Inform Your Resistance

In this episode of Inform Your Resistance, Koki reads “Nativist Bedfellows: The Christian Right Embraces Anti-Immigrant Politics [https://politicalresearch.org/2008/06/06/nativist-bedfellows-the-christian-right-embraces-anti-immigrant-politics]” by Tarso Luís Ramos and Pam Chamberlain, the fourth in our new From the Archives series. From the Archives features those must read and, now, must listen to pieces from PRA’s more than 40 years of publishing. This article was published in the Summer 2008 issue of The Public Eye magazine, and you can read the article here [https://politicalresearch.org/2008/06/06/nativist-bedfellows-the-christian-right-embraces-anti-immigrant-politics]. This week we're also excited to announce the launch of a new podcast series. The Insurgence: Sheriffs [https://politicalresearch.org/the-insurgence-sheriffs] is a podcast series that uncovers how a national network of far-right sheriffs is mobilizing to create a White Christian republic, one county at a time. The series features first-hand accounts from people across the country who have come up against the sometimes-fatal consequences from the unchecked power of county sheriffs and their growing alignment with the new Far Right. The Insurgence: Sheriffs is created and hosted by investigative reporter and PRA Research Director Cloee Cooper [https://politicalresearch.org/node/2064], and co-executive produced by Political Research Associates and Cuentero Productions [https://www.cuenteroproductions.com/].

In this first episode of Season 3, we are back with a conversation about the origins, unlikely intersections, and influence of the contemporary anti-immigration movement. Ethan provides us with a fascinating overview of how this movement developed, from its White Nationalist origins, with significant bipartisan and centrist support. We discuss John Tanton’s network of organizations, funding sources for the anti-immigrant movement, significant legislation impacting the immigration landscape, intersections with other movements (not all right-wing) like the environmental movement and Christian nationalism, and Project 2025’s vision for immigration policy in the U.S. We end on a high note, discussing local resistance strategies to fight back. Ethan Fauré is a Senior Research Analyst at PRA, with over a decade of experience focusing on movements promoting anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, and White nationalist ideologies. Ethan works closely with other researchers, journalists, national organizations, and grassroots activists to deepen their understanding of these forces, informing resistance efforts, and their work building power across the country.  Episode Resources * The Tanton Network [https://vimeo.com/746974445] (animation). Political Research Associates, 2022. * Where the White House Gets its Racist Immigration Policies [https://politicalresearch.org/2018/03/01/where-the-white-house-gets-its-racist-immigration-policies]. Ethan Fauré. Political Research Associates, 2018.  * The National Sheriffs’ Association Strengthens the Deportation Machine [https://politicalresearch.org/2019/06/06/the-national-sheriffs-association-strengthens-the-deportation-machine]. Ethan Fauré. Political Research Associates, 2019. * Nativist Bedfellows: The Christian Right Embraces Anti-Immigrant Politics [https://politicalresearch.org/2008/06/06/nativist-bedfellows-the-christian-right-embraces-anti-immigrant-politics]. Tarso Luís Ramos, Pam Chamberlain. Political Research Associates, 2008. * White Borders: Author Q&A with Reece Jones [https://politicalresearch.org/2022/04/28/white-borders]. Shane Burley. Political Research Associates, 2022.  * The Right’s Decades-Long Fight for A Census Citizenship Question [https://politicalresearch.org/2019/04/23/the-rights-decades-long-fight-for-a-census-citizenship-question]. Ethan Fauré. Political Research Associates, 2019.  * Immigrant Justice and the Right Wing's Eliminationist Agenda: A Q&A with Hamid Khan [https://politicalresearch.org/2018/05/24/immigrant-justice-and-the-right-wings-eliminationist-agenda-a-qa-with-hamid-khan]. Political Research Associates, 2018. * Blood Red Lines: How Nativism Fuels the Right: Author Q&A with Brendan O'Connor [https://politicalresearch.org/2021/07/19/blood-red-lines-how-nativism-fuels-right]. Ethan Faure, Ben Lorber. Political Research Associates, 2021.  * Blurring the Border: Immigration Enforcement and Solidarity in Ohio [https://politicalresearch.org/2018/08/13/blurring-border]. Austin Kocher. Political Research Associates, 2018.  Episode Keywords Anti-immigration, anti-immigrant, John Tanton, Project 2025, Immigration Justice, Fight the Right

Uncover the disturbing realities of racial capitalism and state violence with host Koki Mendis and Saqib Bhatti, co-executive Director of the Action Center on Race and Economy (ACRE). Bhatti’s insights illuminate the distressing crossroads where austerity programs, mass incarceration, and a negligent police state meet. Throughout the conversation, Bhatti exposes the dangerous influence of corporations on public services and their contribution to the rise of a racialized policing system. We discuss ways in which over policing and mass incarceration uphold racist wealth and inequality and strategies available to us on the left to contest power and advance redistribution. We explore how austerity programs that reduce social safety nets and inflated budgets for incarceration and policing have created a relationship of criminalizing people instead of providing support and care. Technologies like ShotSpotter, which claims to detect gunshots accurately, are not only rife with inaccuracies, but also operate on the myth that more policing leads to flourishing and safer communities. The second part of our conversation pivots to the ways rideshare giants, Uber and Lyft, have upended the taxi industry, including how these corporations avoid responsibility for drivers’ employment conditions, and the consequent fallout for the predominantly immigrant workers who previously made their living as full-time taxi drivers. We further examine the related trend of companies being bought out by private equity firms, which can lead to workers losing their pensions and benefits while shareholders profit. Bhatti provides unique insights into the ensuing destabilization and the worrying trend of private equity firms buying failing corporations and profiting from their debt.  We also explore how organizing labor, renter, and debtor unions can help build worker power and solidarity across economically marginalized groups. Finally, we consider the role of non-traditional unions in amassing and aggregating collective power to fight against corporations. EPISODE RESOURCES * Murdered Behind the Wheel: An Escalating Crisis for App Drivers [https://acrecampaigns.org/research_post/murdered-behind-the-wheel/] by Gig Workers Rising, PowerSwitch Action, and Action Center on Race and the Economy * “What Does It Mean to Dismantle Racial Capitalism Anyway? [https://nonprofitquarterly.org/what-does-it-mean-to-dismantle-racial-capitalism-anyway/]” by Saqib Bhatti and Bree Carlson * “Remaking the Economy: Race for Profit [https://nonprofitquarterly.org/remaking-the-economy-race-for-profit/]” an NPQ webinar recording with Maximillian Alvarez, Saqib Bhatti, and Bree Carlson * “Austerity Kills [https://politicalresearch.org/webinar-1082020-austerity-kills]” a PRA webinar recording with Saqib Bhatti, Lauren Jacobs, Daniel HoSang, and Donald Cohen * STOP ShotSpotter [https://stopshotspotter.com/] coalition to end ShotSpotter and build community-led responses to address the root causes of gun violence --------- EPISODE KEYWORDS --------- Racial Capitalism, State Violence, Austerity Programs, Mass Incarceration, Policing System, ShotSpotter, Uber, Lyft, Taxi Industry, Private Equity Firms, Anti-CRT, Critical Race Theory, Labor Unions, Renter Unions, Debtor Unions, Economic Interests, Collective Power, Wealthy Corporations.

Who are the abortion abolitionists? What drives them, and how do their tactics overlap with those of other far-right movements? Join host, Koki Mendis, and PRA Senior Research Analyst, Cloee Cooper, as we uncover the differences between the broader pro-life movement and the abortion abolitionist movement. The abortion abolitionists are a nationwide network of militant anti-abortion far-right activists who want to eradicate all abortion. They would like to see the death penalty for those involved in abortion. They draw on the militant anti-abortion movement from the 1990s that was responsible for violence against abortion clinics and providers. We discuss how the pro-life movement is more interested in working within the US legal system for reforms that further restrict access to abortion, while the abortion abolitionists want to abolish abortion in all instances. We explore the influence of Christian Reconstructionism on the anti-abortion movement, and how its vision for a theocratic society has had a significant impact on the abortion abolitionist movement today. We examine the overlap between the abortion abolitionist movement, militias, and other far-right movements, including the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection. We examine the broader pro-life bills that have been introduced in various states, and we compare these bills with the ones that the abolitionists are advocating for, which would criminalize anyone who has an abortion and grant legal protection to fertilized eggs. We also look at the role of Bradley Pierce, the attorney behind many of the abortion abolitionist bills, and how his Foundation to Abolish Abortion is connected to the right-wing homeschooling movement. We explore the concept of the Overton window, and how the abortion abolitionist movement is pushing for their extreme ideas to become accepted as common sense. Finally, we discuss how the abortion abolitionist movement is shifting its tactics to become more mainstream and to influence change. We assess the need to understand the strategies of the abortion abolitionist movement and to build coalitions to establish movement strategies rooted in communities and movements on the ground. EPISODE RESOURCES * No Sanctuary: Anti-Abortion “Abolitionists” Go to City Hall [https://politicalresearch.org/2020/11/09/no-sanctuary] by Cloee Cooper and Tina Vásquez * How the anti-abortion movement fed the Capitol insurrection [https://prismreports.org/2021/01/22/how-the-antiabortion-movement-fed-the-capitol-insurrection/] by Tina Vasquez * The anti-abortion abolitionist movement is dangerous. Here’s what you need to know [https://prismreports.org/2020/03/11/the-antiabortion-abolitionist-movement-is-dangerous-heres-what-you-need-to-know/] by Cloee  * Cooper and Tina Vásquez * The New Abolitionists: The Christian Anti-Abortion Movement Gaining Ground in State Legislatures [https://coloradotimesrecorder.com/2023/03/the-new-abolitionists-the-christian-anti-abortion-movement-gaining-ground-in-state-legislatures/52204/] by Heidi Beedle * The Army of Gideon: Anti-Abortion Activism in Wichita [https://coloradotimesrecorder.com/2023/03/the-army-of-gideon-anti-abortion-activism-in-wichita/52248/]by Heidi Beedle * Convergence of Far-Right, Anti-Democratic Factions in the Northwest Could Provide a Model for the Rest of the Nation [https://religiondispatches.org/convergence-of-far-right-anti-democratic-factions-in-the-northwest-could-provide-a-model-for-the-rest-of-the-nation/]by Frederick Clarkson and Cloee Cooper * The Prochoice Religious Community May Be the Future of Reproductive Rights, Access, and Justice [https://politicalresearch.org/2020/09/28/prochoice-religious-community-may-be-future-reproductive-rights-access-and-justice] by Frederick Clarkson * Mobilizing for Reproductive Freedom in the Battle Over Bodily Autonomy [https://politicalresearch.org/2021/07/23/mobilizing-reproductive-freedom-battle-over-bodily-sovereignty] by PRA featuring Adaku Utah, Cloee Cooper, Loretta Ross, and Tara Romano --------- EPISODE KEYWORDS --------- Abortion Abolitionists, Christian Right, Christian Reconstructionism, RJ Rushdoony, Capitol Insurrection, Anti-Abortion Legislation, Homeschooling Movement, Overton Window, Pro-Choice Religious Community, Movement Strategies, Collective Power for Reproductive Justice

In this conversation with Lauren Jacobs from PowerSwitch Action, the discussion focuses on the role of worker power in combating authoritarianism. Lauren and host Koki Mendis explore the allure of reactionary anti-state narratives in explaining worker precarity and how labor organizing can present counter-narratives and options for reducing worker suffering. They also discuss the barriers to unionization posed by corporations, the relationship between worker organizing and the presidential administrations, and the impact of municipal and county governing structures on worker power formation. EPISODE RESOURCES: * “Austerity Kills [https://politicalresearch.org/webinar-1082020-austerity-kills],” a PRA Webinar featuring Saqib Bhatti, Lauren Jacobs, Daniel HoSang, and Donald Cohen, 2020.  * “Precarity: The American Way [https://politicalresearch.org/2021/06/16/precarity-american-way],” a PRA Webinar featuring Aislinn Pulley, Jessica Quiason, and Gabriel Winant, 2021.  * “Who Works for the Workers? [https://www.nplusonemag.com/issue-26/essays/who-works-for-the-workers/]” by Gabriel Winant, n+1, 2016. * “Seizing Labor’s Moment w/ Alex Press & Eric Blanc [https://thedigradio.com/podcast/seizing-labors-moment-w-alex-press-eric-blanc/],” The Dig, 2023.   * “How to Build a Fighting Labor Movement w/ Jane McAlevey [https://thedigradio.com/podcast/how-to-build-a-fighting-labor-movement-w-jane-mcalevey/],” The Dig, 2023.  * “On the Line w/ Daisy Pitkin [https://thedigradio.com/podcast/on-the-line-w-daisy-pitkin/],” The Dig, 2022.  EPISODE KEYWORDS: Worker Power, Labor Organizing, Labor Strikes, National Labor Relations Act, Community Organizing, Unions, Corporations, Union Busting, Capitalism, Authoritarianism.