Progressive Wins and Community Resilience

In this episode of Good News for Lefties, host Beowulf Rochlen shines a light on the transformative movements and inspiring stories that remind us hope is alive and well in America. We kick off with a thrilling update from New York City, where progressive candidate Zorhan Mamdani is making waves in the mayoral race, leading by a substantial margin over former Governor Andrew Cuomo. His bold platform advocating for affordable housing, fare-free public transit, and a $30 minimum wage is energizing young voters and challenging the status quo.

Next, we take a closer look at the challenges faced by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as they struggle to recruit new agents despite significant budget increases. With a focus on the agency's aggressive tactics and the growing resistance from sanctuary cities, we explore how communities are banding together to protect immigrant rights and create safe havens for vulnerable populations.

We also spotlight Joshua Aaron, an innovative app developer who created ICE Block, a mobile app designed to alert users to nearby ICE activity. Despite facing backlash from the Trump administration, Aaron remains committed to empowering immigrant communities and ensuring their safety.

In a heartwarming listener-suggested story from Pittsburgh, we celebrate the California Area School District's groundbreaking initiative to 3D print violins for students, making music education accessible to all. This innovative program not only fosters creativity but also helps boost the confidence and academic performance of young learners, proving that the arts can thrive even in challenging times.

Finally, we turn our attention to the labor movement, as unionized employees at Libby Glass in Toledo, Ohio, prepare to strike over unfair labor practices. Their determination to secure fair contracts highlights the ongoing struggle for workers' rights and the importance of solidarity in the face of corporate greed.

Join us for this uplifting episode filled with stories of resilience, creativity, and the unwavering belief that positive change is not just possible, but happening every day across America!

More about today's stories:


https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/12/nyc-mayoral-election-mamdani-cuomo?utm_source=www.readthesmile.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=the-smile-8-13

https://time.com/7308862/trump-ice-agent-salary-deportation/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us


https://progressive.org/magazine/a-sanctuary-fights-back-duda-20250812/


https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/13/ice-alert-app-trump


https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/school-3d-prints-violins


https://www.13abc.com/2025/08/22/unionized-libbey-glass-employees-plan-begin-strike/


https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/12/nyc-mayoral-election-mamdani-cuomo?utm_source=www.readthesmile.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=the-smile-8-13


If you have thoughts, ideas, or more good news to share, we’d love to hear from you! Call or message us at 202-656-6271 or drop us a line at [e-mail].

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
Good News for Lefties and America. Hi, and thanks for
joining another episode of good News for Lefties. I'm Beowulf Rocklin,
your host, ready to help you swap out doom and
gloom for some genuine hope with uplifting stories for democracy defenders, progressives, liberals, socialists, leftists,

(00:27):
and anyone who believes in making America a better place
for everyone. It's no secret that these are challenging times.
The disappearing of immigrants and citizens off the streets of America,
Trump sending the FBI to raid the homes of his
political opponents, and the wholesale destruction of critical government agencies.

(00:48):
Today's headlines often overwhelm us with troubling news, making it
all too easy to lose sight of hope. That's exactly
why it's vital to highlight the positive, real world progress
that's happen every day, progress that too often gets drown
out by the negativity. Despite the setbacks, there's genuine movement

(01:08):
toward a better America. So let these stories serve as
a reminder that change is not just possible, it's happening.
And carry this hope with you and share it with others. Okay,
let's kick off with some good news stories designed to
brighten your day. New York City's mayoral race has taken
an exciting turn for progressives, with Democratic socialist Zorhan Mamdani

(01:31):
leading by a commanding nineteen point margin over former Governor
Edward Cuomo, according to a recent Siena Institute poll. Mamdani's
progressive platform, which resonates powerfully with young voters and communities
hungry for change, has positioned him as the clear front
runner as the city heads into the November election. Mamdani,

(01:53):
a thirty three year old Assembly member and lifelong advocate
for affordable housing, public transit, and econ justice, has energized
a broad coalition spanning young activists, diverse ethnic communities, and
progressive voters. His proposals include fair, free public buses, a
rent freeze for rent stabilized apartments, city run grocery stores

(02:18):
to combat food insecurity, and a thirty dollars minimum wage
by twenty thirty. Such policies reflect a vision of a
more equitable and accessible New York City that tackles systemic
inequality head on, though Cuomo retains stronger support among some demographics,
like black and Jewish voters, Mamdani's grassroots, volunteer driven campaign

(02:41):
has made tremendous strides across Burroughs, capturing the enthusiasm of
younger voters by large margins. His knack for blending progressive
ideas with practical solutions has made him a beacon of
hope for many New Yorkers tired of status quo politics.
Mamdani's camp. Paynes's spirit was evident in his playful retort

(03:02):
to Cuomo's criticisms about his rent stabilized apartment, declaring I
live rent free in his head. The race promises to
be vigorous, with Mamdani challenging traditional political norms, embodying a
new generation's drive for a city that truly works for everyone.
His rise signals a dynamic shift in New York politics,

(03:24):
one rooted in justice, inclusion, and transformation. Despite having a
record budget and aggressive hiring incentives, US Immigration and Customs
Enforcement is struggling to recruit enough agents to meet its
ambitious goals. Too bad, With thirty billion dollars allocated to

(03:45):
ramp up the force by ten thousand new officers. The
agency offers signing bonuses up to fifty thousand dollars and
student loan repayment to attract applicants, it faces persistent challenges
filling positions quickly. Part of the difficulty lies in geographic deployment,
as ICE wants more agents in democratic led cities like

(04:07):
New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, places where local police
salaries and reputations make recruitment tougher. Compounding this, ICE's increasingly
aggressive tactics, including masked arrests at workplaces and courthouses, have
further damaged its public perception and prospective applicants interest. Training

(04:28):
bottlenecks also slow hiring. New recruits must complete intensive firearm
and arrest procedure preparations at limited federal law enforcement training
center facilities. DHS has announced plans to open smaller regional
training centers to alleviate this obstacle and reduce time away
from recruits families. Efforts to bring back retired law enforcement

(04:52):
officers have helped, but aren't enough to fill all the vacancies.
ICE is signaling it will take years before stam baffing
increases translate into the administration's targeted deportation numbers, and hopefully
by that time we will have Trump and his ICE
cronies out of the White House. Across the United States,

(05:17):
sanctuary cities and communities are standing resolutely to protect immigrant
residents in the face of aggressive federal immigration enforcement. Following
the Trump administration's decision earlier this year to revoke long
standing protections that had barred immigration and customs enforcement from
sensitive places like schools and churches, cities such as Chicago

(05:41):
have mobilized robust responses to shield their most vulnerable populations.
In Chicago, the Teachers' Union has been at the forefront
negotiating sanctuary language into their contracts that demands training resources
and coordinated responses to keep ice out of public schools.
When federal agents attempted to enter an elementary school in January,

(06:05):
trained staff swiftly denied access, secured the campus, and provided
students and families with clear rights information that shows the
power of collective action and community defense. Beyond just sanctuary protections,
educators are pushing for comprehensive supports like bilingual training and
housing considerations to ensure immigrant students thrive. These sanctuary policies

(06:31):
reflect deep rooted values of care, equity and human dignity
amid a federal agenda aiming to sow fear and disrupt
immigrant communities. While the Department of Homeland Security aggressively targets
sanctuary jurisdictions, publicly naming cities, counties, and states that refuse
to cooperate with ICE, many local leaders and residents refuse

(06:54):
to back down. Instead, they are innovating new ways to
protect their neighbors, mixing legal, social, and grassroots strategies that
echo the courageous sanctuary movements of the nineteen eighties. The
path forward remains challenging, especially as federal pressure grows and
sanctuary jurisdictions face threats of funding cuts and legal battles. Yet,

(07:18):
the resolve of sanctuary cities from Chicago to Los Angeles
and beyond demonstrates the enduring strength of community solidarity, showing
that in the struggle for immigrant justice, sanctuary is more
than a policy. It's a movement rooted in empathy, empowerment,
and unyielding support for all who call these places home.

(07:42):
Joshua Aerin, a former indie musician turned app developer, has
created ice Block, an innovative mobile app designed to alert
users to nearby immigration and customs enforcement activity in real time.
Launched in April twenty twenty five, The app quickly gained
traction among immigrant communities, especially in cities like Los Angeles

(08:06):
which have experienced intensive ICE raids. Featuring a user friendly interface,
ice block allows people to anonymously report sightings of ICE
agents within a five mile radius, helping others avoid potentially
dangerous encounters. Despite its life saving mission, the app sparked

(08:26):
fierce backlash from the Trump administration. Homeland Security Secretary Christy
Nome condemned the app as obstructing justice, while Attorney General
Pam Bondi publicly warned erin to watch out. ICE officials
claimed that the app endangered officers by painting targets on them,
though these claims were met with skepticism and viewed by

(08:47):
many as politically motivated attacks on a tool empowering vulnerable communities.
Arin undeterred by government threats and his wife's firing from
the Department of Justice, widely seen as retire retaliatory, stands
firm in his conviction that ice block is protected under
the First Amendment as free speech. The app prioritizes user anonymity,

(09:10):
refusing to collect personal data, and automatically deletes reports after
four hours, ensuring privacy while providing critical community driven safety information.
Aaron describes ice block as an early warning system meant
to keep people safe, giving them peace of mind as
they navigate everyday life under constant threat in the face

(09:32):
of intense pressure. The app's success is a testament to
grassroots tech activism rising to the challenge of unjust government practices.
Ice Block reflects a broader movement of communities harnessing technology
to protect themselves, assert their rights, and resist at administration
bent on aggressive immigration enforcement at any cost. Up next,

(09:57):
a listener suggested story back in a minute, and now
a listener suggested story from Audrey in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In
a creative leave for music education, the California Area School
District in Coal Center, Pennsylvania is breaking down barriers by
three D printing violins for students, making these cherished instruments

(10:19):
accessible to all, especially those from low income families. Under
the leadership of Superintendent doctor Laura Jacob, the district has
invested in over thirty three D printers that cost just
fifty dollars each to produce violins, a fraction of the
traditional five hundred to two thousand dollars price tag. This

(10:40):
initiative ensures that cost is no longer a hurdle for
kids eager to join the orchestra. Inspired by a video
of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra playing three D printed instruments,
Jacob used her curiosity and determination to perfect a design
that sounds great and withstands the demands of beginner musicians.

(11:01):
The colorful violins, ranging from pink and purple to green
and blue, are not only louder and easier to tune
than typical wooden instruments, but can be quickly repaired or
replaced by simply printing new parts. This durability makes them
perfect for young learners discovering the joy of music without
the worry of costly repairs. The program has blossomed into

(11:25):
a weekly three D Violin club serving grades three through twelve,
and is already handed out more than two hundred instruments
free of charge. Music teachers and students alike appreciate the
inclusivity and accessibility the program fosters. Students describe how playing
the violin has boosted their confidence, improved their school performance,

(11:48):
and sparked a deep appreciation for music. For doctor Jacob,
the program embodies or commitment to making arts education available
for every child in her district, where more than seventy
percent of the students come from low income families. By
using innovative technology and grant funding, California Area School District
exemplifies how schools can reimagine access to the arts, nurturing creativity,

(12:13):
and expanding opportunities for lifelong learning and joy through music.
Thanks so much for that story, Audrey. If you have thoughts, ideas,
or more good news to share, we'd love to hear
from you. Call or message us at two zero two
six five six six two seven to one, drop us
a line at Beowulf at two squared Media Productions dot com,

(12:36):
or send it to us at good News for Lefties
on Facebook, Instagram or blue Sky. Unionized employees at Libbyglass
in Toledo, Ohio are planning to launch a strike over
what their unions describe as unfair labor practices by the company.
Members of both the United steel Workers and the International

(12:57):
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers are involved. IAM reports
that eighty four of its members will participate, while USW
numbers have not yet been specified. The union leadership has
communicated their availability to continue working toward a fair contract
through Thursday and Friday, but reported that Libby Glass unexpectedly

(13:20):
left the bargaining table and was unavailable to negotiate on Friday.
Union representatives accused the company of failing to bargain in
good faith despite over ten months and more than seventy
meetings designed to find agreement. Employees said that they already
endured significant sacrifices to help rescue the company from bankruptcy
and liquidation in twenty twenty, and collaborated to secure a

(13:44):
forty five million dollar federal grant to stabilize operations. Now
with Libby Glass on firmer financial footing, workers say the
company is seeking further concessions that would unfairly burden them
again as workers prepare to strike. The situation uation marks
a critical test of labor relations at one of Toledo's
key employers, with ongoing developments expected. That's a wrap for

(14:09):
today's edition of Good News for Lefties. If these stories
brighten your outlook, please help us spread the word. Share
this episode on social media wherever you post. A big
thanks to our production team, Roosevelt Heine and Aaron Watson
for making all of this possible Behind the scenes. I'm
be a wolf Rockland, weird name, good news for lefties

(14:31):
and America. Stay tuned after this commercial break for more
of me, your humble and obedient servant, as I speak
with Jen and Dan of the band Camp podcast.

Speaker 2 (14:55):
If The John People Saying Podcast is now available six
times a week with me, John Fugel sang I've been
murdered on CSI picketed by Westboro Baptist Church and host
tell me Everything. On Serious XM Progress one twenty seven.
You will hear authors, politicians, actors, filmmakers, rappers, rockstars, journalists, activists,
unhinged callers, and way too many comedians. They all have
a place of a John Feaglesing podcast, and so do you.

(15:17):
The John Fiaglesing Podcast, Fair and Biased. Find it on
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher for wherever you listen to boz.

Speaker 1 (15:25):
And Now an excerpt from a recent episode of the
band Camp Podcast where I speak with hosts Jen and Dan.
Then go listen to the full show the band Camp
Podcast that's banned with two ends bandcamp podcast dot com
and just a quick trigger warning here there may be
some clips of Donald Trump played in this next segment.

Speaker 3 (15:49):
It's time for band Camp News t Speaker News speaker,
they will fuck in.

Speaker 1 (15:55):
It's a weird name, but he's got good news because
you can't down the truth.

Speaker 3 (16:00):
He's broadcasting live from the good News for LEFTI Studio
is buried deep inside his socialist safe house, hidden somewhere
deep in the Oregon woods. He is Babe Well Rockland.

Speaker 1 (16:12):
Because you can't. Hey Jen, Hey Dan, Hey, scary book people.
How's it going well? I can tell you that it's
gone pretty darn well here because of something very positive
that Oregon, my home state, has done. Oregon is just
over a month into a major shift in how recycling

(16:34):
works statewide. The changes could soon be coming to Oregonian
neighborhoods and hopefully the nation as a whole. Under the
Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act, often referred to as
the RAMA, companies that sell packaged products in Oregon are
now financially responsible for helping the state collect and recycle

(16:58):
that packaging. This is a big president. This policy, known
as the Extended Producer Responsibility, is the first of its
kind in the US. Other states are quickly following suit,
including Minnesota and California, among others.

Speaker 3 (17:12):
Wait, so is this like when we were kids? Not
you Jennifer, you're very young, Bewolf and I are more
elderly than you. Do you remember when we could ride
our bikes all over the neighborhood and collect soda bottles
and then take them back to the grocery store and
get like a nickel per bottle. I don't know if

(17:32):
it was a nickel.

Speaker 1 (17:33):
Well, I mean that's very cool too. You can still
do that in Oregon and in California, but this goes
even beyond that, especially think of it in the Amazon era, right,
especially starting in the COVID days, we get all these
boxes and packaging. When your kid opens a doll on

(17:54):
Christmas Day, there's the outside packaging in the box, the backing,
the little tie, and the thing that ties the tie
in place, so you got to get rid of it. Well,
now corporations are going to have to be responsible for
helping to take care of that. In other words, they're
going to have to pony up and give the states
some money in order to deal with that, because until
now that's just oh, you know, we're here, take this garbage,

(18:17):
we don't care. And now they have to do that,
and that makes sense because you're creating this consistent problem
and millions of people have to deal with it and
then it just goes out there. A lot of it
doesn't get recycled. I think like ten percent of the
stuff we put into a recycle bin actually gets made
into something else. So this is a very positive thing,

(18:38):
and it will encourage companies to produce less packaging, and
the packaging that they do create is going to be
taken care of appropriately and we aren't going to have
to pay for it. The companies are going to have
to deal with that. So I think that is a
very very positive development. And it was fun riding around
on bikes and getting money for bottles too like that also,

(19:01):
I love it.

Speaker 2 (19:01):
I think we should always. I think we need to
make corporations pay more for just about everything.

Speaker 1 (19:06):
Right because I mean, like, if we don't make them
do that, they're incentivized to get as much as they
can out of us and put as much of the
burden on us as possible. And that's what they were
doing now. I know, I shove stuff in my recycling
all the time and it gets filled up before the
time comes to take it away. That happens to millions

(19:27):
of people. What do we do? We got to hold
people accountable for creating that much waste. These companies have
to find a way to make it workable for all
of us.

Speaker 3 (19:36):
We therefore, it is wild to think that, I mean,
Oregon did it because Oregon's a really liberal smart sedate.
But with Trump in like, it will never be a
federal thing as long as Trump is in office, because
remember he's the guy who went to court to argue,
why do I have to take a sevest is out
of my buildings?

Speaker 2 (19:57):
Didn't you put it back in? I think what a
law that said asbestos is fine and.

Speaker 3 (20:02):
We should be using when he was president.

Speaker 2 (20:04):
Yeah, like recently in the past few months.

Speaker 3 (20:06):
It's dumb horse's ass. He he has, he holds so
many grudges. Eighty years ago he gets yelled at for
putting asbestos in, and now he's president. First things first,
a lot of people say bad things about asbestos, and
it's not so bad. It actually helps people.

Speaker 1 (20:26):
You know how some kinds of orange juice have extra
pulp in them. Well, all of Trump's buildings are packed
with extra asbestos, you know, because that's the kind of
guy he is. Imagine the recycling the waste from McDonald's
packaging alone that comes out of the White House every week.
Oh my god, So like this is a serious problem

(20:50):
even if you look at it on that scale. But
it's one more reason because you are correct, Donald Trump
will never engage in this kind of process. To make
sure that we work and organized towards making sure that
he is no longer in the White House so that
we can get this done across the country, in addition
to great states like Oregon and California and Minnesota.

Speaker 3 (21:11):
Okay, so Jen just looked this up. Wants to reverse
the band. June twenty twenty five, the EPA under the
Trump administration filed a court motion to reconsider the Biden
Arab ban on asbestos.

Speaker 2 (21:24):
Asbestos is bad?

Speaker 1 (21:26):
Are they different? Grades? Are the asbestos like maple syrup
or chrysotile?

Speaker 3 (21:30):
That's my favorite?

Speaker 2 (21:32):
Why not the best of the best.

Speaker 1 (21:34):
I'd like to put lots of catch up on it
and then eat it down.

Speaker 3 (21:40):
Oh my god. Well, way to go, Oregon. Yea, once again,
the Blue states lead the way and everyone else should copy.

Speaker 1 (21:47):
Please for the sake of you, for the sake of
your children, for the sake of our environment. It means
they have to pay and you don't, So it means
more mula in your what.

Speaker 3 (21:56):
This is why everyone should listen to Babe Wolf every
day one good news for lefties wherever you find podcasts.

Speaker 1 (22:04):
Thank you so much, guys, so can band the truth
babar and listen to Jen and Dan on the bandcamp
podcast at bandcamppodcast dot com