Behind the Bastards Behind the Bastards

It Could Happen Here Weekly 256

Oct 31, 2026 · 3h 22m

Summary

This compilation episode features a detailed analysis of the upcoming Israeli elections, highlighting how the contest between right-wing factions impacts Palestinian citizens, West Bank residents, and Gaza. The segment also covers the IWW’s internal union elections, with guests discussing the organization’s industrial union model, workplace democracy, and recent organizing successes in cities like Portland and Washington D.C.

Topics discussed

Introduction to the compilation episode Palestinian crisis and Israeli right-wing politics Profiles of Eisenkot and Bennett in coalition talks Legal disqualification of Abu Shadr and Palestinian voting Debate on legitimacy of participating in Israeli system Coalition math and scenarios for government formation Settler violence and the symbiotic state-settler dynamic Closing remarks on Jewish and democratic state IWW structure: industrial unionism explained IWW democracy: shop floor autonomy and elections Worker representation and contract negotiation issues Union officer roles and the importance of volunteerism Building worker power beyond immediate demands Historical origins of IWW structure and anarchist theory Goals for membership growth and participation Regional needs: material support vs. publicity Confidential campaigns and the secrecy of organizing Tensions between local branches and National HQ Personal motivation for running in Portland branch Restoring respect for dues-paying members Brief segment on danger and safety GEB role in supporting campaigns and branch formation Critique of GEB legalism and overreach Regional administration failing to carry out member will Personal goals for cultural change on the GEB Modeling change at the national level Budget cuts and fiscal security vs. committee needs Austerity, member downturn, and funding issues Highlighting write-in candidates for the GEB Promo for 'Out of Character' podcast Chupacabra: fake creature and colonial boogeyman Physical descriptions and early sightings in Puerto Rico Link to coyotes and the Tolentino encounter Media coverage and the El Nuevo Dia front page Mass hysteria and the role of bad journalism Vampiro de Moca and separate creature narratives Government inaction and the Dracula Plan Agent Orange testing in Puerto Rico Historical medical experiments and Cornelius Rhodes Operation Bootstrap and rural-to-urban fragmentation Drought, livelihoods, and government off-the-hook Chupacabra as protector in modern folklore Promo for 'It Could Happen Here' podcast Introduction to grave diggers and labor history Physical toll and romanticization of grave digging 1930s strike and Dorothy Day's involvement West Coast strikes in the 80s and 90s Philadelphia municipal worker strike context Cook County morgue scandal and work environment 1960s embalmers and undertakers strike Coffin workers' leverage and strike impact Tribune coverage and the cost of living Executive Disorder: Week of Oct 21-28 intro Iraqi court sentences French ISIS members Ukraine conscripts and Epstein report Brazil election: Lula vs. Flavio dynamics Loser goes to prison: Lula and Flavio cases Yanone's political background and strategy Reverse SEO strategy and mass online action Viral search terms and campaign tactics Flavio's flight and Marco Rubio's role Chamberlain message and Monroe Doctrine US intervention risks and CIA recruitment DOJ voter list filing and state review failure DOJ intimidation letters to CA counties Federal crime of processing non-citizen ballots James O'Keefe's illegal voting stunt in Hennepin O'Keefe clip: vouching for Muslims at polling booth Reactions to O'Keefe's racist costume and stunt Poll workers realizing the scam in real-time Doppelganger phenomenon and AI deepfakes AI ads in low-budget political campaigns Analysis of a chaotic AI-generated political ad Fake quotes in King James Bible ads AI Lego animations and adult sitcom riffs Confused layers of AI political criticism Manipulated media: pride flag added to Agar footage Types of AI political ads: demonstrative vs. descriptive Throuple ad: Massey, AOC, and Ilhan Omar Negative effects of AI ads on candidate support Albania: cost of living and public anger Sali Berisha's legacy and pyramid schemes Privatization, corruption, and mass emigration Flamingo protests: spark and fuel of the movement Government crackdown and police violence Current status of the Albanian protests Outro and Cool Zone Media credits
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