Name: Dec. 2, 2025: Brandon West Talks About New Council Speaker Julie Menin & The Power She Will Wield by The Indypendent
Duration: 18 min 47 s
Description: Following right-wing Democrat Julie Menin’s victory in the race for City Council Speaker, we spoke with Brandon West, a former member of the City Council’s central staff, about how Menin and her supporters outmaneuvered progressives, the powers she will wield as speaker and how she might try to obstruct Zohran Mamdani when he is mayor.

Maqueta de Maio de Sal, enregistrada al juliol del 2013 a Senglar Studios.

MAIO DE SAL - Guia

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been sending the asylum seekers to “sanctuary cities” Washington, DC, and NYC for months — without sufficient food, water and medical assistance, say those that are supporting the migrants as they arrive. Since Friday, two buses carrying asylum seekers have arrived from Texas, with a total of 68 passengers. 4,000 immigrants have come from Texas in the last few months.

We are joined by Adriana Phillips, founder of South Bronx Mutual Aid and a member of the NYC ICE watch network. She has been on-the-ground, greeting buses as they arrive from Texas.

Advocates Say that Migrants Arriving from Texas are not Coming to NYC Willingly

Following right-wing Democrat Julie Menin’s victory in the race for City Council Speaker, we spoke with Brandon West, a former member of the City Council’s central staff, about how Menin and her supporters outmaneuvered progressives, the powers she will wield as speaker and how she might try to obstruct Zohran Mamdani when he is mayor. 

Dec. 2, 2025: Brandon West Talks About New Council Speaker Julie Menin & The Power She Will Wield

Lydia McMullen-Laird reads us her article about Veronika´s difficult situation getting her son Alexander out of jail and her experience having to ask for a bail bond.

To support this podcast and our publication, it´s as easy as visiting our Patreon page and becoming a monthly subscriber. bit.ly/2xsDpRQ

To read Lydia's full article go to http://bit.ly/2oRwtuJ

Photo by Elia Gran

Indy Audio

The Bail Bond Blues by Lydia McMullen-Laird

For this episode of Indystructible, I hung out with Eli Smith, a musician, ethnomusicologist and founder of the Brooklyn Folk Festival. Now in its tenth year, the festival features hundreds of bands from all over the world. There are workshops, open jam sessions and a banjo throwing competition. It’s taking place this year at St. Annes Church from April 6th to the 9th. If you are listening in the New York area, I highly recommend you come down and check it out. You’ll find more details at brooklynfolkfest.com

In this interview Eli and I sat down at his home near the Jalopy Theater in Red Hook, Brooklyn. We discussed the rich history of folk music in New York City, America and the world and the importance of carrying the tradition forward, especially in this day and age.

Indystructible

Dorking Out Over Folk Music with Eli Smith

Highlights from the last episode of The Earth Wants YOU!
Barbara Robin Lee tells us her favourite place on Earth and the interview with Tim DeChristopher interview

Tim DeChristopher Interview Highlights

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The first episode of The Indypundit - the podcast of The Indypendent, New York's progressive print newspaper, hosted by Dean Patterson and executive editor John Tarleton. In this EP we discuss the takeover of East River Park, New York car culture and its cycling discontents, and the overdue firing of Daniel Pantaleo.

Opening track is Louis Prima's Just a Gigolo, closing is Joan Baez Guantanamara

The Indypundit- Episode 1: Panic at East River Park

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A mix of Conscious Reggae hits mixed by Assassin Singh of the Artiste Team and hosted by Loud N Bashy

"Build Ting Let The Birds Dem Sing"

Build Ting

Build Ting (April 25th 2020)

John Tarleton interviews Melania Brown, the sister of Layleeen Polanco, a trans woman who died in Solitary Confinement, about the movement to end solitary at Rikers Island.

Melania Brown Interviewed on WBAI by John Tarleton

The Indypendent News Hour airs Tuesdays 5–6 p.m. on WBAI-99.5 FM. Check out our archives to listen to past interviews with movement organizers, authors, elected officials and others fighting for justice in New York City and beyond.

Dec. 2, 2025: Brandon West Talks About New Council Speaker Julie Menin & The Power She Will Wield

The Indypendent

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