Highlands Bunker

RD18 Candidate Sophie Phillips joins Rob in the bunker to talk about how her background led her to get involved in environmental justice advocacy, her tenure as Miss Delaware, and what her priorities will be as a state legislator. Show Notes: Sophie's website Donate to Sophie's campaign Volunteer for Sophie

On Day 5 of the Kathy trial, we hear from the infamous but largely innocent My Campaign Group, as well as Kathy's infamous but largely innocent daughter. Also, why it's hard to prosecute for a crime when everyone's doing it.

This is the time of fake friends. As the Kathy McGuiness trial enters its second week, we begin to hear from former (and current) employees about how Kathy treats people who speak out against her. Also, how a oppo-driven trek across the state indirectly led to witness intimidation charges.

As the first week of the trial came to a close, we got to take a closer look into what it was like working inside the Office of the Auditor of Accounts, especially if you're her daughter or a friend of her daughter. We then talk about the end of a depressing week in another part of Dover.

Housing activist Shyanne Miller joins Rob in the bunker to talk about some of the latest bills to make housing worse, how the city handled the evictions on Adams St, and what is still left to be done in this legislative session. Show Notes: SB 311 - Property Bundling Water shutoff vote Contact your legislature about the eminent domain bill

As the Kathy McGuiness trial continues on, we expand our scope to all of Dover. We discuss if it's normal to request the inboxes of dozens of former employees and walk through how house leadership holds up some bills while letting others sail through. Show Notes: Tell your legislators to vote no on HB458

After a false start in Wilmington, the Kathy McGuiness Trial has resumed in Dover. Join us through a Thompson-esque journey through employee categorization, document management, and the ol Steve Wood razzle dazzle.

Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence Executive Director Traci Murphy joins Rob in the bunker to talk about the recent slate of mass shootings, the different solutions needed for different types of gun violence, and what is being worked on in Delaware right now. Show Notes: Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence Brandywine Buzz Leadership's announcement on gun bills More on Camden's example

Author Hal Weitzman and Professor Dael Norwood join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about Hal's new book: What's the Matter with Delaware. We cover how Delaware's history, law, and politics enforce a system of secrecy and corruption that affects the entire world. Show Notes: Wilmington Is Becoming the It City Next Door What’s the Matter with Delaware? Division of Corporations FAQs Delaware Corpo...

Day 1 of the Kathy McGuiness Trial ended in a stalemate as the defense made a motion to try the case in a different county. Hear Rob and legal correspondent Bill Martin talk about the sights, sounds, and arguments of the first day of the trial of the century. Show Notes: News Journal coverage of Day 1

Karl the Producer joins Rob in the bunker in his capacity as Working Families Party Organizer to talk about the latest updates at legislative hall, why it's important to elect more progressives, and what it takes to make lasting change in Delaware. Show Notes: Delaware WFP site Become a WFP Member Become a WFP Volunteer Carney's weed veto Spiegelman's blow-up

Delaware DSA Co-Chair Jonathan Tate joins Rob to talk about what DE DSA has been working on this year and the place for DSA in Delaware politics. Peppered in are some live PA primary updates. Show Notes: Delaware DSA Site DE DSA's Facebook Become a DSA Member

Abortion activist Nick Beard and ACLU-DE Executive Director Mike Brickner join Rob in the bunker to talk about the recent leaked Roe v Wade decision, what that means for activism around abortion in Delaware, and what the demands need to be now that the worst-case scenario has happened. Show notes: Essay from the beginning Alito's decision Join the march on Saturday Yellowhammer abortion fund Local...

ACLU Voter Campaign Manager Meera Devotta joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her education experience in Delaware and abroad and the voter education work that she'll be doing for Delaware ACLU. Show Notes: Delaware Voting Rights Coalition ACLU's new voting tool Register to vote or check your registration Information on the school board elections

Local author Timeless Thomas joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his path through the criminal justice system and how that led him to write 101 Things You Should Know About Jail, giving the important of information and reform in making a better criminal legal system. Show Notes: 101 Things You Should Know About Jail Timeless Thomas on Facebook Timeless Thomas on YouTube

Labor reporter Kim Kelly and Professor Harvey J Kaye join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about Kim's new book "Fight Like Hell", going through some of the figures and movements in the under-covered parts of labor history and what they mean for us today. Show Notes: Buy Fight Like Hell Kim's recent coverage of the Warrior Met Coal strike

Activist and candidate DeShanna Neal joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her Wilmington upbringing, how she became an activist for her daughter, and why she's running for office. Show Notes: DeShanna's website Donate to DeShanna The original video referenced A 2017 profile of DeShanna

With the first pre-trial arguments being heard, the bunker digs into how we got to the indictment and re-indictment of Kathy McGuiness, some of the fun stories along the way, and what strategies your auditor's office is taking in response to the charges. Show Notes: Previous Kathy episode Latest update (this occurred after the recording)

Historian Harvey J Kaye and local activist Kerri Evelyn Harris join Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about FDR's economic bill of rights, and how that model can inform and improve our local fights. Show Notes: FDR's Economic Bill of Rights Kerri's website Donate to Kerri

UD History Department Chair Dr Alison Parker and State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton join Rob in the bunker to talk about the life of Mary Church Terrell: what her career said about American history in the late 1800s and early 1990s, and what her activism means for us today. Show Notes: Unceasing Militant by Alison Parker University of Delaware Anti-Racism Initiative

After an update on the episode from last week, State Rep. John Kowalko joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his retirement, how progress is slowed in the state of Delaware, and some stories from his time in the general assembly. Show Notes: Kowalko Retirement BlueWater Wind project

In the early morning hours of September 2nd, flood waters started rolling into the northside of Wilmington. Six months later, dozens of people are still displaced. Community advocate Stacey Henry joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her efforts to support affected families and the failure of the state and city government to respond effectively to this crisis. Show Notes: Australia flooding First...

Joe Connor joins Rob in the bunker to talk about his experiences in Delaware's criminal justice system, the inequities and broken processes that he saw, and then dives into his storied Delaware background. Show Notes: Delaware State of State Corrections The Connections background

Writer Ben Burgis joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about the legacy of Christopher Hitchens and his journey from a young Trotskyist to a defender of the Iraq War. Show Notes: Christopher Hitchens: What He Got Right, How He Went Wrong, and Why He Still Matters Hitchens in Lebanon Ben's piece on the Supreme Court

Agricultural education coordinator for Bright Spot Farms Airiél Peoples joins Rob in the bunker to talk about her path from Denver to Delaware, the radicalism that can come from agriculture, and how she applies that lessons to working with Wilmington's youth. Show Notes: Bright Spot Farms West End Neighborhood House