It Could Happen Here

Dana El Kurd speaks to Andrew Leber, assistant professor of political science and Middle East and North Africa politics, with an expertise in Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf states. Andrew outlines the different positions of the Gulf states in response to the ongoing war on Iran, the competing visions for the region posed by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and the role of Israel in their calculations.  Sources: Andrew Leber’s profile and articles - https://carnegieendowment.org/people/andrew-leber  How Palestine is linked to domestic grievances - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13510347.2022.2038567See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew talks with Garrison about how apocalyptic cult-like groups override critical thought and promote mass violence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we are collaborating with In The Belly Magazine to read you a short memoir piece about organizing behind bars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The gang discuss Spencer Pratt’s LA mayoral campaign, a Supreme Court ruling on redistricting in Alabama, and changes to OMB funding. Sources: https://x.com/atrupar/status/2061537793843532054?s=20  https://x.com/Tomhennessey69/status/2061343239794299374 https://remigrationsummit.com/  https://www.politico.eu/article/afd-vox-mingle-with-ex-us-border-patrol-chief-white-nationalist-leader-at-remigration-summit/  https://www.breizh-info.com/2026/05/28/260619/gregory-bovino-lhomme-qui-a-pilote-les-operations-trump-contre-limmigration-illegale-parle-a-leurope-interview/  https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/2061550046571528666?s=20  https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2061419519705223257?s=20  https://www.axios.com/2026/06/01/trump-netanyahu-israel-lebanon-call  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/iran-may-used-chinese-missile-shoot-us-fighter-jet-sources-say-rcna347555  https://www.patreon.com/posts/dont-confuse-and-159583359  https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mndeoj7qnk24  https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-11094.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/06/promoting-advanced-artificial-intelligence-innovation-and-security/  https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5905542-donald-trump-bill-pulte-odni-democratic-reaction/ https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25a1314_7m58.pdf https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/supreme-court-permits-alabama-to-use-congressional-map-struck-by-lower-court-as-racially-discrim/ https://www.npr.org/2026/06/03/nx-s1-5844678/trump-science-funding-omb-budget-office-rule-change https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aej3572 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adz9553 https://elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/this-new-omb-rule-is-bigger-than https://elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/summary-of-key-changes-in-ombs-proposed https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/29/2026-10817/regulation-for-federal-financial-assistance https://www.science.org/content/article/researchers-slam-hhs-report-gender-affirming-care-youth https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/science-research-policy/2026/05/29/omb-proposes-rules-establishing-politicalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Garrison and Sophie talk about the long awaited DNC 2024 election autopsy, its many factual errors, contradictory analysis, and the glaring omissions from Palestine to inflation and Biden’s age.  Sources: https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf  https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/01/ken-martin-elected-dnc-party-chair-00201938 https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/21/politics/dnc-autopsy-inside-story  https://www.thebulwark.com/p/heres-what-i-told-the-dnc-autopsy-biden-harris-2024-lessons-democrats-2028 https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/21/politics/dnc-autopsy-takeaways-visSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James is joined by Molly to talk about bears, and the campaign to remove them from the Endangered Species Act.  Sources: https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/missing-hiker-and-bear-encounter-victim-identified.htm https://www.hcn.org/issues/49-9/zinke-went-to-bears-ears-to-listen-but-supporters-felt-unheard/  https://x.com/RepRyanZinke/status/2054303113549381650?s=20  https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2017/10/25/16-30033.pdf  https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/Endangered-Species-Act-at-50/  https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5829a2.htm  https://coloradosun.com/2024/04/16/dying-wolf-struck-by-snowmobile-shown-off-in-wyoming-bar/  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261982557_Efficacy_of_Firearms_for_Bear_Deterrence_in_Alaska  https://www.bearwise.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/efficacy-of-bear-spray-smith-et-al.-2010.pdf  https://alaskapublic.org/news/environment/2026-05-07/after-legal-challenge-alaska-judge-approves-states-revised-bear-cull-in-southwest-alaska  https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28097859-250506-mulchatna/  https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=HB0364A  https://propakistani.pk/2026/05/28/mma-fighter-killed-in-bear-attack-in-canada/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file.  - Nakba Stories - Real You Electrolysis Workers United: A Unionization Speedrun - Outlaw: ICE Protest Repression Trends - Executive Disorder: Green Card Application Changes, the Pope’s AI Encyclical, Federal Court Blocks GOP Map in Alabama You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today! http://apple.co/coolerzone Sources/Links: Real You Electrolysis Workers United: A Unionization Speedrun Strike Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/manage/support-real-you-electrolysis-workers-united Outlaw: ICE Protest Repression Trends Check out the other episodes of Outlaw here: https://linktr.ee/outlawpod Follow https://www.instagram.com/outlaw.pod/ on Instagram & @outlawpod.bsky.social Bluesky, & Substack https://outlawpodcast.substack.com/subscribe  Final Straw’s past episodes on Grand Juries and Grand Jury Resistance: https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/post/category/grand-jury/Live like the World is Dying: Mo on Grand Juries https://www.liveliketheworldisdying.com/s1e44-mo-on-grand-juries/ Executive Disorder: Green Card Application Changes, the Pope’s AI Encyclical, Federal Court Blocks GOP Map in Alabama https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-10598/refugee-admissions-for-fiscal-year-2026-emergency-presidential-determination-presidential  https://x.com/Southcom/status/2059440695488790898  https://x.com/atrupar/status/2059452011636982241 https://x.com/AndyKimNJ/status/2058624606085226502  https://lavocedinewyork.com/en/news/2026/05/26/how-ice-silenced-the-face-of-the-delaney-hall-hunger-strike/   https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2026/05/ec112dg10%28e%29.pdf  https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/memos/PM-602-0199-AdjustmentOfStatusAndDiscretion-20260521.pdf  https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/memos/PM-602-0198-SIJDeferredAction-20260410.pdf   https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2059679711391838507 https://x.com/PAKenglishh/status/2059021151242801270 https://x.com/JenGriffinFNC/status/2059045450666131705  https://x.com/USAfricaCommand/status/2059300434313982084 https://www.wsj.com/world/africa/nigeria-says-strikes-were-aimed-at-protecting-all-religions-not-just-christians-1b3676cf  https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/green-card-news-uscis-memo/ https://www.foxnews.com/politics/feds-subpoena-hasan-piker-medea-benjamin-over-cuba-trips https://x.com/ryangrim/status/2059420660758171701?s=20 https://www.theverge.com/policy/902284/cuba-aid-convoy-phones-seized-cbp-nuestra-america https://apnews.com/live/election-primary-texas-runoff-05-26-2026 https://www.wired.com/story/us-law-enforcement-warns-of-anti-tech-extremism/ https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/05/court-clears-way-for-alabama-to-use-congressional-map-blocked-by-lower-court-as-racially-discrim/ https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-243_f20h.pdf https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K2ZfobOClPyEWDtLELathLkD1eYNTCAD/view https://alabamareflector.com/2026/05/26/federal-judges-block-alabamas-use-of-2023-congressional-map/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Outlaw, Olive is joined by movement attorneys Moira Meltzer-Cohen, Bina Ahmad, and Joey Mogul to discuss trends in the repression of anti-ICE activity across the country and how to prepare for the long road ahead.To learn more about how the law is used to crush dissent, check out the other episodes of Outlaw, an anti-repression podcast. Find past episodes here: https://linktr.ee/outlawpod Follow https://www.instagram.com/outlaw.pod/ on Instagram & @outlawpod.bsky.social Bluesky, & Substack https://outlawpodcast.substack.com/subscribe  Get in touch: outlawpod@proton.meFor more context about J20 or the War on Terror, check out these Outlaw episodes:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/outlaw/id1803156411?i=1000699958987https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/outlaw/id1803156411?i=1000718858590 More on Grand Juries: Final Straw’s past episodes on Grand Juries and Grand Jury Resistance: https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/post/category/grand-jury/Live like the World is Dying: Mo on Grand Juries https://www.liveliketheworldisdying.com/s1e44-mo-on-grand-juries/ Theme Music: Star by Tufawon https://www.instagram.com/tufawon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dana El Kurd shares her family’s Nakba stories, the process of discovering an Israeli connection, and what she takes away from understanding intergenerational trauma.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file.  - How Trump is Using Election Fraud Claims to Restrict Voting - Did Donald Trump Ban Buffalo? - Monopsony, or How You Get Underpaid - Pop Culture Commodity Warfare @ New York Comic Con - Executive Disorder: San Diego Mosque Shooting, Trump Settles Lawsuit with Trump You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today! http://apple.co/coolerzone Sources/Links: How Trump is Using Election Fraud Claims to Restrict Voting https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/multiple-aliens-charged-illegally-voting-federal-elections-and-making-false-statements  https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/media/1439301/dl?inline https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/media/1439296/dl?inline https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/media/1439291/dl?inline https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/media/1439286/dl?inline https://www.michigan.gov/ag/-/media/Project/Websites/AG/releases/2026/April/DOJ-Letter-to-Wayne-County.pdf https://www.brennancenter.org/media/15517/download/ri-hearing-transcript-2026-03-26.pdf?inline=1 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/us/politics/minnesota-trump-voter-rolls.html https://www.ksat.com/news/politics/2026/05/06/justice-department-can-keep-2020-election-ballots-seized-from-georgias-fulton-county-judge-rules/  https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/tracker-justice-department-requests-voter-information  Did Donald Trump Ban Buffalo? https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/810541893_202412_990_2025073023621659.pdf  https://gov.mt.gov/_docs/governor/AmericanPrairieProposedDecisionJanuary162026.pdf  https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-17537.pdf  https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2026-01-21/blm-cancels-bison-grazing-permits-for-montana-nature-reserve https://news.mt.gov/Governors-Office/Governor_Gianforte_Appeals_Judges_APR_Bison_Grazing_Decision#:~:text=Following%20the%20judge's%20order%2C%20DNRC,appeal%20may%20be%20found%20here.  https://t.co/HUAyMUnOVi  https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2015/06/18/business-leaders-provide-green-behind-conservation-effort/28960843/  https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-revokes-american-prairie-bison-grazing-permit https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/estatetaxfinal.pdf  https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/12/2026-09386/rescission-of-conservation-and-landscape-health-rule   https://www.blm.gov/about/laws-and-regulations/conservation-and-landscape-health-rule  https://largetribes.org/2026/02/affirmative-action-for-cattle-tribes-challenge-feds-plan-to-revoke-bison-grazing-leases-on-public-land-media-share/ Monopsony, or How You Get Underpaid https://archive.org/details/bnarchives_0333 https://strangematters.coop/frederic-s-lee-profile-part-one/ https://www.jstor.org/stable/29769757?if_data=e30%3D&seq=1 https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/04/14/g-s1-117075/the-labor-economics-of-alien-and-its-lessons-for-inequality-on-earth https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/04/21/g-s1-118071/the-hidden-power-keeping-wages-low Pop Culture Commodity Warfare @ New York Comic Con https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2018/report-anime-fest@nycc/.137926 https://yattatachi.com/anime-nyc-review-it-begins-anew https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/dc-cancels-red-hood-comic-book-series-charlie-kirk-1236368576/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/demon-slayer-infinity-castle-record-box-office-opening-1236370035/ https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-strengthens-strategtic-parternship-with-mappa https://animebythenumbers.substack.com/p/2025-netflix-anime-year-in-review https://www.comicsbeat.com/tilting-at-windmills-297-bookscan-2023-comics-sales-sag-but-scholastic-was-still-a-powerhouse/ https://www.diversetechgeek.com/2023-bookstore-graphic-novel-sales/  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/whats-behind-the-growing-popularity-of-japanese-comics-and-animations-in-u-s https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/61689/manga-week-comic-stores-pace-manga-growth-2025   https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/andor-creator-tony-gilroy-gives-the-interview-1236510166/ https://variety.com/2025/film/news/james-gunn-superman-immigrant-backlash-response-1236449068/ https://deadline.com/2026/01/kathleen-kennedy-exit-interview-1236665253/ https://www.cbr.com/dc-jim-lee-manga-beats-western-comics/ https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-worlds-top-media-franchises-by-all-time-revenue/ https://animehunch.com/hideaki-anno-anime-shouldnt-be-made-with-western-audience/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/11/japan/japan-anime-games-content/ https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20251224-300194/ Executive Disorder: San Diego Mosque Shooting, Trump Settles Lawsuit with Trump Fundraiser: https://goodbricks.org/campaign/icsd.org/official-icsd-victim---family-support-fund https://www.patreon.com/posts/lets-talk-about-158456324 https://www.blm.gov/policy/ib-2024-024  https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/huffman-celebrates-bureau-of-land-managements-decision-to-cease-use-of-cyanide-bombs-on-public-lands  https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/climate/cyanide-bombs-public-lands.html https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2057144264526598381?s=20 https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-10179.pdf https://x.com/SecScottBessent/status/2056411947982115207?s=20 https://x.com/usf_army/status/2056395215833903335?s=20 https://x.com/cecelou18/status/2056746877798817830?s=20 https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/051526zr_1a72.pdf https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/102325-alpr-revised-surveillance-report.pdf  https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3628735046 https://x.com/PGSA_IRAN/status/2056359507203142013?s=20  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/letlow-fleming-advance-to-runoff-louisiana-gop-senate-primary-cbs-news-projects/ https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/185  https://x.com/USAfricaCommand/status/2055614134851424487?s=20  https://www.africom.mil/pressrelease/36568/isis-number-two-killed-in-nigeria https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/2053890390126665819?s=20 https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/2053889711567970589?s=20 https://apnews.com/article/massie-gallrein-trump-kentucky-republican-primary-03a658b1a45593ad04ebf6283a3fdb47 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/17/massie-aipac-record-spending-israel-maga-trump-primary-00925375 https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116602192066577324 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/republican-senators-trump-paxton.html https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-dismisses-lawsuit-against-irs-court-filing-shows-2026-05-18/ https://www.ft.com/content/57334fae-a475-4ab0-a202-8df3766927e4?syn-25a6b1a6=1  https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/5/20/bolivian-president-to-reshuffle-cabinet-amid-anti-government-protests https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/5/18/clashes-as-morales-allied-protesters-march-on-bolivian-capital https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/what-is-behind-bolivias-widening-protests-2026-05-18/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Garrison attends New York Comic Con to investigate the (pop) culture war and why anime is beating western superhero comics. Oh also Lego Batman is here for some reason. Sources: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2018/report-anime-fest@nycc/.137926 https://yattatachi.com/anime-nyc-review-it-begins-anew https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/dc-cancels-red-hood-comic-book-series-charlie-kirk-1236368576/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/demon-slayer-infinity-castle-record-box-office-opening-1236370035/ https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-strengthens-strategtic-parternship-with-mappa https://animebythenumbers.substack.com/p/2025-netflix-anime-year-in-review https://www.comicsbeat.com/tilting-at-windmills-297-bookscan-2023-comics-sales-sag-but-scholastic-was-still-a-powerhouse/ https://www.diversetechgeek.com/2023-bookstore-graphic-novel-sales/  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/whats-behind-the-growing-popularity-of-japanese-comics-and-animations-in-u-s https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/61689/manga-week-comic-stores-pace-manga-growth-2025   https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/andor-creator-tony-gilroy-gives-the-interview-1236510166/ https://variety.com/2025/film/news/james-gunn-superman-immigrant-backlash-response-1236449068/ https://deadline.com/2026/01/kathleen-kennedy-exit-interview-1236665253/ https://www.cbr.com/dc-jim-lee-manga-beats-western-comics/ https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-worlds-top-media-franchises-by-all-time-revenue/ https://animehunch.com/hideaki-anno-anime-shouldnt-be-made-with-western-audience/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/11/japan/japan-anime-games-content/ https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20251224-300194/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James is joined by Molly to discuss how the Bureau of Land Management is quietly changing its approach to public land management and what it means for approximately 900 bison in Central Montana. Sources: https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/810541893_202412_990_2025073023621659.pdf  https://gov.mt.gov/_docs/governor/AmericanPrairieProposedDecisionJanuary162026.pdf  https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-17537.pdf  https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2026-01-21/blm-cancels-bison-grazing-permits-for-montana-nature-reserve https://news.mt.gov/Governors-Office/Governor_Gianforte_Appeals_Judges_APR_Bison_Grazing_Decision#:~:text=Following%20the%20judge's%20order%2C%20DNRC,appeal%20may%20be%20found%20here.  https://t.co/HUAyMUnOVi  https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2015/06/18/business-leaders-provide-green-behind-conservation-effort/28960843/  https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-revokes-american-prairie-bison-grazing-permit https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/estatetaxfinal.pdf  https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/12/2026-09386/rescission-of-conservation-and-landscape-health-rule   https://www.blm.gov/about/laws-and-regulations/conservation-and-landscape-health-rule  https://largetribes.org/2026/02/affirmative-action-for-cattle-tribes-challenge-feds-plan-to-revoke-bison-grazing-leases-on-public-land-media-share/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.