NYC Tenants in Co-Governance w/ Ritti Singh, Lex Rountree, Irene Hsu, and Joanne Grell

NYC Tenants in Co-Governance w/ Ritti Singh, Lex Rountree, Irene Hsu, and Joanne Grell

We are joined by New York City tenant organizer and communications expert, Ritti Singh, who recently published an article with Convergence, covering a strategy – which has been implemented in NYC tenant organizing – she calls “surround sound” [https://convergencemag.com/articles/surround-sound-communications-how-to-build-a-narrative-machine/] communications. Then, in early 2025, a group of tenant organizers in New York City began a campaign to Freeze the Rent. The language and values of this campaign were adopted by then mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Now as acting mayor for five months, Mamdani has yet to fully implement a rent freeze or meet other housing goals laid out by his coalition on the campaign trail.  But the roots of progress are beginning to show. Mamdani has replaced six out of nine seats on the city’s Rent Guidelines Board, which determines city policy on rent control and more. Housing affordability was a major part of Mamdani’s platform and the project of co-governing with his coalitions to deliver on those goals is now under way. We host a panel of tenant organizers who have been a part of this work throughout the whole process and beyond. In today’s episode we’ll explore how “freeze the rent” was part of the narrative infrastructure for Mamdani’s win, and how it has become a center of gravity for developing the practice of movement-driven co-governance in New York. PANELISTS INCLUDE * Membership Coordinator of the New York State Tenant Block [https://tenantbloc.org], Lex Rountree * Communications Manager for CAAAV [https://caaav.org]: Organizing Asian Communities + CAAAV Voice, Irene Hsu * Co-Chair of the Freeze the Rent [https://www.nyc.gov/site/rentfreeze/index.page] campaign and Community Action for Safe Apartments [https://www.instagram.com/casabronx/?hl=en] Leader, Joanne Grell WANT MORE? * Submit [https://convergencemag.com/pitch/] your article proposals to Convergence * Enrich your media diet: Movement Media Alliance [https://movement-media.org/] * Contact us: mailbag@convergencemag.com [mailbag@convergencemag.com] * Subscribe to Convergence Magazine’s YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ConvergenceMag] to catch the video premiere of each episode: Mondays at 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT * Have we made a difference in your life? Help us keep it going. convergencemag.com/membership [http://convergencemag.com/membership]

The Attention Economy Navigator, May 2026 w/ Dr. Shan (Pop Smart Media)

This week we are building April's Attention Economy Navigator, our guide to what you should be paying more attention to, and what you can probably pay less attention to. And why those stories might not be what you’d assume. Joining to help build this month's Attention Economy Navigator in real time are cultural studies professor, writer, and founder of Pop Smart Media [https://www.instagram.com/popsmartmedia/], Dr. Shannon Mancus (AKA Dr. Shan). She also co-hosts Fool Me Once [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXhsAvuUOtU&list=PLzBOrcztiCRm-XTfgYC9wAiO-lt1FHVSM], a weekly livestream with Under the Desk News' V. Spehar, Mondays at 10:00 AM ET. We are also joined this week by Convergence's Managing Editor, Akin Olla. You can also read the article version on the Convergence website [https://convergencemag.com/articles/the-attention-economy-navigator-may-2026/], or watch the panel plot these stories in real time on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N3qvCbAgyY]. STORIES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE: * American showing at the 2026 Venice Biennale [https://hyperallergic.com/a-whole-lot-of-nothing-at-the-us-pavilion/] is simultaneously reactionary and boring. * Socialist Chris Rabb [https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/chris-rabb-progressive-win-democratic-party-20260520.html] wins House primary in Pennsylvania. * The San Diego mosque shooting [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/21/san-diego-mosque-shooting-violence] was carried out by extremely nihilistic teenagers bought into white nationalist ideas about race war. * Operation Epic Furious [https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/05/11/trump-iran-war-protest-game-mall-washington/], a satirical performance art in the form of a video game, showed up on playable arcade cabinets on the National Mall. * Trump earns protection for he and his family from IRS audits and a $1.8 billion slush fund to pay off loyalists [https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/18/politics/what-to-know-trump-weaponization-fund-for-allies] who claim to have been harmed by “lawfare”; potentially including now pardoned January 6 rioters. * Democrats can't stop trying to punish Hasan Piker [https://theintercept.com/2026/05/08/hasan-piker-cori-bush-wesley-bell-missouri-primary/], in spite of him using his platform to campaign...for Democrats. * Who’s paying creators [https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/05/california-governor-race-influencers/] in the California gubernatorial primary? WANT MORE? * Enrich your media diet: Movement Media Alliance [https://movement-media.org/] * Contact us: mailbag@convergencemag.com [mailbag@convergencemag.com] * Subscribe to Convergence Magazine's YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ConvergenceMag] to catch the video premiere of each episode: Mondays at 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT * Have we made a difference in your life? Help us keep it going. convergencemag.com/membership [https://convergencemag.com/membership]

(Kind) Gamers, Rise Up w/ New Save Collective

Last fall a group of gamers joined up [https://kotaku.com/fortnite-gta-5-roleplay-ice-raid-new-save-collective-2000646967] for an event in the wildly popular online video game Fortnite. (If you’re not familiar, just ask your kids.) The purpose of the event was to train players on how to respond to real-life encounters with ICE agents, followed by role-playing encounters within the safety of the game world. This is just one of the many ways the group known as New Save Collective is organizing players and events in an attempt to create a kinder, more progressive environment for the more than 60% of people in the US who regularly play video games (as well as gamers beyond US borders). New Save Collective organizes events like these as well as supportive ways for progressive-minded gamers to find each other and play together on their Discord server, which includes over 800 members. While not perfect, Discord is a powerful social app, popular among gamers. It is rapidly growing as an online organizing tool because it allows communities to moderate and curate both their members and the content members engage with. Think of it a bit like Slack for gamers and hobbyists. We're joined this episode by New Save Collective’s founder, Sijal Nasralla, as well as one of its Discord moderators, known by her screen name Magick Mayhem. They talk about how and why they are building this digital organizing space centered around gaming. They also discuss why the mission of their work is centered around creating a culture of kindness in gaming. Connect with New Save Collective * Discord [https://discord.com/invite/uFMPFtaGA2?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnqDye7iWFo8Y7Z57FFjSu-NyYg__BumaV8ivEZ2VGbssntyJn_YixZ7TWanE_aem_28pz1sQXzZfd3eIKPN9bfw] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/newsavecollective/] * kindgamers.com [https://kindgamers.com] WANT MORE? * Submit [https://convergencemag.com/pitch/] your article proposals to Convergence * Enrich your media diet: Movement Media Alliance [https://movement-media.org/] * Contact us: mailbag@convergencemag.com [mailbag@convergencemag.com] * Subscribe to Convergence Magazine’s YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ConvergenceMag] to catch the video premiere of each episode: Mondays at 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT * Have we made a difference in your life? Help us keep it going. convergencemag.com/membership [http://convergencemag.com/membership]

Meet the Elbaum Resident Writers w/ Delaney Vandergrift and Whitney Washington

Last fall, Managing Editor Akin Olla began piloting a concept for how Convergence can grow as a space which can develop the voice of organizers trying to communicate big strategic ideas. The result was the Max Elbaum Resident Writers Program (named after our longtime board chair). We received an amazing batch of applications from over 60 organizers from all over the country and chose two to join us for the next 12 months to work on honing their craft as writers and refining their ideas about movement strategy. Each resident writer has a big question they will be exploring across multiple articles they’ll be publishing with us over the coming months. I’m excited to introduce the 2026 Elbaum Resident Writers: Delaney Vandergrift and Whitney Washington. In this episode, both join in back-to-back interviews to discuss what their organizing background and more details about what they'll be publishing with Convergence this year. WANT MORE? * Submit [https://convergencemag.com/pitch/] your article proposals to Convergence * Enrich your media diet: Movement Media Alliance [https://movement-media.org/] * Contact us: mailbag@convergencemag.com [mailbag@convergencemag.com] * Subscribe to Convergence Magazine’s YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ConvergenceMag] to catch the video premiere of each episode: Mondays at 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT * Have we made a difference in your life? Help us keep it going. convergencemag.com/membership [http://convergencemag.com/membership]

#100 – Once More, With Feeling!

This is our 100th episode of Block & Build! We wanted to do something unique to mark this milestone. We jokingly discussed doing a musical episode. While we don’t have the time or the money to write 55 minutes of original songs about the Supreme Court gutting the Voting Rights Act once and for all and what we’re going to do about it, we thought we’d take some time to share some of our favorite movement music with you. In this episode Convergence Managing Editor Akin Olla and Senior Multimedia Producer Josh Elstro join to discuss some of our favorite movement music. They also delve into the broader state of movement music and counterculture as they see it in the big tech streaming landscape. SONGS AND ARTISTS DISCUSSED (IN ORDER) Every song discussed, along with other favorites from the Convergence team, are available to listen to as a YouTube playlist [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&si=nLJSYyBNniBtgW1Y] we've built for listeners. * Dead Prez - Let's Get Free [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSWwWdAw-h8&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY] * Dillinger Four - Like Sprewells on a Wheelchair [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb_o6M9_Hdw&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=2] * Phil Ochs - Love Me, I'm a Liberal [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cdqQ2BdgOA&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY] * Dmitri Shostakovich [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQQlw0P3dgE&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=4] * Le Tigre [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHOZwyNilZs&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=5] * Bikini Kill [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0oeqAQ1qE8&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=6] * Miley Cyrus - Party in the USA [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M11SvDtPBhA&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=7] * Vince Staples - Blackberry Marmalade [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdcD99Pd0oo&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=8] * Which Side Are You On? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsNVzwuJeVk&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=9] * Propagandhi - Night Letters [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoSWoNL5Z_c&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=10] * Leftöver Crack - Born to Die [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff8roEaB6os&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=11] * Eminem - Square Dance [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JX8j3vwrIA&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=12] * Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Minneapolis [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDaPdpwA4Iw&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=13] * Massive Attack / Tom Waits - Boots on the Ground [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-57FrioeuE&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=14] * Anohni - 4 Degrees [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB7YMAFPeow&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY] * Run the Jewels - Lie, Cheat, Steal [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEOximWoFd0&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=16] * Dead Prez - Happiness [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFRk_cQIq2k&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=17] * Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEBlaMOmKV4&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=18] * Hurray for the Riff Raff - Pa'lante [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LilVDjLaZSE&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=19] * Carsie Blanton - After the Revolution [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbLFiWy-Vgc&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=20] * Santigold - Ushers of the New World [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMTej8wtvvY&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY] * Kendrick Lamar - Alright [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=22] * Childish Gambino - Feels Like Summer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1B9Fk_SgI0&list=PLYq44-0Y9L5uh5zTNvORobkrZwlQpeEnY&index=23] WANT MORE? * More Songs of Resistance [https://antiauthoritarianplaybook.substack.com/p/songs-of-resistance] from our friend Scot Nakagawa (22nd Century Initiative) * Enrich your media diet: Movement Media Alliance [https://movement-media.org/] * Contact us: mailbag@convergencemag.com [mailbag@convergencemag.com] * Subscribe to Convergence Magazine’s YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ConvergenceMag] to catch the video premiere of each episode: Mondays at 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT * Have we made a difference in your life? Help us keep it going. convergencemag.com/membership [http://convergencemag.com/membership]