Solidarity House Cooperative

Journalist comrade and DSA member Jaya Sundaresh (@shutupjaya) visits Solidarity House to remind folks not to marginalize newcomers just because they haven't read all the books you have, and discusses organizing offline and on, in pandemics and after them. Her thread on name-dropping and book-shaming is at https://twitter.com/shutupjaya/status/1252798566227234817?s=19 and her newsletter, which you should subscribe to, is jayatime.substack.com.

KC and Matt discuss two significant body horror films from the 1980s as metaphors of capitalist devaluation of life.

Economic collapse, sci fi, socialism, utopias and dystopias, mutual aid, the future of the Democratic Party, reform vs revolution as a false dichotomy, and more. Plus a (non)tech tip on asking for what you need in social media production. Follow our guest at @ShowUsYourWork, and join socialist organizations and mutual aid networks now. 

Former forensic death investigators KC Vernon and Amanda Pittman discuss the political economy of death.

Adriel Hampton and Ricci Sergienko interview Mark Paul of Data for Progress on the need for --and popularity of-- a $2 trillion Green Stimulus bill. Also: Voices by Action Sprout, a product to help populate activists' Facebook organizational pages with relevant political content.

More on the Green Stimulus at https://www.dataforprogress.org/blog/3/24/voters-want-green-stimulus

We discuss U.S. bombings of Iraq and talk with Kathy Kelly of Voices for Creative Nonviolence about stepped-up sanctions in Iran and their devastating effects on a country besieged by Covid-19. Also: Matt's notes from Chapters 1 & 2 of No Shortcuts by Jane McAlevey.

Read Kathy Kelly's piece on Iran sanctions here.

Adriel & Matt talk to Ricci about Bernie's influence on organizing, the Sunrise movement's viral moment last year confronting Sen. Dianne Feinstein, how various companies are responding to the pandemic, class divisions in the new accelerated automation, and the emergence of class consciousness in the crisis.

Adriel & Matt discuss scarcity & shortages under capitalism, misinformation, the potential of tech when freed from corruption & greed, & much more in the context of the current pandemic.

Our citations: Covid-19 & communitarianism: https://www.wired.com/story/to-fight-covid-19-curb-the-spread-of-germs-and-rumors/

Matt invites debate coach Malcom Gordon into the commune for a discussion of the March 15 primary debate. We've got it all: the low bar for Biden, the media construction of electability, Biden's lies and his concessions to Bernie on policy, and where each candidate came up short on centering the voices of the oppressed. Plus some deeper analysis on who won the climate change debate. Please support our work at patreon.com/solidarityhouse.

Ricci Sergienko of Sunrise Movement L.A. describes demonstrating for climate action at a Joe Biden fundraiser in Los Angeles, and joins Adriel in talking movement strategy and a tech tip on keeping your activist conversations private. Other news items discussed include Netroots Nation in Denver, Facebook's ongoing struggles over regulating dishonest advertising, legislative reporting at the Verge, government moves to weaken encryption and online speech, what a pathetic person Donald Trump is, and a shareholder struggles with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.