The Ruthless Truth: Recent Episodes
The Ruthless Truth
We are a semi-weekly radio show focused on discussing issues that affect our communities including politics, culture, the economy, our health, and all the issues that affects the daily lives of working people. We hope that through these difficult conversations, we can identify the root causes of these issues and increase our understanding as a community.
Join Ira in an interview with Dr. Sharon Jefferson about the origins of Juneteenth and what it means to celebrate it today at a time of unprecedented attacks against Black voter rights.
Dr. Jefferson has been a history teacher and educator with Manatee County School system for over 27 years. She is also the founder of the Rosalind Walton Education and Enrichment Services, Inc., also known as RECESS Education, a non-profit established in 2016.
Ruth and Ira dive into the radical history of pride, the harms of pikwashing and what it means to be in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people in opressed nations, such as Palestine.
Check out our Instagram @theruthlesstruthradio or @psltampabay for deatils on upcoming Pride events.
Join Ira in an interview with Nadia Askar, an organizer with the Fightback FIBA campaign. They discuss how Hillsborough County residents are trying to stop local funds from being invested into Israeli companies that directly contribute to the genocide in Palestine.
Join Ruth and Leo today for a deepdive over the leaked audios uncovered in "Hondurasgate", showing a conspirary from the US and Israel with alleged drug-trafficker former President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez against the socialist movements in Latin America.
We also speak about the sad loss of our friend, community organizer, father, and husband Andrew Joseph Jr, who left us on May 16, 2026. Support his family during this hard time at https://andrewjosephfoundation.com/
Join Ira and Ruth as they discuss the historic May Day, when hundreds of thousands around the country stopped working and took to the streets to protest against wars and deportations.
Welcome back Ali! He and Ira recap everything that's unfolded in the War on Iran war this past month!! Also, we learn why the workers movement MUST be an anti-war movement!!! It's an important time to catch up as we head into the May Day General Strike, No Work! No School! No Shopping! And as always, see you in the streets!
Join Ira and special guest and environmentalist Peyton talk about how and why the US military is the biggest contributor to climate change in the world, and envision how a world without endless war could look like!
You can join the screening of the award-winning documentary "Earth's Greatest Enemy" to learn more about this topic at Sunray Cinemas this Thursday April 23 at 7:15 PM.
Get your tickets here: https://www.sunraycinema.com/movie/earths-greatest-enemy
Join Ira and special guest Mathilde as they discuss the most recent no Kings Day protest in Sarasota! Find out what's on local residence's minds and why the fight must continue! Also learn about the history of May Day with a special exclusive clip from the Psl action network featuring Karina Garcia.
No Kings day protest were a tremendous success in showing that the working class does not approve of the Trump agenda, but now is the time for us to take that energy into May Day with a general strike to show the ruling class who really makes the world run!
Join Ruth interviewing Ira about their experience with the historic Nuestra America convoy: a group of hundreds of organizers, activists, artists and influencers that defied the US blockade on the island. Tons of pounds of critical medical aid was delivered to hospitals, exposing the cruelty of the US empire and strengthening the links of solidarity with the Cuban people.
In this special episode, Ira and Leo speak with Cuban diplomats David Ramírez Álvarez and Adrián Heredia Machado about Cuba's ongoing struggle under the United States–imposed blockade. For the past 64 years, the United States has imposed an economic, commercial, and financial embargo on Cuba that prevents most trade with the United States and punishes other countries that engage with Cuba. In recent weeks, policies under Donald Trump have intensified the crisis, including an inhumane fuel blockade that inflicts daily hardships and deprivations on the Cuban people, creating shortages of basic necessities. Davis and Adrián told us about the resilience and inventiveness of the Cuban people in the face of these conditions. The episode also highlights the growing solidarity movement in the United States, as hundreds of young organizers embark on the Nuestra América Convoy to Cuba, delivering urgently needed aid in defiance of the blockade. Our very own co-host, Ira, will be joining them later this week, so be sure to tune in again to hear the interviews and statements Ira gathers on the ground, bringing first-hand accounts of solidarity, resistance, and the realities facing the Cuban people today.
From across the U.S., a clear message is being raised: Let Cuba Live!!!
Join Ruth and Ira today as we talk about the challenges of doing activism as a person of color in America. Age, Race, Class, and Sex: An Essay by Audre Lorde
Join Ira and Ruth today as we keep diving on the US latest war for oil: Iran. Learn about how our community is opposing it on the streets and how you can fight back against this illegal war.
Join Ira and Alan today as we wrap up Black History Month with a special episode about the importance of education around black history, self-determination and how black revolutionaries organized Strikes.
Join Sarah, Ira and special guest Ali Abdel-Qader as we discuss the recent protest in Iran, whos behind them and what the Trump administration's future plan is for the region.
Join Ira and Sarah today as we go over our local, state and international news through a people's perspective.
Today, join Ruth and Ira for very special interview from a Minneapolis resident and activist. ICE may be retrieving a Minneapolis, but the lessons learned there will need to be applied across the country, especially as they lock in on their next target.
Today Ruth and Ira join us to discuss another brutal murder by ICE: Alex Pretti. We will talk about his public execution, the cover-up that took place by ICE and how his death sparked a movement for a National Shutdown on January 30.
Join Ruth and Ira as we cover the murder of Renee Nicole Good: a wife, mother of three, and Legal Observer who was shot by ICE in cold blood.
We will talk about how Renee's killing sparked a national movement against the state repression terrorizing our neighborhoods, and the ongoing fight to convict her murderer, Jonathan Ross.
Ruth and Ira join us this week to debunk the narratives pushed by U.S. mainstream media, designed to manufacture consent for President Trump's military aggression toward Venezuela. They walk us through key moments in Venezuelan history, the socialist revolution and its long resistance to U.S. intervention, underscoring how these struggles connect to the broader fight of working people around the world.
Reminding our listeners that the assault on Venezuela, is not an isolated policy choice. It reflects a centuries-long pattern of U.S. imperialism and economic exploitation, a pattern that ultimately serves a single purpose: protecting U.S. corporate interests and maintaining global capitalist dominance.
Join Ruth and Ira for an interview with Palestinian advocate Zeyad Kadur, uncle of Mohammed Ibrahim.
Mohammed is a Florida teenager who was just released after 9 agonizing months in Israeli Prison. Zeyad will tell us about the traumatizing story of his kidnapping by the Israeli Ocupation Forces and the inspiring movement that fought back to Free Mohammed.
Join Matthew and Ira for an interview with Sheridan Murphy from the American Indian Movement (AIM). On a day that reminds every Native person about the horrors committed for colonialism; we will talk about the origins of "Thanksgiving", Alligator Alcatraz, Indian history, Leonard Peltier and more.
Join Ira and Matthew to discuss how food insecurity and malnutrition shape the lives of millions. As the Thanksgiving feast approaches, it becomes impossible to ignore how many families are preparing for an empty table. Hunger is not abstract. It is a mother stretching groceries, a worker skipping meals, a family choosing between heat and dinner. This is the truth we refuse to look away from: We're all only three meals away from crisis.
Join our hosts Jack and Matthew to discuss the history of General Strikes in the United States and specifically the history of strikes in Florida.
After the No Kings Protest people showed that they are ready to fight back, calling for a General Strike against Trump and the Billionare class. Learn with us the history of the labor movement so you can talk to your friends, family and co-workers about why we need a General Strike!
Join Sarah and Matthew this week for a discussion on the recent defunding of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), the program that helps feed 41 million Americans who can barely afford to live.
We will discuss how the program works, who uses it and debunk the myths around it.
Ruth and Anoosh join us this week to interview Joy Metzler from Veterans for Peace and James from Veterans Against the Machine to discuss their journey from being members of the war machine to becoming activists against the Gaza Genocide.
Matthew and Firas join us this week to discuss Black August past and present.
If you would like to contribute to Maria Lulu's fundraiser click here.
Sarah and Jack join us this week to discuss education reform in Florida and trends across the nation.
If you would like to contribute to Maria Lulu's fundraiser click here.
Sarah joins us this week to talk about the latest updates on the Everglades Concentration Camp, Sayfollah Musallet and the Texas floodings that left 134 deaths. Finally, we listen to Brian Becker and Richard Wolff dive into the latest decision by the Supreme Court that enables Trump to fire tens of thousands of federal workers, putting many working-class families at risk.
🚨 AID REQUEST🚨 Help Maria's family get her home! Maria is a 22 year old from Sarasota County who was taken by ICE, despite her being a valued member of her community who presents no danger to society. She is currently awaiting her hearing in Texas. Her family needs help covering various fees and expenses related to their fight against her wrongful deportation! Go to: bit.ly/4k4eCdL (case sensitive)
This week our host Jack joins us to discuss updates about "Alligator Alcatraz" and Benjamin Netanyahu's latest visit to the White House. After that we share a section from the podcast Freedom Side Live! where they discuss the devastating impacts of the "Big Beautiful Bill".
Jack joins us this week to give us some updates on the new Trump's inhumane immigrant prison camp named "Alligator Alcatraz", the "Big Beautiful Bill" and Trump's latest aid package to the IDF. To dive deeper into the war on Iran and recent ceasefire we listen to The Socialist Program's interview with Professor Mohammad Marandi, an expert on American studies who teaches at the University of Tehran.
Anoosh joins us this week to interview Jay, a local activist from Dream Defenders. They discuss the experience of living in today's America being black and trans, and how to fight back against hatred through joy. Additionally, Sarah updates us on Trump's Iran Attacks and how to fight back against this new imperialist war.
Jack, Sarah and Matthew join us this week to discuss the origins, local roots and meaning behind Juneteenth as America's most relevant holiday.
We also discuss the news around local and national pro-Immigration protests, Israel's continued genocide in Gaza as well as indiscriminate attack against Iran and updates regarding the case of Maria “Lulu” Martinez, the young Tampa woman kidnapped by I.C.E.
Alan gives accounts of LGBTQIA+ suppression and Queer Resistance in honor of Pride Month this week.
V joins Ira this week to discuss a pinkwashing and a growing rift in Pride representation.
Helen Beck and Mateo join Ruth this week to discuss 'the Big Beautiful Bill' and its impact on health care access to the differently-abled.
Jason Scott, Anoosh, and Mateo join Ruth this week to discuss the Dump Duke Energy campaign.
Sarah and Anoosh join Ira this week to discuss changes to the Citizen's Petition process and the May Day Protest in Ybor City.
Ruth and Anoosh join us this week to discuss the meaning behind May Day as an important date for workers rights and the inhumane deportation case of Heydi Sanchez Tejeda.
Ira and Alan join us this week to discuss the ban on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) by the Trump Administration. We talk about DEI's history, how it relates to Affirmative Action, and the effects of its complete eradication.
Finally, we close with a few speeches and interviews from Black revolutionaries to celebrate the past Black History Month: Angela Davis, Assata Shakur, and Fred Hampton.
This week, we decided to air an episode of The Socialist Program. Ruth introduces us to a conversation between Brian Becker and professor Richard Wolff where they discuss the decline in the economy, the increase in the cost of basic goods, the major downward shift in the European economies, and the impact of Trump's tarriffs on U.S. workers.
Ira introduces us to the full audio from Say Their Names event on Feb 22 in Sarasota. We hear speeches from local activists and mothers of victims of police brutality. The speakers include Ruth Beltran, Ira, Tracey Washington, Franki, Lisa Keys, Natasha Clemons, Deanna Joseph, Mona Hardin, Karen Wells, Selwyn Jones, and more.
Ali introduces a few speeches from local organizers during a February 9 demonstration against Trump's anti-immigrant agenda in Sarasota, FL.
Ruth, Ira, and Firas sit down with Junior Salazar, a local activist, to discuss the recent threats on our immigrant communities and what we can do to fight back.
Upcoming Events:
Immigration Rights March @ Five Points Park Sunday February 9 from 12pm - 4pm
Ruth sits down with Deanna Joseph of the Andrew Joseph Foundation to discuss the story of her son, Andrew Joseph.
You can find more information about the Andrew Joseph Foundation at https://andrewjosephfoundation.com
Upcoming Events:
Tuesday 2/4: Organizing for Justice: Learn From Families and Survivors of Police Crimes C Blythe Andrews Library 2607 E Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tampa, 33610
Thursday 2/6: Sound of Justice: Ending Qualified Immunity Through Music The Crowbar 1812 N 17th St Tampa, 33605
Friday 2/7: Through Their Eyes: A Candlelight Vigil Honoring Stolen Lives Covenant Catalytic Church 6212 N 47th St Tampa, FL 33610
Saturday 2/8: Masquerade Gala: Remove the Mask that Shields Immunity, Racism, and Prejudice Brandon Veterans #39; Post and Park Association, Inc. 115 W. Clay Ave. Brandon, FL 33510
Ruth introduces a few speeches from local organizers during our January 19 demonstration against Trump's right wing agenda in St. Petersburg, FL.
Ira joins Ruth again this week to cover the devastationin California due to the wildfires, as well as a bill recently passed by the House of Representatives that would impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court.
Join us this Sunday, January 19 at 2pm in Williams Park in St Pete for a demonstration against Trump's right wing agenda!
Ira joins Ruth this week to discuss the attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas. We start the episode hearing from Mike Prysner, and then our hosts dive into what makes military service the number one predictor of becoming a mass casualty offender.
Ira & Adam join Ruth to discuss some updates for the Uhuru trial, then we review some of Trump's appointees and how they will affect working Americans here in Florida and across the country.
We are hosting a volunteer meeting this Saturday, December 21st! ️Register here: bit.ly/Jan20vol
Join us Saturday, December 21st for these organizing meetings to play a direct role in building the movement to defend our rights, keep our public funds at home instead of feeding the war machine, fight for a free Palestine, and build the world we deserve to live in! We’ll discuss the current political moment and how to build a fight back movement right here in Tampa Bay!
🌟 BRADENTON
📍Braden River Branch Library
4915 53rd Ave E, Room 205 (West Wing)
📆 Saturday, December 21st
🕑 12 PM
🌟 TAMPA
📍The Freedom Center
11213 North Nebraska, Suite 403
📆 Saturday, December 21st
🕑 3 PM
️Register here: bit.ly/Jan20vol
Sierra & Adam share some clips from a live stream from The People's Forum NYC discussing what is to be done now that Donald Trump has been re-elected.
Adam & Sierra join Ruth to discuss House Bill 9495 "The Nonprofit Killer Bill" making it's way through congress. We provide some background information about the history of this piece of legislation and how it threatens the existence of many nonprofits in our country.
UPDATE: The House passed bill 9495 on Thursday November 21, 2024 with a vote 219-184.
Ruth is joined by Ali, Adam, & Sierra to discuss updates from the Middle East and share information about a Palestinian study group for the book Trinity of Fundamentals. There is still time to join! Next study session is Sunday November 17. Click the link to join: https://tinyurl.com/yf95vbh3
Ruth & Adam get together one week before Election Day to discuss their thoughts. We listen to an interview from Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez posted to the Latina Rebels page about voting third party.
Peyton from Breakthrough News joins Ruth to discuss the ILA Dockworkers Strike. We share an exclusive interview from the picket line with Nick DiFresco, President of ILA Local 1691.
Join us this week as Ruth and Adam chat with Sheridan, a local Indigenous rights activist with the American Indian Movement.
Join us this week as Ruth and Ali discuss Israel's recent pager attacks in Lebanon on September 17 & 18, 2024.
Join Ruth and special guest Sierra to discuss the Uhuru movement and trial in St. Petersburg, FL.
Join us as Ruth discusses how the movement for Palestine is undermining US-Israeli relations! Also discussed is the brutal Israeli torture of Palestinian poltical prisoners.
In this episode, we focus on the hunger strike led by USF students, and are joined by organizers Will and Alina of the USF Divest Coalition.
By deceptively portraying its female soldiers as liberators confronting a misogynistic enemy, Israel seeks to reframe its militaristic oppression as a righteous feminist cause.
In honor of Women's History Month, Ruth examines the bold visions and concrete programs of revolutionary women leaders - past and present - to uplift gender equality and dismantle patriarchal oppression. She contrasts their work to collectively value women's labor with how capitalist nations like the US funnel resources into militarism rather than supporting working families. It's a provocative look at what real women's liberation requires.
In honor of Women's History Month, this episode of takes a look at the burden and exploitation faced by women under capitalist society. Ruth dives deep into the political economy and root causes of why "mommy is so tired" all the time. She also uplifts the historical examples of brave women fighters, resistors and educators who refused to accept their subjugation.
Tune in to listen to Ruth's compelling interview with Lama from Dream Defenders, who speaks on the needed disruption of a Kathy Castor event. Kathy Castor, a member and Co-Chair of the Children Healthcare Caucus, has continued to maintain silence on the genocide of children in Gaza, and has upheld US support for the Israeli state.
Later on the episode, Ruth is joined by community activist Ali Abdel-Qader to discuss the struggle for a free Palestine. In other news, please be sure to support Breonte's Family at the Fish Fry Fundraiser in Palmetto, 11 am to 3 om, on Saturday, March 2nd! You can find details for the event on our Facebook page and elsewhere.
Host Ruth is joined by guest Bobby to expose the injustice behind the police killing of Breonte’ L. Johnson-Davis and the web of lies and corruption used to shield the killer cops. They analyze disturbing discrepancies in the Palmetto PD's press conference and bodycam footage meant to justify this senseless murder. From officers caught laughing to an egregious delay in medical treatment, they dissect the excuses and damning evidence of a coverup.
Ruth and Bobby connect this case to the broader systems enabling rampant police violence in America, like qualified immunity. As Breonte’s family is barred from seeking justice, this episode issues a searing indictment of law enforcement's unchecked power.
Ruth investigates alarming reports coming out of Florida jails and prisons. According to a report by the NAACP, in one Florida jail alone, 21 inmates have died under suspicious circumstances with little accountability. From prisoners succumbing to treatable medical issues to beatings at the hands of guards, a disturbing pattern emerges - incarcerated individuals are too often left to suffer and die with minimal oversight.
The lack of transparency around inmate fatalities ties into broader systems shielding police and corrections officers from consequences. Qualified immunity, police protections, and the dismantling of civilian review boards allow law enforcement violence and negligence to persist unchecked.
As democracy erodes in Florida, it's the most vulnerable populations who bear the deadly costs. Join Ruth as she takes on the prison industrial complex and powerful forces undermining accountability. In this episode, she issues an urgent call to stand up against injustice and value human life.
Join us for a special episode this week, as hosts Caleb and Audrey delve into the Paris Peace treaty and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, using clips from Breakthrough News.
The Paris proposal faces challenges and apprehensions from both sides. We explore the domestic and international pressures influencing Israel's war cabinet's deliberations. Additionally, we analyze the political ramifications for the Biden administration, amidst growing criticism of its staunch support for Israel and the potential electoral consequences.
Free free Palestine!
In this episode, we delve into the disease and starvation rampant in Gaza due to the bombing of the region's life-sustaining infrastructure. We also dissect the narrative of Iranian proxies frequently portrayed in corporate media, separating truth from misinformation.
In this episode, Ruth brings the sounds of nationwide protests to your ears, covering the spirit of resistance from Texas to Tampa. Despite the state's violent attempts to silence these voices, the people remain undeterred. We also cover the tenacious resistance of the Yemeni people, challenging the narrative spun by the American state. This episode is an invitation to join the struggle, to seek the truth, and to stand on the right side of history.
The people have once again shown that they reject the US-Israeli invasion of Gaza! Massive crowds turned out in Washington D.C. for a march demanding justice for Palestine. Millions of others held similar actions elsewhere, including in South Africa, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, Indonesia, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Australia, Finland, as well as other cities across the United States. During the action in D.C., Florida AIM and FIA Board Chairman Robert Rosa was brutally attacked by police officers and arrested. Here in the Tampa Bay, more news has come to light in the Breonte Johnson-Davis case, which further exposes the Palmetto Police Department's cruel negligence. Tune in for an eye-opening account of the D.C. march, and for the shocking details of the Breonte Johnson-Davis case, as well as a report in Breakthrough News: 'We Read South Africa’s ICJ Report Accusing Israel of Genocide. Here’s What It Says'.
Join Ruth in a deeply moving conversation with Tracey Washington, a resilient mother who shares how the Palmetto Police Department brutally murdered her son Breonte' Johnson-Davis Sr.
Breonte’, a devoted father, co-founder of a family business, and a young man grappling with addiction, became a victim of police brutality on November 1st, 2023. During a mental health crisis, Breonte's life was cut short as violence replaced the medical intervention he desperately needed.
Tracey’s heartfelt account reveals not just a story of loss but a stark indictment of a system lacking empathy and protocols for addressing mental health challenges. Advocating for the spread of life-saving reforms like the St. Petersburg CALL Program, Tracey’s words emphasize the need for a truly radical transformation of our policing and healthcare systems.
JUSTICE FOR BREONTE ‼️
Last Saturday we saw a historic display of resistance from the Palestinian people. We saw Gazans break out of their open air prison and strike a blow against their oppressors. To discuss this, give context, and speak about the role of progressives and socialists here in the US, we have Ali Abdel-Qader from the Party for Socialism and Liberation to talk us through this and speak on a solidarity rally that was held in Tampa.
UPS drivers and warehouse workers are prepared to go on strike at the end of this month if UPS does not accept their demands in their contract negotiation. This nationwide strike would be historic as UPS transports about 4% of US GDP daily and pulls in $300M every month. We are very excited to be joined by local UPS driver and Teamsters steward Anthony Cantu to discuss why the Teamsters are prepared to strike, and what it would mean for the working class as a whole!
(Originally aired June 22 2023)
Starbucks workers at the Honore and University location in Sarasota have announced their intention to have a union vote early next month! We interviewed two partners at the location who have been playing leading roles in the unionization effort. They spoke on the issues that the workers there have been facing, the retaliation that they've been facing from Starbucks, and how they feel connected to the broader labor movement and its resurgence!
Thanks to Sydney Jamison and Jack Brandel for coming on.
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed 6 right-wing members to the New College Board of Trustees, paving the way to majority control of the board. Among the appointees is reactionary homophobe and racist Chris Rufo, who is well known for leading the attack on “CRT” and will attack any program at NCF that sheds light on the injustices of the US and the patriarchal, racist, imperial, and capitalist system he upholds. The new boards plans on shuttering any Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion related programs, deeming them unnecessary and instead promoting values like “colorblindness”, ignoring systemic injustices with the intent of excluding minorities from the student body and staff. He also announced plans to redesign the core curriculum and will certainly strip it of its progressive elements.
We're happy to be joined by student activists Sam Sharf and Lex Daly, who have been crucial in organizing students against the new board and their dangerous agenda. The students are planning a protest at the first Board of Trustees meeting on the 31st of January.
Only through organized resistance can the students and staff resist this fascist takeover and coup attempt against their school! Only through organized resistance can we resist the war on public education waged by the right wing here in Florida and across the nation!
This episode originally aired on January 18th, 2021.
[This episode originally aired on August 17th.]
Tampa and St. Petersburg have both recently struck down attempts to get rent control on the ballot after declaring states of emergency on housing.
Over the last two years, and especially here in Florida, the working class has been suffering through a housing crisis, with incomes unstable and housing prices rising dramatically, more and more working class people have been having to choose between paying rent and having enough to eat, and eviction rates have been at all time highs. It’s clear, we are in a housing emergency, and we are very happy to be joined once again by community activists and tenant organizers Karla Correa from the St Petes Tenants Union, and Craig Birchfield from the Tampa Tenants Union.
We are excited to be joined by the Legal Chair of the Tampa Chapter of the ACLU, James Shaw.
James helped to uncover the racist "Crime Free Multi Housing"program run by the Tampa Police Department that encouraged and may have coerced landlords into evicting families where one of the residents committed a crime, even one as minor as pan-handling or a crime of poverty. This program is also known as the "Renting While Black" program, because over 90% of the residents evicted under this program were black.
[This episode was originally released on the radio on July 20th.]
We're joined once again by community activist Jack Wallace to speak on the recent pulled opinion piece from the Herald Tribune written by the wife of a Proud Boy in defense of the Proud Boys, a fascist and white supremacist organization.
We also discuss the recent Moms For Liberty event in Tampa, and how Jack helped organize a counter-protest to let them know that fascists aren't welcome in the Suncoast!
[This episode was released on July 6th on the radio and was not uploaded as a podcast. We are now releasing it and remind our listeners that this took place in the throes of the massive protests across the country in reaction to the overturning of Roe v Wade.]
Karla Correa and Jack Wallace, both community organizers of large reproductive protests, speak on the current crisis exposing the flaws of US democracy with reproductive rights in jeopardy across the nation.
They also call out the democrats for absolutely failing to muster a response to this fundamental attack on our rights, and lay out a plan for how working people can fight back.
We begin this episode with an important discussion about the origins of Juneteenth and local events celebrating this important holiday. The show continues with important discussion about the ongoing housing struggles and local solutions being adapted by Tampa and Pinellas County which can be duplicated in the Sarasota/Manatee area.
We have been hearing a lot about inflation, and we are certainly feeling it when we go to the grocery store, when we pay our rent, and definitely when we get gas. The price of everything is going up. The mainstream media, which is controlled by corporations, likes to frame inflation as something that just happens. But the truth is that it doesn’t “just happen,” it is a deliberate choice of profiteering. That’s all that it is. And they don’t do it for any other reason besides making more profit.
As we all know, there has been a wave of mass shootings recently across the country, with the Uvalde elementary school shooting being the largest one in recent news.
What is so uniquely alienating about our country that makes incidents like these happen do often? Our government has completely failed the people, and more money for police has proven to be a wasted measure as they hide when children actually need them.
What would a socialist program for tackling mass shootings and gun violence look like? We go over all this and more in this episode of the Ruthless Truth.
It's official. The Supreme Court is planning on repealing Roe v Wade and opening the door for states to ban abortion entirely. This is set to impact millions of working class women and people across the country, and calls into question the safety of other rights that have been fought for like gay marriage. We're joined by local community activists Luna Brazell, Peyton Hoey, and Karla Correa to talk about how people are taking to the streets across the nation to defend Roe V Wade, even as the Democratic party takes no decisive action.
We're very happy to be joined by national ANSWER coalition member Juliana Musheyev to take on local issues here in Sarasota. On this episode, we discuss the string of anti semitic flyers found in Sarasota and the struggle against antisemitism, while also clarifying that antizionism and antisemitism are not equivalent. We also discuss the recent police killing of a man during an eviction in Sarasota, and the context of the housing crisis that it exists in.
It’s been over a month since Russia began its military operation, or invasion, of Ukraine. The destruction, loss of human life, and devastation is heart wrenching. We here on this program are strongly against war, and while we condemn Russia’s invasion, we also condemn our own government and its role in causing this war, which we are going to discuss further in this episode. It’s been over a month since Russia began its military operation, or invasion, of Ukraine. The destruction, loss of human life, and devastation is heart wrenching. We here on this program are strongly against war, and while we condemn Russia’s invasion, we also condemn our own government and its role in causing this war, which we are going to discuss further in this episode. Today we're joined by longtime community activist Bryan Ellis.
In previous episodes of the Ruthless Truth, we’ve talked about some of the reactionary bills that the Republican Party here in Florida have been trying to pass into law. Now Ron Desantis and the Florida Republicans have been pushing another large group of reactionary bills, including the anti-abortion bill we covered last month, that we want to talk about here today. Today we’re going to lay out what these bills are, what the consequences would be if they passed, why these bills are being written, and how people are fighting back. We're also joined by special guest Peyton Hoey, a local activist and substitute teacher in the Hillsborough County School District.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought the world to the brink of all out war, with devastating consequences if NATO were to intervene. How did we get here? Why did Russia invade Ukraine? What was the role of the American empire in the 2014 coup in Ukraine and the ensuing 8 year civil war? How could this war have been avoided? What should anti-imperialists be demanding from our government? We answer all this and more as we lay out the context for this world historic event underway now.
Reproductive rights is healthcare, and healthcare is a human right. So reproductive rights are human rights! And right now, across the United States and right here in Florida, reproductive rights are under attack! In this episode, we go over the history of Roe v Wade and the Struggle for Reproductive rights, how reactionary forces are attacking those rights across the US, and how activists and working people are fighting back!
Chris Tonsel, a 17 year old Chris Tonsel was shot in the stomach by SPPD officer Leighton Williams unjustly, is stuck in jail unable to pay bail while fighting off bogus charges! To support him as well as celebrate Black History month, we'll be giving away 10 black Liberation books to the first 10 listeners who donate to Chris's Bail Fund! For more info, visit our Facebook at https://facebook.com/TheRuthlessTruthRadio/ !
It has been a year of the Ruthless Truth, and we're very excited to look back on the many topics that we have discussed with you on the show over the past year, and review the most important struggles and movements we've been a part of locally over the last year as well.
If you haven't listened to our Socialism 101 series, do yourself a favor and go listen to that to celebrate our one year anniversary!
The Omicron variant is spreading like wildfire across the world, with over a million new cases per day in the US, despite testing being hard to come by. Workers are being forced to go in sick as hospitals are overrun, all while Biden declares that there is "no federal solution" as profits are put over people once again.
How did we get here? Why has the U.S. abandoned controlling the spread of the virus while China has eradicated the virus domestically?
What could have been done, and what would a socialist plan to deal with the pandemic look like? We discuss all this and more in this crucial episode.
During our last episode, we started to talk about the ways that we can transform our society out of capitalism and into socialism, and we talked specifically about reformism and why reform alone cannot save us. During today’s episode we will define and discuss revolution, we will explore what revolutionaries mean when they say reform or revolution, exactly what is revolution.During our last episode, we started to talk about the ways that we can transform our society out of capitalism and into socialism, and we talked specifically about reformism and why reform alone cannot save us. During today’s episode we will define and discuss revolution, we will explore what revolutionaries mean when they say reform or revolution, exactly what is revolution.
To help us with the discussion, today we have with us community organizers Ali Abdel-Qader, Andrew Yeack, and Jack Wallace.
Througout our Socialism 101 series, we’ve talked about what capitalism is and why it must go, how capitalism needs imperialism, the role of the state in maintaining the rule of capitalists, and what socialism is. If you’re still with us at this point, I imagine you also agree that we need a new system, and I hope you agree that that system is socialism, a truly democratic government and economic system.
Now how do we get to socialism? This is a question that has been debated on in theory and in practice for centuries, and we offer our critiques of the reformist path in this episode today.
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgivings, we should keep in mind that our Indigenous brothers and sisters will be mourning the death and exploitation of their ancestors. We will discuss what is known to Indigenous people as the National Day of mourning and Indigenous resistance.
We're happy to return to our Socialism 101 series with a topic we've been building up to throughout the series, what is socialism? In the context of the century long red scare that demonized and obfuscated it, and now it's rising popularity of socialism in the US, especially among people of color and younger people, it is especially important to clearly define socialism.
Join us as we define socialism as an economic system and a political project, and clear the misinformation and lies.
With chronic shortage of affordable homes, U.S home prices have climbed at a record pace during the pandemic: a shrinking housing inventory and a dramatically risen rental cost in Florida and all over the nation have left working families desperate and scrambling to find affordable housing. In the midst of all of this, millions of Americans are at risk of being evicted from their homes, and Tampa has some of the highest rents in the entire country.
We're happy to be joined by socialist organizers from the Tampa Tenants Union and the St Pete Tenants Union
As we know, Texas has bypassed Roe v Wade to effectively outlaw abortions in the state, with the approval of the Supreme Court. This is a major attack on reproductive rights for Americans at large, and we can expect states and counties all over the country to imitate what Texas has done, as the Manatee county commission is attempting to do right now!
We are joined by community activists from Women's Voices of Southwest Florida, Kate and Sarah Parker. They're at the forefront of fighting back against this ban, and are organizing a major protest on October 2nd.
The Biden administration's infrastructure bill is split into two parts: one that is centered around physical infrastructure and handing out massive contracts to the private sector, and another, known as the 3.5 Trillion Dollar Reconciliation bill, but what can be more accurately described as a Human Infrastructure Bill. We are joined by a community activist with the Green New Deal network in Sarasota county, Jack Wallace, who has been organizing protests every Thursday outside of Vern Buchanan's office to have him support the reconciliation bill.
The US has officially pulled out of Afghanistan, a war that has officially been going on since the 9/11 terrorist attacks 20 years ago. Since then almost one million troops have been deployed to Afghanistan, with the most recent reason given by politicians and the media on why we were there being to stop the Taliban from coming to power. A reality that is coming true, even after we wasted the lives of over 6000 soldiers and 150,000 Afghani people. $2.26T tax dollars were invested in this war too, even as each successive president promised to end the war. But we already know, here in America, that policy is made in the pursuit of profits, and American war profiteers are some of the richest people and businesses in the world. Today we aim to show that this tragedy was not only unnecessary, but well-planned, and lied about. From the Taliban’s pursuit of a peace deal since 2001, when they offered to give up Osama bin Laden, and America refused, to America’s dogged pursuit of a permanent occupation; we will lay out the possible motivations, as well as the key players and actions that they took to prolong the war or misrepresent it.
Amid the mounting housing and economic crises and Joe Biden's last minute decision to extend the eviction moratorium until October, we come to you with this episode to answer the question; “What is the role of the state?” To help us answer this question we have local socialist organizers Ali, Jack, and Jimi with us today.
We have all hands on deck to discuss Imperialism, the highest stage of Capitalism.
Today we want to demonstrate how the Global North (that is, the NATO countries as well as Australia, and Japan) benefits from this system, and aim to show how America as the global Empire and hegemon maintains this system of colonialism, which has evolved into neo-colonialism. All across the Global South, military dictators and political puppets are trained by the CIA, Nato, and even UN militaries, and their puppet governments are funded by financial institutions, like the IMF and World Bank, and given legitimacy by non-profits like the National Endowment for Democracy.
We dive in to the situation in Cuba right now, where the people are suffering from a lack of food and medicine, all at the hands of an illegal US blockade. The corporate media says that Cubans are marching for their freedom. And they are. Americans think that freedom for Cuba is the dismantling of the revolution and the opening up of the island to be despoiled once again by American companies. But freedom for the Cubans is a freedom to have food and medicine, it is a freedom from the blockade, and we must condemn those here in the US who omit this fact. We are joined by community activist Ali Abdel-Qader.
For our second part in our Socialism 101 series, we discuss the history of the class struggle, and how the labor of the masses of the people that has built everything around us, is today controlled by the owning, or capitalist, class in this system of Capitalism, and why we need socialism. We are joined by local socialist community activists Jack Rosovsky and Jimi DePriest.
Join us for Part 1 of our new Socialism 101 series, over the course of which we will discuss the crises created by capitalism and why capitalism must go, why we need socialism, imperialism and its ties to capitalism, reform or revolution and the role of the state, what we will win with socialism, and why the working class needs to take power to save the world.
This episode we are joined by socialist community activists Jack Rosovsky and Ali Abdel-Qader to discuss why capitalism must go and tie the problems we face as a society to capitalism, which is especially relevant given the criminal response our government has had to COVID-19.
Florida, alongside twenty two other states, have decided cut the essential Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program totaling $300/week and are reinstating the exhausting job search requirement; $300/week is being taken from you and many others who need it - people of color, mothers, the working class, although this assistance comes at no cost to the state.
We will be joined by a member of “The 300 for Florida campaign” to explore how we can come together and fight back.
We analyze the attacks on Gaza and Sheikh Jarrah committed by Israel in the last few weeks, and the historic uprising all over Palestine that followed. To contextualize these events, we also go over the history of Palestine and the history of the ethic cleansing committed by the state of Israel.
We're joined by local activist Ali Abdel-Qader to go over the first 100 days of Biden's presidency, focusing mainly on the latest round of policy proposals by Biden: The American Families plan, The American Jobs Plan, The PRO Act, among others. We look at what could stand in the way of these reforms passing and the struggle that needs to be waged by progressive forces all over the country to see these pass.
We're joined by Kelly Benjamin with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) to discuss Ron Desantis' anti union bills here in Florida.
We're joined by Tampa-based activist Matt Yampolski to update you on the status of multiple struggles that we've mentioned before on this show.
We're joined by St. Pete-based student activist Karla Correa to continue our celebration of Women's History month.