The great H1B fight of Christmas 2024: for a more honest antiracism than techbro elites

It’s the first show of 2025! We reflect on the remarkable internal war (on Twitter) over H1B visas, pitting tech elites seeking to scrape the world’s “best and brightest” to engineer American greatness, vs. those insulted by the idea that homegrown STEM students aren’t good enough, vs. those unabashedly promoting might-makes-right white supremacy. Lots to consider – and the Dems don’t get off easy. How to speak into a moment where a lot of folks feel betrayed and lied to – honestly, and provocatively?

"Ten ways...": Part 2; discussing the widely-circulated preparation plan

This episode concludes our discussion of “10 ways to be prepared and grounded now that Trump has won.”

Immediately after the election, a 10-point document was widely circulated that outlined techniques and frameworks for preparing to organize effectively in the coming days and months. In this second of two parts, we go over it in detail, reflecting on the broader assumptions they imply about the nature of radical struggle, and also thinking about how they might apply in everyday life. What distinguishes liberal from radical? How might such attitudes affect how people respond in a moment like this? What are the benefits and pitfalls of organizing as a “broad church”? How can we respond with courage and creativity?

To follow along, we encourage you to read the document at https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/11/10-things-to-do-if-trump-wins/

[This episode was recorded in November, but only edited and released in the new year. Again, if anyone would like to help with editing, you’re invited!]

"Ten ways...": discussing the widely-circulated preparation plan; Part 1

Immediately after the election, a 10-point document was widely circulated that outlined techniques and frameworks for preparing to organize effectively in the coming days and months. In this first of two parts, we go over it in detail, reflecting on the broader assumptions they imply about the nature of radical struggle, and also thinking about how they might apply in everyday life. What distinguishes liberal from radical? How might such attitudes affect how people respond in a moment like this? What are the benefits and pitfalls of organizing as a “broad church”? How can we respond with courage and creativity?

To follow along, we encourage you to read the document at https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/11/10-things-to-do-if-trump-wins/

[This episode was recorded in mid-November, but only edited and released in the new year. Again, if anyone would like to help with editing, you’re invited!]

Trumpworld economics, and our pod path forward!

As we all reorient to a reconfigured national electoral scene, we discuss some of the immediate ways popular media is describing things. We take a small dive into the differences between “the economy” (measured by the stock and bond markets) vs. the pressures on peoples daily lives. We also explore some of the less-visible ways that grassroots movements are responding, and make a plan for how to organize our pod going forward.

The Day After

A Trumpian red wave. So many people are in shock, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. We explore some first thoughts about how to act responsibly: supporting femme folks in a world with license for misogyny from above; reaching out to STEM-sector young men to offer a different path than the tech-bro version of heroism. What’s that path going to take, from all of us?

We had a few audio hiccups that we tried to fix a bit in post – but I’m not an audio engineer! Please bear with us, and feedback welcome, as always.

Election Day!

It’s election day, Nov 5, 2024. Brush and Raven consider the stakes of what’s happening, from a range of perspectives, and the ambient feelings of anxiety about the possibility of the “normal transition of power” failing to maintain the project of “America” in the coming days and months. With a bit of curiosity about how it might look and feel from a generational perspective – after all, what will all this look like, from the vantage of a century from now?

almost raw, unedited version – rush to get it out there!