Cocktails & Capitalism

Target's Mass Surveillance Police Partnership: A Deep Dive with Marjaan Sirdar

Don’t miss this deep dive into Target's dystopian mass surveillance police partnership. I spoke with South Minneapolis activist and freelance journalist Marjaan Sirdar about his astounding findings after completing a 12-part investigative series titled 21st Century Jim Crow in the North Star City: How Target Corp., the City of Minneapolis, and Hennepin County Created a Domestic Spy Program that Rolled Back Civil Rights on its Black Population.We discuss Target’s high-tech forensics labs, its broad surveillance of anyone who even enters its stores or parking lots, and its partnership with law enforcement to surveil and police Black and homeless youth and adults around their stores. We also dive into Target's role in the wrongful conviction of 15-year-old Madhi Ali, who has already spent half his life in prison for a triple homicide he did not commit. LINKS:21st Century Jim Crow in the North Star City Madhi Ali's storyPeople Powered PodcastArticle on Madhi Ali’s CaseCALLS TO ACTION:-PROTECT YOUR DATA, AVOID TARGET AND DELETE TARGET APP-PUSH FOR EXPANDED DEMANDS FOR THE TARGET BOYCOTT:   -Divest from policing   -Divest from funding prosecutors & city attorneys   -Transparency regarding uses of customer data   -Divest from its massive surveillance apparatus   -Call for exoneration of Madhi Ali   -Expunge Downtown 100 + the geo-restriction lists-PUT PRESSURE ON TARGET TO MEET ABOVE DEMANDS-CONTACT HENNEPIN CO ATTORNEY’S OFFICE (612)348-5550 citizeninfo@hennepin.us Request review of cases Target has touched-PETITION: Target, stop funding police!-MADHI ALI PETITION-WRITE TO MADHI ALI, j-pay: OID #236437Support the showCocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world. https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalismFollow us on Instagram and TwitterSome episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!

Jenan Matari: Palestinian Roots & the Power of Social Media

I had the honor of speaking with award-winning Palestinian-American producer, content creator, and storyteller Jenan Matari back in June. Jenan has been harnessing the power of her voice and her social media platform to shine light on Palestine’s history and present reality amidst this genocide. We spoke about the ways that social media has been used for Palestine -- from combating propaganda to raising funds for evacuations to mobilizing students and protestors across the world.In Jenan's words, "Palestine is proof that when we connect with each other through applications like this, it can move the needle towards whatever world we’re working towards outside of colonialism and capitalism."We also touched on Jenan's Palestinian roots and her work to make PR affordable for minority owned and operated brands through ZAYTOUN Publicity. FOLLOW JENAN ON IG: @jenanmatari@jenan.matari  DONATE to Anas' campaign, Sun of Freedom, which is feeding orphaned & disabled folks in Gaza. (Anas is a wheelchair basketball player)The Free Palestine Cocktail100   ml Watermelon Juice30     ml Lime Juice15     ml Simple Syrup (1:1 ratio) to tasteSmall pinch of salt25     ml green juice of choice (celery, apple, kale)Optional:25     ml Clear spirit of your choice: Tequila, Gin, Vodka, Arak, etc Watermelon slice for garnish Freeze a small layer of green juice in a glass ahead of time. Combine watermelon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, & a pinch of salt in a mixing tin and shake with cubed ice until properly diluted and chilled. Fill glass (containing frozen green juice) with crushed ice, then fine strain the watermelon mixture  over the ice. This will create layers that resemble a watermelon. Glassware:  Collins glass or your favorite tall clear drinking vesselSupport the showCocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world. https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalismFollow us on Instagram and TwitterSome episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!

Holding Apple Accountable with Palestinian Writer Tariq Ra’ouf

I’m joined by Tariq Ra’ouf, a Palestinian freelance journalist and advocate for diversity and inclusion who was recently fired by Apple after speaking out about the company’s complicity in and silence about the genocide in Gaza. After losing over a dozen family members, Tariq has been working with Palestinian and Congolese activists to organize an international day of action to demand that Apple break its silence about the genocides in Palestine and the Congo. TAKE PART IN THE DAY OF ACTION DEMANDING AN END TO APPLE'S SILENCE ABOUT PALESTINE AND THE CONGO this Friday Sept 20th. On iPhone release day, show up at Apple stores where you can…stand at new product tablesBook Genius Bar appointmentsBook Apple Vision Pro demo appointmentsLine up, walk away when you’re supposed to payContact store business teams and ask “Why does Apple do business in Israel?”To organize an action, reach out to @applesagainstapartheidEMAIL TIM COOK! Go to Apples4ceasefire.com and click the button to generate a pre-written email. (Customize subject line & some wording to bypass filters)COCKTAIL / MOCKTAIL PAIRING:BAD APPLEThis blended and strained drink can be made as a cocktail or mocktail.  The recipe makes 2 drinks.1 Apple (like Fuji, gala, honeycrisp)Water — 2 oz  (60 ml) Lemon juice — 1.5 oz  (45 ml)  Grenadine — 1 oz  (30 ml)Sugar — 2 tspGin (or Kombucha) — 2 oz  (60 ml)Blend all ingredients (except kombucha for the mocktail). Strain & add strained juice to a shaker w ice. Shake vigorously & pour into a coupe or martini glass (any sort clear glass will do.) If you’re making mocktails, add the kombucha at the very end. Garnish w apple peel twist & enjoy!BIG THANKS to Anthony DePice for all of his hard work to organize tech workers and consumers for Palestine and the Congo! It was his hard work that led to this connection and this C&C episode. Follow him here and here.Support the showCocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world. https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalismFollow us on Instagram and TwitterSome episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!

Rack ‘Em Up! Palestine Action Victories with Actionist Shibby of Revolutionary Lumpen Radio

With Palestine Action racking up the victories, it was high time that I spoke with veteran actionist Shibby about the network’s mind blowing direct  action successes. We discuss the recent shutdown of a facility in Tamworth, the viral action that just took place in Scotland, and the high-level, low-level, and covert strategies that have been used by these brave activists. We also touch on the ongoing efforts to ban Palestine Action in the UK, and why such a ban will fail to prevent this network from continuing its righteous work. In addition to hosting Revolutionary Lumpen Radio, Shibby is a veteran activist with Palestine Action. We begin with the story of his radicalization.Get plugged in to Palestine Action, attend a trainingJoin the Palestine Action telegram channelFollow @pal_action on Instagram and twitterSubscribe to their newsletterSupport PA defendants and any actionists in jailThe Free Palestine Cocktail100 ml Watermelon Juice30 ml Lime Juice15 ml Simple Syrup (1:1 ratio) to tasteSmall pinch of salt25  ml green juice of choice (celery, apple, kale)Optional:25 ml Clear spirit like Mezcal, Tequila, Gin, Vodka, Arak, etc etc Watermelon slice for garnishFreeze a small layer of green juice in a glass ahead of time. Combine watermelon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, & a pinch of salt in a mixing tin and shake with cubed ice until properly diluted and chilled. Fill glass (containing frozen green juice) with crushed ice, then fine strain the watermelon mixture  over the ice. This will create layers that resemble a watermelon. Glassware:  Collins glass or your favorite tall transparent drinking vesselGarnish:  Small watermelon wedge and/or raisinsSupport the showCocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world. https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalismFollow us on Instagram and TwitterSome episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!

The Congo, Cobalt, and Capitalism with Gaëtan-Dauphin Nzowo / Friends of the Congo

Too few understand the genocide that is raging in the Congo. Human rights activist Gaëtan-Dauphin Nzowo of Friends of the Congo joins me to examine the country's economic & geopolitical significance and how this genocide has been driven by extractive capitalism. As Gaëtan points out, “most Congolese don’t have a smartphone to document the atrocities” committed against them, but the labor and blood of the Congolese people continues to supply the materials needed for our smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles.We honor the legacy of independence leader Patrice Lumumba, who was assassinated for daring to speak out against the plundering of his nation by foreign powers. We also discuss how the Congolese struggle for independence is intricately connected with the struggles of folks in Sudan, Haiti, and Palestine. Gaëtan-Dauphin Nzowo works with Friends of the Congo, an organization dedicated to raising awareness MD bringing lasting change to this conflict-plagued region. He is a construction inspector & civil engineering designer, and he currently serves as the president of the National Society of Black Engineers in Portland, Oregon. Gaëtan is the co-founder of New Young Congolese Scholars, and a board member at the Understanding Racism Foundation. As an active member of the Congolese Action Youth Platform, Gaëtan has been fighting to recognize Genocost (genocide for economic gain) in the Congo. ACTIONS TO TAKE:-Donate to Friends of the Congo-Follow @congofriends and @gaetan_nzowo_official on IG-Purchase Equal Exchange fair trade coffee, Congo Coffee Project (more below)COCKTAIL:Fairly-traded coffee from the CONGO COFFEE PROJECT through Equal Exchange. Purchases help the Panzi Foundation support survivors of sexual violence in the DRCSupport the showCocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world. https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalismFollow us on Instagram and TwitterSome episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!