Catch Me Up 2 Speed

Episode #9 - Asian American history

We're back for the final episode in our three-part series on Asians in America with a look back at Asian American history, which is deeper and more  profound in the writing of the American story than it's given credit for.
We also conclude the episode - our first during AAPI Heritage Month - with some thoughts on how to move forward in solidarity with the planned infrastructure bill, and how it may help all undeserved communities in America.
Key Facts about Asian Americans (Pew Research Institiute)
PBS' 5-part series, 'Asian Americans'
A Different Asian American Timeline (ChangeLab)
Stephen Miller emails to Breitbart News (SPLC)
Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America, Mae Ngai
Delano Manongs; Forgotten Heroes of the UFW - Marisa Aroy
Retrospective on Gov. Hogan's stoppage of Red Line (Baltimore Sun)
The Asian American Foundation
The Real Reasons the U.S. became less racist toward Asian Americans (Wash. Post, 2016)

Episode #8 - Asian American issues in the media

We're back with Episode #8 - the second of our three part series on Asians in America.  In this episode, we will look at how the media covers violence against Asians, and also give some media training so you can help write draft of your own history.
Capt. Jay Baker comments (WXIA Atlanta)
March 17th CNN Article: “Fetishized, sexualized and marginalized, Asian women are uniquely vulnerable to violence.”
March 18th NY Times: “How Racism and Sexism Intertwine to Torment Asian-American Women.”
March 19 Vox: “The history of fetishizing Asian women”
Feb. 2021 ABC Nightline story
Fox News segment w/ Ying Ma (via Twitter)
NY Times - Swelling Asian American violence...Who is being attacked where?
AAJA Studio

Episode #7 - Thu Quach, PIVOT & One Nation

Episode #7 begins our focus on the Asian-American diaspora with our very first podcast interview!
Thu Quach of Asian Health Services & co-founder of the Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT).  Thu's amazing journey has inspired many - from advocating for immigrants during the Trump Administration, to caring for the community during the COVID pandemic. Her work continues with AHS, PIVOT, and One Nation AAPI - and she's just getting started!
We will have a second podcast within a week's time to discuss the tragic events of March 16th, and the coverage of the rising violence against Asian-Americans in the media. 
http://www.pivotnetwork.org
https://www.onenationaapi.com/

Episode #6: What is 'Radical', anyway?

We’re happy to be back with Episode #6, where we want to ask a big question: What is ‘radical’, anyway?  We want to Catch you Up To Speed on other eras in American History that were seen as ‘radical’, but in retrospect seem necessary, even essential.
We’re also moving into re-working our format, and will bring regular examples of our ‘4 Tips for following the News’, while setting the stage for even more new themes and features for future episodes.
Links:
Click here for some background on previous Democratic party platforms, and why the 2020 platform isn't necessarily 'radical' based on history.
In the early 1970's, Richard Nixon did talk about universal health care...before taking on Edgar Kaiser et al. suggestions for the HMO system.
And here are the two op-eds from former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers:
Washington Post Op-Ed, February 4th
WSJ.com Op-Ed, February 5th

Episode #5: Legacy of the Capitol Riot & What's next?

A Capitol Riot, a failed insurrection, a second impeachment, and a new President. 
Welcome to January, 2021.  We return to catch you up on why the events of January 6th will effect us all far beyond the Trump presidency. 
Are we at the start of a 'Third Reconstruction', and were the events of January 6th a preview of a new 'Redeemer' movement?  Is the recent push for domestic terror laws reminiscent of the push for the Patriot Act in the wake of 9/11?   We will talk about all of that while charting a new course forward for the podcast.
Links:
Black Capitol Police talk about the Jan. 6th Capitol Riot
Rep. Tlaib opposes new domestic terror laws
A history of the 2001 Patriot Act
Obama criticized for drone strikes
Trump admin. drone strike numbers exceed Obama admin.
 

Episode #4 - It HAS Happened here...

2021 is upon us, and we return to talk about political coups in America.  With the Trump Administration seeking ways to retain their power as Inauguration Day approaches, we catch you up on coups - both attempted and successful - that are already part of our history.
Catch up more with information from these links:
The Battle of LIberty Place, New Orleans, 1874
Plots against the President (Sally Denton)
The Wilmington, NC Massacre of 1898 
 

Episode #3 election wrap-up

We're back with some thoughts about the 2020 election, political trends to watch for in 2021, and some history on the Senate in advance of Georgia's dual elections in January.
Show Links:
Click here for Vox's article on President Trump's next post-election moves.
Here is the profile piece on Chuck Rocha
Here is the link for the Reuters Institute Digital News Report
You can find Tom Bonier's assessment of the AAPI vote here.
And here is more information on Stop AAPI Hate 2020.

Episode #2:The Black Vote in America

This presidential election season has produced a battle for black voters unlike any in recent election history.  Black voters have been reliably democratic for several generations, but the history of the black vote shows that this voting group has shifted before - and may be charting a new path yet again.
Podcaster's Note: There are a LOT of sources for this episode, here are some of the key ones:
Black Reconstruction in America, W.E.B. DuBois
The Second Founding, Eric Foner
Kennedy and King, Steven Livingston
https://www.britannica.com/event/Brownsville-Affairhttps://ehistory.osu.edu/exhibitions/1912/race/tafts
Please email us at hello@catchmeup2speed.com if you'd like to see more!

Episode #1: The Intro & 4 tips to Navigate the News

Welcome to the inaugural episode of our new podcast!  Our first episode focuses on four tips for consuming media:
1) Don’t look for absolute truth in the news, for it’s just the first draft of history.
2) Consider all sources critically -- including the top newspapers.
3) Follow the money, and you’ll see who pays to influence media narratives.
4) Let go of binary thinking. Liberal v. conservative is a 20th-century construct, and will increasingly become obsolete. 
We give you a lot of examples in this episode! Here’s further reading for them:
Gulf of Tonkin Incident:
https://fair.org/media-beat-column/30-year-anniversary-tonkin-gulf-lie-launched-vietnam-war/
https://www.nsa.gov/news-features/declassified-documents/gulf-of-tonkin/
 
NY Times’ Apology for Iraq War Coverage:
https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/media/features/9226/
https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/26/world/from-the-editors-the-times-and-iraq.html
 
Extreme Consolidation of Media Ownership:
https://www.vox.com/2018/1/23/16905844/media-landscape-verizon-amazon-comcast-disney-fox-relationships-chart
https://www.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/021815/worlds-top-ten-media-companies-dis-cmcsa-fox.aspx
 
On Paying for Media Access and Influence
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/conservative-courts-leonard-leo/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/five-takeaways-from-the-posts-report-on-leonard-leo/2019/05/20/c547954c-78e9-11e9-b3f5-5673edf2d127_story.html