7 chapters across the catalog
A federal indictment alleges that Russia attempted to sow political turmoil in the United States by partnering with the Uhuru House, an African Socialist group based in St. Petersburg, Florida. FBI agents raided the location following claims of a seven-year influence campaign involving propaganda and election interference. The discussion connects this event to historical Russian involvement with Black political liberation movements.
The DOJ alleges that Russian operative Alexander Ionov supervised and funded the 2019 St. Petersburg City Council campaign of Aretha Achille Kenyan. Another unindicted co-conspirator, former mayoral candidate Jesse Neville, is also linked to discussions with Ionov regarding the use of "reparations" as a divisive political tool. The hosts compare the FBI's focus on these local Florida groups to the high-profile raid on Donald Trump's residence.
White mayoral candidate Jesse Neville ran in St. Petersburg on a platform of "Unity Through Reparations" alongside the Uhuru movement. His campaign focused on fighting gentrification, real estate developers, and the "corporate elite" controlling City Hall. The hosts analyze his polished, "woke" messaging and its contrast with the African People's Socialist Party he represented.
During her City Council run, Aretha Achille Kenyan argued that her reparations platform was the only defense against the gentrification of the Black community in St. Petersburg. She criticized the media for attempting to pivot the discussion toward LGBTQ issues to distract from the economic oppression caused by big developers. The hosts praise her ability to redirect the conversation while noting her socialist ties.
Following the FBI raid, members of the Uhuru House held a press conference to show property damage, including broken glass and doors torn from hinges. They denied the legitimacy of the indictment and claimed the investigation was an attack on the Black community rather than a matter of Russian interference. The hosts contrast the aggressive nature of this raid with the search of Melania Trump's closets.
The 25th anniversary of the death of Tyron Lewis, an unarmed Black teenager killed by police in 1996, serves as a backdrop for the Uhuru movement's long-standing presence in St. Petersburg. The original shooting sparked days of rioting and fires in the city. The hosts reflect on how these historical cycles of unrest are amplified by modern social media compared to the early internet era of the 1990s.
In July 2022, a man identified as Kenny Raymond was caught on video using a military-grade flamethrower to burn the Pan-African flag outside the Uhuru House. Despite the nature of the attack, Raymond was only charged with criminal mischief. The hosts find the event suspicious, noting it occurred just weeks before the federal raid on the same building.
