In this timely episode, Davey D speaks with civil rights attorney and author Alec Karakatsanis about his new book, Copaganda: How Police and the Media Manipulate Our News. Alec explains how police departments use strategic storytelling and media partnerships to shape public perception of crime, reinforce fear-based narratives, and justify inflated police budgets.

The conversation begins with Alec defining “copaganda” and exploring how misleading narratives—like the claim that shoplifting forced Walgreens to close stores—are often amplified in the press without evidence. He draws a direct connection between these narratives and the massive funding police departments receive, often at the expense of social services.

Alec then pulls back the curtain on the powerful PR machinery behind law enforcement. For example, the LAPD employs more than 40 full-time public relations professionals—tasked with feeding stories to local newsrooms, often without scrutiny or balance. This, he argues, creates a media ecosystem where police define the terms of public safety while masking their own violence and systemic failures.

In the final part of the interview, Alec shares a powerful example from Houston, where the police department worked quickly to present a caring, compassionate image after the murder of George Floyd. Behind the scenes, however, policies that criminalize and harm poor and marginalized communities remained unchanged. It’s a stark look at how image management often replaces real accountability.

Copaganda is a sharp, uncompromising critique of how police shape the news we consume. Through detailed research and firsthand legal experience, Alec Karakatsanis shows how police narratives dominate headlines, distract from structural harm, and sustain mass criminalization. The book challenges readers to question what they believe about crime and punishment—and who controls that narrative.

Alec Karakatsanis is the founder and executive director of Civil Rights Corps, a nonprofit dedicated to challenging injustice in the legal system. A former public defender, Alec has led national efforts to dismantle cash bail systems, fight police misconduct, and expose the legal system’s role in reinforcing racial and economic inequality. He is also the author of Usual Cruelty: The Complicity of Lawyers in the Criminal Injustice System.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

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