Interdependent Study

Affirmative action is about righting some of the wrongs of our society and our history. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the fifth episode of the docuseries “Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest” titled “We Don’t See Color (1996-2013)” (directed by Smriti Mundhra), which explores the complexities and impact of affirmative action policies in places like California, Michiga...

Despite the inaction of the Democratic Party leadership, the consensus among the base of the Democratic Party is for the U.S. government to end its support of Israel’s efforts to commit genocide in Palestine. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Democratic Leadership Still Hasn’t Caught Up to the Party’s Base on Gaza” by Stephen Zunes in In These Times, which explores and analyzes the gro...

What might it mean to truly listen to, know, and exist with water in our lives and in our fight for collective liberation? Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book Theory of Water: Nishnaabe Maps to the Times Ahead by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson (and published by Haymarket Books), which explores Nishnaabeg origin stories to offer a radical reimagining of our collective relationship with water i...

The need for local and regional networks in our mass movements and organizing efforts is huge in order to meet the fascist and authoritarian moment we are in. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece "Building an Opposition to Survive the Trump Era” by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor in Hammer & Hope, which analyzes the scale, scope, and impact of mass protests and organizing work during both of T...

It is important that abolitionists and environmental justice organizers fight a common purpose in their work and fight for justice. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the second piece in a six-part series titled “Abolitionist Lessons from the Prison Belt” in Inquest called “Abolition and Environmental Justice”, which features a conversation between Lydia Pelot-Hobbs, Judah Schept, Ruth Wilson Gilm...

The presence and impact of environmental racism is real and has been a long-standing issue in our society. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the fourth episode of the docuseries “Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest” titled “Spoil the Vine (1982-2011)” (directed by Rudy Valdez), which chronicles the organizing, growth, and fight for environmental justice in the United Stat...

It could not be more clear that we need a new united front against fascism. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Where Was the Resistance to Trump’s Megabill of Debt, Death, and Deportation?” by Shamell Bell in Hammer & Hope, which utilizes the resistance to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as a case study to highlight the importance of building an intentional and united coalition of or...

There are countless examples throughout history and around the world of how racial capitalism reproduces and protects itself and white supremacy. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book The New Racial Regime: Recalibrations of White Supremacy by Alana Lentin (and published by Pluto Press), which outlines and analyzes the attacks on anticolonial, Black, Indigenous thought, life, and praxis thro...

It’s important to consider the need for different strategies in the fight for prison abolition based on the specific region of the country. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the first of a six-part series titled “Abolitionist Lessons from the Prison Belt” in Inquest called “Uneven Expansions”, which features a conversation between Lydia Pelot-Hobbs, Judah Schept, Ruth Wilson Gilmore, and Craig Gi...

There is real power in building and utilizing informational power as a strategy within our abolitionist movements to resist authoritarianism and fight for collective liberation. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the report “Shaping Reality: Building Informational Power to Resist Authoritarianism” by Lewis Raven Wallace (and produced by Interrupting Criminalization), which analyzes recent movement...

It is important for all of us to know and understand everything that is in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to know what provisions are coming during the next few years. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “10 Egregious Things You May Not Know About the One Big Beautiful Bill Act” by Colin Seeberger, Andrea Ducas, and Natasha Murphy and published by the Center for American Progress, which o...

We are witnessing the current administration’s outrageous and harmful efforts to silence dissent and curtail our freedoms on a daily basis. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “‘I Am Not Afraid’” by Adam Federman in In These Times, which analyzes some of the troubling and dangerous efforts by the Trump administration and its far-right loyalists to attack activists, organizers, and protest...

The influence and impact of capitalism across the globe on violence against women, especially with witch hunts, cannot be understated. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book Witches, Witch-Hunting, and Women by Silvia Federici (and published by PM Press), which outlines and analyzes the root causes and impact of interpersonal and institutional violence against witches and women across the glo...

Our learning from the stories of people and communities that have worked tirelessly throughout history for racial and social justice in this country continues. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the third episode of the docuseries “Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest” titled “Million Man March 1995” (directed by Muta'Ali), which chronicles the history, challenges, afte...

The history of police use of tear gas in the United States is a history worth learning. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the zine “A [short] History of U.S. Police & Tear Gas” by Mariame Kaba (and published as a resource by Interrupting Criminalization), which outlines and analyzes the history and use of tear gas by the police in the United States (and across the globe) and the inhumane and...

Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò argues that one of the biggest struggles facing our generation is the climate crisis, and we must act now. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the second half of the book Reconsidering Reparations: Why Climate Justice and Constructive Politics Are Needed in the Wake of Slavery and Colonialism by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò (and published by Haymarket Books), which analyzes the history and i...

There is no doubt about the impact of colonialism, capitalism, transatlantic slavery, and the climate crisis on the creation of the global racial empire. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the first half of the book Reconsidering Reparations: Why Climate Justice and Constructive Politics Are Needed in the Wake of Slavery and Colonialism by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò (and published by Haymarket Books), whic...

The impact of the 2025 Southern California wildfires has been devastating, but the revitalization and regeneration efforts by communities in Altadena is a true inspiration. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Between Fires in Los Angeles and Fascism in America” by Robin D.G. Kelley in Hammer & Hope, which chronicles the impact of and response to the 2025 Southern California wildfires...

Fascism, authoritarianism, and the far-right insurgency here in the United States and in Europe are on the rise and undoubtedly devastating for all of us. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Donald Trump and the Far-Right Insurgency in Europe” by Gary Younge in Hammer & Hope, which outlines and analyzes the history, rise, leaders, and manifestations of fascism and the far-right insur...

Without a doubt, Palestinian humanity deserves more than it has been given. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book Perfect Victims: And the Politics of Appeal by Mohammed El-Kurd (and published by Haymarket Books), which examines and analyzes the concepts of humanity and perfect victimhood in regards to Palestine and the Palestinian people throughout history and in all aspects of our society,...

There continues to be much to learn from the stories of people and communities that have worked tirelessly throughout history for racial and social justice in this country. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the second episode of the docuseries “Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest” titled “Trapped 1989-1995” (directed by Samantha M. Knowles), which chronicles the dispropor...

There’s been an increase in the number of organizers, activists, and organizations calling for a national strike in the United States to combat the fascism and violence we face at the hands of our government. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “What would a general strike in the US actually look like?” by Jeremy Brecher in Waging Nonviolence, which analyzes the concept of a social strike...

The right’s onslaught of attacks on books, education, and learning have also included attacks on and the criminalization of librarians. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss an essay titled “Criminalizing Librarians: Threats and Realities” by Mariame Kaba and published by Interrupting Criminalization, which highlights some of the attacks on librarians throughout history and in the present day, and an...

We must continue our movement for abolition and fight against state violence, oppression, and punishment at all costs. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book Abolition: Politics, Practices, and Promises, Vol. 1 by Angela Davis (and published by Haymarket Books), which is a collection of Davis’ essays analyzing the history of abolitionist practice and work around the globe, the contributions o...

There is so much to learn from the stories of people and communities that have worked tirelessly for racial and social justice in the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the first episode of the docuseries “Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest” titled “America, Don’t Look Away 1977-1988” (directed by Geta Gandbhir), which chronicles communit...