Real Sankara Hours

RSH 11 Coronavirus stimulus bill is a Wall Street slush fund -- (3.31.2020)

Recorded on March 26, 2020. Adam and Peter break down the coronavirus stimulus bill and how it's a massive slush fund for Wall Street and Corporate America. They explain why the capitalist market system is flawed. 

(fact check: turns out Senator Michael Bennet deserves credit for the unemployment insurance expansion in the bill, not Bernie Sanders https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/3/bennet-unveils-sweeping-proposal-to-strengthen-unemployment-insurance-amidst-coronavirus-pandemic?mod=article_inline ) 

What's in this massive $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/25/trump-senate-coronavirus-economic-stimulus-2-trillion/ ; Biden doesn't want to fight Trump on coronavirus: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/489231-biden-i-dont-want-to-be-in-a-political-fight-with-trump-over-coronavirus; Bay Area's shelter-in-place policy: https://eastcountytoday.net/bay-area-counties-to-issue-shelter-in-place-directive-through-april-7-v2/; Boo-hoo, America loses 500,000 millionaires as a result of the pandemic: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-loses-500-000-millionaires-152034654.html ; the U.S. has the higher number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world now: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/health/usa-coronavirus-cases.html ; the Fed's quantitative easing: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/23/fed-announces-a-slew-of-new-programs-to-help-markets-including-open-ended-asset-purchases.html ;  https://www.vox.com/2020/3/23/21190712/federal-reserve-unlimited-quantitative-easing-coronavirus ; https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/03/what-is-the-fed-is-doing-to-address-coronavirus-crisis.html; Ireland nationalizes hospitals: https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/26/ireland-nationalizes-hospitals-duration-coronavirus ; David Dayen's piece on the stimulus/bailout: https://prospect.org/coronavirus/unsanitized-bailouts-tradition-unlike-any-other/ Zach Carter's piece on the stimulus bailout: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/senate-democrats-donald-trump-coronavirus-bill_n_5e7b77a6c5b62a1870d62d83?5b (The Rising interviews Dayen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UVqWxAOXaE); Dylan Ratigan explains how bad the bill is on Jimmy Dore's show: https://youtu.be/4NgOQn4Asa0 ; https://youtu.be/D-7uro3A3qU ); how mortgage delinquencies could hurt servicers: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/23/coronavirus-us-potential-wave-of-mortgage-delinquencies-could-bankrupt-payment-system.html 

San Francisco supervisors push for rent and mortgage freeze: https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/A-rent-and-mortgage-moratorium-can-stop-the-next-15157819.php ; the U.S. could see 30% unemployment: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-22/fed-s-bullard-says-u-s-jobless-rate-may-soar-to-30-in-2q ; Bay Area's coronavirus test site: https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Bay-Area-site-for-coronavirus-test-without-15152209.php ; tubercolusis vaccine may work against coronavirus: https://neurosciencenews.com/covid-19-bcg-vmp1002-vaccine-15966/?fbclid=IwAR31sZM0u4Bc6FaLes3jn6RaFrlPBSTn_mamIa-ry2ypGFsuLkDV9vz54xM ; people "shed" coronavirus early: https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/09/people-shed-high-levels-of-coronavirus-study-finds-but-most-are-likely-not-infectious-after-recovery-begins/?fbclid=IwAR0e4PJAQmBqm-fWbEs7lAF9CFkANI3OIKkMzSFXkpqa_OKyTikqBR2Sey8; U.S. fired CDC expert in China months before pandemic: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cdc-exclusiv-idUSKBN21910S; most Americans support Trump's handling of pandemic: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/20/poll-majority-of-americans-now-approve-of-trumps-coronavirus-management-138570; New York City landlord worth $1 billion jacks up rent 25 percent: https://gothamist.com/news/landlord-worth-1-billion-exploits-coronavirus-panic-jack-rent-25-percent; Americans expect recession: https://news.gallup.com/poll/304604/americans-increasingly-expect-economic-recession.aspx 

A bunch of Senators sold their stocks before coronavirus tanked the stock market: https://www.axios.com/richard-burr-coronavirus-stock-7bd10426-de87-43d7-9939-8241d2ab08db.html ; https://time.com/5807075/senators-sold-stock-coronavirus/ ; January and February intelligence reports warned of a likely pandemic: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/us-intelligence-reports-from-january-and-february-warned-about-a-likely-pandemic/2020/03/20/299d8cda-6ad5-11ea-b5f1-a5a804158597_story.html 

 

 

RSH 009 -- Discontents of COVID-19 and Neoliberalism (3.21.2020)

Recorded on March 19, 2020, Adam and Peter talk about COVID-19/coronavirus and how it reveals the shaky foundation of neoliberal capitalism. 

Links discussed and worth reading: 

History of 1665 bubonic plague and how social distancing helped: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/15/eyam-derbyshire-coronavirus-self-isolate-1665-plague ; "We Need Social Solidarity, Not Just Social Distancing" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/opinion/coronavirus-social-distancing.html ; https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-cancel-everything/607675/ ; https://twitter.com/FMH71994/status/1238378851094474752; Why social distancing this week is so important: https://www.businessinsider.com/us-one-week-enforce-social-distancing-flatten-curve-coronavirus-2020-3 ; https://twitter.com/tina_nguyen/status/1238879814863519744 testimony from woman who recovered from coronavirus: https://www.yahoo.com/news/dont-panic-says-us-woman-recovered-coronavirus-055155667.html ; https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-ten-reasons-why-you-ought-not-to-panic-132941 ; https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-what-does-social-distancing-mean/607927/ ; Canadian researchers isolate coronavirus virus: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/03/12/sunnybrook-researchers-isolate-covid-19-coronavirus.html ; Not sure if warmer weather will slow down coronavirus spread: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/warmer-weather-slow-spread-coronavirus-200310050819610.html Vietnam beating back coronavirus: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/infected-patients-vietnam-cured-coronavirus-miracle-200228035007608.html; how China beat back COVID-19: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/health/coronavirus-china-aylward.html ; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/14/coronavirus-facts-cure-mortality-rate-virus-covid-19-flu ; https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/11/positive-signs-for-future-of-coronavirus-in-us/ China developing a coronavirus vaccine: https://nypost.com/2020/03/10/coronavirus-vaccine-could-be-ready-by-april-chinese-officials-say/ ; Stanford developed a coronavirus test: http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/03/stanford-medicine-COVID-19-test-now-in-use.html ; https://twitter.com/binraccooon/status/1238228742624948224; Drive-through COVID-19 testing in South Korea: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/03/13/815441078/south-koreas-drive-through-testing-for-coronavirus-is-fast-and-free ; https://medium.com/@ariadnelabs/social-distancing-this-is-not-a-snow-day-ac21d7fa78b4 ; Trump's management is to blame for coronavirus crisis in the United States: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/07/trump-coronavirus-management-style-123465 ; re-infection seem to stem from faulty tests: https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/487436-can-you-get-coronavirus-twice ; https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca ; Spain nationalizes hospitals https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-spain-nationalises-private-hospitals-emergency-covid-19-lockdown-2020-3; Japan's effective flu drug: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/18/japanese-flu-drug-clearly-effective-in-treating-coronavirus-says-china; Cuba producing treatments for COVID-19: https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/BioCubaFarma-Guarantees-Production-of-Drugs-for-COVID-19-20200315-0008.html ; https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/despite-u-s-blockade-cuban-pharma-industry-producing-needed-covid-19-medicines/ ; 99% people who died of COVID-19 had other illnesses: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-18/99-of-those-who-died-from-virus-had-other-illness-italy-says ; at least 20 COVID-19 vaccines are in development: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/20/who-officials-say-at-least-20-coronavirus-vaccines-are-in-development-in-global-race-for-cure.html ; COVID-19 vaccine test already underway in the U.S.: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-16/coronavirus-vaccine-test-opens-as-us-volunteer-gets-1st-shot ; some scientists question the bats-in-Chinese-wet-markets origin theory of COVID-19; some say it's human activity: https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-human-actions-intl/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0xWmdp833lcNqdBTrT6mV_034C8-6oOV49ledF5JSxOY1G1iDYFyh7zS8, or it could be a combination of two viruses: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/coronavirus-origins-genome-analysis-covid19-data-science-bats-pangolins ; China's (unconfirmed) allegation of U.S. origin: https://asiatimes.com/2020/03/china-locked-in-hybrid-war-with-us/ ; lockdown is hurting live entertainment: https://brokeassstuart.com/2020/03/10/coronavirus-cancellations-financially-devastating-for-sf-performers-and-nightlife/; Senate Republican leadership is pushing through a mass surveillance reauthorization bill: https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/03/16/senate-leadership-pushing-through-dangerous-surveillance-bill-americans-are-focused; Hong Kong doctors (Adam said doctors in China but they're actually in Hong Kong) say COVID-19 can hurt lung function after recovery: https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-recovery-damage-lung-function-gasping-air-hong-kong-doctors-2020-3; good article on how the COVID-19 pandemic reveals the need for a new economic system: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/economy/2020/03/coronavirus-crisis-economic-collapse-capitalism; how Big Pharma will profit from COVID-19: https://theintercept.com/2020/03/13/big-pharma-drug-pricing-coronavirus-profits/    

And yes, a Black man helped created Jack Daniels whiskey: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/dining/jack-daniels-whiskey-nearis-green-slave.html   

Follow us on Twitter: 

Adam Hudson - @adamhudson5 

Peter MGunn - @MGunnPeter 

Real Sankara Hours - @sankarahours 

This is a free episode. If you like what you hear, become a Patron so you can get bonus content, i.e., our Real Sankara After Hours episodes. 

RSH 007 -- The Life and Legacy of Tupac Shakur (3.16.2020)

Recorded on March 11, 2020, Adam and Peter discuss the cultural legacy and impact of rapper Tupac Shakur. 

Links discussed: 

The full DJ Vlad interview with Ayanna Jackson, the woman who accused Tupac Shakur of sexual assault https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CVBOv9O1GA 

 

Follow us on Twitter: 

Adam Hudson - @adamhudson5 

Peter MGunn - @MGunnPeter 

Real Sankara Hours - @sankarahours 

This is a free episode. If you like what you hear, become a Patron so you can get bonus content, i.e., our Real Sankara After Hours episodes.    

 

005 -- Post-Super-Tuesday Postmortem

Recorded the Thursday (March 5) after Super Tuesday, Adam and Peter give an analysis of Super Tuesday, the likelihood of a brokered convention, the need for an alternative political party and vision, white liberal paternalism and white fragility, and the class divides among progressives. 

Here are some links on Warren's appeal to mostly professional managerial class people: https://www.vox.com/2020/3/3/21162527/what-happened-to-elizabeth-warren; https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020/3/10/21169166/elizabeth-warren-working-class-women 

Follow us on Twitter: 

Adam Hudson - @adamhudson5 

Peter MGunn - @MGunnPeter 

Real Sankara Hours - @sankarahours 

This is a free episode. If you like what you hear, become a Patron so you can get bonus content, i.e., our Real Sankara After Hours episodes.   

003 -- South Carolina, Democratic Party afraid of Sanders, the real Thomas Sankara (3.2.20)

*Note*: This episode was recorded two days before Joe Biden won the South Carolina primary. 

Peter gives a breakdown of South Carolina. Adam discusses how the Democratic Party establishment is willing to risk party damage, and potentially another four years of Donald Trump, in order to stop Bernie Sanders from winning the nomination. The guys give a brief breakdown about the life and importance of Thomas Sankara. 

001 -- Old Testament Racial Justice (2.22.20)

Our first episode of Real Sankara Hours. Co-hosts Adam Hudson and Peter MGunn introduce themselves, their political evolutions, and critique a racial justice scorecard that reveals the limitations of liberalism to achieve Black liberation.