We're joined by two leaders of last night's 30+ activists and constituents who successfully shut down a 92nd Street Y event featuring Congressmen Ritchie Torres of the Bronx and Mike Lawler of Westchester, demanding a permanent ceasefire, an end to US support for Israeli war crimes, and a Free Palestine.

Protesters staged various interruptions, including chants of “blood on your hands,” “genocide is not peace,” and “free Palestine,” throughout the event. The venue’s security staff forcibly ejected the protesters and, in some cases, tried to wrest away their banners and signs. At least one protester was pushed down the stairs by security, and many others were roughly grabbed and shoved. 

Constituents of NY-15 and NY-17 voiced frustration with their representatives for abandoning community members and ignoring their needs while tirelessly promoting bipartisan efforts to continue the Israeli occupation of Palestine. 

Rep. Torres has been called “Israel’s loudest House supporter.” In 2022, Torres received $141K in funding from AIPAC. He serves the poorest Congressional District in the U.S., but in public statements made since taking office in 2021, he mentions Israel 236% more than he mentions poverty. 

“As a constituent in one of the poorer sections of District 15, I denounce Rep. Ritchie Torres for ignoring the needs of those most underserved while serving the capitalist class objectives of greed and genocide. The Bronx does not support genocide and we call on this government to force the Israel settler-colonial state to cease its attacks on Occupied Palestine now.” 
— Foxy Jazzabelle, NY-17 Constituent

Thursday’s disruption came a week after the U.S. House of Representatives passed  Ritchie Torres and Mike Lawler’s bill to create a new “special envoy” for the Abraham Accords. The Abraham Accords, introduced by the Trump administration in 2020, have been widely criticized for offering a one-sided peace plan: Israel gains new recognition by Arab states like the UAE, while Palestinians gain no hope of statehood.

Rep. Lawler has repeatedly denounced calls for a ceasefire, emphasizing Israel’s “right to defend itself” and “the right of the Jewish people to live peacefully” on what he calls “their native land.” Lawler’s Congressional district has one of the highest populations of Jewish people in the U.S. and outside of Israel. Yet six weeks ago, he endorsed a Rockland County legislator, James Foley, who has a documented history of antisemitism. 

“As a Jewish constituent of Rep. Mike Lawler, it is appalling to watch him defend a genocide under the guise of Jewish safety and survival.”
 – Ilana Zaken, NY-15 Constituent

The 92NY, which hosted the disrupted event, made headlines in October for canceling a talk by the professor and novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen because he signed a letter calling for a ceasefire and an end to the occupation. A public outcry ensued, and 92NY halted their remaining literary events for the season.

“I have watched 92NY time and time again suppress important voices that have extended support for the Palestinian struggle. This type of McCarthyism has no place at a beloved New York cultural institution.” 
– Jason Rosenberg, former employee of 92NY’s Bronfman Center for Jewish Life 

The grassroots coalition of Jews and constituents of NY-15 and NY-17 who disrupted Thursday’s event share a commitment to freedom for all people. Jewish values are not to be weaponized and our spaces are not to be compromised. New Yorkers deserve and demand better from our elected officials and our historic institutions.

Shutting Down 92nd St Y for Gaza

Celeste and Jeff ring out 2023 with a look back at some of their most compelling interviews of the year. Original air date: December 28, 2023.

Driving Forces 12282023 Year In Radio Retrospective

Jeff and Celeste catch up with NYC Councilmember and former Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, plus your calls. Original FM airdate: January 4, 2024.

Driving Forces 01042024 Gale Brewer And More

Celeste Katz Marston and Jeff Simmons discuss long Covid with political reporter and long Covid patient Erin Durkin and Betsy Ladyzhets, co-founder of the investigative news site The Sick Times. Original FM air date: January 18, 2024.

Driving Forces 01182024 Long Covid, Seriously

Jeff and Celeste speak with New York Rep. Dan Goldman, plus your calls. Original FM air date: January 25, 2024.

Driving Forces 01252024 Congressman Dan Goldman

Comedian Matt Lieb joins hosts Shoshana Brown and Rafael Shimunov to discuss his new podcast, Bad Hasbara. The comedy podcast examining and ridiculing the failures of Israeli and US propaganda tactics during attacks on Palestinians in Gaza.

We end the show with a clip from Palestinian comedian Sammy Obeid.

Bad Hasbara with Comedian Matt Lieb

Celeste and Jeff look at ongoing labor issues at the New York Daily News -- and beyond -- with special guests Claudia Irizarry Aponte of THE CITY NY and Michael Sheridan of the NYDN Union. Original FM air date: February 1, 2024.

Driving Forces 02012024 Daily News Blues

The City of Chicago just became the biggest city in the US to demand #CeasefireNOW in Gaza. We're joined by Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez, Alderman of Thirty-third Ward for Chicago's City Council and the lead co-sponsor of Chicago's Ceasefire Bill aka the “Uniting for Peace” resolution. We're also joined by Chicago journalist, activist and Executive Editor at Chicago's In These Times magazine Ari Bloomekatz to help us learn about this victory, the multifaith, multi racial, teacher, labor, and student coalition who won this victory.

Shoshana Brown and Rafael Shimunov also touch on the How Many Stops Act in New York, and the veto attempt by Mayor Eric Adams that failed.

Alderwoman Rossana Rodríguez who has been winning battles for schools and affordable housing in the 33rd Ward of Chicago. She has championed Treatment Not Trauma (a model to respond to mental health crises with clinicians instead of cops). Rossana has secured funding for violence interrupters. Protection of abortion, gender affirming care, codifying Chicago as a sanctuary city for immigrants, and stands out as an independent voice in the city council. In fact, the sole no vote after Oct 7 when Chicago decided to voice support for Israel with no strings attached, and no solution for Palestinians.

Rossana is a mother, youth educator, and lifelong community activist. She is currently completing her Masters in Social Work from Northeastern Illinois University. Originally from Puerto Rico, she attended her first demonstration at the age of six, when her neighborhood of Mariana waged a successful battle for public access to drinking water.

Ari Bloomekatz is the Executive Editor at In These Times magazine. In These Times is dedicated to informing social, economic, and political movements for justice and a more humane world. Ari was previously the Managing Editor of Tikkun and Rethinking Schools magazines and spent several years as a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. He is the board president of the podcast Unsettled, and he is also actively organizing with progressive Jewish groups for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the occupation and system of apartheid in Palestine/Israel.

Chicago's Ceasefire Victory

Jeff and Celeste discuss renewal of mayoral control of NYC schools with Chancellor David Banks, followed by a talk with New York Solidarity Network Executive Director Sara Forman. Original FM air date: February 8, 2024.

Driving Forces 02082024 Chancellor Banks And NY Solidarity Network

Celeste and Jeff discuss the HUGE corruption bust at NYCHA with investigative reporter Greg B. Smith of the nonprofit newsroom THE CITY... plus your calls. Original air date: February 15, 2024.

Driving Forces 02152024 NYCHA Corruption

Jeff and Celeste discuss aging in New York with City Councilmember Crystal Hudson and AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel, plus your calls. Original air date: February 22, 2024.

Driving Forces 02222024 Aging In New York

Reform Jews are the largest Jewish denomination in the US, and the URJ (Union of Reform Judaism) is at its helm. Members and alumni of the URJ are organizing to push it to finally join the majority of American Jews who oppose Israel's attacks on Gaza, which the International Court calls genocide. We're joined by Elise Glaser and Sam Panken, who are demanding URJ and its leader Richard Jacobs, use their relationships with Joe Biden, the White House and others in power to push for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Elise Glaser is an anti-Zionist Jewish activist. Growing up as a Reform Jew, she attended a URJ temple, URJ camps, held a leadership position in the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY-NW) the youth group of the URJ, and interned at The URJ Religious Action Center (The RAC) in Washington, DC, which serves as the URJ's lobbying arm.

Sam Panken is a Reform rabbi’s kid committed to a radical vision of post-institutional Jewish life. Sam’s father, Rabbi Aaron Panken, was president of Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion until his death in 2018. Sam attended URJ Eisner Camp and the URJ’s high school in Israel program. Sam’s engagement with the URJ since October 7th serves to put pressure on the institution to adhere to the values they teach—the values that Sam grew up with. When they’re not busy figuring out how to be a Jew in 2024, Sam is a pastured poultry farmer and horticulturist in the Hudson Valley.
Sam’s upbringing in the heart of the Reform movement informs their dedication to a just future for all, one that includes a free Palestine. 

We also speak about two legislations proposed in New York, one which would criminalize protests on roads as terrorism, and another that would criminalize disrupting any meeting with protests as a felony with one year in prison.

The "Dialog and Decorum Act" A8334, which is introduced by conservative NY Assembly member Sam Berger and co-sponsored by Democrats who call themselves progressive: Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Catalina Cruz, Nily Rozic and others.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/A8334

And A08951, which attempts to criminalize blocking "a street, avenue, road, alley, lane, highway, boulevard, concourse, park- way, driveway, culvert, sidewalk, crosswalk, boardwalk and viaduct, and every class of public road, square and place" in non violent protest a terrorist act.

https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?default_fld=&leg_video=&bn=A08951&term=2023&Summary=Y

Please keep our show and WBAI going by becoming a buddy of the show at https://wbai.allyrafundraising.com/

Will Reform Judaism Say Ceasefire?

We're joined by Talia Jane, the independent journalist who broke the whole story around Aaron Bushnell, army veteran Brittney DeBarros and for the second half of the show we’re joined by Pam Campos-Palma, veteran Air Force intelligence analyst (like Aaron was).

We opened the show with a song from artist Trishes called We Watched The Game, you can find that on TikTok and Soundcloud at @ trishesmusic. 

We also played audio from Wednesday’s vigil for Aaron Bushnell in Portland, where veterans with About Face: Veterans Against War lined up to burn some of their uniforms and medals to honor Aaron. Aaron Bushnell, who this week, walked towards the Israeli embassy in DC, in his US Air Force uniform, and said he refused to be complicit in US backed genocide in Gaza as he doused himself in flammable liquid, and set himself on fire. His last words were Free Palestine, which he repeated until he could no longer speak. Also a content warning, we end today’s show with the full, unedited audio that he live streamed.

Talia Jane is an independent reporter and videojournalist who reports via Twitter @ taliaotg, covering social movements and protests as well as researching far-right propaganda and extremism. Jane’s work has appeared on CBS, ABC, NBC, New York Times, WNYC/Gothamist, and a slew of other outlets, with writing published in Vice, Teen Vogue, Hell Gate, It’s Going Down, and more.

Brittany is a Queer, Afro-Latina Combat Veteran and organizer who risked military prison to speak out against the wars and war profiteering while she was a Captain in the Army. She’s formerly served as a national organizer for the Poor People’s Campaign and About Face: Veterans Against the War and has served on the Advisory Team for Dissenters for the last several years. She also recently ran for Congress in Staten Island and South Brooklyn on a platform that unapologetically centered the needs of working class people and marginalized communities.

Pamela Campos-Palma. Pamela is a political strategist and human rights defender who, like Aaron,  enlisted in the Air Force as an active duty Intelligence Analyst in 2006. In 2010 Pam successfully organized 18 of her peers against fraud, waste, abuse & discrimination and has spent the past decade+ advancing structural & cultural change within the military veteran community at large as well as serving as a leading figure in the movement to end military sexual violence, injustice, and impunity within the Department of Defense.

https://aboutfaceveterans.org/

Troop & Veteran Support and Report Form
https://form.jotform.com/203016322583042

https://girightshotline.org/
MILITARY DISCHARGES AND MILITARY COUNSELING
CALL 1-877-447-4487

https://taliajane.com/

https://www.jfrej.org/

Veterans Reflect on Aaron Bushnell

Celeste and Jeff discuss the promise and perils of local news with Dan Kennedy, co-author with Ellen Clegg of the new book, "What Works in Community News," and then Nic Dawes, executive director of THE CITY NY. Original FM air date: March 7, 2024.

Driving Forces 03072024 Local News on the Line

Celeste and Jeff catch up with veteran journalist and political commentator Gerson Borrero, plus your calls. Original FM air date: March 21, 2024.

Driving Forces 03212024 Gerson Borrero Breaks It All Down

Jeff and Celeste talk with MTA Chair/CEO Janno Lieber about congestion pricing, subway crime and more, plus your calls. Original FM air date: March 28, 2024.

Driving Forces 03282024 Catching Up With MTA's Janno Lieber

In Episode 221 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg continues the Spring ritual from his old WBAI program, the Moorish Orthodox Radio Crusade (which he lost due to his political dissent), of reading the George Orwell essay "Some Thoughts on the Common Toad"—which brilliantly predicted ecological politics when it was published way back in April 1946. The Social Ecology of Murray Bookchin today informs a radical response to the global climate crisis, emphasizing self-organized action at the local and municipal levels as world leaders dither, proffer techno-fix solutions, or consciously obstruct progress.

Listen on SoundCloud or via Patreon.

https://www.patreon.com/countervortex

Production by Chris Rywalt

We ask listeners to donate just $1 per weekly podcast via Patreon -- or $2 for our new special offer! We now have 60 subscribers. If you appreciate our work, please become Number 61!

CounterVortex Podcast

Further thoughts on the common toad

Jeff and Celeste speak with Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), plus your calls. Original FM air date: April 18, 2024.

Driving Forces 04182024 Rep. Gregory Meeks And More

In the show's FINAL episode, Celeste and Jeff speak with Jonthan Vigliotti, author of "Before It's Gone: Stories from the Front Lines of Climate Change in Small-Town America," plus your calls. Original FM air date: April 25, 2024. Thanks for listening!

Driving Forces 04252024 See You On The Radio!

Host of Beyond The Pale on WBAI 99.5 FM New York

Support my work on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/countervortex

Politics. Policy. The truth matters. Celeste Katz Marston and Jeff Simmons tackle the biggest and best stories on "Driving Forces." WBAI 99.5 FM New York and worldwide at WBAI.org. @CelesteKatzNYC and @JackHites on Twitter.

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