HoosLeft Podcast

Scott Aaron Rogers

Indiana politics, history, and culture from and unapologetically perspective. Host Scott Aaron Rogers interviews candidates, elected officials, activists, and academics in long-form interviews. And every Sunday morning, Scott welcomes a panel of guests from around the state to HoosLeft This Week - where they dissect the week's top news stories from across Indiana and look at US & international news from a Hoosier perspective. www.progressiveindiana.net

  1. 1D AGO

    HoosLeft Live w/ Guest Sharon Wight

    Thank you to everyone who tuned into our live video! Join us for the next one in the app. https://hoosleft.us https://www.electsharonwight.com/ Scott Aaron Rogers interviews Sharon Wight, Democratic candidate for Indiana State House District 81 in the Fort Wayne area. Wight, a lifelong district resident with two master’s degrees who works in educational technology and teaches as an adjunct professor, discusses why she decided to run after watching Kyle Miller successfully run in the district next door. She emphasizes three core issues: accessibility and inclusivity for disabled communities (informed by her own sensory sensitivities and year-long disability advocacy training), LGBTQ+ rights, and state house process reform to address the problematic part-time legislature that meets only 12 weeks per year. Wight criticizes the rapid voting procedures that disadvantage legislators who step out for medical needs, the arbitrary scheduling with only 24-hour notice on controversial bills, and the hypocrisy of calling special sessions for abortion bans and redistricting but not for pandemic response or racial justice. She argues the 12-week session should be spread throughout the year to address issues as they arise, advocates for collaborative leadership by asking party chairs “where am I needed,” and stresses that making infrastructure and processes more accessible benefits everyone, not just those who explicitly need accommodations. Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us continue bringing you valuable information, please become a free OR paid subscriber. IN THE INTERVIEW 0:05:15 - INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND - Lifelong resident of District 81, represented by incumbent for 13 years - Works full-time in educational technology as project manager, part-time college professor - Proud product of Fort Wayne Community Schools (high school had 60+ languages represented) 0:06:54 - DIVERSITY & PRIVILEGE OF RUNNING - High school was most diverse in corporation at the time - “worth its weight in gold” - Loves travel and diversity, former exchange student mom - Recognizes privilege of being able to run (time, money, job flexibility not everyone has) 0:08:45 - DISTRICT 81 GEOGRAPHY & COMPOSITION - Gerrymandered district with unusual boundaries - mom’s neighbor one house over is in different district - Includes rural Allen County, suburban areas, parts of Fort Wayne - Two different school districts represented plus large Catholic school - Fort Wayne Community Schools (largest district in Indiana) and Northwest Allen County Schools have very different needs 0:14:00 - INCUMBENT OPPONENT & KYLE MILLER INSPIRATION - Has never met incumbent opponent despite living in district entire life - Incumbent doesn’t hold town halls, doesn’t engage community - Kyle Miller (District 82) knocked on her door in 2018, became friends - Miller closed gap significantly in 2018 and 2020, showed district was flippable - After 2022 redistricting, Miller pushed into different district 0:17:41 - WHY RUN NOW - PERSONAL & POLITICAL TIMING - Thought about running entire adult life, originally planned to be social studies teacher - Held off after 2012 due to GOP supermajority, believed myth she couldn’t win as leftist - Had to get healthy (became very ill in 2020) and build career - Previously worked in public higher education where running would have cost her job - Now in flexible job, healthy, and believes 2026 could be most consequential election of our lifetimes - Worries this could be last opportunity as a woman to do something she’s dreamt of - Jon Stewart quote: “Action is the antidote for anxiety” 0:21:31 - WHY DISTRICT 81 - COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP - Believes in collaborative leadership, asked party chair “where am I needed?” - Willing to run anywhere up or down ballot - Also running for state delegate and precinct chairperson - Wants to be servant leader - Chose state level because accessibility issues happen more at state than federal level 0:23:37 - DISTRICT 81 HOME & KNOWLEDGE - Watched how Kyle Miller was successful - All three of her adult homes were in slightly different places within the district - Family believed in and supported education - Has deep knowledge of district from living there entire life 0:31:30 - BIG THREE ISSUES - ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSIVITY - Started exploring own sensory sensitivity issues about 7 years ago - Second master’s degree (2021-22) focused on making education more sensory sensitive - Completed year-long Inclusion Institute program with League for the Blind and Disabled - Mock campaign in program awakened desire to actually run 0:33:55 - THREE PERSPECTIVES ON ACCESSIBILITY - Physical accessibility: buildings, sidewalks (noticed every bump when using cane), doors - Digital accessibility: government websites difficult to navigate even with two master’s degrees - Language accessibility: loves immigrant population, opposes English-only laws, had three exchange students from different countries 0:36:04 - ACCESSIBILITY OF PROCESS - Processes like paying taxes, getting employed, transportation, buying home difficult to navigate - Making things accessible benefits everyone, not just those who explicitly need it - Students loved her sensory-sensitive office even though she created it for herself - Universal design principle: accommodations help broader population 0:39:48 - LGBTQ+ RIGHTS AS CORNERSTONE ISSUE - At-large member of Allen County Stonewall Democrats steering committee - LGBTQ rights and universal healthcare were her two voting issues in 2008 at age 20 - It’s a freedom issue - consenting adults should form families how they want - Attack on trans individuals is “absolutely abhorrent” and “disgusting” 0:41:18 - LGBTQ+ AS EASY TARGET FOR OTHERING - LGBTQ people cross all demographics (race, class, gender) making them convenient scapegoat - Opens door to othering - once you’re hating one group, easy to expand - Claims it’s “immoral” while those making claims often engage in immoral activity themselves - Some of people she loves most are LGBTQ+ - will fight hardest for them 0:44:08 - HYPOCRISY ON TRANS ISSUES - Claim “it’s just a few people” when demonizing but then claim it’s everywhere when legislating - Tiny percentage of trans athletes but massive legislative focus - “Saying the quiet part out loud” about their real motivations - People should love who they want and live in the body they determine is theirs 0:45:50 - STATE HOUSE PROCESS REFORM - Chose “esoteric” third issue to differentiate from other candidates - Redistricting fight in December highlighted process problems (changed session rules on the fly) - Legislators can be “excused” from votes by stepping into hallway or bathroom - Can be done strategically to miss votes 0:47:38 - RAPID VOTING & SCHEDULING PROBLEMS - House/Senate votes happen very quickly (unlike Congress which takes hours) - Schedule made with little notice (sometimes only 24 hours for controversial bills) - Seems strategic - schedule bills when opposition might miss votes - As someone with medical issues requiring bathroom breaks, could miss critical votes 0:48:48 - PART-TIME LEGISLATURE ISSUES - Part-time legislators meet only 12 weeks per year at beginning of year - Can’t respond to critical issues arising later (pandemic, George Floyd protests both happened after 2020 session) - BUT they called special sessions for abortion ban (2022) and attempted mid-term redistricting - Hypocrisy: special sessions only for conservative priorities 0:50:14 - SPREAD SESSION THROUGHOUT YEAR - Doesn’t necessarily need more total time - Time should be spread throughout year to address issues as they arise - Would allow proper public comment periods - Would prevent legislators from having to miss votes for basic human needs - Redistricting took 3 weeks and they managed to get public comment and make thoughtful decisions 0:54:42 - CAMPAIGN CONTACT INFORMATION - Website: electsharonwight.com (W-I-G-H-T) - Donation button at top leads to ActBlue - Yard sign requests available (will order if she wins primary) - Has primary opponent - Volunteers “worth their weight in gold” - Phone number and email on website - Facebook page: Elect Sharon Wight https://hoosleft.us https://www.electsharonwight.com/ Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us continue bringing you valuable information, please become a free OR paid subscriber. Get full access to Progressive Indiana Network at www.progressiveindiana.net/subscribe

    1h 1m
  2. 2D AGO

    HoosLeft Podcast #111: Live w/ Drew Cox

    Thank you Kate, Linda Johnsen, and many others for tuning into our live broadcast! Join us for our next live video in the app. https://hoosleft.us https://www.drewcox.org/ Scott Aaron Rogers interviews Drew Cox, one of nine Democratic candidates for Indiana’s 4th Congressional District. Cox, a Purdue music instructor, Marine Corps veteran, fourth-generation farmer, and son of an elementary school teacher, discusses his campaign platform focused on abolishing ICE, Medicare for All, cannabis legalization, tackling corporate power, and energizing young voters. He argues that ICE should be replaced with pre-9/11 immigration services, that healthcare costs are spiraling out of control as ACA subsidies expired (leaving his nephew who had a heart transplant without Medicaid), and that Congress must reassert authority over tariffs instead of letting Trump act unilaterally. Cox advocates raising corporate tax rates to incentivize wage investment over profit extraction, supporting grassroots candidates across every local race to spread GOP money thin, and making election day a national holiday while expanding early voting access. He emphasizes the need to regulate data centers requiring closed-loop systems and community benefits rather than tax abatements, criticizes Democrats for chasing corporate cash since the Clinton era, and stresses that building political power with young people (not just around them) is essential to counter Citizens United and achieve progressive goals in this sprawling 16-county district. Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us continue bringing you valuable information, please become a free OR paid subscriber. IN THE INTERVIEW: 0:03:36 - INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND - Teaching music history and jazz history at Purdue (favorite class) - First drum set teacher at Purdue University despite massive band program - Marine Corps veteran, used GI Bill for education at IU and University of Illinois PhD 0:06:12 - DEMOCRACY AS PARTICIPATION - Last 10 years taught democracy is not a spectator sport - Middle-aged white guys have unearned political capital/privilege - Must use that voice to help pull others along until everyone can speak equally 0:07:05 - WHY RUN NOW - ICE & IMMIGRATION - People not having a voice, especially with ICE terrorizing communities of color - Need to abolish ICE, return to pre-9/11 Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) - Post-9/11 increased surveillance doesn’t help citizens as much 0:08:45 - THE 4TH DISTRICT GEOGRAPHY - 16 counties west of Indianapolis, north to Jasper County (Rensselaer), south to Martinsville - Lafayette in middle but still traveling hour+ in all directions - Massive sprawling district, difficult to keep up with all county chairs 0:13:21 - KEY ISSUES: CONGRESS FAILING ON REPRESENTATION - Jim Baird not representing the people - Congress not asserting authority on tariffs, letting president “shoot from the hip” - Healthcare costs out of control despite ACA expansion 0:14:50 - MEDICARE FOR ALL & CANNABIS LEGALIZATION - Advocate for Medicare for All/single-payer for everyone - Surrounded by legal cannabis states, Indiana losing revenue to neighbors - Could generate $200 million/year for schools, Title One funding, property tax relief - Can’t legalize due to entities like Eli Lilly ($30 million CEO salary) 0:17:10 - FLOODING THE ZONE & BREAKING THROUGH THE NOISE - Steve Bannon strategy: flood zone so you can’t pick one thing to fight - First order: town hall in every community asking “what do you want?” - Pledge to have town hall in every county before general election (16 full counties, 3 partial) 0:18:26 - HEALTHCARE CRISIS - PERSONAL STORY - Nephew born with heart defect, Medicaid enabled heart transplant at age 2 (Riley Children’s Hospital) - Sister/brother-in-law lost Medicaid over summer at age 14, now facing wild bills and medications - Other Riley kids losing Medicaid and disability - Need single-payer, address for-profit healthcare 0:20:18 - HEALTHCARE & ECONOMY ARE INTERTWINED - Healthcare is huge part of U.S. economy and household budgets - Insurance premiums doubled/tripled, getting less coverage for more money - ACA subsidies just give more profits to insurance companies - ACA came from Heritage Foundation as Republican answer to universal healthcare 0:23:20 - CITIZENS UNITED & MONEY IN POLITICS - First thing after Trump inauguration: tax cuts for billionaires - Don’t have free lunch for needy students but tax cuts for richest - Problem is largely money in politics and Citizens United 0:23:45 - TERM LIMITS DEBATE - Moderate on term limits: maybe 3 terms for representatives, 2 for senators - But only for those taking PAC money and corporate cash - Should Bernie Sanders who only takes money from teachers/factory workers/unions be term limited? - Lobbyists stay while elected officials with institutional memory leave 0:25:06 - TACKLING AFFORDABILITY REQUIRES CONFRONTING WEALTH CLASS - Democrats emphasizing “affordability” but can’t tackle it without taking on donor class - Need to generate more revenue (cannabis legalization) - Reform Citizens United - Elon Musk’s $300 million from South African is foreign election interference 0:27:00 - GRASSROOTS WAVE IN 2026 - So many people running in so many races GOP can’t surgically intervene - Example: Tiffany Stoner lost by handful after opponent got big last-minute donation - Can’t do that when races everywhere - Campaign goal: energize and activate young folks (stood up Boone County Young Democrats) 0:28:34 - YOUTH VOTER PARTICIPATION - Indiana dead last in participation - Get 20-30 year olds to vote and “we can have everything we want” - Young people will save us but must build with them, not around them 0:32:18 - REPUBLICANS GROOMING NEXT GENERATION - Older conservative generation dying off - Millennials not getting more conservative with age (opposite trend) - GOP using manosphere podcasts, Turning Point USA to groom young right-wingers - State interference helping Turning Point is constitutional violation 0:33:38 - DATA CENTERS & HYPOCRISY - Mike Braun simultaneously attacking big tech for “poisoning youth” while inviting Meta to build data center - 20+ Indiana counties have renewable energy moratoriums (not very pro-capitalist) - Wind farms in district but moratoriums on renewables elsewhere 0:35:17 - REGULATING DATA CENTERS - Congress can regulate: require closed-loop systems, community benefits, no tax abatements - Braun says “don’t want to be left behind” - left behind for whom? The 1%? - Families don’t wake up wanting data centers in backyards 0:36:12 - DATA CENTERS AS EXTRACTION - Purely extractive: use water and natural resources, drive up electricity rates - Don’t pay taxes, don’t provide jobs (dozens not hundreds/thousands once built) - Money doesn’t stay in community, not like hiring lots of people who spend locally - Zuckerberg, Musk, tech oligarchs behind Trump as avatar for oligarch class 0:38:40 - WEALTH TAX & RAISING TAXES ON RICH - Raising top marginal tax rate is at least a start - Corporate tax rate very low now - Eisenhower had 90-91% corporate rate - High rate incentivizes spending on infrastructure and wages - Low rate incentivizes declaring profit, cutting jobs, taking shortcuts - Been brainwashed to believe trickle-down works - Reagan era showed it doesn’t 0:41:07 - DEMOCRATS CHASING CORPORATE CASH - Primary problem last 30 years: Democrats chasing corporate dollar - Got kicked in 80s, decided “if you can’t beat them, join them” in Clinton era - Too cozy with pharmaceutical industry, big tech, insurance companies - Corporate donors different from GOP (oil/gas/extractive/military industrial) but same problem - Neoliberalism/Reaganism crashed in 2008, held together by printing money and corporate subsidies 0:50:11 - BREAKING THE LOGJAM - Need to line up presidency, House, Senate, Supreme Court like combo lock - Make election day national holiday - Make voting easier - Indiana one of hardest places to vote (shortest early voting hours, polls close at 6pm) - Comes down to local clerks 0:51:36 - LOCAL RACES MATTER ENORMOUSLY - When decided to run, party asked why jump to federal - Lives in Sheila Klinker and Ron Alting’s districts (strong longtime incumbents) - Learning all local positions (councils, trustees) have gone unopposed - Now finally changing - campaign helping people run for smallest offices - Local commissioner decisions allow data centers without community oversight 0:53:15 - STRONGEST CAMPAIGN IN CROWDED PRIMARY - Believes they’re strongest in primary - If doesn’t make it past primary, will get caucused into smallest local office available - People running everywhere forces money to spread thin - Tippecanoe County (biggest in district, notoriously low Dem participation) now seeing races everywhere 0:54:42 - TRANSFORMATION & YOUNG PEOPLE - Year ago just a voter, now running for Congress, sees this as “life or death” - Constant campaign targeting young folks - they’re going to save us - Build with them not around them, then “we can have nice things again” - Big money spread thin when everybody runs everywhere 0:56:27 - CAMPAIGN INFORMATION - Website: drewcox.org - Mail: PO Box 56, Lafayette, IN 47902 - Donate via ActBlue or directly through website - Volunteer signup available - any level of help appreciated (even just offering opinions) - Grassroots campaign needs everyone participating https://hoosleft.us https://www.drewcox.org/ Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us continue bringing you this valuable information, please become a free OR paid subscriber. Get full access to Progressive Indiana Network at www.progressiveindiana.net/subscribe

    1h 2m
  3. 6D AGO

    HoosLeft This Week February 8, 2026

    Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. US/World News 003:00 ICE/DHS * 5-year-old Liam Ramos’s family granted continuance at asylum hearing (KARE) * The 5-year old and his father were returned to Minnesota last Sunday after a judge ordered them released. * DHS filed a motion to expedite deportation proceedings Wednesday. * Friday, another judge granted a continuance, postponing the case to a later date. * House passes government funding package to end partial shutdown. Now the real fight begins. (MSNOW) * Tuesday, the House ended a short government shutdown by passing a package of funding bills, funding the government until October. * Vote Count: 196R & 21D YES - 193D % 21R NO * Spartz bucks GOP, votes against deal (IndyStar) * For the right reasons? * DHS only funded until the end of this coming week. * Democrats limited demands include: an end to roving raids; no arrests w/o judicial warrants; no more masks & mandatory body cameras * Body cameras being immediately issued to ICE agents in Minneapolis (CBC) * Monday, DHS Sec. Kristi Noem announced all agens in MN will be issued body cameras. * They didn’t have them before? * Biden had ordered all federal LEO’s wear cameras in ‘22. Trump rescinded that order. * Homan announces drawdown by 700 agents in Minnesota (MPR) * Wednesday, “border czar” Tom Homan said the number of federal agents would be reduced from 3000 to 2300 - there are normally about 150 in MN. * Gov. Walz and AG Ellison both called it “a step in the right direction.” * Community advocates called it a “political stunt” and an empty PR strategy. * Immigration agents draw guns, arrest activists following them in Minneapolis (AP) * The day before, agents drew their weapons and arrested activists who had been following their vehicles. * Local school leaders who have spoken out against ICE have been stalked by feds. * Hundreds of Agents Left Minnesota, but Residents Are Seeing Little Change (NYT) * ICE sightings remained high in activist chats. * Feds raided a Minneapolis apartment building with more than a dozen agents. * Wednesday, agents were circling an elementary school and posted nearby at dismissal. 0:11:00 Also in the “Little Change” Department: Trump is a Corrupt, Racist Narcissist * ‘Spy Sheikh’ Bought Secret Stake in Trump Company (WSJ) * An Abu Dhabi royal purchased just less than half of the World Liberty Financial crypto firm four days before the president’s second inauguration, funneling nearly $200M to the Trump family. * Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan - the UAE president’s brother - had been pushing the US for access to advanced AI chips during the Biden administration, but was largely stymied over his own firm’s connections to Huawei. * Tahnoon met multiple times with Trump, Steve Witkoff, and others in the first months of the new administration and - in May - was granted access to 500K advanced AI chips a year. * Kennedy Center to close for 2 years for renovations in July (PBS) * Trump announced last Sunday he will move to close the Kennedy Center for two years of renovation beginning in July. * This follows a series of cancellations by a range of performers in response to Trump announcing plans to add his own name to the building. * Officials Pressed Schumer to Help Name Penn Station and Dulles Airport for Trump (NYT) * Administration officials have told Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer they would release billions of dollars in infrastructure funding for New York if he agreed to help rename the city’s famed Penn Station and Washington’s Dulles International Airport after President Trump. * The administration began withholding funds for the $16B Gateway project - a new twin-track rail tunnel under the Hudson River meant to replace the deteriorating 100+ year old tunnels at the heart of the Northeast Corridor rail route, the country’s busiest - in October, citing DEI concerns. * The project, which employs about 1000 workers, halted Friday after suing the federal government this week over $205M in payments. Washington was expected to foot about three quarters of the bill. * Trump won’t apologize for sharing since-deleted racist video depicting Obamas as apes on Truth Social (CNN) * Trump shared the video as part of another late-night posting spree on his Truth Social platform. * The Obamas briefly appear near the end of the minute-long video with their faces superimposed on the bodies of apes. * It remained online for about 12 hours, with officials from both sides of the aisle calling for its removal. * Trump refused to apologize and blamed a staffer for the post, which was eventually deleted. * The majority of the video consisted of false claims about the 2020 election. Attack on Voting * 0:19:00 Gabbard’s and Last Week’s Atlanta Raid * DNI Gabbard put Trump on the phone with FBI agents who searched Fulton County elections office (CNN) * Sources report that Gabbard personally put Trump on the phone the next day with some of the FBI agents who conducted the search. * Gabbard claims her presence at the raid was “requested by the president.” * Trump passed the buck to AG Pam Bondi, saying she insisted that Tulsi attend the search. (Axios) * Trump also insinuated “international cheating” in an interview with NBC. * Tulsi Gabbard running solo 2020 election inquiry separate from FBI investigation (Guardian) * The parallel investigation has been focused on potential vulnerabilities in voting machines and potential foreign interference, mirroring a bizarre conspiracy involving Venezuela that Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell perpetuated in 2020. (Wired) * US spy chief’s office investigated voting machines in Puerto Rico (Reuters) * Last spring, a team from Gabbard’s office accessed voting machines in Puerto Rico investigating the same conspiracy, finding no clear evidence of such. * Classified Whistleblower Complaint About Tulsi Gabbard Stalls Within Her Agency (WSJ) * One intelligence official has alleged wrongdoing by Gabbard, the disclosure of which could cause “grave damage to national security.” * The complaint was filed last May with the inspector general for the intelligence community and - though the IG is required to assess the credibility and share their findings with lawmakers within three weeks - Gabbard is accused of stonewalling its transmission by failing to provide security guidance on how to safely do so. * Finally, only after it was reported in WSJ, did a small circle from the “Gang of Eight” get to read a heavily-redacted version of the complaint on a “read and return” basis. (WSJ) * What do you do if the DNI themselves are accused of subverting national security? * 0:26:30 Trump Threatens Federal Election Takeover * Trump says Republicans should ‘nationalize’ elections (Politico) * Monday, Trump said “The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over. We should take over the voting in at least 15 places.’ The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting,” during an interview with podcaster-turned Deputy FBI Director-turned podcaster Dan Bongino. * This mirrors a social media post from last August in which Trump said “the States are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes.” * Thune throws cold water on Trump’s call to ‘nationalize’ U.S. elections (PBS) * Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) pointed to the Constitutional requirement that states conduct their own elections and said “I’m a big believer in decentralizing and distributing power.” * Bannon calls for Trump to deploy ICE and military troops to polling sites (Politico) * Former White House strategist and propagandist Steve Bannon called for ICE agents and the military to “surround the polls” in November on his War Room podcast Tuesday. * Trump said last month he “should have” used the National Guard to seize voting machines after the 2020 election, which he had an executive order drafted to do. * FBI Summons State Election Officials to Secretive Meeting After Trump Threat to ‘Nationalize’ Midterms (Common Dreams) * State election officials nationwide earlier this week received an email calling on them to attend a February 25 briefing with FBI, DOJ, and DHS on preparations for the midterms. * The email was signed by Kellie Hardiman, who identified herself as an “FBI Election Executive,” a position that does not exist. * Both statewide election administrators and former DOJ officials say they’ve never heard of such a conference call. * Redistricting bill sails through Maryland House, faces troubled waters in the Senate (Maryland Matters) * Monday, Maryland’s House passed a gerrymandered 8-0 map. * The bill is expected to die in the Senate, where leadership opposes redistricting, for fear of it backfiring. * Virginia Democrats propose potential 10–1 congressional map for 2026 midterms (VPM) * Voters would need to approve a constitutional amendment in a special election - currently a bipartisan commission draws the state’s maps. * The legislature has passed a bill to put the question to voters, though Governor Abigail Spanberger has yet to sign it. * The redistricting question is also being argued in the courts. 0:35:30 Epstein Files * NYT finds 38,000 Donald Trump-related references after DOJ says claims lack credibility (Mint) * Late last week, the DOJ released some 3M pages of documents related to the late, convicted pedophile and sex trafficker. * The NYT found more than 38K to Donald Trump in that tranche of files which, according to LadBible is more than twice as many times as the name “Harry” appears in the entire series of Harry Potter books. * That’s what you call a main character. * Deputy AG Todd Blanche says the review is over and there will be no further investigation. * Democrats vow to fig

    2h 4m
  4. FEB 5

    HoosLeft Podcast #110: Live w/ Mark Gevaart

    https://hoosleft.us https://mylaborradio.org/ Host Scott Aaron Rogers interviews union organizer and My Labor Radio host Mark Gevaart in a wide-ranging discussion about the American labor movement. The conversation traces the decline of union density from the 1950s golden era (when one-third of workers were union members and top tax rates exceeded 90%) through Reagan's breaking of PATCO, NAFTA's offshoring of manufacturing jobs, and the systematic pitting of blue-collar workers against public sector unions through right-wing talk radio and misogynistic, racist rhetoric. Gevaart explains how rugged individualism and complacency among union members allowed the erosion of worker power, while minimum wage stagnation ($7.25 since 2009), part-time scheduling to avoid benefits, and pathetic unemployment insurance ($350/week in Indiana) have gutted the middle class. The discussion covers positive developments like Starbucks unionization efforts and growth in service sector organizing (currently only 1.7% of 15.1 million retail workers are union), the surge in apprenticeships and women entering skilled trades, and nursing strikes demanding safe staffing ratios.Major topics include the tension between labor and AI/automation, with Gevaart acknowledging both opportunities (data center construction creating IBEW apprenticeships) and threats (jobs disappearing once facilities are operational). He criticizes IU Health's new Fort Wayne hospital for inadequate union labor requirements and emphasizes that non-union employers only pay competitive wages to keep unions out, setting a floor that benefits all workers. The interview concludes with discussion of alternatives to data centers (like high-speed rail infrastructure) and labor's uncertain future navigating AI without a clear roadmap, while emphasizing the need for solidarity across trades, genders, and sectors to counter corporate union-busting.TIMESTAMPED CHAPTERS:--------------------0:00:22 - Introduction- Host Scott Aaron Rogers introduces show and guest Mark Gevaart- Topics preview: union density decline, blue collar vs public sector conflict, service worker organizing, AI/data centers- Upcoming shows and subscription information0:02:55 - Mark Gevaart Introduction- Social media handles: MyLaborRadio on Blue Sky, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok- Promoting apprenticeships and skilled trades on TikTok- Using algorithms to focus on labor content0:05:14 - Making America Great Again: The 1950s Union Era- Trump's base remembers single-salary middle class lifestyle- 1950s: one-third of workers unionized, 90%+ top marginal tax rate- What happened: complacency, rugged individualism ("my family's fine")- Retail unionization then (Woolworths lunch counters) vs now (1.7% of 15.1 million retail workers)- Nuclear family model collapsed, now requires multiple part-time jobs- Both parties failed on minimum wage ($7.25 since 2009, restaurant workers $2.13)- Indiana unemployment system designed to delay/deny benefits ($350/week inadequate)0:10:27 - Reagan and the Breaking of Unions- 1970s economic crisis blamed on union contracts, not oil dependence- Reagan's PATCO strike: air traffic controllers fired, signal to corporate America- "Reagan Democrats": white working class bought promises, got betrayed0:12:46 - NAFTA and Offshoring Manufacturing- Most-favored-nation trading with China and Mexico- Textiles went first: socks, underwear, shirts, Levi's jeans- Manufacturing shipped to cheaper labor markets- Container shipping boom enabled Walmart model- Some reshoring: Camel City Mills reviving American sock manufacturing0:14:38 - Data Centers and Apprenticeship Boom- IBEW apprenticeships growing with data center construction- Flash-in-pan opportunity: hundreds employed during build, far fewer after- Trades now open to all genders, women succeeding- Concern about where workers go when construction phase ends0:22:16 - Blue Collar vs Public Sector: Wedge Issues and Hate Radio- Corporate-funded wedge tactics divide workers- Blue collar (auto workers) pitted against white collar (teachers, government employees)- Right-wing talk radio stoked misogyny and racism- Feminization of teaching/nursing used to devalue those professions- Federal government historically largest employer of African Americans- DEI attacks as repackaged racism against public sector workers0:26:00 - Solidarity vs Management: The Strike Experience- Union solidarity on picket lines vs management's hatred of worker unity- Strikes show workers enjoying camaraderie, supporting each other- Management sees labor as expense to minimize, not value to respect- Non-union employers pay competitive wages only to keep unions out- Unions set wage standards that lift all workers in a region0:28:57 - Automation, Nursing Strikes, and Do More With Less- Manufacturing jobs mindless but physically/mentally demanding- Nurses on strike across NY, CA, MI, MN for safe staffing ratios- Corporate model: short-staffing for shareholder revenue- "Do more with less" pushing nurses to handle 10-12 patients- IU Health Bloomington hospital construction with inadequate union labor requirement0:31:31 - IU Health Hospital Fort Wayne: A Missed Opportunity- New hospital construction south of town- Minimal union labor requirement criticized- Media fails to cover union angles in development stories- Hospitals as corporate profit centers rather than patient care facilities0:34:36 - Union Media Landscape- Mainstream media ignores union perspectives- Labor magazines exist but lack broad reach- YouTube and social media as alternative sources- Need to actively seek out union content0:43:46 - Service Worker Organizing: Starbucks and Beyond- Baristas unionizing at Starbucks locations nationwide- Service sector vast opportunity: 15.1 million retail workers, only 1.7% union- Young workers leading new organizing wave- Building on lunch counter unions of 1950s Woolworths era0:47:41 - AI, Data Centers, and Labor's Uncertain Future- AFL-CIO wrestling with AI as major challenge- AI threatens to replace reporters, creative workers- AI-generated content lacks feeling, life, human connection- Data centers create construction jobs but few permanent positions- Robotics in manufacturing: still need humans for programming, maintenance, repair- Workers displaced by automation with nowhere to go- Labor on "thin ice" - exciting opportunities but unclear roadmap0:50:09 - High-Speed Rail Alternative- Artificial precarity: billionaires drive what gets built- High-speed rail could provide lasting union jobs like interstate highway system- Government investment in infrastructure vs private sector data centers- Comparing 1950s public works to today's priorities0:57:07 - Closing Remarks- Importance of union organizing across all sectors- Solidarity between blue collar and public sector workers essential- Next shows: Drew Cox (4th District Congressional candidate), Sharon Wight (Statehouse candidate)- Support Progressive Indiana Network at progressiveindiana.net Get full access to Progressive Indiana Network at www.progressiveindiana.net/subscribe

    1h 2m
  5. HoosLeft This Week February 1, 2026

    FEB 1

    HoosLeft This Week February 1, 2026

    US/World News MN Shooting Fallout/ICE * Who Takes the Fall? * 0:03:37 Trump White House distances itself from provocative claims by Noem, others on Pretti shooting (ABC) * ‘President Donald Trump and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt are distancing themselves from the provocative statements made by top administration officials in the immediate aftermath of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti involving federal agents in Minneapolis.’ * ‘Trump, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Sunday, notably declined to say whether he thought the agents involved in the Pretti shooting acted appropriately and said his administration was “reviewing everything and will come out with a determination.”’ * ‘The shooting is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, Leavitt told reporters. Customs and Border Protection is also conducting their own internal review, she said.’ * 0:04:50 Blame game erupts over Trump team’s false claim Alex Pretti sought “massacre” (Axios) * ‘Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is under fire for issuing misleading and incendiary information that claimed immigration agents killed an armed Minnesota protestor Saturday because he wanted to “massacre” them.’ * ‘White House officials are blaming Customs and Border Patrol for furnishing inaccurate information, while others are targeting Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and top Trump adviser, six sources with knowledge of the situation told Axios.’ * ‘”Everything I’ve done, I’ve done at the direction of the president and Stephen,” Noem told a person who relayed her remarks to Axios.’ * 0:05:25 AFGE demands resignations of Noem, Miller following member’s slaying (Government Executive) * ‘On Monday, the leaders of both the American Federation of Government Employees and AFGE Local 3669, of which Pretti was a member, demanded that Miller and Noem resign from their posts over statements they made Saturday; Noem called Pretti a “domestic terrorist,” while Miller described him as a “would-be assassin,” claims belied by the wide array of videos capturing the encounter and subsequent killing. Those same videos appear to show that Pretti had already been disarmed when he was shot.’ * ‘House Democratic leaders, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., similarly called for Noem to resign Tuesday morning, and threatened to begin impeachment proceedings if she does not.’ * 0:05:53 Patrol head Bovino and some agents leaving Minnesota (Axios) * ‘Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino and some federal agents will begin leaving Minnesota on Tuesday, according to local leaders and multiple media reports.’ * ‘Reports of the pullback came hours after Trump and Gov. Tim Walz had a “productive” phone call on the situation in Minnesota.’ * ‘Earlier Monday, Trump also announced that he sent [border czar Tom] Homan to Minneapolis, saying Homan will “report directly to me.” * Trump said Walz was “happy” with the news, and Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) welcomed Homan’s arrival as an “opportunity for a reset.” * Republican pushback? * 0:08:49 Over 60 Minnesota CEOs call for de-escalation (KSTP) * ‘Signed by the CEOs of major businesses in Minnesota, the letter called for an “immediate de-escalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together.”’ * Minnesota Republican drops out of governor’s race, citing GOP’s handling of immigration enforcement (NBC) * ‘Republican Chris Madel announced Monday that he was ending his run for Minnesota governor, pointing to his party’s handling of immigration enforcement in his state as his rationale.’ * ‘”I cannot support the national Republicans’ stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so,” Madel said in a video posted to X.’ * ‘In the nearly 11-minute video, Madel emphasized that he supports Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s “originally stated goals” in its Operation Metro Surge in his state. He argued, though, that the operation “has expanded far beyond its stated focus on true public safety threats.”’ * 0:10:41 Two Republican senators say it’s time for Noem’s departure from DHS (MSNOW) * ‘GOP Sens. Thom Tillis, N.C., and Lisa Murkowski, Alaska, on Tuesday called for Noem to leave her post leading DHS.’ * ‘“I think that what she’s done in Minnesota should be disqualifying,” Tillis told reporters on Tuesday, saying he hadn’t decided whether to back a push to impeach Noem. “She should be out of a job.”’ * ‘Murkowski stopped short of demanding that Trump force out Noem. But she did say she was “disappointed” in the DHS secretary and that it was time for Noem to move on.’ * 0:12:12 Republican calls for investigation into Alex Pretti shooting in Minneapolis increase (NBC) * ‘Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Mike Crapo of Idaho, John Curtis of Utah, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have all said there needs to be a thorough probe into Saturday’s fatal shooting of Pretti, a U.S. citizen, by Border Patrol.’ * ‘Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, on Monday called on the heads of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to testify before his panel at an oversight hearing next month.’ * 0:12:45 ‘ICE is not a law unto itself,’ Minnesota judge says after immigrant released following contempt threat (CNBC) * ‘[ICE Director Todd] Lyons had been ordered to appear in the judge’s courtroom [Friday] to explain why federal officials refused to hold a bond hearing for a detained immigrant as [US District Court Chief Judge Patrick] Schiltz had ordered, and to explain why ICE had repeatedly violated court orders in Minnesota over immigration enforcement actions.’ * ‘The immigrant, Juan Hugo Tobay Robles, was released from custody in Texas on Tuesday, a day after Schiltz scheduled the hearing.’ * “That does not end the Court’s concerns, however,” Schiltz said, also writing “ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence,” attaching an appendix identifying nearly 100 such violations to the court filing. * 0:13:36 DOJ opens a civil rights probe into Alex Pretti’s fatal shooting in Minneapolis (NBC) * ‘The Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights probe into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Friday.’ * 0:13:45 NRA attacks Trump after he says Alex Pretti should not have had a gun (Independent) * ‘When asked Tuesday if he agreed with some officials who described Pretti as a domestic terrorist, Trump replied: “I haven’t heard that, but certainly shouldn’t have been carrying a gun.”’ * ‘“The NRA unequivocally believes that all law-abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be,” the gun lobby wrote on X following Trump’s remarks.’ * ‘This comes after the NRA slammed a Justice Department official appointed by the Trump administration who weighed in on the shooting just hours after it happened.’ * ‘‘Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, wrote on X: “If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you. Don’t do it!”’ * ‘The NRA replied directly to his post, calling his sentiment “dangerous and wrong.”’ * ‘“Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens,” the NRA wrote.’ * They’re Still At It * 0:18:51 Trump reshuffles his Minnesota operation after backlash from second fatal shooting (NBC) * ‘[Administration officials and allies] acknowledged to NBC News that they needed a strategic shift amid a public uproar over Pretti’s killing, though the White House is still very much focused on its original agenda of cracking down on immigration and fraud.’ * ‘“The visuals were not playing well. He understands TV. … He saw it for himself,” said a Republican lawmaker.’ * ‘Trump has publicly expressed frustration with the way his administration is being portrayed on a number of issues. In a Truth Social post on Jan. 19, he said there was “too much media attention on ICE” in Minnesota. The following day, during a rare appearance at the White House press briefing, Trump also mused, “Maybe I have bad public relations people. I think we’re doing a much better job than we’re able to promote. We’re not promoting. ... It’s one of the reasons I’m doing this news conference.”’ * 0:19:45 Trump ‘likes his tough guys’ and will stay aggressive on immigration (NewsNation) * The Trump administration is planning to reduce its federal footprint in Minnesota after two fatal shootings this month, but sources say the president remains “happy” with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, and that he likes the “tough guy” storyline. * ‘Despite messaging from the president about de-escalating, one source told NewsNation that federal officers have been given “absolute power” by Trump and that he would not direct agents to tone down their aggressive tactics, adding they are emboldened from the top down.’ * ‘A former DHS senior official under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden told NewsNation that despite staying aggressive on immigration, the operation in Minnesota will likely move away from “performative tactics”’ * 0:20:27 Trump calls Alex Pretti an ‘insur

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  6. JAN 27

    HoosLeft Podcast #109: Live with Nate Stout

    https://hoosleft.us https://hoosierstoelectnatestout.com/ Welcome to the HoosLeft Podcast, a show about Indiana politics, history, and culture from an unapologetically leftist perspective. My name is Scott Aaron Rogers and I’m recording from Bloomington. Tonight’s guest is Nate Stout, candidate for Indiana House District 38. We start with some “Easy W’s” to establish who Nate is and why he’s running, then move through the three core issue areas shaping his campaign: education, healthcare, and smart economic development. Within healthcare especially, the conversation branches into mental health, consolidation, and policy incentives before returning to broader questions of access and outcomes. Throughout, we focus on how Indiana’s policy choices land in real communities and what it looks like to run a campaign built on credibility and long-term engagement. But real quick, before we get to the interview, a big ask. This is an independent media project; we don’t paywall content; we don’t sell out to advertisers; we don’t have billionaire benefactors. Only individuals like you keep this thing going. It is a foundational principal of HoosLeft and the Progressive Indiana Network that we refuse to hide valuable information behind paywalls in the middle of a political crisis, even if that’s not in our financial best interest. So please, if you find value in this work, go to ProgressiveIndiana.net and subscribe at the paid level - it’s only $5 a month, or $50 a year, to help us build the infrastructure that will pop the right-wing media bubble in this state. You can make a one-time contribution to HoosLeft on Cash App or Venmo. Links are in the show notes. If a paid subscription isn’t the cards for you right now, that’s okay. You can still help out by liking and sharing on social media, commenting, leaving reviews, providing feedback, and forwarding articles to your people. Get us next time. Mostly, we just want you here in this community of Hoosiers dedicated to making this state, and its government, work for all of us, not just the elite few. Please join us. Follow me on Bluesky, Instagram, and Threads at HoosLeft.US and on Facebook, TikTok and YouTube at HoosLeft. Progressive Indiana Network’s handle is the full spelled-out name on most sites, but on BlueSky and TikTok it’s PINIndiana. Please help us grow with a follow wherever you’re at. Tell the others. Let’s build a radically-democratic Indiana together. Leftist voices are suppressed on oligarch-owned social media. Subscribing ensures you get ALL of our content, not just what THEY will let you see. Thank you. 0:20 Intro & District Setup * Show introduction and framing * Nate Stout introduced as the Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 38 * Discussion of the geographic and political makeup of House District 38 * Brief aside on campaign branding and visibility 4:25 Easy W’s / Baseline Background * “Easy W’s / Easy Dubs” section covering the basics: who Nate is and why he’s running * How to talk to voters across polarization and distrust * Rejection of consultant-driven messaging in favor of credibility and presence 10:15 Education * Education named as the first core issue of the campaign * Public education funding and Indiana’s business-style approach to schools * Critique of incentives, metrics, and outcome-free policymaking * Schools framed as community anchors with spillover effects into other policy areas 21:10 Healthcare: Access, Outcomes, and Policy Choices * Explicit pivot to healthcare as the second core issue * Healthcare framed broadly as access, affordability, and outcomes * Discussion of how Indiana’s policy framework shapes who gets care and who doesn’t 28:05 Mental Health as Healthcare * Mental health discussed explicitly as part of healthcare, not a side issue * Access gaps and downstream consequences when care is unavailable * Connection between mental health, community stability, and public systems 34:40 Healthcare Consolidation & Large Systems * Discussion of large healthcare systems and consolidation * Critique of how scale, profit incentives, and centralization affect care * Exploration of how “efficiency” rhetoric often conflicts with patient outcomes 41:15 Back to Healthcare as a Voter Issue * Return to healthcare as a core campaign and persuasion issue * Why healthcare consistently resonates even with disengaged or skeptical voters * Framing healthcare failures as policy choices, not inevitabilities 46:30 Economic Development * “Smart economic development” named as the third core issue * Emphasis on small businesses and locally rooted growth * Critique of elite-driven incentive deals and mega-projects * Side discussion on data centers, utilities, water use, and rising electric bills * Broader critique of consolidation and profit extraction from communities 56:35 Closing & Where to Find Nate * Nate shares where people can follow his campaign * Final reflections on campaigning, trust, and long-term engagement * Wrap-up and sign-off That’s all for now. Be sure to tune in Sunday morning for HoosLeft This Week, streaming live on YouTube, Facebook, and of course at the new ProgressiveIndiana.NET. Indiana’s most thorough weekend news and politics talk show, it’s a lot of fun — if you can call following the news in this timeline fun. My panel and I go “around the corn” to cover all the week’s top Indiana news stories and look at US and international happenings through a Hoosier lens. I hope to see you there in the comments, but if you can’t make it live, the program will be available for download later Sunday afternoon. Thanks once again to Nate for this interview and for putting himself out there in these difficult times. One last reminder to please consider supporting HoosLeft and the wider Progressive Indiana Network with a paid subscription if you’re able. This independent media project relies solely on the generosity of kind patrons like you to make this information available for free to everybody. Again, that’s at ProgressiveIndiana.Net. We could also really use a follow on social media at progressiveindiananetwork on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at the same handle. Over on Bluesky and TikTok, the handle is @PINIndiana. You can find me on @HoosLeft.US on Bluesky, Instagram and Threads; @HoosLeft on all the rest. Direct message me at any of those sites with feedback, tips, ideas, and concerns or email me at scott@hoosleft.us. Finally, please forward the show to a friend and have them pass it on, too. Let’s keep building this project - and a truly democratic state — one conversation at a time. Until the next one, this has been the HoosLeft podcast. I’m Scott Aaron Rogers. Love each other, Indiana. HoosLeft is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or — hopefully — a paid subscriber. Get full access to Progressive Indiana Network at www.progressiveindiana.net/subscribe

    1h 1m
  7. HoosLeft This Week January 25, 2026

    JAN 25

    HoosLeft This Week January 25, 2026

    Thank you Lily, ArtB3ing, Suzette Jensen, Hoosier Lemon, Nancy C Smith, and many others for tuning into our live video! Join us for our next live video in the app. US/World News Trump - One Year In * Trump marks anniversary with meandering press conference (NY Times) * ‘He held court — airing old grievances, attacking perceived enemies, threatening allies — for roughly one hour 45 minutes.’ * ‘The meandering, sometimes rambling, remarks jumped from topic to topic, including a story about his prowess as a Little League player,’ threats to Greenland, complaints about the Nobel committee, gloating over firing federal prosecutors, and boasts about limiting border crossings. * ‘“I think God is very proud of the job I’ve done,” Mr. Trump said as he neared the end of his remarks.’ * Nationwide ‘Free America’ Walkout Held in Protest of Trump (Time) * ‘People across the country walked out of school and work on Tuesday afternoon as part of a nationwide walkout to protest the Trump Administration.’ * ‘Dubbed the “Free America Walkout,” the protest took place on the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration.’ Davos/Greenland/NATO * Trump Goes Wild In Unhinged Middle-Of-The-Night Posting Spree Over Greenland (Huffpost) * ‘President Donald Trump went on a lengthy posting spree on his Truth Social website in the early hours of Tuesday that included insults aimed at U.S. allies and screenshots of what appeared to be private messages from’ French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. * ‘While his posts touched on everything from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Minnesota to Lisa Cook, the Federal Reserve governor he is trying to fire, most were about Greenland, the semiautonomous region of Denmark that he is threatening to seize for the United States.’ * ‘Trump’s messages, posted between 12:26 and 1:53 a.m. ET, included a couple of memes showing Greenland under his control.’ * Canadian PM’s Davos Speech Is Unmissable in a Time of “Rupture” (Mother Jones) * ‘Imploring an audience chock-full of European officials at the annual World Economic Forum to recognize that “nostalgia is not a strategy,” [Canadian Prime Minister Mark] Carney rallied middle powers—countries with economies similar to Canada’s—to bind together in the face of unilateral military and economic coercion by bigger powers. (Unspoken but clear among them: Trump’s America.) In doing so, Carney painted a stark view of a new world in which old rules have been torn up, and countries should stop pretending otherwise. “We are in the midst of a rupture,” he said, “not a transition.” * ‘Carney’s speech, which received a standing ovation, is rooted in Carney’s personal experience after winning an election fought on protecting Canada’s sovereignty against economic attack from the United States in the form of tariffs and bellicose threats that Canada should be the 51st state of America. At Davos, Carney framed Trump’s attempts to “buy” Greenland as part of the same intimidation campaign: “Great powers began using economic integration as weapons,” he said. “Tariffs as leverage. Financial infrastructure as coercion. Supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited.”’ * Trump takes aim at multiple targets in Davos speech (NY Times) * ‘President Trump took aim at many familiar targets, and some new ones, in a lengthy speech at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday in which he alternately praised and threatened European allies and repeated his demands for ownership of Greenland.’ * ‘He pledged not to use force to seize the semiautonomous Danish territory, giving some measure of relief. But that slight comfort was likely undercut by the often mocking tone of a speech that underlined European leaders’ worries about the health of NATO and their relations with the United States.’ * Trump lashed out at European allies, renewable energy, Somali immigrants, the Federal Reserve, and Carney, responding to the Prime Minister’s remarks the previous day, “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.” * Carney bites back at Trump’s ‘Canada lives because of’ U.S. remarks at cabinet meeting (CBC) * ‘At the end of a nearly 30-minute speech Thursday kicking off the Liberal cabinet meeting in Quebec City, Carney took on the president’s comments.’ * ‘His address kicked off two days of meetings with his front benches. The cabinet will be holed up behind the stone walls of the Citadelle, a storied military base and the Governor General’s secondary residence that looms over the Quebec capital.’ * ‘It was fortified in the 19th century in an effort to secure the city against a potential American attack’ * UK PM, others outraged at Trump’s comments downplaying NATO allies’ role during Afghanistan war (ABC) * ‘In an interview with Fox News on Thursday in Davos, Switzerland -- amid this week’s tensions with NATO over his efforts to acquire Greenland -- Trump said [of allies who participated in military operations in Afghanistan after 9/11], “We never needed them.”’ * ‘”We have never really asked anything of them,” he said.’ * ‘”They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines,” Trump added.’ * UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer, Afghan War veteran Prince Harry, and Polish PM Donald Tusk blasted these comments. * ‘While Americans took the heaviest hit, other countries suffered similar losses in terms of per capita.’ * ‘Britain, whose population is about one-fifth the size of the U.S., says it lost more than 457 troops in the conflict while Denmark, whose population is 2% of the U.S., said 44 of its soldiers were killed.’ * Pentagon moves to cut U.S. participation in some NATO advisory groups (WaPo) * ‘The Pentagon plans to cut its participation in a range of NATO advisory groups, the latest sign of the Trump administration’s drive to scale back the U.S. military presence in Europe, according to multiple officials familiar with the matter.’ “Board of Peace” * Brazil’s Lula says Trump is attempting to ‘create a new UN’ (Al Jazeera) * ‘Brazilian President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva has accused his United States counterpart Donald Trump of wanting to create “a new UN”, days after the US president launched his new “Board of Peace” initiative in Switzerland.’ * ‘“Instead of fixing” the United Nations, “what’s happening? President Trump is proposing to create a new UN where only he is the owner,” Lula said in a speech on Friday.’ * ‘Trump launched the board with a signing ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, during the annual summit of the World Economic Forum, another international body that has increasingly presented itself as an alternative to the UN system.’ * ‘The US originally said that the “Board of Peace” would oversee the rebuilding of Gaza after more than two years of Israel’s genocidal war on the besieged enclave, but the board’s 11-page charter does not mention Gaza, suggesting its interests may have expanded in scope.’ * ‘Members of the board include Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court and whose forces have killed more than 300 staff members from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, in Gaza.’ * Trump’s Board of Peace is dividing countries in Europe and the Middle East (AP) * ‘Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he’s agreed to join the board — a departure from an earlier stance when his office criticized the makeup of another committee tasked with overseeing Gaza.’ * ‘Norway and Sweden said they won’t accept their invitations, after France also said no, while a bloc of Muslim-majority nations — Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — said in a joint statement that their leaders would join.’ * ‘Trump defended his choice of invitees, including some leaders considered to be autocratic. “I have some controversial people,” he said. “But these are people that get the job done. These are people that have tremendous influence.”’ * Israeli fire strikes journalists and children on one of Gaza’s deadliest days since ceasefire (NBC) * ‘Israeli forces on Wednesday killed at least 11 Palestinians in Gaza, including two 13-year-old boys, three journalists and a woman, hospitals said, on one of the war-battered enclave’s deadliest days since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect in October.’ * ‘More than 470 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, according to Gaza’s health ministry.’ * Israel bulldozes UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem (Guardian) * ‘Israeli crews have started bulldozing the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in occupied East Jerusalem and fired teargas at a UN vocational school in Qalandia, in the West Bank.’ * ‘Israel accuses the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unwra) of collaborating with Hamas – a charge the agency denies – and last year banned it from operating on its territory. The demolition marks Israel’s latest step against UNRWA, which provides aid to millions of Palestinian refugees.’ Minnesota/ICE * ICE says its officers can forcibly enter homes during immigration operations without judicial warrants: 2025 memo (NBC) * ‘An internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement document in May shows that ICE told officers and agents they can forcibly enter homes of people subject to deportation without warrants signed by judges.’ * ‘It says ICE agents are allowed to forcibly enter a person’s home using an administrative warrant if a judge has issued a “fin

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  8. JAN 23

    HoosLeft #108 Live with Jared Stancombe

    Welcome to the HoosLeft Podcast, a show about Indiana politics, history, and culture from an unapologetically leftist perspective. My name is Scott Aaron Rogers and I’m recording from Bloomington. I resolved in the new year to spend less time editing podcasts and more time just getting valuable information out there. As such, this is the first in a series of LIVE interviews scheduled in the coming weeks with statehouse candidates like Nate Stout and Sharon Wight, labor organizer Mark Gevaart, and the multi-talented Dana Black, with more to come. Plus we’ve got a series of virtual town halls on the books with congressional candidates Brad Meyer and Jackson Franklin on top of our regular Sunday morning news show. Lots of big things on the horizon here at HoosLeft and Progressive Indiana Network. Tonight’s guest is Jared Stancombe, a former Indiana State House candidate who graduated from the RAND School of Public Policy with a masters degree in national security policy. His coursework involved research in areas such as US defense strategy, emerging technologies, and Indo-Pacific security.With a background spanning over five years in cybersecurity across the Big 4 serving Fortune 500 clients, the U.S. federal government, and nonprofit organizations, he has worked to focus on solutions to complex social and technological problems. From countering terrorism, addressing the education achievement gap, global health equity, and addressing cyber crime and geopolitical competition in cyberspace, he has learned to ask the right questions, listen attentively, and build relationships to develop innovative solutions. But real quick, before we get to the interview, a big ask. This is an independent media project; we don’t paywall content; we don’t sell out to advertisers; we don’t have billionaire benefactors. Only individuals like you keep this thing going. It is a foundational principal of HoosLeft and the Progressive Indiana Network that we refuse to hide valuable information behind paywalls in the middle of a political crisis, even if that’s not in our financial best interest. So please, if you find value in this work, go to ProgressiveIndiana.net and subscribe at the paid level - it’s only $5 a month, or $50 a year, to help us build the infrastructure that will pop the right-wing media bubble in this state. You can make a one-time contribution to HoosLeft on Cash App or Venmo. Links are in the show notes. If a paid subscription isn’t the cards for you right now, that’s okay. You can still help out by liking and sharing on social media, commenting, leaving reviews, providing feedback, and forwarding articles to your people. Get us next time. Mostly, we just want you here in this community of Hoosiers dedicated to making this state, and its government, work for all of us, not just the elite few. Please join us. Follow me on Bluesky, Instagram, and Threads at HoosLeft.US and on Facebook, TikTok and YouTube at HoosLeft. Progressive Indiana Network’s handle is the full spelled-out name on most sites, but on BlueSky and TikTok it’s PINIndiana. Please help us grow with a follow wherever you’re at. Tell the others. Let’s build a radically-democratic Indiana together. Leftist voices are suppressed on oligarch-owned social media. Subscribing ensures you get ALL of our content, not just what THEY will let you see. Thank you. In the Interview Introduction of Jared Stancombe * Scott welcomes Jared Stancombe, who ran for State House District 65, centered in Lawrence County, in 2018 and just moved back to Indiana after 5 years working in cybersecurity in DC. * Jared specializes in the Asia-Pacific region and has a degree in national security policy. * Scott and Jared discuss the geopolitical implications of cybersecurity and the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on cybersecurity. * Jared shares his experience of being asked about potential Russian cyber attacks during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russian Disinformation and Cybersecurity * Scott and Jared discuss the history of Russian disinformation operations, referencing Thomas Rid’s book Active Measures. * Jared explains the concept of “reflexive control” and how Russian disinformation shapes narratives in foreign countries. * Scott and Jared discuss the role of social media algorithms in spreading disinformation and the impact on American society. * Jared mentions the case of Tim Pool, who was paid by the Russians to spread anti-Ukraine narratives. Trump and Putin’s Similar Worldviews * Scott and Jared discuss the similarities between Trump and Putin’s worldviews, including their anti-wokeism and centralization of power. * Jared mentions the influence of Hungary’s Viktor Orban and the connection between the American far right and ethno-nationalist movements. * Scott and Jared talk about the role of social media influencers in spreading disinformation and the impact on American politics. * Jared highlights the importance of understanding the geopolitical implications of cybersecurity and disinformation operations. China’s Role in Global Security * Scott and Jared discuss China’s growing influence in global security and its relationship with Russia. * Jared explains China’s long-term plans for military readiness and its need for oil to fuel its economic growth. * Scott and Jared discuss the potential impact of China’s military capabilities on the global security environment. * Jared mentions the importance of targeted sanctions against repressive leaders and the role of multilateral institutions in shaping global norms. The Decline of the Global Rules-Based Order * Scott and Jared discuss the decline of the global rules-based order and the impact of Trump’s foreign policy. * Jared explains the retreat of the United States from multilateral institutions and the rise of China as a global influencer. * Scott and Jared discuss the potential consequences of a more authoritarian and self-interested global security environment. * Jared highlights the importance of maintaining international alliances and treaties to ensure global stability. The Role of the Democratic Party in Indiana * Jared shares his experience running as a Democrat in Indiana and the challenges he faced within the party. * Jared criticizes the Democratic Party for its lack of organization, support, and bold positions. * Scott and Jared discuss the need for reform within the Democratic Party to better engage with the community and support progressive candidates. * Jared emphasizes the importance of taking over local county parties and showing leadership and vision. The Importance of Local Engagement * Jared encourages listeners to get involved in their local county parties and take over leadership positions. * Jared highlights the need for passionate and engaged individuals to grow the party and make a difference in their communities. * Scott and Jared discuss the importance of community engagement and the role of local party leaders in shaping the political landscape. * Jared shares his frustration with the current state of the Democratic Party in Indiana and the need for change. That’s all for now. Be sure to tune in Sunday morning for HoosLeft This Week, streaming live on YouTube, Facebook, and of course at the new ProgressiveIndiana.NET. Indiana’s most thorough weekend news and politics talk show, it’s a lot of fun — if you can call following the news in this timeline fun. My panel and I go “around the corn” to cover all the week’s top Indiana news stories and look at US and international happenings through a Hoosier lens. I hope to see you there in the comments, but if you can’t make it live, the program will be available for download later Sunday afternoon. Thanks once again to Jared for this interview and the depth of knowledge he provides. One last reminder to please consider supporting HoosLeft and the wider Progressive Indiana Network with a paid subscription if you’re able. This independent media project relies solely on the generosity of kind patrons like you to make this information available for free to everybody. Again, that’s at ProgressiveIndiana.Net. We could also really use a follow on social media at progressiveindiananetwork on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at the same handle. Over on Bluesky and TikTok, the handle is @PINIndiana. You can find me on @HoosLeft.US on Bluesky, Instagram and Threads; @HoosLeft on all the rest. Direct message me at any of those sites with feedback, tips, ideas, and concerns or email me at scott@hoosleft.us. Finally, please forward the show to a friend and have them pass it on, too. Let’s keep building this project - and a truly democratic state — one conversation at a time. Until the next one, this has been the HoosLeft podcast. I’m Scott Aaron Rogers. Love each other, Indiana. HoosLeft is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or — hopefully — a paid subscriber. Get full access to Progressive Indiana Network at www.progressiveindiana.net/subscribe

    1h 2m
5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Indiana politics, history, and culture from and unapologetically perspective. Host Scott Aaron Rogers interviews candidates, elected officials, activists, and academics in long-form interviews. And every Sunday morning, Scott welcomes a panel of guests from around the state to HoosLeft This Week - where they dissect the week's top news stories from across Indiana and look at US & international news from a Hoosier perspective. www.progressiveindiana.net

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