Attorney and law professor H. Marissa Montes joins us to talk about the plight of immigrants during this period of fascism and white nationalism driven by media, lawmakers and the White House. She articulates strategies for fighting the good fight and advocating for our immigrant brothers and sisters. As Audrey’s best friend for twenty years, we discuss where that impulse towards social justice comes from. In her continued honesty and vulnerability, Audrey touches on her recent struggles with bipolar disorder.

Introductory Quote by Ilhan Omar.

https://youtu.be/1aI2k2h7rF4?si=diEm60oaL37cyArM

More about Marissa and the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic:

https://www.lls.edu/faculty/facultylistl-r/hmarissamontes

Marissa on the Art of Purpose podcast:

https://youtu.be/89UBUtUz_C4?si=Sz37V3yF6RUwU4Zc

The episode title derives from Leviticus 19:33-34 and 24:22:

“When the alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.”

Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms

Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck

Music and production by Max Foreman

Mastering by Little Castle Sound

Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A

Logo art by Patrick Mitchell and Angelina Harvey (@graffitifucks on Instagram)

“Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor; and if one is a member of a captive population, economically speaking, one's feet have simply been placed on the treadmill forever.”

― James Baldwin, Nobody Knows My Name

Audrey discusses Trump's new executive order: "Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets," which seeks to punish individuals suffering from addiction, mental illness and poverty by incarcerating them or denying vital treatments. We touch on the ravages of meth addiction, RFK's healthcare-as-personal-fetish, and the ongoing war on the trans community.

From last week, please consider donating to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF): https://www.pcrf.net 

Further relief options to the victims of genocide and famine through The Sameer Project: https://linktr.ee/thesameerproject 

Every bit helps.

More on the executive order: https://www.npr.org/2025/07/24/nx-s1-5479139/trump-homelessness-executive-order-civil-commitment-camping 

Introductory Quote by James Baldwin: "How much time do you want for your progress?"

Why and How to Celebrate Disability Pride Month

https://thearc.org/blog/why-and-how-to-celebrate-disability-pride-month/#:~:text=Observed%20every%20July%2C%20Disability%20Pride,norms%20to%20live%20meaningful%20lives 

Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms

Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck

Music and production by Max Foreman

Mastering by Little Castle Sound

Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A

Logo art by Patrick Mitchell and Angelina Harvey (@graffitifucks on Instagram)

“Please God give everyone the strength to say something.”

-Ms. Rachel

Following seventy-five years of apartheid and Hamas’ attack on October 7th, Israel’s ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people has become undeniable. The pact between Israel and the West has made a mockery of international law, corroded institutions, compromised democracies, and claimed thousands of lives. In Gaza now there is a famine, wherein baby formula is seized at military checkpoints and aid workers fired upon.

The physical and mental costs are beyond measure for Palestinians suffering on the ground. Empathetic citizens of the world who watch helplessly are also affected, and Audrey and Patrick speak to it, bringing their own experience and perspectives to bear.

For independent journalism, consider:

DropSite News: https://www.dropsitenews.com 

The Intercept: https://theintercept.com 

Séamus Malekafzali: https://substack.com/@malekafzali

Introductory Quote by Rachel Accurso, Educator (“Songs for Littles”), and Leen, from Gaza.

Why and How to Celebrate Disability Pride Month

https://thearc.org/blog/why-and-how-to-celebrate-disability-pride-month/#:~:text=Observed%20every%20July%2C%20Disability%20Pride,norms%20to%20live%20meaningful%20lives

Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms

Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck

Music and production by Max Foreman

Mastering by Little Castle Sound

Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A

Logo art by Patrick Mitchell and Angelina Harvey (@graffitifucks on Instagram)

In our ongoing series recognizing disability pride month, we talk to social worker Ryan Padilla, SWAICL, about how an accident which led to his paraplegia motivated him towards a new purpose of helping others in therapy, thinking global while acting local. Even before the injury that brought seismic change to his life, Ryan had always nurtured a desire to heal people. He describes in his experience the darkness as well as the light and even a new perspective of gratitude. He loves the person he is today because of his disability, not in spite of it.

Introductory Quote by Judy Heumann, Disability Rights Activist

During a joint House-Senate hearing on discrimination on the basis of disability. September 27th 1988.

Why and How to Celebrate Disability Pride Month

https://thearc.org/blog/why-and-how-to-celebrate-disability-pride-month/#:~:text=Observed%20every%20July%2C%20Disability%20Pride,norms%20to%20live%20meaningful%20lives

Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms

Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck

Music and production by Max Foreman

Mastering by Little Castle Sound

Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A

Logo art by Patrick Mitchell and Angelina Harvey (@graffitifucks on Instagram)

Patrick and Audrey break down the “Big Beautiful Bill” (hereby called the Fuckity Fuck Fuck) that was recently made the law of the land by a heartless Republican Party, which seems intent on culling the herd to enrich the very few. In our subsequent exploration of trauma and recovery, Audrey details the long path she’s taken out of her own past of addiction, and the traumatic relationship that kept her in a vise grip of abuse until she finally reached out for help.

In brighter news, we touch on socialist Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the NYC mayoral primary, offering a potential progressive, pro-human future we look to for fuel to keep us pushing towards better.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence, text BEGIN to 88788 or call 800-799-7233, or visit thehotline.com

Opening quote by Michael Brooks, formerly of The Majority Report with Sam Seder and The Michael Brooks Show. Left is best <3

Read more from David Dayen at the American Prospect.

https://prospect.org/topics/david-dayen

Here’s what’s in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/whats-in-trump-big-beautiful-bill-senate-version

Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms

Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck

Music and production by Max Foreman

Mastering by Little Castle Sound

Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A

Logo art by Patrick Mitchell and Angelina Harvey (@graffitifucks on Instagram)

Audrey and Patrick talk social justice, Quaker ancestral truths, and formative romantic relationships before pivoting to the event that sparked this show: the ongoing siege and terrorizing of immigrant communities in Los Angeles and other cities in America by fascist ICE commandos animated by a white nationalist Trump administration.

Introductory Quote by: H. Marissa Montes, esq.

Marissa is an immigration attorney and professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles as well as the founder of Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic, also located in Los Angeles.

25 Places to Volunteer Your Skills for Immigrants and Angelenos in Need Right Now.

https://lataco.com/los-angeles-volunteeer-immigration

Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms

Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck

Music and production by Max Foreman

Mastering by Little Castle Sound

Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A

Logo art by Patrick Mitchell and Angelina Harvey (@graffitifucks on Instagram)