Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
It's the week of March sixteenth, twenty twenty five, and
this is what's on the People's News. Houston says farewell
to a righteous leader. Texas rallies against Bouchers, the convicted
Felon Royals, world markets, and destroys our relationships with our
(00:24):
neighbors with the on again, off again tariffs, Brad Day
coming back next week. All that and more on the
People's News. I'm Steve Gallington. This is the People's News,
and the People's News starts now. Hi. This is Steve Gallington,
(00:48):
producer and host of the People's News. If you have
a story that needs to be told, come to us.
We accept fully produced audio, written material, or just give
us the idea and we will run with it. Shiny
new one hour episodes of The People's News drop each
Sunday on The People's News podcast hosted by Speaker dot
(01:10):
com and linked to my website Gallington dot com. Houstonians
from all walks of life, and politicians local and national
said farewell to the former mayor of Houston, the late
Congressman Sylvester Turner on Saturday. Turner always served his community
(01:33):
from coming up a poor boy in Acres Homes to
graduating the top of his class in high school, then
going on to the University of Houston and then to
Harvard Law School. His life was filled with purpose and
commitment to the people he served.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Vester was known as the closer. I was known as Joseph.
I spent most of my time of voiding that closer.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Sylvester had a unique gift. And first, I wanna think
his sisters and brothers. I wanna think his daddy, he
died and even fell him. I wanna thank his mama.
You are everything your daddy wanted you to because the
boy wanted grandbaby.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
And then let's stay what happened.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
You showed up with you And that is a lesson.
When I think of Selvester.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Or when it it was true, we think about the
forty four for the politicians who from out of town,
they called the bus the folk pop. Sylvester grew up
threat on that.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Bus of one day that joining the important people in one.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Of those cash drapers downtown. What the special thing about
Sylvesteria Turner. He wasn't just dreaming for himself. He was
dreaming for.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
All of us, to the Turner family, to my colleagues
in government, to all those assemble this with a heavy heart,
that we gather here today to more on the loss
of the honorable Sylvester Turner.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
He only spent a.
Speaker 6 (03:37):
Few months in the Congress, but it got off to
a dynamic start, made a quick impression. And it's with
our deepness condolence is that we offer our heart fell
seventies to you, actually, to the Turner family, to all
(03:58):
who love. In fact, because of that powerful impact, there
are more than twenty members of Congress who have come
here today.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
To honor the life of the rest to turn out
own to.
Speaker 7 (04:12):
The a turban.
Speaker 8 (04:16):
And for all, an honor Democrat and Republican for honor
to let the tournament, but thankful for the life, but
thankful for his leadership.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
We're thankful for the legacy of the great Sylvester turn
labored in the biggots of the community year after year,
decade after decade, helped out thousands upon thousands upon thousands
of people.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
We know that Sylvester Turnament was a good thing.
Speaker 9 (04:47):
A family man, a hard working man, a well educated man,
an eloquent man, an area like man, a community man,
a compassionate man, a co.
Speaker 8 (05:00):
Just man, an after man, but about no one else
a full fall man.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
The bat over, the after Turner, and all that he
meant to you and and to the country.
Speaker 10 (05:14):
We know that.
Speaker 6 (05:15):
So that's the Turner was also a mighty man of God.
He was a man of papers at this great church.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
Scripture tells us a Second Corinthians, the fourth chapter, that's
Second Corinthians.
Speaker 11 (05:34):
Not to correct.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
You want to sell the Bible, you better know the Bible.
Speaker 8 (05:44):
A Second Corinthian, Second Corindians, fourth chapter, a verse.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
The apostle Paul says that we are trouble on every side,
but not distressed.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
And when you think about the eight years that so
that's the Turner had, as May eight wonderful, powerful years.
There was trouble on every side. He had to deal
with hurricane Coffee, seven different federally declared disasters, a once
(06:25):
in a century COVID nineteen pandemic, and a historic, unprecedented
devastated winter storm. There was trouble on every side, but
through it all, So that's the Turner was never distress.
Speaker 12 (06:41):
He was always tom he was lowways called, he was
always collected, and he always delivered for the people of Houston.
A scholarship Banks the crows. Those are the travel.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Where take you and then you all looking out for
pastors and the church.
Speaker 13 (07:08):
Sylvester Turner shared a special bond and relationship with my father.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
By their state given city they met.
Speaker 13 (07:16):
The Sylvester Turner would come into Jackson barber shop and
student Wood and get his health coup by my mom
sister Athlete Gilbert. It was through this uniquely divine connection
that allowed me to have an up close and personal
view of what a great African Sylvester loss to make
pastors and their churches right here in Houston. Many pastors
(07:41):
in this city the standing Heap standing today and share
story of how Selvester Turner has helped them personally and
helped their church. Been of our little pastors or pastor
in their churches today and have been able to build
and expand their ministries because Semester Turner stood up for
them in the court woms and in the ball moms
(08:03):
to fight against injustices and unfair treatment.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
He was truth a friend to pastors on the person
know that I'll never forget I.
Speaker 13 (08:14):
During his final term as mayor, my dad folded his
attempt to be with the Lord and he came to
my mom's house. Five black SUV's onto us down Donamo Street.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Came in our living room when my mom.
Speaker 13 (08:30):
Was sitting, and fell on his knees and held my
mom's hand, looked, turned our eyes and offered his deepest
condolences to hearing our family. And as Mayor, Sevester turn
Up all the name three honorary street hops toppers in
our city and all.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Three were nailed after pastors, and one of them was
my dad.
Speaker 13 (09:01):
Let's have the awful pastors will forever be remembered in
our city. And finally, Sylvester Turner was a man of goat,
born again Christian Lester.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Turner largest church and his pastor.
Speaker 13 (09:20):
He was wasn't the kind of politician that this showed
up at church doing election.
Speaker 10 (09:25):
Season and diversity and pity inclusion before it was a
trending topic. He believed that our differences made us stronger
and they should be celebrated, not feared. He has created
a lasting legacy and I promise to do my best
(09:47):
to continue his work as best I can through Sylvester's
Turner Families and the Park, the Juniting Parade, and the
completion of Becoming Him Power and Center located in his
beloved in the home.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
I look forward to seeing.
Speaker 10 (10:03):
The installation of his portrait and city Hall and taking
my son to see it. Whether he was walking the
halls of the Texas State Capital, leaving our great city,
or being our voice in Congress, he stayed true to
himself and the God that he served. Let my dad
be the example of how to live life in your purpose.
(10:24):
He has taught us that as long as you have
breasts in your body, you still have a purpose to fulfill.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
He gave it Ezra thing.
Speaker 10 (10:33):
That he had until his final day in his earthly chok.
Isn't it strange that princess and kings and clowns, that
capers and sawdust rings and common people like you and
me are builders for eternity. Each of us given a
set of tools, a shapeless mass, a book of ruth,
and each must take their life as flown a stumbling
(10:54):
box and a stepping stone. Daddy, you have fought the
good sight, you have finished your race, and he has
kept to pay.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
To God be the glory for the teams.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
After the ceremony, some related fond memories of Mayor and
Congressman Sylvester Turner, former city Controller Ronald Green knew mister
Turner through his entire life.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Tire don't like he taught me in law school.
Speaker 14 (11:26):
He was a political mentor of my helped me with
all of my campaigns.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
This instrumental and me to come in the first Black
city controller. I was suddenly a friend of mine. He's
a returnity brother.
Speaker 14 (11:38):
Anything you need to be honestly, that's so I can.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
I think he's a great loss for his family.
Speaker 7 (11:43):
And of course I condun't went a great loss to.
Speaker 11 (11:46):
Me and talk about the form special bluckety we get
he lost a lot.
Speaker 14 (11:52):
You know, people don't know, yeah what we did. I
mean he has held several opposite. I mean he didn't
just fight though, you know, just the people who were
laid high they called me everybody. And I think that
we all benefit. So that's the Turnt year. Uh And
and I think the city is at loos. But he
has instilled had.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
A lot of young people.
Speaker 14 (12:10):
And so I think in the future you've seen many
people out here who.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Will continue to do with his great work, who will
continue to carry on and fight like he's own. Lightly
I'm excited about another point in the future.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Sol Turner also was a servant to the immigrant community
in Houston.
Speaker 8 (12:25):
Yeah, Mecca or future Who then I don't.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
I say, ula can loosen me?
Speaker 7 (12:35):
What is smster turning.
Speaker 12 (12:37):
To the very grits very throusted under hundred play for
under veteran logo of Africas.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
I think little vulcans and happening or we're loveing too much?
He said, Niga and with Bill make it for the sure,
deciding very well, that's what I say.
Speaker 15 (12:58):
Something else ms Fos love man g n you metsoy Highness, Steve.
Speaker 16 (13:10):
Lstatsana was a very dear from CAUs He Africa. Communities
love it great labor and we're logging all the time, Simonos.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Congressman Sylvester Turner died on March fifth, the same day
the convicted felon brought his tour of corruption, criminality, and
incompetence to a joint session of Congress. He died as
he was fighting to save medicare for his community. This
is Steve Gallington of the People's News here on Houston's
(13:46):
community station KPFT ninety point one f M. Become a
sustaining member today and help keep KPFT and the People's
News on the air. Your donation at seven one, three, five, two, six, five, seven,
three eight makes it possible or use our website KPFP
Dottle click on the donate button and remember at the
top of the page to select the drag down list
(14:07):
and scroll down to the bottom and select the People's News.
Just one month after the pivotal Brown versus Board of
Education decisioned by the Supreme Court integrating public schools, the
first voucher scheme was put forward in the United States
with the sole purpose of making sure that rich white
(14:30):
parents wouldn't have to send their children to integrated schools,
and that in fact, the states and the federal government
would pay them to send their kids to private schools.
The first time a voucher scheme was considered in Texas
was in nineteen fifty seven, and it was roundly rejected
(14:50):
at that time, and every single time a voucher program
has been brought up in the state legislature in Texas
it has failed, mainly because it only serves rich, white
urban families and leaves rural and poor children out in
the cold. It still has its roots in racism, but
(15:13):
now is being backed by out of state billionaire funders
who are pouring millions and millions of dollars into the
campaign covers of the folks that are trying to sponsor
this bill, namely Republican Governor Greg Abbott has received over
two million dollars from billionaires to make sure that this
(15:34):
bill goes through. It is a way of not only
transferring money into the pockets of private corporations that they
want to get that public money, but also as a
way of getting rid of public education in America. Democrats, Republicans, teachers,
and parents all rallied last week in Austin against the bill,
(15:57):
and Democratic legislators talk to people about why they're not
backing the billet.
Speaker 17 (16:02):
My colleagues for being here to support the Public Education
Committee members, as Ali said, my name is James Tallerico.
I have the honor of serving as state representative for
House Sistrict fifty. Thank you all so much for being here.
Public schools are shutting down across Texas, but Greg Abbott
is nowhere to be seen. He's too busy spending his
(16:25):
time at expensive private schools, lots of them. Our governor
hasn't stepped foot inside a Texas public school in years.
He's too busy rallying at these private schools for private
school vouchers that will take money out of our underfunded
public schools and give that money to rich parents who
were already sending their kids to private school. So last month,
(16:49):
Greg Abbott rallied for vouchers at an expensive private school
in San Antonio. Meanwhile, in that very same community, three
public schools are slated for closure. Just last week, Greg
Abbott rallied for vouchers at an expensive private school in
Fort Worth. Meanwhile, in that very same community, twenty five
(17:10):
public schools are slated for closure. And this is happening
across Texas. Schools are closing in Dallas and Houston, and
Austin and El Paso, in the Rio Grande Valley, and
in suburbs and small towns across the state. But instead
of fighting to keep our neighborhood schools open, our governor
(17:30):
is pushing a voucher scam that will take even more
money out.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Of our schools.
Speaker 17 (17:35):
This is Abbot's school closure crisis, and his only plan
is to make it worse. You're going to hear from
the other Democrats on the Public Education Committee, and then
I'll come back up and ask or answer some questions,
is Repina Hosa here yet?
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Oh she's right here?
Speaker 18 (17:52):
Okay, Represented Pinhos, Thank you Representatariko. As a mother of
a child in public schools, this bill makes me mad.
We have spent so much time of our very limited
(18:17):
time here at the Legislature repeatedly talking about this voucher
scam that will not help five point five million school
kids in our neighborhood public schools, which are the only
choice available to by right, to every child in Texas.
We know our public schools are going without the basics.
(18:40):
My son didn't get a fifth grade teacher, he didn't
get evaluated for special education for over a year. The
list of our needs goes on and on, and yet
we still we still waste time on this voucher scam.
It is unacceptable, It makes no sense. It takes more
(19:01):
money out of our neighborhood schools to give to private
schools when public schools have no more to give. It
hurts our teachers by hurting their teacher retirement system and
jeopardizing the entirety of that system.
Speaker 7 (19:18):
As we have heard repeatedly over the last couple of.
Speaker 18 (19:21):
Weeks, and let me say this, all we have heard
in this hearing is about a choice that, admittedly by
the people who even support this bill, is not a
choice for most students. And in fact, the proponents of
(19:45):
vouchers who just spoke said their ultimate goal is an
end to our public schools. They want a stratified system
where you get to go to school based on how
much money your parents have, just like in our college system.
If you want to go to a certain school, you
(20:05):
pay up and if you can't afford it, you take
out loans. And that is the vision of the people
who support this vouchor scam. They will scam our families,
they will scam Texans. Is Untexan and it is, as
represented tell Rico said in the hearing, immoral. Yes, and
(20:26):
it is unpopular and not supported by the vast majority
of Texans. And so I say, if they are so
sure that this is want Texans, what Texans want, Let
Texans vote.
Speaker 7 (20:39):
Let Texans aside. What do they have to fear?
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Thank you?
Speaker 19 (20:52):
I'm John Bryan represent the Dallas area in the Leedlegislature.
Texas is forty fourth in the nation and the effort
that the state makes to educate our children forty fourth.
For twenty two years, the Republicans have been in the
majority in this House, in this citate, in this legislature,
(21:14):
and for thirty years they've dominated the executive branch, and
they have managed the gradual reduction in support for public
education over more than two decades. And yet they come
up and tell us, all, we have to have vouchers
because the public schools are not doing the job. First
of all, the public schools are doing the job in.
Speaker 7 (21:36):
Spite of all this being said.
Speaker 19 (21:39):
Second, how can you cut the money for public schools
and then complain about their performance? And that's exactly what's
going on. All of it is a studied effort to
privatize public education, just like they've tried to privatize so
many other things. Who was a lead off witness today
in this hearing? A leadoff witness in this hearing was
(21:59):
from a group called ed Choice, with the philosophy of
which he is to gradually replace public education with private schools.
And that is what's at stake today. There is no
equity in this, there's no progress in this. There's nothing
in this for anybody but those twelve million dollar campaign
contributors to Governor Abbott to use to try to beat
(22:23):
those Republicans in their primary who stood with us on
this issue. Those are the people that are getting in
line here like hogs at the trough to try to
get it their snouts in the trough and get some
of this public education money. We have to stand up
republic education. And this fight is not just about Texas,
It's about the nation. I'm glad to be standing here
(22:45):
with my Democratic colleagues four square and solidly in opposition
to this voucher scam.
Speaker 7 (22:59):
Thank you.
Speaker 20 (22:59):
My name is doctor Alma Allen, and I'm from Houston, Texas,
this district. Been a school teacher for fourteen years, assistant
principal for one principal for sixteen years, Ed Juhnt, professor
at Purview A and M. And then I came here
and I've been here twenty years, so I know what
(23:20):
I'm talking about.
Speaker 7 (23:21):
Yes, savings account is what they say. It's really called
a voucher bill.
Speaker 20 (23:28):
Don't let them fool you thinking savings account that you're
gonna get some money.
Speaker 7 (23:32):
No, you're not gonna get any money. You may have
a letter that.
Speaker 20 (23:36):
Says this is worth ten thousand dollars, all right, ten
thousand dollars.
Speaker 7 (23:41):
If you go to the school.
Speaker 20 (23:42):
Now in my district, those of you are from Houston,
I have one private school in my district and that's
the lowest of what I see, and that's the money.
And their tuition is something like twenty seven thousand dollars
a year. If I give you a ten thousand dollars
vulture to walk over to a money you still how
much money?
Speaker 12 (24:01):
Let me see?
Speaker 7 (24:02):
Oh, the smart class. Smart class. And then if you
qualify to go to the school, you have to face
a lottery.
Speaker 20 (24:10):
So is everybody gonna go there? Even you get in
the lottery? You taking them what chance?
Speaker 12 (24:15):
Right?
Speaker 7 (24:16):
And so you're taking a chance on getting there. You
may not get there.
Speaker 20 (24:19):
Private schools don't have to take our kids. Do you
think private schools have enough seats to take all of
the kids that need to go to private school or
want to go to private school. They're already in private
schools in HSD into all of the isds. They are
private and they are good schools. We're doing good for kids. Now,
(24:44):
let me just really talk to you about what's going
to what's really happening to you. For those of you
who are excited about sending your schools child to about
your school, well, If one kid walks out, that kid
is worth fifteen to twenty thousand dollars. When it twenty
thousand dollars works out, walks out with the kid right,
(25:04):
every time you twenty two to one, that's the teacher
prepared ratio.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
Twenty two two kids walk out.
Speaker 20 (25:12):
That also a teacher walks out, right, So we're gonna
lease some good teachers.
Speaker 7 (25:17):
If a parent has two kids and two kids walk out,
how much money is that? And how much money will
he owe?
Speaker 20 (25:24):
Seventeen thousand and seventeen thousand is how much to look
at the math to.
Speaker 7 (25:29):
All right, that's how much they're gonna owe. So you
think they're gonna solve all of the children, No, they
are not.
Speaker 20 (25:36):
They're not there for your kids. And so why don't
they give that money to the public schools?
Speaker 5 (25:43):
Right?
Speaker 20 (25:43):
Why don't we fix our schools by paying our teachers
a living wage? Don't Why don't we get certified teachers?
The majority of the teachers in HISD are not certified.
Speaker 7 (25:57):
No wonder we have the crist is that we have.
We should raise the basic a lot bit and do
the very best for the kids that we are going
to serve.
Speaker 20 (26:10):
And so with that in mind. I want to say
thank you and take the message back to everybody. You
know that it's a scam. They want to take our
money and kill our public schools. Right now in hi ISD,
some seven schools are closing, all right, and guess what,
they're on the other side of town, right, So be
(26:31):
careful out there now. I want all of you to
take the message back. Each one can tell somebody something
about this. Let me say thank you for attending today.
Speaker 7 (26:40):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
That was Texas State Democrats sounding off on the Texas
Republican governor's plan to give public money to private schools.
In a poll that came out on Monday, March the tenth,
it was shown that vouchers are widely unpopular among all Texans,
with over sixty five percent of all Texans against this
(27:10):
voucher program and sixty two percent of Texas Republicans against
this plan if it raises property taxes. This is Steve
Gallington of the People's News here on Houston's community station
KPFT ninety point one FM. Become a sustaining member today
and help keep KPFT and the People's News on the air.
(27:31):
Your donation at seven, one, three, five, two, six, five, seven,
three eight makes it possible or use our website KPFT
dot org. Click on the donate button and remember at
the top of the page to select the dragdown list
and scroll down to the bottom and select the People's News.
The trade war is on with Canada and the United
(27:52):
States thanks to the convicted felon turning tariffs on and
turning tariffs off, turning tariffs on back in, which has
caused the U S stock market to drop by over
ten percent, erasing all the gains that it's made since
the convicted Felon was installed in the White House. The
(28:12):
convicted Felon added a twenty five percent tariff on steel
and aluminum to Canada. In response, the Honorable Dominic LeBlanc,
Minister of France and Inter Government Affairs, the Honorable Melanie Joy,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honorable Francois Philippe Champagne,
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry outlined the Government of
(28:35):
Canada's response in a dollar for dollar approach. Canada is
imposing as of twelve oh one am March thirteenth, twenty
twenty five, a twenty five percent reciprocal tariff on a
list of steel products worth twelve point six billion and
aluminum products worth three billion, as well as additional imported
(28:56):
US goods worth fourteen point two billion, for a TOE
of twenty nine point eight billion. This all comes as
a convicted felon and is corrupt and criminal. Administration are
calling for Canada to become part of the United States,
which will never happen. This is an interview with Richard Mason,
(29:17):
Executive Fellow at the University of Calgary School of Public Policy.
Speaker 21 (29:23):
Here in the States. Right now, as we get ready
for Flag Day in Canada, what's the mood of the
people in Canada right now with terrorist looming by the
American president.
Speaker 22 (29:41):
I think people in Canada are hurt, and I think
they're angry, and they're accused and they're kind of ready
to fight back.
Speaker 21 (29:53):
It seems that it seems that you know, the Americans
I talk to, you don't really know the history of Canada,
and thinking that that putting care of who will say,
both both slides of both sides of the country.
Speaker 22 (30:12):
Yeah, I mean, I think part of the problem is
we've been working together for so long and we've done
so much to mutual benefit. It doesn't make sense for
us that you guys are trying to break that relationship.
So right now, for example, I'm mostly an oil guy.
(30:32):
You know, we send you sixty some percent of all
the oil you import, and that's more than four million
barrels a day, and it goes to the refineries in
the Midwest and Gulf coasts that need it because it's
the kind of oil they want to process. And it
makes no sense to us why you would want to
put a tariff on that. You know, you don't. There's
(30:57):
no no reason why you can't produce more oil if
you want too great, you don't need to kind of
so try and produce more you already are, so right.
Speaker 21 (31:07):
Does it seem like it's kind of an uh building
into a nationalism type of thing. It's basically elections coming up,
and we got elections in two weeks in Ontario.
Speaker 22 (31:19):
Yeah, and of course there's a federal election coming right
away after that, and so it's there's a lot of
unanimity across the country that we're getting getting a raw
deal here, and we need to fight hard to make
sure that the president understands that you know, this isn't
(31:40):
isn't going to be good for you, and it's not
going to be good for us.
Speaker 21 (31:45):
Is this playing into the conservative parties? Parties favor the
kind of a nationalism type of attitude.
Speaker 22 (31:55):
Not really. The Conservatives were so far in French they
were going to wipe out the Liberals, and since this
has been happening, the Liberals have seen a lot of
momentum and so it's much more likely that it'll be
a close election because you know, the current government is
Liberals and everybody's rallying around the play to the current
(32:17):
prime minister and the current government.
Speaker 21 (32:20):
How does MDP play play a part in this?
Speaker 22 (32:24):
Uh, they're always a third party and they're just a small,
small player, so they're probably even less relevant right now
than they were before the whole tariff threat was happening.
Speaker 21 (32:36):
Are we looking at another Uh? How would a conservative
prime minister h play into US President's hand?
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Will that be better or worse?
Speaker 22 (32:50):
I mean, could you tell me what he wants? Because
I don't think anybody really knows up here what he wants,
and that's part of the problem. Right, So it seems
like it was in the winds and changes day by day,
So I don't know if it matters really who's in
charge because he keeps changing the reason for the tariffs,
or when they're going to apply, or how high they're
(33:13):
going to be, or all kinds of things. Right, so
we're very confused about it all.
Speaker 21 (33:19):
I think it plays into like a personal nationalism type
of type of politics. It's not, it's not, it's not
it's it doesn't mean anything, but it plays really well
into his uh, into his party and the people that
follow him.
Speaker 22 (33:38):
Yeah, it does, the problem is the relationship is so
big that it really is messing up a lot of things.
So we export four million barrels a day of oil
to you, plus eight billion cubic seed a day of
natural gas, and that's where it's one hundred and sixty
billion dollars a year. And you know, you guys need
(34:01):
it to run your refineries and keep your gasoline prices down.
So the fact that you're thinking about putting tariffs on
it means we're starting to look for other markets where
else can we take take the oil?
Speaker 21 (34:15):
So how hard will it How hard will it hit
Canada Canadians with the price if it's a tariff like this,
How how hard a Canadians getting hit?
Speaker 22 (34:27):
It hits us really hard because our economy is so
tied to yours, and it hits you really hard as well.
But so, for example, in energy, more than ninety percent
of our exports go to you, and so if you
put a tariff on our energy, it's going to have
a big effect on it. But it's also true for cars.
(34:48):
The cars go back and forth across the border and
all the parts six to eight times. Terre will just
about shut down the autowa industry within a week or
two for US and for you, and and aluminum and steel,
we apply something like seventy percent of the steel you
use and fifty percent of the illuminum you use the
(35:09):
tariff stool on. That is going to make everything in
the US more expensive. So it just doesn't make sense
to us that this is happening.
Speaker 21 (35:19):
Well, even if it goes in effect, how long how
long could this last? Is this something that Trump would
just can't ken He can't do this for a long
period of time because this is gas price is still
left Kenny.
Speaker 22 (35:32):
Well, this is the question how long might it lasts?
So the auto industry seems to be one of the
things that will get shut down right away because stuff
goes back and forth across the border. So often and
because people have small inventories just in time inventory system,
there's there's no buffer and so very likely the auto
(35:55):
industry will be shut down within a couple of three
weeks and tens of thousands of people on both to
the border or out of work. But does that mean
he's gonna stop?
Speaker 21 (36:04):
No, how would I would Auto? How would Autowa react
to it? As far as uh supporting the people that
might be laid off.
Speaker 22 (36:14):
So we've already put together a list of all the
things that three five from the US that we're gonna
put tariffs on to retaliate, and we have programs that
we're developing to help people who get laid off. So yeah,
we're we're getting ready for, you know, a long fight.
Speaker 21 (36:33):
I heard also the medical field would be hit by this.
Speaker 22 (36:38):
Well yeah, I mean anything that use the stuff that
comes back and forth across the border for sure. So
I don't know exactly what's happening in that area, but
it could.
Speaker 21 (36:49):
What about I've heard I saw Dog four down here.
He wasn't down in Texas, but he was in Washington
and trying to trying to actually uh lobby some of
some of these lawmakers about what KARASA do is he
was he doing that for his own play in Ontario
(37:12):
or was he doing was he really trying to try
trying to make a play with the with the American
with the American lawmakers.
Speaker 22 (37:21):
Yeah, so Canada was a little bit confused right away,
you know, when the first got announced. But I think
everybody is aligned much better lately. So we have ten
provinces in three territories, so all thirteen territorial and provincial
leaders were down in Washington the last few days trying
(37:41):
to talk to leaders. So they're all working together now
to make sure that it's the United message and trying
to persuade people that it's not in the US interest
to you know, pursue this. So I think it's it's
it's not just an election thing. This is much more
fundamental than that past because it's the impacts will be
so large.
Speaker 21 (38:04):
I was watching CBC and they were talking about how
long it it takes to build new markets elsewhere or
a stronger market.
Speaker 22 (38:14):
It's hard to do because you guys have been such
a good customer for so long. All of our infrastructure
is designed, you know, for efficiency, right, and so it's
hard to build new markets for auto parts because They're
so specific to going to plants that you know are
in the US. Same thing for energy, like we send
(38:36):
you the energy you need it. It's hard to build
tipeline to coach, but you know, if we have to,
we will.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
That was Richard Mason, Executive Fellow at the University of
Calgary School of Public Policy. The nineteen eighties cult classic
movie that greatly influenced the BMX culture, Rad is returning
to theaters for a massive one night only event, Rad
Day twenty twenty five on March twentieth, twenty twenty five,
followed by the world premiere of a RAD documentary. We
(39:07):
talked to the stars of the movies, American Olympic gymnast
Bart Connor and actor Bill Allen.
Speaker 23 (39:13):
What everybody everybody else seemed to be and Wood he
was not what he had you know, It just it
was kind of a matter of who was on tour,
who was injured, who was recently home and what Byke
company was willing to sponsor their riders. So it was
a bit of a luck in the draw. But of
(39:34):
course you had to be riding on a pro level.
But for guys like Martin and Mike, Miranda and Eddie,
it kind of helped cement there already, you know, growing reputation,
legends at the time, legends at the time, and Bart
(39:56):
you can attest to this as you were, you know,
working at the highest level as gymnast. These guys were
unbelievable athletes and doing things on bicycles, which was almost
like gymnastics on bike.
Speaker 24 (40:07):
Would you agree, Yeah, I think so, And that's I
think that's one of the reasons that uh, you know,
Hal Newt him Needam reached out to me to uh,
to be in the film was because obviously the big
backflip was a sort of a centerpiece of the storyline,
and you know, it's basically this is gymnastics on a bike.
So he had seen me in the Olympics, and he
(40:29):
thought I'd be, uh maybe a fit the stereotype of
the blondeheaded bad guy with all the sponsors and uh
and not like not unlike William Zapka and Cobra Kai
and uh variety kids. So I think I think I
fit that bill the way I looked at least.
Speaker 23 (40:49):
And uh.
Speaker 24 (40:50):
But I remember when I first got a copy of
the script, I called hell back and I said, man,
I just came out of the Olympics. I'm like, mister
America guy, I can't be the bad guy in this movie.
And he's like, oh, you got to read the whole script.
You'll turn out to be a decent guy, I promise you.
So that's kind of how it went. But I thought, okay,
I'm setting myself up here. So but the fact that
(41:11):
you know, I only think I only worked on the
film maybe ten or twelve days all together, it still
blows my mind. We're almost forty years out and people
still I mean, we're going to be in seven hundred
theaters next March twentieth, I mean next week, right, and
a documentary is coming out, and not only people who
loved the movie back in the eighties, but now they're
bringing their kids and even sometimes grandkids to see this movie.
(41:35):
I mean, I don't think you could have ever imagined that,
could you have, Bien?
Speaker 1 (41:40):
Well, No, I.
Speaker 23 (41:41):
Couldn't imagine anything forty years down the line, truly. And
I don't know of another movie that gets released every
year on the anniversary. I know this is a newer phenomenon,
but it is such a special movie that I was
saying earlier, if I'm going to be known for one thing.
I'm certainly happy that it's this thing because it's such
(42:02):
a an uplifting thing and a primer for kids who
are maybe a little lost at home or their direction
at life. And as a teenager who left home to
become an actor in Hollywood, I understand kind of throwing
caution to the four winds and just following your passion
(42:24):
no matter what. So it it kind of resonates on
a lot of different levels. Not everybody that loves it
is a bicyclist, but it's still it carries a lot
of good messages to the audiences.
Speaker 11 (42:37):
I think mart I was lucky to go to school.
My elementary school had more things in high school. We
had gymnastics, skate gymnastics and skateboarding and wrestling. Wow and
BMX all in is all in an elementary school, you know,
And it's no kidding.
Speaker 17 (42:53):
Where did you grow up?
Speaker 11 (42:54):
It was public school. It was Roberts' Elementary in what
state there in Houston, Houston, Texas.
Speaker 24 (43:00):
Wow, good for you, man.
Speaker 11 (43:02):
And I talked to other guys right now that that
we went to elementary school together, and he would go, man,
you know how lucky we were to have all this?
And uh, that's how I got involved with the skateboarding
culture and got involved with BMX after that, you know,
do all this and for both of you guys. You
see the X games now and you see what these
(43:24):
guys are doing now. I look at it now and
I'm like, I'm blown away by by it and the movie,
the movie itself. When that movie came out, we thought
that was the hierarchy of BMX at the time, and
and it was a powerful movie by the way too.
Speaker 24 (43:44):
You know, get right about that. That's the part where
I think that's that's that's pure hell Needa. If it
would have been just an average track, you know, people
racing around, fine, but Hal didn't do anything halfway, did
he build? And so like the track had to be
the most outrageous, and the scenes had to be totally authentic.
(44:06):
And I mean that's real riding and real people crashing
and real people doing face plants and stuff, and that's
just one hundred percent hell need him. That's and I
think he wouldn't wouldn't want it to have had had
done it any other way. It's like, uh, that's part
of the appeal was it was you know, it was badass,
and that's just that's that's all I can Whenever I
(44:27):
think of Hell need him, I think this guy was
He's a legend because he's just a bad ass.
Speaker 11 (44:32):
That was an influence on it. We got we got
one of the largest BMX tracks in the country here
in Houston, and that was one of the That movie
was one of influences because they were like, we gotta
make we gotta make this most badass track in the
country or even the world, and that the movie itself
was the influence on that and make it makes it.
Speaker 1 (44:52):
This is crazy.
Speaker 18 (44:53):
You know, what do you guys do?
Speaker 11 (44:56):
What are you guys doing now?
Speaker 3 (44:57):
Martin?
Speaker 11 (44:57):
You are are you still you coaching?
Speaker 24 (45:00):
Yeah? I have a gymnastics academy here in Oklahoma where
I live, and we have almost a thousand students. We're
very proud, but the baby kids, you know, preschool all
the way up through elite levels. And I work as
a commentator for ESPN. I cover a lot of college
gymnastics on ESPN. But it is always once a year,
you know, twentieth of March rad Day where I circle
(45:21):
back and reconnect with Bill and some of the people
from the film, and I'll be going to the local
theater here in Oklahoma on next Thursday, on the twentieth
to see this. And I've not seen the documentary. I
did participate in the interviews as Bill did, but I've
not seen the whole documentary. So I'm eager to see
that new element to this film because I understand I
have some really great sound bites and some really great
(45:44):
footage that stuff that I hadn't even seen from all
those years back. So I'm looking forward to it. Bill,
you've seen the documentary, right You're on a mute.
Speaker 23 (45:54):
Bill, Yeah, I have seen it, and it's a great
time capsule for in a few years ago. So I
think people are gonna really enjoy it because it obviously
tells the tale of Rad. But we've got some contemporary
interviews that people are gonna love.
Speaker 11 (46:10):
To Bill, what are you doing nowadays?
Speaker 23 (46:15):
I'm producing right now. I'm producing the projects to act in.
But I've got I've got some other things kind of
that I'm not quite ready to talk about. I do
a lot of these public appearances. I'm going to Indiana
the Indiana Comic Con over the weekend, and I do
a lot of RAD screenings. But my day job is
(46:35):
much more kind of putting projects together as opposed to
walking around town with an eight x ten in my hand,
which is that's a hard life.
Speaker 11 (46:46):
Man, that's a hard life. It's really weird now because
producing and people doing movies now. I've seen guys have
been on sets when people are just using just my iPhone,
or people are just using just a camera like Canon camera.
This is amazing how people are just able to do
(47:06):
film now and not have to not have to go
about the whole way of getting cameras.
Speaker 23 (47:12):
I mean, it's certainly put filmmaking in the hands of
the filmmakers, and with all these new tools, I'm into it.
It's decentralized the business and of course the studios they're scrambling.
You know, they used to release forty films a year.
Now they release four. So it's it's ever changing. But
change is what's for breakfast. Change does not scare me,
(47:34):
but it's certainly evolving, and it's fun to be on
the cutting edge of that. Let's face it. I've used
AI and plan to use it in the future. I
just hope my iPad doesn't wake up and kill me
one morning.
Speaker 3 (47:46):
That's all.
Speaker 23 (47:47):
Is that too much to ask? No?
Speaker 11 (47:50):
You hear that Siri, and I can ask you about AI. Also,
that's that's that's something that's people are them on the
edge about, and people are kind of kind of fearful.
Speaker 23 (48:05):
I'm I'm a I'm a musician too, And the history
of music goes back to when they started putting music
on wax cylinders. Composers and musicians were freaking out. Then
they're going to like, oh, they're going to steal all
our stuff. So there's always resistance to change, and something
a new invention can be either good or bad. It's
(48:27):
like the Internet. It just depends on how you use it.
Speaker 11 (48:31):
And you say, you got to the school going what
do you think about the new kids that are coming
up in gymnastics now?
Speaker 24 (48:39):
Well, the US team is so good, and of course
I go to the Olympics every four years, and I
was in Paris this summer watching the Olympics, and of
course Simone Biles is you know, she redefining what gymnastics
really is, very very extreme stuff that she does, and
that's been fun. The US team is awesome, and so yeah,
(48:59):
I stay connected with the sport because that's really my
my wheelhouse. And I didn't really pursue acting in any way.
But I'm so lucky that I did get an opportunity
to be in Rad, because you know, Rad was basically like,
you know, guys doing gymnastics on a bike, and hell,
Needham thought I'd be a good character for that film.
(49:21):
So yeah, I'm forever grateful that I got pulled into
that because I mean, obviously my career has been focused
on gymnastics, but it's it's really fun and I met
a week or even a month doesn't go by where
I'm walking through an airport somewhere and somebody goes mad,
I love that movie Rad, and they are they'll they'll
quote some lines from Rad or you know, they want
(49:46):
to have they have a personal connection with Rad. I
think the music was a big part of it, you know.
I think music helps kind of define the era that
we kind of you know, we're impressionable young people. And
I don't know how it is with you, Bill, but
I find myself listening to the music I cared about
when I was at that age that somehow resonates with me.
(50:06):
I'm not sure there's any music right now that connects
with me like the music at that time. And I
think not only just the outrageous stunts that were in RAD.
But I think the music is a big part of
why this connects with young people. It's a profound impact
on your memory. Is that not true? Bill, Well, you're
(50:27):
on mute again.
Speaker 23 (50:30):
My cat was making noise. Bart, do you remember the
song that we were actually dancing to during the bicycle
boogie sequence, because it wasn't Sent me an Angel.
Speaker 24 (50:40):
No, No, it wasn't. I don't remember what the song
which I do remember.
Speaker 23 (50:44):
It was White Wedding by Billy idol. Oh, that's it,
I do know, and so I'm sure they would have
had that in the movie, except it was the hottest
song of the time, so I'm sure licensing was insane.
So that's why they ended up with all the John
Farnham stuff and even Send Me an Angel, I think
had been released a couple of years previously, so you know,
(51:09):
they rediscovered that song and repackaged it for this movie,
and it really it all just held together. It's not
my era of music, but man, people love it. People
love the soundtrack and the visuals with the send me
an Angel stuff. And the thing that's smart about RAD
is about every ten minutes there's a music video, there's
(51:31):
a music sequence and people on bikes doing tricks are
going through beautiful countryside and so how didn't let you
look at your watch too many times? It's like, let's
keep this thing moving, Let's give the people what they want.
And at the time music videos and movies that was.
Speaker 3 (51:48):
A big deal.
Speaker 23 (51:49):
So it was almost a tribute to those movies too.
Speaker 1 (51:52):
Rad Day is March twentieth and is being shown in
and around the Houston area. This is Steve Gellington of
the People's News here on Houston's community station KPFT ninety
point one FM. Become a sustaining member today and help
keep KPFT and the People's News on the air. Your
donation at seven one three five two six five seven
(52:12):
three eight makes it possible. Or use our website KPFT
dot org. Click on the donate button and remember at
the top of the page to select the dragdown list
and scroll down to the bottom and select the People's News.
We'll end the People's News today with a reading from
Timothy Snyder's on Tyranny, Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century,
(52:34):
which was published in twenty seventeen. We're reading number fourteen
of the twenty Lessons which is entitled establish a private life.
Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to
push you around, scrub your computer of malware on a
regular basis. Remember that email is skywriting. Consider using alternative
(52:55):
forms of the Internet or simply using it less. Have
personal exchanges in person for the same reason resolve any
legal trouble. Tyrants seek the hook on which to hang you.
Try not to have hooks. What the great political thinker
Hannah Arreant meant by totalitarianism was not an all powerful state,
(53:19):
but the erasure of the difference between private and public life.
We are free only in so far as we exercise
control over what people know about us and in what
circumstances they come to know it. During the campaign of
twenty sixteen, we took a step toward totalitarianism without even
noticing it, by accepting as normal the violation of electronic privacy,
(53:43):
whether it is done by American or Russian intelligence agencies,
or for that matter, by any institution. The theft, discussion,
or publication of personal communications destroys a basic foundation of
our rights. If we have no control over who reads
what and when, we have no ability to act in
the present or plan for the future. Whoever can pierce
(54:06):
your privacy can humiliate you and disrupt your relationships at will.
No one, except perhaps a tyrant, has a private life
that can survive public exposure by hostile directive. The timed
email bombs of the twenty sixteen presidential campaign were also
a powerful form of disinformation. Words written in one situation
(54:29):
makes sense only in that context. The very act of
removing them from their historical moment and dropping them in
another is an act of falsification. What is worse, when
media followed the email bombs as if they were news,
they betrayed their own mission. Few journalists made an effort
to explain why people said or wrote the things they
(54:51):
did at the time. Meanwhile, in transmitting privacy violations as news,
the media allowed themselves to be distracted from the actual
event of the day. Rather than reporting the violation of
basic rights, our media generally preferred to mindlessly indulge in
the inherently salacious interest we have in other people's affairs.
(55:12):
Our appetite for the secret thought arrant is dangerously political.
Totalitarianism removes the difference between private and public, not just
to make individuals unfree, but also to draw the whole
society away from normal politics and toward conspiracy theories. Rather
than defending facts or generating interpretations, we are seduced by
(55:36):
the notion of hidden realities and dark conspiracies that explain everything.
As we learn from these email bombs, this mechanism works
even when it is revealed it is of no interest.
The revelation of what was once confidential becomes the story itself.
It is striking that the news media are much worse
(55:56):
at this than, say, fashion or sports reporters. Fashion reporters
know that models are taking off their clothes in the
changing rooms, and sports reporters know that their athletes shower
in the locker room, but neither allow private matters to
supplant the public story that they are supposed to be covering.
When we take an active interest in the matters of
(56:17):
doubtful relevance at moments that are chosen by tyrants and spooks,
we participate in the demolition of our own political order.
To be sure, we might feel that we are doing
nothing more than going along with everyone else. This is true,
and it is what aren't described as the devolution of
society into a mob. We can try to solve this
(56:39):
problem individually by securing our own computers. We can also
try to solve it collectively by supporting, for example, organizations
that are concerned with human rights. That was an excerpt
of the book on Tyranny, Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth
Century by Timothy Snyder. The People's News is a production
(57:03):
of Steve Gallington and Richard Hannah, and is protected by
copyright laws. All the information broadcast on air and online,
as well as published in both print and or online,
including articles, audio clips, illustrations, graphics, photographs, and videos, are
protected by these copyright and other state and federal intellectual
property laws. Therefore, you may not use our content in
(57:26):
any prohibited way, including reproducing, publishing, transmitting, selling, rewriting, broadcasting,
or posting on the Internet without the expressed written permission
of The People's News. Prohibited use also includes publication of
our material in printed or electronic brochures, newsletters, or flyers,
as well as all website or email distribution. To obtain
(57:48):
permission to use copyrighted material, email Steve Gallington at Steve
at gallington dot com. Thank you,
It's the week of March sixteenth, twenty twenty five, and
this is what's on the People's News. Houston says farewell
to a righteous leader. Texas rallies against Bouchers, the convicted
Felon Royals, world markets, and destroys our relationships with our
(00:24):
neighbors with the on again, off again tariffs, Brad Day
coming back next week. All that and more on the
People's News. I'm Steve Gallington. This is the People's News,
and the People's News starts now. Hi. This is Steve Gallington,
(00:48):
producer and host of the People's News. If you have
a story that needs to be told, come to us.
We accept fully produced audio, written material, or just give
us the idea and we will run with it. Shiny
new one hour episodes of The People's News drop each
Sunday on The People's News podcast hosted by Speaker dot
(01:10):
com and linked to my website Gallington dot com. Houstonians
from all walks of life, and politicians local and national
said farewell to the former mayor of Houston, the late
Congressman Sylvester Turner on Saturday. Turner always served his community
(01:33):
from coming up a poor boy in Acres Homes to
graduating the top of his class in high school, then
going on to the University of Houston and then to
Harvard Law School. His life was filled with purpose and
commitment to the people he served.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Vester was known as the closer. I was known as Joseph.
I spent most of my time of voiding that closer.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Sylvester had a unique gift. And first, I wanna think
his sisters and brothers. I wanna think his daddy, he
died and even fell him. I wanna thank his mama.
You are everything your daddy wanted you to because the
boy wanted grandbaby.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
And then let's stay what happened.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
You showed up with you And that is a lesson.
When I think of Selvester.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Or when it it was true, we think about the
forty four for the politicians who from out of town,
they called the bus the folk pop. Sylvester grew up
threat on that.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Bus of one day that joining the important people in one.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Of those cash drapers downtown. What the special thing about
Sylvesteria Turner. He wasn't just dreaming for himself. He was
dreaming for.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
All of us, to the Turner family, to my colleagues
in government, to all those assemble this with a heavy heart,
that we gather here today to more on the loss
of the honorable Sylvester Turner.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
He only spent a.
Speaker 6 (03:37):
Few months in the Congress, but it got off to
a dynamic start, made a quick impression. And it's with
our deepness condolence is that we offer our heart fell
seventies to you, actually, to the Turner family, to all
(03:58):
who love. In fact, because of that powerful impact, there
are more than twenty members of Congress who have come
here today.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
To honor the life of the rest to turn out
own to.
Speaker 7 (04:12):
The a turban.
Speaker 8 (04:16):
And for all, an honor Democrat and Republican for honor
to let the tournament, but thankful for the life, but
thankful for his leadership.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
We're thankful for the legacy of the great Sylvester turn
labored in the biggots of the community year after year,
decade after decade, helped out thousands upon thousands upon thousands
of people.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
We know that Sylvester Turnament was a good thing.
Speaker 9 (04:47):
A family man, a hard working man, a well educated man,
an eloquent man, an area like man, a community man,
a compassionate man, a co.
Speaker 8 (05:00):
Just man, an after man, but about no one else
a full fall man.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
The bat over, the after Turner, and all that he
meant to you and and to the country.
Speaker 10 (05:14):
We know that.
Speaker 6 (05:15):
So that's the Turner was also a mighty man of God.
He was a man of papers at this great church.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
Scripture tells us a Second Corinthians, the fourth chapter, that's
Second Corinthians.
Speaker 11 (05:34):
Not to correct.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
You want to sell the Bible, you better know the Bible.
Speaker 8 (05:44):
A Second Corinthian, Second Corindians, fourth chapter, a verse.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
The apostle Paul says that we are trouble on every side,
but not distressed.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
And when you think about the eight years that so
that's the Turner had, as May eight wonderful, powerful years.
There was trouble on every side. He had to deal
with hurricane Coffee, seven different federally declared disasters, a once
(06:25):
in a century COVID nineteen pandemic, and a historic, unprecedented
devastated winter storm. There was trouble on every side, but
through it all, So that's the Turner was never distress.
Speaker 12 (06:41):
He was always tom he was lowways called, he was
always collected, and he always delivered for the people of Houston.
A scholarship Banks the crows. Those are the travel.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Where take you and then you all looking out for
pastors and the church.
Speaker 13 (07:08):
Sylvester Turner shared a special bond and relationship with my father.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
By their state given city they met.
Speaker 13 (07:16):
The Sylvester Turner would come into Jackson barber shop and
student Wood and get his health coup by my mom
sister Athlete Gilbert. It was through this uniquely divine connection
that allowed me to have an up close and personal
view of what a great African Sylvester loss to make
pastors and their churches right here in Houston. Many pastors
(07:41):
in this city the standing Heap standing today and share
story of how Selvester Turner has helped them personally and
helped their church. Been of our little pastors or pastor
in their churches today and have been able to build
and expand their ministries because Semester Turner stood up for
them in the court woms and in the ball moms
(08:03):
to fight against injustices and unfair treatment.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
He was truth a friend to pastors on the person
know that I'll never forget I.
Speaker 13 (08:14):
During his final term as mayor, my dad folded his
attempt to be with the Lord and he came to
my mom's house. Five black SUV's onto us down Donamo Street.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Came in our living room when my mom.
Speaker 13 (08:30):
Was sitting, and fell on his knees and held my
mom's hand, looked, turned our eyes and offered his deepest
condolences to hearing our family. And as Mayor, Sevester turn
Up all the name three honorary street hops toppers in
our city and all.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Three were nailed after pastors, and one of them was
my dad.
Speaker 13 (09:01):
Let's have the awful pastors will forever be remembered in
our city. And finally, Sylvester Turner was a man of goat,
born again Christian Lester.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Turner largest church and his pastor.
Speaker 13 (09:20):
He was wasn't the kind of politician that this showed
up at church doing election.
Speaker 10 (09:25):
Season and diversity and pity inclusion before it was a
trending topic. He believed that our differences made us stronger
and they should be celebrated, not feared. He has created
a lasting legacy and I promise to do my best
(09:47):
to continue his work as best I can through Sylvester's
Turner Families and the Park, the Juniting Parade, and the
completion of Becoming Him Power and Center located in his
beloved in the home.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
I look forward to seeing.
Speaker 10 (10:03):
The installation of his portrait and city Hall and taking
my son to see it. Whether he was walking the
halls of the Texas State Capital, leaving our great city,
or being our voice in Congress, he stayed true to
himself and the God that he served. Let my dad
be the example of how to live life in your purpose.
(10:24):
He has taught us that as long as you have
breasts in your body, you still have a purpose to fulfill.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
He gave it Ezra thing.
Speaker 10 (10:33):
That he had until his final day in his earthly chok.
Isn't it strange that princess and kings and clowns, that
capers and sawdust rings and common people like you and
me are builders for eternity. Each of us given a
set of tools, a shapeless mass, a book of ruth,
and each must take their life as flown a stumbling
(10:54):
box and a stepping stone. Daddy, you have fought the
good sight, you have finished your race, and he has
kept to pay.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
To God be the glory for the teams.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
After the ceremony, some related fond memories of Mayor and
Congressman Sylvester Turner, former city Controller Ronald Green knew mister
Turner through his entire life.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Tire don't like he taught me in law school.
Speaker 14 (11:26):
He was a political mentor of my helped me with
all of my campaigns.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
This instrumental and me to come in the first Black
city controller. I was suddenly a friend of mine. He's
a returnity brother.
Speaker 14 (11:38):
Anything you need to be honestly, that's so I can.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
I think he's a great loss for his family.
Speaker 7 (11:43):
And of course I condun't went a great loss to.
Speaker 11 (11:46):
Me and talk about the form special bluckety we get
he lost a lot.
Speaker 14 (11:52):
You know, people don't know, yeah what we did. I
mean he has held several opposite. I mean he didn't
just fight though, you know, just the people who were
laid high they called me everybody. And I think that
we all benefit. So that's the Turnt year. Uh And
and I think the city is at loos. But he
has instilled had.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
A lot of young people.
Speaker 14 (12:10):
And so I think in the future you've seen many
people out here who.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Will continue to do with his great work, who will
continue to carry on and fight like he's own. Lightly
I'm excited about another point in the future.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Sol Turner also was a servant to the immigrant community
in Houston.
Speaker 8 (12:25):
Yeah, Mecca or future Who then I don't.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
I say, ula can loosen me?
Speaker 7 (12:35):
What is smster turning.
Speaker 12 (12:37):
To the very grits very throusted under hundred play for
under veteran logo of Africas.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
I think little vulcans and happening or we're loveing too much?
He said, Niga and with Bill make it for the sure,
deciding very well, that's what I say.
Speaker 15 (12:58):
Something else ms Fos love man g n you metsoy Highness, Steve.
Speaker 16 (13:10):
Lstatsana was a very dear from CAUs He Africa. Communities
love it great labor and we're logging all the time, Simonos.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Congressman Sylvester Turner died on March fifth, the same day
the convicted felon brought his tour of corruption, criminality, and
incompetence to a joint session of Congress. He died as
he was fighting to save medicare for his community. This
is Steve Gallington of the People's News here on Houston's
(13:46):
community station KPFT ninety point one f M. Become a
sustaining member today and help keep KPFT and the People's
News on the air. Your donation at seven one, three, five, two, six, five, seven,
three eight makes it possible or use our website KPFP
Dottle click on the donate button and remember at the
top of the page to select the drag down list
(14:07):
and scroll down to the bottom and select the People's News.
Just one month after the pivotal Brown versus Board of
Education decisioned by the Supreme Court integrating public schools, the
first voucher scheme was put forward in the United States
with the sole purpose of making sure that rich white
(14:30):
parents wouldn't have to send their children to integrated schools,
and that in fact, the states and the federal government
would pay them to send their kids to private schools.
The first time a voucher scheme was considered in Texas
was in nineteen fifty seven, and it was roundly rejected
(14:50):
at that time, and every single time a voucher program
has been brought up in the state legislature in Texas
it has failed, mainly because it only serves rich, white
urban families and leaves rural and poor children out in
the cold. It still has its roots in racism, but
(15:13):
now is being backed by out of state billionaire funders
who are pouring millions and millions of dollars into the
campaign covers of the folks that are trying to sponsor
this bill, namely Republican Governor Greg Abbott has received over
two million dollars from billionaires to make sure that this
(15:34):
bill goes through. It is a way of not only
transferring money into the pockets of private corporations that they
want to get that public money, but also as a
way of getting rid of public education in America. Democrats, Republicans, teachers,
and parents all rallied last week in Austin against the bill,
(15:57):
and Democratic legislators talk to people about why they're not
backing the billet.
Speaker 17 (16:02):
My colleagues for being here to support the Public Education
Committee members, as Ali said, my name is James Tallerico.
I have the honor of serving as state representative for
House Sistrict fifty. Thank you all so much for being here.
Public schools are shutting down across Texas, but Greg Abbott
is nowhere to be seen. He's too busy spending his
(16:25):
time at expensive private schools, lots of them. Our governor
hasn't stepped foot inside a Texas public school in years.
He's too busy rallying at these private schools for private
school vouchers that will take money out of our underfunded
public schools and give that money to rich parents who
were already sending their kids to private school. So last month,
(16:49):
Greg Abbott rallied for vouchers at an expensive private school
in San Antonio. Meanwhile, in that very same community, three
public schools are slated for closure. Just last week, Greg
Abbott rallied for vouchers at an expensive private school in
Fort Worth. Meanwhile, in that very same community, twenty five
(17:10):
public schools are slated for closure. And this is happening
across Texas. Schools are closing in Dallas and Houston, and
Austin and El Paso, in the Rio Grande Valley, and
in suburbs and small towns across the state. But instead
of fighting to keep our neighborhood schools open, our governor
(17:30):
is pushing a voucher scam that will take even more
money out.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Of our schools.
Speaker 17 (17:35):
This is Abbot's school closure crisis, and his only plan
is to make it worse. You're going to hear from
the other Democrats on the Public Education Committee, and then
I'll come back up and ask or answer some questions,
is Repina Hosa here yet?
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Oh she's right here?
Speaker 18 (17:52):
Okay, Represented Pinhos, Thank you Representatariko. As a mother of
a child in public schools, this bill makes me mad.
We have spent so much time of our very limited
(18:17):
time here at the Legislature repeatedly talking about this voucher
scam that will not help five point five million school
kids in our neighborhood public schools, which are the only
choice available to by right, to every child in Texas.
We know our public schools are going without the basics.
(18:40):
My son didn't get a fifth grade teacher, he didn't
get evaluated for special education for over a year. The
list of our needs goes on and on, and yet
we still we still waste time on this voucher scam.
It is unacceptable, It makes no sense. It takes more
(19:01):
money out of our neighborhood schools to give to private
schools when public schools have no more to give. It
hurts our teachers by hurting their teacher retirement system and
jeopardizing the entirety of that system.
Speaker 7 (19:18):
As we have heard repeatedly over the last couple of.
Speaker 18 (19:21):
Weeks, and let me say this, all we have heard
in this hearing is about a choice that, admittedly by
the people who even support this bill, is not a
choice for most students. And in fact, the proponents of
(19:45):
vouchers who just spoke said their ultimate goal is an
end to our public schools. They want a stratified system
where you get to go to school based on how
much money your parents have, just like in our college system.
If you want to go to a certain school, you
(20:05):
pay up and if you can't afford it, you take
out loans. And that is the vision of the people
who support this vouchor scam. They will scam our families,
they will scam Texans. Is Untexan and it is, as
represented tell Rico said in the hearing, immoral. Yes, and
(20:26):
it is unpopular and not supported by the vast majority
of Texans. And so I say, if they are so
sure that this is want Texans, what Texans want, Let
Texans vote.
Speaker 7 (20:39):
Let Texans aside. What do they have to fear?
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Thank you?
Speaker 19 (20:52):
I'm John Bryan represent the Dallas area in the Leedlegislature.
Texas is forty fourth in the nation and the effort
that the state makes to educate our children forty fourth.
For twenty two years, the Republicans have been in the
majority in this House, in this citate, in this legislature,
(21:14):
and for thirty years they've dominated the executive branch, and
they have managed the gradual reduction in support for public
education over more than two decades. And yet they come
up and tell us, all, we have to have vouchers
because the public schools are not doing the job. First
of all, the public schools are doing the job in.
Speaker 7 (21:36):
Spite of all this being said.
Speaker 19 (21:39):
Second, how can you cut the money for public schools
and then complain about their performance? And that's exactly what's
going on. All of it is a studied effort to
privatize public education, just like they've tried to privatize so
many other things. Who was a lead off witness today
in this hearing? A leadoff witness in this hearing was
(21:59):
from a group called ed Choice, with the philosophy of
which he is to gradually replace public education with private schools.
And that is what's at stake today. There is no
equity in this, there's no progress in this. There's nothing
in this for anybody but those twelve million dollar campaign
contributors to Governor Abbott to use to try to beat
(22:23):
those Republicans in their primary who stood with us on
this issue. Those are the people that are getting in
line here like hogs at the trough to try to
get it their snouts in the trough and get some
of this public education money. We have to stand up
republic education. And this fight is not just about Texas,
It's about the nation. I'm glad to be standing here
(22:45):
with my Democratic colleagues four square and solidly in opposition
to this voucher scam.
Speaker 7 (22:59):
Thank you.
Speaker 20 (22:59):
My name is doctor Alma Allen, and I'm from Houston, Texas,
this district. Been a school teacher for fourteen years, assistant
principal for one principal for sixteen years, Ed Juhnt, professor
at Purview A and M. And then I came here
and I've been here twenty years, so I know what
(23:20):
I'm talking about.
Speaker 7 (23:21):
Yes, savings account is what they say. It's really called
a voucher bill.
Speaker 20 (23:28):
Don't let them fool you thinking savings account that you're
gonna get some money.
Speaker 7 (23:32):
No, you're not gonna get any money. You may have
a letter that.
Speaker 20 (23:36):
Says this is worth ten thousand dollars, all right, ten
thousand dollars.
Speaker 7 (23:41):
If you go to the school.
Speaker 20 (23:42):
Now in my district, those of you are from Houston,
I have one private school in my district and that's
the lowest of what I see, and that's the money.
And their tuition is something like twenty seven thousand dollars
a year. If I give you a ten thousand dollars
vulture to walk over to a money you still how
much money?
Speaker 12 (24:01):
Let me see?
Speaker 7 (24:02):
Oh, the smart class. Smart class. And then if you
qualify to go to the school, you have to face
a lottery.
Speaker 20 (24:10):
So is everybody gonna go there? Even you get in
the lottery? You taking them what chance?
Speaker 12 (24:15):
Right?
Speaker 7 (24:16):
And so you're taking a chance on getting there. You
may not get there.
Speaker 20 (24:19):
Private schools don't have to take our kids. Do you
think private schools have enough seats to take all of
the kids that need to go to private school or
want to go to private school. They're already in private
schools in HSD into all of the isds. They are
private and they are good schools. We're doing good for kids. Now,
(24:44):
let me just really talk to you about what's going
to what's really happening to you. For those of you
who are excited about sending your schools child to about
your school, well, If one kid walks out, that kid
is worth fifteen to twenty thousand dollars. When it twenty
thousand dollars works out, walks out with the kid right,
(25:04):
every time you twenty two to one, that's the teacher
prepared ratio.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
Twenty two two kids walk out.
Speaker 20 (25:12):
That also a teacher walks out, right, So we're gonna
lease some good teachers.
Speaker 7 (25:17):
If a parent has two kids and two kids walk out,
how much money is that? And how much money will
he owe?
Speaker 20 (25:24):
Seventeen thousand and seventeen thousand is how much to look
at the math to.
Speaker 7 (25:29):
All right, that's how much they're gonna owe. So you
think they're gonna solve all of the children, No, they
are not.
Speaker 20 (25:36):
They're not there for your kids. And so why don't
they give that money to the public schools?
Speaker 5 (25:43):
Right?
Speaker 20 (25:43):
Why don't we fix our schools by paying our teachers
a living wage? Don't Why don't we get certified teachers?
The majority of the teachers in HISD are not certified.
Speaker 7 (25:57):
No wonder we have the crist is that we have.
We should raise the basic a lot bit and do
the very best for the kids that we are going
to serve.
Speaker 20 (26:10):
And so with that in mind. I want to say
thank you and take the message back to everybody. You
know that it's a scam. They want to take our
money and kill our public schools. Right now in hi ISD,
some seven schools are closing, all right, and guess what,
they're on the other side of town, right, So be
(26:31):
careful out there now. I want all of you to
take the message back. Each one can tell somebody something
about this. Let me say thank you for attending today.
Speaker 7 (26:40):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
That was Texas State Democrats sounding off on the Texas
Republican governor's plan to give public money to private schools.
In a poll that came out on Monday, March the tenth,
it was shown that vouchers are widely unpopular among all Texans,
with over sixty five percent of all Texans against this
(27:10):
voucher program and sixty two percent of Texas Republicans against
this plan if it raises property taxes. This is Steve
Gallington of the People's News here on Houston's community station
KPFT ninety point one FM. Become a sustaining member today
and help keep KPFT and the People's News on the air.
(27:31):
Your donation at seven, one, three, five, two, six, five, seven,
three eight makes it possible or use our website KPFT
dot org. Click on the donate button and remember at
the top of the page to select the dragdown list
and scroll down to the bottom and select the People's News.
The trade war is on with Canada and the United
(27:52):
States thanks to the convicted felon turning tariffs on and
turning tariffs off, turning tariffs on back in, which has
caused the U S stock market to drop by over
ten percent, erasing all the gains that it's made since
the convicted Felon was installed in the White House. The
(28:12):
convicted Felon added a twenty five percent tariff on steel
and aluminum to Canada. In response, the Honorable Dominic LeBlanc,
Minister of France and Inter Government Affairs, the Honorable Melanie Joy,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honorable Francois Philippe Champagne,
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry outlined the Government of
(28:35):
Canada's response in a dollar for dollar approach. Canada is
imposing as of twelve oh one am March thirteenth, twenty
twenty five, a twenty five percent reciprocal tariff on a
list of steel products worth twelve point six billion and
aluminum products worth three billion, as well as additional imported
(28:56):
US goods worth fourteen point two billion, for a TOE
of twenty nine point eight billion. This all comes as
a convicted felon and is corrupt and criminal. Administration are
calling for Canada to become part of the United States,
which will never happen. This is an interview with Richard Mason,
(29:17):
Executive Fellow at the University of Calgary School of Public Policy.
Speaker 21 (29:23):
Here in the States. Right now, as we get ready
for Flag Day in Canada, what's the mood of the
people in Canada right now with terrorist looming by the
American president.
Speaker 22 (29:41):
I think people in Canada are hurt, and I think
they're angry, and they're accused and they're kind of ready
to fight back.
Speaker 21 (29:53):
It seems that it seems that you know, the Americans
I talk to, you don't really know the history of Canada,
and thinking that that putting care of who will say,
both both slides of both sides of the country.
Speaker 22 (30:12):
Yeah, I mean, I think part of the problem is
we've been working together for so long and we've done
so much to mutual benefit. It doesn't make sense for
us that you guys are trying to break that relationship.
So right now, for example, I'm mostly an oil guy.
(30:32):
You know, we send you sixty some percent of all
the oil you import, and that's more than four million
barrels a day, and it goes to the refineries in
the Midwest and Gulf coasts that need it because it's
the kind of oil they want to process. And it
makes no sense to us why you would want to
put a tariff on that. You know, you don't. There's
(30:57):
no no reason why you can't produce more oil if
you want too great, you don't need to kind of
so try and produce more you already are, so right.
Speaker 21 (31:07):
Does it seem like it's kind of an uh building
into a nationalism type of thing. It's basically elections coming up,
and we got elections in two weeks in Ontario.
Speaker 22 (31:19):
Yeah, and of course there's a federal election coming right
away after that, and so it's there's a lot of
unanimity across the country that we're getting getting a raw
deal here, and we need to fight hard to make
sure that the president understands that you know, this isn't
(31:40):
isn't going to be good for you, and it's not
going to be good for us.
Speaker 21 (31:45):
Is this playing into the conservative parties? Parties favor the
kind of a nationalism type of attitude.
Speaker 22 (31:55):
Not really. The Conservatives were so far in French they
were going to wipe out the Liberals, and since this
has been happening, the Liberals have seen a lot of
momentum and so it's much more likely that it'll be
a close election because you know, the current government is
Liberals and everybody's rallying around the play to the current
(32:17):
prime minister and the current government.
Speaker 21 (32:20):
How does MDP play play a part in this?
Speaker 22 (32:24):
Uh, they're always a third party and they're just a small,
small player, so they're probably even less relevant right now
than they were before the whole tariff threat was happening.
Speaker 21 (32:36):
Are we looking at another Uh? How would a conservative
prime minister h play into US President's hand?
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Will that be better or worse?
Speaker 22 (32:50):
I mean, could you tell me what he wants? Because
I don't think anybody really knows up here what he wants,
and that's part of the problem. Right, So it seems
like it was in the winds and changes day by day,
So I don't know if it matters really who's in
charge because he keeps changing the reason for the tariffs,
or when they're going to apply, or how high they're
(33:13):
going to be, or all kinds of things. Right, so
we're very confused about it all.
Speaker 21 (33:19):
I think it plays into like a personal nationalism type
of type of politics. It's not, it's not, it's not
it's it doesn't mean anything, but it plays really well
into his uh, into his party and the people that
follow him.
Speaker 22 (33:38):
Yeah, it does, the problem is the relationship is so
big that it really is messing up a lot of things.
So we export four million barrels a day of oil
to you, plus eight billion cubic seed a day of
natural gas, and that's where it's one hundred and sixty
billion dollars a year. And you know, you guys need
(34:01):
it to run your refineries and keep your gasoline prices down.
So the fact that you're thinking about putting tariffs on
it means we're starting to look for other markets where
else can we take take the oil?
Speaker 21 (34:15):
So how hard will it How hard will it hit
Canada Canadians with the price if it's a tariff like this,
How how hard a Canadians getting hit?
Speaker 22 (34:27):
It hits us really hard because our economy is so
tied to yours, and it hits you really hard as well.
But so, for example, in energy, more than ninety percent
of our exports go to you, and so if you
put a tariff on our energy, it's going to have
a big effect on it. But it's also true for cars.
(34:48):
The cars go back and forth across the border and
all the parts six to eight times. Terre will just
about shut down the autowa industry within a week or
two for US and for you, and and aluminum and steel,
we apply something like seventy percent of the steel you
use and fifty percent of the illuminum you use the
(35:09):
tariff stool on. That is going to make everything in
the US more expensive. So it just doesn't make sense
to us that this is happening.
Speaker 21 (35:19):
Well, even if it goes in effect, how long how
long could this last? Is this something that Trump would
just can't ken He can't do this for a long
period of time because this is gas price is still
left Kenny.
Speaker 22 (35:32):
Well, this is the question how long might it lasts?
So the auto industry seems to be one of the
things that will get shut down right away because stuff
goes back and forth across the border. So often and
because people have small inventories just in time inventory system,
there's there's no buffer and so very likely the auto
(35:55):
industry will be shut down within a couple of three
weeks and tens of thousands of people on both to
the border or out of work. But does that mean
he's gonna stop?
Speaker 21 (36:04):
No, how would I would Auto? How would Autowa react
to it? As far as uh supporting the people that
might be laid off.
Speaker 22 (36:14):
So we've already put together a list of all the
things that three five from the US that we're gonna
put tariffs on to retaliate, and we have programs that
we're developing to help people who get laid off. So yeah,
we're we're getting ready for, you know, a long fight.
Speaker 21 (36:33):
I heard also the medical field would be hit by this.
Speaker 22 (36:38):
Well yeah, I mean anything that use the stuff that
comes back and forth across the border for sure. So
I don't know exactly what's happening in that area, but
it could.
Speaker 21 (36:49):
What about I've heard I saw Dog four down here.
He wasn't down in Texas, but he was in Washington
and trying to trying to actually uh lobby some of
some of these lawmakers about what KARASA do is he
was he doing that for his own play in Ontario
(37:12):
or was he doing was he really trying to try
trying to make a play with the with the American
with the American lawmakers.
Speaker 22 (37:21):
Yeah, so Canada was a little bit confused right away,
you know, when the first got announced. But I think
everybody is aligned much better lately. So we have ten
provinces in three territories, so all thirteen territorial and provincial
leaders were down in Washington the last few days trying
(37:41):
to talk to leaders. So they're all working together now
to make sure that it's the United message and trying
to persuade people that it's not in the US interest
to you know, pursue this. So I think it's it's
it's not just an election thing. This is much more
fundamental than that past because it's the impacts will be
so large.
Speaker 21 (38:04):
I was watching CBC and they were talking about how
long it it takes to build new markets elsewhere or
a stronger market.
Speaker 22 (38:14):
It's hard to do because you guys have been such
a good customer for so long. All of our infrastructure
is designed, you know, for efficiency, right, and so it's
hard to build new markets for auto parts because They're
so specific to going to plants that you know are
in the US. Same thing for energy, like we send
(38:36):
you the energy you need it. It's hard to build
tipeline to coach, but you know, if we have to,
we will.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
That was Richard Mason, Executive Fellow at the University of
Calgary School of Public Policy. The nineteen eighties cult classic
movie that greatly influenced the BMX culture, Rad is returning
to theaters for a massive one night only event, Rad
Day twenty twenty five on March twentieth, twenty twenty five,
followed by the world premiere of a RAD documentary. We
(39:07):
talked to the stars of the movies, American Olympic gymnast
Bart Connor and actor Bill Allen.
Speaker 23 (39:13):
What everybody everybody else seemed to be and Wood he
was not what he had you know, It just it
was kind of a matter of who was on tour,
who was injured, who was recently home and what Byke
company was willing to sponsor their riders. So it was
a bit of a luck in the draw. But of
(39:34):
course you had to be riding on a pro level.
But for guys like Martin and Mike, Miranda and Eddie,
it kind of helped cement there already, you know, growing reputation,
legends at the time, legends at the time, and Bart
(39:56):
you can attest to this as you were, you know,
working at the highest level as gymnast. These guys were
unbelievable athletes and doing things on bicycles, which was almost
like gymnastics on bike.
Speaker 24 (40:07):
Would you agree, Yeah, I think so, And that's I
think that's one of the reasons that uh, you know,
Hal Newt him Needam reached out to me to uh,
to be in the film was because obviously the big
backflip was a sort of a centerpiece of the storyline,
and you know, it's basically this is gymnastics on a bike.
So he had seen me in the Olympics, and he
(40:29):
thought I'd be, uh maybe a fit the stereotype of
the blondeheaded bad guy with all the sponsors and uh
and not like not unlike William Zapka and Cobra Kai
and uh variety kids. So I think I think I
fit that bill the way I looked at least.
Speaker 23 (40:49):
And uh.
Speaker 24 (40:50):
But I remember when I first got a copy of
the script, I called hell back and I said, man,
I just came out of the Olympics. I'm like, mister
America guy, I can't be the bad guy in this movie.
And he's like, oh, you got to read the whole script.
You'll turn out to be a decent guy, I promise you.
So that's kind of how it went. But I thought, okay,
I'm setting myself up here. So but the fact that
(41:11):
you know, I only think I only worked on the
film maybe ten or twelve days all together, it still
blows my mind. We're almost forty years out and people
still I mean, we're going to be in seven hundred
theaters next March twentieth, I mean next week, right, and
a documentary is coming out, and not only people who
loved the movie back in the eighties, but now they're
bringing their kids and even sometimes grandkids to see this movie.
(41:35):
I mean, I don't think you could have ever imagined that,
could you have, Bien?
Speaker 1 (41:40):
Well, No, I.
Speaker 23 (41:41):
Couldn't imagine anything forty years down the line, truly. And
I don't know of another movie that gets released every
year on the anniversary. I know this is a newer phenomenon,
but it is such a special movie that I was
saying earlier, if I'm going to be known for one thing.
I'm certainly happy that it's this thing because it's such
(42:02):
a an uplifting thing and a primer for kids who
are maybe a little lost at home or their direction
at life. And as a teenager who left home to
become an actor in Hollywood, I understand kind of throwing
caution to the four winds and just following your passion
(42:24):
no matter what. So it it kind of resonates on
a lot of different levels. Not everybody that loves it
is a bicyclist, but it's still it carries a lot
of good messages to the audiences.
Speaker 11 (42:37):
I think mart I was lucky to go to school.
My elementary school had more things in high school. We
had gymnastics, skate gymnastics and skateboarding and wrestling. Wow and
BMX all in is all in an elementary school, you know,
And it's no kidding.
Speaker 17 (42:53):
Where did you grow up?
Speaker 11 (42:54):
It was public school. It was Roberts' Elementary in what
state there in Houston, Houston, Texas.
Speaker 24 (43:00):
Wow, good for you, man.
Speaker 11 (43:02):
And I talked to other guys right now that that
we went to elementary school together, and he would go, man,
you know how lucky we were to have all this?
And uh, that's how I got involved with the skateboarding
culture and got involved with BMX after that, you know,
do all this and for both of you guys. You
see the X games now and you see what these
(43:24):
guys are doing now. I look at it now and
I'm like, I'm blown away by by it and the movie,
the movie itself. When that movie came out, we thought
that was the hierarchy of BMX at the time, and
and it was a powerful movie by the way too.
Speaker 24 (43:44):
You know, get right about that. That's the part where
I think that's that's that's pure hell Needa. If it
would have been just an average track, you know, people
racing around, fine, but Hal didn't do anything halfway, did
he build? And so like the track had to be
the most outrageous, and the scenes had to be totally authentic.
(44:06):
And I mean that's real riding and real people crashing
and real people doing face plants and stuff, and that's
just one hundred percent hell need him. That's and I
think he wouldn't wouldn't want it to have had had
done it any other way. It's like, uh, that's part
of the appeal was it was you know, it was badass,
and that's just that's that's all I can Whenever I
(44:27):
think of Hell need him, I think this guy was
He's a legend because he's just a bad ass.
Speaker 11 (44:32):
That was an influence on it. We got we got
one of the largest BMX tracks in the country here
in Houston, and that was one of the That movie
was one of influences because they were like, we gotta
make we gotta make this most badass track in the
country or even the world, and that the movie itself
was the influence on that and make it makes it.
Speaker 1 (44:52):
This is crazy.
Speaker 18 (44:53):
You know, what do you guys do?
Speaker 11 (44:56):
What are you guys doing now?
Speaker 3 (44:57):
Martin?
Speaker 11 (44:57):
You are are you still you coaching?
Speaker 24 (45:00):
Yeah? I have a gymnastics academy here in Oklahoma where
I live, and we have almost a thousand students. We're
very proud, but the baby kids, you know, preschool all
the way up through elite levels. And I work as
a commentator for ESPN. I cover a lot of college
gymnastics on ESPN. But it is always once a year,
you know, twentieth of March rad Day where I circle
(45:21):
back and reconnect with Bill and some of the people
from the film, and I'll be going to the local
theater here in Oklahoma on next Thursday, on the twentieth
to see this. And I've not seen the documentary. I
did participate in the interviews as Bill did, but I've
not seen the whole documentary. So I'm eager to see
that new element to this film because I understand I
have some really great sound bites and some really great
(45:44):
footage that stuff that I hadn't even seen from all
those years back. So I'm looking forward to it. Bill,
you've seen the documentary, right You're on a mute.
Speaker 23 (45:54):
Bill, Yeah, I have seen it, and it's a great
time capsule for in a few years ago. So I
think people are gonna really enjoy it because it obviously
tells the tale of Rad. But we've got some contemporary
interviews that people are gonna love.
Speaker 11 (46:10):
To Bill, what are you doing nowadays?
Speaker 23 (46:15):
I'm producing right now. I'm producing the projects to act in.
But I've got I've got some other things kind of
that I'm not quite ready to talk about. I do
a lot of these public appearances. I'm going to Indiana
the Indiana Comic Con over the weekend, and I do
a lot of RAD screenings. But my day job is
(46:35):
much more kind of putting projects together as opposed to
walking around town with an eight x ten in my hand,
which is that's a hard life.
Speaker 11 (46:46):
Man, that's a hard life. It's really weird now because
producing and people doing movies now. I've seen guys have
been on sets when people are just using just my iPhone,
or people are just using just a camera like Canon camera.
This is amazing how people are just able to do
(47:06):
film now and not have to not have to go
about the whole way of getting cameras.
Speaker 23 (47:12):
I mean, it's certainly put filmmaking in the hands of
the filmmakers, and with all these new tools, I'm into it.
It's decentralized the business and of course the studios they're scrambling.
You know, they used to release forty films a year.
Now they release four. So it's it's ever changing. But
change is what's for breakfast. Change does not scare me,
(47:34):
but it's certainly evolving, and it's fun to be on
the cutting edge of that. Let's face it. I've used
AI and plan to use it in the future. I
just hope my iPad doesn't wake up and kill me
one morning.
Speaker 3 (47:46):
That's all.
Speaker 23 (47:47):
Is that too much to ask? No?
Speaker 11 (47:50):
You hear that Siri, and I can ask you about AI. Also,
that's that's that's something that's people are them on the
edge about, and people are kind of kind of fearful.
Speaker 23 (48:05):
I'm I'm a I'm a musician too, And the history
of music goes back to when they started putting music
on wax cylinders. Composers and musicians were freaking out. Then
they're going to like, oh, they're going to steal all
our stuff. So there's always resistance to change, and something
a new invention can be either good or bad. It's
(48:27):
like the Internet. It just depends on how you use it.
Speaker 11 (48:31):
And you say, you got to the school going what
do you think about the new kids that are coming
up in gymnastics now?
Speaker 24 (48:39):
Well, the US team is so good, and of course
I go to the Olympics every four years, and I
was in Paris this summer watching the Olympics, and of
course Simone Biles is you know, she redefining what gymnastics
really is, very very extreme stuff that she does, and
that's been fun. The US team is awesome, and so yeah,
(48:59):
I stay connected with the sport because that's really my
my wheelhouse. And I didn't really pursue acting in any way.
But I'm so lucky that I did get an opportunity
to be in Rad, because you know, Rad was basically like,
you know, guys doing gymnastics on a bike, and hell,
Needham thought I'd be a good character for that film.
(49:21):
So yeah, I'm forever grateful that I got pulled into
that because I mean, obviously my career has been focused
on gymnastics, but it's it's really fun and I met
a week or even a month doesn't go by where
I'm walking through an airport somewhere and somebody goes mad,
I love that movie Rad, and they are they'll they'll
quote some lines from Rad or you know, they want
(49:46):
to have they have a personal connection with Rad. I
think the music was a big part of it, you know.
I think music helps kind of define the era that
we kind of you know, we're impressionable young people. And
I don't know how it is with you, Bill, but
I find myself listening to the music I cared about
when I was at that age that somehow resonates with me.
(50:06):
I'm not sure there's any music right now that connects
with me like the music at that time. And I
think not only just the outrageous stunts that were in RAD.
But I think the music is a big part of
why this connects with young people. It's a profound impact
on your memory. Is that not true? Bill, Well, you're
(50:27):
on mute again.
Speaker 23 (50:30):
My cat was making noise. Bart, do you remember the
song that we were actually dancing to during the bicycle
boogie sequence, because it wasn't Sent me an Angel.
Speaker 24 (50:40):
No, No, it wasn't. I don't remember what the song
which I do remember.
Speaker 23 (50:44):
It was White Wedding by Billy idol. Oh, that's it,
I do know, and so I'm sure they would have
had that in the movie, except it was the hottest
song of the time, so I'm sure licensing was insane.
So that's why they ended up with all the John
Farnham stuff and even Send Me an Angel, I think
had been released a couple of years previously, so you know,
(51:09):
they rediscovered that song and repackaged it for this movie,
and it really it all just held together. It's not
my era of music, but man, people love it. People
love the soundtrack and the visuals with the send me
an Angel stuff. And the thing that's smart about RAD
is about every ten minutes there's a music video, there's
(51:31):
a music sequence and people on bikes doing tricks are
going through beautiful countryside and so how didn't let you
look at your watch too many times? It's like, let's
keep this thing moving, Let's give the people what they want.
And at the time music videos and movies that was.
Speaker 3 (51:48):
A big deal.
Speaker 23 (51:49):
So it was almost a tribute to those movies too.
Speaker 1 (51:52):
Rad Day is March twentieth and is being shown in
and around the Houston area. This is Steve Gellington of
the People's News here on Houston's community station KPFT ninety
point one FM. Become a sustaining member today and help
keep KPFT and the People's News on the air. Your
donation at seven one three five two six five seven
(52:12):
three eight makes it possible. Or use our website KPFT
dot org. Click on the donate button and remember at
the top of the page to select the dragdown list
and scroll down to the bottom and select the People's News.
We'll end the People's News today with a reading from
Timothy Snyder's on Tyranny, Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century,
(52:34):
which was published in twenty seventeen. We're reading number fourteen
of the twenty Lessons which is entitled establish a private life.
Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to
push you around, scrub your computer of malware on a
regular basis. Remember that email is skywriting. Consider using alternative
(52:55):
forms of the Internet or simply using it less. Have
personal exchanges in person for the same reason resolve any
legal trouble. Tyrants seek the hook on which to hang you.
Try not to have hooks. What the great political thinker
Hannah Arreant meant by totalitarianism was not an all powerful state,
(53:19):
but the erasure of the difference between private and public life.
We are free only in so far as we exercise
control over what people know about us and in what
circumstances they come to know it. During the campaign of
twenty sixteen, we took a step toward totalitarianism without even
noticing it, by accepting as normal the violation of electronic privacy,
(53:43):
whether it is done by American or Russian intelligence agencies,
or for that matter, by any institution. The theft, discussion,
or publication of personal communications destroys a basic foundation of
our rights. If we have no control over who reads
what and when, we have no ability to act in
the present or plan for the future. Whoever can pierce
(54:06):
your privacy can humiliate you and disrupt your relationships at will.
No one, except perhaps a tyrant, has a private life
that can survive public exposure by hostile directive. The timed
email bombs of the twenty sixteen presidential campaign were also
a powerful form of disinformation. Words written in one situation
(54:29):
makes sense only in that context. The very act of
removing them from their historical moment and dropping them in
another is an act of falsification. What is worse, when
media followed the email bombs as if they were news,
they betrayed their own mission. Few journalists made an effort
to explain why people said or wrote the things they
(54:51):
did at the time. Meanwhile, in transmitting privacy violations as news,
the media allowed themselves to be distracted from the actual
event of the day. Rather than reporting the violation of
basic rights, our media generally preferred to mindlessly indulge in
the inherently salacious interest we have in other people's affairs.
(55:12):
Our appetite for the secret thought arrant is dangerously political.
Totalitarianism removes the difference between private and public, not just
to make individuals unfree, but also to draw the whole
society away from normal politics and toward conspiracy theories. Rather
than defending facts or generating interpretations, we are seduced by
(55:36):
the notion of hidden realities and dark conspiracies that explain everything.
As we learn from these email bombs, this mechanism works
even when it is revealed it is of no interest.
The revelation of what was once confidential becomes the story itself.
It is striking that the news media are much worse
(55:56):
at this than, say, fashion or sports reporters. Fashion reporters
know that models are taking off their clothes in the
changing rooms, and sports reporters know that their athletes shower
in the locker room, but neither allow private matters to
supplant the public story that they are supposed to be covering.
When we take an active interest in the matters of
(56:17):
doubtful relevance at moments that are chosen by tyrants and spooks,
we participate in the demolition of our own political order.
To be sure, we might feel that we are doing
nothing more than going along with everyone else. This is true,
and it is what aren't described as the devolution of
society into a mob. We can try to solve this
(56:39):
problem individually by securing our own computers. We can also
try to solve it collectively by supporting, for example, organizations
that are concerned with human rights. That was an excerpt
of the book on Tyranny, Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth
Century by Timothy Snyder. The People's News is a production
(57:03):
of Steve Gallington and Richard Hannah, and is protected by
copyright laws. All the information broadcast on air and online,
as well as published in both print and or online,
including articles, audio clips, illustrations, graphics, photographs, and videos, are
protected by these copyright and other state and federal intellectual
property laws. Therefore, you may not use our content in
(57:26):
any prohibited way, including reproducing, publishing, transmitting, selling, rewriting, broadcasting,
or posting on the Internet without the expressed written permission
of The People's News. Prohibited use also includes publication of
our material in printed or electronic brochures, newsletters, or flyers,
as well as all website or email distribution. To obtain
(57:48):
permission to use copyrighted material, email Steve Gallington at Steve
at gallington dot com. Thank you,
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