Looking for an in-depth analysis of current events in Vermont and nationally, from a Left and Labor perspective? Check out Equal Time Radio with DSA member Traven Leyshon. Equal Time began as a progressive initiative driven by State Senator Anthony Pollina back in 2007, who saw the lack of a strong Leftist analysis of Vermont news and its relationship to the larger national context. Traven, the current host, joined the team shortly thereafter and is a longtime labor activist and Vermonter who is the current president of the Green Mountain Labor Council. This past summer, Traven teamed up with DSA members Dayna Stimson and Anthony Apodaca to transform the weekly radio show into a podcast format.

Equal Time strives to bring greater attention to issues often ignored by the corporate media: working class struggle,  the climate crisis, Black liberation, and economic justice, among many important topics. Broadcast weekly, the show has featured writers from Jacobin, Labor Notes, the Economic Policy Institute, DSA, Rights & Democracy, Vermont Workers Center, and Vermont Public Assets, among others. Featured guests include Stephanie Yu, Paul Cillo, Daniel Denvir, Let’s Grow Kids, Bhaskar Sunkara, Alex Vitale, Howie Hawkins, Jill Stein, and David Zuckerman. Traven uses his extensive experience as a Leftist to bring greater insight and understanding to the issues currently facing us, as he talks to the people shaping the movement locally and nationally. 

Listen and subscribe to Equal Time Radio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to make sure that you never miss an episode release! Learn more at equaltimeradio.transistor.fm.

On the two year anniversary of the deadly attack by a white nationalist on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh and the eve of the 2020 election, we’re joined by antifascist organizer and very special guest (you know her better as a host and comrade here on RPM) Amy Wilson to discuss the various organizing strategies and mobilization efforts in the movement to fight back against far right violence here in New York City and beyond. You can follow @UARFNYC on Twitter for updates on this Sunday’s broad-based mobilization. However, first we'll check in on the Socialist Feminist struggle for Reproductive Justice following the confirmation of Amy Coney Barret. We also have a report from the streets on the fight against the fracked gas pipeline in North Brooklyn. Lastly, before we begin we just want to let our listeners know that we will be moving to a new time slot after today’s show. Starting next week we’ll be on Wednesday nights at 9pm. Today we’ll give a preview of some additions to our format, including opening the phone lines earlier in the show so we can hear from our listeners.

Our electoral working group spent two months researching propositions, designing questions to ask candidates, and corresponding directly with candidates about their positions on various issues.

The endorsement proposals were presented at our General Meeting on October 11th.

Members present at the General Meeting discussed and approved the endorsements presented in this voting guide.

If you are interested in seeking our

endorsement please email: marindemsoc@gmail.com

State Propositions

No Endorsement-Prop 14

Yes-Prop 15

Yes-Prop 16

Yes-Prop 17

Yes-Prop 18

No Endorsement-Prop 19

No-Prop 20

Yes-Prop 21

No- Prop 22

Yes-Prop 23

No-Prop 24

Yes-Prop 25

Local Propositions

Yes-Measure L: Approved

Yes-Measure M: Approved

Yes-Measure P: Approved

No Endorsement-Measure Q: Approved

No-Measure R: Approved

People

No Endorsement-President: Approved

No Endorsement-U.S. House District 2: Approved

CA State Assembly District 10

Veronica Roni Jacobi: Approved

Marin County Office of Education, Trustee Area 4

Felicia “Fel” Agrelius: Approved

Marin Community College District Governing Board Member: 

Robbie Powelson: Approved

Paul De Silva: Approved

Philip Kranenburg: Approved

Petaluma Joint Union School District Governing Board

Linda Judah: Approved

San Rafael Board of Education Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 1: 

Endorse: Samantha Ramirez: Approved (pending okay). 

Tamalpais Union High School District Governing Board Member: Endorse: Leslie J Harlander: Approved
Endorse: Brandon Johnson: Approved

This November, Georgia residents will vote on two constitutional amendments and a referendum. Many of our members have requested a guide to help clarify these. Two members of MADSA’s electoral working group, Eli and Jim, did the research and put together a guide to explain the ballot initiatives, including a list of pros and cons of each from a socialist perspective. Two additional referendums from the Dekalb and Gwinnett county ballots are described as well.

In addition, MADSA has endorsed Zan Fort for Georgia’s 39th Senate District Special Election! Our work will continue beyond November to build a movement that fights for working class interests, but in elections and outside them. Join MADSA if you want to be involved!

If you have any questions or concerns about our voter guide or larger electoral work, feel free to reach out at electoral@madsa.ga

When climate collapse strikes home, we’re all we’ve got. On today’s show, we’re learning about two separate but interconnected climate struggles. 

After getting slammed by two hurricanes just several weeks apart, residents of SW Louisiana have been left to take care of each other and their communities. We'll talk with Megan Romer of SW Louisiana DSA on how people can help from afar and how no matter where we are we can prepare to respond to the many crises we face, with mutual aid and solidarity.

We’ll also discuss an ongoing climate struggle right here in our own backyard -- the fight to stop a new fracked gas pipeline in North Brooklyn, where communities are stepping up to stop construction by putting their bodies on the line. 

Did the message of this show hit home for you? Rally for Public Power and stop National Grid! The rally will be held Thursday 10/22 at 9:30am, outside of National Grid headquarters  in downtown Brooklyn (1 Metrotech Center).

For updates on the North Brooklyn Pipeline, follow @frackouttabk on Instagram and @nonbkpipeline and @BVilleGreen on Twitter.

Support the comrades in SW Louisiana and follow along with their specific requests at @DSASWLA.

Our latest episode of “Heart of a Heartless World” is a recording of our September 30th webinar conversation with Bhaskar Sunkara, founding publisher and editor of Jacobin magazine, and Rev. Andrew Wilkes. They discussed the role of religion and faith traditions within the wider socialist movement and Left politics.

Central Indiana DSA stands in solidarity with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Butler University, and we urge the Student Senate at Butler University to vote AGAINST Resolutions 2021-021 […]

Statement for Regional Center Hearing: The proposed development by Buckingham Companies continues a long tradition of gentrification along Indiana Avenue. As the group Reclaim Indiana Avenue has recently described it, […]

Back with another podcast exclusive! While we'll be back live on WBAI soon, we're currently off the airwaves as we deal with a potential FCC violation. We wanted to share with you all an update on our current status as well as a breakdown of our organizing work at the radio station through the Red Wave Collective. We'll also be dropping some additional podcast exclusives so stay tuned! If you want to get involved in building working class media power with Red Wave hit us up at: Email: redwavewbai@gmail.com Twitter: @RedWaveWBAI

Montgomery County DSA Says: “The People, United, Will Fight to Keep the Lights On”
(SILVER SPRING, MD) — Montgomery County DSA’s Power for the People campaign is providing direct aid to neighbors who are unable to pay their energy bills. The campaign has donated $3,000 so far, protecting nine low-income households from gas and electricity disconnections, and is continuing to raise funds through an Action Network campaign.

Maryland’s statewide ban on power disconnections expires on November 15. Governor Hogan stopped extending the moratorium at the request of Pepco and other utility companies, and he has no plans to offer real relief to struggling families. Montgomery County DSA stands in solidarity with our neighbors who will lose access to gas and electricity in the coming weeks.

While Pepco’s parent company, Exelon, continues to pay quarterly dividends to shareholders, the coronavirus pandemic has emptied families’ pocketbooks. In June, 150,000 Pepco customers in Maryland’s DC suburbs were more than 60 days behind on their energy bills. Meanwhile, the hurdles to existing assistance programs are even higher than before. In-person appointments are scarce. Signup events have been canceled. Additionally, Maryland’s undocumented residents are not eligible for government-run energy assistance programs.

Power for the People fills these gaps by providing a simple request form in English, Spanish, and Amharic that does not ask for proof of income. 100% of donations raised through the Action Network campaign are credited to recipients’ Pepco balances. One of the campaign’s first recipients, Kathy M., had this to say: “Your donation helps me in ways that you can’t imagine. In what seems a lifetime ago, I joyfully gave of myself in service to others. However, life circumstances can change your existence in a nanosecond. Your gift has given me hope that there will be a better day.”

The campaign has set a goal of raising $5,000 in additional funds to meet all the requests that have come in. Power for the People co-organizer Sarah Brand said, “In an economic crisis, mutual aid is more important than ever. Our neighbors need to stay warm this winter, and students need reliable power to attend classes. I encourage anyone who can help to pitch in.”

The post DSA Organizes to Protect Neighbors in Need from Power Disconnections appeared first on Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America.