Voice of the People: Radio By and For the 99%

This week's show features an edited version of the Belmarsh Tribunal held in Washington DC on January 20, 2023. The Belmarsh Tribunal focuses on the case of Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks. The event featured expert testimony from journalists, whistleblowers, lawyers, publishers, and parliamentarians on assaults to press freedom and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This was originally broadcast by Democracy Now!

Soundman Jim, Sandy Burch and Mark explore this year's Montana Legislature. Legislation about abortion, trans Montanans, labor, tax cuts for the rich and a Federal balanced budget convention call are explored. Featured is an interview with State Senator Mary Ann Dunwell of Helena. We also look at some promising news on the COVID  epidemic.

Soundman Jim, Sue Kirchmyer and Mark choose some of the most important stories of 2022 and take another look at them. Also there is an interview of Sandy Burch about reproductive justice and the 2023 Montana Legislature, produced by Montana Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

This holiday show features songs of protest, inspiration, power and revolution. 

Thanks to Ethan Earle of Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung for this collection of music.

Playlist:

1. I’m Gonna Join That One Big Union (You Gotta Go Down and Join the Union) by Woody Guthrie

2. Lamento Boricano by Victor Jara

3. Wéibayuwa by Aurelio

4. Water No Get Enemy by Fela Kuti

5. There is Power in a Union by Linda Sundblad

6. Desaparecido by Manu Chao

7. El Derecho de Virir en Paz by Victor Jara

8. What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye

9. Senegal Fast Food by Amadou and Mariam with Manu Chao

10. This is My Voice by Rim Banna, Bugge Wesseltoft and Checkpoint 303

11. The Partisan by Leonard Cohen

12. La Complainte du Partisan by Emmanuel d’Astier de la Vigerie and Anna Marly

13. El Pueblo Unido Jamas Será Vencido by Inti-Illimani

14. Solidarity Song by Hanns Eisler, Sylvia Anders and D. Justus Noll

15. Lumumba (remastered) by Miriam Makeba

16. Akiwowo by Babtunde Olatunji

17. Uprising by Muse

18. Zapata Se Queda by Lila Downs with Celso Piña and Totó la Momposina

19. El Kofeyye Arabeyye by Shadia Mansour, featuring M-1 of Dead Prez

20. Talkin’ Bout a Revolution by Tracy Chapman

21. Ella’s Song by Sweet Honey in the Rock

22. Hum Dekhenge Laazim Hai Ki by Iqbal Bano

23. Kingdom by Joy Crookes

24. A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke

25. People Have the Power by Patti Smith

Sandy Burch, Soundman Jim and Mark discuss the law that regulates rail  unions, what the current US rail labor situation is, and what rail  workers might do. We take a deep look at "illegal" strikes and its long  history in the US.  We also look at what rail workers in France and  Britain are up to. And we report on the biggest strike in the US this  year - the University of California graduate workers. And the one day  strike at the New York Times. We discuss consequence of the new  leadership elected in the United Autoworkers Union. And we discuss how  the US Supreme court may go after economic rights after overturning Roe v  Wade.

Soundman Jim and Mark dive deep into how football's World Cup ought to make us look differently at human rights by reading selections from Neil Vallelly's article in Jacobin magazine. We also continue our look at why the labor movement ought to learn profound lessons from the two recent and successful strikes in Ontario as described by Jane McAlevey. And we highlight Adolph Reed's assessment of the recent US elections and how to successfully the ascendant authoritarians in US politics.

The Word of the Week is "democracy," as Soundman Jim, Friend of the Show Linda Gillison, and Mark look at the recent US election results. We also dive into the story of a near and credible general strike in Ontario as public workers fight back against their government's attempt to strip workers of their rights. We also discuss how the US Federal Reserve's fight against inflation is ruinous to other countries, the worldwide fertilizer shortage and how its an opportunity for agriculture to wean itself off of fossil fuels in Africa, and the ongoing COVID pandemic.

Our Word of the Week is Inflation, and we look at the current causes of it and what can be done. Missoula City Councilman Daniel Carlino tells us about the controversy of closing the Authorized Camp Site for houseless people. Bob Rosen reads his editorial "Our Healthcare System is Sick." Soundman Jim and Mark discuss the Congressional Progressive Caucus' letter to President Biden calling for negotiations in the war in Ukraine and the latest on the pandemic.

Soundman Jim and Mark explore the neoconservative ideology and its role in current US foreign policy. Missoula doctors Lauren Wilson and Tim Mitchell explain their views on LR-131, the seriously misleading named "Born-Alive Protection Act," which appears on the Montana election ballot this fall. We also look at recent significant events in the Ukraine War. And we talk about why some governments have refused to order hospitals to create safe ventilation in their buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

For more information on LR-131: https://nolr131.org

Soundman Jim, Richard the Bishop and Mark analyze the apparent sabotage of the Nordstream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea, what economic and other impacts will likely be forthcoming, and who might have done this. We also cover the passage of an nasty anti-worker law in Ukraine this summer, and what else may be in store for worker rights there.