Fighting The Power is a radio/Podcast featuring independent journalists resisting Trump's authoritarian rule. We highlight efforts to restore democracy and confront Project 2025, which aims to reduce civil liberties.

Our panelists include:

· LaNita Duke: Award-winning multimedia producer for Grassroots News Northwest.

· Dianne Johnson: Professor and journalist specializing in political journalism and the Arts.

· Althea Billings: Journalist and radio producer covering Politics and National News.

· Rev. Cecil Prescod: Talk show host focusing on social and political issues.

· Nia Gray: Civil rights advocate from Pittsburgh.

· Mary Li: Pacific Northwest bureaucrat focused on public policy and governance.

Stay strong, hopeful, and empowered. Stand together and support independent journalism. Tune in to Fighting The Power and make a difference.

Democracy dies when the Fourth Estate complies

· These are the voices on this edition of Fighting the Power:

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· Democracy suffers when the media complies with anti-democratic forces. Legacy media is failing to fact-check Trump's power grab and his dismantling of the Federal Government for billionaire tax breaks. Reliable news sources are more important than ever for accurate reporting. Fighting the Power explores these issues.

· These shifts in media consumption reflect a broader trend of disillusionment with traditional sources of information. As trust in legacy media wanes, people are seeking out alternative narratives that resonate with their experiences and values. This grassroots movement is redefining the landscape of news and information, emphasizing authenticity, accountability, and community engagement.

· Resistance Radio exemplifies this shift, providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives that are often marginalized in mainstream discourse. By leveraging the power of social media and digital tools, these new media pioneers are fostering a more inclusive and participatory form of journalism. They are challenging the status quo and holding those in power accountable, all while empowering individuals to take an active role in shaping the narratives that define their world.

· In this evolving media ecosystem, the role of the consumer is more crucial than ever. Supporting independent and grassroots journalism is not just a passive act of consumption but a deliberate choice to uphold the principles of truth and justice. As more people tune in to these new voices, the collective power of informed and engaged citizens can drive meaningful change and counteract the forces that seek to undermine democracy.

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Let’s Talk About Race (LTAR), is an intergenerational, roundtable discussion of independent national journalists featuring rigorous conversations and analysis of news coverage and the role race plays in politics, government, economy, education, and health. LTAR currently airs on KBOO Community Radio in Portland, OR, and on Pacifica Radio Network
LTAR brings independent journalists from all over the country from New Jersey to Texas and Pennsylvania with a home base in Portland, Oregon. The hosts bring their own flavor, journalistic perspectives, and integrity.
The roundtable line-up features: LaNita Duke, an award-winning audio and video producer who has written, directed, and produced political news and commentary for Grassroots NW and KBOO Radio for over 20 years. Dianne Johnson, a journalist from Texas co-host/musicologist on From the Grassroots, a political news audio magazine. Althea Billings, current News Director at KBOO Community Radio. Rev. Cecil Prescod is a talk-show host discussing local, national, and international issues ranging from poverty in Portland, OR to politics in Africa. Nia Gray, host and blogger of The Faith Report in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And Mary Li provides an in-depth analysis.
No taxation without rationalization.
You may have heard it said that only two things in this life are assured death and taxes. To not get too morbid, our panel is going to focus on the second of those sureties. Taxes. What is taxed, who benefits from those dollars, and why these are what we'll be discussing on the program today.

Guests: Evan Kirkpatrick. I'm the founder and CEO of Wendell Charles Financial explains why the Trickle-down economic theory does not work
Guest: Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is a professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley.” tax code is rigged for the rich, enabling a handful of wealthy individuals to exert undue influence over our economy and democracy…
Our Panel discussed :
tying up the child tax credit, which we love to bring up on this show because it is an extremely successful public policy to Increase corporate tax breaks

We’ve left our humanity behind. So this 3 w3-weight is what I think we're seeing here. When we see something that says child tax credit and cuts for big business, that is what we're seeing in, in, in real time is the struggle to control.
Participatory budgeting is a practice where the community can weigh in on how the government spends our tax dollars and on what the government spends. Our tax dollars. Now, at the beginning of the show, I talked about this, negative image of government as a vending machine.
Now, not all entities pay taxes. Churches are nonprofits exempt from paying taxes, Reverend Cecil explains.
Senator Bernie Sanders has been a constant critic of these tax plans that don't help working families
Cordae - Taxes (Lyrics) [from the Netflix Series "We The People"]

Hope is a thing with feather-Trump fined over $350 million in civil fraud case

Let’s Talk About Race (LTAR), is an intergenerational, roundtable discussion of independent national journalists featuring rigorous conversations and analysis of news coverage and the role race plays in politics, government, economy, education, and health. LTAR currently airs on KBOO Community Radio in Portland, OR, and on Pacifica Radio Network
LTAR brings independent journalists from all over the country from New Jersey to Texas and Pennsylvania with a home base in Portland, Oregon. The hosts bring their own flavor, journalistic perspectives, and integrity.
The roundtable line-up features: LaNita Duke, an award-winning audio and video producer who has written, directed, and produced political news and commentary for Grassroots NW and KBOO Radio for over 20 years. Dianne Johnson, a journalist from Texas co-host/musicologist on From the Grassroots, a political news audio magazine. Althea Billings, current News Director at KBOO Community Radio. Rev. Cecil Prescod is a talk show host discussing local, national, and international issues ranging from poverty in Portland, OR to politics in Africa. Nia Gray, host and blogger of The Faith Report in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And Mary Li provides an in-depth analysis.

And as we celebrate international women day -LTAR revisits the issues impacting women.
From the end of Affirmative Action , lack of family resources for child care and the challenges facing reproductive rights
However, at the same time, we celebrate women who stood up and fought and continue to fight for progressive causes:
Starting with Oregon State Sen. Avel Gordly A Portland native, Gordly became the first African-American woman elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1996, serving until 2009.
Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm: the first African-American woman elected to Congress. Chisholm was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the first African American to make a serious bid for the Presidency of the United States of America.

Mary Li did a shout-out to Yuri Kochiyama

Yuri Kochiyama was a Japanese American political and civil rights activist. During World War II, the U.S. government forcibly removed her and her family to an incarceration site for Japanese Americans. For fifty years, Kochiyama spoke out about oppressive institutions and injustice in the United States. Her activism supported the liberation and empowerment of African Americans, Asian Americans, and Puerto Ricans. She also advocated for nuclear disarmament, reparations for Japanese American incarcerates, and the release of prisoners whom she regarded as prisoners of conscience.

Althea Billings shares with us that the struggle for Women's Reproductive rights never ends with A Women's Rights vs the Supreme Court's Might

Previously On-Dyning to own the Liberals or voting against your own needs
Hope is a Thing with Feathers- Senator Mallory McMorrow

Let’s Talk About Race (LTAR), a new intergenerational, roundtable discussion of independent national journalists featuring rigorous conversations and analysis of news coverage and the role race plays in politics, government, economy, education, and health. LTAR currently airs on KBOO Community Radio in Portland, OR .

LTAR brings independent journalists from all over the country from New Jersey to Texas and Pennsylvania with a home-base in Portland, Oregon. The hosts bring their own flavor, journalistic perspectives, and integrity.

The roundtable line-up features: LaNita Duke, award-winning audio and video producer who has written, directed, and produced political news and commentary for Grassroots NW and KBOO Radio for over 45 years. Dianne Johnson, a journalist from Texas co-host/musicologist on From the Grassroots, a political news magazine. Althea Billings, current News Director at KBOO Community Radio. Cecil Prescod, talk-show host local, national, and international issues ranging from poverty in Portland to politics in Africa. Nia Gray, host and blogger of The Faith Report in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Welcome to another edition of LTAR- The Fire This time

Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war have erupted at many college campuses after being inspired by demonstrators at Columbia University.

The students are calling for universities to separate themselves from companies advancing Israel’s military efforts in Gaza and in some cases from Israel itself.

It is interesting to see how an international student movement has developed and the response by university administrators and police. Young people in the United States and other Western Countries are questioning America's relationship with Israel.

Additionally, they have a greater level of concern about the human rights abuses occurring in Gaza.

Combine this with a major Presidential election, Russia picking a fight with NATO, and the economic pressures of inflation and underemployment –

This is the Fire this Time

I do not know if we are all being played as useful idiots; as difficult problems are igniting the world. But the relationship between Israel and American public opinion may be changed forever.

Hope is a Thing ...

Catlin Clark garnered a great deal of publicity for her college ball and now she is in the WNBA- But At LTAR we stan Paige Bueckers for standing up for her teammates -who are Women of color and ignored and underappreciated

Let’s Talk About Race (LTAR), a new intergenerational, roundtable discussion of independent national journalists featuring rigorous conversations and analysis of news coverage and the role race plays in politics, government, economy, education, and health. LTAR currently airs on KBOO Community Radio in Portland, OR .
LTAR brings independent journalists from all over the country from New Jersey to Texas and Pennsylvania with a home base in Portland, Oregon. The hosts bring their flavor, journalistic perspectives, and integrity.

The roundtable line-up features: LaNita Duke, an award-winning audio and video producer who has written, directed, and produced political news and commentary for Grassroots NW and KBOO Radio for over 45 years. Dianne Johnson, a journalist from Texas co-host/musicologist on From the Grassroots, a political news magazine. Althea Billings, current News Director at KBOO Community Radio. Cecil Prescod, talk show host local, national, and international issues ranging from poverty in Portland to politics in Africa. Nia Gray, host and blogger of The Faith Report in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Welcome to another edition of LTAR- The Fire This time
Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war have erupted at many college campuses after being inspired by demonstrators at Columbia University.
The students are calling for universities to separate themselves from companies advancing Israel’s military efforts in Gaza and in some cases from Israel itself.

It is interesting to see how an international student movement has developed and the response by university administrators and police. Young people in the United States and other Western Countries are questioning America's relationship with Israel.
Additionally, they have a greater level of concern about the human rights abuses occurring in Gaza.
Combine this with a major Presidential election, Russia picking a fight with NATO, and the economic pressures of inflation and underemployment –
This is the Fire this Time
I do not know if we are all being played as useful idiots; as difficult problems are igniting the world. But the relationship between Israel and American public opinion may be changed forever.
Hope is a Thing ...
Catlin Clark garnered a great deal of publicity for her college ball and now she is in the WNBA- But At LTAR we stan Paige Bueckers for standing up for her teammates -who are Women of color and ignored and underappreciated

Dying to own the liberals

LaNita Duke (00:01.313)

Althea, you wanna just take over?

Althea (00:03.778)

Sure, I can do that.

Althea (00:08.774)

You are listening to LTAR Let's Talk About Race. I'm Althea Billings. I'm here with our lovely panel and we have a lot to talk about.

Althea (00:20.398)

The episode is dying to own the liberals or voting against your best interest. My first question for the panel here has to do with the issue of crime or the perception of a crime wave. When you listen to Republican lawmakers, they often paint a picture of crime running rampant in urban areas. I can personally attest to some people finding out that I live in Portland, not even a particularly large city.

and giving me this look like, are you okay? Are you safe walking around as a woman? So right, Republicans have painted this picture of crime running rampant in urban areas and in blue states. But when you look at the facts, the hard numbers about homicide rates, about violent crime rates, red states have higher numbers of these things. So what do you make of that panel? What do we take away from the...

crime disparity in red and blue states. Let's start with Reverend Cecil.

Cecil (01:36.553)

I'm not sure what to make of this. You know, a number of factors.

are a part of this. So it includes health, education.

Cecil (01:54.141)

whether or not one has access to weapons. It includes whether or not there are access to adequate mental health as well as physical health.

I think in part it means that we have to look more closely at a lot of factors which impact these issues, including how we are able to make sure that people, regardless of where they live in rural or urban environments, whether or not they have access to good education, good health.

resources, mental and physical. So it's a lot deeper than I think I'm able to answer in a few minutes.

Althea (02:58.602)

have to agree with you. I also think that it's a pretty deep and complex thing to paint with a broad brush, right? Let's go to Professor Johnson. What are your thoughts on this?

Dianne Johnson (03:18.404)

In considering this question, I do think that there has been an overt effort to cast blue states in the media as experiencing these higher rates of crime, specifically gun violence and murders. And I think that's been intentional.

Dianne Johnson (03:47.28)

So it is interesting to look at the actual statistics and see that the murder rates are higher in red states than blue states, that over half of the murders are suicide, which I think gets left out of the conversation and it should be at the top of the conversation.

Another thing that, when I read this question, kind of resonated with me is this identity politics, where we're looking at what red states and blue states when actually this should be a bipartisan concern. And we are making a point here that there is definitely an effort to skew the appearance of crime. And

I think there's also when you do that, when you kind of cloud the information, then you don't have to take accountability or action on anything because we stay in this state of confusion. And this is such an important thing to America, to both urban and rural communities that

To me it's important to look past the red and the blue divide and try to approach this from the better good perspective.

Althea (05:31.842)

Let's move on down to Mary, your thoughts.

Mary Li (05:35.712)

Well, I think I'm going to take an opposite view of this. I don't think it's all that deep. And I think we actually already understand the dynamics here and likely just

Ball of Confusion Script

Welcome to another edition of LTAR: Let’s Talk About Race

This is our first episode of 2024

And it’s appropriately entitled Ball Of Confusion

Our episode title is based on what is happening in America today.

We have so many issues, the meltdown of the Republican Party, involvement in two conflicts overseas.

A presidential race that involves a candidate facing 91 felonies , convicted of rape and financial fraud and the other candidate who is poor at messaging

Combined with the rising cost of everything-2024 is just a ball of confusion.

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Polling can be deceptive and misleading-and one point there was an asserting that Vice President Kamala Harris should not be on the democratic ticket –

Professor Johnson explores this topic with the panelist –

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Another element in the Ball of Confusion is the comedy of error the Republican party turn into -there appears to be no interested in the common good.

Another concern opening 2024 is the high cost of everything. Listen to Senator Benie Sanders :

Outro

2024 should be about unity, effective governance, and addressing economic inequality-instead we open the year playing with toys -it’s a ball of confusion

In our hope is a thing with feather, we want to start 2024 with Democratic Texas State Representative Jasmine Crockett

-Lets Talk About Race (LTAR), is an intergenerational, roundtable discussion of independent national journalists featuring rigorous conversations and analysis of news coverage and the role race plays in politics, government, economy, education, and health. LTAR currently airs on KBOO Community Radio in Portland, OR and syndicated nationally on Pacifica Radio Network

LTAR brings independent journalists from all over the country from New Jersey to Texas and Pennsylvania with a home-base in Portland, Oregon. The hosts bring their own flavor, journalistic perspectives, and integrity. LTAR brings independent journalists from all over the country from New Jersey to Texas and Pennsylvania with a home-base in Portland, Oregon. The hosts bring their own flavor, journalistic perspectives, and integrity.

The roundtable line-up features: LaNita Duke, award-winning audio and video producer who has written, directed, and produced political news and commentary for Grassroots NW and KBOO Radio for more than 20 years years. Dianne Johnson, a journalist from Texas co-host/musicologist on From the Grassroots, a political news magazine. Althea Billings, current News Director at KBOO Community Radio. Cecil Prescod ,a talk-show host local, national, and international issues ranging from poverty in Portland to politics in Africa. Nia Gray, host and blogger of The Faith Report from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-------------------------------On this Edition of LTAR-Closing the Door Behind You-the end of Affirmative Action in American

There is an acceleration of conservative assaults on all efforts to remedy racial disparities; litigants and politicians alleging reverse discrimination.

Is this real Cognitive Dissonance-How can those who benefited from AA, and immigration -now be opposed to it?

Our Hope is a Thing With Feathers :

The American Congress is in disarray as Republican sociopaths try to cut benefits for the neediest Americans and shut the working of the government down.

However, there are a number of progressives congressmen and women – Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is our Hope is a Thing with feathers.

Previously On: Voter Suppression in America-One Person-No Vote