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BrownTown talks with comrades Monica Cosby and Chez Rumpf about No New Prisons Illinois (NNPIL), a campaign fighting the state’s plan to spend nearly a billion dollars building two new prisons. Like many carceral reforms, this was in response to yet another death in Stateville Prison due to horribly inhumane living conditions in 2024. Then, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) moved to shut down the prison and, instead of investing in Illinoisians by releasing and rehabilitating people back into society, Governor Pritzker and the state of Illinois proposed $900 million to build two new prisons. Two years later, the NNPIL campaign is in full swing while setting a focus on the Logan Correctional Center closure and transfer process while still fighting for alternative budget investments, challenging (and educating) lawmakers, and building power state-wide. BrownTown and guests discuss campaign strategies; the troubled history of closing, moving, and building prisons in Illinois; deconstruct the liberal co-optation of "trauma-informed" and "gender-responsive" prisons (see "RISE IDOC"), the responsibility of architecture firms in building carceral facilities, and what "fiscal responsibility" actually looks like. Originally recorded September 11, 2026.   GUESTSMonica Cosby (she/her) describes herself as a “Gramma trying to do liberatory stuff”, whose life and work have been shaped and informed by the communities to which she belongs, including artists, scholars, and moms with whom she was incarcerated, and whose survival was and is an act of resistance against a system that would dispose of them. Monica founded Acting OutSide Performance Crew in 2021 and is also a scholar, thinker, and writer, having essays published or reprinted in TruthOut and The Long Term: Solitary Confinement Is Used To Break People, On Leaving Prison: A Reflection on Entering and Exiting Communities and in the St. Thomas Law Journal "Restorative Revelations" (with Annalise Buth). Chez Rumpf (she/her) is an author, educator, collaborator, and recovering academic. She is a member of Love & Protect, an abolitionist collective that supports criminalized survivors of gender-based violence, and No New Prisons IL. Her scholarship and community-based work focuses on gender-based violence, carceral systems, post-incarceration experiences, higher education in prison, and visual research methods. Her book Recovering Identity: Criminalized Women's Fight for Dignity and Freedom was published with the University of California Press in May 2023. Learn more about the No New Prisons campaign on their site,  Instagram, and join the campaign! Check out the Logan Teach-in Toolkit and the John Howard Association 2026 Facility Update on Logan Correctional Center. -- Mentioned in episode: Previous coalition episodes on #NoCopAcademy, #StopCopCity, and the Coalition to Decarcerate Illinois (CDI) Water Solidarity campaignOrganizations/Efforts: Love & Protect, John Howard Association, The Marshall Project, Stateville Speaks: Voices from the InsideFormer Prisoners Give Tips on How to Move a Prison (MindSite News)Employees and Incarcerated Women's Thoughts on Logan Move (WTTW)Lawrence Prison Hunger Strike (WTTW)Prison and Disposability Politics (NPAJ)IDOC first person transfer perspectives (Chicago Reader)More media about Logan transfer-- CREDITS: Intro and outro from the SoapBox-produced April 15, 2026 No New Prisons press conference video. Audio engineered by Kiera Battles. Campaign art by Sharah Hutson. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTownFacebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Patreon SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Support

BrownTown finally takes on the manniverse through a Fitness Against Fascism lens with internet homie Colin Davis, fitness coach and Lefty content creator. Contrary to what gyms, popular workout trends, or wellness influencers may tell you, physical fitness has always been political. Over the past decade alone we've experienced political flashpoint after political flashpoint that have demanded attention from all corners of our socialized life, including and especially fitness and algorithm-driven social media. Colin and BrownTown explain plainly why fitness is inherently political, underscoring that leaving room for "neutrality", in the field that often equates physical fitness with masculinity, has made space for impressionable young men to get caught up in the the so-called "manniverse". What begins as personal training tips to make dem gainz too often becomes a co-opted tributary into vapid looksmaxxing and hustlepreneurship before finally arriving at blatant misogyny, sexism, and other forms of prejudice. The former fringe corner of the internet over a decade ago has now influenced various industries, social groups, and halls power, most notably the White House. But on the flip side, progressives, leftists, and folx who just want a better world exercise and workout too! And we don't have to succumb to the violent, racist, fascist, and patriarchal forces that too often hijack our most human activities and relationships. Colin reminds us that, "Hard things are possible if you work at them." If we are to meet this moment -- online and IRL -- we have to get serious about just how political fitness is. The Technofascist Right already did. GUESTColin Davis is fitness coach at Five Point Training who began making content as a means to showcase a compassionate and community oriented alternative to the alienating rhetoric targeted towards young men. By incorporating an empathetic mindset, and positive perspectives on strength, his messages have resonated far beyond his original expectations, with features in Wired, Fox & Friends, and beyond. With the underlying goal to create alignment and connectivity across the aisle, he continues to be driven by the belief that with the right tools, resources, and positive figures, we can transition from a generation fueled by animosity and alienation and into one of kindness, optimism and community action. Follow him on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! Mentioned in Episode: Fitness Against Fascism (FAF)Ep. 45 - FAF 2.0Ep. 30 - FAF 1.0Joe Blanchet FitnessOne Nation OverchargedWhite Supremacist Active ClubsDavid Goggins (1, 2)Louis Theroux: Into the Manniverse Netflix documentaryCaullen's deadlift competition and mental health post“Male [Loser] Epidemic” IG Post via Fatima KhadijahCocaine vs social media addiction (1, 2)Zohran Mamdani's .04% Knicks Championship speechOther Manniverse critiques:Jubilee - 1 Man vs The ManosphereHow to talk to men and boys about the Manosphere | Ben Hurst | TEDxLondonWhy 'manosphere' content is appealing to some young menThis woman dated only far-right men for a year: ‘They were so insecure’-- CREDITS: Intro soundbites from Are Men OK? - Exploring The Manosphere via Late Night with Steven Colbert, The Manosphere’s Final Form Is Worse Than You Think via @Benaminute on YouTube, and The Boys Are Not Alright: How the Manosphere is Radicalising Young Men via @Afrodizjha on YouTube. Outro song All You Fascists Bound to Lose by the Resistance Revival Chorus. Audio engineered by Kiera Battles. Episode photo by unknown. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTownFacebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Patreon SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Support

BrownTown continues the "C****a La Migra" series discussing how ICE ain't shit with Rey Wences of Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and Any Huamani of Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC). Fast-forwarding from the last conversation in summer 2025 focusing on the criminal-legal battles against ICE, the team reflects on the experiences, strategies, and lessons learned from resisting and building power during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago in fall 2025. Now that the consistent bombardment of ICE violently kidnapping our neighbors is not as ever-present nor making national headlines, how do hyperlocal and regional resistance cadres of everyday people, community-based organizations, and larger policy networks channel energy and, in some cases, new found awakening into sustainable material change? How do we balance responding to the moment effectively while unapologetically exposing the conditions that got us here in the first place? Here's their take. Originally recorded April 17, 2026.   GUESTS Rey Wences is a longtime community organizer and advocate with over a decade of experience championing immigrant justice. Born in Mexico City and raised in Chicago, Rey co-founded the Immigrant Youth Justice League and later Organized Communities Against Deportations, leading impactful campaigns such as erasing the Chicago and Cook County gang databases. Their work spans grassroots organizing, direct action, and communications at the local and national levels. Before serving as Chicago's First Deputy of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights, Rey was Director of Communications at Organizing Power in Numbers, a national economic justice organization. Rey currently works at Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). Follow ICIRR on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Any Huamani is an organizer in the Southwest Side. Her and her family migrated to Chicago’s North Wide from Peru when she was 5. Any grew up in the West Side of Chicago where she saw the disinvestment and an interest grew in her to find out why. Since then, Any volunteered in different non profits and became an organizer the Chicago Hotel Strike in 2018. She is now the Immigration Defense Coordinator at Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC). She also co-leads Treatment Not Trauma, a city wide mental health campaign calling for the reopening of public mental health centers and a citywide nonpolice crisis response. In her free time, she spends time with her two boys and running. Follow BPNC on Facebook, Instagram, and X.   Mentioned in the episode: Ep. 121 - C****a La Migra: Understanding Your Rights under a MAGA Regime ft. Khiabett Osuna ICE Mass Arrests Spark Chaos In South Loop (Block Club Chi) ICIRR Support #: 855.435.7693 Organized Communities Against Deportation (OCAD) Southwest Rapid Response Linktree Donate! What's App Channel Canvass Welcoming City Ordinance (ordinance & explainer, 2025 hearings, 2025 vote) Alderhomie Rossana Rodriguez debates Alderfuck Raymond Lopez on WTTW Border Patrol agents shoot armed woman in Chicago as protesters confront immigration personnel Dr. Phil & ICE (1, 2, 3) The CHAAD Project How ICE grew to be the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency (NPR) “Deportation-Industrial Complex” (Brennan Center) Pilsen Neighborhood Watch Coalition Midwest Immigration Bond Fund National immigration Justice Center -- CREDITS: Intro song C****a La Migra by Zada. Outro music F**k These F****n' Fascists by The Muslims. Audio recorded and engineered by Kassandra Borah. Episode photo by Karina Mireya. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTownFacebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Support

BrownTown discusses "Life" (1999) with trina reynolds tyler & Maira Khwaja of TM Productions and the Invisible Institute. The double duo breakdown the cult classic's coverage of US incarceration through the decades, respectability politics within Black and Southern white culture, the guilty-innocent dichotomy through an abolitionist lens, and the relatability and timelessness of '90's buddy comedies. The comedy-drama follows two Black men, loudmouth Harlem grifter Ray and the no-nonsense Claude, during 1930’s Prohibition era who are forced to team up on a bootlegging mission to Mississippi that could solve their money troubles with a New York gangster. But they run into more trouble when a crooked, racist white Sheriff hits them with a phony murder charge and they are given lifetime prison sentences. Originally recorded March 2026. -- GUESTStrina reynolds-tyler is the Data Director at the Invisible Institute, a Pulitzer Prize winning data journalist, and a native of the South Side Chicago. She leads Beneath the Surface, a project employing machine learning to identify gender based violence at the hands of Chicago police. trina works to document how communities unable to depend on the police are forced to create safety and accountability outside of the carceral state. As a data scientist, she centers the practice of narrative justice in her inquiries. trina is also an abolitionist and trained restorative justice practitioner, and on the Board of South Side Together; a community organization whose mission is to secure economic stability and advance human rights. Follow her on Instagram. Maira Khwaja is an educator and multimedia producer. At the Invisible Institute, she directs public impact strategy & outreach. Her work centers on the Youth / Police Project, which primarily builds conversations with young people (ages 16-22) on the South Side about their everyday encounters with policing. Maira was a 2021 Leaders for a New Chicago award winner. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter. trina and Maira are the co-founders of TM Productions! Follow them on Instagram and YouTube. Mentioned in episode: Skullcap Crew "Life" (1999) Trailer Scenes from the movie (1, 2) Dump Judge Matt Coghlan (2018)   CREDITS: Intro from "Life" (1999) trailer and outro music New Day by Wyclef Jean from the film's soundtrack. Episode photo from the film. Audio recorded by Kiera Battles and engineered by Kassandra Borah. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTownFacebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Patreon SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Support

BrownTown shares virtual space with Dina Amin (AKA Dinamiin), Palestinian filmmaker and singer-songwriter to talk all things art, storytelling, and resistance. Dina shares her journey exploring identity and home through her genre-fluid music and deeply personal yet relatable film work. As the bombardment of war and genocide still cloud the headlines, we refocus our energy on what builds us up in our hearts and our on-the-ground political reality via organizing, political education, artistic influences, and the connections that elevate our souls. Art and media serve as not only framing tools but portals into living out our full humanity in a world that wishes to quash it. Originally recorded March 4, 2026.   GUESTSDina (AKA Dinamiin) is a Palestinian filmmaker and singer-songwriter currently based in Los Angeles, pursuing her MFA in Film at CalArts. In 2020, Dina co-founded Space Collective, (site, Instagram), an art house based in the West Bank. Her work explores identity, displacement, memory, and collective liberation through a hybrid of experimental, fiction and documentary. Raised in Palestine, her films often center voices from her community, using cinema as both an archive and a form of expression. Dina co-directed and co-produced her debut short documentary, Rise Up, which was screened at five international film festivals. Over the past ten years, she worked on a range of fiction and nonfiction projects, honing her skills in writing, directing, and producing. Follow her on Instagram, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, and her website. -- Mentioned Topics & More Info:  "I Always Return to My Roots": 40 Minutes with Dina Amin x PATOIS Film Festival Sam Cooke, Muhammad Ali, & Malcolm X were homies (1, 2) Dina singing "Change Gonna Come" Malcolm X film car scene Arabic Maqam or Arabic scales Ep. 46 - Exploring Blackness & Cultural Media ft. Courtney Phillips & Matthew Manning of Gumbo Media Seguimos Aquí - SoapBox film Deon Cole, “F**k ICE” at NAACP Image Awards A Time That Remains - full film Elia Suleiman, Palestinian film director The Taarab Classics Related episodes: Ep. 113 - Palestinian Liberation: Divestment, Encampments, & Institutions ft. Amoona Ep. 112 - DNC: Pt. 2 ft. Nesreen Hasan & Nadiah Alyafai Ep. 111 - Palestinian Liberation: Anti-Zionism & Jewish Solidarity ft. Rabbi Brant Rosen & Lesley Williams Ep. 102 - Palestinian Liberation: In This Moment ft. Muhammad Sankari -- CREDITS: Intro song from Jowa El-Kon by Dinamiin; outro song A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke. Audio engineered by Kiera Battles. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTownFacebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Patreon SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Support

BrownTown on BrownTown. The podcast's audio engineers Kiera Battles and Kassandra Borah, and for the first time Jamie Price, assistant producer, step to the mics to talk all things BnB 2025! Last year we dropped our first show trailer; had our first live event since 2018; started our new "Wrap Up" series discussing/promoting SoapBox films; continued our Palestinian Liberation and Whiskey & Watching series; talked public transit, housing protections for working people, and how ICE ain't shit; and throughout the year analyzed Trump's billionaire, tech bro, Christian Nationalist fascist takeover and how we fight back. For better or worse, here's to 2026! With 12 total full episodes, 2025 brought 10 guest episodes (4 repeat, 7 new; 8 with 2+ guests) and 8 series-type episodes. In addition to the yearly breakdown, the full team discusses shared leadership, reflects heavily on the in-person BnB Live event the previous night, the making of the BnB trailer, and how SoapBox's 2025 trajectory and overall political moment compares to 2017-2019. Originally recorded December 9, 2025. Listen to all the episodes on your chosen podcast application or right here!   GUESTS Kiera Battles ecently received her MA in music business from Berklee College of Music. There, she created When The Show Is Over, a non-profit dedicated to empowering individuals in the music industry, helping them develop the skills and confidence needed to make a significant impact in the field. As she continues to develop the organization, Kiera plans to continue pursuing her diverse passions — whether that's through audio, venue work, making waves in the music industry, or being an absolute menace. Kassandra Borah is a 2025 graduate of Columbia College Chicago. With her bachelor’s degree in Sound Design, she tackles a wide variety of projects. From podcasts to films to advertisements, Kassandra makes cool sounds—sounds that elevate and uplift. Her skill set also includes writing, producing, music composition, and vocal performance. A lifelong artist, she is committed to community and creation. Jamie Price is a visual artist and data conversion specialist. She grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and obtained her BFA in Photography at Northern Illinois University. Her work focuses on documentation and reflections of queer life and finding meaning in critical thought and analysis.   CREDITS: Intro soundbite from the current SoapBox reel; outro music Haters by Slim Thug x Paul Wall x BigXthaPlug. Audio engineered by Kiera Battles. Episode photo by Aidan Kranz. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTown Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Patreon SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Support

BrownTown heads over to CH Distillery | Jōtō Sushi in Chicago's West Loop for their second-ever live recording with Alicia Hurtado and Qudsiyyah Shariyf of Chicago Abortion Fund. In a moment of further descent into fascism on the federal level, built on decades of policy maneuvers and reactive cultural propaganda through a now resurgent Christian Nationalist and far-right forces, we seek to amplify and uplift the four decades-long work of Chicago Abortion Fund and the movement for reproductive justice, gender equity, and ultimately collective liberation. Not only have we also been working in this movement and others to support from a grassroots level but also to codify life-affirming practices and funding at the policy and institutional level. With our sights on 2026 and far beyond, let’s broaden our tent while strengthening our ties in order to -- not just hold the line on reproductive rights -- but expand and fight back against a re-energized threat on all fronts! LIVE AT CH DISTILLERY | JŌTŌ SUSHI CH is Chicago's leading artisan spirits producer with an extensive portfolio. Hosted inside their former distillery is Jōtō Sushi, where guests can experience both à la carte sushi and signature omakase dining, each reflecting their dedication to culinary excellence and attention to detail. Tell them BrownTown sent ya! GUESTS Alicia Hurtado (ah-LEE-see-ah her-TAH-do; they/she) has been building power as staff at the Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) since 2020, where they currently serve as Director of Advocacy and Communications. Alicia leads CAF’s political advocacy, communications, and grassroots organizing strategy to create a culture shift that destigmatizes abortion and moves towards a world in which all people can access abortion care no matter who they are or where they are from. Qudsiyyah Shariyf (could-SEE-yuh sher-REEF; she/they) is an organizer, birthworker, and reproductive justice advocate currently serving as Deputy Director of the Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF). Her strategic vision has been instrumental in expanding CAF’s capacity to provide logistical, financial, and emotional support to people seeking abortion care in Chicago, Illinois, and beyond. Chicago Abortion Fund's mission is to advance reproductive autonomy and justice for everyone by providing financial, logistical, and emotional support to people seeking abortion services and by building collective power and fostering partnerships for political and cultural change. They envision a world where everyone has the freedom and autonomy to create lives, families, and communities that are healthy, safe, and thriving and where the full range of reproductive choices, including abortion, are accessible and affirmed. Follow CAF on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Mentioned in or related to episode:  Birth Equity Act (HB 5142)DidBidenSayAbortionYet.orgMegan Jeyifo (CAF Executive Director) on the 2025 Dobbs anniversary (WBEZ)Guttmacher comprehensive report on family planning and reproductive health (2025)Abortion: A History by Mary Fissel, referenced by one of the Q&A participantsCAF -- How We Can HelpCAF -- Pre-AbortionCAF -- Post-AbortionSay abortion toolkit: bit.ly/sayabortionM+A HotlineEp. 28 - Fighting for Women's Rights through Faith, Policy, & #MeToo ft. Zoe Goodman-- CREDITS: Intro soundbite of Qudsiyyah in 2021 giving remarks at a protest after SB8 was passed in Texas rally. Outro song Die of Shame by Tilt. Audio engineered by Kassandra Borah. Episode photo by Hannah Linsky. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTown Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Patreon SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Support

BrownTown shares space with Sadie Soto, consultant, organizer, policy savant, lifelong Chicagoan, and devoted CTA rider. The gang chats about the fall 2025 CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) and RTA (Regional Transportation Authority) budget crisis and the role and responsibility of mass public transit in our lives. As the recent funding crisis put public transit in Chicagoland in the spotlight, the team uses it as a catalyst to unpack the nuts and bolts of what funding public services actually looks like on a municipal, county, and state level; the perceptions and realities of public transit; and the the limited political will and actual possibility of what a fully funded and equitable transportation system could actually look like. Originally recorded October 24, 2025. Updates on the state vote and current state of CTA/RTA below in episodes notes.   GUEST Sadie Soto is a lifelong Chicagoan and devoted CTA rider. A former congressional intern, she is deeply familiar with policy at the national level and has also been active locally as an organizer with the Chicago Teachers Union. Over the years, she has volunteered for multiple aldermanic campaigns and remains an engaged resident of Jefferson Park, frequently attending her neighborhood chamber of commerce and community meetings. She currently works as an environmental consultant, where she supports community-centered initiatives through outreach coordination, public meeting facilitation, and communications that translate complex policy into accessible stories.   Mentioned in the episode: Update: Illinois lawmakers pass public transit funding bill to address RTA budget gap (ABC Chicago)Pre-vote: Budget shortfall could end CTA's 24-hour public service in Chicago (ABC Chicago)Mayor Johnson's “Safe And Smoke-Free Public Transit” Executive OrderViolent crime on the CTA remains above pre-pandemic levels (Transit Talent)Red Ahead ProgramWhy Chicago still hasn't fixed the Loop (The Flying Moose, YouTube)Why Doesn't the US have better public transportation? (Sustainable America)Illinois lawmakers propose merging CTA, Metra, Pace (1, 2)-- CREDITS: Intro soundbite from Climate and Transit video. Outro music End Of Beginning by Djo. Audio engineered by Kassandra Borah. Production assistance by Jamie Price. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTown Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Patreon SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Support

BrownTown debriefs No Cop Academy: The Documentary (2023) with campaign organizers, interviewees, and producer/curator of the film, Debbie Southorn and Destiny Harris. The team reunites to discuss the creation, process, and impact of the one-hour SoapBox-produced film and the #NoCopAcademy campaign more broadly. The adult-supported, youth directed coalition and campaign from 2017-2019 was a grassroots effort demanding the city of Chicago stop the construction of a then-$95 million dollar cop academy in West Garfield Park and fund youth and communities instead. The city ultimately decided to move forward with the project, however, the lessons learned and strategies seeded would prove fruitful for future campaigns in Chicago and movements across the country. The gang unpacks how Chicago youth changed the organizing landscape and movement media supported in naming, framing, and resisting power, both forging a path to the city's current political moment. BrownTown and guests compare and contrast the struggles of the late 2010's to what our movements are up against in this new fascist reality. Originally recorded October 2025. “The Wrap Up” which invites collaborators and community partners to take a behind the scenes look at SoapBox films, unpacking the nuts and bolts while thinking more deeply about power, struggle, and storytelling. Let’s get meta! Screen No Cop Academy: The Documentary here. Stay tuned for the film available on streaming in 2026! GUESTS Debbie Southorn was a lead adult organizer in the #NoCopAcademy campaign and producer of the film. She co-founded the Chicago chapter of Black & Pink in 2012, has been involved in and supported numerous efforts through her work at American Friends Service Committee, and is currently serving as the Director of Organizational Development at Dissenters. Follow Debbie on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Destiny Harris is a Black, queer educator, writer, poet, abolitionist and anti-imperialist organizer from the West Side of Chicago. She is an Alumna of Howard University who believes in the power of art and grassroots organizing as a vehicle to achieving liberation throughout the diaspora. She is currently the Chicago Peacebuilding Program Associate at American Friends Service Committee. Destiny also was an interviewee in the film and created corresponding educational material. Follow Destiny on Instagram and Facebook. Learn all about the campaign at NoCopAcademy,.com, the film at SoapBoxPO.com/NoCopAcademy, and peep the Linktree for any film updates. Follow the campaign/film on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Mentioned in episode: Related #NoCopAcademy episodesEp. 11 - Intersectionality, etc. ft. RubyEp. 26 - Coalition-building ft. Debbie & MonicaEp. 54 - #CopsOutCPS ft. Vero & AshaBONUS - #NoCopTOBER ft. Freedom#NoCopTOBER#CopsOutCPSBIG shoutout to by Sarah-Ji of Love and Struggle Photos who documented much of the campaign!Tom Callahan, filmmaker/creator of Sensitive Visuals-- CREDITS: Intro soundbites from news and campaign audio curated by Kassandra Borah; outro music King’s Dead Remix. Poster by Citlali Perez. Audio engineered by Kassandra Borah. Production assistance by Jamie Price. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTown Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Patreon SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Support

BrownTown sits down for a follow-up conversation to earlier this year, analyzing the shock and awe strategy of the Trump-Musk aligned agenda and how we got there. Fast-forward to fall 2025, BrownTown speaks candidly on Trump's war on Chicago. While the lies and terror of ICE kidnappings, killings, and military-style raids on family housing projects color Operation Midway Blitz, Chicago fights back. More and more, the brutality and incompetence of the alphabet boys is on wide display as everyone from seasoned organizers to everyday community members hold the line and get involved in the most historically effective and creative ways. Now, with the imperial boomerang in full effect and Christian Nationalism more explicitly codified into policy after the murder of Charlie Kirk, BrownTown takes inventory of our current cultural and political moment with a sober analysis and hope for the future. Originally recorded October 6, 2025.   Mentioned in or related to episode: Ep. 116 - America: The Last Dance?Feds Continue To Tear Gas Neighbors (Block Club Chi)Feds Won’t Pause Immigration Blitz During Halloween, Día De Los Muertos (Block Club Chi)Project 2025 TrackerGov. Pritzker calls out DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's bullshitMayor Brandon Johnson Bans Use Of City Property For Immigration Enforcement (Block Club Chi)Presidential Memorandum on "cOuNtEriNg DoMeStiC tErRoRiSm AnD oRgAniZeD pOLiTiCaL viOLeNce"Inside real estate fight that led to South Shore immigration raid (Real Deal)The 13th Largest Army in World Is Unleashing Violence in Chicago (In These Times)CREDITS: Intro clip from Vic Mensa for the New York Times; outro music SMOKIN' ON THAT CK PACK by Bonald J. Pump. Audio recorded and engineered by Kassandra Borah. Episode photo by Aidan Kranz. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTown Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Patreon SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Support

BrownTown chops it up with Kiara Hardin and Infiniti Gant, multifaceted organizers with the Obama Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) coalition. Ten years since the announcement of the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) on Chicago's South Side and five years since the passing of the Woodlawn Ordinance that ensured housing protections for some residents, the coalition has continued to organize to ensure affordable housing for more area residents, including and specifically South Shore. The gang compares and contrasts the political moment and opportunities from summer 2020, in the midst of the uprisings, to fall 2025 under a Brandon Johnson Mayoral Administration with a backdrop of a fascist takeover on the federal level. They end with a discussion on the interpersonal nature of community organizing at its root in relation to de-pedestalizing politicians in order to circumvent power to the people because when we fight, we win! Originally recorded September 10, 2025.   GUESTS Kiara Hardin is a dynamic project manager and organizational strategist with a passion for creative, collaborative solutions that center the needs and priorities of the Black community. With a strong focus on capacity-building, Kiara partners with Black-led and Black-focused organizations to create anti-authoritarian systems that fortify organizational infrastructure and promote sustainable growth. Her work, driven by a commitment to social equity, particularly addresses the social determinants of health. A dedicated community organizer, Kiara played a key role in the organizing efforts behind the South Shore Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) ordinance, working alongside local residents to fight for equitable development and protect long-standing Black communities from displacement. Through this campaign, she is helping build grassroots power, elevate community voice, and ensure that public policy reflects the lived experiences and demands of South Shore residents. Follow Kiara on Instagram and Linkedin. Infiniti is an incredibly motivated, astute, and empathetic community organizer with the willingness to push beyond previous experiences to contribute innovative ideas and creations. A skilled public speaker, researcher, organizer, independent worker, and team player, she's all about freedom and committed to using those skills for building people power for her community. Follow the Obama CBA on Instagram and Twitter. Follow Southside Together on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! --
 Other topics mentioned: Correction: The shirt Caullen describes, the Panthers were at the County Courthouse, not City HallOriginal Obama Center announcement2020 Uprisings Coverage & SoapBox MediaLightfoot's Tent City Occupation & all-day protestEp. 55 - Obama CBA from July 2020Micro-Doc on Obama CBAUprisings MediaSouth Korean Hyundai factory workers detained (PBS)Chicago Ward/Neighborhood/Community Area Info (1, 2, 3)Average Median Income (AMI) per City of ChicagoNo New Prisons Campaign and Gov. Pritzker-- CREDITS: Intro and outro soundbites from SoapBox's Obama CBA micro-doc. Audio engineering by Kassandra Borah. Episode photo provided by Infiniti Gant. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTown Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Patreon SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Support

Welcome to Bourbon 'n BrownTown! Since 2017, BrownTown has fostered radically imaginative dialogues on media, culture, politics, and our various social movements through a liberatory lens. With a Chicago focus, filmmakers and movement workers Caullen Hudson and David A. Moran unpack complex social issues and topics while building relationships with artists, activists, community organizers, educators, social entrepreneurs, and others working towards a better world. Together, BrownTown holds space to listen, learn, and liberate, all while sippin’ on sumpin’ good. Y'betta LISTEN!   CREDITS: Trailer produced, engineered, and edited by Kassandra Borah. Podcast audio engineers include Kiera Battles, Kassandra Borah, and Genta Tamashiro (up to episode 76); production assistance by Jamie Price; co-hosted and produced by Caullen Hudson and David A. Moran. Past guests featured include Charles Preston, Tia Haywood, Jamie Nesbitt Golden, and Heavy Crownz. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTown Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Support

BrownTown talks all things immigration under Trump 2.0, June protests in Los Angeles, and how ICE ain't shit with immigration attorney and new homie Khiabett Osuna. As Trump tests the waters of his draconian federal policies, financially backed by the Big [F*****g Ugly] Bill, and using ICE as his Gestapo-like muscle, we turn our focus to community resistance in all its forms. Khiabett leans into her work in and outside of the legal field as one piece of this larger puzzle to ensure that no human is illegal on stolen land. From protestors, organizers, and healers on the front lines in Los Angeles to mutual aid and rapid-response networks in Chicago, BrownTown and Khiabett unpack our neoliberal past, technofascist present, and what will be a desperate future unless we fight back. Originally recorded July 18, 2025.   GUEST Khiabett Osuna is an attorney with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC. While at DePaul College of Law, Khiabett worked at a local immigration firm and was involved in the Asylum Immigration Clinic. She volunteered with the CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project in Dilley, Texas, helping screen women and children at the South Texas Family Detention Center who had recently arrived in the United States. After law school, Khiabett was hired through the Department of Justice Honors Program as a Judicial Law Clerk, where she clerked for Immigration Judges in El Paso and Fort Worth, Texas. She then worked at immigration firms in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, assisting clients primarily in removal proceedings. In Chicago, Khiabett works at a full service immigration law firm, continuing to represent clients in removal proceedings, as well as individuals seeking family based and humanitarian relief. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the AILA Chicago Chapter Advocacy Committee, and the Federal Bar Association. Khiabett also volunteers at her local church providing consults to community members.   Mentioned in the episode: Correction: WWII ended under U.S. President Harry S. Truman, not FDRSocialism Conference 2025 session on community defenseLA Tenants UnionBirthright U.S. CitizenshipICE and Homeland Security budgets over timeThird Act documentary film by Tadashi NakamuraBnB Episode 116 - America: The Last Dance?Kelly Osbourne...incorrectly calling out TrumpMigrant dies in ICE raid (1, 2)ICE Mass Arrests Spark Chaos In South Loop (Block Club Chi)ResourcesICIRR Support #: 855.435.7693Midwest Immigration Bond FundOrganized Communities Against Deportation (OCAD)Pilsen Neighborhood Watch CoalitionNew fees for asylum seekers (1, 2)SoapBox's 2020 Census projectPalestinian boy dancing with drone above (Aljazeera)Defectors by Paola RamosImmigrants in tree outlast ICE (Reddit)LA Anti-ICE protest Instagram highlights-- CREDITS: Intro soundbite from Alderperson Byron Sigcho-Lopez at a STOP ICE rally on June 8, 2025 in Chicago. Outro music F**K ICE 2 by MANNY SÁNCHEZ. Audio engineered by Kiera Battles. Production assistance by Jamie Price. Episode photo by unknown. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTown Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Patreon SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Support

BrownTown decolonizes the ivory tower approach to research with Dr. Glenance Green & Shari Runner, Co-Founders of the Black Researchers Collective (BRC). The Chicago-based capacity-building collective takes research to the streets, designing, activating, and mobilizing communities to use research and data to create and sustain change across Chicago communities and beyond. Dr. G and Shari discuss their journeys as researchers, organizers, and leaders from before the 2020 uprisings to now, comparing the two political moments while doubling down on their work in the face of both anti-Black and anti-science rhetoric and policies from the Trump Administration. As the team unpacks the relationship between research and the grassroots, it becomes clear that participatory and solution-based approaches to self-determination hold constant in all avenues of liberation work. After all, "we do this 'til we free us" (Mariame Kaba). Originally recorded June 11, 2025, days after the large scale anti-ICE demonstrations began in Los Angeles. GUESTS Dr. Glenance Green (affectionately known as Dr. G) is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Black Researchers Collective. Recognized by WVON and Ariel Investments in 2024 as one of Chicago’s 40 Gamechangers Under 40, Dr. G is a dynamic scholar, author, and community organizer dedicated to racial equity, Black liberation, and policy reform. A multi-talented leader, she holds a Ph.D. in Policy Studies in Urban Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, with research focusing on Black women-led organizations leading resistance efforts against oppression through community-driven educational models, which not only advance their organizations' missions but also have potential implications for shaping state and local education policy. Follow her on Instagram and her creative work on her Linktree! Shari Runner is Co-Founder and Director of the Black Researchers Collective. A native Chicagoan whose national reputation has been cemented due to her outspoken voice on inclusion, race, and equity. With more than 40 years of experience in public and private operations and financial management and after a career as an international banker in foreign exchange, Runner used her knowledge of finance and business operations as an entrepreneur. The Black Researchers Collective (BRC) aims to advance racial equity by training and equipping communities with research tools to be more civically engaged and policy-informed through four key pillars: Community Education & Action; Research Evaluation, & Technical Assistance; Grassroots Strategies for Policy Engagement & Advocacy; and Black Researchers Pipeline. Follow BRC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Mentioned in the episode: Data 4 Black LivesResearch in the Streets PodcastBlack Researcher AppLA Anti-ICE protest highlights#NoCopAcademy Report-- CREDITS: Intro and outro song Hella Black by Tobe Nwigwe. Audio engineered by Kiera Battles. Production assistance by Jamie Price. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTown Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Patreon SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Support

BrownTown shares space with Chicago Palestinian Film Festival (CPFF) Executive Director Nina Shoman-Dajani, filmmaker Justin Mashouf, & protagonist of the short film $17.74, Hamzah Furqani. The team discusses the inner-workings and impact of the longest running Palestinian film festival in the world, centering the responsibility creators and storytellers have in sharing their to amplify resistance, solidarity, and joy. Originally recorded April 26, 2025. Founded in 2001, the CPFF is an annual cultural event that serves as a vibrant platform for showcasing the rich and diverse narratives of Palestinian cinema. The festival provides a unique space for filmmakers, artists, and audience members to engage with compelling stories that explore the multifaceted aspects of Palestinian life. Through a carefully curated selection of feature films, documentaries, and shorts, the festival seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the Palestinian experience. Follow the festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! GUESTS Nina Shoman-Dajani currently serves as the Executive Director for the Chicago Palestine Film Festival. She is also a community college administrator and teaches Middle Eastern Studies at Saint Xavier University and has served as a visiting lecturer at the University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC). She is a contributor to the recently published book Teaching Palestine: Lessons, Stories, Voices and one of the authors of Beyond Erasure and Profiling: Cultivating Strong and Vibrant Arab American Communities in Chicagoland. Nina is a co-chair for the MENA/SWANA Caucus and the Transnational/International Committee of the National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE), a former board member for the Arab American Studies Association and a board member for the Syrian Community Network, a refugee resettlement agency in Chicago. Follow Nina on Instagram! Justin Mashouf is an award-winning filmmaker and artist based in Los Angeles. He is the co-founder and Executive Producer of Stay Focused Pictures, a production company specializing in documentary development and production. A finalist for the Pillars Fund x Riz Ahmed inaugural Artist Fellowship, Justin’s career spans over 10 countries and includes feature films, commercials, TV specials and documentaries including his CPFF-accepted short film $17.74. Follow Justin on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and IMDB! Hamzah Furqani is the protagonist of $17.74. Raised in Los Angeles, Hamzah is a former gang member who spent 39 years incarcerated. In 1989, while serving his sentence, he began his journey of personal transformation by converting to Islam. Later, while incarcerated and before his release, he donated a month-long paycheck to support relief efforts in Gaza.  -- Mentioned Topics & More Info:  Original GoFundMe from $17.74Related episodes:Ep. 113 - Palestinian Liberation: Divestment, Encampments, & Institutions ft. AmoonaEp. 112 - DNC: Pt. 2 ft. Nesreen Hasan & Nadiah AlyafaiEp. 111 - Palestinian Liberation: Anti-Zionism & Jewish Solidarity ft. Rabbi Brant Rosen & Lesley WilliamsEp. 102 - Palestinian Liberation: In This Moment ft. Muhammad SankariProfessor Refaat Alareer (video, 1, 2)Jackson Market, Palestinian-owned cultural marketInner-City Muslim Action NetworkTom Callahan's Remembering WaterKneecap pro-Palestine projections at CochellaEpistemicide according to BnB Alum Ricardo Gamboa2025 CPFF on Block Club Chi, Chicago Reader, Chicago Tribune, Chicago ReporterNina on WBEZ Chicago Podcast about 2024 CPFF-- CREDITS: Intro song from Leve Palestina (Hijazi Remix ) 2023 | تحيا فلسطين ; outro soundbite from Refaat Alareer. Audio engineered by Kassandra Borah. -- Bourbon ’n BrownTown Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Patreon SoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3 Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Support