Tag Archives: Labor

abolition, Anarchist, Art, General, Haymarket Books, Transcribed, zine

Vicky Osterweil on Disney, Intellectual Property and Storytelling

book cover of "The Extended Universe: How Disney Killed Movies and Took Over the World" with a picture of Mickey Mouse from behind, looking at his hand as he removes his white glove to show a shriveled claw, plus "TFSR 5-2-26 | Vicky Osterweil on Disney, Intellectual Property and Storytelling"
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This week, we’re featuring a recent, live interview that I did at Firestorm books with Vicky Osterweil, anarchist writer and worker, author of In Defense of Looting and more recently The Extended Universe: How Disney Killed The Movies and Took Over the World (Haymarket, 2026). Vicky is a member of the Collective of Anarchist Writers (CAW), and you can also find her on Bluesky and what she’s thinking about what she’s watching at Letterboxd.

During the chat Vicky talks about intellectual property and how it overlaps between entertainment and other elements like technology and medicine, the shaping and limiting effects IP has on popular culture and imagination, the film industry and more.

To hear Vickys past appearances on our show check out:

Announcements

Support Jason Reynard Walker

Incarcerated activist and journalist Jason Reynard Walker is asking for support as he nears the end of his state sentence in Texas prisons and before starting his Federal sentence. He’s concerned about the shifting of his release dates around that may put him in a dangerous position where he’s more likely to have a hit on him placed by prison authorities. Read more at: https://jasonsprisonjournal.com/a-rogue-within-tdcjs-bureaucracy-changed-my-release-date-with-malice-aforethought-to-get-me-murdered/

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activism, Labor, Palestine, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Transcribed, zine

Palestine Solidarity at East End Co-Op (with Iris and Fritz of UE 667)

East End Co-Op Union + BDS

photo of members of UE667 next to a table with a sign reading Feed Gaza
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This week, Ian spoke with member of UE local 667, organized workers at the East End Co-Op in Pittsburgh about the origins and goals of their organization and their divestment campaign to remove products from occupied Palestine from the shelves of their co-op.

Announcement

Shine White on Hunger Strike

White antiracist prisoner in North Carolina, Shine White, was transferred to a new facility and brutally beaten by guards as punishment for his organizing behind bars. Supporters have released this statement:

On October 7, Joseph “Shine White” Stewart was transferred from Foothills CI to Marion CI as punishment for his organizing efforts. Upon arrival, he was restrained, maced, tased on his face, and beaten by guards, sustaining injuries to his shoulder and ribs. This compounds existing injuries inflicted by guards at Foothills CI, for which he has been denied medical attention, in addition to ongoing medical neglect for preexisting chronic health conditions. In response to this ongoing repression, Shine went on a hunger strike after arriving at Marion CI. He is demanding proper medical treatment and to be transferred outside the jurisdiction of Western Regional Director, LaDonna Browning.

Make calls to the following officials on their direct lines Monday-Friday between 9am – 5pm EST:

  • Peter Richard Buchholtz – Deputy Secretary for Institutions (910) 916-0155
    • peter.buchholtz@dac.nc.gov
  • Josh Painter – Director of Prison Operations (910) 578-0215
  • Marquette Alexandra Frierson – Clinical Support Director (919) 828-4000
  • Valerie Langley – Chief Nursing Officer (252) 916-5645

Sample Script: “Hello. I am calling with regard to Joseph Stewart, OPUS number 0802041, who is currently on hunger strike after being brutally beaten by guards upon transfer to Marion CI and being denied medical care in retaliation for his organizing for prisoners. We are contacting you to demand that he receive immediate medical attention and be transferred outside the jurisdiction of Western Regional Director, LaDonna Browning. Joseph has made it clear that he will not end his hunger strike until he is transferred. Each day that goes by increases existing risks to his health. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.”

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  • The Girl With The Sun In Her Brain by Orbital from In Sides