This Is Not A Handout

Host Sammy Ross and guest Heather Quick continue the conversation on Immigration, by focusing on ICE.  Immigration and Customs Enforcement has come under much scrutiny over the past several years.  On this episode we will unpack what ICE is, why it was founded, and how it is enforcing current policies, today.

*Disclaimer, this episode does discuss some heavy topics, such as sexual assault.  Please proceed with caution, and please reach out to a health care professional if needed.  

For Bonus content where Heather Quick discusses how she became an activist, as well as how Sammy protested Amazon's involvement with ICE, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/ThisisNotaHandout

For more information about the show, please visit: https://www.thisisnotahandout.com

Resources:

For more on how the immigration court system works: https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/access-counsel-immigration-court

For more on the immigration process for migrant children crossing the border: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/08/children-immigration-court/567490/ 

For more the definitions of asylum seekers and refugees: https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/asylum-united-states 

For a look into bus drivers refusing to take protesters to jail: https://time.com/5845451/bus-drivers-protesters-police-george-floyd/ 

For an in-depth timeline on the Trump administration's Family Separation Policy: https://www.splcenter.org/news/2020/06/17/family-separation-under-trump-administration-timeline 

For an in-depth analysis on the lack of adequate technology that led to long periods of migrant family separation: https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2019-11/OIG-20-06-Nov19.pdf 

For a look into the youngest child to be separated at the border: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/16/us/baby-constantine-romania-migrants.html 

For an in-depth story on how ICE came to be: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/09/trump-ice/565772/ 

For more on the death count in the ICE detention centers: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/24-immigrants-have-died-ice-custody-during-trump-administration-n1015291 

For more on the ICE detention centers and Covid-19: https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/covid-19-outbreak-in-adelanto-ice-detention-center/2430005/

For more on sexual assault in the ICE detention centers: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/15/ice-deport-witness-sexual-assault/?utm_campaign=trib-social&utm_content=1600194817&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

For more on the alleged hysterectomies being performed at ICE detention centers: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/ice-detainee-hysterectomies-hospital/2020/09/22/aaf2ca7e-fcfd-11ea-830c-a160b331ca62_story.html

For an opinion piece on for-profit detention centers: https://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/457067-for-profit-immigration-detention-centers-are-a-national-scandal 

For more on Amazon and other Tech companies' facial recognition softwares: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/24/technology/amazon-facial-technology-study.html 

For more on Amazon's one year moratorium in providing their facial recognition software to police forces: https://www.npr.org/2020/06/10/874418013/amazon-halts-police-use-of-its-facial-recognition-technology

For more on the foster families and the adoption process for children who are separated at the border: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/deported-parents-may-lose-kids-adoption-investigation-finds-n918261 

For more on extended family separation at the border: https://apnews.com/article/08d9f07b1bc54c5b982825bc1381b8d5 

For Jeff Sessions, and the Department of Justice's role in the separation of families: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/us/politics/family-separation-border-immigration-jeff-sessions-rod-rosenstein.html 

For a list of Movements mentioned in this Episode:

For more on the direct action group Rise and Resist: https://www.riseandresist.org/about 

For more on the Act Up, or the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power: https://actupny.com/ 

For more on the Close the Camps movement: https://www.closethecampsnyc.com/ 

To learn more about Cosecha: https://www.lahuelga.com 

For more on New Sanctuary Coalition: https://www.newsanctuarynyc.org 

For more on RAICES: https://www.raicestexas.org/?ms=actionnetwork

Please visit https://www.patreon.com/ThisisNotaHandout to listen to the full, free episode!  

Host Sammy Ross and guest Alex Alpharaoh dive into the topic of Immigration.  Immigration is part of the founding of this country, and on this episode we will be discussing the land of the "melting pot," why immigration is currently such a hot-button issue, and how we can create more empathy for those looking for a better life in "the land of the free."

For Bonus content where Alex Alpharaoh further discusses DACA, growing up undocumented, as well as a bit about his autobiographical one man show "WET: A DACAmented Journey," please visit: https://www.patreon.com/ThisisNotaHandout

For more information about the show, please visit: https://www.thisisnotahandout.com

Resources:

For a full timeline of the United States Immigration History: https://www.history.com/topics/immigration/immigration-united-states-timeline

For more on the Holocaust, and America's Anti-Immigration Policy: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/1/27/14412082/refugees-history-holocaust

For more on the current administration refugee policy cuts: https://www.npr.org/2018/12/27/680308538/2018-was-a-year-of-drastic-cuts-to-u-s-refugee-admissions 

For more on gangs and their history in both North and South America: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/cfr/international/20050501faessay84310_arana.html 

For a more in-depth timeline of US intervention in Latin American Politics: https://apnews.com/2ded14659982426c9b2552827734be83 

For more on Operation Wetback: https://www.history.com/news/operation-wetback-eisenhower-1954-deportation 

For an explanation on NAFTA: https://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/north-american-free-trade-agreement-nafta.html#:~:text=The%20North%20American%20Free%20Trade,%3B%20NAFTA%20broadened%20that%20arrangement

For a look into an in-depth Chiquita Banana history think-piece: https://medium.com/@FeunFooPermaKra/the-red-on-yellow-chiquitas-banana-colonialism-in-latin-america-1ca178af7616 

For more on Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Rigoberta Menchú: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1992/tum/biographical/ 

For more on how the United States immigration system works: https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/how-united-states-immigration-system-works 

For more on the cost to file to immigrate to the United States: https://myrawealth.com/insights/financial-planning-for-the-costs-of-immigrating-to-the-us#:~:text=Becoming%20a%20U.S.%20permanent%20resident,somewhere%20between%20%244%2C000%20and%20%2411%2C300

For more on the Green Card Lottery: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/021116/how-green-card-lottery-really-works.asf

For more on the Syrian refugee crisis: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/the-us-has-slashed-its-refugee-intake-syrians-fleeing-war-are-most-affected/2019/05/07/f764e57c-678f-11e9-a1b6-b29b90efa879_story.html 

For more information on DACA and Dreamers: https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/table-talk/what-is-daca-and-who-are-the-dreamers 

For more on DACA application requirements: https://www.uscis.gov/archive/consideration-of-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-daca 

For an extensive list on the Trump administration's discriminatory policies: https://civilrights.org/trump-rollbacks/ 

To learn more about what happened to the homes of Japanese Americans during the time of the Japanese Internment Camps:  https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/japanese-american-houses 

For more on the "Churro Lady" incident in the New York City subway: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/11/nyregion/churro-lady-subway-arrest.html 

For more on the Trump administration's new rulings on how to apply for asylum: https://www.npr.org/2019/07/15/741769333/u-s-sets-new-asylum-rule-telling-potential-refugees-to-apply-elsewhere 

For more on the Trump Administration proposed asylum fees: https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/press-release/human-rights-first-denounces-new-fees-asylum-united-states 

What to do if ICE boards your Greyhound bus: https://www.aclu.org/blog/immigrants-rights/ice-and-border-patrol-abuses/one-woman-who-knew-her-rights-forced-border 

Host Sammy Ross and guest Greg Robertson discuss all things Sustainability.  Zero Waste, Eco-Consciousness, and Ethical Purchasing are all buzz words that have come to the forefront of mainstream vocabulary.  On this episode we will be digging into sustainability, how plastics and mass production are affecting our land and waters, and how we can all be better citizens to our planet Earth.

For Bonus content on all things composting, where Greg discusses his garden as Sammy shares her passion for her newly-founded hobby of vermicomposting, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/ThisisNotaHandout

For more information about the show, please visit: https://www.thisisnotahandout.com

Resources:

For an in-depth look on Big Oil and plastic recycling: https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-the-public-into-believing-plastic-would-be-recycled 

To learn more about how plastics are made:                        https://science.howstuffworks.com/plastic.htm 

For a deep dive on China's history of recycling: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/4/2/18290956/recycling-crisis-china-plastic-operation-national-sword

For more on New York's trash removal, check this New York Times video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6LzB6rMDtA

For a fun take on garbage barges, check this NPR Planet Money episode about the mafia's involvement: https://www.npr.org/2019/07/09/739893511/episode-925-a-mob-boss-a-garbage-boat-and-why-we-recycle

For more on the Love Canal, a former Superfund site: https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/18/nyregion/love-canal-declared-clean-ending-toxic-horror.html 

For more on Coca Cola's sustainability initiatives:              https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51197463

For more on clothing drop-off sites and clothing recycling: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/whats-in-your-landfill-lots-of-textiles/2020/01/27/7d43830c-364c-11ea-bb7b-265f4554af6d_story.html 

For more on St. Pauly Textile, and their clothing drop-off process: https://www.stpaulytextile.com/about-us 

For more on sports teams' merchandise donations: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/29884/what-happens-losing-teams-championship-shirts

For more on the Zero-Waste Movement: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/1/28/18196057/zero-waste-plastic-pollution 

For more on Trader Joe's promise to reduce plastic packaging: https://www.forbes.com/sites/eshachhabra/2019/07/30/how-trader-joes-is-cutting-down-on-plastic/#2a42963935fc 

For a fun commercial explaining Dropps laundry pods: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5kNBGHoaKI 

For more on travel emissions:                          https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49349566 

To learn more about composting: https://unclejimswormfarm.com/difference-vermicomposting-worms-hot-composting/#:~:text=Both%20methods%20have%20their%20merits,can%20be%20indoors%20or%20out 

Episode 3: Student Loans

Host Sammy Ross and guest Kate Acevedo discuss the topic of student loans.  More Americans are going to colleges and universities than ever, but at what cost?  On this episode we discuss our massive student loan debt, what the difference between compound and simple interest is, and what we can do if we do in fact have student loan debt.

For Bonus content on how Sammy and Kate played the 0APR credit card game in an attempt to pay off (and sometimes not pay off) their student loans, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/ThisisNotaHandout

For more information about the show, please visit: https://www.thisisnotahandout.com

Resources:

For an illustrated history of student loans: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-we-got-to-1-trillion-in-debt-an-illustrated-history-of-student-loans-in-america-2017-03-21

For an overview on the rising college tuition cost through the 20th century:                                         https://time.com/4472261/college-cost-history/

For a look into college costs throughout the globe: https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-03-19/biden-sanders-have-free-college-plans-they-might-learn-other-countries

For a deep dive into why college costs so much, there is a 2014 book Why Does College Cost So Much by economists David Feldman and Robert Archibald. For a quick explainer, Feldman wrote a paper for the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators:                                       http://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/4565/Myths_and_Realities_about_%20Rising_College_Tuition

To view the US's student loan debt in real time:      https://studentloanhero.com/student-loan-debt-clock/

For more on the US's 1.6 trillion dollar debt: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/3-ways-the-great-recession-turned-americas-student-loan-problem-into-a-crisis-2018-09-06

For a detail look at the fluctuation of the Prime Rate, take a look at JP Morgan Chase's historical prime rate chart.      https://institute.jpmorganchase.com/about/our-business/historical-prime-rate

For a brief overview of loan terms: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/student-loans/student-loans-simple-compound-interest

For an interesting look at the Kalamazoo Promise: https://www.vox.com/2020/2/12/20997880/free-college-tuition-kalamazoo-promise-the-impact

For NPR's in depth look at the challenges of student loan forgiveness for public service workers: https://www.npr.org/2018/10/17/653853227/the-student-loan-whistleblower

For more on Obama and vocational training: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-budget-education/obama-calls-for-focus-on-vocational-training-idUSTRE81C1Z620120213

For a BIG read about the Biden-Sanders unity task force proposals on a variety of topics:                                   https://joebiden.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/UNITY-TASK-FORCE-RECOMMENDATIONS.pdf

To research college scholarships:                                              https://myscholly.com/

On this episode host Sammy Ross and guest Amanda Sayers dive deep into the topic of Healthcare.  How did we get an employer-based healthcare system, and who came up with this plan?  What is Obamacare, and who is eligible to apply?  All that and more is discussed and answered, on this episode of the podcast.  

For Bonus content about how Sammy dealt with a surprise medical bill, along with Amanda's story of surviving a lockdown in Italy during Covid-19, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/ThisisNotaHandout

For more information about the show, please visit: https://www.thisisnotahandout.com

Resources:

To sign up for the Affordable Care Act: https://www.healthcare.gov/marketplace-in-your-state/

For further background on how America's current healthcare system came into existence, please visit this story from NPR: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114045132

For more information on Reaganomics and deregulation in the 80's, please visit: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/04/upshot/reagan-deregulation-and-americas-exceptional-rise-in-health-care-costs.html

For information regarding the evolution and compromises of Obamacare, please visit: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gracemarieturner/2016/01/26/obamacare-70-changes-make-it-a-very-different-law-than-congress-passed/#1f73380c6c4d

For a different look at the surprise billing issue: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/02/12/804943655/doctors-push-back-as-congress-takes-aim-at-surprise-medical-bills

For a basic breakdown on the expenses of healthcare in America: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/080615/6-reasons-healthcare-so-expensive-us.asp

For a comparison about healthcare in the United States to other countries across the world: https://www.pgpf.org/blog/2019/07/how-does-the-us-healthcare-system-compare-to-other-countries

For more information comparing the current American healthcare system to other countries, please visit these articles and reports from the Commonwealth Fund, a foundation dedicated to promoting high-performing health care: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/sites/default/files/documents/___media_files_publications_fund_report_2017_jul_schneider_mirror_mirror_2017.pdf AND https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/2019/apr/considering-single-payer-proposals-lessons-from-abroad

For a fascinating report on non-profit hospital executive salaries: https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2019/06/26/top-u-s-non-profit-hospitals-ceos-are-racking-up-huge-profits/#6ed2418519df

For more information about the actual costs of cancer drug research and development, take a look at this article from the Journal of the American Medical Association: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2653012

For more information on statistics of the populace's insurance coverage, visit this report from the Kaiser Family Foundation: https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/total-population/?dataView=1¤tTimeframe=0&selectedDistributions=employer&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D

For Bernie Sander's Healthcare Plan's calculator, visit:  https://www.sandershealthcare2020.com/

For more on Joe Biden's Healthcare Plan, please visit: https://joebiden.com/healthcare/

For more on the Shelf Life Extension Program: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/07/18/537257884/that-drug-expiration-date-may-be-more-myth-than-fact

For more information on drug expiration, visit this Harvard report: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/is-it-ok-to-use-medications-past-their-expiration-dates

For more information from the House Ways and Means committee report on drug prices in US compared globally: https://waysandmeans.house.gov/sites/democrats.waysandmeans.house.gov/files/documents/U.S.%20vs.%20International%20Prescription%20Drug%20Prices_0.pdf

For more information from the Senate report on drug price increases, visit: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/face-sheet-on-generic-drug-price-increases?inline=file

For a snippet into Travel Tourism:  https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/06/09/318212444/a-reason-to-smile-mexican-town-is-a-destination-for-dental-tourism

Episode 1: Unemployment

On this episode host Sammy Ross and guest Megan Kinneen discuss all things unemployment.  How did we get to the unemployment process we have today?  How does it work, and who is eligible to file?  All those questions and more are answered on this episode of the podcast.

For Bonus content about Sammy's journey to obtaining unemployment during Covid-19 (plus some fun facts), please visit: https://www.patreon.com/ThisisNotaHandout

For more information about the show, please visit: https://www.thisisnotahandout.com

For more information about the background and basics of unemployment insurance:

https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/supplement/2012/unemployment.html#:~:text=To induce states to enact,provided a tax offset incentive.&text=Employers who paid taxes to,tax against the federal tax.

For FAQ's on filing for unemployment, specifically during COVID:

https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus/unemployment-insurance#

For more information about how the unemployment system works, visit:

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/federal-state-unemployment-compensation.asp

For a quick video explanation about different state's unemployment rates, visit:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/26/these-states-pay-the-most-money-in-unemployment-benefits.html?__twitter_impression=true&recirc=taboolainternal

For more information about Coronavirus mortgage forbearance and renter's protection, visit:

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/guide-coronavirus-mortgage-relief-options/

For information on how the PPP loans are being distributed, the Treasury Dept is issuing periodic reports:

https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SBA-Paycheck-Protection-Program-Loan-Report-Round2.pdf For a breakdown of the CARES Act:

https://www.npr.org/2020/03/26/821457551/whats-inside-the-senate-s-2-trillion-coronavirus-aid-package For a breakdown of the House-passed HEROES

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/heroes-act-policy-overview-and-political-prospects-latest-covid-19-relief-bill

To donate to, or apply for, Live From Nowhere:

https://www.livefromnowhere.org/

To donate to, or apply for, The Actor's Fund:

https://actorsfund.org/

This Is Not A Handout is a podcast where we shall be discussing various social topics and digging deeper into the root socioeconomics of them. On this show we aim to create empathy and understanding for the sometimes confusing social topics of our time.

New episodes come out the first and third Monday of every month, at 6am. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.