Laura Flanders & Friends

In the midst of a constitutional crisis, can our system of check and balances protect us from an authoritarian President? Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin may have the answer, as a leading figure challenging Trump’s executive powers and sounding the alarm on Elon Musk.

You wouldn’t know it from the data, but Latinos are the second most likely demographic to be killed by law enforcement in the U.S, relative to their population. We only have these statistics now thanks to the work of La Raza Database Research Project, a group of volunteers in Southern California who are bringing awareness to systematic police violence against the Latino population.

According to some government leaders, logging is bringing big economic gains to rural America. But frontline communities are telling a different story. Two Carolina-based organizations are converting a 300-acre former South Carolina plantation into the South’s first environmental justice training center: the Brittons Neck Community Forest.

The Augusta Correctional Center employed many residents and brought business to Craigsville, Virginia, a two square-mile, 900-person town in the Shenandoah Valley. But when the prison closed with minimal warning, Craigsville residents and the town’s economy were hit hard. Join us as we envision the future of Craigsville and investigate how decarcerating the economy can become a win for all.

In times of crisis, people need their questions answered, fast. As residents impacted by the recent Los Angeles fires return to their homes, are they receiving enough information about insurance and recovery dollars, or how to protect their health and wellbeing? Join us to hear what local BIPOC reporters want outside media to hear, as they respond to the Los Angeles fires.

Hours after he took office, Donald Trump issued pardons for over 1,500 people convicted of crimes related to the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. One of those pardoned was one of the subjects of a gripping documentary: Homegrown. Director Michael Premo joins Laura Flanders to discuss how the film came to be, and the surprising diversity within the Right-wing groups he followed.

In a time of climate catastrophe, genocide, mass incarceration and political turmoil, people need to work together – better! “Love in a __ _ World: How to Build Relationships, Hook Up, and Raise Hell, Together” from lifelong activist Dean Spade shares tips on how we might get our interpersonal houses in order so that we’re better equipped to show up for others and the causes we care about.

What is being left out of the conversation when it comes to Jimmy Carter, and why are many of his significant achievements under attack today? In this episode, Laura is on the ground in Georgia for Carter’s funeral events, and speaks with people who came from all around the country to pay their respects. Find out how Americans are remembering the 39th president.

The discriminatory and unjust for-profit cash bail system disproportionately impacts Black and Brown people, and favors the wealthy who can buy their freedom while leaving the poor to languish in jail. Bail reform has faced tremendous pushback, but Illinois implemented the first-of-its-kind Pretrial Fairness Act, ending cash bail statewide in 2023. What’s holding the rest of the nation back?

If anyone can inspire the public about the role of the minority in Congress, the women of California’s 12th district can. In this charming conversation, newly-elected Democrat, Lateefah Simon, joins the indomitable veteran Barbara Lee, whose congressional seat Simon will be taking when the new Congress convenes.

Israel’s war on Gaza has been a mass disabling event. Today’s guest says we must create an “accessible future” for disabled Palestinians. Maysoon Zayid is a comedian and unapologetic voice for disability rights and Palestinian identity. A fierce advocate with cerebral palsy, Zaid proves that the most powerful messages often come from unexpected places and are filled with laughter.

Some residents had no food, electricity, or cell service after Hurricane Helene ravaged the western part of North Carolina in October. Amidst misinformation and no information, local media had to step in to inform desperate people fast. This month on “Meet the BIPOC Press”, we explore what media outlets did to serve their people in that moment.