We start today’s show with our ongoing Thursday segment, the State Terror Roundup.
Over the past week, dozens of people seeking asylum, who reached US in the southern area of Texas, were flown to Sacramento, in what critics – including Gavin Newsom – have called a political stunt, led by Florida governor Ron DeSantis, as the latter tries to build energy into his Republican presidential campaign. Florida’s Division of Emergency Management has stated that they were involved in the transfer of asylum seekers – it’s an interesting role to play, given that these people were in Texas, with no apparent connection to Florida whatsoever. In response, Newsom has thrown himself into political posturing, threatening – through Twitter – kidnapping charges on behalf of the recently arrived asylum seekers. But what really happens for these recent arrivals in particular, and asylum seekers in general in California? We are joined by Sarah Dar, Director of Health & Public Benefits Policy for the California Immigrant Policy Center.
Learn more about the California Immigrant Policy Center: https://caimmigrant.org/
Then: Almost 11 months ago, the phone number 988 launched as a new crisis number, available to all US landline and cell phone users, that accesses over 200 local and state funded crisis centers. The number is meant to be an easy-to-remember way to access mental health support. It also wraps in the former 10-digit role of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. With a shorter and easier-to-remember phone number, call volume has increased dramatically as compared to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, but as a corollary, so have forced psychiatric holds. The call centers are boldly advertised as confidential, but call centers actually sometimes share peoples information with 911 and police agencies. We explore the relationship between force, emergency mental healthcare, and the new 988 crisis hotline, with Rob Wipond, a journalist who writes frequently on the interfaces between psychiatry, civil rights, policing, surveillance and privacy. He’s also the author of a new book, Your Consent Is Not Required: The Rise in Psychiatric Detentions, Forced Treatment, and Abusive Guardianships. Rob has been writing about the new 988 hotline for the web magazine Mad in America.
Check out Rob Wipond’s latest piece for Mad in America: https://www.madinamerica.com/2023/05/psychiatric-detentions-rise-988/
Our Resistance in Residence Artist this week is actor, director, and intimacy choreographer Jeuneé Simon. Listen to our full length interview with Jeuneé on our podcast (link below). Learn more about Jeuneé Simon: https://www.jeuneesimon.com/
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This episode featured music by Kofy Brown.
Check out her website: https://www.kofybrown.com/
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