KPFA - Hard Knock Radio

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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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On Hard Knock Radio, host Dave “Davey D” Cook sat down with Oakland-raised investigator and former CPRA executive director Mac Muir, co-author (with Greg Finch) of Cop Cop: Breaking the Fixed System of American Policing. The conversation moves from New York’s entrenched resistance to oversight to Oakland’s imperfect but real gains, and lands on practical reforms that could actually change outcomes on the street.

Muir frames the book’s premise plainly: the system is “fixed”—structured to over-police Black and Brown communities and to sour officers against the public they serve. Because much of what happens inside internal affairs never reaches daylight, Cop Cop tells the day-to-day stories of complaints, investigations, and the quiet harms that don’t make headlines but shape lives.

New York vs. Oakland. Running investigations in New York, Muir encountered “almost comprehensive hostility” to oversight inside a vast, insular NYPD. In Oakland, federal monitors and a stronger charter-based system created more leverage. It’s not the OPD of 2003, he notes, and he left “more optimistic” about the trajectory—while stressing that scandals persist and trust remains a multi-generational project tied to unaddressed history.

The airplane-crash standard. Davey D pushes a comparison: when planes crash, investigators reconstruct every factor to stop repeats. Police killings and abuses rarely get that prevention-first treatment. Muir agrees: settlements tally damage after the fact; the work should be to prevent the next incident—down to the “everyday” harms of stop-and-frisk that, in New York, correlated with lower test scores for young Black men.

Fear as policy—and PR. Muir walks through a lineage of fear campaigns: the 1960s fight against a civilian review board (fronted by a slick police-union ad warning that “your life” depends on officers never being second-guessed) and the 1970s “Fear City/Fair City” push that helped protect police budgets while schools and social services were slashed. Davey D recalls the fallout as a student—no after-school programs, more police, a cycle cemented by rhetoric.

Why DOJ consent decrees aren’t enough. Federal interventions can force short-term box-checking, but they leave. The durable fix is local, charter-level oversight with real power over discipline. Chicago’s recent model, Muir argues, bakes civilian control into the machinery rather than renting it from Washington.

Piercing the jargon. Investigations can’t accept magic words—“I feared for my safety,” “bulge,” “exigent circumstances”—as end-points. Muir’s method is to strip the lingo and reconstruct what an officer actually saw, heard, and did. If the facts don’t align with the claimed fear, the justification fails.

Concrete reforms Muir backs:

History, memory, repair. In Oakland, trust won’t be rebuilt without public reckoning: Panthers era violence, Bobby Hutton, 1980s killings—truth-telling forums matter for institutional legitimacy. Transparency under federal oversight helps, but acknowledgement is a community-level necessity.

On slogans and politics. Muir calls “more Black officers” an overrated fix—representation hasn’t reliably altered outcomes—and says the “defund” frame backfires by suggesting no one answers 911. The through-line is not ideology but incentives and structures that reliably prevent harm.

Asked where to start in Cop Cop, Muir points listeners to chapters 3–13—case-driven windows into the often invisible craft of civilian investigation. It’s there, he says, that readers can see how accountability is actually built: fact by fact, file by file, decision by decision.

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 Fund Drive Special: “Cop Cop” and the Politics of Accountability: Mac Muir on Fixing a Rigged System appeared first on KPFA.

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 Fund Drive Special appeared first on KPFA.

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 Hard Knock Radio – September 22, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

In the wake of the campus-rally killing of Charlie Kirk—and the immediate media sanctification that followed—Hard Knock Radio host Davey D sat down with media critic and author Jennifer L. Pozner to connect the dots between shock headlines, corporate deals, and a chilling new phase of state pressure on speech. The conversation opened with Davey D framing the moment: public grief and outrage quickly morphed into a climate where educators, journalists, and comedians faced swift punishment for even contextual criticism. Pozner, founder of Women in Media & News and author of Reality Bites Back, came ready with receipts—and warnings.

The flashpoint was Jimmy Kimmel’s “indefinite suspension” from ABC after he mocked Donald Trump’s reaction to Kirk’s death. Pozner emphasized that Kimmel expressed condolences and rejected violence; the bit targeted hypocrisy and political score-keeping. That distinction matters, she argued, because satire’s job is to “punch up,” not coddle power. When regimes muzzle comics and censor journalists, she said, that’s the autocrat’s playbook.

Pozner traced a throughline: FCC chair Brendan Carr publicly pressed ABC affiliates to preempt Kimmel and warned Disney there were “remedies” if they didn’t “do the right thing”—language Pozner called mob-boss talk from a regulator meant to protect the public interest, not police speech. The message: corporate compliance or regulatory pain.

Beyond Kimmel, Pozner laid out a broader pattern she documents in her forthcoming graphic-nonfiction project (title in flux): frivolous lawsuits against outlets like ABC/Disney and CBS/Paramount, quietly settled not because they were strong but because multi-billion-dollar mergers and regulatory favors hung in the balance. Paramount’s settlement was followed by Stephen Colbert’s ouster and the axing of The Late Show franchise—then speedy merger approvals. Nexstar’s push to absorb Tegna, Disney’s pursuit of Fubo, and other deals formed the backdrop for what Davey D called “bending the knee.”

The takeaway, Pozner said: for conglomerates, $15–$16 million legal payouts are pocket change if compliance unlocks billions. Whether executives personally like Trump is beside the point; profit over public interest rules the room.

Davey D pressed on a common defense: if people get fired for offensive speech on one side, isn’t turnabout fair play? Pozner drew a firm line between community accountability for hate speech that harms vulnerable groups and the state using regulatory power to punish critics of those in charge. The first is public debate; the second is state censorship, and it’s the line democracies cannot cross.

She also challenged the instant revisionism around Kirk, noting Turning Point USA’s Professor Watchlist and its impact on Black women scholars and others who faced harassment once targeted. That, she argued, fits the logic of stochastic terrorism: rhetoric that doesn’t issue explicit commands but signals violence to willing actors.

Perhaps most alarming, Pozner said, is the White House seizing selection of the press pool, a function historically managed by the White House Correspondents’ Association to keep government from deciding who gets access. Hand-picking friendlier outlets is another step toward managed information and away from a free press.

For Pozner, the response can’t be passive. She called for letters and calls (more effective than online comments) to Disney and other media owners; pressure on Congress to hold hearings on FCC overreach; and solidarity for journalists, educators, and comedians who hold power to account. Davey D underscored the urgency, noting that when you line up the suspensions, settlements, DEI rollbacks, and merger greenlights on a single page, the pattern is hard to miss.

Follow Jennifer L. Pozner: @jennpozner (IG/BlueSky), Jennifer L. Posner on Facebook. Her next book—published by First Second Books—is in motion; title update pending.

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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ChairmanFredHampton Jr. on Chicago, Propaganda, and Building Real Coalitions

On Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D checks in withChairmanFredHampton Jr. of the Black Panther Party Cubs to unpack the fast-moving situation in Chicago and the wider national climate. From the talk of deploying the National Guard to the shifting justifications around crime and immigration, Hampton Jr. argues were living through reactionary times where policy and headlines move a mile a minute”and where propaganda often outruns facts on the ground.Hampton Jr. says reports of a National Guard deployment to Chicago have see-sawed, with opposition from street organizers and elected officials alike. As of the conversation, there was no set arrival date”proof, he suggests, of a narrative that pivots between hot-button frames (crime, immigration) to trigger emotions rather than invite logic. He draws a historical line from civilizing the savages to Iraqs WMDs: the language shifts, the strategy”manufacturing consent”does not.Davey D presses on the reality in Chicagos neighborhoods. Hampton Jr. stresses contradictions exist”organizers dont romanticize the streets”but notes that even ruling-class numbers dont match the fear-laden coverage. Meanwhile, real community work continues: artists, street organizations, faith communities, and movement veterans collaborating consistently, not just when its politically convenient. He points to the recentChairmanFredStreet Party marking what would be his fathers 77th birthday, which drew diverse crowds, rival campaigns, and chapters from across the country”evidence, he says, that authentic coalition building is alive.On efforts to pit Black residents against immigrants, Hampton Jr. acknowledges Chicagos deep segregation yet rejects the medias exaggerated division narrative. In the spirit of the original Rainbow Coalition, he frames peoples differences as reconcilable”and the contradiction between the people and the system as irreconcilable.Asked about the official mourning and platform protections following the assassination of Charlie Kirk”despite his record of racist statements”Hampton Jr. argues everything is political. He connects the current law and order posture to earlier eras, calling out how race remains a core tool of U.S. capitalism and state power. Which lives are honored”and which are ignored”reveals the systems priorities.So what now? If you stay ready, you aint gotta get ready. Hampton Jr. urges people to internalize political literacy, recognize propaganda early (including in music and media), draw global-local connections, and practice a disciplined, objective politics”dialectical, not reactive. He closes by inviting folks to stay tapped in to on-the-ground work and notes hell be in Oakland for Black Panther Party Month in October. Follow him at@officialchairmanfredhamptonjron Instagram

Hard Knock Radio:JessicaCareMooreHonors Black Brilliance With New Childrens Book

On this episode ofHard Knock Radio, host Davey D sits down with poet, author, and cultural warriorJessicaCareMooreto celebrate the release of her first childrens book,Your Crown Shines: For Ketanji Brown Jackson and You. The book, inspired by the historic rise of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, is an illustrated poem that uplifts Black children”especially girls”encouraging them to dream boldly and unapologetically.Jessicaexplains how the book was born from a commissioned poem she performed during a Win With Black Women virtual gathering celebrating Jacksons confirmation. The event, which included Oprah Winfrey, led to Oprah sharing the poem publicly”opening the door forJessicato land a deal with HarperKids. Illustrator Dare Coulter brought the words to life with powerful, emotionally rich visuals thatJessicasays often bring her to tears.Throughout the conversation,Jessicaand Davey D discuss the toxic messaging children of color often receive from authority figures”like guidance counselors and teachers”who discourage ambition.Jessicashares a personal story about someone telling her son to have a backup plan instead of pursuing his passion. Her response:I am my sons backup plan.Jessicacritiques the broader systemic assaults on Black and Brown youth”from book bans to defunded education and attacks on diversity programs”calling them part of a wider culture war. She stresses the need for community involvement, showing up for all children and pouring into their dreams with intention.Mooreis currently touring schools and community spaces to share the book with young readers. She will be reading at Oakland Public Conservatory alongside Angela WellmansBlack Girls Playprogram, spreading the message that every childs crown deserves to shine.

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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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 unpacks how police departments deploy strategic storytelling and cultivate media partnerships to shape public perception of crime, fuel fear-driven narratives, and justify ever-expanding police budgets.

The conversation opens with Alec defining “copaganda” and dissecting how misleading claims—like the idea that shoplifting forced Walgreens to close stores—spread through mainstream outlets with little scrutiny. He draws a direct line between these narratives and the billions funneled into policing while social services remain underfunded.

Alec then reveals the powerful PR machinery behind law enforcement. The LAPD alone employs more than 40 full-time public relations staff whose job is to seed stories into local news cycles, often without balance or fact-checking. The result is a media ecosystem where police dictate the terms of public safety while obscuring their own violence and systemic failures.

In the final segment, Alec points to Houston as a case study: after George Floyd’s murder, the police department quickly crafted a compassionate public image. Yet behind that façade, policies criminalizing and punishing poor and marginalized communities remained unchanged. It’s a stark example of how image management substitutes for genuine accountability.

About the Book
Copaganda is a sharp, uncompromising critique of how police shape the news we consume. Drawing on detailed research and his own legal work, Alec Karakatsanis shows how police narratives dominate headlines, deflect attention from structural harm, and uphold mass criminalization. The book challenges readers to rethink what they believe about crime, punishment, and who gets to control the story.

About Alec Karakatsanis
Alec Karakatsanis is the founder and executive director of Civil Rights Corps, a nonprofit that challenges systemic injustice in the legal system. A former public defender, he has led national campaigns to dismantle cash bail, expose police misconduct, and confront 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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Today on Hard Knock Radio we bring you a special edition of Rootwork on KPFK, Thandi Chimurenga of Black Liberation Media sat down with Kali Akuno of Cooperation Jackson to discuss bold strategies for grassroots survival and resistance. Part of the ongoing Build and Fight Formula series, their conversation explored the urgency of self-defense in the face of rising authoritarianism.

National Guard federalization: On August 25, 2025, Trump signed an executive order creating specialized National Guard units to address civil disturbances. Unlike traditional deployments requiring governor approval, these units can now be activated directly by the president and the secretary of defense. Critics argue this circumvents the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the use of federal troops for domestic policing.

Military deployment for immigration enforcement: In June 2025, Trump authorized the use of both National Guard and active-duty troops to protect ICE facilities and personnel from protestors”an unprecedented and controversial expansion of military involvement in civilian affairs.

ICE budget windfall: A Republican-led Congress passed a massive immigration and border enforcement spending bill, allocating $160 billion to ICE, dramatically expanding its resources and reach.

Organizations like the Brennan Center for Justice and Peoples World have described these actions as part of an authoritarian playbook”not the creation of a separate military force, but the political misuse of existing institutions under legally ambiguous authority.

This conversation situates these developments within a broader strategy of grassroots resistance, offering listeners tools to analyze and confront state repression in this moment of deepening crisis.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA 94.1 FM (airs weekdays 4″5 pm), hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. As a community-supported station, KPFA operates without corporate underwriting, keeping the focus on people-powered media.

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On this episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sits down with X. Eyee, one of todays leading voices in artificial intelligence ethics, policy, and responsible tech. With a career that spans Microsoft, Google, the U.S. Department of Defense, and now CEO of consulting firm Malo Santo, X. Eyee has seen AI from every angle”and theyve made it their mission to break the jargon down for everyday people.

AI: Superhero and Supervillain

X. Eyee lays it out clearly: artificial intelligence is both saving lives and endangering them. Its diagnosing cancer earlier than doctors and predicting floods before they happen. But its also writing police reports that hallucinate facts, supercharging ICE surveillance, and fueling toxic data centers often placed in Black and Brown communities. What AI becomes, Eyee insists, depends on what we do in the next 18 months to set boundaries.

Whos Behind the Wheel?

AI is like a car, Eyee explains. Not inherently bad”but dangerous in the wrong hands. Corporate fiduciary duty pushes companies like Google and Meta to chase ad revenue instead of community benefit. But the rise of open-source AI means people can build tools on laptops or even phones without feeding giant data centers. That shift opens the door for community-based problem solving”if we choose to seize it.

Reclaiming Imagination

Davey D pushes back on how corporations limit imagination, turning users into passive consumers. Eyee responds with real-world solutions:

AI that gives court defendants Uber credits to make hearings.

AI that generates culturally relevant reading material for classrooms.

Indigenous creators fine-tuning models to preserve endangered languages.

These examples underscore a bigger point: the people closest to the problems are the ones who should be shaping the solutions.

Breaking Digital Addiction

Eyee also calls out digital drugs. Swipe-up feeds and short-form content are intentionally addictive. Companies dont care about well-being, only attention extraction. The challenge is intentionality”digital detoxing, redirecting our attention, and building tools that feed our communities rather than drain them.

From Richmond to Google

Sharing their personal journey”from Richmond to the military, to coding in Afghanistan, to shaping AI ethics inside Google”Eyee shows how persistence and imagination can shift the field. Their work even changed the way Googles cameras recognize Black and Brown skin tones, updates that now impact millions of devices and body-worn cameras.

Whats Next: Hackathon in Richmond

Before wrapping, Eyee invites the community to a free hackathon in Richmond:

” Saturday, September 20th

Participants will team up with developers to learn prompt-to-app tools and build solutions for real community needs. Beginners are welcome, and prizes will be awarded.

Follow X. Eyee on socials: @TechWithX 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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