It Could Happen Here

Steven Monacelli, a journalist who joins book club conversations, and Hazel Acacia, a close-reading contributor and moderator, dive into two Le Guin stories. They discuss prose, moral dilemmas, aging and activism. Short fiction’s political punch, walking away versus repair, and how personal choices echo in collective movements come up in lively, thoughtful discussion.

Andrew Sage, independent commentator and podcaster behind Andrewism, gives a concise historical overview of Libya and Gaddafi. He covers the 2011 uprising, NATO’s intervention and its long-term fallout. Short, focused takes trace Libya’s fragmentation, proxy influences, oil’s role, and the humanitarian collapse that followed.

A tense recounting of an attempted attack at a high-profile press dinner and the confusing forensic and surveillance questions around who fired and who was wounded. A deep dive into a controversial Supreme Court ruling reshaping the Voting Rights Act and its implications for representation. Coverage also includes a major appellate decision curbing ICE mandatory detention and fallout from related political scandals.

A fast look at what the new mayor accomplished in his first 100 days and the political stakes of governing as a democratic socialist. Conversations cover housing enforcement, big investments in NYCHA, and moves to speed affordable housing development. They touch on universal childcare expansion, transit and bus projects, a new public-safety office, and fiscal tradeoffs shaping parks, libraries, and services.

A sharp conversation about Muammar Gaddafi’s rise, theatrical persona, and the reality behind his Green Book governance. They probe social programs alongside repression, major human rights crimes, and ethnic suppression. The discussion covers Libya’s shifting ties with the West, Pan-African ambitions, economic reforms, and the 2011 uprising that fractured the country.

Andrew and James talk about the revolution and civil war in Libya, and discuss the campist approach to world affairs. Sources: Iran retaliation: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjrqqd8lw2wo Timeline of Libyan History: https://www.britannica.com/place/Libya/History Timeline of Libyan revolt: https://www.britannica.com/event/Libya-Revolt-of-2011 Behind the NTC: http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1062/2/who-drove-the-libyan-uprising Consequences and Motivations of Libya intervention: https://jacobin.com/2015/02/libya-intervention-nato-imperialism https://web.archive.org/web/20220517202837/https://merip.org/2011/11/was-the-libya-intervention-necessary/ https://jacobin.com/2021/03/nato-libya-war-uk-us-france-regime-change https://jacobin.com/2011/09/libya-and-the-left Rebel abuses: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14891913 Targeting of Black Libyans and Migrants: https://www.npr.org/2011/10/20/141549384/blacks-and-migrants-targets-of-attack-in-libya Displacement numbers in 2012: https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/legacy-pdf/4ec23100b.pdf Consequences of first civil war: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/24/libya-capital-under-islamist-control-tripoli-airport-seized-operation-dawn https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/2/16/libya-anniversary-the-situation-is-just-terrible An attempt at unification: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/17/libyan-politicians-sign-un-peace-deal-unify-rival-governments El Sharara oilfield situation: https://middle-east-online.com/node/708060 The status quo as of 2020: https://www.politico.eu/article/the-libyan-conflict-explained/ Another attempt at unification: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/15/libya-interim-government-sworn-in-replacing-rival-administration https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/21/libya-parliament-withdraws-confidence-from-unity-government https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/3/un-voices-concern-over-vote-on-new-libyan-prime-minister Morality police: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/fears-religious-freedom-libya-proposes-new-morality-police Slave auction: https://africasacountry.com/2017/11/the-slave-auction-in-libya Libya’s arms in regional instability: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-arms-un-idUSBRE93814Y20130409/ Natural disaster: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/09/year-rebuilding-libyas-flood-hit-derna-plagued-politics https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/libya-floods-derna-turkish-firm-said-repaired-dam-did-itSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A look at why political actors have grown more extreme and how crises reward radical tactics. The conversation connects evolutionary metaphors to modern politics and critiques automated warfare and rapid targeting. It highlights cultural radicalizers, local pushback at school boards, signs of partisan overreach, shrinking social media influence, and possibilities for bold progressive policy shifts.

A 1963 sci‑fi tale about a ritual sport that reveals deep class divides. The narrator explores how elites prosper while ground dwellers serve. A mysterious signal sparks theories about pebbles attracting outsiders. The story becomes a dark satire on colonialism and defensive deception.

UCSD Faculty, a professor involved in the Gaza Solidarity encampment, discusses campus history and the Palestine exception to free speech. Andrew Sage, scholar of indigeneity, explores decolonization and Indigenous perspectives. Molly Conger joins to probe topics like finance and shadow banking. They cover private credit risks, anti‑AI violence, campus repression, and organizing under institutional pressure.

They dig into a DOJ indictment alleging a major nonprofit paid white supremacist informants and used fake entities to hide funds. They cover USCIS ramping up denaturalization and enforcement shifts. There's a detailed update on Iran’s military actions, naval interdictions, and the fragile ceasefire. The show also flags a defamation lawsuit tied to false J6 reporting and Virginia redistricting fallout.