Politically Re-active With W. Kamau Bell & Hari Kondabolu

You’re going to walk away from this week’s Politically Re-Active, happier and smarter after listening to our conversation with Killer Mike of Run the Jewels. From equity, to allyship and building political power, Killer Mike rallies us to think big and do better. This may take learning how to survive the zombie apocalypse, which Killer Mike shares some insights on too. And in this week’s episode we yet again gain a new term to add to our vocabulary, “the big three.” So get ready to learn and laugh a whole lot. But it’s not all politics, we also talk to Killer Mike about his new album with El-P, “Run the Jewels 3.” To check-out their albums and tour dates visit  www.runthejewels.com. You can also follow them on Twitter @Run Jewels, @Killer Mike, and @The Real El P. And don’t forget we have new t-shirts! Visit podswag.com/pr or podswag.com/politicallyreactive. Both work! To get the latest updates on us follow us on Facebook at Politically Re-Active and Twitter @PoliticReActive and send us your comments using

What do you do when a Twitter beef disrupts your plans? That’s what happened to this week’s Politically Re-Active. But don’t you worry. We’re picking up the pieces and bringing you the good, bad, and ugly of today’s digital age. We’re speaking with Jessie Daniels about how anything can turn into a shitstorm in a matter of seconds on Twitter. She’s a Professor of Sociology at Hunter College and The Graduate Center, CUNY. She is also among the founders of the emerging field of digital sociology. We’ll also speak to cyber security expert Nicholas Weaver about whether or not we need to worry about anyone spying on our boring lives and if so, who that might be. He’s a researcher focusing on computer security at the International Computer Science Institute in Berkeley, California. You can follow CUNY Professor Jessie Daniels at @JessieNYC. Also check out her books  “White Lies” and “Cyber Racism.” She is currently working on a new book, “Tweetstorm: The Rise of the “Alt-Right” and the Mainstreaming of White Natio

We’re back with a powerhouse episode! California Congresswoman Barbara Lee and National Women’s March Co-Chair Linda Sarsour breakdown the reality of fighting for social, racial, and economic justice. We learn about how Congresswoman Lee’s political career was shaped by working with the Black Panthers and on Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm's historical presidential campaign. We learn about how Linda Sarsour fought to disband the NYPD’s unwarranted surveillance of the American Muslim community after 9/11. Congresswoman Lee says if you want to see change you’ve got to keep up the “street heat.” And Sarsour says it’s time for us to be louder than the haters, who are so dang loud. Prepared to be inspired! To keep up with Representative Barbara Lee’s work follow her on Twitter at @RepBarbaraLee. And you can find Linda Sarsour @Lsarsour If you haven’t heard, we have new t-shirts! Visit podswag.com/pr or podswag.com/politicallyreactive. Both work! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter too @PoliticReActive and send

Coming to you LIVE from San Francisco, it’s Politically Re-Active at Comedy Central’s Clusterfest! Joining your favorite hosts on stage are comedian and podcast queen Phoebe Robinson, the brilliantly witty writer (and This American Life favorite) Lindy West, and our favorite undercover investigative journalist, Shane Bauer! We talk about white nationalists taking over Berkeley, the danger of buying into Ivanka Trump’s beauty, and of course, Bill Maher. And for the comedy nerds, a surprise guest shows up on stage… so hit “play” already! Phoebe Robinson’s got a book and hella podcasts! Read _You Can’t Touch My Hair_ and listen to her shows 2 Dope Queens and Sooo Many White Guys wherever you’re listening to this podcast. And follow her on Twitter, boo boos!: @dopequeenpheebs. Lindy West isn’t on Twitter, but you can read her musings and analysis at The Guardian and find her tour dates at http://www.lindywest.net/. And like Phoebe, she’s got a New York Times bestselling book! Pick up _Shrill_ ASAP! Private pri

She’s spoken at the Women’s March on Washington, hosted a show for MSNBC, edited for Allure and Marie Claire, and written a New York Times bestselling memoir – and that’s not even half of the revolutionary work that trans writer and activist Janet Mock has done in her young career. In this episode, we talk with Janet about the writing process for her latest memoir “Surpassing Certainty,” the strong history and community of trans people in her native Hawaii, why the term “passing” is problematic for her, and why we should complicate our language when we use the word “woman”. For those of you who don’t know Janet: You’re about to become fans! Find Janet’s books, podcast (Never Before), and speaking events at www.janetmock.com. And follow Janet on Twitter!: @janetmock We’re going on break for TWO WEEKS! Kamau and Hari are going to miss you. So listen to their standup, read their books, watch them on CNN, and find them in person at http://www.wkamaubell.com/ and http://www.harikondabolu.com/. Thanks, and be b

It usually takes Naomi Klein five years to write a book. This time, it took her less than five months. The journalist, author, and activist’s latest work _No Is Not Enough_ is all about Trump, the dark trends that have led to his presidency, and the urgent need for intersectional action right now – not later. In this episode of Politically Re-Active, we dig into the “capitalist burlesque” that has taken over the White House and explain how Trump’s scandals only reinforce his corporate brand (“impunity through wealth”). With so many crises unfolding around the globe, Naomi says, it’s time to band together to revive our own idea of utopia. So tweet us yours: @politicreactive. Learn more about _No Is Not Enough_ at https://www.noisnotenough.org/ and follow Naomi Klein on Twitter: @NaomiAKlein. Kamau’s on TV! And on stage! And so is Hari! Find their tour dates, albums, and latest works at http://www.wkamaubell.com/ and http://www.harikondabolu.com/. Thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Live from Limestone! Professor Jeffrey C. Isaac, Karinda Dobbins, Arish Singh, Sophie Hughes, and Janet Cheatham Bell! For the first time ever, it’s Politically Re-Active LIVE! Kamau and Hari take the show on the road to Bloomington, Indiana, for the Limestone Comedy Festival (AKA, “THE GREATEST WEEKEND OF YOUR LIFE VOL V.”). Your favorite hosts talk with Indiana University Political Science Professor Jeffrey C. Isaac about rating Trump’s performance, the Paris Climate Agreement, and why Trump probably won’t ever be impeached. Then, not one, not two, but THREE amazing comedians in the form of Karinda Dobbins, Arish Singh, and Sophie Hughes share what it’s like to tell jokes in the Trump Era. Finally, Kamau’s mom Janet Cheatham Bell joins the hosts to put all of our current political nonsense into perspective. It’s our most jampacked show ever – join us and feel like you were there! Learn more about Indiana University’s Jeffrey C. Issac’s work here: http://polisci.indiana.edu/faculty/profiles/isaac.shtml Fo

Writer Jill Filipovic on the feminist pursuit of happiness Imagine a world in which women weren’t forced to struggle for equality in a system rigged against them. Imagine instead, the ideal world of journalist and author Jill Filipovic – one in which happiness for women is the driving force behind policies like fair pay and legal recognition of best friendships. In that world, Jill says, not only are women happier and healthier, but most everyone else (read: people who aren’t white men) are better off, too. In this episode of Politically Re-Active, your favorite hosts sit down with Jill to talk about her policy ideas as well as Ivanka Trump’s brand of “empowerment”, white lady feminism, and the evil of the all-male photo op. Follow Jill on Twitter!: @JillFilipovic. And read more about _The H-Spot_ here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jill-filipovic/the-h-spot/9781568585482/ We have TWO live shows this week! Join us in-person at the Limestone Comedy Festival in Bloomington, Indiana, this Friday,

Rashad Robinson has done battle with Bill O’Reilly and won – twice. He’s taken on the shady, corporate-driven conservative operation ALEC and gotten companies like Coca Cola and Walmart to back down from supporting stand-your-ground laws. And now, after successfully campaigning to remove O’Reilly from Fox News - along with great work from UltraViolet, the Women's March, NOW-New York, CREDO, Sleeping Giants, and MoveOn - he’s taking on the prison-profiteering bail bond industry – and it’s not even June. As executive director of Color of Change, the nation's largest online racial justice organization, Rashad is at the forefront of the strategic campaigns that transform lives and movements. In this episode of Politically Re-Active, he shares the backstories behind these campaigns, the role of entertainment in the resistance, and more. Trust us – you won’t want to miss it! Please visit Color of Change to learn how you can support their campaigns, especially their current campaign to reform the bail bond industry

Listeners, you and your kids need a new alphabet – specifically, one that starts with “A is for Angela Davis”. In this episode of Politically Re-Active, we talk with writer Kate Schatz and artist Miriam Klein Stahl about their illustrated children’s books, "Rad American Women A-Z" and "Rad Women Worldwide." We also dive into ways that you – yes you! – can join the resistance in your local community through Solidarity Sundays, a network of feminist activist groups that meet each month to engage elected officials and build intersectional communities for justice. It’s art, action, and the alphabet, all in this episode of #politicallyreactive. Find a local meeting of Solidarity Sundays at https://www.solidaritysundays.org/! And learn more about Kate and Miriam’s work, including the “Rad Women” series, at http://www.kateschatz.com/ and http://www.miriamkleinstahl.com/. Or if you prefer Twitter: @kateschatz and @miriamkstahl. Kamau and Hari want to meet you! Catch Kamau on his The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Be

It’s hard to find a bright spot in the 2016 election, but born woke, political commentator and analyst Angela Rye was one. A regular on CNN’s thuderdome-like panels, Angela doesn’t mince words calling out lies and advocating for people of color and women. In this episode of #politicallyreactive we speak with Angela about authenticity and difficult conversations. Click “play” to find out why Angela is not trying to be objective. Follow Angela on Twitter (@angela_rye ‏). Book tours, TV shows, standup – oh my! Catch Kamau in-person for his The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell book tour or on TV for CNN’s United Shades of America! More info at http://www.wkamaubell.com/. And Hari really, REALLY wants you to come see him on tour – find dates at: http://www.harikondabolu.com/. Got a comment or suggestion? Email us at politicallyreactive@firstlook.org or follow us on Twitter at @politicreactive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Folks on both the left and the right have a love-hate relationship with reporter and Intercept co-founder Jeremy Scahill. His brand of “adversarial” investigative journalism makes no exceptions – not for the nation’s most powerful, and especially not for those advocating for wars abroad. In this episode of #politicallyreactive, we talk with Jeremy about his refusal to sit on a panel with Milo Yiannopoulos on Real Time with Bill Maher, what it was like to interview Julian Assange for the Intercepted podcast, his thoughts on Russian involvement in U.S. politics, and the people who give him hope for the future (hint: it’s probably you!). Click “play” to find out why Jeremy has earned the title, “one-man truth squad”. Keep tabs on Jeremy on Twitter (@jeremyscahill) and subscribe to the Intercepted podcast on your preferred podcast platform! Or stream the show online at: https://theintercept.com/podcasts/ Book tours, TV shows, standup – oh my! Catch Kamau in-person for his The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell

You probably got to know him as the “Senior Middle East Correspondent,” or the “Senior Muslim Correspondent,” or maybe the “Senior Foreign Looking Correspondent”, but actor, writer, and former Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi has moved into the hot seat for this episode of Politically Re-Active. Join Aasif and your favorite hosts as they talk about political satire during the Bush years, Aasif’s reaction to the Muslim ban and the “gaslighting presidency”, and what it means to “wrestle your inner Hitler to the ground”. Keep up to date with Aasif on Twitter: @aasif. That’s also where you’ll find a link to learn more about his memoir _No Land’s Man_, which the New York Times calls “explosively funny”. Kamau’s also got a book coming out! _The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell_ is available for pre-order on Amazon. If you’d like to hear his awkward thoughts in person, you can meet him on his book tour. Visit http://www.wkamaubell.com/ to learn more. And if you STILL can’t get enough Kamau, watch him on th

Long before we asked our white audience members to “come get your boy” (keep tweeting!: #WhitesAgainstTrump), activist and entrepreneur Michael Skolnik was using his privilege to support social justice movements and reform the criminal justice system all over the country. Whether it’s getting “I can’t breathe” t-shirts to LeBron James, advising celebrities making their first foray into political activism, or supporting grassroots organizers, Skolnik is all about listening to and building up others. So tune into this episode to learn about the work he’s done and the work still left to do – oh, and about that one time he talked to Trump about running for president... Follow Michael Skolnik on Twitter at @MichaelSkolnik and check out the news/politics/entertainment site he built with Russell Simmons: https://globalgrind.com/. And Kamau and Hari want to make you laugh! In person! Find tour dates and albums from your favorite hosts at www.harikondabolu.com and www.wkamaubell.com. As always, send us your thoug

It’s been six years of the devastating civil war in Syria – more than 11 million people have been displaced, and last week’s horrifying chemical attack on Syrian citizens by their own president Bashar al-Assad has been yet another reminder of the human cost of the conflict. On this episode of Politically Re-Active, journalist and author Alia Malek helps contextualize the war and shares her own experiences of living in Damascus during the start of the conflict. Alia recommends following these outlets and journalists to stay engaged with news from Syria: independent journalist Rania Abouzeid (@Raniaab), Kareem Shaheen of The Guardian (@kshaheen), and the website http://syria.jadaliyya.com/. And if you have money to spare, donate to the following organizations: INARA, which focuses on providing medical assistance to children from Syria, and Chicago-based Karam, which seeks to “restore the dignity and quality of life for people affected by conflict.” Learn more about Alia and her book, The Home That Was Our Coun

Our guest this week is Akilah… obviously! Akilah Hughes – otherwise known as Akilah Obviously – is a writer, comedian, and YouTuber who talks as easily about race, feminism, and intersectionality as she does pizza, hair, and punching Nazis. In this conversation, our hosts chat with Akilah about her life as a creator and the videos she’s most proud of (like the fantastic series, “This Shouldn’t Be News”). We also dive into what it’s like to be a black woman in media in the time of #blackwomenatwork and share the smart and hilarious content you ought to add to your queue. So hit play – obviously! Watch Akilah’s videos on her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/smoothiefreak! And follow Akilah on Twitter: @akilahobviously. Your favorite hosts are going on tour – find out when they’ll be in your city at www.harikondabolu.com and www.wkamaubell.com. In the meantime, listen to Hari’s new record “Hari Kondabolu’s New Material Night Volume I” on Bandcamp and iTunes. And watch Kamau on CNN’s “United Shades

Kick off Season 2 with your favorite hosts and grassroots organizer, resistance fighter, and #blacklivesmatter co-founder Patrisse Khan-Cullors! We dig into why Patrisse identifies as an organizer and not an activist, what it was like to see #blacklivesmatter go viral, and the fear – and courage – that goes along with being viewed as an enemy of the state. There’s no other person we’d rather laugh and resist with than Patrisse – and you. Follow Patrisse on Twitter: @osope. You can also learn more about her fight against police brutality at http://patrissecullors.com/. And of course, get involved with #blacklivesmatter – chapter information is available at http://blacklivesmatter.com/. And meet your hosts! Both Kamau and Hari are going on tour – find out when they’ll be in your city at www.harikondabolu.com and www.wkamaubell.com. If you can’t wait until then, you can always listen to Hari’s new record “Hari Kondabolu’s New Material Night Volume I” on Bandcamp and iTunes. Or you can watch Kamau on CNN’s “Uni

The second season of Politically Re-Active launches March 29th! Be sure to subscribe now on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, so you won't miss a thing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kamau and Hari play catch up on the state of the world since last November. We hear some updates on past guests and they talk a little about who they might want to have on, if, you know, they were interested in doing another season... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we present a new podcast from our friend Maeve Higgins!  Maeve grapples with perhaps the hottest topic of Trump’s USA: immigration. More importantly, she meets Roz Koo - business woman, activist, and professional butt-kicker of the highest order. Roz recounts a childhood in occupied Shanghai, a high flying career in 1980s San Francisco, and a bold life of service that merges two countries into one.Be sure to subscribe to Maeve in America so that you don't miss an episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.