action
- Housing Alliance of Delaware
- Johnson v. Grants Pass
Delaware Citizens Opposed to the Death Penalty Vice President Kristin Froehlich joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the most recent attempts to officially abolish the death penalty in Delaware, and how the morality of crime and punishment applies to the case of Anders Breivik, the far-right Norwegian terrorist.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Citizens Opposed to the Death Penalty
- The Anders Breivik Story
- HB70 and HB301
County Council President candidate Val Gould joins Rob in the bunker to talk about their journey from teaching music to writing public policy, the upsides and downsides of being an introvert running for office, and what they want to do from housing to environment to policing.
Show Notes:
- Corporate Law updates in the Call
- Val's website
It's a big news week for people who were previously involved in high-profile trials. We talk about two of them, as well as the state of the Delaware election and legislative scene right now, and some of the interviews we have coming up.
Show Notes:
- Spotlight Delaware Chris Coons Interview
Disability advocate Benjamin Shrader joined Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his path to Delaware, his disability and how it relates to the work that he's doing, and how faith and a recognition of interdependence help strengthen his politics.
Show Notes:
- Benjamin's Twitter
Palestine activist Maryam Rahmani joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about her path to activism and then detailing the increasingly desperate repression that organizers and activists are facing from local law enforcement.
Show Notes:
- Palestinian Painted Plates & the Nothing Party
Journalist Sam Stecklow joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the latest ACLU lawsuit involving the Delaware Call to call for the release of more police records. Then, the crew talks about the death penalty, Jimmie Allen, and some exciting new endorsements.
Show Notes:
- ACLU Delaware Call Lawsuit
- Invisible Institute, Citizens Police Data Project
- Jordan's Delaware Today piece
The movie crew joins Rob in the bunker to talk about The Organizer, an Italian movie about a failed strike in the late 1800s that leads to broader discussions around labor history and organizing tactics.
Show Notes:
- The Organizer movie
- No Shortcuts: Organizing for Power in the New Gilded Age
A Supreme Court decision moves us even closer to the end of the Kathy v Kathy saga. Meanwhile, Dounya Ramadan joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the recent ceasefire protests at the State of the State.
Show Notes:
- Supreme Court rules in former state Auditor Kathy McGuiness' criminal conviction appeal
- Former Auditor Kathy McGuiness drama continues in federal civil court
- The State of the State protests
Newly hired Delaware Working Families Party Organizer Hasini Perkins rejoins Rob in the bunker to talk about his work getting people activated on the ground, organizing around the issues that affect everyday people, and how things need to change to build governing power for the multi-racial working class in Delaware.
Show Notes:
- Labor yells at Matt Meyer
- School Lunch Debt Background
- Issue Campaign Meeting
- Working Families Party Website
County executive, gubernatorial candidate, and expectant father Matt Meyer joins Rob in the bunker to talk about what the county is working on from land use to police, then talks about his vision of what he wants to do as governor from transit to housing to climate.
Show Notes:
- The War on Gaza Is a Labor Issue
- Matt Meyer's Site
The Red Clay School District has entered the working group phase of trying to avoid accountability, so the Marbrook Parents rejoin Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the updates from the last several months around what has been going on with the Spanish Immersion program and how the fight has expanded.
Bunker regular Haneef joins Rob in the bunker to talk about a variety of topics from Palestine to bus stories to the police oversight board to the city buying the new Gibraltar mansion. Apologies for the delayed episode.
Show Notes:
- WHYY story on Gibraltar
Public Policy Advocate Ken Grant and Professor Steve Metraux join Rob in the bunker to talk about their newest report on parking and red light tickets and how it shows a core dysfunction in the way that the City of Wilmington conducts some of its most basic functions.
Show Notes:
- News Journal article
- Fines and Fees report
Bunker regulars Jordan and Karl join Rob in the bunker to talk about the pieces they wrote in the Delaware Call: one about leaked updates to the corporate code that show the effects of last year's organizing, the other about Wilmington's first major strike that shows the effects of organizing from 140 years ago.
Show Notes:
- Interviews in the opening
- Hal Weitzman interview
- Chancery Daily interview
- Jordan's piece about the Corporate Law Council amendments
- Karl's piece about the Knights of Labor in Wilmington
- Closing story
After interviewing Rob on her show a couple weeks ago, Rachelle Wilson now joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about her background, how she went from journalism to teaching to activism, and the injustice of our criminal justice system.
Show Notes:
- Cold open thread
- Make Some Intelligent Noise Justice Movement
The Crew and Madinah join Rob in the bunker to talk some major shifts to bring in the new year. Madinah finally tells all.
Show Notes:
- Biden pizza party
This week, Rob appeared on another show, MSIN Justice MVMT w/ Rachelle Wilson, on what will become a monthly recurring segment where they will discuss the state of the 2024 elections and what people should be looking out for.
Local professor and activist Jamila Davey joined Rob in the bunker to talk about her journey from small-town Indiana to studying world cultures, how she got connected with the Rodney Reservoir, and what the future of redevelopment in that area might look like.
Show Notes:
- Green for the Greater Good
- How Wilmington neighbors rallied to keep Rodney Reservoir a park − and succeeded
- Jamila's Op-Ed
Senator Chris Coons answers some questions on a ceasefire in Gaza. Then, the crew talks about next year's most important election of our lifetimes and answer some important questions such as: is our strategy working, are there any shortcuts, and who is we?
Some of the parents who organized around bringing back Marbrook's Spanish immersion program join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the path from the Hockessin Gossip Girls page to reviving the program through public pressure.
Show Notes:
- December Red Clay School Board meeting
- News Journal coverage
- Immersion program overview
Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton joins to talk about her ongoing hunger strike in DC. DelPHR Founder Mike Abel and DE DSA communications chair Syjil Athar talk about how they came into the Palestinian freedom movement and where things stand now.
Show Notes:
- Delawareans for Palestinian Human Rights
- Delaware DSA
- Call Me, Beta
- Chuck Modi interview
- Reagan Demands End To Attacks
- BDS Movement
- Playgrounds for Palestine, PCRF, MECA, Islamic Relief USA, Doctors Without Borders
It's amazing how much trouble you can get it for just hiring your daughter. After over a year, the boys are back to cover the Supreme Court oral arguments about the appeal of Kathy McGuiness's sentencing last year.
Show Notes:
- News Journal coverage
Former Rep. John Kowalko joins the bunker to give updates on RISE Delaware/Medicare Advantage lawsuit, then tells some stories from his time at legislative hall. Patrons will get to hear the full conversation.
Show Notes:
- RISE Delaware
- Rebel John Kowalko
- Ceasefire protest
Local activist Kirsten Walther joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her piece on misogyny in the Delaware left and some of her ideas on potential solutions, as well as some of the backlash it has received. Then, we try to close out our discourse around the genocide in Gaza and discuss what can and can't be done.Show Notes:* Misogyny and the Delaware Left * It’s Not Complicated – Ceasefire Now
Racial justice organizer Hasini Perkins joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the state of mental and physical health care in Delaware's prison system, including first-hand testimony from himself and others who are still behind bars.Show Notes:* ACLU prison health care lawsuit * John Oliver prison health care segment
Professor and homelessness researcher Steve Metraux and housing activist Shyanne Miller join Rob in the bunker to talk about why Delaware's official homelessness rate suddenly spiked and plummeted in the last four years, the successes and failures of existing systems, and what we might need to do to fix them.Show Notes:* Homelessness in Delaware: An Assessment * Accused of begging inside Market Street restaurants, she was jailed for a year * Carney budget presentation * 2023 Delaware Housing Needs Assessment
In celebration of Indegenous Peoples' Day, historian Syl Woolford joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the Choptank Indian reservation, one of the few on the Delmarva peninsula.Show Notes:* Branden's website * Donate to Branden
The crew is in the bunker today to talk about the Bethany Hall-Long campaign drama, some thoughts around local independent journalism, and catching up with your Philadelphia Phillies.Show Notes:* Delaware Call fundraiser tickets * BHL Drama * Delaware State Police Investigating Golf Cart Thefts in Sussex County
Palestinian author and poet Maya Abu Al-Hayat joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her path to artistic expression, the role of an artist as activist, and the other work that she has been doing.Show Notes
- 'The Gap' short story
- 'I Suffer a Phobia Called Hope' poem
Professor Mark Paul joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his new book, The Ends of Freedom, and get into the history of economic rights in America as well as how modern issues of full employment, inflation, and means testing affect our ability to provide for everyone.Show Notes:* The Ends of Freedom Book * The guy who loves unemployment
Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about her campaign, her vision for a 21st century economic bill of rights, and the challenges that she has faced left, right, and center while running as a challenger to an incumbent president.Show Notes:* Marianne's website
The crew is in the bunker today to prepare for a busy September by talking about what we worked on in July and August, from the Network Delaware Social Change Summit to Jordan Howell's three-part piece on the eastside of Wilmington.Show Notes:* Jordan's Eastside Series - pt1, pt2, pt3 * Brandon Holveck!
Creative Visions Factory director Michael Kalmbach joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the latest updates on what the peer-run program is up to, the importance of harm reduction and other wholistic strategies, and the importance of self-care and understanding in difficult work.Show Notes:* Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice * Creative Vision Factory
They're letting women play sports now, so women who play sports Jordyn Pusey and Kirsten Walther join Rob in the bunker to talk about the Women's World Cup that just ended. They talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the tournament from the exciting new players and countries to the rampant abuse that players have had to face.
Journalist Jordan Howell joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his latest piece in the Delaware Call about the origins of the August Quarterly Festival in Wilmington and how a very familiar set of processes led to the destruction of the East Side in the 1960s. Begins with an introduction about whether or not it's safe to walk around in the Highlands.Show Notes:* Can someone let me know if this area is safe? * Jordan's new piece in the Delaware Call
Timeless Thomas Swann joins Rob in the bunker to talk about some updates on his book 101 Things You Should Know About Jail based on the experiences of other groups, and then the group talks about some of Delaware's newest white collar criminals.Show Notes:* Congrats to Julia * 101 Things You Should Know About Jail audiobook * Karl Baker's Hunter Biden piece
Delaware political staffers, you'll have to pay to get this one.Show Notes:* Delaware Call fundraiser
Professor and biographer Joe Fitzgerald joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the life and work of Gloria Richardson, a civil rights activist who served a crucial role in the Cambridge Nonviolent Action Committee. They discuss her background and what brought her to that work, the role of an organizers as a leader, and the strategies and tactics which made the movement so effective and what that could mean for today.Show Notes:* The Struggle is Eternal book * Meals on Wheels
Innocence Project Delaware Executive Director Claudia Trupp joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how she became involved in criminal defense work, how an Innocence Project was brought to Delaware, and what work they are doing now to help the wrongfully convicted.Show Notes:
- Innocence Project Delaware
- Donate to the Innocence Project
State House candidate Monica Beard joins Rob in the bunker to talk about why she is running for office, the debacle that her opponent Mike Smith helped make happen, and how to actually stand up when legislative crises happen.
Show Notes:
- Monica Beard website
- Donate to Monica
More Perfect Union journalist Paul Blest joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the debacle around the vote giving LLCs and other entities the right to vote in Seaford.Show Notes:* More Perfect Union thread * News Journal Coverage of LLC voting
Rob and Karl discuss the new LEOBOR reform bills and the hearings that brought them to the vote that occurred yesterday. This was recorded right after the hearings but includes a couple updates on events that have happened since.Show Notes:* News Journal coverage of the hearing * Vote of no confidence episode * The new LEOBOR reform substitute * The POST Commission bill
Are corporate lobbyists using the secretive process that updates the general corporation law to impact a pending settlement? Chance from Chancery Daily joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how an AMC case in Chancery Court might be affected by Delaware's yearly update to the corporate law, and why the Delaware Way should be about integrity and not secrecy.Show Notes:* Hal Weitzman episode * Chancery Daily substack * SB 114
Councilwoman Shané Darby joins Rob in the bunker to give some updates on what the hell is going on in Wilmington City Council, the barriers she's been facing to try to get basic accountability, and what some of her plans are for the next couple of years.Show Notes:* The Public Reprimand * Secret Member Votes * Hiring Family Members * Wilmington police lawsuit * Black Mothers in Power
Journalist Karl Baker joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his latest venture, how the Port of Wilmington continues to be a disaster, and the broader state of local news in Delaware right now.Show Notes:* Xerxes Wilson piece from the start * Karl's newest port story on the News Arcade * Delaware Call profile of Madinah
ACLU Racial justice organizer Hasini Perkins joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his experience going through the criminal legal system and how that led to the organizing work that he does now.Content warning on this one for description of violence and torture conditions in prisons.Show Notes:* Right to Representation Campaign * Smart Justice Campaign
Bunker OG Josh Whittaker joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the new legislative updates coming to the Delaware Call, some of the bills that have been included in it, and why some things are moving slower or quicker than they should be.Show Notes:* Latest Delaware Call update
It's just Karl and Rob in the bunker today as they talk about Karl's new piece on why legislators sell out and how we can fix it.Show Notes:* Why Do Legislators Sell Out?
Delaware has legalized cannabis, but unfortunately it has actually opened a portal to hell. First, Delaware CAN activist Zoë Patchell joins Rob to talk about their huge victory in passing this legislation. Then, we discuss two new pieces of legislation to criminalize other drugs with Creative Visions Factory Director Michael Kalmbach. Finally, the groups discusses some of Delaware's newest school board candidates and their unique plans to improve the state.Show Notes:* Eric Buckson's secession plan * SB100 and SB101 * Rethinking the "Drug Dealer" * Some proposals for Christina School District
Local Journalism Initiative Founder Allison Levine joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the Delaware Journalism Collaborative, which includes the Delaware Call, its project of addressing polarization and what that entails, and how to make positive change.Show Notes:* Delaware Journalism Collaborative * The Nazi Who Became Woke
Our series on the Dominion v Fox trial comes to an abrupt close with a $787.5 million settlement. Chance from Chancery Daily joins Rob and Bill again to talk about what led to this settlement, what the implications are, and how we ended up covering so many trials.Show Notes:* Leo Strine Interview * Chance's Twitter Thread
This is a 4/20-type episode. Game Changers founder and community activist Dubard McGriff and Southbridge Civic Association President Haneef Salaam join Rob in the bunker to talk about building Black wealth, the best ways to uplift communities, and the legal weed bills that are on Carney's desk.Show Notes:* Game Changers * Street PAR episode * Latest coverage on legal weed
The future of the First Amendment comes down to 12 citizens of New Castle County as the Dominion v Fox News trial arrives in Court 7E of the Leonard L Williams Justice Center. Chance from Chancery Daily joins Rob and Bill in the virtual bunker to talk about what this case entails and what the next six weeks might look like.Show Notes:* The Chancery Daily Substack * More Chancery Daily links
Christina School Board candidate Doug Danger Manley joins Rob in the bunker to talk about some of the things that are (literally) broken in Delaware education and his priorities in running for school board. Then, a preview of some more upcoming trial coverage.Show Notes:* Doug's site * Donate to Doug
In celebration of baseball's opening day, baseball historian Jon Springer joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the Quicksteps, Wilmington's only major league team. Come for the local baseball history, stay for the 1800s baseball nicknames.Show Notes:* Once Upon a Team * Out and About Coverage
Public Defender Misty Seemans joins Rob in the bunker to talk about LEOBOR reform: her series on it, where it stands right now, and what the best strategies are to make it happen.Show Notes:* Misty Seemans' LEOBOR series
Author Steve Paxton joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his book "How Capitalism Ends", the origins of capitalism, and where things seem to be headed in our broader economic system.Show Notes:* How Capitalism Ends
Former State Senator Karen Peterson joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the state's attempts to privatize Medicare for public sector retirees and how RISE Delaware has been working to push back.
Show Notes:
- RISE Delaware
- Donate to RISE Delaware
Former State Senator Karen Peterson joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the state's attempts to privatize Medicare for public sector retirees and how RISE Delaware has been working to push back.
Show Notes:
- RISE Delaware
- Donate to RISE Delaware
Local historian Syl Woolford joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his research into Paul Robseon, how it relates to the present day, and the three times he was kicked out of the Iron Hill Museum.
Show Notes:
- Iron Hill Museum opens Black History Trail
- John Brown's Body - Paul Robeson
Dover activist Vonda Smack joins Rob and Tye in the bunker to talk about her path from cab driver to bouncer to activist, her latest action to help stop a loitering ordinance in Dover, and the inhumanity of Delaware's prison system.
Show Notes:
- Latest piece about LEOBOR
- Dover’s proposed loitering ordinance quashed once again
Etymologist and activist Faith Kuehn joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how a garden project for the Delaware Psychiatric Center turned into an effort to preserve a cemetery containing some of Delaware's most forgotten residents.
Show Notes:
- An overview of these efforts as of 2021
- Find a Grave page for the cemetery
Haneef Salaam joins Rob in the bunker to talk about Wilmington's new reparations taskforce, how the national response to Tyre Nichols relates to Delaware, and some incredibly dumb national stories.
Show Notes:
- Wilmington wants to make amends for Delaware's slave history
- End Operation "Safe Streets"
State Senator Laura Sturgeon joins Rob and Kirsten in the bunker to talk about her path from teacher to legislator, updates on lead in school water, and what she's looking to do around education reform in the future.
Show Notes:
- Laura Sturgeon's site
- Donate to Laura Sturgeon
Local historian Syl Woolford joins Rob in the bunker to talk about he began to research Delaware history and some of the stories and figures in Delaware Black history he has come across.
Show Notes:
- Syl on Harriet Tubman
- Syl on Black Women Leaders in the Early 20th Century
DelawareLiberal writers Steve Tanzer and Jason Scott join Rob in the bunker to talk about the first couple weeks of the new legislative session, what the future looks like for the House and the governor's seat, and a new campaign to get Rob on Mic'd Up with Mike Smith.
Show Notes:
- DelawareLiberal
Former Wilmington police lieutenant and current professor of sociology at WVU James Nolan joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his recent op-ed about police reform in Wilmington and how we need to redefine the relationship between police, law enforcement, and public safety.
Show Notes:
- Wilmington Police Need New Game, Playbook, Scorecard
- Reimagining the Wilmington Police: We Must Create Community.
- What will police reform in Wilmington look like?
- Policing in an Age of Reform
- Explainer on "changing the game"
- Description of structured racism in policing
Senate Majority Whip and Leader Tizzy Lockman and Bryan Townsend join Rob in the bunker to talk about the priorities of the upcoming legislative session and some of the barrier that stand in the way.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Legislative Site
- Delaware Senate Priorities
The movie crew joins Rob in the bunker to talk about Plácido, a Spanish black comedy class-war Christmas movie satire.
Show Notes:
- Plácido
- Previous Movie Episode
WFP leaders Reji Gregoire, Tye Grier, Kirsten Walther, and Karl join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about what Delaware WFP has been working on over the last year and what they'll be working on in the next two years.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Working Families Party
- Become a WFP member
An ode to journalism.
Show Notes:
- Delaware has six new Christmas pop-up bars. And two are only 100 feet apart.
- Working at Wegmans - does it live up to the hype? We take you behind the scenes.
- The best parts of the Delaware Way are worth restoring. Here's why
Historian Harvey J Kaye joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his new edition of The British Marxist Historians: the story of how it came to be, what he has learned from it, and how it has affected his other work.
Show Notes:
- The British Marxist Historians
- A House Divided
Smart Justice Campaign Manager Haneef Salaam and Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton join Rob in the bunker to talk about the coming fights for probation reform and civil asset forfeiture and reflect on the results in the latest election.
Show Notes:
- Probation reform bill
- People Not Probation
Red Clay School Board member Jose Matthews and freelance journalist Jordan Howell join Rob in the bunker to talk about the recent controversy around lead testing in schools in Delaware, the systemic failures that led to this crisis, and what is and isn't being done to fix it.
Show Notes
- Jordan's Call piece on the Realtors
- Original article about the lead testing
- More on the public town hall
National athletes Jess Scarane and Jordyn Pusey joins Rob in the bunker to go through the latest reports of abuse in the National Women's Soccer League and how that plays out from the highest levels all the way down to local sports.
Show Notes:
- Yates Report
- Rory Dames accusations
- Ooh ah, up the Ra
The general election is finally over, so we get together to talk about what the results in Delaware and nationwide mean both in the short-term and the long-term.
Show Notes:
- For those confused by the first two minutes
- Election Results
- Delaware Call Fundraiser
State House candidate Terrell Williams joins Rob in the bunker about his background, some of the reasons why he's running for office, and his views on various issues from police reform to homeownership.
Show Notes:
- Terrell's website
- Donate to Terrell
- Debunking vote by mail myths
- Full Bernie video
Wilmington resident Sharee Congo and journalist Lauren Gill join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the horrible story behind Operation Safe Streets and how it forced its way into Sharee's life.
Trigger warning for description of police violence.
Show Notes:
- ACLU-DE's report
A sentence puts a period on the Kathy v Kathy saga, for now, as the Kathy trial finishes off with spears, Narcan, and a resignation letter lost in the ether. Rob, Bill, Kirsten, and Karl finish off the saga by talking about what happened and what's next.
Show Notes:
- News Journal coverage
- Karl Baker's Delaware Call piece
- ACLU Report
- Delaware Call Fundraiser
In the wake of the latest hurricane, activist Maria Beauchamp joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the fallout of the latest storm in Puerto Rico and how that connects to longer-running issues in the colony.
Show Notes:
- Maria's first episode
ACLU-DE President Mike Brickner joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the Delaware Supreme Court striking down vote by mail and same-day voter registration. What happened, what happens next, and why these bills were so important.
Show Notes:
- Call article on initial bill
- Call article on vote by mail concerns
- Call article on the lawsuit
- Supreme Court decision
- Early Voting information
Author and activist Claire Snyder-Hall joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her new book "Battling the Prince" and how her background in political theory combined with her experiences in Rehoboth Beach politics.
Show Notes:
- Buy the Book
Food and Water Watch activist Greg Layton joins Rob in the bunker to give an update on the planned biogas plant in Seaford and what still needs to be done to fight for environmental justice in Sussex.
Show Notes:
- Greg's op-ed in the Delaware Call
- Greg's previous episode
Jason Scott, Jordyn Pusey, and Tye Grier join Rob and Karl in the virtual bunker to talk about the results of the 2022 state primaries. What were the results, what do they mean, and what happens next?
Show Notes:
- News Journal coverage of the results
- Join the Delaware Working Families Party
- Primary Election Results
First State Abortion Fund chair Kori Beaman joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the conception and function of the FSAF, how they plan to actually help people seeking abortions in and out of state, and what political changes need to be made to protect that right for everyone.
Show Notes:
- First State Abortion Fund
- ACLU Polling
- Abortion Hotline Announcement
Musician, writer, and podcast host Jason Myles joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his background in music and radical politics, his essay on Woodstock '99, and what we can do in everyday life to advance a better world.
Show Notes:
- This is Revolution podcast
- TIR Video Essays
- Remembering Woodstock '99
Judge Carpenter has decided: Kathy McGuiness is still guilty, though slightly less so. Rob and Bill go through the latest decision and what it means for sentencing and how the rest of state government will respond.
Show Notes:
- News Journal coverage of the decision
Local author and historian Steven Leech joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the history of jazz in Wilmington, covered in his book Boysie's Horn, and how that related to larger changes over the history of Wilmington.
Show Notes:
- Boysie's Horn
RD13 Vice Chair Jordyn Pusey joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the many grievances surrounding the recent endorsement process in the 1st District County Council Race.
Show Notes:
- Cookout Canvass with DeShanna
Soon-to-be-former News Journal Visual Journalist Jerry Habraken joins Rob in the bunker in an episode from the archives where they talk about his background, some fun stories from his past, the rules of cricket, and what Wilmington looks like to an outsider.
Show Notes:
- Jerry's work on Delaware Online
Southbridge Civic Association Vice President Haneef Salaam joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how a community-supported development process was blocked by the city of Wilmington, and what that might mean for their broader goals to remake the city in BPG's image.
See you Monday at noon.
Show Notes:
- Amanda Fries's article on the process
- Trouble at the Christina Landing townhomes
- Four Keys to Success
State Treasurer Colleen Davis joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how a path through health care brought her into politics, what the role of the Treasurer entails, and what someone in that position can and can't do.
Show Notes:
- Colleen Davis's campaign website
- Treasurer's website
- Patriotic Millionaires
The Kathy fight moves across the green to Legislative Hall as the State Senate considers a resolution to remove Kathy McGuiness from office. We walk through the play by play before talking about what might be next in the legislative process.
Show Notes:
- Pete's statement
- The DOJ responds
Councilwoman Shané Darby joins Rob in the bunker to talk about why she's primarying Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha and what she wants to accomplish once she's in the State House.
Show Notes:
- Shané's site
- Donate to Shané
- Shané's story in the News Journal
- Nnamdi Town Hall
State House candidate James Taylor joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about how his background in Wilmington led him to Berklee and back again, why he's running for office, and what needs to be done to fix Delaware government.
Show Notes:
- James's site
- Donate to James
- Pascal Robert article
- Gulftainer update
The trial of the century has (mostly) wrapped up. Rob and Bill walk through the charges, the reactions, and what happens next. Then, we recap the last two days leading up to the verdict, and the various goofs and gags that ensued.
Show Notes:
- John Carney's statement
- General Assembly statement
- Donate to WFP Candidates
- Volunteer for WFP Candidates
State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how the last few weeks of the legislative session has gone, giving a deeper look into how several progressive priorities (and some corporate priorities) have failed. We then talk about how it might be possible to make real progressive change.
Show Notes:
- Coverage of the Admin Committee
- Donate to Madinah
- Nnamdi Town Hall
- Sign up for the Working Families Party
In a miraculous turn of events, the trial of the century is now running ahead of schedule. The defense rests, but not before bashing MLB Hall of Famer Frank Robinson a few more times and trying to determine what Kathy knew and when she knew it. Ahead of closing arguments and a potential verdict, Rob and Bill discuss the their thoughts on the case so far.
The state finally rested its case today after calling a few more witnesses. After trying to get the whole case thrown out again, the defense begins with its slate of hardcore Kathy-heads and their favorite person: former Pennsylvania auditor Eugene DePasquale. Also, more phone calls from MLB Hall of Famer Frank Robinson.
Week 3 of the Kathy trial has begun. After we learn a little bit about court procedure, the state's witnesses continue with more insight on the Lovecraftian nightmare that makes up the Office of the Auditor of Accounts. Then, Hall of Famer and DOJ Investigator Frank Robinson comes to the stand to discuss his many phone calls with Kathy whistleblowers.
As the Kathy McGuiness trial ended its second week, Kathy's hyper-paranoid office shenanigans are explored by even more witnesses. Also, is Judge Carpenter finally tamping down on the razzle dazzle?
More witnesses on Day 6 of the Kathy McGuiness trial: more haters, more p-cards, and more hostile workplace environments. We also learn more about the man, the myth, the legend: Thomas Van Horn.
RD18 Candidate Sophie Phillips joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how her background led her to get involved in environmental justice advocacy, her tenure as Miss Delaware, and what her priorities will be as a state legislator.
Show Notes:
- Sophie's website
- Donate to Sophie's campaign
- Volunteer for Sophie
On Day 5 of the Kathy trial, we hear from the infamous but largely innocent My Campaign Group, as well as Kathy's infamous but largely innocent daughter. Also, why it's hard to prosecute for a crime when everyone's doing it.
This is the time of fake friends. As the Kathy McGuiness trial enters its second week, we begin to hear from former (and current) employees about how Kathy treats people who speak out against her. Also, how a oppo-driven trek across the state indirectly led to witness intimidation charges.
As the first week of the trial came to a close, we got to take a closer look into what it was like working inside the Office of the Auditor of Accounts, especially if you're her daughter or a friend of her daughter. We then talk about the end of a depressing week in another part of Dover.
Housing activist Shyanne Miller joins Rob in the bunker to talk about some of the latest bills to make housing worse, how the city handled the evictions on Adams St, and what is still left to be done in this legislative session.
Show Notes:
- SB 311 - Property Bundling
- Water shutoff vote
- Contact your legislature about the eminent domain bill
As the Kathy McGuiness trial continues on, we expand our scope to all of Dover. We discuss if it's normal to request the inboxes of dozens of former employees and walk through how house leadership holds up some bills while letting others sail through.
Show Notes:
- Tell your legislators to vote no on HB458
After a false start in Wilmington, the Kathy McGuiness Trial has resumed in Dover. Join us through a Thompson-esque journey through employee categorization, document management, and the ol Steve Wood razzle dazzle.
Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence Executive Director Traci Murphy joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the recent slate of mass shootings, the different solutions needed for different types of gun violence, and what is being worked on in Delaware right now.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence
- Brandywine Buzz
- Leadership's announcement on gun bills
- More on Camden's example
Day 1 of the Kathy McGuiness Trial ended in a stalemate as the defense made a motion to try the case in a different county. Hear Rob and legal correspondent Bill Martin talk about the sights, sounds, and arguments of the first day of the trial of the century.
Show Notes:
- News Journal coverage of Day 1
Karl the Producer joins Rob in the bunker in his capacity as Working Families Party Organizer to talk about the latest updates at legislative hall, why it's important to elect more progressives, and what it takes to make lasting change in Delaware.
Show Notes:
- Delaware WFP site
- Become a WFP Member
- Become a WFP Volunteer
- Carney's weed veto
- Spiegelman's blow-up
Delaware DSA Co-Chair Jonathan Tate joins Rob to talk about what DE DSA has been working on this year and the place for DSA in Delaware politics. Peppered in are some live PA primary updates.
Show Notes:
- Delaware DSA Site
- DE DSA's Facebook
- Become a DSA Member
Abortion activist Nick Beard and ACLU-DE Executive Director Mike Brickner join Rob in the bunker to talk about the recent leaked Roe v Wade decision, what that means for activism around abortion in Delaware, and what the demands need to be now that the worst-case scenario has happened.
Show notes:
- Essay from the beginning
- Alito's decision
- Join the march on Saturday
- Yellowhammer abortion fund
- Local abortion fund
- Guest bartender event
ACLU Voter Campaign Manager Meera Devotta joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her education experience in Delaware and abroad and the voter education work that she'll be doing for Delaware ACLU.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Voting Rights Coalition
- ACLU's new voting tool
- Register to vote or check your registration
- Information on the school board elections
Local author Timeless Thomas joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his path through the criminal justice system and how that led him to write 101 Things You Should Know About Jail, giving the important of information and reform in making a better criminal legal system.
Show Notes:
- 101 Things You Should Know About Jail
- Timeless Thomas on Facebook
- Timeless Thomas on YouTube
Labor reporter Kim Kelly and Professor Harvey J Kaye join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about Kim's new book "Fight Like Hell", going through some of the figures and movements in the under-covered parts of labor history and what they mean for us today.
Show Notes:
- Buy Fight Like Hell
- Kim's recent coverage of the Warrior Met Coal strike
Activist and candidate DeShanna Neal joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her Wilmington upbringing, how she became an activist for her daughter, and why she's running for office.
Show Notes:
- DeShanna's website
- Donate to DeShanna
- The original video referenced
- A 2017 profile of DeShanna
With the first pre-trial arguments being heard, the bunker digs into how we got to the indictment and re-indictment of Kathy McGuiness, some of the fun stories along the way, and what strategies your auditor's office is taking in response to the charges.
Show Notes:
- Previous Kathy episode
- Latest update (this occurred after the recording)
Historian Harvey J Kaye and local activist Kerri Evelyn Harris join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about FDR's economic bill of rights, and how that model can inform and improve our local fights.
Show Notes:
- FDR's Economic Bill of Rights
- Kerri's website
- Donate to Kerri
UD History Department Chair Dr Alison Parker and State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton join Rob in the bunker to talk about the life of Mary Church Terrell: what her career said about American history in the late 1800s and early 1990s, and what her activism means for us today.
Show Notes:
- Unceasing Militant by Alison Parker
- University of Delaware Anti-Racism Initiative
After an update on the episode from last week, State Rep. John Kowalko joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his retirement, how progress is slowed in the state of Delaware, and some stories from his time in the general assembly.
Show Notes:
- Kowalko Retirement
- BlueWater Wind project
In the early morning hours of September 2nd, flood waters started rolling into the northside of Wilmington. Six months later, dozens of people are still displaced. Community advocate Stacey Henry joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her efforts to support affected families and the failure of the state and city government to respond effectively to this crisis.
Show Notes:
- Australia flooding
- First coverage of Wilmington flooding
- Most recent coverage of the flood recovery
Joe Connor joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his experiences in Delaware's criminal justice system, the inequities and broken processes that he saw, and then dives into his storied Delaware background.
Show Notes:
- Delaware State of State Corrections
- The Connections background
Writer Ben Burgis joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the legacy of Christopher Hitchens and his journey from a young Trotskyist to a defender of the Iraq War.
Show Notes:
- Christopher Hitchens: What He Got Right, How He Went Wrong, and Why He Still Matters
- Hitchens in Lebanon
- Ben's piece on the Supreme Court
Agricultural education coordinator for Bright Spot Farms Airiél Peoples joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her path from Denver to Delaware, the radicalism that can come from agriculture, and how she applies that lessons to working with Wilmington's youth.
Show Notes:
- Bright Spot Farms
- West End Neighborhood House
State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the retirement of John Kowalko, what is going on in Dover, how she balances electoral and legislative work, and handling ethics violation in the politics.
Show Notes:
- Donate to Madinah
- Kowalko's retirement
- New legal weed bill
Friend of the podcast Coby Owens joins Rob in the bunker to talk in-depth about the AG's report on the shooting of Lymond Moses, what it leaves out, and why a lawsuit is being filed. Heads up, this episode includes detailed descriptions of police violence, so be prepared before listening.
Show Notes:
- Attorney General's report on the Lymond Moses shooting
- Robert Tracy and Laquan McDonald
Red Clay School Board Member Adriana Bohm joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the good of Carney's new education plan for Wilmington, how Delaware schools have been handling the pandemic, and the bad of Carney's new education plan for Wilmington.
Show Notes:
- Wilmington Learning Collaborative
- Delaware school staffing shortages clash with quality education
The Jerkyville Soviet is back in session as Tye Grier joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the Darius Brown verdict and controversy, the role of leadership in dealing with ethics issues, and some upcoming collaboration between local groups.
Show Notes:
- Darius Brown trial verdict
- NAACP Press Conference
- Activist Office Hours
- Network Delaware
- Working Families Party
- State of the State
Food and Water Watch activist Greg Layton joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his work around environmental activism in Delaware, the problems with the planned biogas plant in Seaford, and what the organizing scene looks like in Sussex.
Show Notes:
- Canvass for Environmental Justice in Seaford
- Dana Case's essay in the call
- Food and Water Watch Delaware
- Delaware Call on the biogas plant
- Send a message to the governor
To Occupy Biden, you must first occupy yourself. Friends of the podcast Rae Krantz and Coby Owens join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the Occupy Biden event which occurred from Christmas to New Year, and how it ended unexpectedly on the bunker doorstep.
Show Notes:
- Occupy Biden Diary Entries
- News Journal coverage of Occupy Biden
- The day of
- Coverage of the Lymond Moses report
- Lymond Moses Rally
Delaware Call Editor Emeritus Jordan Howell joins Rob and Karl in the bunker to sum up the year by talking about media criticism, the effectiveness of confrontational organizing, and Twitter's new favorite movie Don't Look Up.
Show Notes:
- Read the Occupy Biden diaries on the Delaware Call
- Become a WFP member
- Learn more about Delaware WFP
- Delaware Call on Chris Coons and Tom Carper
Worlds are colliding and the Dr. Oz Senate Campaign has entered with the world of Delaware right-wing financiers. Join us this holiday season for some deep Delaware right-wing lore, from the think tank on the Hoopes Reservoir to a revisiting of Ben DuPont's alleged embarrassing fake twitter account.
Show Notes:
- The DuPont Dr. Oz Fundraiser
- Why Dr. Oz Is Running
- Intercollegiate Studies Institute
- The past Sarah Benedict Dugood episode
- yet2.com
HOMES Campaign activists Branden Fletcher and Shyanne Miller join Rob in the bunker to give an update on what the HOMES Campaign has been doing to stop the rising housing crisis in Wilmington, from water shut-offs to tenants' rights
Show Notes:
- HOMES Campaign
- HOMES Activists testifying on water shut-offs
- Conversation with Pascal Robert
- Tenants' Right to Counsel
- Delaware Call article on housing
- Branden's last episode, Shyanne's first episode, Last HOMES episode
James Johnson and Drew Palmer join Rob in the bunker to talk about the 2015 documentary "Welcome To Leith", which documented a white supremacist attempt to take over a small North Dakota town.
Show Notes:
- Welcome to Leith
- Coverage of the SB149 call
Writer and commentator Pascal Robert joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his class analysis of the black community, and how that applies both internationally, nationally, and locally.
Show Notes:
- Pascal's commentary in Newsweek
- This is Revolution podcast
ACLU Smart Justice Campaign Manager Haneef Salaam, Network Delaware organizer Tye Grier, and DelDems Vice Chair and NAACP activist Coby Owens joins Rob in the bunker to talk about all sorts of issues and gossip.
Show Notes:
- Theo Gregory story
- The new Darius Brown story
- The assault in Southbridge
- Join the Change Agent Journey
Author and academic Steve Paxton joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about what often gets misinterpreted about Marxist history and economics, how that relates to both history and the present, and of course a little bit about cricket.
Show Notes:
- Unlearning Marx
- FDR's 1912 Speech
- Fire in Babylon
UD Alum Lydia Cole joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the latest protests against sexual assault at the university, her personal story, and what demands need to be made to make sure that sexual assault is taken seriously on campus.
Show Notes:
- ABC6 story on UD's handling of these cases
- The latest sexual assault story from UD
Long-time activist and new-time candidate for State Representative Becca Cotto joins Rob in the bunker to talk about why she's running for office and what things she would change in Dover.
Show Notes:
- Becca's website
- Becca's Facebook
- Becca's campaign kickoff
Welcome to the Delaware Justice Team, a collaboration between Highlands Bunker, the Delaware ACLU, and the Delaware Call to talk about the work that is being doing around various civil liberties issues.
Today, Mary Beth Tinker and Susan L Burke join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about their historic defenses of civil liberties, from Mary Beth's student activism against the Vietnam War to Susan's defenses of the victims of the War on Terror.
Show Notes:
- Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5
- DOJ's attempt to silence protesters
- Mary Beth's work
- Support the Delaware ACLU
- Support the Delaware Call
Activists Lakeshia Nix, Keandra McDole, and Kira Savvy join Rob in the bunker to talk about how tragedy got them involved with the fight for justice against police violence, and what they are working on now.
Show Notes:
- More on Keandra
- More on Lakeshia
- Kira's website and instagram
- More on the state's restraining order
- Justice for All Day on November 13th
With a potentially transformative bill moving through Congress right now, Professor Harvey J Kaye joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about how FDR was able to create and frame his New Deal, and what the role of presidential and grassroots leadership is in passing a bold agenda.
Show Notes:
- The Fight for the Four Freedoms
- Where the Build Back Better agenda stands now
- Harvey J. Kaye State of Democracy Speaker Series
State Auditor Kathy McGuiness has been compromised (indicted) to a permanent end (up to 13 years). Join us on a journey through Kathy McGuiness's background, her crimes, and how this fits into the larger world of the Delaware Way.
Show Notes:
- Story on the indictment
- Exceptional Delaware on Kathy
- Kathy videos
- Pete Schwartzkopf's worst political ally
Delaware Call community editor Rae Krantz joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her journey to the left and Delaware, the difficulties of getting other people down that path, and what the Call has been and will be working on.
Show Notes:
- Rae on the Delaware Call
- More on the killing of Lymond Moses
Former city councilman, mayoral candidate, and long-time Wilmington activist joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his latest op-ed in the News Journal on how the city of Wilmington should spend American Rescue Plan funds, and what that means for an approach to governing that differs from what we have now.
Show Notes:
- Kevin's op-ed on how to spend federal funds
State Senator Marie Pinkney and Campaign for Smart Justice Manager Haneef Salaam join Rob and Tye in the bunker to talk about the 2021 legislative session from the inside, the state of criminal justice reform in Delaware, the updates on the Gerald Brady and Darius Brown cases, and a surprising op-ed in the News Journal.
Show Notes:
- Hunter S Thompson on 9/11
- The Ethics Committee statement
- Darius Brown and the HOPE Commission
- Gerald Brady letter
- Kevin Kelley's op-ed
- Lawsuit against protesters
Councilwoman Shané Darby joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how she ended up in the News Journal and Delaware Live, the role of police in society, and the problems of the Wilmington City Council. Then, activist Maria Beauchamp talks about what she has been working on in Puerto Rico and Wilmington.
Show Notes:
- The Invention of Police
- Shané in the News Journal
- Black Mothers in Power in Delaware Live
- LASD Gangs
- Black Mothers in Power
Journalist Andrew Sharp joins Rob in the bunker to talk about Delaware Independent, a new independent outlet covering western Sussex County and Kent County. Also discussed: the role of objectivity and bias in covering local stories and how the media should cover the police.
Show Notes:
- Subscribe to the Delaware Independent
- The Pit Stop bar story
- Noam Chomsky Interview
- Mike Purzycki Hates Poor People
- Boston Police Strike vs New York Police Strike
Welcome to the Delaware Justice Team, a collaboration between Highlands Bunker, the Delaware ACLU, and the Delaware Call to talk about the work that is being doing around various civil liberties issues.
Today, Charito Calvachi-Mateyko and Rony Baltazar-Lopez join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about various issues affecting the Latinx community in Delaware, from COVID to religion to voting rights to poultry worker unions, to talk radio.
Show Notes:
- Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4
- Rony's spotlight in the Call
- Support the Delaware ACLU
- Support the Delaware Call
Author, poet, and activist Phillip Bannowsky joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his background, from Ecuador to the Newark Chrysler Plant, what he has learned about activism, and his latest book: Jacobo the Turko.
Show Notes:
- Phillip's website
- Get Jacobo the Turko
- Ideology and Popular Protest
Fellow podcaster and American in Chile Natalie Smith joins Rob in the bunker to talk about Delaware's continuing neoliberalism, examine how Chile is in the midst of a movement to remove neoliberalism from its constitution, and dive into the behavior of online left media figures and what that means for the movement.
Show Notes:
- Superstructure Podcast
- Michael Brooks Impressions
- Constitutional Convention in Chile
Educator Michelle Classen joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her plans to start a radically democratic Sudbury School in Wilmington, how it differs from more typical forms of education, and the potential challenges of starting a new school like this.
Show Notes:
- Wilmington Sudbury School
Activists Yejoon Koh and Erika Guttierez join Rob in the bunker to talk about Gerald Brady's racist comments as Asian women, the Delaware American Asian Voice group, and what it takes to bring new activists into the movement.
Show Notes:
- The initial story on Brady
- An op-ed calling on Brady to resign
- Tom Carper on #StopAsianHate
After the previous ACLU episode, Mike Brickner sticks around a little bit more to talk about how the ACLU has evolved over time (if it has gotten too woke), and responds to sports updates in his native Ohio.
Show Notes:
- Main Episode
- Glenn Greenwald and Rob's tweets
- PDD Ice Cream Social
- Cleveland Guardians
Welcome to the Delaware Justice Team, a collaboration between Highlands Bunker, the Delaware ACLU, and the Delaware Call to talk about the work that is being doing around various civil liberties issues.
Today, Mike Brickner joins Rob in the bunker to give an update on what passed and what didn't pass in the past legislative session, and what ACLU priorities will be going forward.
Show Notes:
- Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3
- The Great Uprising episode
- Use of Force
- Opportunity Funding
- Automatic Voter Registration
- Clean Slate bills
In late June, a six-year old girl was found walking down the side of the Coastal Highway near Lewes, Delaware. While she was luckily unharmed, Alondra Fuentes's story shows how some of our day-to-day systems from education to policing are not treating everyone equally. Alondra's family and Erika Gutierrez join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about how that day went down, and how there has been no accountability since then.
Show Notes:
- The WRDE story on this incident
Former Delaware State News reporter and new public affairs manager at Planned Parenthood of Delaware Matt Bittle joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the past legislative session, disagreements with Republicans, and the role of nonprofits in our politics.
Show Notes:
- Full Mark Twain letter
- Matt's announcement
- Abolish the Senate
- Stephanie Bolden selling out her constituents
- Elon Musk in Wilmington
- Spiros Mantzavinos's LinkedIn
Tye, Rob, and Karl recap the 2021 legislative session, talking about the win and the many losses of the year, what they mean, and what needs to be done going forward.
Show Notes:
- News Journal session roundup
- Delaware Constitution Article VIII, 10a and 11a on raising taxes
- Why legal weed failed
History professor and Middle East expert Djene Bajalan joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about how the right distorts class politics, how racism and nationalism can be used to undermine universal programs, and then a bit about Turkish politics and the Kurds.
Show Notes:
- Professor Bajalan on The Majority Report
- Some of Professor Bajalan's previous writings on Turkey/The Kurds
- This is Revolution podcast
Welcome to the Delaware Justice Team, a collaboration between Highlands Bunker, the Delaware ACLU, and the Delaware Call to talk about the work that is being doing around various civil liberties issues.
Today, Claire Snyder-Hall and Dwayne Bensing join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the For the People Act, where the state legislature has succeeded and failed on voter registration and absentee voting, and what's happening with redistricting.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Poor People's Campaign call for a Third Reconstruction
- Claire's op-ed on the For the People Act
- Automatic voter registration bill
- Same-day voter registration bill
- Absentee voting constitutional amendment
- Common Cause Delaware
- ACLU-DE's Voting Rights Coalition
The government has said the pandemic is over, so the Bunker is back open. Jordyn Pusey, Kirsten Walther, the band Workstudy, and Jess Scarane all join Rob in the bunker to talk about a wide variety of topics from legal weed to Network Delaware to college labor practices.
Show Notes:
- John Carney's position on hazing
- Change Agent Journey
- Workstudy on Spotify
- Dem-A-Thon 2021
- FOIA Bill
- John Carney weed interview
Campaign to End Debtor's Prison co-coordinators Meryem Dede and Lynne Kielhorn join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the issue of fines and fees, how it affects Delaware, and how we can change them.
Show Notes:
- Campaign to End Debtor's Prison
- Our previous episode on fines and fees
- NCAJ Fines and Fees Index
- Brennan Center Study
- Task Force Letter
Tye, Karl, and Rob convene in the virtual bunker to talk through the Darius Brown situation, the latest BPG developments in Wilmington, Israel and Palestine, and what to expect for the rest of the 2021 legislative session.
Show Notes:
- The Darius Brown situation
- BPG's new hotel
- Riverfront East
- Ella Baker Black Organizers Group
The American Prospect executive editor David Dayen joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about Chris Coons, and how he is trying to use his influence in the Biden White House to protect corporate power around the world, and how the Biden administration can actually improve things.
Show Notes:
- NYTimes Article on Chris Coons
- Chris Coons Working to Install Business-Friendly Candidate for Key Patent Position
- Executive Action Tracker
- The government actually helping workers
Welcome to the Delaware Justice Team, a collaboration between Highlands Bunker, the Delaware ACLU, and the Delaware Call to talk about the work that is being doing around various civil liberties issues.
Today, Shannon Griffin and Melva Ware join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the recent education equity lawsuit, how education money should actually be spent, and dive into issues from school choice to standardized testing to SROs.
Show Notes:
- ACLU-DE Education Equity
- More on the education equity lawsuit
- Ten Dimensions of Education Resource Equity
- Black History Education bill
- Support the Delaware ACLU
- Support the Delaware Call
Former senate candidate Jess Scarane joins Rob, Tye, and Karl in the virtual bunker to talk about Delaware's minimum wage bill and the local effort to keep wages down and kick people off of unemployment.
Show Notes:
- Karl's minimum wage explainer
- Speaker Pete on the minimum wage
- Make calls for the minimum wage
- Knock doors for the minimum wage
- Our reading series this week
Freelance journalist Karl Baker joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his post-News Journal ventures, his recent articles about the new problems that Wilmington is facing, and the what that means about the broader model of economic change that we operate under.
Show Notes:
- Wilmington at a crossroads
- Port of Wilmington faces headwinds
Delaware CARES executive director Liz Richards and former family court judge Chandlee Kuhn joins Rob and Tye in the virtual bunker to talk about SB1, the new legislation which will bring Paid Family Leave to Delaware.
Show Notes:
- Delaware CARES website
- The actual legislation
- How to take action on Paid Family Leave
- More coverage on the bill
- Canvass / phonebank for the minimum wage bill
Author and historian David T. Dixon joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the life and times of August Willich, the German revolutionary and communist who later became a Union general in the American Civil War.
Show Notes:
- More about Radical Warrior
Welcome to the Delaware Justice Team, a collaboration between Highlands Bunker, the Delaware ACLU, and the Delaware Call to talk about the work that is being doing around various civil liberties issues.
Today, Haneef Salaam and John Reynolds join Rob and Tye in the virtual bunker to talk about police accountability, clean slate initiatives, and what the results of the Chauvin trial mean for Delaware.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Police Accountability Now
- Clean Slate Delaware
- We Still Can't Breathe March Against Police Brutality
- Support the Delaware ACLU
- Support the Delaware Call
Law Enforcement Accountability Taskforce Subcommittee member Crystal Womack joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the letter of no confidence that many members signed, and how it relates to Delaware's broader deference to law enforcement and endless taskforces.
Show Notes:
- Article from intro
- More information about the letter
- Campaign for Fair Policing
Delaware native and cannabis industry worker David Gobris joins Rob in the virtual bunker to preview the new legal weed bill in Delaware and what the experience of legalization in Colorado can teach us about what works and what doesn't work at promoting equity.
Show Notes:
- HB150 in Delaware
- Article that David mentioned
- More on Delaware cannabis LLCs
Delaware United activist Dustyn Thompson joins Rob in the virtual bunker to give an update on what Delaware's state legislature has been working on for the past three months from minimum wage to legal weed to gun bills. Plus, what hasn't happened, and what needs to happen going forward.
Show Notes:
- Delaware United updates
- More on the tax bracket vote
- The taskforce letter
PDD President and Elsmere resident Jordyn Pusey joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the trials and tribulations of local party politics. Then, we delve deep into the Delaware Way mind of Elsmere native Robert Lee Byrd and his memoir, Byrd of Legislative Hall.
Show Notes:
- Nevada Democratic Party article
- More on the RD13 debacle
- Byrd of Legislative Hall
A discussion on the killing of Lymond Moses, recorded after the video was released.
Show Notes:
- The released video of the shooting
Activist Jack Guerin, DE Coalition for Open Government director John Flaherty, and Delaware Liberal blogger Steve Tanzer join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the rampant corruption in Delaware government and how we can fight it.
Show Notes:
- FightDECorruption site
- Sign On
- Andria Bennett story
- Trey Paradee story
Network Delaware activist Kirsten Walther joins Rob and Tye in the bunker to talk about the upcoming Change Agent Journey program and how the uniqueness of Delaware can be used to build stronger organizations. Then, some controversy.
Show Notes:
- Sign up for Change Agent Journey
- More information about the program
- Fight DE Corruption
Central Delaware NAACP President Fleur McKendall and Network Delaware organizer Tyeisha Grier join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the role of religion and solidarity in organizing and the projects that Central Delaware NAACP is working on. We also dig more into Tye's background.
Show Notes:
- Central Delaware NAACP
Misty Seemans and Jon Offredo from the Office of Defense Services join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the efforts to reform the Law Enforcement Officer Bill of Rights, and what that reform could do to create a fairer justice system in Delaware.
Show Notes:
- The James MacColl case
- The Thomas Webster case
- Wilmington's Civilian Review board that was passed
Author and historian Richard White joins Rob in the virtual bunker to look back at Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, and how they relate (and don't relate) to today.
Show Notes:
- The Republic for Which It Stands
Local activist Monique Fegans joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the case of Simba, a 14-year-old local activist who was unjustly charged during a protest last September. This is a call to Attorney General Kathy Jennings to drop the charges against him.
Writer and Delaware native Paul Blest joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about Jeff Bezos and the Amazon union effort and the John Carney State of the State. Then, a history lesson about the quintessential 19th century Delaware man: John M Clayton.
Show Notes:
- Paul's article about Jeff Bezos
- Carney's State of the State
- John M Clayton and the Search for Order
Professor Harvey J Kaye joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the first days of the Biden presidency and how they compare to his promise of a FDR-Size Presidency vs a continuation of the Obama administration.
Show Notes:
- Speech from intro
- Original article about a FDR-sized presidency
- Let America be America Again
Former senate candidate Jess Scarane, organizer extraordinaire Tyeisha Grier, and Delaware Call editor Jordan Howell join Rob and Karl in the virtual bunker to talk about the upcoming plans for the Delaware Call and how they tie in to a broader movement in Delaware politics.
Show Notes:
- The Delaware Call
- Submit an article pitch
- Donate to the Call
Former senate candidate Jess Scarane, organizer extraordinaire Tyeisha Grier, and Delaware Call editor Jordan Howell join Rob and Karl in the virtual bunker to talk about Henry Ford, Delaware history, the GameStop situation, the history of markets, and some conflicting thoughts on the Biden inauguration.
Show Notes:
- Some history
- GameStop explainer
- Freedom From the Market
- Leo Strine's corporate governance paper
- The Republic for Which It Stands
Economist Nia Cola joins Rob in the virtual bunker to revisit Modern Monetary Theory, how it may affect the form that the new COVID relief package will take, and how MMT can be used in a more liberatory way.
Show Notes:
- Previous MMT episode
- Biden's COVID relief package
- Nia's YouTube channel
- Superstructure Podcast
- Money on the Left
Washington Post political report and most famous Delaware native Dave Weigel joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the inauguration of Delaware's second-most famous native, the insurrection at the capitol, and what to expect from a Biden administration.
Show Notes:
- The Trailer on the Capitol riots
- Rick Perlstein on the Nixon pardon
Delaware CAN President Zoë Patchell joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the effort to legalize cannabis in Delaware, why it's necessary, and what the obstacles are.
Show Notes:
- Delaware CAN
- Carl Sagan Mr. X essay
- 2019 legal marijuana bill
- Find your elected officials' contact info
DelawareLiberal blogger Steve Tanzer returns to the virtual bunker to talk about the latest elections as the result of the last several years of organizing, and what Delaware politics will look like going into the future, especially in the upcoming legislative session.
Show Notes:
- Steve's First Episode
- Mo' Better Democrats
- The Andria Bennett drama
State Senator Sarah McBride joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the priorities for the upcoming general assembly, their contesting theories of change, and the need to move beyond status quo policies.
Show Notes:
- Latest Sarah McBride profile in The Cut
- Obama's Lost Army
Wilmington and Puerto Rican activist Maria Beauchamp joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the rising left-wing political movement in Puerto Rico, and how it was partially inspired by Network Delaware.
Show Notes:
- Puerto Rico is Moving Left
- Latest Puerto Rican election results
- Erika's piece in the Delaware Call
Land Use General Manager Rich Hall and PDD President Jordyn Pusey join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about everyone's favorite topic: land use. Specifically, why a document that the county is putting together now might be one of the most important things you can get involved with.
Show Notes:
- Comprehensive Plan information
- Get involved with NCC2050
- Get a Planning 101 Certificate
Therapist and writer Phil Wilson joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his latest piece in Current Affairs, and the elements of American poverty that often get ignored, the major problems and gaps in our welfare system, and why couch surfing isn't as light-hearted as it sounds.
Show Notes:
- Couch Surfing the Waves of American Poverty
- The Rise of Suburban Poverty
Local writer, activist, and game designer Jacqueline Bryk joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about Lauren Witzke, the mindset of QAnon and the modern right-wing, and the inauthenticity of the right's new "save the children" angle. With some bonus Lauren Witzke tweet content at the end.
Show Notes:
- Hitler's Circle of Evil
- Jax's website
- Jax's Linktree
- Using your ego for good
Bert Moniz joins Rob in the virtual bunker for the 100th episode to talk about his journeys across the world, how he got into writing and the arts, and his connection with Rob and Highlands Bunker.
Show Notes:
- Operation, Maintenance and Repair of Glass-Lined Equipment
- Welding Skills
- Delaware Call
ACLU-DE Executive Director Mike Brickner joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his journey to the ACLU, Delaware's broken probation system and law enforcement, and the controversies that come with defending civil liberties.
Show Notes:
- ACLU calls for probation reform
- Kathy Jennings episode
- Cincinnati police reform
- New citizen police review board
State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton and activist Kirsten Walther join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about food and cooking, and the familial, cultural, and community aspects that make them so great. No politics today.
County Executive Matt Meyer joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the county's recent purchase of the Sheraton Hotel and how it will be used as an emergency homeless shelter.
Show Notes:
- Delaware's homeless shelter shortage
- Erik Raser-Schramm stepping down
- The Deficit Myth
- A winning website
Writer and TMBS Producer David Griscom joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the structural problems inour modern economy, and the need for
Show Notes:
- Amazon workplace injury issues
- California's Prop. 22
- Wilmington housing meeting situation
- Vienna's public housing
- Quick Takes with David Griscom
DelawareCAN and Teensharp founder Atnre Alleyne joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about how he got involved in education activism, the roles of charter schools in education reform, and the ethics of ratfucking.
Show Notes:
- DelawareCAN
- Teensharp
- Mike Matthews situation
- Sarah Fulton situation
Former Jess staffers Vasu Jayanthi and Tyeshia Grier, along with Kyle Evans Gay staffer Dylan Rosenthal join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the results of the 2020 election and it's effect on Delaware politics, the career of James Spadola, and an important announcement on Rob's future plans.
Show Notes:
- Delaware election results
- Karl's piece on Laura Sturgeon's and Madinah Wilson-Anton's campaigns
-
HugACop
- Hunter S Thompson Documentary
State Senate candidate Kyle Evans Gay joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about how her background affects her views of the criminal justice system, the importance of actually accomplishing things in Dover, and why she no longer supports Cathy Cloutier. But first, football.
Show Notes:
- Kyle's site
- Donate to Kyle
- First State FC
A group of former Jess Scarane organizers join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the new Delaware DSA, their experiences and lessons from the Scarane campaign, and the importance of organizing all the time.
Show Notes:
- Join Delaware DSA
- Rudy Giuliani
Teacher, non-profit president, and common-sense capitalist Frank Hanson joins Rob in the backyard bunker to talk about how he ended up in America from Ghana, his perspectives on capitalism and communism coming from an Africa, and why he ended up starting Guraba's Hands.
Show Notes:
- Guraba's Hands
- WilmU Spotlight on Frank
New Journal reporters Jeanne Kuang and Jerry Habraken join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the decline of the Quaker Village apartments, the general state of housing in Wilmington, and also football and food.
Show Notes:
- Reporting on Quaker Village
- Blight Bill update
- The Lost Jerry Habraken episode
RD8 Democratic nominee Sherae'a Moore joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about her election, what being an educator taught her about legislating, and what the future holds for the Delaware General Assembly.
Show Notes:
- Donate to Rae
- Learn more about Rae
Wilmington activist Coby Owens joins Rob in the backyard bunker to talk about losing primary campaigns, how progressives should respond to a potential Biden administration, and the health of our current president.
Show Notes:
- Support the BLOOC PAC
- McConnell vs Justice rally
It's a double header episode today. First, activist and former senate candidate Kerri Evelyn Harris joins Rob to talk about an event coming up on Saturday, and why it's so important to organize down in Kent and Sussex counties. Then, Dustyn Thompson joins to talk about the work that Delaware United is doing, and how we need to keep pushing through the general election.
Show Notes:
- 'Own Your Vote' Sussex Event
- The Social Dilemma movie
- Donate to Delaware United
- Volunteer for Delaware United
Local activist Monique Fegans joined Rob in the backyard bunker to talk about her journey to activism, the importance and experience of direct action, and the opportunities for direct action that will be available soon.
Show Notes:
- Monique's quote in the News Journal
- United Panther Movement
Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his campaign and where it fits into a left electoral strategy in 2020 and beyond
A round table of Jordyn Pusey, Kristin Bricker, Paul Blest, Karl the Producer, and Lovely Lacey join Rob in the virtual bunker to review the results of Delaware's September 15th Democratic Primary, and what they mean for the future of progressive legislation.
Show Notes:
- Election results
Delaware Law School librarian Janet Lindenmuth joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about some Delaware history fun facts. Then, historian and foreign policy expert Daniel Bessner joins Rob to talk about the rise of our current foreign policy consensus, and how it relates to the politics of Joe Biden and Chris Coons.
Show Notes:
- Delaware's segregation laws
- Delaware blue laws
- Daniel's book
- The False Promise of Liberal Order
- A Peoples' Policy for the Americas
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about why people don't trust the police, the criminal justice system in Delaware, and how change gets made in the system.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Call
British writer Alex Hess joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about how capitalism has ruined (non-American) football. Go Spurs.
Show Notes:
- How Capitalism Changed Football for the Worse
Canio Caputo and Jason Scott from Delaware Liberal join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the Biden/Harris fanfare in Delaware, whether or not it's important to vote for Biden here in Delaware, and what the implications are of a Biden presidency.
Show Notes:
- A sample of the previous podcast
- Nixon election interference
- What Putin did
- The Delaware Call
Student activist Vasu Jayanthi joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about her recent op-ed in the News Journal, and how young activists can change our government for the better.
Show Notes:
- Vasu's op-ed in the News Journal
- Volunteer for Jess
- Get an absentee ballot or check your status
Professor Harvey J Kaye joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about Marx and Gramsci, American radicals from Thomas Paine to A Phillip Randolph, and how these ideas, figures, and movements can inspire activism today.
Show Notes:
- Bill Clinton on Kwame Ture
- More on A Phillip Randolph and economic democracy
- New Deal descendants open letter to Joe Biden
Rob and Karl the Producer hold down the bunker this week, talking about the recent passing of left media figure Michael Brooks, the importance of compassion in organizing, and how the end of the world isn't quite what it seems.
Show Notes:
- Right-Wing Mandela
- Remembering Michael Brooks
State Representative candidate Madinah Wilson-Anton and UD Professor Victor Perez join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about what a Green New Deal for Delaware would look like on a policy level, a scientific level, a social level, and a political level.
Show Notes:
- Green New Deal for Delaware
- Dr. Perez's research on Rt 9 neighborhoods
- Property tax reassessment article
- Dealing with spotted lanternflies
- Donate to Madinah
- Volunteer for Madinah
School board candidate Sarah Fulton joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about her background in progressive activism, some of the racial issues in the school board, and what progressives should do when they lose a vote or an election.
Show Notes:
- The Panel Protests
- Sarah's site
- Article in question
- Result of the Red Clay SRO vote
- List of School Board election polling places
Journalist and activist Andray Domise joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the attempted corporate cooptation of the Black Lives Matter movement, the history of black radical movements, and the importance of a systemic analysis of racism.
Show Notes:
- Matt Taibbi review of White Fragility
- Mark Fisher's Capitalist Realism
- JP Morgan's Juneteenth celebration
- JP Morgan's actual history on slavery
- Michael Parenti yellow video
Former Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court Leo E Strine Jr joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the history and meaning of Delaware's Chancery Court, how he would change America's corporate governance, and how woke talk should be met with woke action.
Show Notes:
- Strine's paper on sustainable capitalism
Founder of Short Order Production House Zach Phillips joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his latest essay in technical.ly and how capitalism is the most poorly designed game in history.
Note: there is a minor echo in Zach's audio, tried to edit it down so it shouldn't be too bad
Show Notes:
- Remaking Murdertown Podcast
- Zach's essay in technical.ly
- Ellora Derenoncourt tweet on the Great Migration
- Challenge Program
We live in an age of statues and bus heroes, mass uprisings and fascists. General Secretary of the Delaware Antifa Chapter Kristin Bricker joins Rob and Karl in the backyard bunker to talk about some of the greatest figures and stories of these developments in Delaware.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Young Republicans post
- Kristin's Antifa credentials
- Petition to name Rodney Square after the hero juggalo
- Elmo's Antifa monologue
- The Dover police monument story
The organizers of this Saturday's March Towards Justice in Dover join Rob in the bunker to talk about how they got into organizing and what the march stands for.
March Towards Justice
Saturday, June 20th, 3:00-5:30pm
John Wesley AME Church, 217 West Division Street, Dover, DE 19904
RSVP here.
Professor/Author Peter B Levy and Professor Yasser Payne join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the latest protests in the relation to the 1960s uprisings: what has changed, what has stayed the same, and where do we go from here?
Show Notes:
- Professor Levy's Book, The Great Uprising
- Professor Payne's People's Report
- Professor Payne's last episode
People's Policy Project founder Matt Bruenig joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his latest paper on the Earned Income Tax Credit, and how shoddy statistics can help make mediocre policies look like panaceas.
Show Notes:
- Myths of the EITC paper
- Madinah's Plan for Working Families
- Family Fun Pack
News Journal reporter Karl Baker joins Rob in the virtual bunker in a content-packed episode where they talk about Karl's reporting on Coronavirus, the protest in Wilmington on Saturday, and Delaware's latest greatest public-private partnership. Subscribe to the News Journal.
Show Notes:
- Karl's coverage of the N95 mask shipments
- The Great Transit Hub Heist
Rob gives his experience from the protest in Wilmington on May 30th, and reflects on where these uprisings fit into the larger context.
News Journal health reporter Meredith Newman joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about her path to Delaware journalism, the experience of reporting on the Coronavirus crisis across the state, and what it's like to be able to talk one on one with John Carney. Subscribe to the News Journal.
Show Notes:
- News Journal Vaughn report
- Meredith's coverage of the beach protests
Author Nicole Aschoff joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the new power dynamics and economic conditions created by the rise of smartphones, big data, and tech giants.
Show Notes:
- Buy the book
32BJ SEIU Mid-Atlantic District Director Daisy Cruz joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about how the pandemic has been affecting low-wage workers and what demands the SEIU is making to ensure that all workers are safe and properly paid.
Show Notes:
- Daisy's op-ed
- Living wage calculator for New Castle County
Economist Andrew Cassey and local business owner Alex Sianni join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the practical effects of the pandemic-driven depression, and how the responses have been completely insufficient to the scale of the problem.
Show Notes:
- April jobs report
- CARES Act
- Profile on Alex and De La Coeur (written by podcast regular Jordan Howell)
News Journal education reporter Natalia Alamdari joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk to talk about education policy, the organizing of the Delaware News Guild, and her reporting on the Joe Biden case from a local angle.
Show Notes:
- Subscribe to the News Journal
- Follow the Delaware News Guild
- Natalia's reporting on Biden
- Tell Gannett to protect its local journalists
State Representative David Bentz joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his path from legislative aide to legislator, the benefits and downsides of incrementalism, and how state legislators are trying to respond to the Coronavirus crisis.
Show Notes:
- The Kowalko Episode
- Vote by Mail bill
- Latest update on Coronavirus in the prisons
- Bentz's insulin bill
- Coronavirus updates
Karl the Producer, Producer Emeritus Margaret Hu, and PDD President Jordyn Pusey join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the state of the national Democratic Party, the #MeToo movement, and some controversy in local labor politics.
Show Notes:
- Reading from intro
- AOC article
- Donate to local progressives
- Latest allegations against Joe Biden
- Jimmy's bad posts
- PDD's statement
Delaware Secretary of Labor Cerron Cade joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his journey into Delaware politics, the uses and problems of corporate welfare, and how the Department of Labor is responding to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Unemployment Info
- Fifty state strategy
- Donate $5 to Shahid Buttar
Housing activists Shyanne Miller and Ann Aviles join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the long-running issue of housing in Wilmington, and how the HOMES (Housing, Opportunity, Mobility, Equity, Stability) Campaign is trying to organize people to find solutions.
Show Notes:
- Previous housing episode with Shyanne
- Ann's op-ed on the blight bill
- HOMES Campaign FB
Jason Scott of Delaware Liberal joins Rob in the bunker to talk about some brief updates on the Coronavirus situation, some war stories of the Delaware Way, and why Rob has been cancelled again.
Show Notes:
- Stay updated on the Coronavirus
- Delaware Liberal
- The offending tweet
Former senate candidate and community organizer Kerri Evelyn Harris joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about their critiques of the Bernie campaign, the latest allegations against Joe Biden, and what the near-term future of progressive organizing should look like.
Show Notes:
- More on Leonard Peltier
- Katie Halper's interview with Tara Reade
- Kerri's new website
State Senator Anthony Delcollo joins Rob in the bunker to talk about their similar upbringings, their differing views on education funding, and what it means to be a Republican in the state of Delaware.
Music: Delaware is Burning - 2DCAT
Show Notes:
- Amazon corporate welfare info
- Legislature live-streaming bill
- National popular vote
- Some of the Delaware Republican scandals
Dana and Adam from Food Not Bombs Wilmington virtually join Rob in bunker to talk about the direct action they're taking to help the community during the Coronavirus crisis.
Show Notes:
- Contact Food Not Bombs: fnbwilmington@gmail.com
- Donate to Food Not Bombs
- Wilmington 1968 project
State senate candidate Marie Pinkney joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her background in social work, the basics of her state senate campaign, and the need to get actual ordinary people involved in politics.
Music: Delaware is Burning - 2DCAT
Show Notes:
- Marie's website
- Donate to Marie
- One of many things Marie's opponent did
Activist and Puerto Rico/Eastside resident Maria Beauchamp joins Rob in the bunker to talk about Puerto Rico, the corrupt figure that connects Puerto Rico and Delaware, and the deeper political ideology that also connects the two.
Music: Delaware is Burning - 2DCAT
Show Notes:
- Interview from San Juan
- Julia Keleher and her indictment
- Sarah Gamard's Delaware Way article
- Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana
Reproductive justice activist and local Ireland expert Nick Beard joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the latest Irish election, how the culture around abortion has changed in Ireland, and what the future holds here in America.
Music: Delaware is Burning - 2DCAT
Show Notes:
- Burned : The Inside Story of the 'Cash-for-Ash' Scandal
- Jacobin on Sinn Féin
- The case that set of Ireland's abortion referendum
- The Louisiana abortion Supreme Court case
ACLU lawyer and Department of Education whistleblower Dwayne Bensing joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his upbringing in Arkansas, how he became a whistleblower in the DeVos Department of Education, and the details of the ACLU education lawsuit against Delaware.
Music: Delaware is Burning - 2DCAT
Show Notes:
- Delaware News Guild
- Dwayne's whistleblowing story
- Updates on the ACLU education case
Former County Council candidate and current PDD president Jordyn Pusey joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her experience in the nitty-gritty of local politics, what PDD can work on in the future, and how Yahim is officially free!
Music: Delaware is Burning - 2DCAT
Show Notes:
- PDD website
- Amazon warehouse
- More information on Yahim
The bunker heads to Wilmington Brew Works to attend Coby Owens's birthday fundraiser and talk to WFP Pennsylvania Organizing Director Nicholas O'Rourke, Philadelphia At-Large Councilwoman Kendra Brooks, potential Wilmington resident Josh Whittaker, and State Representative candidate Larry Lambert.
Show Notes:
- Donate to Coby
- Donate to Larry
- More about Kendra and Nicholas
- More about the Amazon debacle
US Senate candidate Jessica Scarane joins Rob in the bunker to talk about why she is running against Chris Coons, the base values that we should have as a society, and why we probably shouldn't let billionaires run everything.
Show Notes:
- Jess's Website
- Donate to Jess
- Make sure you're a registered Democrat
Another double header episode. First, D Marque Hall and Ryan Nowaczyk join Rob to talk about the Fines and Fees bill and the movement to decriminalize poverty. Then, state senate candidate Kyra Hoffner joins Rob to talk about why she's running for office against a long-time incumbent.
Show Notes:
- Network Delaware Fines and Fees campaign
- Senate Bill 39
- The rest of the audio from part 1
- Kyra Hoffner's site
- Donate to Kyra
Dr Yasser Payne joins Rob in the bunker to talk about Participatory Action Research, and how he has been using it on the streets of Wilmington to push for
Show Notes:
- WEB DuBois's Philadelphia Negro
- Cuban Literacy Brigade
- The People's Report Mixtape
- Dr Payne's TEDx Talk
- Faces at the Bottom of the Well
- The People's Report
County Executive Matt Meyer joins Rob in the bunker to talk about to talk about housing and homelessness, the challenges of running against an incumbent, and some of the controversy around the Delaware Board of Trade.
Show Notes:
- Matt Meyer's campaign site
- Some background on the DBOT
- Info on Meyer being sued
For our 52nd episode, Wilmington Metropolitan Urban League president and former mayoral candidate Eugene Young joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about his background, the lessons everyone needs to learn, and the difficulties of Delaware politics.
Show Notes:
- Black Jacobins
- Network Delaware
- Revolutions Podcast
Come rally for Justice for Yahim
February 2nd - 3:00pm
Pete's Pizza - 2625 N Market St, Wilmington, DE
Show Notes:
- Background on Yahim's case
- Previous episode talking about the case
Local gonzo journalist and podcast host Rob Vanella joins Karl in the bunker to talk about his background in Wilmington, the experience of being a leftist working in the banking industry, and how he got involved in local progressive politics.
Show Notes
- The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved
State House candidate Stephanie Barry joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about Three Little Bakers, the various ways in which Mike Ramone uses his office for his personal agenda, and what the Delaware GOP actually stands for.
Show Notes:
- Elect Stephanie Barry
- Donate Stephanie Barry
Now that the conflict with Iran has died down a bit, Karl the Producer and RE Vanella look back at Soleimani, the US's relation with Iran, and the broader military industrial complex and how we got to this point.
Show Notes:
- 2013 article on Soleimani
- Iran Flight 655
- Gen. McChrystal video
Wilmington Firefighters Association union president Joseph Leonetti Jr. joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about the firefighters' negotiations with the city of Wilmington and friend of the podcast Mike Purzycki, and their efforts to fight back against local austerity.
Show Notes:
- Overview of the issues being negotiated
- Latest update on the Gilpin Fire Station
- IAFF Local 1590 FB Page
Network Delaware organizer Branden Fletcher joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about his work in the Rt 9 corridor, the shooting of Yahim Harris, and why it is important to elect Bernie Sanders president.
Show Notes:
- Petition with more info on Yahim Harris
- Help out with Network Delaware
- Donate to Bernard
On New Years Eve 2019, RE Vanella looks forward at the year ahead and talks about how you can write letters to Chelsea Manning, one of America's most prominent political prisoners.
Show Notes:
- Letter-writing steps
- Background on Chelsea Manning
A group of organizers, gathered by Erika Gutierrez, join RE Vanella in the bunker to highlight some of the non-electoral organizing that is going on across the state, from student art to helping the homeless.
Show Notes:
- The new Route 9 credit union
- Fouryouth Productions (website in process)
- Fouryouth Productions FB
- Hope for Humanity Instagram
On the night of the Labour loss in Britain, RE Vanella and Karl the Producer try to talk about anything else: including a new poll that shows Chris Coons in trouble, the Afghanistan papers and the military industrial complex, and an update on some local campaigns.
Show Notes:
- The Chris Coons poll
- Ro Khanna on the defense budget
- Stanley McChrystal in Wilmington
- John Bercow on Jeremy Corbyn
Freelance writer and former Splinter news editor Paul Blest joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about the GOP's favorite Democrat, how the news frames political issues to favor the center, and what the future has in store for progressive candidates and progressive media.
Show Notes:
- Jess interview on WDEL
- Paul's piece on Jess
- Full Chomsky interview
- Chris Coons sympathizes with Kavanaugh pt 1
- Chris Coons sympathizes with Kavanaugh pt 2
- Paul's coverage of Coons' "discord" comments
Author and Current Affairs editor Nathan J Robinson joins RE Vanella from New Orleans to talk about definitions of socialism, what actual socialist institutions look like, and his experience in building a left-wing media publication in Current Affairs.
Show Notes:
- How to Build Socialist Institutions essay
- Buy the book
- Ownership & Control Essay
- Nathan J Robinson memoir
- Q&A With a Conservative Student
- Nathan's debate column
Super-producer emeritus Margaret Hu rejoins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about her experience as a child of immigrants, how she ended up in Delaware activism, and how the city of Wilmington comes across to a newcomer.
Community organizer and city council candidate Shané Darby joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about her experiences in community organizing, depression, and the lessons we can learn from African history and Caribbean solidarity.
Show Notes:
- Shané's city council website
- Donate to Shané
RE Vanella heads to Jessica Scarane for Senate HQ on launch day to talk with the campaign team, the volunteers, and the candidate herself. All of the organizing we've been talking about for the last year, all the infrastructure that is being built up, this is what it looks like in action.
Show Notes:
- Jess's Website
- Donate to Jess
- Volunteer for Jess
State Representative Paul Baumbach joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about how he got into politics, some of the issues that he has worked on in his career in Dover, and the parts of Delaware politics that need to change.
Senator Chris Coons (D-Highlands) believes that Americans shouldn't protest in certain ways. Professor Harvey J Kaye joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about the proud American tradition of radicalism, and why real change will mean not playing by the rules that people like Coons put in place.
Show Notes:
- Chris Coons getting angry about booing
- Buy the book
News Journal reporter Karl Baker and returning champion Jordan Howell join RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about the shady practices of Delaware corporations, how this connects to Rudy Giuliani and his goons, and some of the funny LLC names registered in Delaware.
Show Notes:
- Subscribe to the News Journal
A show update about the work Rob has been doing outside the bunker, new artwork and content, an update on Lula, and how you can donate just a bit of money to make hundreds of Highlands residents very angry.
Show Notes:
Rob on Jakim Mohammad's Show
We have a double header! First, state rep candidate Larry Lambert joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about his race and roots in the 7th district. Then, Alexandra Rojas, director of Justice Democrats, joins to talk about her background in activism and how Justice Democrats got started.
Show Notes:
- More info on Larry
- Donate to Larry
- More info on Justice Democrats
Karl the producer joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about his research into poverty in the suburbs, and how it has been affecting Delaware specifically. An episode for the wonks.
Show Notes:
- Karl's thread on suburban poverty in Delaware
- Karl's essay on nationwide suburban poverty
- Carbon emissions map
- Ferguson fines and fees
It's a debate episode! Fellow content producer Sam Barry joins RE Vanella in the bunker, moderated by returning champion Coby Owens, to talk about social media, leftist organizing, and the correct way to go about making change in Delaware.
Show Notes:
- The tweet that caused all this
- Whip Count podcast
- Donate to Stephanie Barry
State representative candidate Madinah Wilson-Anton joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about her experiences with the Delaware Way down in Dover, the full story behind a stump speech line, and whether or not Rob is the anti-christ.
Show Notes:
- Donate to Madinah
- Volunteer for Madinah
- Learn more about Madinah
The bunker heads to Market St to record a multi-part episode from the third Democratic debate. Guests include activist Coby Owens, DWFI chair Debbie Silverman, new city councilman Chris Johnson, some kids from UD that interview Rob, Wilmington non-resident Josh Whittaker, and a Trump supporter named John.
Author of 'Capital City' Samuel Stein and local housing activist Shyanne Miller join RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about the history of planning, the rise of gentrification, and how this ties in with the blight bill bring put forth in Wilmington.
Show Notes:
- Buy the book
- A brief explainer of the blight bill (subscribe to the newspaper)
Activist Kirsten Walther joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about coasters, how power gets built, an anti-labor letter to the editor that never actually gets read, and the possibility that there are several Jeffrey Epsteins still out there.
Show Notes:
- The briefly mentioned letter to the editor
- Network Delaware events
Activist and former state representative candidate Jakim Mohammad joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about how his experiences in New York shaped the way he thinks, Delaware’s Scott Walker, and some hyperlocal issues going on in Wilmington and how they connect to a larger picture.
Show Notes:
- Shooting an Elephant Analysis
- Shooting an Elephant Text
- Jakim Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Ashley SK Davis of Pieces of a Dream joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about how she got into dance, what the role of art is in expanding peoples' political consciousness, and how racism is a bit like having bad breath.
Show Notes:
- Pieces of a Dream Website
Reporters Jeanne Kuang and Lex Wilson join RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about the crazy world of property taxes in Delaware, and what sorts of things happen when the state refuses to do its job for over forty years.
Show Notes:
- Main story, describing the issue
- Specifically about Wilmington
- Politicians’ inaction
- A calculator tool that allows you to figure out where you stand relative to others
Former state rep candidate Don Allan joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about his new organization, We Are Sussex, the lessons he learned about changing the Democratic brand down south, and how much water it takes to clean a chicken.
Show Notes:
- We Are Sussex FB page
Michael Kalmbach of the Creative Vision Factory joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about his work with the CVF, the politics of the Delaware art world, and the basic things that our system gets wrong about recovery. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Part 1 was released yesterday, check it out here.
Show Notes:
- Shipley Lofts
- Creative Vision Factory
- The full Toni Morrison essay
Michael Kalmbach of the Creative Vision Factory joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about how he ended up in the Wilmington art scene, his observations and personal struggles with the opioid crisis, and the need to find some positivity in an otherwise bleak world.
This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Part 2 will be released on Saturday, so make sure to keep an eye out.
Show Notes:
- Shipley Lofts
- Creative Vision Factory
- The full Toni Morrison essay
Activist, and Delaware's better Marianne Williamson, Erika Gutierrez joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about her work for Network Delaware and DelawareCAN, the need for more organizing among the Latinx communities in Delaware, and how she gained her positive aura.
Show Notes:
- Erika being interviewed about Network Delaware (spanish)
- First and last op-ed about the parade in Middletown
- Safe Communities FB page
- DelawareCAN launches first website in Spanish to help the Spanish speaking community to walk the school choice process and provide information on school differences and distribution on districts
- DelawareCAN Youth Advocacy Network
- DelawareCAN Mobilizing Our Voices for Education
A few bunker updates as well as the first ever Skype interview from the bunker. Maria Beauchamp calls in from the massive strike in Puerto Rico just hours before the governor resigned. The audio is a bit rough for the first section, but it gets easier to hear later on.
Show Notes:
- New RSS feed
- Adding an RSS feed to your podcast app
Working Families Party activist Vanessa Clifford joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about what Working Families Party is, some of her experiences organizing in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and a new progressive group that is forming here in Delaware.
Show Notes:
- Working Families Party
- Nicolas O'Rourke and Kendra Brooks
Some food recommendations for those visiting Downtown Wilmington*.
*this post is sponsored by Mayor Purzycki's office
Chris Johnson joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about some of the latest police violence controversies, what he's working on, and what the future of criminal justice looks like in the state of Delaware.
Show Notes:
- Background on Elmer Daniels
- Delaware Smart Justice Coalition
Dustyn Thompson of Delaware United joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about the work he's been doing down at Legislative Hall and how the 2019 legislative session fared for issues like marijuana legalization and criminal justice reform.
Show Notes:
- Switching to renewable power
- Delaware United Facebook / Twitter
- Sarah McBride interview
Becca Cotto from YWCA Delaware and returning champion Coby Owens join RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about Juneteenth, white privilege, and the continuing effects of racism in America. And then after about forty-five minutes things go off the rails.
Show Notes:
- Delaware Racial Justice Collaborative
Fresh off of phone banking for Tiffany Cabán, Coby Owens and Action Anderson take control of the bunker for the first-ever non-RE Vanella hosted episode of Highlands Bunker. This episode is about the progressive movement: where it is nationwide, where it is in Delaware, and what it needs to be in the future.
News Journal reporter Adam Duvernay and freelance journalist/adjunct professor Jordan Howelljoin RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about their Delaware stories, from convincing kids that birds don't exist to reporting on a murder in Sussex County.
Show Notes:
- Jordan's piece on the 1968 riots
- Karl's piece on the suburbs
- One of Adam's pieces on the murder in Sussex
Karl the producer joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about some of the disingenuous attempts to stop the minimum wage increase as well as their field trip down to DC to see Bernie Sanders speak about democratic socialism.
Show Notes:
- Report on minimum wage increase
- Non-profits minimum wage op-ed
- The full Sanders speech
Delaware State News Reporter Matthew Bittle joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about the many accomplishments of the Delaware state legislature, what the best path going forward for the left is in Dover, and what a wonderful guy Senator Dave Lawson is. Don’t we just love Dave Lawson.
Follow Matthew Bittle at @MatthewCBittle
Former News Journal Reporter and WDEL broadcaster Al Mascitti joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about Bernie and Biden, America's Boomer problem, and whether or not Delaware is really moving to the left.
Activists Stephanie Herron and Maria Beauchamp join RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about Puerto Rico, Southbridge, the plastic bag ban, and how we all have the responsibility to take both personal and collective action to change the world.
Books Referenced:
- The Uninhabitable Earth
- The Color of Law
- Dumping in Dixie
Links:
- Environmental Justice for Delaware Report
- Fencelines
Highlands native Sarah McBride joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about some of her experiences in progressive activism as well as the different strategies that are needed, or perhaps not needed, when creating change.
Rebel John Kowalko joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about his experiences as a Delaware State Representative, and his personal experiences with the ins and outs of the Delaware Way. Names are named and a good time is had all around.
Former campaign manager for Eugene Young/Kerri Evelyn Harris and Network Delaware activist Drew Serres joins RE Vanella in the bunker (back in February) to talk about how he got into activism, how other people can get involved in changing their communities, and what the future of progressivism in Delaware looks like.
Megan Hart of Network Delaware joins RE Vanella to talk about the politics of Sussex County and how to organize in a place that seems beyond saving.
News Journal opinion editor Matt Albright joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about ad hominem attacks and the Delaware Way. Also, a reading of "A Clinton-era centrist Democrat explains why it’s time to give democratic socialists a chance” from Vox.
Eric Morrison of Delaware United joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about the Delaware General Assembly’s lack of progressive accomplishments and how to change that. Plus: will he make an announcement? Listen to the end to find out.
Karl the Producer joins RE Vanella in a brand new bunker to talk about Joe Biden. The newest allegations against him, the weird obsession with defending him, and the broken Delaware politics that created him.
Jason Melrath of bluedelaware.com joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about Bernie Sanders, the 2020 primaries, and Joseph Robinette Biden IV.
Kerri Evelyn Harris joins RE Vanella and super-producer Margaret to talk about a recent visit to LBR's office to advocate for Medicare for All, as well as how you can help get involved in making change in our federal and local government.
info@kerrievelynharris.com
Economist Andrew Cassey joins RE Vanella to talk about Modern Monetary Theory, a new old idea which is overturning decades of both Republican and centrist Democratic talking points. A nerdy, but important, listen.
Chris Johnson joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about the the state of criminal justice in Delaware, police-run states, and whether or not prosecutors are bad.
Kirsten, Kristin, and Stephanie join RE Vanella through an inebriated escapade through a series of topics, including Davos, Mike Purzycki, the Zapatistas and the Kurds, Puerto Rico, and DC statehood. Pray for the editor.
Josh Whittaker and Coby Owens join RE Vanella in the bunker to read through the latest News Journal op-ed on the unfair treatment of Mayor Mike Purzycki and comment on the "Wilmington Renaissance." A love letter to Wilmington, not so much to Mayor Purzycki.
Read the op-ed here: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/opinion/contributors/2019/02/22/opinion-stop-throwing-stones-wilmingtons-renaissance/2949287002/
Kerri Evelyn Harris joins RE Vanella to talk about John Carney, small business owners, her campaign for senate, and the need to hold our politicians accountable.
Josh Whittaker joins RE Vanella to talk about their blood feud, Delaware United, the Don Allan campaign and what it means for the future of Sussex progressives. And the illustrious career of Governor John Carney.
Now that the second round of trials have begun, Xerxes Wilson of the News Journal joins RE Vanella to talk about the first round of Vaughn Prison Riot trials, criminal justice in Delaware, and the illustrious career of Governor John Carney.
LANRUOJ SWEN EHT OT EBIRCSBUS