Highlands Bunker

News Journal education reporter Natalia Alamdari joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk to talk about education policy, the organizing of the Delaware News Guild, and her reporting on the Joe Biden case from a local angle. Show Notes: Subscribe to the News Journal Follow the Delaware News Guild Natalia's reporting on Biden Tell Gannett to protect its local journalists

State Representative David Bentz joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his path from legislative aide to legislator, the benefits and downsides of incrementalism, and how state legislators are trying to respond to the Coronavirus crisis. Show Notes: The Kowalko Episode Vote by Mail bill Latest update on Coronavirus in the prisons Bentz's insulin bill Coronavirus updates

Karl the Producer, Producer Emeritus Margaret Hu, and PDD President Jordyn Pusey join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the state of the national Democratic Party, the #MeToo movement, and some controversy in local labor politics. Show Notes: Reading from intro AOC article Donate to local progressives Latest allegations against Joe Biden Jimmy's bad posts PDD's statement

Delaware Secretary of Labor Cerron Cade joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his journey into Delaware politics, the uses and problems of corporate welfare, and how the Department of Labor is responding to the Coronavirus pandemic. Show Notes: Delaware Unemployment Info Fifty state strategy Donate $5 to Shahid Buttar

Housing activists Shyanne Miller and Ann Aviles join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the long-running issue of housing in Wilmington, and how the HOMES (Housing, Opportunity, Mobility, Equity, Stability) Campaign is trying to organize people to find solutions. Show Notes: Previous housing episode with Shyanne Ann's op-ed on the blight bill HOMES Campaign FB

Jason Scott of Delaware Liberal joins Rob in the bunker to talk about some brief updates on the Coronavirus situation, some war stories of the Delaware Way, and why Rob has been cancelled again. Show Notes: Stay updated on the Coronavirus Delaware Liberal The offending tweet

Former senate candidate and community organizer Kerri Evelyn Harris joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about their critiques of the Bernie campaign, the latest allegations against Joe Biden, and what the near-term future of progressive organizing should look like. Show Notes: More on Leonard Peltier Katie Halper's interview with Tara Reade Kerri's new website

State Senator Anthony Delcollo joins Rob in the bunker to talk about their similar upbringings, their differing views on education funding, and what it means to be a Republican in the state of Delaware. Music: Delaware is Burning - 2DCAT Show Notes: Amazon corporate welfare info Legislature live-streaming bill National popular vote Some of the Delaware Republican scandals

Dana and Adam from Food Not Bombs Wilmington virtually join Rob in bunker to talk about the direct action they're taking to help the community during the Coronavirus crisis. Show Notes: Contact Food Not Bombs: fnbwilmington@gmail.com Donate to Food Not Bombs Wilmington 1968 project

State senate candidate Marie Pinkney joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her background in social work, the basics of her state senate campaign, and the need to get actual ordinary people involved in politics. Music: Delaware is Burning - 2DCAT Show Notes: Marie's website Donate to Marie One of many things Marie's opponent did

Activist and Puerto Rico/Eastside resident Maria Beauchamp joins Rob in the bunker to talk about Puerto Rico, the corrupt figure that connects Puerto Rico and Delaware, and the deeper political ideology that also connects the two. Music: Delaware is Burning - 2DCAT Show Notes: Interview from San Juan Julia Keleher and her indictment Sarah Gamard's Delaware Way article Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana

Reproductive justice activist and local Ireland expert Nick Beard joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the latest Irish election, how the culture around abortion has changed in Ireland, and what the future holds here in America. Music: Delaware is Burning - 2DCAT Show Notes: Burned : The Inside Story of the 'Cash-for-Ash' Scandal Jacobin on Sinn Féin The case that set of Ireland's abortion refere...

ACLU lawyer and Department of Education whistleblower Dwayne Bensing joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his upbringing in Arkansas, how he became a whistleblower in the DeVos Department of Education, and the details of the ACLU education lawsuit against Delaware. Music: Delaware is Burning - 2DCAT Show Notes: Delaware News Guild Dwayne's whistleblowing story Updates on the ACLU education case

Former County Council candidate and current PDD president Jordyn Pusey joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her experience in the nitty-gritty of local politics, what PDD can work on in the future, and how Yahim is officially free! Music: Delaware is Burning - 2DCAT Show Notes: PDD website Amazon warehouse More information on Yahim

The bunker heads to Wilmington Brew Works to attend Coby Owens's birthday fundraiser and talk to WFP Pennsylvania Organizing Director Nicholas O'Rourke , Philadelphia At-Large Councilwoman Kendra Brooks , potential Wilmington resident Josh Whittaker , and State Representative candidate Larry Lambert . Show Notes: Donate to Coby Donate to Larry More about Kendra and Nicholas More about the Amazon d...

US Senate candidate Jessica Scarane joins Rob in the bunker to talk about why she is running against Chris Coons, the base values that we should have as a society, and why we probably shouldn't let billionaires run everything. Show Notes: Jess's Website Donate to Jess Make sure you're a registered Democrat

Another double header episode. First, D Marque Hall and Ryan Nowaczyk join Rob to talk about the Fines and Fees bill and the movement to decriminalize poverty. Then, state senate candidate Kyra Hoffner joins Rob to talk about why she's running for office against a long-time incumbent. Show Notes: Network Delaware Fines and Fees campaign Senate Bill 39 The rest of the audio from part 1 Kyra Hoffner...

Dr Yasser Payne joins Rob in the bunker to talk about Participatory Action Research, and how he has been using it on the streets of Wilmington to push for Show Notes: WEB DuBois's Philadelphia Negro Cuban Literacy Brigade The People's Report Mixtape Dr Payne's TEDx Talk Faces at the Bottom of the Well The People's Report

County Executive Matt Meyer joins Rob in the bunker to talk about to talk about housing and homelessness, the challenges of running against an incumbent, and some of the controversy around the Delaware Board of Trade. Show Notes: Matt Meyer's campaign site Some background on the DBOT Info on Meyer being sued

For our 52nd episode, Wilmington Metropolitan Urban League president and former mayoral candidate Eugene Young joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about his background, the lessons everyone needs to learn, and the difficulties of Delaware politics. Show Notes: Black Jacobins Network Delaware Revolutions Podcast

Come rally for Justice for Yahim February 2nd - 3:00pm Pete's Pizza - 2625 N Market St, Wilmington, DE Show Notes: Background on Yahim's case Previous episode talking about the case

Local gonzo journalist and podcast host Rob Vanella joins Karl in the bunker to talk about his background in Wilmington, the experience of being a leftist working in the banking industry, and how he got involved in local progressive politics. Show Notes The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved

State House candidate Stephanie Barry joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about Three Little Bakers, the various ways in which Mike Ramone uses his office for his personal agenda, and what the Delaware GOP actually stands for. Show Notes: Elect Stephanie Barry Donate Stephanie Barry

Now that the conflict with Iran has died down a bit, Karl the Producer and RE Vanella look back at Soleimani, the US's relation with Iran, and the broader military industrial complex and how we got to this point. Show Notes: 2013 article on Soleimani Iran Flight 655 Gen. McChrystal video

Wilmington Firefighters Association union president Joseph Leonetti Jr. joins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about the firefighters' negotiations with the city of Wilmington and friend of the podcast Mike Purzycki, and their efforts to fight back against local austerity. Show Notes: Overview of the issues being negotiated Latest update on the Gilpin Fire Station IAFF Local 1590 FB Page