Unconventional Journalist

Sam Oser
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  • Politics
  • Weekly

Reporting on the movements that fight back at All Real Radio.

  1. Oct 22

    An Update on the Texas Death Abolition Movement

    95% of death row inmates come from underprivileged backgrounds, so as Bryan Stevenson says, "capital punishment means those without the capital get the punishment."When we really give ourselves clarity to the fact that we live in an oligarchy, we can see how money plays a role in who is seen as guilty vs innocent in the judiciary system and prison industrial complex. Caleb , a seven-year member of the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement, joins me to discuss the fight to end capital punishment in Texas. We talk about the history of the movement, key updates, and advice for any folks joining the political movement for the first time. A quick run through of the updates: Texas passed its 600th execution in May and has executed 603 people since 1976, far outpacing any other state; six of the seven people executed in Texas this year were Black men; and the U.S. Supreme Court recently denied Rodney Reed's appeal for DNA testing, while the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected a judge's finding that Melissa Lucio is actually innocent. Despite these setbacks, Caleb emphasized that support for the death penalty is at a 50-year low (52%), opposition is rising, especially among Gen Z, and 23 states have abolished it. There are monthly meetings on Zoom, on the first Tuesday at 7:30pm. Message them on Facebook or Instagram to get involved!

    An Update on the Texas Death Abolition Movement

  2. Oct 16

    Nurse in Between Jobs Facing Homelessness

    How long would it take for you to face homelessness if you're in between jobs or contracts? Do any of us feel supported by the systems we pay taxes into? Stanford, a nurse, joins me to talk about how a false accusation at work led to 26 days in jail, job loss, and two evictions in under a year, even though the case was dismissed. He describes living with mold and water leaks while management ignored repairs, then used unpaid addendum fees to evict him after he reported conditions to the city. We break down the systemic barriers that prioritize profit over people: housing, the court system, terrible public transit, and how the apartments would not accept the limited nonprofit aid he received because he wouldn't sign the liability waiver. Ridley Apartment Homes in Houston managed by Emerge Living were the most affordable apartments he could get while he has been in between jobs and dealing with court cases. Affordable housing shouldn't mean living in mold. Here's his information if you're able to help him during this time: Cash App: $Dakhi Zelle: Bateson33@yahoo.com Apple Pay: Showard24@live.com

    Nurse in Between Jobs Facing Homelessness

  3. Oct 9

    #StopFlock Movement in League City

    If you're in the burbs feeling like all you can do is vote and vent about Trump, please know there is political movement happening at your local city council that you can join, support, and advocate for local change. James has been attending city council sessions in League City to advocate for removing Flock cameras in the area. We discuss myths around "I have nothing to hide if they surveil me," along with general education of the surveillance state. We also discuss how important it is go beyond voting and engage with the local government. Part of it, we discussed, is the anxiety about showing up and not knowing how to, so we go through that as well. If you're in League City, next time you rant about federal issues you can't control, remember you can join James and other folks who are putting pressure on city council for the Flock cameras among other issues. When do they meet? View it here.

    #StopFlock Movement in League City

  4. Sep 26

    The Deficit Cycle: Harris County's Budget

    We are watching the federal government use our tax dollars for more surveillance, policing, and war despite public outrage. Have you taken a look at how Harris County is using our tax dollars locally? Despite it being a Democratic majority, our local tax dollars primarily go to the cops with little else going to libraries, roads, flood mitigation, infrastructure, or anything else that keeps us safe. Money from all these departments get sucked away into the policing void, and creates a yearly deficit cycle. Alfredo, a policy organizer with People's Counsel, joins me to recap the county budget. Organizers and community members attended the budget meetings, spoke out, and were there when the commissioners took the vote. Its been about four years since there's been movement around the county's budget. Alfredo and I discuss the movement, myths, and how the budget should be regarded as a moral document for how our government takes care of us.

    The Deficit Cycle: Harris County's Budget

  5. Sep 9

    "Swap Don't Shop": Gender Affirming Clothes for Everyone

    Our clothes are getting more expensive as the fabric gets worse, and getting that sweet, sweet dopamine hit from a random clothes purchase that we'll only wear for 2 months is contributing to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Ellis, one of the organizers of Queer Exchange HTX, joins me to talk about FREE community events where the whole point is to "swap don't shop." The sizes we know today were invented 100 years ago by white cis dudes with data bias and nothing has changed. These community-centered events focus on ensuring folks of all sizes, ages, and genders have a place to experiment, affirm their identity, and not have to spend money on a lovely new fit. Shoutouts to Butt Stuff, People's Data Project, and Doshi House PicLeft to Right: Avi, Liz, Ellis, Marre Avi: Runs Plant, Art, and Book Swap Liz & Ellis: Organizers Marre: Organizes Run with Purpose

    "Swap Don't Shop": Gender Affirming Clothes for Everyone

  6. Jun 24

    What is the Process for Resisting War Taxes?

    In Part I, we talked about the history of war taxes, what it is, and common myths. With Part II, Ken from National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee ⁠(NWTRCC) joins me to get into depth on what the process for a war tax resister could look like. Ken reads a letter a war tax resister sent to the IRS, and we also discuss a bill in Congress that is waiting to make war tax resistance legal. Connect with the Houston area war tax resistance on Instagram.

    What is the Process for Resisting War Taxes?

  7. Jun 17

    Music Empowering Social Justice: Root Cause w/ Andrea

    There are so many ways to show up in the movement. From protests at the front lines to mutual aid and policy work, there isn't a shortage of ways to show up in whatever capacity you can. This interview focuses on combining the music community with the political community.  Andrea is the founder of Root Cause which is a community kick back that uplifts musicians in the community and brings in social justice initiatives.

    Music Empowering Social Justice: Root Cause w/ Andrea

  8. Jun 11

    What is War Tax Resistance?

    From local taxes to state and federal, the money we pay our government continues to fund atrocities that violate human rights. Our taxes continue to fund "wars" that no one asked for. Ken from the the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC) joins me to talk about the ongoing movement to resist war taxes. We talk about the history of war tax resistance, what it looks like now, along with myths and general education. NWTRCC is a coalition of local, regional, and national groups and individuals from across the United States. For everyone interested in or actively refusing to pay taxes for war, NWTRCC offers information, referral, support, resources, publicity, campaign sponsorship, and connection to an international network of conscientious objectors to war taxes.

    What is War Tax Resistance?
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Reporting on the movements that fight back at All Real Radio.

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