Topic: Chicago Strike

Journalists at the Chicago Tribune and other Alden Global Capital-owned papers staged a 24-hour walkout to protest budget cuts and the elimination of 401k matches. The strike highlights the "gutting" of local news by hedge funds focused on short-term profits. The hosts discuss the long-term decline of the newspaper business model, which began with the rise of local television and was accelerated by the internet.

The year 1919 saw the "Red Summer" of race riots and massive labor strikes involving 4 million workers, including steelworkers and coal miners. The hosts draw parallels to the modern "anti-work" movement and current labor strife. They note that the general strikes of that era led to the creation of laws specifically banning such coordinated labor actions in the U.S.

John Deere workers and GE electricians have initiated strikes over profit-sharing and corporate policies. Simultaneously, a report surfaced regarding a Chicago police officer who allegedly died shortly after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, with the death investigation noting the vaccination despite pre-existing conditions. The hosts discuss how these incidents are being handled by local authorities and the potential impact on public perception of mandates.

The global climate strike involved students walking out of classes, an event the hosts argue is driven by adult-led propaganda. A Chicago teacher discusses using "Extinction Rebellion" materials in the classroom for students as young as nine. Interviews with the children reveal they are repeating headlines about "rich poops" ruining the earth rather than demonstrating an understanding of climate science or carbon dioxide.

A massive teacher strike in Chicago highlights the conflict over school privatization and the expansion of charter schools. Critics argue that the charter system allows for "cherry-picking" the best students while marginalizing the rest of the public education system to benefit private interests.