In “ZODIAC: A Graphic Memoir”, the renowned artist Ai Weiwei writes that artists should “ignite stories”, “fight for freedom” and “help us hope.” Over his long and defiant career, he has used his art in a wide variety of media to do just that. In this wide-ranging conversation with Laura Flanders, they discuss the role of the artist and ask why is “Power so afraid of art and poets?”

Guest:  Ai Weiwei: Conceptual Artist, Filmmaker & Human Rights Activist; Author, ZODIAC, A Graphic Memoir

April 2024 The Laura Flanders Show is now ‘Laura Flanders & Friends’. This change marks a new era for the award-winning host, Laura Flanders.  The upcoming season will introduce a collaborative hosting format, featuring a diverse array of co-hosts from different backgrounds and different regions of the country. Expect new faces, unique perspectives, and impactful conversations that will leave viewers feeling inspired.  The show is made possible by our members.

Ai Weiwei: How Do We Save Our Humanity?

Award winning host, author and journalist Laura Flanders interviews forward-thinking people from the world of politics, business, culture and social movements. The show explores actionable models for creating a better world by reporting on the people and movements driving systemic change. We spotlight the solutions of tomorrow, today.  The show airs on PBS stations in over 200+  US markets, and airs on 50+ community radio stations, and is available on YouTube and here as a podcast. Online subscribers receive lots of video and audio web exclusives.  Recent specials include "Indigenous People's Power", "James Baldwin:  Lessons for the US", "Building Public Trust for Public Health", "Countering the Coup From the Grassroots Up". Recent special guests include Representative Karen Bass, environmental activist Jane Fonda, economist Robert Reich, author/activist Naomi Klein, agrarian reformer Shirley Sherrod, novelist Arundhati Roy, economist Michael Hudson and ’Next System” theorist Gar Alperovitz.

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Domestic violence is a leading reason why women lose their housing. Organizations across California are coming together to address this issue, break down silos and bring survivors into decision-making. But their work is in danger because of a 45% budget cut. What can be done?

Guests:
• Krista Colón: Senior Director of Public Policy & Communications Strategies, California Partnership to End Domestic Violence 
• Teniecka Drake: Survivor Advocates Team, Rainbow Services
• Yenni Rivera Martinez: Family System CES Coordinator, LAHSA (Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority); Survivor Advocate, California Partnership to End Domestic Violence

We’re in the midst of our May Day to Memorial Day membership drive.  We're asking you to join us in raising $25,000.  Please contribute by making a one-time donation or make it monthly, goto https://lauraflanders.org/donate   As Angela says, "when vast numbers of people come together . . . this is how change happens."  Please come together with us now!  Thanks for listening and thanks for your continued support.

Domestic Violence Survivor & Homeless Too? A CA Cohort Shows What Can Be Done

While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation.  The following is from our episode Trust-Busting 2024: A Bipartisan Battle Against Monopoly Power where we look at the actions underway to tackle the problem of monopolies and the detrimental impact the concentration of power in this way can have on consumers, workers and the democratic project.  Laura’s guests are two experts who’ve been involved for decades in anti-trust action Stacy Mitchell, the Co-Executive Director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance & Matt Stoller, Research Director for the American Economic Liberties Project.  These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters.  Please consider becoming a monthly supporter for a few dollars a month… go to https://Patreon.com/LauraFlandersandFriends

Guests:
•  Stacy Mitchell: Co-Executive Director, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
•  Matt Stoller: Research Director, American Economic Liberties Project; Publisher, BIG & Author, Goliath: The Hundred Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy

Full Episode Notes are accessible to all at https://Patreon.com/LauraFlandersandFriends

Full Conversation- Trust-Busting in 2024: A Bipartisan Battle Against Monopoly

Just in time for election season, Laura invites her sister Stephanie back to the program. Stephanie is the head of Economics and Government at Bloomberg News and head of Bloomberg Economics. Sixty-four countries (plus the European Union) — nearly half of the world’s population — are facing an election this year. Some are calling 2024 “The Ultimate Election Year”, but what should we look out for?

Guest:  Stephanie Flanders: Head of Economics and Government at Bloomberg

Stephanie Flanders on A Trump Economy & What to Watch in The Ultimate Election Year

When it comes to crime and migration, all sorts of politicians have justified mass detention and incarceration in the name of confronting a dangerous crisis. But what's real and what's fear mongering, and how can reformers counter the rhetoric to advance alternatives? Activists can do their best to call out abuses, but what is really needed is an entirely new approach.
Guests:
• Amir Khafagy (Co-host): Journalist, Report for America Member, Documented
• Silky Shah: Director, Detention Watch Network; Author, Unbuild Walls
• Aron Thorn: Senior Attorney, Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP), Beyond Borders Program

We’re in the midst of our May Day to Memorial Day membership drive.  We're asking you to join us in raising $25,000 - the cost to produce one episode.  Please contribute by making a one-time donation or make it monthly, goto https://lauraflanders.org/donate   As Angela says, "when vast numbers of people come together . . . this is how change happens."  Please come together with us now!  Thanks for listening and thanks for your continued support.

Crime & Migration: An Abolitionist Plan for Immigration Justice

Thanks for taking the time to listen to the full conversation from our episode “Post-Dobbs Crisis: Visions for Abortion Access & Radical Care.” These full uncut conversations are made possible thanks to our member supporters. We are an independent media organization that is dependent on our member supporters. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter for a few dollars a month… go to https://Patreon.com/LauraFlandersandFriends

Fake clinics are feeding people disinformation, laws are criminalizing doctors and patients, and the climate of stigma and fear has only worsened since the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health in 2022. Laura and guests explore the situation in a so-called safe haven (New York), and the frameworks for care that BIPOC reproductive justice activists are drawing on for strength.
Guests:
• Elizabeth Estrada: NY Field & Advocacy Manager, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice
• Adaku Utah: Senior Manager of Movement Building Programs, Building Movement Project; Organizer, Grassroots Strategist, Politicized Healer
• Chelsea Williams-Diggs: Executive Director, New York Abortion Access Fund

Full Episode Notes are accessible to all at https://Patreon.com/LauraFlandersandFriends

Ai Weiwei: How Do We Save Our Humanity?

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