Machete y Mate

T's back in the chair this week as the homies cover some of this week's shenanigans: Austin gives a quick recap of his meeting with groups organizing around the 'NO' vote on the upcoming PR status referendum, Maduro invites int'l election observers while pardoning over 100 ppl from the opposition, Bukele has been negotiating with gangs in El Salvador, Chile's Truck owners strike ends shrouded in controversy, and Lula on the road to vindication. Don't forget to follow us on twitter @MacheteyMate.

500+ years of colonialism. 500+ years of imperialism. Wealth stolen and looted. Nations divided and destroyed. Yet, in the face of all this the people unite and begin taking back what's theirs, from the Chaco to the Altiplano. The election of compañero Evo Morales marked the beginning of a paradigm shift in Bolivia, forcing the country to reckon with its racist, colonial past. The constitution, not without glaring contradictions, attempted to create a new path forward by encaspulating millenia of history. Here, the homies discuss some of the highlights of the constitution of the "new" Plurinational State of Bolivia.

With T on assignment on Bad Faith Ultraleftists podcast, the fellas welcome Friend of the Show and Special Philippines Correspondent Rob to round off the team. After the obligatory segment on Puerto Rico and AOC/Nydia Velazquez's proposal to solve its Status issue and the backlash this received from colonized Pro-Statehooders, the focus shifts and centers on the Philippines: a bit of material history, a bit of Duterte, a lot of contradiction, and you know how much we like contradiction. Follow us on twitter @macheteymate.

#HastaLaVictoria

The homies had the honor and privilege of talking to comrades from El Colectivo Kawsay, a collective of Bolivian activists doing Bolivian solidarity work based in the DMV. The conversation bore some amazing fruit. Incredible first-hand perspectives and insight into the history and material realities of Bolivia, MAS, Compañero Evo, the (most recent) coup, and Bolivia's place in the region. We appreciate the support but for Bolivia news and solidarity make sure you're following these fine people: La Resistencia Bolivia @resistencia.bolivia, Radio Kawsachun News @KawsachunCoca, Telesur, Ollie Vargas @OVargas52, Alina Duarte @_alinaduarte, Femenismo Comunitario Antipatriarcal @FAntiPatriarcal, Coordinadora Popular por La Vida @coordpopular, Coordinator in Support of Social Movements @coordinadora_en.

And of course follow us on twitter @macheteymate.

#HastaLaVictoria

The homies talk about some of the latest news out of LatAm: Some electoral closure in Puerto Rico, a Run-Off to be included in elections in Honduras if need be, former President Rafael Correa to run as a VP candidate despite the snake Lenin Moreno's best efforts, and the almost daily massacres happening against youths in Colombia and the implications for the FARC and RW elements in the country. Make sure you listen to last week's episode for some context on this episode's updates and make sure to follow us on twitter @macheteymate.

#HastaLaVictora

The homies talk about some of the latest news out of LatAm: The continuing Primary saga in Puerto Rico, the mounting pressure in Bolivia, the auto-golpe that Bolsonaro almost carried out, and the US's faithful client Álvaro Uribe and his house arrest. Make sure you listen to last week's episode for some context on this episode's updates and make sure to follow us on twitter @macheteymate. 

#HastaLaVictoria

The homies talk about some of the latest news coming out of LatAm: the Primaries in Puerto Rico, the clownish escuálidx opposition boycotting the upcoming elections in Venezuela, and a deeper dive into the people's uprising against the illegitimate coup gov't in Bolivia and all the implications. If you haven't already check out our series on the constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and follow us on twitter @macheteymate.

#HastaLaVictoria

The third installment of our series on the constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. We pick up the story right after the constituent assembly of 1999, highlighting key events of the 2000s including the 2002 coup attempt, the oil lockdown, the recall referendum, Chávez's reelection, and the 2007 constitutional referendum. We then dive deep into the successes and failures of the educational reforms, and begin working through some of the civil rights reforms, leaving it off on freedom of the press. We pick it up again in part 2 of this Episode with the Afro-Venezuelan struggle so make sure to check that out to get the whole chat.

Follow us on twitter @macheteymate

Part 2 of our wrap up on the constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. We pick up here with discussion on the Afro-Venezuelan and LGBTQ+ struggles, work through housing and land rights, and finish off talking about the revolutionary Article 88, which guarantees equality between men and women and guarantees social security compensation to housewives. We wrap it up with our personal reflections on this series and the Bolivarian Revolution in general before declaring Chris Murphy of CT dickhead of the day.

Follow us on twitter @macheteymate

Some choice advice for the Richmond PD