Re-Construction.US

One hallmark of the Trump administration was a rise in visibility and his support of white nationalism. Even before his insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, the year 2020 saw a record number of such attacks in the U.S. Then last week, the Department of Homeland Security warned that "the United States faced a growing threat from 'violent domestic extremists' emboldened by the attack" on January 6th. The former president pushed a false narrative of rioting people of color in Amer...

This week’s inauguration of President Joe Biden put climate change back on the U.S. agenda -- and none too soon! History has shown that climate change has a direct impact on societies and even the rise and fall of civilizations. In fact, most of the crises America has faced in the last year – a pandemic, economic implosion and massive civil unrest – can all be traced back in part to damage that global warming is already causing.A couple of years ago, I had an opportunit...

On today’s podcast, I will be discussing the events on January 6th with two previous guests: Teressa Raiford of Don’t Shoot Portland and Steve Pierson from Swing Left. I asked both of these progressive leaders to join me to discuss what can be done in the days and weeks ahead and how, most importantly we can work together strategically to combat the real threat of fascism that now lies before us.Those of us who believe in the ideal of an equitable America and the democratic process cann...

It’s January, and people all over the world are celebrating the end of the year 2020. It was harrowing for so many reasons, not the least of which was our year with the Coronavirus. Thousands of American families who have lost loved ones and millions lost their jobs too. But there is hope on the horizon as millions of Americans have started receiving the new vaccines. Three options have already been released and a fourth is on it’s way.The speed with which our scientific com...

It's the end of 2020, a year in which many of our nation's deepest problems and divisions have taken center stage. The coronavirus may be new, but the environmental issues that helped create it (and the politics that unleashed it's massive spread across our country) is not. Our economy, social systems, healthcare and every individual's sense of security have been deeply damaged this year. In response, we've seen historic levels of protest, voting and violence. It seem...

For decades, Nieeta Presley has been building community and making change. As the Executive Director of Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation (ASANDC) in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has led numerous programs aimed at empowering people throughout the African American community.Now, on the eve of her retirement, she spoke with host Kimberly Miller about her organization's accomplishments: most notably the completion of a multi-unit apartment and commercial building th...

The clock is ticking... and President Trump knows it. With less than 30 days to go before the 2020 election, we are on the verge of turning the political process back in the direction of equity, honor, truth and justice. With every American life on the line due to the coronavirus pandemic, none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines. Today's guest Steve Pierson, is a leader of the training and media teams with Swing Left and joined Kim to discuss their strategy...

We are all feeling the stress these days and for many of us it has taken a toll. Whether it's teaching kids from home, trying to work and stay safe or national politics, there are a lot of things on our plates. Sometimes stress can lead people to find new support systems, such as the boom in use of Zoom for all kinds of social activities. Another option that many have leaned on even more heavily is substance use. Consumption of alcohol and other drugs has skyrocketed s...

This summer, the world exploded in protest after we began marching in Minneapolis following the murder of George Floyd. What started here sprang from the outrage of people from all walks of life at witnessing such a callous taking of a human life. Many have been inspired by the community organizing and activism that has taken off in Minnesota, other parts of the country and around the world. But while the summer’s activities were triggered by a single event, Minneapolis’ Afr...

As environmental issues have moved closer to center stage, the connection between what we eat and how it's produced has been a larger topic of conversation. Recent studies have challenged the notion that beef is necessarily bad for our bodies. At the same time, the impact of the mass production of beef on the environment is seen as a real threat to the future of our planet. Those who choose a vegan diet are equally, if not more concerned with how animals are treated throughou...