Scene Report

“I come from this long line of fighters. Everyone from Toussaint Louverture in Haiti to Elizabeth Gurley Flynn to Mother Jones. There’s this long history of fighters coming from across our universal struggle that have created this space, this audience, this stage for us to keep fighting.”

On July 21, Manolo De Los Santos received a subpoena from the Trump-allied House Ways and Means Committee for communications, finances, and other documents from The People’s Forum, where he serves as Executive Director. The People’s Forum, a social movement incubator and community space, provides an organizing home for “rebellious young people” in the heart of Midtown Manhattan.

We spoke about getting even louder while being investigated by Congress, the importance of art and culture in leftist organizing, why socialism is finding increased appeal across America, meeting with people around the world who have been aversely affected by U.S. imperialism, and how people in the streets can always defeat state violence.

Host/Producer/Editor: Reed Dunlea

Executive Producer: Ash Tyner

Music: Jesse Crawford Martinez

Logo: Theresa Escobedo

Playlist for Newtown Radio: Oscar Zarate

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scenereportradio.substack.com

Claire Valdez has dual American and Native American citizenship and grew up in a conservative West Texas town with a horizon that never ends. That didn’t stop her from beating accusations of being a gentrifying hipster transplant, and chalking up a huge win for the Democratic primary in NY-7 -- a seat formerly and solidly held by the first Puerto Rican woman in Congress Nydia Velázquez, who endorsed someone else. The Democratic Nominee for NY-7 and presumptive future Congressmember stopped by Newtown Radio to discuss lessons from the race, union organizing, painting, moral consistency, Palestine, and her hopes, dreams and fears for building a just future for New York and America. Claire was there, but where is she going next? Tune in to find out.

Host/Producer/Editor: Reed Dunlea

Executive Producer: Ash Tyner

Music: Jesse Crawford Martinez

Logo: Theresa Escobedo

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scenereportradio.substack.com

“Blessed. I’m here, man. I just want to celebrate with my people. It’s exciting to be a part of this journey,” said Jose Alvarado—shirtless on a float that was about to be towed by a pickup truck down Knickerbocker Avenue—the afternoon after the New York Knicks brought home an NBA Finals Championship.

Alvarado, aka GTA, is a Nuyorican and the only native New Yorker on the Knicks. He grew up in NYCHA’s Berry Street Houses in South Williamsburg, and was greeted with a hometown hero’s welcome at the 8th annual Knickerbocker Avenue Puerto Rican Day Parade on the Sunday of the greatest weekend in the history of New York City.

Recorded live to tape June 14, 2026

Interviews with: New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Assemblymember Maritza Davila, Assemblymember and NY-7 Congressional candidate Claire Valdez, Senator Julia Salazar, City Councilmember Sandy Nurse, Rob Solano of Churches United For Fair Housing (CUFFH), RodStarz of Rebel Diaz and more.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scenereportradio.substack.com

Rosa Martinez’s anti-imperialist organizing is in their blood -- raised in Miami by Colombian immigrants, their grandfather was Manuel Marulanda, the founder and leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). So when they set sail from Italy towards the Gaza Strip in an attempt to break the Israeli siege, with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition as a part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, they viewed their participation as a part of a family legacy of direct action. In this interview, Rosa tells the in-depth story of joining the flotilla, acting as a translator and boat organizer on their vessel, being intercepted and boarded by the Israel Occupation Forces off the coast of Greece, being transferred by war ship to an Israeli prison, their four days of imprisonment and torture including a propaganda video from Itamar Ben-Gvir… and the comrades they met along the way. 

“We sailed to the heart of darkness. And I’m lucky to come back and tell you what it’s like. And I would hope that in being able to tell people what it's like, it would wake us up out of this stasis -- and I do feel like the Palestine movement is in a bit of stasis right now -- to keep organizing.”

Host/Producer/Editor: Reed Dunlea

Executive Producer: Ash Tyner

Music: Jesse Crawford Martinez

Logo: Theresa Escobedo

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scenereportradio.substack.com

When Luis Argueta Jr. was a teenager in 2004, ICE agents stormed into his St. Paul home in the middle of the night. Today, he’s working with Unidos MN to train tens of thousands of Minnesotans on their rights and what to do if they find themselves in that situation. As the organization’s communications director through Operation Metro Surge, he told the stories of how ordinary people stood up for their neighbors and fought back against a fascist occupation of their city. He continues to tell those stories today the media attention has faded but neighborhoods continue to experience abductions. I met Luis in January 2026 at the height of the federal occupation—between the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti—when I traveled to Minneapolis to support the work of Unidos MN. We spoke about May Day, the lessons learned from Operation Metro Surge, being a good neighbor, Minnesota’s history of resistance, and the immigrant food scene in the Twin Cities.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scenereportradio.substack.com

Amy Goodman hated the idea of a film crew following her, but she is so committed to spreading the gospel of independent media that she did it anyway. Steal This Story, Please! tells the story of Democracy Now! and Amy’s prolific career. Along with the film’s co-director Tia Lessin, we discussed making the documentary, Trump’s manufactured war in Iran, Bush’s manufactured war in Iraq, 9/11, the power of independent media, and going to where the audience is.

Host/Producer/Editor: Reed Dunlea

Executive Producer: Ash Tyner

Music: Jesse Crawford Martinez

Logo: Kyle Seely

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scenereportradio.substack.com

Diano Moreno wasn’t planning on running for office. But after Zohran’s seat was left vacant after his stunning Mayoral victory, the longtime immigration, labor and NYC-DSA organizer — an immigrant herself from Ecuador living in the “world’s borough” — stepped up to fight for the future of her city and her people. We discussed bold visions, stepping into elected office as an organizer, and the shoes she is filling in Astoria. We also had an in-depth breakdown on the fight for New York For All — the most comprehensive pro-immigrant bill before lawmakers in Albany, which would prohibit local police from colluding with ICE — and how we’re going to keep winning.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scenereportradio.substack.com

Bad Bunny’s iconic Super Bowl halftime show was rooted in deep symbolism of Puerto Rican pride and independence. Alexa Aviles -- a socialist New York City Council Member born in Puerto Rico and representing Sunset Park and Red Hook in Brooklyn -- joined the inaugural episode of Scene Report on Newtown Radio to break down the groundbreaking performance. We talked PR’s electric grid, the sugarcane industry, #RickyRenuncia, the Américas, and the modern day colonial privatization of Puerto Rico. We also spoke about the rise of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the City Council Speaker’s race, and immigration and ICE in New York City. Recorded live at Newtown Radio.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scenereportradio.substack.com

We spoke to Sheer Mag from Philadelphia about scenes around the world including:

* Tina stealing Dan Deacon’s glasses

* Crazy Spirit beating up a member of their old band on New Year’s Day

* The twisted legacy of Mummer’s Day

* The South Philly DIY venue/house where they lived, Nut House

* Pitchfork’s 6.7 review of Playing Favorites

* Irish car bombs in Las Vegas

* Touring Japan

* Meeting Billy Joe Armstrong, John Waters, Mavis Staples, Adam Lazar (Taking Back Sunday), Dead Moon, and Kendrick Lamar

* Scott Stapp of Creed stealing their logo

* Karaoke

* Etc.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host/Producer/Editor: Reed Dunlea

Executive Producer: Ash Tyner

Music: Jesse Crawford

Logo: Kyle Seely

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scenereportradio.substack.com

On March 30, 2025, a few thousand New Yorkers marched from Union Square to Times Square. We spoke with organizers from the People's Forum, Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace and other participants in the streets of New York City. Topics included:

1. The Meaning of Land Day

2. Israel Breaking the Ceasefire

3. Mahmoud Khalil

4. Donald Trump & Elon Musk

5. Being Jewish & Anti-Zionist

6. The Student Encampments

7. All Punks Free Palestine

8. How to Sustain a Movement Against Genocide

Host/Producer/Editor: Reed Dunlea

Executive Producer: Ash Tyner

Music: Jesse Crawford

Logo: Kyle Seely

Photo: Dan Gaetani

All interviews always live to tape

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scenereportradio.substack.com