It Could Happen Here

 Mia talks with Colin, Giselle, and Audra of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee about organizing behind bars and the conditions of incarcerated workers in the US.

Links:

https://audrasrealthoughts.wordpress.com/

https://incarceratedworkers.org

https://www.instagram.com/incarceratedworkers/

https://www.jailhouselawyersspeak.com/new-page

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Garrison talks with Bridget Todd about how personally intimate AI chatbots are creating a new form of emotional surveillance and why focusing just on “AI girlfriends” overlooks the need to regulate emotionally manipulative AI and for-profit tech companies.

Sources: 

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Love-at-First-Prompt/Bridget-Todd/9781668179826 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labor journalist and author Kim Kelly discusses the impact of deadly silica dust in the workplace, from coal mines to coffee shops

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James looks into the recent Cyclospora outbreak and what it can tell us about solidarity, food safety, and where our food comes from.

Sources:

https://newsroom.haas.berkeley.edu/magazine/spring-2026/taylor-farms/  
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/23/billion-dollar-california-salad-company-exploits-undocumented-migrants-say-workers-and-teamsters 
https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-economist-interview-2000790016 
https://www.thefp.com/p/cyclosporiasis-outbreak-lettuce-media?utm_source=publication-search 
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-report-e-coli-outbreak-onions-taylor-farms/ 
https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2026-07-27garciatotaylorfarmsrecyclosporacontaminatedlettuce.pdf 
https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Bruce+Taylor&contributor_employer=Taylor+Farms+ 
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/07/2025-14967/requirements-for-additional-traceability-records-for-certain-foods-compliance-date-extension 
https://bsky.app/profile/ufw.bsky.social/post/3msj3j7ordt2w 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James talks with Molly Conger about the javelina and their installable appetite for golf courses.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65x0RvhJNa8 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/nov/05/conservation.sciencenews   

https://zoologicalbulletin.de/BzB_Volumes/Volume_56_1_2/049_054_BzB56_1_2_Moraves_Jiri_and_B%C3%B6hme_Wolfgang.pdf  

https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife-conservation/living-with-wildlife/living-with-javelina/  

https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/8e8abbf4-6775-4575-9a10-fedacb7cb2c1 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journalist Carlos Berríos Polanco talks with James, outlining the United States' overseas colonial empire and how it was started by a quest for bird poop. 

Sources:

How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr

Colonial Crucible: Empire in the Making of the Modern American State edited by Alfred W. McCoy and Francisco A. Scarano

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23780231241274187

https://fortune.com/2026/07/27/hormuz-fertilizer-guano-islands-act-fertilizer-empire/ 

https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/navassa-island-the-uss-160-year-forgotten-tragedy

https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-09-26/almost-half-of-americans-dont-know-puerto-ricans-are-us-citizens-poll 

https://www.doi.gov/oia/islands/politicatypes 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/30/puerto-rico-independence-movement 

https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-CARIBBEAN/MILITARY-BUILDUP/egpbbnzyrpq/ 

https://www.nminewsservice.com/cnmi-covenant-united-states-50th-anniversary-explainer-timeline/ 

https://apnews.com/article/american-samoa-voting-citizenship-alaska-trump-eda6c32ce0fcdca6edb22efac26e403d 

https://www.nminewsservice.com/cnmi-covenant-united-states-50th-anniversary-explainer-timeline/ https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/how-us-controls-iraqs-oil-revenues-2026-01-23/ 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/17/magazine/venezuela-empires-colony.html 

https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-state-trump-rodriguez-chavismo-silence-634203c885803b018ecd8ac012bb249d 

https://time.com/article/2026/06/02/trump-annex-canada-51st-state-rhetoric-carney-us-partnership-message/ 

https://theconversation.com/us-territories-have-a-voice-in-congress-but-no-vote-heres-why-283547

https://www.usace.army.mil/Media/Fact-Sheets/Fact-Sheets-View/Article/4463352/154-the-longe
st-blackout-in-us-history-hurricane-maria/

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/trump-was-serious-about-trading-hurricane-stricken-puert
o-rico-greenland-n1237336

https://www.democracynow.org/2001/8/3/as_navy_pounds_vieques_with_largest
“Nationals” but not “Citizens”

https://www.aclu.org/news/voting-rights/nationals-but-not-citizens-how-the-u-s-denies-citizenship
-to-american-samoans

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Margaret reads you a story about the French Revolution and the destruction of a prison

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file. 

• The Gen Z Protests that Shook India's Fascist Government
• GlobeCon: The New Liberals Take on DSA
• GlobeCon: Can Technocratic Neoliberalism Save Us? Um no wtf?
• How Ken Paxton Became the Most Corrupt Man in Texas Politics 
• Executive Disorder: Flock Sabotage, Tariff Refunds for Corporations, Wisconsin Election

You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today!

Sources/Links:

The Gen Z Protests that Shook India's Fascist Government

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/the-human-toll-of-neet-11-reported-suicides-after-paper-leak-forced-retest-101781771406022.html

https://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/projects/mmt/ambedkar/web/readings/aoc_print_2004.pdf

https://frontline.thehindu.com/columns/surya-kant-parasite-remark-unemployment/article71041381.ece

https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/what-do-indias-gen-z-protests-mean-for-modi

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3ek3l9gp7go

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260806-india-youth-protests-highlight-mistrust-in-lapdog-media

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/26/come-back-my-son-indian-exam-leak-leaves-trail-of-death-despair-anger

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/27/india/india-cockroach-protests-what-next-intl-hnk

https://frontline.thehindu.com/politics/cockroach-janta-party-gen-z-politics/article71065447.ece

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/indias-youth-protests-puncture-modis-063558309.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g43l251vyo

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-68282270

GlobeCon: The New Liberals Take on DSA\

https://cnliberalism.org/posts/nlas-2026
https://nlas.cnliberalism.org/schedule

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/massachusetts-playbook/2025/01/14/auchincloss-take-on-the-tiktok-case-00198039
https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-oddities-israel-massachusetts-11b4dc6e42afd2d68be28dedf86fd25a https://www.newtonbeacon.org/protesters-call-out-auchincloss-on-palantir-executive-donations/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2022/11/08/neoliberals-millenials-genz/
https://www.cjr.org/covering_the_election/center-new-liberalism-cnl-jeremiah-johnson.php https://cnliberalism.org/posts/press-release-greg-schultz-joins-center-for-new-liberalism-as-senior-advisor
https://www.progressivepolicy.org/release-young-neoliberals-link-up-with-ppi/
https://cnliberalism.org/posts/new-website-newish-name
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/22/upshot/poll-democrats-times-siena.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/us/mamdani-nyc-voters-election-demographics.html
https://dockish.com/analysis.html
https://www.cnn.com/election/2025/exit-polls/new-york-city/general/mayor/0
https://www.michaellange.nyc/p/the-mamdani-coalition-goes-national?r=e53xe&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/us/politics/michigan-primary-election-results-what-next.html
https://x.com/BayAreaNewLibs/status/2020215361573122556?s=20

GlobeCon: Can Technocratic Neoliberalism Save Us? Um no wtf?

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-the-new-liberal-podcast-30949602/episode/the-crisis-of-liberalism-338635572
https://cnliberalism.org/posts/nlas-2026
https://nlas.cnliberalism.org/schedule
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/30/bennet-loses-colorado-governor-primary-00983357?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

https://cnliberalism.org/posts/press-release-greg-schultz-joins-center-for-new-liberalism-as-senior-advisor
https://www.epi.org/productivity-pay-gap/
https://www.progressivepolicy.org/release-young-neoliberals-link-up-with-ppi/
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/22/upshot/poll-democrats-times-siena.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/us/mamdani-nyc-voters-election-demographics.html

Executive Disorder: Flock Sabotage, Tariff Refunds for Corporations, Wisconsin Election

https://www.glo.texas.gov/about-glo/press-releases/dont-tread-texas-commissioner-buckingham-orders-federal-contractors-cease

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/us-nears-full-withdrawal-iraq-bases-kurdistan-region-face-attacks-iran-proxies?gift_code=PxC6sQpYfa47Ebi2ruPAcNozYz0
https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/03/politics/us-military-iran-war-troops-punish?Date=20260803&Profile=CNN&utm_content=1785734410&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/12/politics/exclusive-splc-fraud-cfo-charges 

https://apnews.com/article/trump-press-secretary-leavitt-dc3753a957b05ef554bf277221d9cf46?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share

https://www.techdirt.com/2026/08/10/spacexs-earnings-show-elon-wiped-out-two-thirds-of-twitters-ad-business/ https://crimethinc.com/2026/08/12/the-border-is-an-open-wound-a-tree-sit-in-lochiel-arizona-halts-border-wall-construction
https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/axon-license-plate-reader-flock-replacement-surveillance-2026/

https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/

https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/arizona-police-agencies-gather-share-license-plate-data-but-few-ensure-rules-are-being-followed/

https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/aurora-police-detain-black-family-after-mistaking-their-vehicle-as-stolen

https://sls.eff.org/technologies/automated-license-plate-readers-alprs

https://www.winonapost.com/news/crime/all-of-wpd-s-flock-cameras-stolen/article_9c61aa25-411b-4f2f-a5cd-ca02942f5f9f.html

https://krocnews.com/stolen-flock-cameras-winona-mn/

https://www.winonapost.com/news/wpd-wont-replace-stolen-flock-cameras-citing-public-trust/article_06a67859-2d97-414b-aa8f-d8751ad214bb.html

https://www.military.com/air-force-engineer-accused-of-cutting-down-13-police-cameras-says-they-are-unconstitutional

https://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justice/2025/12/16/timeline-the-brief-troubled-history-of-flock-cameras-in-eugene-springfield/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/

https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/flock-cameras-destroyed-nationwide-ice-backlash-2026/

https://ngscinc.com/history-license-plate-recognition

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/automatic-license-plate-readers-legal-status-and-policy-recommendations

https://www.policechiefmagazine.org/patrol-cars-poles-alpr/

https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/state-house-hopeful-arrested-in-flock-fiasco/article_2bb9aca2-5ede-4f42-9329-a8754aad7350.html

https://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/posts/pfbid0YWZxSJqZSBJu2BDQiQQnWUqzNiYEoHxQEgF88NBRjRXfDwQxMtqfNyHoiry5m3Mel

https://www.wlky.com/article/attorney-lmpd-flock-camera-scandal/69895783

https://www.alxnow.com/2026/07/14/alexandria-man-arrested-for-allegedly-destroying-multiple-license-plate-readers/

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/flock-camera-sawed-old-braeswood-22370015.php

https://nypost.com/2026/08/02/us-news/flock-safety-cameras-vandalized-on-long-island-after-accusations-cop-tracked-lover/

https://nypost.com/2026/07/29/us-news/flock-cameras-vandalized-in-monterey-county/

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/08/04/down-with-the-flock-florida-man-uses-simple-trick-to-combat-flock-cameras/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/08/03/police-flock-safety-surveillance-cameras-getting-pushback-florida/90915780007/

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mnd.226137/gov.uscourts.mnd.226137.42.0.pdf 

https://www.highereddive.com/news/court-blocks-in-state-tuition-for-undocumented-students-in-illinois/826417/ 

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-complaints-against-new-york-connecticut-and-vermont-challenging 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rb28dkl0zanl3idfd6gk7/2026-35259.pdf?rlkey=n7tj1ii329fwx5syadydk0ve4&st=5dt4p4uf&e=1&dl=0 

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/fc/2015HB-06844-R000875-FC.htm 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixi9_cciy8w&t=43s https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-research-autism-trump-kennedy-rfk-d10f81f221c4ae9f5b2f83dd0ee98b29
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/delivering-gold-standard-childhood-vaccine-recommendations-for-americans/
https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/10/health/executive-order-vaccines-what-it-means

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIcAZxFfrc
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/tariff-refunds-split-companies-as-consumers-demand-share-of-166b/ar-AA29jzkB

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/us-sent-back-334-billion-in-tariff-refunds-in-july-as-total-payouts-surpass-100-billion-190357854.html

https://x.com/FrancescaHongWI/status/2087228416101699813?s=20
https://www.instagram.com/p/DbrKW3GAQjG/?img_index=3

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/wisconsin-governor-results 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/11/us/politics/wisconsin-democratic-primary-governor-polling.html
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/08/11/wisconsin-minnesota-south-carolina-connecticut-elections/wisconsin-election-tv-ads-01035024

https://program.dsausa.org/
https://archive.is/FVnx0#selection-1275.0-1281.109

https://aviationsourcenews.com/air-farce-one-the-exorbitant-cost-of-refitting-a-qatari-boeing-747-8/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The gang discuss sabotage of Flock cameras across the country, immigration judge training documents, DOJ lawsuits over state tuition assistance for immigrants, Trump’s new anti-vax executive order, corporations pocketing over $100 billion in tariff refunds, Francesca Hong’s close defeat in Wisconsin, and Trump sneaking out of Air Force One. 

Sources: 

https://www.glo.texas.gov/about-glo/press-releases/dont-tread-texas-commissioner-buckingham-orders-federal-contractors-cease

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/us-nears-full-withdrawal-iraq-bases-kurdistan-region-face-attacks-iran-proxies?gift_code=PxC6sQpYfa47Ebi2ruPAcNozYz0
https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/03/politics/us-military-iran-war-troops-punish?Date=20260803&Profile=CNN&utm_content=1785734410&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/12/politics/exclusive-splc-fraud-cfo-charges 

https://apnews.com/article/trump-press-secretary-leavitt-dc3753a957b05ef554bf277221d9cf46?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share

https://www.techdirt.com/2026/08/10/spacexs-earnings-show-elon-wiped-out-two-thirds-of-twitters-ad-business/ https://crimethinc.com/2026/08/12/the-border-is-an-open-wound-a-tree-sit-in-lochiel-arizona-halts-border-wall-construction
https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/axon-license-plate-reader-flock-replacement-surveillance-2026/

https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/

https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/arizona-police-agencies-gather-share-license-plate-data-but-few-ensure-rules-are-being-followed/

https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/aurora-police-detain-black-family-after-mistaking-their-vehicle-as-stolen

https://sls.eff.org/technologies/automated-license-plate-readers-alprs

https://www.winonapost.com/news/crime/all-of-wpd-s-flock-cameras-stolen/article_9c61aa25-411b-4f2f-a5cd-ca02942f5f9f.html

https://krocnews.com/stolen-flock-cameras-winona-mn/

https://www.winonapost.com/news/wpd-wont-replace-stolen-flock-cameras-citing-public-trust/article_06a67859-2d97-414b-aa8f-d8751ad214bb.html

https://www.military.com/air-force-engineer-accused-of-cutting-down-13-police-cameras-says-they-are-unconstitutional

https://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justice/2025/12/16/timeline-the-brief-troubled-history-of-flock-cameras-in-eugene-springfield/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/

https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/flock-cameras-destroyed-nationwide-ice-backlash-2026/

https://ngscinc.com/history-license-plate-recognition

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/automatic-license-plate-readers-legal-status-and-policy-recommendations

https://www.policechiefmagazine.org/patrol-cars-poles-alpr/

https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/state-house-hopeful-arrested-in-flock-fiasco/article_2bb9aca2-5ede-4f42-9329-a8754aad7350.html

https://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/posts/pfbid0YWZxSJqZSBJu2BDQiQQnWUqzNiYEoHxQEgF88NBRjRXfDwQxMtqfNyHoiry5m3Mel

https://www.wlky.com/article/attorney-lmpd-flock-camera-scandal/69895783

https://www.alxnow.com/2026/07/14/alexandria-man-arrested-for-allegedly-destroying-multiple-license-plate-readers/

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/flock-camera-sawed-old-braeswood-22370015.php

https://nypost.com/2026/08/02/us-news/flock-safety-cameras-vandalized-on-long-island-after-accusations-cop-tracked-lover/

https://nypost.com/2026/07/29/us-news/flock-cameras-vandalized-in-monterey-county/

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/08/04/down-with-the-flock-florida-man-uses-simple-trick-to-combat-flock-cameras/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/08/03/police-flock-safety-surveillance-cameras-getting-pushback-florida/90915780007/

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mnd.226137/gov.uscourts.mnd.226137.42.0.pdf 

https://www.highereddive.com/news/court-blocks-in-state-tuition-for-undocumented-students-in-illinois/826417/ 

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-complaints-against-new-york-connecticut-and-vermont-challenging 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rb28dkl0zanl3idfd6gk7/2026-35259.pdf?rlkey=n7tj1ii329fwx5syadydk0ve4&st=5dt4p4uf&e=1&dl=0 

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/fc/2015HB-06844-R000875-FC.htm 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixi9_cciy8w&t=43s https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-research-autism-trump-kennedy-rfk-d10f81f221c4ae9f5b2f83dd0ee98b29
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/delivering-gold-standard-childhood-vaccine-recommendations-for-americans/
https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/10/health/executive-order-vaccines-what-it-means

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIcAZxFfrc
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/tariff-refunds-split-companies-as-consumers-demand-share-of-166b/ar-AA29jzkB

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/us-sent-back-334-billion-in-tariff-refunds-in-july-as-total-payouts-surpass-100-billion-190357854.html

https://x.com/FrancescaHongWI/status/2087228416101699813?s=20
https://www.instagram.com/p/DbrKW3GAQjG/?img_index=3

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/wisconsin-governor-results 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/11/us/politics/wisconsin-democratic-primary-governor-polling.html
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/08/11/wisconsin-minnesota-south-carolina-connecticut-elections/wisconsin-election-tv-ads-01035024

https://program.dsausa.org/
https://archive.is/FVnx0#selection-1275.0-1281.109

https://aviationsourcenews.com/air-farce-one-the-exorbitant-cost-of-refitting-a-qatari-boeing-747-8/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Robert sits down with Texas journalist Robert Downen to discuss the rise and hopeful fall of Texas AG Ken Paxton.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.