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

Our Word of the Week is “Just Cause.” In our interview with Organizers’ Union for Just Cause leader Matt Fennell we will explore what Just Cause is at work and why its important for all workers in the US. Next, we hear from Lucas Moody and his reports on the Missoula City Council. Finally, we hear from speakers from a Montanans for Palestine rally on April 25th at the Missoula County Courthouse grounds.

Our Word of the Week is “May Day Strong.” This is in reference to the coalition of groups in 400 locations around the United States who organized opposition to the billionaires, to ICE, to fascism while celebrating that ordinary people had created the 8-hour workday, which struggle is the origin of International Workers’ Day on May 1st. On today’s show we hear from events around Missoula on May Day, with one special visit to North Carolina. First we will hear speakers and music at the May Day Rally at the University of Montana campus. Then we hear later in the day as a flying picket visits the office of US Senator Tim Sheehy, a Lowes store and an Enterprise Rent-a-Car facility; all to protest their support or complicity with the Immigration Control and Enforcement Agency better known as ICE. Then we hear from a few of the speakers at a celebration potluck and barbecue where discussions on group alignments, more singing, and an ICE agent pinata rounded out the day. Then we hear a short interview of the President of the North Carolina AFL-CIO on the amazing success of North Carolina teachers closing down the largest school districts on May Day and holding a giant march in the capital.

Soundman Jim and Mark discuss our Word of the Week: “May Day.” This is of course in reference to the International Workers’ Day on May 1st. We will look at the anarchist roots of the May Day holiday in the fight in the US for the eight-hour workday. Then we look at the modern May Day events in the US sponsored by the coalition May Day Strong, including events in Missoula. Then we will look at the state of the US labor federation, the AFL-CIO. And at the latest attack by the Trump Administration on organized labor. We then move to the elections in Hungary and to the US/Israeli war on Iran. Then finally we will hear from Lucas Moody as he gives us his regular Missoula City Council Report.

maydaystrong.org

Lucas Moody joins Soundman Jim and Mark exploring our Word of the Week: “War.” This is of course in reference to the US-Israeli War on Iran. First, we will look at the state of the war: President Trump’s War Speech on April 1st, the lead-up and aftermath of that speech, the current and projected economic effects of the war, and the open letter to Americans from Iran’s President. Then we cover some labor news and the plans for general strike organizing for May Day 2026. Then finally we will hear from Lucas as he gives us his regular Missoula City CouncilReport.

Our Word of the Week is “US Imperialism in Latin America.” We will play a recording of the March 12th presentation by Maria Bustos and Paul Haber in the first installment of the 2026 Socialist Speakers Series held at the Elks Lodge in Missoula. Lastly, we will hear from Lucas Moody as he gives us his Missoula City Council Report.

Sue Kirchmyer, Soundman Jim and Mark tackle this episode on “Conflict.” This is in reference to two major conflicts that we will cover in this show: the US-Israeli War on Iran; and the class conflict between the working and owning classes. First, we will look at and critique the main reasons claimed by the US to wage war on Iran, and then look at the more likely reasons. Then we look at recent class conflicts in Montana, California and Hawai’i, Minnesota, US students, Argentina and India. Lastly, we will hear from Lucas Moody as he gives us his Missoula City Council Report.

Soundman Jim and Mark explore our Word of the Week: “Iran.” We first have the briefest of looks at Islam, Iran’s chief but by no means only religion. Then we will hear an excerpt of an interview of former United Kingdom diplomat of that region, Alastair Crooke. Then we will hear another excerpt of an interview of Satereh Sadeqi, assistant professor at Tehran University who witnessed the January riots in Iran. Then we will hear from journalist Jeremy Scahill who will give us a current overview of what is going on. Lastly, we will hear from Lucas Moody as he gives us his Missoula City Council Watch Report.

Linda Gillison, Soundman Jim and Mark take on our Word of the Week: “Teamsters Union - Minneapolis 1934.” As a follow up to our coverage of the January 23rd Minnesota General Strike against ICE, we will learn about an earlier resistance movement in Minneapolis, the seminal 1934 Teamsters Union Rebellion, and its parallels with January 23rd. Then we will look at the partial victory over ICE in Minnesota. Then we will hear two stories about ICE’s terrible damage to two rural communities: Willmar, Minnesota and Froid, Montana; and how these communities are responding. And then we will hear Brendan Work read his opinion piece “Overwhelmed? Flood the Zone Right Back” published in the Missoulian on January 27th. Finally we will hear from Lucas Moody and his Missoula City Council Report.

This week Lucas Moody joins Soundman Jim and Mark. Our Word of the Week is “ICE.” First, we look at the history of this federal agency, then at its long history of abuse. Then we will hear from organizers on the ground to hear how Minnesota’s January 23rd General Strike fared. Then we will hear from speakers at a Missoula rally in solidarity with the Minnesota January 23rd activities and what is planned for Missoula. Finally we hear from Lucas on a new feature of Voice of the People: The Missoula City Council Report.

Our Word of the Week is Venezuela. First, we hear from University of Montana research professor Richard Drake about the history of the Monroe doctrine. Then we hear an interview of two current supporters of the Venezuelan Bolivarian Revolution about recent events, but also about the status of the revolutionary process.