What's In The News? Mini Episode #404B

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

When it's time to scale your business, it's time for Shopify. Get everything you need to grow the way you want, like all the way.

Stack more sales with the best converting checkout on the planet. Track your cha-chings from every channel right in one spot, and turn real-time reporting into big-time opportunities. Take your business to a whole new level. Switch to Shopify. Start your free trial today.

SPEAKER_2 (0:29)

This episode is brought to you by EA Sports, FC27.

Welcome to the world's game. FC27 is introducing the grounds where the streets meet the stadium. Connect with friends, GoPro, and express yourself on or off the pitch. Play FC27 with the Ultimate Edition September 18th. Learn more at ea.com. Rated E for everyone. Includes in-game purchases including random items. The grounds is only available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 versions.

Madigan (0:59)

Hi, I'm Madigan and you're listening to Your Angry Neighborhood Feminist, a podcast that explores the world through a personal feminist perspective.

Hello, everyone. I am back and as promised, I am giving you a part two or B of the mini news episode number 404

Because I had so many 9-11 related topics to discuss on the recent mini episode, I decided to keep those all together. And now I'm going to give you the rest of the news topics that I wanted to discuss. And we're going to begin with what I have entitled this next segment, Macklemore vs. P!nk. Alright, so Macklemore, who by the way was born Benjamin Haggerty, which is my maiden name, so we're like probably cousins, has made his Irish ancestors proud by fiercely defending the rights of Palestinians during the war on Gaza. And Macklemore isn't someone that jumped on the bandwagon once they felt like it was safe to do so. He really came forward at a time where it was still very dangerous for people to be pro-Palestine. He posted on social media on October 19th writing, I have been in fear. I have felt a literal lump in my throat and I cannot stay silent any longer. I condemn the murder of any human, the bombings, kidnappings and murder of the Israeli people carried out by Hamas was horrific in every way imaginable. My heart deeply hurts for the Israelis that lost loved ones to such an abomination. As a father, I cannot imagine if one of my kids was at that festival or was still missing after being kidnapped. It is absolutely unfathomable. But killing innocent humans in retaliation as collective punishment is not the answer. That is why I am supporting the people around the world who are calling for a ceasefire. Then on October 30th, 2023, Macklemore signed the Artists for Ceasefire letter, calling for a ceasefire and an end to the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. The following month, he gave a speech at a pro-Palestine rally being held in Washington DC, where he criticized Israel for committing genocide against the Palestinians. Again, this was still a time when very few people were brave enough to come forward and call it what it was and is, a genocide. He said, they told me to be quiet. They told me to do my research, to go back, that it's too complex to say something, right? To be silent in this moment. In the last three weeks, I've gone back and I've done some research. I'm teachable. I don't know enough, but I know enough that this is a genocide. Then in May 2024, he released the protest song Hins Hall, which showed his support for the pro-Palestine protests on university campuses, and called for an end of the Gaza war and divestment from Israel.

I'm sure many of you can recognize that the name of the song is clearly in reference to Hined Rajab, who is the five-year-old girl who was killed by Israeli forces in January 2024

There's also references in the song to the renaming of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University to Hins Hall during the protests. All proceeds for that song were donated to UNRWA, or the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

In September 2024 at a pro-Palestine rally, Macklemore pissed a lot of people off by exclaiming, America, which led to him being dropped from the Neon City Festival in Las Vegas. So much for freedom of speech. Also, it's not like this phrase is so original. Green Day did it back in 2002

My cousin Macklemore has also joined up with Watermelon Pictures and Breakthrough News to produce the documentary film The Encampments, which is about the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Columbia University. Now, most recently, when opening for Ed Sheeran, on his tour in New Jersey, Macklemore declared free Palestine, telling the audience, I believe that every human being walking on this earth deserves exactly the same freedom. He added that his proclamation is, in no way a criticism of Jewish people. He also condemned ICE. His remarks were delivered as images related to Gaza appeared on the stadium screens behind him, which his critics are saying, turned the concert into a political rally. I get so disturbed whenever someone is upset about something, quote unquote, turning political, because I would argue that pretty much anything that any human being is involved in is political, because being alive, being a human being is inherently political. I also have a feeling that if Macklemore was aligning with similar views of his critics, that maybe they would feel a little bit differently. But instead of picking and choosing what Macklemore himself had to say, let me tell you his entire statement that he gave while on stage. Quote, I've been trying to figure out a way to say this all day. One of the reasons why I wanted to come on this tour was because I wanted to stand up here on stages and stadiums across America and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart. Free Palestine, I said, free Palestine. I want those words to be loud and clear, so the people from Gaza all the way to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten them. And this next song was inspired by the bravery of Columbia University students who led an encampment movement that mobilized the entire world, opened up hearts, myself included. So thank you to those students that risked their diplomas, that risked their tuition, that risked their scholarships, that stood up and said no.