The fascists have won. Where do we go from here, and how can we turn the tide? Robert reads an essay on just that, and Emily Gorcenski debuts a poem about the moment we've just entered.
As California continues to struggle with raging wildfires, the guys explore a proliferation of strange and disturbing allegations related to the ongoing disaster. Cloud-connected sex toys become a new, profitable target for hackers. Recently-discovered DNA evidence in the case of Jack the Ripper may lead to a new inquest -- perhaps finally solving the crimes. The FDA moves to ban certain food coloring additives in a (long-overdue) win for the public. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.
Seven children died in the first year of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School’s operation. Another 220 died over the school’s next 38 years. They are among the more than 3,100 students a year-long Washington Post investigation finds died while separated from their families in Indian Boarding Schools. Their tally is three times that of the recent investigation by the U.S. Department of Interior. Many of the deaths are attributed to illness, accidents, or neglect. Others have no official explanation or remain suspicious. We’ll discuss the Post’s investigation and why having an accurate accounting is important.
Somehow this episode vanished into the ether, so enjoy early 2024 Mia and now former letter carrier and union steward Tommy Espinoza discussing the state of workers rights at the Post Office.
[Due to the relevance of this episode — and requests from listeners in LA — we decided to make this week the free episode.]
We get into the crossover between the LA wildfires and the FIRE industry – finance, insurance, real estate. Where most people see a hellscape of risk and loss, the FIRE industry also sees a landscape of opportunity and profit. First are reports of landlords and investors never letting a good crisis go to waste as the latter jack up rents for people who need places to stay after losing everything, while the former snatch up burnt homes using the discounts code “devastation.” Second we then get into the simple narratives and material dynamics of how the insurance industry is dealing with the wildfire’s aftermath by leaning into their victim complex while also hiking rates, restricting policies, denying claims, and agitating for regulatory changes.
••• We All Live in the Firestorm: Infinite Crisis and the LA Wildfires https://thetechbubble.substack.com/p/we-all-live-in-the-firestorm-infinite
••• Real Estate Vultures Eye Middle-Class Enclave of Ravaged LA https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-15/fire-ravaged-altadena-attracts-real-estate-vultures-eyeing-deals
••• Experts say Los Angeles rental prices will ‘inevitably’ spike post-wildfires https://fortune.com/2025/01/11/los-angeles-rental-prices-will-inevitably-spike-post-wildfires-experts/
••• The costly calamity in Los Angeles https://www.ft.com/content/1ada4ad5-d992-42a2-89d9-99063883f91d
••• L.A. Is Burning. Will Insurance Companies Take Advantage? https://newrepublic.com/article/190048/california-insurance-los-angeles-fires
••• We Will All Be Paying For L.A.’s Wildfires https://www.levernews.com/we-will-all-be-paying-for-l-a-s-wildfires/
Standing Plugs:
••• Order Jathan’s new book: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520398078/the-mechanic-and-the-luddite
••• Subscribe to Ed’s substack: https://substack.com/@thetechbubble
••• Subscribe to TMK on patreon for premium episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thismachinekills
Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (bsky.app/profile/jathansadowski.com) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.x.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (bsky.app/profile/jebr.bsky.social)
Interview with Nick Tiller, News Items: Does Fact-Checking Work, Nuclear Electric Propulsion, The LA Fires, Building Materials for Storing Carbon; Who's That Noisy; Science or Fiction
All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file.
Mutual Aid & the LA Fires
CES 2025: AI Toys Are Coming For Your Kids
From Anti-Satanic Crusaders to Congresswoman: Tracing an Anti-Trans Harassment Campaign
CES 2025: The Best And Worst Tech Products Coming Soon
The Years of Lead Paint (Or Why There Will Be More Tesla Car Bombs)
You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today!
The Bobs are back in town! We're back with book five, Not Till We Are Lost, another middle book in the bobiverse series. In this episode we cover all the plots that aren't Thoth related, and discuss the theory that there are really only seven stories out there in the world, and that's why the Bob books feel like seasons of Star Trek. Enjoy!
The Catholic Church is, by any measure, one of the largest religious forces on the planet. Throughout its long, at-times troubled history, it has weathered numerous scandals: accusations of abuse, crime, and cover-ups. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt, and Noel explore the story of a still-unfolding case regarding an apostolic organization called Soladitium Christianae Vitae. Based in Peru, this group billed itself as a wholesome initiative to spread the work of Christ through engagement with the young and the poor. As the guys dig deeper, they uncover a vast, intergenerational conspiracy of abuse.