Out d’Coup Podcast

On this week's show, I welcome Cyril Mychalejko back to the show. Cyril is the Editor-in-Chief of the Bucks County Beacon - that independent publication that has been at the cutting edge of reporting on people-powered movements in the region. Cyril will join me to reflect on the year that was and look forward to the challenges and possibilities in 2023. 

LINKS:

• Bucks County Beacon | https://buckscountybeacon.com/
• Support the Beacon | https://buckscountybeacon.com/support-the-beacon/
• Follow Cyril on Twitter | https://twitter.com/cmychalejko
• Bucks County Beacon on Twitter | https://twitter.com/BucksCoBeacon

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Welcome to our new Mastodon community. Yes, as part of the Twitter exodus, Raging Chicken is now on Mastodon. You can find us on Mastodon @rcpress@union.place.

Don’t Let Paul Martino & His Oligarch Friends Buy Our Schools and push extremist politics in our community. Raging Chicken has teamed up with LevelField to launch a truly community rooted PAC to invest in organizing, supporting local and state-wide progressive candidates, and unmasking the toxic organizations injecting our communities with right-wing extremism. We’re putting small-dollar donations to work to beat back the power of Big Money.  You can get more information and drop your donation at  https://ragingchicken.levelfield.net/.

 

Biden signs bill protecting same-sex and interracial marriage right. The new law codifies into law the right to marry for same-sex and interracial marriage. The move became a priority after Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas put targets on the rights in his concurring opinion in the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade.

White nationalists, Euro ultranationalists, and right-wing Republicans met up in NYC for the New York Young Republican Clubs gala calling for “total war” against their designated enemies. 

The group’s president, Gavin Wax said: “We want to cross the Rubicon. We want total war. We must be prepared to do battle in every arena. In the media. In the courtroom. At the ballot box. And in the streets…This is the only language the left understands. The language of pure and unadulterated power.”

Marjorie Taylor Green reflected on the January 6 insurrection saying, “I will tell you something, if Steve Bannon and I organized that, we would have won. Not to mention, it would’ve been armed.”

Newsweek continues to become a forum for the radical-right. 

“We want to cross the Rubicon. We want total war. We must be prepared to do battle in every arena. In the media. In the courtroom. At the ballot box. And in the streets,” NYYRC president Gavin Wax declared to a room full of supporters 

Elon Musk suspends at least 8 journalists and the @ElonJet account from Twitter for posting “basically assassination coordinates” for him and his family. Most of the reporters who were banned had been covering Musk’s rule change banning “live location information” - presumably because @ElonJet was posting publicly available flight data from Musk’s private jet. Ahh…the power of ownership. 

Students at West Chester University are organizing around housing after students receive letters saying their spots in public university owned dorms won’t be available, but “private” dorms - at double the cost - will be. 

Temple University launches a center to combat racism, antisemitism and LGBTQ+ bigotry and xenophobia. 

On this week's show, I welcome Garen Meguerian back to the show. We'll be digging into Moore v. Harper, the Supreme Court case that could upend American democracy as we know it. In the Bucks County Beacon, Meguerian warned that the fringe constitutional argument at the heart of this case known as the independent state legislature theory paves the way for single-party rule and disenfranchisement of voters.

Meguerian is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey. He has represented clients in both state and federal courts. He is AV peer review rated from Martindale-Hubbell reflecting achievement at the height of professional excellence and integrity.

Meguerian received his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1995, where he served as an Associate Editor of the American Criminal Law Review. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Honors Philosophy from Villanova University in 1992, where he was awarded the University's Valedictory Medallion.

Meguerian is a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association, and the Chester County Bar Association.

LINKS:

• "The US Supreme Court Intends To Dismantle Democracy," Garen Meguerian. Bucks County Beacon https://bit.ly/3VWHzwo
• "Moore v. Harper, Explained," Eliza Sweren-Becker & Ethan Herenstein. The Brennan Center for Justice https://bit.ly/3Hm8JJi
• "Explaining Moore v. Harper, the Supreme Court Case That Could Upend Democracy," Ari Savitzky & Kristi Graunke. ACLU https://bit.ly/3VStRea

You can support this show by becoming a patron for as little as $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/rcpress.

Don’t Let Paul Martino & Friends Buy Our Schools and push extremist politics in our community. Raging Chicken has teamed up with LevelField to launch a truly community-rooted PAC to invest in organizing, support local and state-wide progressive candidates, and unmask the toxic organizations injecting our communities with right-wing extremism. We’re putting small-dollar donations to work to beat back the power of Big Money.  You can get more information and drop your donation at  https://ragingchicken.levelfield.net/.

Join our Discord to continue the conversation all week long: https://discord.gg/BnjRNz3u

 

 

This week the Supreme Court heard arguments in Moore v. Harper. The case will test the Court’s willingness to embrace a fringe Constitutional theory - the so-called “independent state legislature” theory - which would give power to state legislatures to override the results of democratic elections. 

Raphael Warnock wins the Georgia runoff. 

U.S. colleges and universities are facing a “crisis.” The shock doctrine “sky-is-falling” narrative tells a tale of natural disaster while political choices and destructive managerial policies and trends are largely excused. 

Kyrsten Sinema announced that she is changing her party affiliation to “independent.” 

WNBA star Brittney Griner returns to the U.S. after spending months in a Russian prison.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Education has released standards for “culturally relevant and sustaining education” that seeks to integrate policies similar to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives that drove right-wing extremists to flood school board meetings with conspiracy theories and vitriol.  

Pennridge School District moves forward with a plan to cut social studies requirements despite strong opposition from parents, teachers, students, and members of the community. The school board voted 5-4 to move ahead with the cuts after a contentious debate even among members of the board. 

Starbucks in Whitehall, PA voted to unionize! The Starbucks on MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township now has a union. The location’s staff voted 16-10 in favor of forming a union with Starbucks Workers United. 

On this week's show, I welcome Raelyn Roberson to the show. Raelyn is the Field Coordinator of Stopping Cyber Suppression at Common Cause. On the eve of the Georgia Senate run-off, we'll be talking about the challenge of mis- and disinformation that has been infecting U.S. and global elections.  

Raelyn and her team work to fight back against the spread of online election disinformation and hold social media platforms accountable for their role in the spread of election lies. Raelyn provides trainings that encourage anyone and everyone to stop cyber suppression. During monitoring shifts, she leads volunteers in recognizing, searching for, and reporting bad actors who threaten democracy by spreading election lies.

If you want to read more about Raelyn and Common Cause’s work, check out Jenny Stephen’s article in the Bucks County Beacon, "Social Media Disinformation Is a Threat To Democracy, and You Can Help Fight It."  

LINKS:

• Raelyn Roberson on Twitter: @RaelynR3 - https://twitter.com/RaelynR3
• Common Cause: https://www.commoncause.org/
• Common Cause - Combating Cyber Suppression: https://bit.ly/3B8y71k
• Common Cause - Social Media Monitoring Training: https://bit.ly/3VTaf9U
• Public Disinformation Tipline: https://reportdisinfo.org/
• Article on Raelyn's work in Bucks County Beacon, "Social Media Disinformation Is A Threat To Democracy, And You Can Help Fight It," by Jenny Stephens: https://bit.ly/3Y0tIHA

You can support this show by becoming a patron for as little as $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/rcpress. 

Don’t Let Paul Martino & Friends Buy Our Schools and push extremist politics in our community. Raging Chicken has teamed up with LevelField to launch a truly community-rooted PAC to invest in organizing, support local and state-wide progressive candidates, and unmask the toxic organizations injecting our communities with right-wing extremism. We’re putting small-dollar donations to work to beat back the power of Big Money.  You can get more information and drop your donation at  https://ragingchicken.levelfield.net/.

Join our Discord to continue the conversation all week long: https://discord.gg/BnjRNz3u

 

Raging Chicken's Friday Politics Roundup for December 2, 2022. Amy Knecht is back! We're here to break down the good, the bad, and the ugly in state and national politics. 

Today: Railway workers & Democrats' debacle; UC #highered strike; Twitter in tatters; Magnolia Mothers; Dimock win; Palisades teachers contract; & much more!

You can support this show by becoming a patron for as little as $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/rcpress. 

Don’t Let Paul Martino & Friends Buy Our Schools and push extremist politics in our community. Raging Chicken has teamed up with LevelField to launch a truly community rooted PAC to invest in organizing, support local and state-wide progressive candidates, and unmask the toxic organizations injecting our communities with right-wing extremism. We’re putting small-dollar donations to work to beat back the power of Big Money.  You can get more information and drop your donation at  https://ragingchicken.levelfield.net/.

Join our Discord to continue the conversation all week long: https://discord.gg/BnjRNz3u

 

On this week's show, I welcome Sean Crampsie to the show. Sean is the director of Government Relations for APSCUF - the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University faculties. APSCUF represents the faculty and coaches of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education. We'll be taking a look at the results of last week's midterm elections and unpack what it means for PA and public higher education in the Commonwealth.

Sean Crampsie has been the director of Government Relations for APSCUF since 2017 where he advocates for the faculty, coaches, and students, Pennsylvania's state owned universities. Sean lobbies for state funding for public higher education, tuition affordability, and protection of workers’ rights. Prior to joining APSCUF, Sean spent four years with the PA School Boards Association working on K-12 education issues.

Sean is also serving his second term as a Councilman for the Borough of Carlisle. During his time on Council Sean has advocated for his community and has helped pass an anti-discrimination ordinance, approve affordable housing, and help pass a rental inspection ordinance.

Sean received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Bloomsburg University and lives in Carlisle, PA with his wife Brittany and son Carter.

LINKS: *

• APSCUF: https://www.apscuf.org/ Twitter at @APSCUF https://twitter.com/APSCUF
• Follow Sean on Twitter at @seancrampsie https://twitter.com/seancrampsie
• Follow APSCUF Government Relations @APSCUFGR https://twitter.com/APSCUFGR

You can support this show by becoming a patron for as little as $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/rcpress.

Don’t Let Paul Martino & His Oligarch Friends Buy Our Schools and push extremist politics in our community. Raging Chicken has teamed up with LevelField to launch a truly community-rooted PAC to invest in organizing, support local and state-wide progressive candidates, and unmask the toxic organizations injecting our communities with right-wing extremism. We’re putting small-dollar donations to work to beat back the power of Big Money.  You can get more information and drop your donation at  https://ragingchicken.levelfield.net/.

Join our Discord to continue the conversation all week long: https://discord.gg/BnjRNz3u

 

Raging Chicken's Friday Politics Roundup for November 11, 2022. Did you see that coming? Woah! Counter to all the "Red Tsunami" predictions, Democrats showed up in BIG numbers this election and scored huge victories in PA and across the country. We're here to break down the good, the bad, and the ugly in state and national politics.

You can support this show by becoming a patron for as little as $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/rcpress. 

Don’t Let Paul Martino & Friends Buy Our Schools and push extremist politics in our community. Raging Chicken has teamed up with LevelField to launch a truly community rooted PAC to invest in organizing, support local and state-wide progressive candidates, and unmask the toxic organizations injecting our communities with right-wing extremism. We’re putting small-dollar donations to work to beat back the power of Big Money.  You can get more information and drop your donation at  https://ragingchicken.levelfield.net/.

Join our Discord to continue the conversation all week long: https://discord.gg/BnjRNz3u

 

It's Election Day Eve in one of the most consequential midterm elections in recent history. Democracy hangs in the balance, women's rights and autonomy are being attacked, white supremacy is on the ascent, and our schools are being turned into right-wing laboratories. Tomorrow, we get to see if we can turn back the extremists and reclaim our communities. How are you doing tonight? We're here for your thoughts, hopes, concerns, and plans of action.

You can support this show by becoming a patron for as little as $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/rcpress. 

Don’t Let Paul Martino & Friends Buy Our Schools and push extremist politics in our community. Raging Chicken has teamed up with LevelField to launch a truly community-rooted PAC to invest in organizing, support local and state-wide progressive candidates, and unmask the toxic organizations injecting our communities with right-wing extremism. We’re putting small-dollar donations to work to beat back the power of Big Money.  You can get more information and drop your donation at  https://ragingchicken.levelfield.net/.

Join our Discord to continue the conversation all week long: https://discord.gg/BnjRNz3u

The United Nations environment agency issued its Emissions Gap Report ahead of this years COP 27 Climate Summit in Egypt. The report states that there is “no credible pathway to 1.5 degrees Celsius in place” - the target agreed upon in the Paris Climate Agreement. They now say that the only way to limit the most catastrophic effects of climate change is a “rapid transformation of societies.” Given current policies and commitments, the world is on track to reach a minimum of 2.8 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100 - which means significant portions of the planet will become uninhabitable. 

The UN climate report also find that the world is on pace to INCREASE emissions 10.6% by 2030. 

Elon Musk finalizes his takeover of Twitter. On day one he tweeted that the “bird is free,” and marked the occasion with the firing of several key executives at the company. Musk says he’ll remove lifetime bans which will pave the way for the return of Donald Trump, QAnon, and science denying conspiracy theorists to the platform. 

And, Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul was attacked with a hammer in his home this morning. 

Montgomery Township Dems flag weird Mastriano “voter fraud” door hangers. 

PA candidates for Senate, John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz, took to the stage this week in their first and only debate ahead of the rapidly approaching midterm elections. The midterms are just over a week away and the polls are showing a virtual dead heat. Real Clear Politics has Fetterman ahead by just .3%, which is well within the margin of error. 

Of course, it didn’t take long for national Republican leaders to take to the airways to mock Fetterman who is still recovering from a stroke. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel jumped on right-wing radio to joke that maybe between Biden and Fetterman, they could get a full sentence out. This is just another example of how Republicans have no shame in weaponizing their discrimination and cruelty. 

Democrat Josh Shapiro is still holding a six point lead in the race for PA Governor against Christian Nationalist Republican, Doug Mastriano. 

The International Space Station had to dodge some Russian space junk this week. 

The House of Dragon finale.