Maureen Meyer. What a find. It’s so great to connect with subject matter experts that fill in so many blanks. Hopefully our discussion was worth the wait, Unf*ckers.
We’re setting into our new digs quite nicely and are back in a rhythm of cranking out top shelf content. Next week we wrap up our series on immigration with a look at economic policy in LAC nations, trade agreements with the U.S. and the impact of foreign direct investments. We have another great resource on tap for that one so I’m anxious to dig even further into it.
As you know, it’s our Spring Fund/Friend/Hellraiser period so we’re asking for support from Unf*ckers around the globe to help us continue our work and grow our presence. Please consider taking out a membership to become a sustaining member of the show or you can help us out by purchasing our native roasted coffee or tipping us on the website or on YouTube. Of course, expanding our network is just as important so why not take a minute to share this newsletter with friends and family and encourage them to subscribe for free?
Other things I’m obsessing over…
Hey, Arizona! Go fuck yourself. If you haven’t seen this, please watch. This is the Arizona legislature gathering in prayer and speaking in tongues before a session. This is it. My only obsession for this week because it’s so fucking absurd.
Ew. Not loving this trend. Trump’s unfavorable rating is slightly lower than inauguration day 2017 and favorable rating is slightly higher. Good lord, how quickly we forget.
Headlines
Elder Fraud
David Sirota is crushing it over at The Lever. The newsroom of the fledgling operation is almost 20 people strong and they continue to break stories that challenge the establishment. This recent feature on private equity firms in the nursing home industry shows how Wall Street is fighting back against proposed regulations as they continue to squeeze exorbitant fees from operations instead of putting needed resources toward patient care.
“In response to the deteriorating conditions at nursing homes nationwide, regulators have proposed bare-minimum staffing standards. The facilities have cried poverty, claiming they can’t afford it. But in fact, researchers have found many of these private equity-owned operations, including Lakeview, are funneling funds — almost all of which come from Medicare and Medicaid — to pay exorbitant fees to their affiliated companies.”
I invite you to revel in the acerbic prose of one Christopher Hedges who recently attended a memorial at the New York Times for former editor Joe Lelyveld. No one does bitter better. It’s also a fascinating trip through the halls of journalism royalty, no matter what you think of the Gray Lady.
From the article:
“Reality rarely penetrates the Byzantine and self-referential court of The New York Times, which was on full display at Lelyveld’s memorial. The former editors spoke — Gene Roberts being an exception — with a cloying noblesse oblige, enthralled with their own splendor. Lelyveld became a vehicle to revel in their privilege, an unwitting advertisement for why the institution is so woefully out of touch and why so many reporters and much of the public despise those who run it.”
This is an interesting poll that 99 shared with me. It backstops a couple of ideas from our latest episode on immigration and highlights the tendency of migrant groups to “close the door” behind them, so to speak.
From the article:
“Between the lines: A recent study published in the European Political Science Review suggests Latino support for Trump is not growing in spite of his anti-immigrant rhetoric — but because of it. An analysis of election results from 2016 and 2020 showed Trump support among Latinos getting stronger in Arizona, Florida and some New Mexico counties, the study's co-author, Udi Sommer, tells Axios. Using data from the 2020 Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES) and the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape survey, the authors found that anti-immigrant sentiment is rising among Latinos, based on survey questions about immigrants and voting patterns.”
In today’s episode, we head to the border and below to examine the root causes and circumstances that factor into immigration patterns, from economic opportunity to asylum. Max speaks with Maureen Meyer from The Washington Office on Latin America, known as WOLA, a D.C. based organization that advocates for human rights in the Americas. Meyer serves as WOLA’s Vice President for Programs, working with senior staff to develop policy priorities and strategies to advance human rights and social justice in Latin America. We’re still following the blended episodic and Phone A Friend approach for this series, so Max begins with a brief discussion about the complex nature of immigration policy and the historical relationship between the United States and Latin America.
Here’s a snippet from the pod:
Max: “This may come as a surprise, but the people coming across the border are coming from countries that have been around for a long time. Real places with their own economies, political economies, cultures, traditions and values. And they’re not coming here because the streets are fucking paved with gold. Sure, some are coming for opportunistic reasons to better their financial circumstances. But many are coming to be with family. Or they’re fleeing persecution, environmental disasters, political instability or life threatening danger. Every asylum seeker, every migrant worker, every family, every individual has a story. And every country of origin does as well.”
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is the face of the “progressive prosecutor” movement. A controversial figure, he has lived up to many of his original campaign promises despite constant attacks.
“We seek to end animal agriculture by rescuing farmed animals, giving them lifelong care and sanctuary, and educating about the harms of animal farming. The Sanctuary welcomes visitors to come and meet animals who are most commonly exploited, abused, and killed in animal agriculture.
“Our animal residents are given lifelong sanctuary and are treated with respect as individuals. By giving farmed animals the chance to live their lives with dignity and by sharing their stories, we advocate for veganism and aim to reduce suffering for all.”
I can’t help it. I like Maron but I LOVE Carol Burnett. A true national treasure if ever there was one.
“Carol Burnett turns 91 later this month and is still going strong with a featured role in the new series Palm Royale. But Carol is quick to remind Marc that the great success she achieved happened in part due to the kindness of strangers. Carol and Marc talk about the mysterious benefactors who helped her get to New York where she found success on the stage, then on television, and then with her own variety show. They also talk about her friendship with Lucille Ball, collaborating with Julie Andrews, and the closeness of The Carol Burnett Show cast.”
“In this brilliantly enjoyable, challenging rallying-cry of a book, Kropotkin lays out the heart of his anarchist beliefs - beliefs which surged around the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and which have a renewed relevance and poignancy today. Humane, thoughtful - but also a devastating critique of how modern society is organized (with the brutal, narrow few clinging onto their wealth and privileges at the expense of the many), The Conquest of Bread is a book to be argued over, again and again.”
“The Republican action plan, as you call it, is extremely scary, and everyone should be very, very concerned. Project 2025 is their play book, and they've been tweaking it since Reagan. I am so tired of dems playing defense, always too little too late. Well, here it is, clearly spelled out. So what will they do about it? Will they finally listen, call it out for what it is, & take offensive action first? Unfortunately, too many are not paying attention, so thank you for always shining a light on facts, logic, and reason (throwback, baby!) to why & how we are fucked. I still have hope, and you, 99 & Manny are one of the ways I carry it always. Thank you all, for every episode, as each still holds relevance today! All Hail Nettie!!”
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