From the Bomb Shelter

From the Bomb Shelter

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From the Bomb Shelter episodes

  • This Week in Fascism

    Q!uick recap

    Keith and Jillian recorded a podcast episode discussing current events and political concerns, focusing on what they perceive as fascist tendencies in the government. They expressed worries about potential threats to civil liberties, healthcare, and social justice, particularly in relation to immigration policies and law enforcement actions. The conversation also touched on personal preparations for potential societal upheaval and the importance of community awareness in the face of perceived threats.

    Next steps

    • Community members: Build stronger neighborhood connections and support networks to protect vulnerable residents

    • Community members: Educate migrants about their legal rights regarding ICE enforcement

    • Community members: Monitor neighborhoods for suspicious vehicles with tinted windows and unfamiliar individuals who may be unauthorized ICE agents

    • Community members: Document and share evidence of unauthorized ICE agent activities and potential civil rights violations

    • Community members: Watch for and report incidents of deputized "other individuals" conducting immigration enforcement operations under the Project Homecoming Executive Order

    1 hr 18 min
  • No One is Safe
    It's a ton of stuff to talk about this week - Martial Law - what is it? Should we be worried (yes); the deportations and moves to protect Trump from the judiciary's rulings - is anyone really safe> The SAVE Act - if it passes, what will you need to vote. The budget and its cuts to Medicaid and other programs. All this and a nasal cure for the Bird Flu too, on this Week in the Bomb Shelter.
    1 hr 37 min
  • Signalgate with Jillian Ratliffe
    • We listen to Jeffrey Goldberg explain the timeline of what happened
    • Jillian explains why it’s such a big deal from a cybersecurity perspective and how absurd it is that National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe both testified to Congress under oath on March 25 that there was “no classified material discussed on the chat”
    • We read some lowlights from the Signal chat transcript that Jeffrey Goldberg & The Atlanticreleased on March 26 which prove that there was, in fact, classified material discussed on the chat
    • We listen to some of a Project 2025 training video titled “Oversight and Investigations” that discuss the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), how appointees can communicate in ways that make public oversight more difficult, & proper use of encrypted chat platforms like Signal.
    • We discuss accountability measures proposed by Congress members on both sides of the aisle
    1 hr 5 min
  • The Prepisode

    News:
    ICE/DHS Kidnappings - Alien Enemies Act

    • Venezuelans sent to El Salvador prison camp + Kristi Noem's violation of the 4th Geneva Convention
    • International students detained

    Public Health

    • HHS cutting billions in funding for state and local health departments
    • Meanwhile, new concerns about the potential human-to-human transmission of bird flu

    Emergency Preparedness Checklist Discussion:

    • Community-building for mutual aid
    • Go-bags
    • Important documents
    • Financial planning for the apocalypse
    • Emergency travel plans, early warning signs, and action signals
    1 hr 37 min
  • Smash the Patriarchy

    News:

    • The Social Security Showdown: “No one but ‘fraudsters’ would complain about missed Social Security check.”
    • Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil arrested by Department of Homeland Security 
    • Travel advice from an immigration lawyer on TikTok
    • The Desparacidos: ICE detainees, the purge of Black/Brown/Women of achievement from government websites

    Smashing the Patriarchy:

    • How patriarchy informs the Trump regime
    • Why feminism is for EVERYONE, not just women!
    1 hr 48 min
  • The Sum of All Fears with Jillian Ratliff
    Special guest Jillian Ratliff is back to talk about fears of living in an emerging fascist state and what it takes to face that fear. We get into the spate of illegal kidnappings, detainment of individuals, fear of traveling in and out of America (me: vacation; Jillian: leaving the US) comparisons of America and Nazi Germany (there are many, unfortunately) and the importance of speaking out despite fear of government retaliation, and the need for courage and self-care during challenging times.
    Stock up on gummies, coffee and Scotch for the long haul folks!
    On a happier note, Jillian is also a cartoonist and we talk about her work "George the Fear Monster" (fearmonstercomics.com) and we get her to commit (?) to making more comics!
    You can find everything Jillian at Jillianratliff.com
    1 hr 4 min
  • Elon Musk and the Data Driven Coup
    Katie and Keith welcome cybersecurity expert Jillian Ratliff on the show to discuss what might be going with Elon Musk's invasion of government computers, how it constitutes a coup of a different kind, and what you can do to safeguard your personal information, browsing online and secure messaging.
    1 hr 18 min
  • Talking Bout a Revolution
    • Trump's Feb. 18th Executive Order and why it's concerning
    • Immigration & genocide: We're the bad guys now
    • Make American Healthy Again: Another concerning EO,  especially if you have neurodivergent children
    • RFK as Secretary of Health & Human Services in the age of bird flu (measles, tuberculosis, etc.)
    • How should we respond to all this as American citizens?
    1 hr 36 min
  • The Bomb Shelter
    This is a short 15 minute bonus episode on President's Day
    I record this podcast in a bomb shelter built into the house in 1956. It got me thinking what being in a bomb shelter represents. I also remembered "The Shelter" episode from The Twilight Zone that scared me so much as a kid.
    And then I realized that what our leaders, with assistance from 77 million of our fellow citizens were doing was making America into one big bomb shelter - closing ourselves from the world on fire we helped create. What will become of us?
    With a nod to Rod Serling, I hope you enjoy (if that's the correct word) this ep.
    16 min
  • How Do You Sleep at Night?
    Katie has the week off recovering from the flu. Let's all wish her the best.
    So I am doing this act alone today.
    After a brief roundup of the news, we'll talk about the many ways you're going to miss the Federal work force with a special emphasis on public health.
    A bit of discussion about the impending bird flu pandemic and shortages of food caused by the absence of migrant farm workers and USAID being hobbled.
    With the Federal government's response to be hobbled, what can you do?
    PREPARE!
    I'll share the ways you can prep for what is coming down the pike - food, meds, whatever - and most importantly, to start NOW.
    Then I'll take a look at Trump's executive order forming a task force on America's health and what bad things this means if you're on anti-depressants or anxiety medications and why your ADD/ADHD child is being regarded by this administration as a "National Security threat."
    So how do you sleep at night with all of this going on?
    I'll the discuss the various means and methods of getting a refreshing night's sleep which will veer into a frankly, and admittedly, weird discussion on ASMR (getting the "tingles") and how it can help you get to sleep. Yes, with examples. OK, I know, it's weird but it works.
    1 hr 18 min

About From the Bomb Shelter

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Katie and Keith take you on a one way trip to surviving the next four years or however much we have left. A combination of no BS hot takes and deep conversation leavened with dark humor.