The conflict between Israel and terrorist group Hamas runs back decades. But earlier this year, an 11 day conflict between the two brought the eyes of the world back onto the Middle East. Hamas has resorted to using children in its campaign to destroy Israel.
"Hamas uses human shields on a regular basis," Jonathan Schanzer explains. "They actually send kids to the border fence with Israel and militants hide behind them."
Schanzer is the senior vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and author of "Gaza Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and 11 Days of War," and has detailed Hamas' ongoing campaign to obliterate Israel.
He joins the show to break down those 11 days of conflict, and discuss how America should be involved.
We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in July 2021.
Brittany Hogan worked in diversity and inclusion for the Rockwood School District for eight years. As public debate intensified over the way race is discussed in schools and threats were made against her, Hogan eventually was pushed to resign.
Guest: Brittany Hogan, former director of educational equity and diversity for the Rockwood School District in St. Louis County.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Danielle Hewitt, Elena Schwartz, Davis Land, and Carmel Delshad.
Paris Marx is joined by Annalee Newitz to discuss what’s wrong with Silicon Valley’s understanding of science fiction, and how tech leaders use it to justify terrible futures.
Annalee Newitz is the author of Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age and The Future of Another Timeline. They are also the co-host of Our Opinions Are Correct and a writer for NYT Opinion and New Scientist. Follow Annalee on Twitter at @Annaleen.
Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.
Annalee’s reading suggestions: Ring Shout by P Djeli Clark, Murderbot series by Martha Wells, Infomocracy by Malka Older, An Excess Male by Maggie Shen King, Rosewater by Tade Thompson, Waste Tide by Chen Qiufan, Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, and Broken Earth by N.K. Jemisin.
Baratunde is reminded that “tech companies” are really just people and asks what it would mean for tech employees to think critically about their work and its impact and use that power to remake the industry from the ground up? He talks with Xiaowei Wang, whose work at Logic School helps workers answer those questions. They also discuss blockchain, rice farming in rural China, and tarot. It’s all connected.
Guest: Xiaowei Wang
Bio: Lead steward of Logic School, author of Blockchain Chicken Farm
Online: Logic School website; Xiaowei on Twitter @xrw
Go to howtocitizen.com for transcripts, our email newsletter, and your citizen practice.
ACTIONS
- PERSONALLY REFLECT
Consider consent and care
Think of what consent and care mean to you, and think of what consent-ful and careful tech would look like, function like, feel like. What relationships would be strengthened? Shattered?
- BECOME INFORMED
Learn about critiques and better ways
Read this explainer on Platform Co-ops, which are digital platforms collectively owned and governed by the people who depend on and participate in them. And follow the work of The Gig Worker’s Collective which is shining a light on and advocating for the people who work at the other end of our smartphone taps and swipes.
- PUBLICLY PARTICIPATE
Support the alternatives and whistleblowers
Support community internet and technology groups like the Detroit Community Technology Project, NYC Mesh, and Oakland Mesh. And check out The Tech Worker Handbook, a collection of resources to better prepare and support tech workers considering whether to speak out on issues that are in the public interest. Recommend it to a tech worker near you, but don’t send it to their work email!
We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in July 2021.
Brittany Hogan worked in diversity and inclusion for the Rockwood School District for eight years. As public debate intensified over the way race is discussed in schools and threats were made against her, Hogan eventually was pushed to resign.
Guest: Brittany Hogan, former director of educational equity and diversity for the Rockwood School District in St. Louis County.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Danielle Hewitt, Elena Schwartz, Davis Land, and Carmel Delshad.
Today we are wrapping up Science Fiction Week with a very special episode from our friends at NPR's history podcast Throughline.
As a part of their Imagining New Worlds series, they dive into the life of visionary science fiction writer Octavia Butler.
Octavia crafted cautionary tales combined with messages of hope and resilience. Her work made her the first Black woman to win the Hugo and Nebula, science fiction's most prestigious awards. (Encore episode)
In the novel Agatha Of Little Neon, a young woman, Agatha, is in need of direction after she loses her mother and finds it in the church. When Agatha and her fellow nuns are reassigned to a half-way house, they start to look inward and reevaluate their own lives. Author Claire Luchette told NPR's Scott Simon that this is a book about finding yourself, but also finding out about the darker side of the church: "My goal in writing this book was not to write a loss-of-faith story but almost a falling-out-of-love story."
Opening song: Venceremos – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11MlvWKfL7s
We’re very excited to be joined by the hosts of Left Reckoning, Matt Lech and David Griscom, for an action packed double header of episodes to keep you busy during the holiday season! We have a very energetic discussion about the project of leftism before getting into a critical political economy analysis of the sudden rise of 15-minute delivery apps and the pushback by workers against anonymous automated management. Part two of our long discussion with Matt and David will be posted on the TMK Patreon.
Follow Matt Lech: https://twitter.com/MattLech
Follow David Griscom: https://twitter.com/DavidGriscom
Follow Left Reckoning: https://twitter.com/LeftReckoning
Some stuff we reference:
••• The Dark Side of 15-Minute Grocery Delivery | https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-07/what-instant-delivery-services-could-do-to-cities
••• Workers demand gig economy companies explain their algorithms | https://www.ft.com/content/95e7f150-b0f9-4602-8e5d-76a138b59851
Subscribe to hear more analysis and commentary in our premium episodes every week! patreon.com/thismachinekills
Grab fresh new TMK gear: bonfire.com/store/this-machine-kills-podcast/
Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (twitter.com/jathansadowski) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (twitter.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (twitter.com/braunestahl)
If you give your parents new tech, chances are you’ll have to be their tech support and install it for them. Heather Kelly, technology help desk reporter at The Washington Post helps Reset cover what you need to know when they ask other tech questions so you sound like a pro.
