Multiple high-level government officials believed Garrison Courtney was a CIA officer offering them fat cat contracts -- by the time the FBI caught up with him, he was on the verge of getting billions -- and getting full immunity, as well. Rapper Nuke Bizzle was arrested on multiple counts of identity fraud... after explicitly bragging about his crimes in a music video. On the border of Mexico and the US, a small group of farmers may have just provided the spark to the world's next water war. All this and more in this week's Strange News segment.
How many members does the Church of Scientology actually have? What are they doing in Clearwater, Florida? Perhaps most importantly, what is the future of Scientology? Join the guys as they continue their interview with Mike Rinder, creator and cohost of Scientology: Fair Game, in the second part of this two-part series.
What actually happened to the Great Library of Alexandria, and how would the world be different if it hadn't disappeared? What made an anonymous tourist return pilfered objects to Pompeii? How are con artists, corporations and governments hacking your voice? All this and more in this week's Listener Mail.
Baratunde digs into the feeling of disconnect and neglect felt by the black community in Milwaukee during the 2016 election and learns from Angela Lang, Executive Director of Black Leaders Organizing Communities (BLOC MKE). They are changing what it means to get people politically engaged in their community, and it doesn’t start with knocking on doors, begging for votes two months before an election! Quentin Palfrey also weighs in on how data scientists and lawyers are uniting on the ground to stop voter suppression, especially targeting communities of color.
Show Notes + Links
We are grateful to Angela Lang and Quentin Palfrey for joining us.
Follow @angela_lang and @blocbyblocMKE on Twitter. You can learn more about the BLOC MKE at https://www.blocbybloc.org/and in this press piece here.
Follow @qpalfrey and @protectthevote on Twitter. You can learn more about Voter Protection Corp at https://www.voter-protection.org/.
We will post this episode, a transcript, show notes and more at howtocitizen.com.
Please show your support for the show in the form of a review and rating. It makes a huge difference with the algorithmic overlords!
HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW. ACTIONS FOR THIS EPISODE.
INTERNAL ACTIONS (Actions that help you reflect and explore your emotions and experiences related to these topics or personal actions that don’t involve others)
What does it mean for your community to thrive?
This is the question BLOC asks the people of Milwaukee, and we want you to answer it for yourself. Yes, it could be speedbumps. It is probably more. Think about it. Write it down.
Real change starts by doing the hard internal work. Let’s keep it up!
In June, many of us participated in Black Lives Matter protests, posted BLM messages on our instagrams and bought all the books on how to be anti-racist. Have you read the books, continued to share content from organizations, activists, artists, and business owners within the Black community since then? Time to revisit and re-engage.
EXTERNAL ACTIONS (Public actions that require relationships and interaction with others)
Support BLOC MKE
As a grassroots organization, they need our support to be able to go deep in engaging their community in and out of election cycles. You can give to their non-partisan or partisan arm at https://www.blocbybloc.org/donations.
Volunteer to be a Voter Guardian in Milwaukee.
BLOC MKE is training people to monitor the polls for intimidation and are trained to de-escalate situations in lieu of calling the police. You can message them if you’d like to be trained and help ensure people feel free and safe to cast their ballots. Contact them at https://www.blocbybloc.org/contact/ and mention Voter Guardian and How to Citizen in the subject line.
If you take any of these actions, share that with us - action@howtocitizen.com. Mention Making Our Presence Felt in the subject line. And brag online about your citizening on social media using #howtocitizen.
We love feedback from our listeners - comments@howtocitizen.com.
Founded in 1953 by L. Ron Hubbard, the Church of Scientology describes itself as a religion that puts its adherents on a path toward complete and certain understanding of one's true spiritual nature. In the first part of this two-part series, the guys are joined by Mike Rinder, a former senior official of the Church and cohost of Scientology: Fair Game, for a first-hand, inside look at the organization.
Stories of ghosts predate written history, and cultures around the world believe in one form of spirit or another. But why? If there's no currently accepted scientific proof that ghosts exists, then what are millions of people around the world claiming to see? Join Ben, Matt, and Noel as they explore ghosts and the afterlife in this classic episode.
Baratunde speaks with Sherrilyn Ifill, the President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund about the very long history of voter suppression, why it still exists (hint: white supremacy and racism), and the current tactics being deployed for the 2020 election.
Show Notes + Links
We are grateful to Sherrilyn Ifill for joining us.
Follow her at @Sifill_LDF and @NAACP_LDF on Twitter. You can learn more about the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund at https://www.naacpldf.org/.
We will post this episode, a transcript, show notes and more at howtocitizen.com.
Please show your support for the show in the form of a review and rating. It makes a huge difference with the algorithmic overlords!
HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW. ACTIONS FOR THIS EPISODE.
INTERNAL ACTIONS
Become educated on the systems of oppression so you know the roots and how to fight back.
Two good books to start with for a comprehensive take.
Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X Kendi
Crusade for Justice: The Autobiography of Ida B Wells
Visit www.morethanavote.org to make your voting plan. This is the organization that LeBron James helped start, and they’ve partnered with a number of groups including Sherrilyn and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
Also visit https://votesaveamerica.com/plan/ the newly released tool from Vote Save America to get ready with a sample ballot for your area to plan your voting so you can be EFFICIENT at the voting booth.
EXTERNAL ACTIONS
Find out the EXACT requirements of mail-in or absentee ballots in your state and share them so every vote is counted.
The requirements and directions for voting by mail differ by state. Some require signatures by a witness on the outside of the envelope along with the witness’s address and your signature. Some require using two envelopes when mailing them back. Get the details from a trusted source or from the ballot itself and remind people to triple check these details!
Be a democracy team captain.
Take the lead in making sure at least three people you know vote. Follow up with them often until they have voted. Ask each one to do the same!
Compile key information about voting and vote by mail for your state. Then simplify the directions for those you are taking responsibility for, and share resources with them. Here are two comprehensive and easy to understand sites summarizing the steps for each state:
Finally, offer to provide a witness signature for the mail-in ballot envelope if that’s required, or offer to deliver their ballot to the drop-off location if they are unable to do so themselves.
Support the polls.
Bring water, masks, gloves, umbrellas, and other supplies to share with people waiting in long lines to support the polls. If you’re an artist, consider bringing your talents to the public as people wait in line. They will love you for it.
If you take any of these actions, share that with us - action@howtocitizen.com. Mention Making Our Vote Count in the subject line. Also share your citizening on social media using #howtocitizen.
We love feedback from our listeners - comments@howtocitizen.com.
The UK goes public with plans to mount firearms on drones. Paris Hilton provides insight on the dangers of the 'troubled teen' industry. Retired US Senator Harry Reid doubles down on UFOs, arguing that Uncle Sam has some information the US government does not want you to know. All this and more in this week's Strange News.
Everyone loves looking sharp - and saving money in the process. But what if there's a hidden cost to all this fast fashion and these trendy cosmetics? In the second part of this series, the guys return to the underbelly of the worldwide fashion and cosmetic industries, exploring how the global production process affects wildlife and spreads pollution -- and what these companies don't want you to know about the ultimate price of that next piece of clothing.
Could Lyme disease be man-made? What insights can the Bible give us about the mysteries of the Bronze Age? Just how problematic is the foster care industry? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this week's listener mail segment.
