Highlands Bunker

Jennifer Chattin, mother of previous guest Josh Chattin, joins Rob and State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton in the bunker to give an update on her son's attempts to organize inmates in Vaughn (and now Howard Young) prison and the backlash they have faced.

(To all legislative staff and spouses: the timestamp you're looking for is 26:26, try paying attention to something that actually matters)

Show Notes:

• Previous episode about Vaughn
• Alonna Berry's issues page

State Senator Laura Sturgeon and activist Shyanne Miller join Rob in the bunker to recap the first leg of Delaware's legislative session. We discuss the few things that did get done, and the larger forces and incentives that kept anything particularly substantial from getting through.

Show Notes:

• DE-WFP Legislative Debrief
• Capital Fight or Flight and Delaware's Bunker Mindset
• Democrats told to "get shot" for the anti-Trump resistance
• More on the DREAM Initiative

Inmates Joshua Chattin, Michael Fields, and Fenel Baines join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the atrocious conditions at Vaughn Prison in Smyrna which finally came to light during the latest heat wave, how inmates have been fighting back, and the blowback that they face when advocating for themselves. Then, a brief session recap ahead of our full episode next week.

Show Notes:

• Our original episode about Vaughn Prison in 2019
• Some Vaughn inmates are without air conditioning during heatwave
• 2025 Legislative Session Report

Karl and Bill join Rob in the bunker to talk about the latest debacle around Rep. Stell Parker Selby's resignation, as well as Karl's op-ed about the anti-democratic nature of Delaware's Democratic leadership.

Show Notes:

• Support and pushback over bill to prevent local agreements with ICE
• Coast TV Interviews One and Two
• Delaware’s Bunker Mindset

Police reform activists Vonda Smack and Tom Donovan join Rob in the bunker to talk about the efforts of NOCAP Delaware to bring more police accountability to Dover through a public police accountability form, and what the general state of policing is in Dover right now.

Show Notes:

• NOCAP Announcement, Facebook, and Instagram
• Dover Mayor, Law Enforcement, and State Officials Address Gun Violence, Victims Speak Out

State representative Frank Burns joins Rob in the bunker to get an update on what has happened with Senate Bill 21, how he was best friends with Pope Leo growing up, and how he navigates the strange culture of legislative hall and Delaware politics.

Show Notes:

• Gov. Meyer to defend landmark corporate law against constitutional challenge
• Senate passes offshore wind bill that overrides Sussex County decision to deny permit
• More about Frank Burns

Karl joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the first meeting of the Wilmington Homelessness Taskforce, and whether or not we can fix all of our problems with abundance. Then, they talk about whether or not the Democratic Party actually matters and what the Democratic Party even is.

Show Notes:

• Wilmington Homelessness Taskforce
• What We Talk About When We Talk About “The Party”
• Ted Cruz, John Kasich join forces to stop Donald Trump

Councilwoman Shané Darby joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her campaign for state representative and her run-in with the Wilmington police, and then Mr. Cee joins to talk about marijuana legalization and the different types of smokers.

Show Notes:

• The rushed tax brackets bill
• Shané Darby's website
• Hygh Tymes
• WJVS Radio

Activist Michaelena DeJesus joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her experience of political repression over the last year now that the final charges have finally been dismissed.

Show Notes:

• Jordan Howell's original piece

Bill joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the various ways that Delaware Democrats are melting down in public, the attempts of ZIP Code Wilmington to transform the city and its education system, and an update on your Wilmington Blue Rocks.

Show Notes:

• Madinah Comedy Special
• We helped Wilmington baristas become coders. We transformed the city