Cocktails & Capitalism

Don’t miss this deep dive into Target's dystopian mass surveillance police partnership. I spoke with South Minneapolis activist and freelance journalist Marjaan Sirdar about his astounding findings after completing a 12-part investigative series titled 21st Century Jim Crow in the North Star City: How Target Corp., the City of Minneapolis, and Hennepin County Created a Domestic Spy Program that Rolled Back Civil Rights on its Black Population.

We discuss Target’s high-tech forensics labs, its broad surveillance of anyone who even enters its stores or parking lots, and its partnership with law enforcement to surveil and police Black and homeless youth and adults around their stores. We also dive into Target's role in the wrongful conviction of 15-year-old Madhi Ali, who has already spent half his life in prison for a triple homicide he did not commit. 

LINKS:

21st Century Jim Crow in the North Star City 

Madhi Ali's story

People Powered Podcast

Article on Madhi Ali’s Case

CALLS TO ACTION:

-PROTECT YOUR DATA, AVOID TARGET AND DELETE TARGET APP

-PUSH FOR EXPANDED DEMANDS FOR THE TARGET BOYCOTT:

   -Divest from policing

   -Divest from funding prosecutors & city attorneys

   -Transparency regarding uses of customer data

   -Divest from its massive surveillance apparatus

   -Call for exoneration of Madhi Ali

   -Expunge Downtown 100 + the geo-restriction lists

-PUT PRESSURE ON TARGET TO MEET ABOVE DEMANDS

-CONTACT HENNEPIN CO ATTORNEY’S OFFICE (612)348-5550 [email protected] Request review of cases Target has touched

-PETITION: Target, stop funding police!

-MADHI ALI PETITION

-WRITE TO MADHI ALI, j-pay: OID #236437

Support the show

Cocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world.

https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalism

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
Some episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!

I had the honor of speaking with award-winning Palestinian-American producer, content creator, and storyteller Jenan Matari back in June. Jenan has been harnessing the power of her voice and her social media platform to shine light on Palestine’s history and present reality amidst this genocide. 

We spoke about the ways that social media has been used for Palestine -- from combating propaganda to raising funds for evacuations to mobilizing students and protestors across the world.

In Jenan's words, "Palestine is proof that when we connect with each other through applications like this, it can move the needle towards whatever world we’re working towards outside of colonialism and capitalism."

We also touched on Jenan's Palestinian roots and her work to make PR affordable for minority owned and operated brands through ZAYTOUN Publicity. 

FOLLOW JENAN ON IG:
@jenanmatari
@jenan.matari 


DONATE to Anas' campaign, Sun of Freedom, which is feeding orphaned & disabled folks in Gaza. (Anas is a wheelchair basketball player)


The Free Palestine Cocktail

100   ml Watermelon Juice

30     ml Lime Juice

15     ml Simple Syrup (1:1 ratio) to taste

Small pinch of salt

25     ml green juice of choice (celery, apple, kale)

Optional:

25     ml Clear spirit of your choice: Tequila, Gin, Vodka, Arak, etc 

Watermelon slice for garnish 

Freeze a small layer of green juice in a glass ahead of time. Combine watermelon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, & a pinch of salt in a mixing tin and shake with cubed ice until properly diluted and chilled. Fill glass (containing frozen green juice) with crushed ice, then fine strain the watermelon mixture  over the ice. This will create layers that resemble a watermelon. 

Glassware:  Collins glass or your favorite tall clear drinking vessel

Support the show

Cocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world.

https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalism

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
Some episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!

I’m joined by Tariq Ra’ouf, a Palestinian freelance journalist and advocate for diversity and inclusion who was recently fired by Apple after speaking out about the company’s complicity in and silence about the genocide in Gaza.

After losing over a dozen family members, Tariq has been working with Palestinian and Congolese activists to organize an international day of action to demand that Apple break its silence about the genocides in Palestine and the Congo.

TAKE PART IN THE DAY OF ACTION DEMANDING AN END TO APPLE'S SILENCE ABOUT PALESTINE AND THE CONGO this Friday Sept 20th. On iPhone release day, show up at Apple stores where you can…

• stand at new product tables
• Book Genius Bar appointments
• Book Apple Vision Pro demo appointments
• Line up, walk away when you’re supposed to pay
• Contact store business teams and ask “Why does Apple do business in Israel?”

To organize an action, reach out to @applesagainstapartheid

EMAIL TIM COOK! Go to Apples4ceasefire.com and click the button to generate a pre-written email. (Customize subject line & some wording to bypass filters)


COCKTAIL / MOCKTAIL PAIRING:

BAD APPLE

This blended and strained drink can be made as a cocktail or mocktail.  The recipe makes 2 drinks.

• 1 Apple (like Fuji, gala, honeycrisp)
• Water — 2 oz  (60 ml) 
• Lemon juice — 1.5 oz  (45 ml)  
• Grenadine — 1 oz  (30 ml)
• Sugar — 2 tsp
• Gin (or Kombucha) — 2 oz  (60 ml)

Blend all ingredients (except kombucha for the mocktail). Strain & add strained juice to a shaker w ice. Shake vigorously & pour into a coupe or martini glass (any sort clear glass will do.) If you’re making mocktails, add the kombucha at the very end. Garnish w apple peel twist & enjoy!

BIG THANKS to Anthony DePice for all of his hard work to organize tech workers and consumers for Palestine and the Congo! It was his hard work that led to this connection and this C&C episode. Follow him here and here.

Support the show

Cocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world.

https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalism

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
Some episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!

In this episode, we’re joined by Rathbone – an anticapitalist musician, producer, and multimedia artist living in New Orleans. Rathbone writes songs with political lyrics that highlight American war crimes and the evils of imperialism and capitalism. We discuss his music and the process of his evolution into an anarcho-syndicalist.

Rathbone describes some of the fundamental values that constitute his anarchist perspective, including the belief that communities should be allowed to govern themselves. Our discussion touches on the difference between legitimate and illegitimate power and the dream of someday achieving a reality without states or borders. 

Noam Chomsky was a deeply influential figure for Rathbone. Since Rathbone’s favorite cocktail is an Old Fashioned, bartender Jesse Torres crafted a play on this classic drink called The Old Chomsky. Recipe below!

Stay tuned for future Rathbone releases through Buddyhead Records!

Listen to Rathbone’s music on Spotify, Soundcloud, 

Watch Rathbone Videos on Youtube

Follow @rathbone_ on IG

COCKTAIL:  OLD CHOMSKY

60 ml Whiskey 

        (Especially a good quality American whiskey. Try Uncle Nearest 1856)

15 ml Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee Concentrate 

       (or coffee liqueur) 

8 mlDemerara Syrup (2:1 ratio) 

       (or plain simple syrup. No need  for either if using coffee liqueur)

8 mlQuinquina (Bonal, Byrrh, or Cocchi Barolo Chinato)

       (or 4 dashes bitters)

Small pinch of salt 

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and stir with ice until drink is properly diluted and chilled—about ten seconds. Strain into a double old-fashioned glass filled with large ice cubes. Express an orange swath over the drink, cut, and garnish.


Glassware: Double Old-Fashioned

Garnish: Orange swath

ABV: 32%

Support the Show.

Cocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world.

https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalism

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
Some episodes on YouTube. Please like & subscribe

This show is sponsored by Beautiful Trouble — an international network of organizers, artists, and trainers working to equip grassroots movements with the tools to become more creative, effective, and irresistible.

With Palestine Action racking up the victories, it was high time that I spoke with veteran actionist Shibby about the network’s mind blowing direct  action successes. We discuss the recent shutdown of a facility in Tamworth, the viral action that just took place in Scotland, and the high-level, low-level, and covert strategies that have been used by these brave activists.


We also touch on the ongoing efforts to ban Palestine Action in the UK, and why such a ban will fail to prevent this network from continuing its righteous work.


In addition to hosting Revolutionary Lumpen Radio, Shibby is a veteran activist with Palestine Action. We begin with the story of his radicalization.

Get plugged in to Palestine Action, attend a training

Join the Palestine Action telegram channel

Follow @pal_action on Instagram and twitter

Subscribe to their newsletter

Support PA defendants and any actionists in jail

The Free Palestine Cocktail

100 ml Watermelon Juice

30 ml Lime Juice

15 ml Simple Syrup (1:1 ratio) to taste

Small pinch of salt

25  ml green juice of choice (celery, apple, kale)

Optional:

25 ml Clear spirit like Mezcal, Tequila, Gin, Vodka, Arak, etc etc 

Watermelon slice for garnish

Freeze a small layer of green juice in a glass ahead of time. Combine watermelon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, & a pinch of salt in a mixing tin and shake with cubed ice until properly diluted and chilled. Fill glass (containing frozen green juice) with crushed ice, then fine strain the watermelon mixture  over the ice. This will create layers that resemble a watermelon. 

Glassware:  Collins glass or your favorite tall transparent drinking vessel

Garnish:  Small watermelon wedge and/or raisins

Support the show

Cocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world.

https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalism

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
Some episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!

Too few understand the genocide that is raging in the Congo. Human rights activist Gaëtan-Dauphin Nzowo of Friends of the Congo joins me to examine the country's economic & geopolitical significance and how this genocide has been driven by extractive capitalism. 

As Gaëtan points out, “most Congolese don’t have a smartphone to document the atrocities” committed against them, but the labor and blood of the Congolese people continues to supply the materials needed for our smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles.

We honor the legacy of independence leader Patrice Lumumba, who was assassinated for daring to speak out against the plundering of his nation by foreign powers. We also discuss how the Congolese struggle for independence is intricately connected with the struggles of folks in Sudan, Haiti, and Palestine. 

Gaëtan-Dauphin Nzowo works with Friends of the Congo, an organization dedicated to raising awareness MD bringing lasting change to this conflict-plagued region. He is a construction inspector & civil engineering designer, and he currently serves as the president of the National Society of Black Engineers in Portland, Oregon. Gaëtan is the co-founder of New Young Congolese Scholars, and a board member at the Understanding Racism Foundation. As an active member of the Congolese Action Youth Platform, Gaëtan has been fighting to recognize Genocost (genocide for economic gain) in the Congo. 


ACTIONS TO TAKE:

-Donate to Friends of the Congo

-Follow @congofriends and @gaetan_nzowo_official on IG

-Purchase Equal Exchange fair trade coffee, Congo Coffee Project (more below)


COCKTAIL:

Fairly-traded coffee from the CONGO COFFEE PROJECT through Equal Exchange. Purchases help the Panzi Foundation support survivors of sexual violence in the DRC

Support the show

Cocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world.

https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalism

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
Some episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!

I spoke with activist and veteran Greg Stoker about the recent campus protests in solidarity with Palestine, police repression, and imperialism. We explore the concept of the “imperialist boomerang” and how it relates to the brutal crackdowns we’re seeing on college campuses.

“APD, KKK, IOF, they’re all the same!” and “There’s no riot here. Why are you in riot gear?” were among the chants heard at the UT Austin Gaza Solidarity encampment. Greg witnessed droves of state troopers in riot gear cracking down on Palestine supporters and arresting over 100. In the face of state repression, UT protestors kettled the cops and even succeeded in pushing the police off campus. He tells me these officers were “tactically outmaneuvered by arts majors,” adding that “as a roided-out cop, that’s kind of embarassing.”

Greg Stoker served in the US Army special Operations Command during the war in Afghanistan. More recently, he launched Colonial Outcasts, an “anti-imperialist, anti-war, and anti-establishment” podcast that I highly recommend.


Follow Greg on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok,
Check out Colonial Outcasts, and watch on YouTube 

Colonial Outcast Cocktail
Crafted by bartender Jesse Torres

-45 ml Gin  

-15 ml Select Aperitivo, other red aperitivo, or Campari

-8 ml  Simple Syrup

-15 ml Lemon Juice 

-22 ml Grapefruit Juice 

 -Small pinch of salt  

 -Miineral water 

Combine all ingredients except mineral water in a mixing tin and shake with cubed ice until properly diluted and chilled. Fine strain into Collins glass filled with cubed ice and top with mineral water. Express a grapefruit peel over the drink, cut, and garnish with a grapefruit swath.

Support the show

Cocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world.

https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalism

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
Some episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!

This exclusive interview with an A15 comrade explores the historic global economic blockade that took place on April 15th in solidarity with Palestine. Recognizing the global economy’s complicity in genocide, folks in 82 cities across 19 countries took action to block the arteries of capitalism. These protestors targeted major economic choke points to maximize impact, resulting in millions if not billions of dollars in lost profits for the capitalist class.

As forces mobilized to attack Rafah, the A15 call to escalate resonated with so many people. This global coordinated economic blockade was a complete departure from symbolic acts of protest, as A15 activists directly impacted the material economic system that profits off of genocide.  

Listen to gain a better understanding of what made this historic international action so successful!

a15action.com

Initial proposal 

Solidarity agreements

Wrap up video on A15

CALLS TO ACTION:

–Follow @a15actions on Instagram, Twitter, FB, YouTube

–A15 BAIL FUND

–Boost actions & support requests from A15 cities & encampments

–Watch for calls re: arrestees. Make calls to demand their charges be dropped

THE A15 INTIFADA COCKTAIL

30ml   Mezcal

30ml   Campari or red aperitivo

30ml   Red Italian-style Vermouth 

2 dash Chocolate Bitters (optional)

2 Jalapeño slices 

Add mezcal & jalapeño slices to a mixing tin & muddle. Add the rest of the ingredients & stir with cubed ice for about ten seconds until drink is properly chilled and diluted. Strain into your favorite glass filled with cubed ice. Garnish with a jalapeño slice.

Crafted by bartender Jesse Torres.

Support the show

Cocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world.

https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalism

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
Some episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!

“Beautiful Trouble was birthed by seasoned organizers who really wanted to document not only social movement successes…but really dig into what makes an action work.”

In this episode, I speak with trainer and organizer Rae Abileah about Beautiful Trouble – a global network of organizers, artists, and trainers helping to equip activists and social movements with the strategic tools to become more effective and irresistible. 

Rae explains the diverse ways that Beautiful Trouble has been helping activists in the field, from mentoring and trainings to offering hands-on campaign strategy and direct action planning. We discuss the Beautiful Trouble toolbox of tactics, stories, theories, etc., which is available online, as a book, and as a deck of strategy cards.

Rae Abileah is the former co-director of Code Pink.  Her facilitation work through The Nature Conservancy’s Agility Lab supports teams  working on freshwater protection and climate adaptation.  She also runs her own creative strategy consultancy, CreateWell. 

LINKS & CALLS TO ACTION:
-Beautiful Trouble website beautifultrouble.org and toolbox: beautifultrouble.org/toolbox
-Follow on Instagram, FB, Twitter
-Send in your action ideas to Bt
- GRANTS FOR ACTIONS!  The Get Up Rise Up Direct Action Fund provides small grants to creative, beautiful actions calling for ceasefire, and those targeting the fossil fuel industry and its infrastructure. Grants of up to $1,000 are awarded
There is a monthly deadline for submitting applications: https://beautifultrouble.org/directaction


Beautiful Sunrise Cocktail 

Support the show

Cocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world.

https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalism

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
Some episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!

“For me, dismantling the fossil fuel industry is a form of mental healthcare” – Tori Tsui  This week on Cocktails & Capitalism, I speak with the UK-based climate justice activist, researcher, speaker, and writer Tori Tsui. We discuss the relationship between mental health and the climate crisis, breaking down some of the core concepts that are illuminated in Tori's recent book, It's Not Just You: How to Navigate Eco-Anxiety and the Climate Crisis.

The episode explores common misperceptions about eco-anxiety, the Eurocentric nature of the concept, and why it’s so problematic to call eco-anxiety a mental illness. 

Calls to Action:

-Follow Tori Tsui on Instagram and Twitter

-Read Tori Tsui’s book Its Not Just You: How to Navigate Eco-Anxiety and the Climate Crisis which can be purchased here.

-Support the StopRosebank campaign to halt the development of the largest undeveloped oil field in the North Sea. StopCambo LinkTree. StopCombo.org

-Follow  @stopcambo on IG


It’s Not Just You Cocktail 

45ml  Three Spirit Livener NA Spirit 

45ml  Blood Orange juice

22ml   Lime Juice

22ml   Rose Tea Syrup

1 dash Rose water (optional)

60ml  Sparkling Mineral Water

Combine all ingredients except sparkling water in a mixing tin and shake with cubed ice until diluted and chilled. Add sparkling water to the mixing tin and strain into a Collins glass filled with cubed ice and rimmed with salt. Garnish with a grapefruit slice and a rose petal.

Support the show

Cocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world.

https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalism

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
Some episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!