Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Could New Jersey become a bellwether for progressive politics? In this excerpt from our upcoming conversation with Ras Baraka, the Newark, New Jersey Mayor shares why he is running for governor in this critical moment. As we speak, New Jersey is facing federal funding cuts and retaliation from the Trump administration that will impact healthcare, food vouchers, immigration rights and more. What is Baraka's plan to protect the state and advance the progress he made as mayor?
Our exclusive one-on-one interview with Newark, New Jersey Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Ras Baraka premieres this Friday, June 6 at 5:00 p.m. ET on the Laura Flanders & Friends YouTube channel and podcast platforms. Subscribe to our channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when the episode is live: youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lg?sub_confirmation=1
Episode premiere:
June 6, 2025 5:00 PM ET on Youtube
June 6, 2025 5:00 PM ET on podcast platforms (full, uncut interview)
June 8, 2025 11:30 AM ET on WLIW WORLD (New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey, and Connecticut) and local PBS Stations
June 11, 2025 on podcast platforms (broadcast version)
June 11, 2025 5:00 PM ET on radio via Audioport & PRX Radio Exchange
June 12, 2025 5:00 PM ET on WLIW
Check local listings at lauraflanders.org. Visit lauraflanders.simplecast.com to subscribe to the podcast and download new episodes. Podcast subscriber will receive the full, uncut conversation with Ras Baraka this Friday, June 6.
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Laura Flanders & Friends is non-commercial independent media that relies on the contributions of viewers and listeners. DONATE TODAY at lauraflanders.org/donate or consider becoming a PATREON partner at patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriends
Could New Jersey become a bellwether for progressive politics? In this excerpt from our upcoming conversation with Ras Baraka, the Newark, New Jersey Mayor shares why he is running for governor in this critical moment. As we speak, New Jersey is facing federal funding cuts and retaliation from the Trump administration that will impact healthcare, food vouchers, immigration rights and more. What is Baraka's plan to protect the state and advance the progress he made as mayor?
Our exclusive one-on-one interview with Newark, New Jersey Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Ras Baraka premieres this Friday, June 6 at 5:00 p.m. ET on the Laura Flanders & Friends YouTube channel and podcast platforms. Subscribe to our channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when the episode is live: youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lg?sub_confirmation=1
Episode premiere:
June 6, 2025 5:00 PM ET on Youtube
June 6, 2025 5:00 PM ET on podcast platforms (full, uncut interview)
June 8, 2025 11:30 AM ET on WLIW WORLD (New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey, and Connecticut) and local PBS Stations
June 11, 2025 on podcast platforms (broadcast version)
June 11, 2025 5:00 PM ET on radio via Audioport & PRX Radio Exchange
June 12, 2025 5:00 PM ET on WLIW
Check local listings at lauraflanders.org. Visit lauraflanders.simplecast.com to subscribe to the podcast and download new episodes. Podcast subscriber will receive the full, uncut conversation with Ras Baraka this Friday, June 6.
Instagram: instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends
Facebook: facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends
Tiktok: tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriends
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lauraflanders.org
Laura Flanders & Friends is non-commercial independent media that relies on the contributions of viewers and listeners. DONATE TODAY at lauraflanders.org/donate or consider becoming a PATREON partner at patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriends
![Why authoritarians dont understand mirth [EXCERPT]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cmOsEKoLH5s/mqdefault.jpg "Why authoritarians dont understand mirth [EXCERPT]
This conversation with Indivisible’s Ezra Levin & László Upor of the University of Theatre and Film Arts is an excerpt from our episode Fighting Fascism from Hungary to No Kings: Ezra Levin & László Upor on Trump & Orbán. Watch the full report here: https://youtu.be/bgAjZWpsPe4. This episode first aired December 2025.
If you care about resisting autocracy and building democracy, the U.S. has much to learn from Hungary. While Donald Trump rails against Europe, he and Hungary’s strongman leader, Viktor Orbán, have praised each other for years. Anti-democratic, anti-immigrant, anti-woman, anti-queer — Orbán and Trump came to power on parallel tracks with similar values. In their first interview together, Ezra Levin, the co-founder of Indivisible (the group behind No Kings!) and László Upor, a leader in one of Hungary’s most creative and visible resistance efforts, share their experiences of resisting authoritarianism. Upor is former Vice Rector and Acting Rector of the University of Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest — the one university that fought back when the Orbán administration began taking control of Hungary’s universities. Levin is the co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, the grassroots movement behind such protests as the historic Hands Off and No Kings rallies. From the principles of their organizing to frog suits and caution tape, today’s episode is a masterclass in creative resistance. Plus a commentary from Laura on the leaked memo from the DOJ that charges the IRS with going after the funders of nonprofit organizations.
“Our enemy in this isnt Trump, its not the Republicans. Its not the broader regime. Our enemy is this sense of cynicism or fatalism or nihilism . . . I do think a core principle in our communication philosophy is convincing people, you have power, you just gotta use it. The best way to use it is in concert with a lot of other people in your community.” - Ezra Levin
“You have to laugh at them, not be afraid of them . . . They dont understand mirth. They dont understand the derision. They think they are invincible. And when we dont give in, they dont understand whats going on.” - László Upor
Guests:
Ezra Levin: Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director, Indivisible
László Upor: Former Vice Rector & Acting Rector, University of Theatre and Film Arts (SzFE), Budapest, Hungary
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✏️SHOW NOTES: Visit our Patreon for Show Notes and learn more about this weeks episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/145711844
📚 Check out our Book of the Week on BOOKSHOP*
“We Are Indivisible: A Blueprint for Democracy After Trump” by Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin: https://bookshop.org/a/22992/9781668027462
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CREDITS:
Executive Producer: Laura Flanders
Supervising Producer: Sabrina Artel
Senior Producer: Jeremiah Cothren
Senior Consulting Producer: Rory O’Connor
Senior Video Editor: David Neumann
Video Editor: Veronica Delgado
Audio Director: Jeannie Hopper
Development Director: Sarah Miller
Communications Director: Janet Hernandez")
![Fusion centers explained: How ICE and the LAPD Work Together to Gather Your Data [ft. Hamid Khan]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eWw_5EHe6AQ/mqdefault.jpg "Fusion centers explained: How ICE and the LAPD Work Together to Gather Your Data [ft. Hamid Khan]
Back in 2024, the Los Angeles City Council passed a “sanctuary city” ordinance and said the city would not collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. “They are lying,” says Hamid Khan, an expert on the surveillance state and organizer with the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition. In this timely interview, Khan unpacks “fusion centers” where agencies like DHS, the FBI and local law enforcement work together to gather and share data on citizens — regardless of their criminal record. Long before Trump’s crackdown on immigration rights and the protests in Los Angeles, LAPD would have ICE in their headquarters, he shares. Join Khan and Flanders as they discuss shocking truths about police spying and surveillance, and why we must become aware and take action.
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CREDITS:
Jonathan Klett: Editor")
