Davey D’s conversation with longtime union organizer and Oakland Socialist blogger John Reimann begins with a racist meme Donald Trump posted depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. Davey D notes the outrage was immediate, but he brought Reimann on to argue the meme carried a deeper political message beyond overt racism.

Reimann frames Trump’s communication style as misdirection, like a magician’s patter meant to keep people focused on the obvious offense while bigger moves happen in the background. He argues that constant scandals can desensitize the public, and he situates the moment inside what he calls a “Trump Vance Miller imperial presidency,” marked by corruption and escalating attacks on democratic norms. In Reimann’s read, the meme’s subtext was a three part warning: repeat the claim that the 2020 election was stolen, project domination over opponents, and signal that racism will be used as a weapon to shape upcoming elections. Davey D agrees the message is sobering and asks how to keep people from feeling overwhelmed or shutting down.

Reimann offers a vivid metaphor: the public is in a canoe headed toward Niagara Falls, paddling for shore without certainty of success but with no choice except to try. His main argument is that the most underused force is organized labor, especially if rank and file members act independently of timid leadership. He says unions could shut down air travel, shipping, and rail and bring the economy to a halt, but leaders have stayed silent even during moments like the touted Minneapolis general strike.

Davey D pushes on the practical gap between leadership and membership, using the Schwarzenegger era example where union leaders held a rally while rank and file members went to a Raiders game. Reimann counters with the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle, where members followed youth into the streets, suggesting the potential for a real rank and file movement.

As the discussion turns toward what people should do now, Reimann proposes concrete steps: pressure union leaders to hold mass meetings, run public education campaigns, build workplace committees against the “imperial presidency,” and organize protests during work hours. Davey D raises fears of retaliation, defunding, lawsuits, and whether unions should operate quietly. Reimann rejects that caution as an 80 year failed strategy, arguing unions cannot survive without democratic space and that repression must be met with broader, escalating mass action.

The two also debate examples like the Muslim ban airport protests and Port of Oakland actions, landing on the idea that disruption can work but needs scale and labor participation. In the closing, Reimann insists there’s no shortcut, only organizing, and warns future generations will ask what people did beyond voting. He directs listeners to his Oakland Socialist blog and an upcoming petition aimed at union members and supporters.

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.

The post John Reihman Part Two of the Conversation appeared first on KPFA.