Seeing Red: Nebraska Politics From the Left

Find VIDEO OF SONG and links to learn more about Kirk Peener here: https://seeingrednebraska.substack.com/p/we-have-prepared-our-testimony-for Kirk Penner is a member of the Nebraska board of Education and already a bad dude on a number of fronts: he’s antisemitic, anti-trans, anti-mask, a COVID conspiracy theorist, and he was elected in part through the financial support of SPLC designated hate group Family Watch International. Want to let him know how you feel about these changes? First read this article for more information. The changes will be discussed at the next SBOE meeting this Friday, Feb 2, at 9:00 am at the NDE Office Building Board Room located at 500 S 84th Street. In the meantime, here’s a little of our testimony.

This short clip is part of a story story about a notorious local psychopath. Read the story at https://seeingrednebraska.com/fascism/klin-broadcasts-scurrilous-rape-accusation-to-benefit-republican-incumbent-pat-condon/

This clip is part of a story story about a notorious local psychopath. Read the story at https://seeingrednebraska.com/fascism/klin-broadcasts-scurrilous-rape-accusation-to-benefit-republican-incumbent-pat-condon/

There are A LOT of races on your ballot and many races have two people that you probably don't like...but you're a grownup and you want the better of the two. Here's some advice on how to vote.

Our very own, Melody, is a speaker at the Lincoln women's march. She is the opening speaker and talks about the importance of feeling and creating joy, radical joy. She also had the honor of interviewing the keynote, Amber Goodwin, one of the greatest organizers in the country.

E74: Meet Eve Downing Eve Downing (they/she) is a trans person in Omaha and the child of Jefferson and Diane Downing, who both serve as board members with Nebraska Family Alliance. Eve tells us what it’s like growing up with parents who are leading the charge at removing civil rights of trans people, including her. Eve is vibrant, surrounded by a strong community, and the future is bright as she works to pursue her dreams out of state. See previous coverage about Nebraska Family Alliance https://seeingrednebraska.com/nebraska-politics/a-rightwing-lawyer-has-demanded-the-email-and-browsing-history-of-faculty-involved-with-this-blog/ https://seeingrednebraska.com/lgbtqa/the-point-of-the-nebraska-family-alliance-is-to-destroy-families/ *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska Instagram @seeingrednebraska

April sits down with Julia to discuss the deliberate destruction of the social safety net in America, which have come over time on the heels of tax cuts for corporations and the rich, and how LB939 would bring more of the same. Conversely, average Americans are still reeling from the pandemic and 40 years of government abandoning the needs of the populace.

E72: Meet Ann Hunter-Pirtle We were lucky enough to get Ann Hunter-Pirtle on the pod before she moves away from Nebraska! She is a Lincoln, Nebraska native and a proud graduate of Lincoln Public Schools and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, from which she holds a BA in Political Science and French and an MS in Agricultural Economics. She has served as Stand For Schools' executive director since 2016. Prior to founding Stand For Schools, Ann spent 5 years in Washington, DC working at the U.S. Senate, the White House, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Ann is passionate about preserving and strengthening Nebraska’s public schools so that future generations of Nebraskans can enjoy the opportunities she received. *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska Instagram @seeingrednebraska

E71: Unionize UNL Our guests are Kathleen Dillon & Roz Kichler. Roz and Kathleen are graduate workers at UNL and are on the Steering Committee of Unionize UNL, trying to start a union of graduate workers at UNL. *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska Instagram @seeingrednebraska

As many of you know, our host Melody is also the executive director of Nebraskans Against Gun Violence. Let’s get into guns, Nebraska, and all the nonsense. Great research from Henry Cordes at OWH: https://omaha.com/news/state-and-regional/crime-and-courts/gun-law-shifted-hundreds-of-gun-cases-from-federal-courts-at-state-taxpayer-expense/article_87f4bfa8-6ff9-11ec-90dd-c7504ea25e65.html https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/omaha-shows-stiffer-sentences-arent-only-way-to-tackle-gun-violence/article_ceea1028-6439-11ec-bb6c-a32da91f68ca.html Information on permitless carry: https://nebraskansagainstgunviolence.com/permitless-carry *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska Instagram @seeingrednebraska

Melody, Stephanie, and April spend a good amount of time laughing and making sex jokes, as it’s episode 69. We reflect on our work, the incredible people we get to speak with, and for the first time ever we introduce you to our dedicated sound engineer. Learn about the new swag for all existing patrons AND new ones through the end of the year. Every cool fridge in Nebraska is going to want the exclusive seeingred magnet! *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska Instagram @seeingrednebraska

In this episode we talk about evictions, legal process, and renter’s rights (or lack thereof) with Dave Pantos. Dave has been an attorney for 25 years, volunteers about 2 times a week helping renters realize their rights in court, is a current candidate for Douglas County Attorney. Fast Fasts on evictions: -Tenants who don’t have attorneys will get evicted 98% of the time -Tenants who have attorneys are usually able to avoid or delay losing their homes -Tenants who do not show up for their eviction hearings will almost certainly be evicted -Eviction hearings usually only last 90 seconds when the tenant has no attorney Dave is reading: Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska

E67: Meet Ms Erika Felt Erika Felt has run an in-home childcare business since 2001 with a two year break in the middle to act as director of a large childcare center. She has organized and maintained a statewide online resource & support group for in-home childcare business owners for the last 7yrs while striving to have in-home childcare business owner voices be heard. She has been vocal about the benefits of & improvements needed within the Nebraska childcare subsidy program, concerns about NDE’s over reach into childcare businesses, and basic common sense regulations & requirements that the industry should have. Erika is reading: You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska Instagram @seeingrednebraska

E66: Let’s talk TIF, Nose Picking Groene, and More! Join special guest host, Megan Stock, and lets talk Tax Increment Financing (TIF). TIF is a powerful tool used by cities for public development, but has not had the impact on the areas of greatest need as intended. Megan is reading: Life and Death of the American City by Jane Synder *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska Instagram @seeingrednebraska Additional Reading: Bills would add needed oversight to Tax Increment Financing https://www.openskypolicy.org/policy-brief-bills-would-add-needed-oversight-to-tax-increment-financing The Hidden Costs of TIF:Reconsidering a Vaunted Economic Development Tool https://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/articles/hidden-costs-tif Omaha City Council Approves 17.5 million TIF for Casino. https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/omaha-city-council-approves-17-5-million-tif-plan-for-casino-at-horsemens-park/article_01717068-e992-11eb-94bf-3f4fb4911828.html Omaha 2020 TIF Report https://planninghcd.cityofomaha.org/images/TIF_Documents/FINAL_DRAFT_2020_TIF_Report.pdf TIF in Nebraska: IS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LAW BROKEN OR ARE PROPONENTS OF REFORM MERELY PLAYING A BROKEN RECORD ON REPEAT https://dspace2.creighton.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10504/87852/49CreightonLRev651.pdf?sequence=1 EMINENT DOMAIN AS ENCLOSURE MOVEMENT: THE PRIVATIZATION OF LAW UNDER NEOLIBERALISM https://fau.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fau%3A31304/datastream/OBJ/view Tax Increment Financing: Public Use or Private Abuse? Alyson Tomme https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/217204367.pdf “TIFues”: An Examination of the History and Current Issues in Tax Increment Financing Richard T. Wagner https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10355/41413/WagnerTifExaHis.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y Lincoln, NE Redevelopment Process Flow Chart https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/files/sharedassets/public/urban-development/tif-process.pdf Lied Place https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lied-place-residences-developers-make-case-for-additional-tif-dollars/article_e643c405-0419-518b-a50e-4f1458252f69.html More on TIFS, Schools, and Streetcars. By Rick Esenberg https://archive.jsonline.com/blogs/purple-wisconsin/293707751.html https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/olde-towne-bellevue-residents-upset-by-blighted-designation-say-mayor-has-conflict-of-interest/article_ce056bce-3bff-11ec-8209-dbe416f0f26e.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1 https://omaha.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-governments-must-scrutinize-tif-requests-but-ultimate-benefits-can-be-great/article_fb84b27a-777f-11eb-9c99-b7e703bedbae.html Improving Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Economic Development. By David Merriman with Lincoln Institute of Land Policy https://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/policy-focus-reports/improving-tax-increment-financing-tif-economic-development

E65: Meet Renee Sans Souci With a degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and being an Umo n ho n woman and practitioner of traditional healing, Renee Sans Souci combines her life experiences with a learning process that helps learners to engage in their own cultural identities and languages. Renee has been a Teaching Artist with the Lied Center for Performing Arts since 2009. She has presented at numerous conferences and workshops on various topics related to #MMIWG2S, Native Science, History of Indian Education, Native languages, Poetry, and Sustainability. Sans Souci was featured, last year, in the PBS American Masters Series, UNLADYLIKE 2020: Susan LaFlesche Picotte: The First American Indian Doctor. She was also a finalist for a 2020 Inspire Award, Celebrating Women Leaders in Lincoln, Nebraska. Book recommended: Decolonizing Trauma Work: Indigenous Stories and Strategies by Renee Linklater *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska Instagram @seeingrednebraska

Human dignity for the houseless and hungry Today’s guest is Michael Reinmiller. Michael is a local advocate whose passion is human dignity, specifically how communities treat their houseless and hungry neighbors. He serves on the board of Fresh Start, and built the first little free pantry in Lincoln which has expanded to over 35 more. Cities and their policies can be houseless friendly or houseless hostile Architecture can be friendly or hostile in a city Neighbors can still help neighbors humans- pantries Donate to your closest pantry directly, or to the go fund me https://www.gofundme.com/f/255xqpg4ao https://journalstar.com/niche/l-magazine/the-tale-of-a-little-free-pantry-in-lincolns-near-south-neighborhood/article_3696de70-d640-5c4b-920d-027067486ec5.html https://journalstar.com/opinion/letters/letter-2-23-downtown-benches-send-a-message/article_c7960ddf-bb61-5f0d-9fd8-75024ab3f5cb.html Recommended reading: The Summer of 1927 by Bill Bryson *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska Instagram @seeingrednebraska

Episode 63 - Police in Schools On today’s episode, April and Emily discuss School Resource Officers, known commonly as SROs in Nebraska. 43 School districts in Nebraska armed law enforcement officers in our schools, and they are not all following Nebraska law in publishing guidelines and guardrails to protect children via an Memorandum of Understanding “MOU” with the state. More info: https://nebraskansagainstgunviolence.com/police-in-schools https://www.aclunebraska.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/acluneschoolpolice_0.pdf https://ocrdata.ed.gov/flex/Reports.aspx?type=school https://www.youthmandate.com/ https://www.youthmandate.com https://www.aclu.org/report/cops-and-no-counselors https://www.populardemocracy.org/news/publications/youth-mandate-education-and-liberation-mandate-guide-us-crisis-liberation *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska Instagram @seeingrednebraska

E62: Meet Senator Terrell McKinney Terrell McKinney is a father, State Senator representing District 11 in the Nebraska State Legislature, community organizer, activist, and wrestling coach within the North Omaha community. Before running for office, he worked as a community organizer focusing on food insecurity, Medicaid expansion and various other community initiatives. Terrell holds a Bachelor of Science in Sport Business Management from Maryville University St Louis, Masters in Business Administration from Midland University. He is also currently attending Creighton University School of Law. Senator McKinney’s advice to you: “Be unapologetic with your voice”. *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska Instagram @seeingrednebraska

E61: Meet Ari Kohen Ari Kohen talks about his new book, “Antisemitism On The Rise”, tells love stories to libraries, and gives us all practical advice on how to be ready to be a hero if everything goes wrong. Get in the habit of doing small good things to build your empathy muscle Have heroes and study them (read!). Learn how and why they were the one person to do the right thing when most didn't. Find your people and do good together, in community. Get Ari’s book: https://bookshop.org/books/antisemitism-on-the-rise-the-1930s-and-today/9781496226044 Learn about the infamous Nebraska Nazi (well, one of the many) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/06/neo-nazi-gerhard-lauck-nebraska-antisemitism . *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska Instagram @seeingrednebraska

E60: Black Liberation Matters with Dominique Liu-Sang Dominique Liu-Sang is a local community activist who focuses primarily on black liberation but also is not shy to advocating for other oppressed groups of people. In more recent news she has been organizing protests on UNLs campus against the Phi Gamma Delta House in regards to current sexual assault allegations. She aims to help the people by any means necessary including if it makes other people uncomfortable with the complex topics at hand because silence is violence. *Support the pod for just $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/seeingrednebraska. *Support SeeingRedNE and independent bookstores by purchasing books with our link. You can find all the books we’ve recommended on the pod! https://bookshop.org/shop/seeingrednebraska Social Media links: https://seeingrednebraska.com seeingredne@protonmail.com Tweet@seeingredNE FB@seeingrednebraska Instagram @seeingrednebraska