Jacobin Radio Behind the News: Authoritarianism From Below w/ Stuart Schrader
14 snips
Feb 23, 2026 
Stuart Schrader, historian and author on policing, explains how local police and unions can enable federal crackdowns. Naomi Hossain, SOAS development scholar, unpacks Bangladesh’s 2026 election, family rivalries, and rising Islamist politics. They discuss police political alignment, unions’ culture, and regional power shifts in short, incisive conversations.
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Police Chiefs Oppose ICE To Preserve Legitimacy
- Local police leaders opposing ICE often do so to protect departmental legitimacy rather than law enforcement turf.
- Stuart Schrader explains reform-minded chiefs argue ICE abuses damage local police reform and community trust, driving public complaints against federal actions.
How D.C. Reforms Triggered Union Backlash
- Washington, D.C. reforms included banning chokeholds and requiring clear identification for protest policing.
- Stuart Schrader recounts police union backlash, officer resignations, Congress overturning criminal code revisions, and Biden's veto of overturning the police reform bill.
Crime Claims Fueled Federal Takeovers
- Federal takeovers were justified by claims of manipulated local crime stats and ungovernability.
- Schrader notes unions and MAGA politicians amplified allegations that city reforms caused crime, prompting federal intervention despite weak evidence.