Southpaws

Darren discussed these topics:

Protests are expected to resume in France against President Macron's pension reforms.

Workers may have to take the lead on direct action in France to have pensions restored.

Why aren't workers in the U.S. this angry? Some of Darren's friends have their own thoughts on the topic.

Workers at a Toledo, Ohio battery manufacturing plant are on strike. Management is bringing in scabs while a judge limits strike activity at the plant.

A mother filed a lawsuit against a Detroit, Michigan charter school for subjecting her daughter to a strip search for a vape pen that never existed.

Ottawa County, Michigan Commissioner Jacob Bonnet (R) filed a complaint against County Administrator John Gibbs alleging "threatening behavior" from Gibbs.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) filed for divorce.

And debt ceiling talks continue between President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Republicans continue to ask for budget cuts when they gave Donald Trump three debt ceiling increases with no strings attached.

Hammer Time: "Jeopardy!" host Ken Jennings crossed the Writer's Guild of America picket line to finish taping this season's final episodes. Actor Will Wheaton had choice words for Jennings and people who don't support unions.

Hammer Time: Popeye's is accused of not paying their employees in Chicago, Illinois and Temple, Texas. A former Chicago employee got the sweetest revenge, but will probably face repercussions for it.

Darren discussed these topics:

Another mass shooting took place in the U.S. Eight people were murdered at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas.

The shooter wore a black tactical vest with the letters "RWDS" on it, which stands for Right Wing Death Squad. He researched the target location, including when the outlet mall would be busy.

A Louisiana man was arrested for shooting a 14-year-old girl who was playing hide and seek on his property.

When are we going to start holding conservatives accountable for these shootings?

A Michigan Circuit Court judge has sanctioned Ottawa County in their efforts to forestall the distribution of opioid settlement funds. The county claimed they're owed more money, even though they agreed to the amount designated for them.

The Ottawa County Commission finally approved funding for a community health assessment after weeks of arguing and the right-wingers on the commission trying to throw their weight around.

Donald Trump has to pay $5 Million in damages to author E. Jean Carroll after a jury found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming her.

Four members of the Proud Boys, including former leader Enrique Tarrio, were found guilty of seditious conspiracy for their roles in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

And two women are being sued by their friend's ex-husband for wrongful death after they helped her get abortion pills in Texas. This is the first suit of its kind in Texas or anywhere else.

Hammer Time: Tulsi Gabbard went on Fox to call transgender people "mentally ill" and make other transphobic and homophobic statements.

Off The Cuff: A man is suing a Nashville Hilton hotel after the night manager broke into his room and began licking his toes.

This is a Best of Southpaws from 4-14-23.

Darren discussed these topics:

Another mass shooting, this time in Louisville, Kentucky.

A man who accidentally shot a pro-life supporter who was on his property pled no contest to a handful of charges.

Ottawa County, Michigan's Board of Commissioners are looking at a proposal to make the county a "second amendment sanctuary."

Meanwhile, other Michigan counties are trying to restrict their local boards of health of their abilities to respond to future pandemics and other public health emergencies.

Two Tennessee House members who were expelled by Republicans last week were unanimously reinstated by their local areas as interim representatives until special elections can be held.

The NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship game had lots of people talking about unsportsmanlike conduct of one of the players. Could racism be the root cause of the criticism?

Kentucky's legislature banned gender affirming health care for transgender children.

And an arrest has been made in the attempted firebombing of an anti-abortion organization in Madison, Wisconsin.

Hammer Time: The owner of a Texas racetrack kicked out two people who refused to stand for the pre-race prayer and the national anthem.

Darren discussed these topics:

Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox on the same day Don Lemon was fired from CNN. Both of them have hired the same attorney to potentially sue their former employers.

Multiple sources claim that Fox has an "opposition file" on Tucker Carlson that they might use if he sues his former employer.

There's speculation on why Carlson was fired. Some say it was the Dominion settlement. Some say it was the lawsuit filed by one of his former producers. Some say it was Carlson's speech at the Heritage Foundation's 50th anniversary dinner.

The school district Darren attended is being sued by two students who claim their First Amendment rights were violated when they were told by a teacher and a principal to remove the "Let's Go Brandon" hoodies they were wearing.

A Michigan man is sentenced to 10 months in prison for phoning racist threats to several Starbucks locations to scare Black Lives Matter supporters.

A Tennessee Republican who voted to expel the "Tennessee Three" resigned after it came out that he allegedly sexually harassed at least two female college interns.

A former professor is suing Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan for violating the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act after he was allegedly fired for officiating a same sex wedding.

And Grand Haven, Michigan officials approved the city's first ever pride festival.

Hammer Time: The Allegan County, Michigan Republican Party just released their manifesto and it's downright terrifying.

Darren discussed these topics:

The latest shootings involving people being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A Department of Homeland Security official had his office raided by federal police after he was accused of bringing a personal electronic device into a secure office.

A judge granted a preliminary injunction keeping Ottawa County Health Department officer Adeline Hambley on the job.

Two county officials with the Michigan Republican Party got into a physical confrontation at a hotel the night before the state central committee meeting. And it's caught on tape! This confrontation shows a deep divide between factions of the party who support new Michigan Republican Party Chair Kristina Karamo and factions who support former Attorney General candidate Matt DePerno.

Actor Alec Baldwin had charges dropped in the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of "Rust."

And BuzzFeed News is shutting down.

Hammer Time: Jenison, Michigan Public School Board member Donna Mooney told citizens at an Ottawa County Board meeting to "move" if you don't like living in a conservative Christian area.

Hammer Time: MillerKnoll CEO Andi Owen told employees not to live in "pity city" when they asked her about how to stay motivated if they didn't get bonuses. Owen received a nearly $4 million bonus last fiscal year. After her comments were reported by the media, employees were allegedly told not to talk to the media or they could be fired.

Darren discussed these topics:

Another mass shooting, this time in Louisville, Kentucky.

A man who accidentally shot a pro-life supporter who was on his property pled no contest to a handful of charges.

Ottawa County, Michigan's Board of Commissioners are looking at a proposal to make the county a "second amendment sanctuary."

Meanwhile, other Michigan counties are trying to restrict their local boards of health of their abilities to respond to future pandemics and other public health emergencies.

Two Tennessee House members who were expelled by Republicans last week were unanimously reinstated by their local areas as interim representatives until special elections can be held.

The NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship game had lots of people talking about unsportsmanlike conduct of one of the players. Could racism be the root cause of the criticism?

Kentucky's legislature banned gender affirming health care for transgender children.

And an arrest has been made in the attempted firebombing of an anti-abortion organization in Madison, Wisconsin.

Hammer Time: The owner of a Texas racetrack kicked out two people who refused to stand for the pre-race prayer and the national anthem.

Darren discussed these topics:

Donald Trump is facing 34 felony charges in New York regarding hush money payments allegedly made to former adult film actress Stormy Daniels and others.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Rep. George Santos (R-NY) were essentially run out of New York City after a pro-Trump rally failed miserably.

Some Ottawa County, Michigan commissioners aligned with Ottawa Impact have accused the county clerk of falsifying documents. The clerk has denied the allegations. Could we see another lawsuit against the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, this time for defamation?

And a former Republican Michigan House Speaker has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges stemming from a bribery scandal that occurred during his time on the state's medical marijuana licensing board. Three others face charges as well.

Hammer Time: The St. Clair Shores, Michigan Police aren't very forthcoming about "In God We Trust" stickers that have been placed on their patrol cars. Some in the community call it a violation of separation of church and state.

Hammer Time: The Republicans in the Tennessee House voted to expel two of three House Democrats who participated in a gun control protest on the House floor last week. Both expelled members were Black. Is racism the real reason for the expulsion?

This week on Southpaws:

Donald Trump has been indicted in New York stemming from the investigation into hush money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who allegedly had an affair with Trump.

Darren interviewed Jeff Smith from the Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy (GRIID) about his new book "A People's History of Grand Rapids."

Ottawa County, Michigan Commissioners aligned with the far-right group Ottawa Impact once again voted down a proposal to allow commissioner comments as a regular agenda item for their meetings.

Six people, including three children, were murdered in a mass shooting at a Christian school in Nashville.

The school where the shooting took place was embroiled in a child sex abuse scandal several years ago. Could this possibly be a motive?

And the former school official who allegedly molested children in Nashville co-wrote books with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, and with other officials allied with the Southern Baptists. He was never charged because the statute of limitations had expired.

Darren and Jack discussed these topics:

Ottawa County, Michigan commissioner Jacob Bonnema (R) had a confrontation with the Ottawa Impact backed commissioners over having a comment session in the agenda of every meeting.

Residents of Lapeer County, Michigan spoke out both in favor of and against the book "Gender Queer" being available at the Lapeer District Library.

Democrats in Michigan's legislature moved quickly to repeal right to work (for less money) and restore prevailing wage laws. Business groups said that they're planning a ballot initiative to make right to work part of the state Constitution. Darren told listeners to loudly confront what he called "scabs" collecting signature.

And Los Angeles school support staff employees went on strike over low wages. In many places across the country, school support staff receive little pay for their work.

Hammer Time: Michigan Republican Party Chair Kristina Karamo doubled down after the party posted a meme on social media comparing gun control legislation to the Holocaust.

Topics on this week's show include:

Darren had several updates on the Ottawa County, Michigan Board of Commissioners. Several residents have sued commissioners who are or were part of Ottawa Impact for violating Michigan's Open Meetings Act. Meanwhile, the board's attorneys filed a motion to have a lawsuit filed against it by the county's public health officer thrown out. And the board removed its only Democratic commissioner from the county housing commission, as well as two other commissioners. They were replaced by a realtor, a developer, and Ottawa Impact backed County Administrator John Gibbs.

Trump's 2018 roll back of Dodd-Frank banking regulations led to the 2nd and 3rd largest bank failures in this country's history.

Darren said that if Republicans had their way, they would eliminate the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which guarantees bank deposits. The FDIC wouldn't exist without President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Federal investigators are looking into whether Trump Media violated money laundering laws when they accepted $8 Million from sources tied to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

And Florida's legislature is looking at bills to go after LGBTQ people and journalists.

Hammer Time: Lapeer County, Michigan Prosecutor John Miller has threatened to file criminal charges against library officials for having the book "Gender Queer" in circulation.

Hammer Time: Carson Briere, a student athlete who is the son of Philadelphia Flyers interim general manager Daniel Briere, was caught on camera destroying a wheelchair by rolling it down a flight of stairs at a Pennsylvania bar. The chair belonged to a woman who is a double amputee.