The Signal

The Signal | Getting the Demoratic Party's Message Out, with JoAnn Loulan

JoAnn Loulan has been a political activist since college, demonstrating during the Vietnam War and fighting for civil rights, and then after college for lesbian visibility and political rights. She's written 3 books about that issue (Lesbian Sex, Lesbian Passion, and Lesbian Erotic Dance) and was on many talk shows back when there was little lesbian visibility. In addition, she has been on book tours talking with thousands of people throughout the US, Canada, and Europe.Her political work continued with raising money for many democratic candidates including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
In 2017 she started Local Majority, an organization that writes research papers for state legislative candidates in swing states. These are informational and well-researched about topics germane to their state (including Pennsylvania for 3 cycles) that the Democratic party does not provide. The group has written over 300 papers and is currently working in Arizona. 
In 2022 she along with Tracy Sherman started the Democratic Messaging Project. The purpose of this group is to work around the algorithm so people know what Democrats are doing, have done, and will do to make lives better. They do digital in-app messaging, rolling billboards that grassroots groups use to amplify their message, static billboards, and work on college campuses to educate and get the youth vote out. She is also a mother of 3, a grandmother of 3 and finally marrying her partner of 30 years. 
Today we talk about the work these two organizations are doing heading into the 2024 election.
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The Signal | A Conversation with Mike Wendling About His New Book "Day of Reckoning: The Far Right’s War on Democracy"

Mike Wendling is U.S. National Digital Reporter for the BBC, based in Chicago. In 2020, he co-founded the BBC News disinformation unit and was editor and presenter of Trending, the BBC World Service show that covers the world of social media. He has decades of experience covering extremism, the American far right, social media and disinformation. Today he joins us to talk about his new book, out May 20, called Day of Reckoning: The Far Right’s War on Democracy.
Host Cyril Mychalejko’s 5 Book Recommendations to Further Shine a Light on the Issue
Going Mainstream: How Extremists are Taking Over, by Julia Ebner
The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War, by Jeff Sharlet
The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, by Katherine Stewart
Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America, by Joan Donovan, Emily Dreyfuss and Brian Friedberg
They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency, by Malcolm Nance
ALSO LISTEN TO:
EPISODE 5 – The Growing Fascist Threat To American Democracy, With Jeff Sharlet
EPISODE 7 – Understanding Backlash Politics And Religious Conservatives Inciting School Board Wars, With PRRI’s Melissa Deckman
EPISODE 12 – The New Apostolic Reformation: A Revolutionary Theocratic Movement Coming For Pennsylvania, The Nation, And The World
EPISODE 18 - The Christian Right’s Crusade for Power and War on Democracy, with Katherine Stewar
 

The Signal | Bucks County's Joe Khan Wants to Be Pennsylvania’s Next Attorney General

Before running for Attorney General, Joe Khan served as the Solicitor for Bucks County, where he was credited with “redefining the role of County Solicitor.” In addition to overseeing all litigation for the County, Joe built partnerships with other public entities to protect consumers and the environment through innovative litigation, including the first lawsuit of its kind against social media companies for fueling a youth mental health crisis. Joe also played an instrumental role in protecting Pennsylvanian’s voting rights when he defeated Trump’s lawyers' efforts to throw out votes in Bucks County and led a multi-county effort to defeat similar efforts throughout the Commonwealth. During his tenure with Bucks County, the Pennsylvania Bar Association recognized him as 2022’s Government Lawyer of the Year and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania honored him with the Outstanding Solicitor Award.
Before his time as Solicitor, Joe served for a decade as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where he resolved high-stakes matters across southeastern Pennsylvania, including the prosecution of the largest Ponzi scheme ever committed in Delaware County, and led the historic City Hall corruption probes in Allentown and Reading. He began his career in the Philadelphia District Attorney's office focusing on prosecuting cases of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.
Today Joe joins us to talk about why he believes his experience and vision for the office makes him the best candidate to ensure we have a Democratic Attorney General for the next 4 years. 
https://www.joekhan.com/

The Signal | “Building a Greater Society: A Guide to Political Revolution for Millennials & Generation Z,” with Connor O’Hanlon

On this special episode of The Signal we welcome Connor O’Hanlon onto the Show. Connor is Chair of the Democratic Party in Doylestown, PA, and has spent his young adulthood serving his community on multiple non-profit and governmental boards. Connor's passion for progressive change led him to run for office at the age of 23 and shortly thereafter he became Chairman of the local party.
In his role as Director of Candidate Development for the Bucks County Democratic Committee, he has coached and aided dozens of candidates to successfully run for office. His interest and knowledge of politics are amplified by his education from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.
Today we talk about Connor’s new book “Building a Greater Society: A Guide to Political Revolution for Millennials & Generation Z,” which you can pre-order now! 

The Signal | Fighting for Women’s Rights with 365 Foundation Executive Director Natalie Venezia

Natalie Venezia is Executive Director of the 365 Foundation,  which promotes women's empowerment through art, advocacy, and community service. As a local, key figure in the feminist movement, Natalie is at the forefront of the Foundation's efforts to empower women and promote gender equality. Through strategic partnerships with local organizations and a steadfast commitment to advocating for women's rights, 365 Foundation is leaving a significant imprint on the Lansdale community, by fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. As we wind down Women’s History Month, I’m glad to welcome Natalie to the podcast to talk about her organization and how they are fighting for a better future for women – and everyone else.
Host Cyril Mychalejko’s 5 Book Recommendations to Further Shine a Light on the Issue 
After Misogyny: How the Law Fails Women and What to Do about It, by Julie Suk
Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America, by Dahlia Lithwick
Herstory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World (Stories That Shook Up the World), by Katherine Halligan and Sarah Walsh (Illustrator)
Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto, by Cinzia Arruzza, Tithi Bhattacharya, and Nancy Fraser
Books Through Bars: Stories From the Prison Books Movement, by Moira Marquis and Dave "Mac" Marquis 
ALSO LISTEN TO:
EPISODE 24 – Radical Independent Media, Feminist Struggles, and International Women’s Day: A View from Latin America, with Dawn Paley
EPISODE 17 –  After Misogyny: How the Law Fails Women and What to Do about It, with Julie C. Suk 
EPISODE 9 – Feminicide, Impunity, And The U.S.’S Bloody History In Guatemala, With Victoria Sanford
EPISODE 4 – Sylvia Pankhurst – Suffragette Socialist and Scourge of Empire, with Dr. Kate Connelly
EPISODE 3 – The Radical History of International Women’s Day and the Feminist Movement, with Liza Featherstone
 

The Signal | Radical Independent Media, Feminist Struggles, and International Women’s Day: A View from Latin America, with Dawn Paley

Dawn Marie Paley is an investigative journalist and author of Drug War Capitalism and Guerra Neoliberal. She is the editor of Ojalá (https://www.ojala.mx/en/ojala-home/), a feminist digital weekly providing reporting and analysis from Latin America. She is also a member of NACLA’s Editorial Committee.
Host Cyril Mychalejko’s 5 Book Recommendations to Further Shine a Light on the Issue 
Set Fear on Fire: The Feminist Call That Set the Americas Ablaze, by LASTESIS
Feminist International: How to Change Everything, by Verónica Gago, translated by Liz Mason-Deese
Compañeras: Zapatista Women's Stories, by Hilary Klein
Bananeras: Women Transforming the Banana Unions of Latin America, by Dana Frank
Textures of Terror: The Murder of Claudina Isabel Velasquez and Her Father's Quest for Justice, by Victoria Sanford
ALSO LISTEN TO:
EPISODE 17 –  After Misogyny: How the Law Fails Women and What to Do about It, with Julie C. Suk 
EPISODE 9 – Feminicide, Impunity, And The U.S.’S Bloody History In Guatemala, With Victoria Sanford
EPISODE 4 – Sylvia Pankhurst – Suffragette Socialist and Scourge of Empire, with Dr. Kate Connelly
EPISODE 3 – The Radical History of International Women’s Day and the Feminist Movement, with Liza Featherstone

The Signal | American Patriots: A Short History of Dissent, with Ralph Young

Ralph Young is a history professor at Temple University. He is the winner of several major teaching awards, including the College of Liberal Arts Distinguished Teaching Award, the Provost’s Award for Innovative Teaching in General Education, Honors Professor of the Year, the Lindback Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence, and Temple’s highest honor, the Great Teacher Award.
Young has taught at Temple’s Rome campus for the fall 2019 semester and has led several Education Abroad summer courses in Northern Ireland. He is the founder of the weekly campus-wide “teach-ins” at Temple in which students and faculty investigate the historical context of controversial contemporary issues.
Dr. Young’s writings have appeared in such publications as The New England Quarterly, USA Today Magazine, the History News Network, and in blogs for the National Constitution Center, Salon, and Truthout.org. He is frequently interviewed and quoted by such media outlets as the New York Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Christian Science Monitor, the Washington Post, the Guardian, Reuters, the Associated Press, CBS, NPR, CNN, and SiriusXM. 
His book, Dissent: The History of an American Idea, a narrative history of the United States from the standpoint of dissenters and protest movements, was a finalist for the 2016 Phi Beta Kappa Ralph Waldo Emerson Award. His other books are Dissent in America: Voices That Shaped a Nation, Make Art Not War: Political Protest Posters from the Twentieth Century, and most recently American Patriots: A Short History of Dissent.
Today we speak with Ralph to talk about one of my favorite subjects: Dissent.
Host Cyril Mychalejko’s 5 Book Recommendations to Further Shine a Light on the Issue 
A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn
Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids, by Rann Miller
Direct Action: Protest and the Reinvention of American Radicalism, by L.A. Kauffman
American Insurgents: A Brief History of American Anti-Imperialism, by Richard Seymour
Left Americana, by Paul Le Blanc
ALSO LISTEN TO:
EPISODE 22 - Black History Is a History of Resistance and Liberation, with Rann Miller
EPISODE 4 - Sylvia Pankhurst – Suffragette Socialist and Scourge of Empire, with Dr. Kate Connelly
EPISODE 3 -  The Radical History of International Women’s Day and the Feminist Movement, with Liza Featherstone

The Signal | Black History Is a History of Resistance and Liberation, with Rann Miller

Black History is a history of resistance and liberation. This may explain why, in part, we’ve seen such a whitelash and a war against Black studies – and Black history in general – being waged by right-wing reactionary groups like Moms for Liberty, and Republican lawmakers. 
Today I am joined by Rann Miller. Rann is an author, educator, and advocate for the education of Black children in the Delaware Valley Region. His experience as an author and writer spans over ten years and his experience in both K-12 settings and higher education settings spans over 15 years. As an educator, he’s served in various capacities, including faculty and administration. His current role is Director of DEI Initiatives. He is the author of the recently released, Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids. 
Rann is also an opinion columnist for Atlanta Black Star. His writing has also appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Washington Post, Education Week, Salon, and a host of other platforms. Rann is a graduate of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. 
Rann can be followed on Twitter @RealRannMiller. You can also keep up with Rann at linktr.ee/rannmiller.  
Host Cyril Mychalejko’s 5 Reading Recommendations to Further Shine a Light on the Issue:
How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, by Clint Smith
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, by Nikole Hannah-Jones
Force and Freedom: Black Abolitionists and the Politics of Violence (America in the Nineteenth Century), Kellie Carter Jackson 
For 150 Years, Black Journalists Have Known What Confederate Monuments Really Stood For,  Donovan Schaefer
Teachers, Students and the Central York Community Defeated a Racist Book Ban in Their School District, by Cyril Mychalejko
ALSO LISTEN TO: 
EPISODE 2 – The Merchants of Deception: The Dark Money and Front Groups Behind School Privatization, with Maurice Cunningham
EPISODE 6 – The Right’s Long War On Public Education, With Jennifer Berkshire
EPISODE 7 – Understanding Backlash Politics And Religious Conservatives Inciting School Board Wars, With PRRI’s Melissa Deckman
EPISODE 8 – Students and Teachers Fight Back Against Book Banning in Central York, with Christina Ellis and Ben Hodge
EPISODE 11 –Unmasking Moms For Liberty’s Extremism, With Olivia Little And Diana Leygerman
EPISODE 21- Understanding the Nation’s Mounting Book Banning Crisis in Public Schools, with PEN America’s Sabrina Baêta