Natasha Explains It All

First episode of season 3!

Today I talk about the quick yet powerful read called Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey. In a capitalist society, our worth is measured by our productivity. Unfortunately, that measurement is unsustainable, not only for us, but for the planet as well. I reflect on Tricia's book and examples from various countries around the world about how we can make the world better if we prioritized rest more.

Buy it on Bookshop.org at https://bookshop.org/p/books/rest-is-resistance-a-manifesto-tricia-hersey/18255493?ean=9780316365215

Buy it on BetterWorldBooks.com at https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/rest-is-resistance-a-manifesto-9780316365215?_gl=1*r2vl3p*_ga*MzYzNDUzNDQuMTY4NjE5OTg3Mw..*_up*MQ..

Or buy it at your local bookstore

Today we continue exploring how criminal courts work. We start by building off of last episode's discussion about the prohibitive cost of jail/prison phone calls with good news that Minnesota is making calls in its state prisons free. To learn more about that, check out Worth Rises: https://worthrises.org/pressreleases/minnesota-connecting-families-win. We then skip ahead in the criminal court process to talk a little bit about the reentry process and how incarceration sets people up for a very difficult road in reintegrating into society. As an example, I talk about Mary Henderson-Uloho, who was featured in the latest season of the tv show Queer Eye. Mary was incarcerated for about 12 years, followed by another 12 years on parole. She is the founder of Sister Hearts (www.sisterhearts.org), which helps formerly incarcerated people through the reentry process. Mary's story is inspirational and educational; I highly encourage listeners to watch her Queer Eye episode. You can also learn more about Mary through the Atlantic-award-winning short film "Women After Prison" (https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/591364/sister-hearts/). You can also follow Mary on instagram @maryamuloho. I also mention an article I wrote for Well + Good about the unlikely connections between the wellness industry and prison abolition, which you can read here: https://www.wellandgood.com/wellness-prison-abolition/

Some positive criminal justice news today!

Expansion of voting rights for people with felony convictions in New Mexico

Expansion of voting rights for people with felony convictions in Minnesota

The Sentencing Project report on felony disenfranchisement

Rikers Island jail is not going to digitize mail (for now)

The problem of digitizing prison mail

In this episode, we talk about plea bargaining and how expensive it is to stay in jail.

Read the Prison Policy Initiative's report on how jails and prisons across the country are privatizing (read $$$) mail for incarcerated people.

Check out Worth Rises' work to make calls from jails and prisons free.

I'm starting a new series called Book Report, where I share books I've read/listened to and liked enough to recommend to listeners. This memoir, You Can't Be Serious, is a funny and touching look into what it's like being the son of immigrants and making it in Hollywood (while also doing a stint at the Obama White House). 

If you're interested in purchasing this book, rather than buying it on Amazon, please consider buying it at your local independent bookstore or on these websites:

Bookshop.org

Better World Books

And no, I'm not making any commissions on these recommendations. :)

You are invited to come to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, CA on April 1st at 1pm to demand an end to deaths at the jail and for funding of community-based mental health services. This rally is being organized by the Care First Coalition, which you can follow on Instagram @freesrj.

Four people have already died in the jail this year alone, and we're only in March. That's in addition to dozens of other deaths in the past decade. The jail is unsafe and county officials need to do better. Please come out to support and learn more.

The demands of the organizers:

First guest interview! Joining me today is Kevin Mulshine, former deputy general counsel for the Architect of the Capitol and current Special Advisor to Demand Progress Education Fund. We talk about efforts to unionize congressional employees, how those efforts tie into broader labor trends across the country, what the Architect of the Capitol does and how that relates to the Jan. 6th insurrection, and how Kevin and I met as volunteers for Herd on the Hill.

For more reading:

Unions in the House of Representatives - report by Kevin Mulshine 

Union Organizing Rights on Capitol Hill - report by Kevin Mulshine 

House Republicans’ attempt to block staffer unions may have missed mark - Roll Call article

The House GOP’s questionable attempt to shut down congressional unions, explained - Vox article

House Republicans want to wipe out staff unions, but it’s not that simple - Roll Call article

Congress looks for new architect of the Capitol as calls rise for oversight - Roll Call article

With voluntary recognition, Ed Markey’s staff will be the first in the Senate to unionize - Roll Call article

Congressional Workers Union