Podcast
It Could Happen Here
Hosted by Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts · EN
It Could Happen Here started as an exploration of the possibility of a new civil war. Now a daily show, it's evolved into a chronicle of collapse as it happens, and an exploration of how we might build a better future. Every day Robert Evans, Garrison Davis, Mia Wong, and James Stout take you on a jaunty walk through the burning ruins of the old world and towards a better one that lays just on the horizon.
341episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Rise of Organized Retail Crime Propaganda
2d ago00:23:46Summary readyInvestigative journalist, Kevin Foster outlines the rise of organized retail crime propaganda and the ensuing legislative crackdown. Sources: https://www.geekwire.com/2026/drone-vs-shoplifter-watch-how-redmond-pd-tracks-an-alleged-thief-from-high-in-the-sky/ https://nrfprotect.nrf.com/attend/event-recap https://radsecurity.com/roameo https://losspreventionmedia.com/top-retailers-rely-on-artificial-intelligence-for-loss-prevention/ https://www.facefirst.com https://missionlocal.org/2026/07/sf-grocery-outlet-facial-recognition/ https://trends.google.com/explore?q=organized%20retail%20crime&date=2019-10-10%202026-07-02&geo=US https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/transnational-organized-crime/organized-retail-theft https://www.retaildive.com/news/retailers-crime-problem-numbers/699107/ https://www.c-span.org/program/senate-committee/senate-hearing-on-organized-retail-theft/662523 https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/summary?cycle=2020&id=D000000741 https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2853 https://counciloncj.org/shoplifting-trends-what-you-need-to-know/ https://www.vera.org/news/the-truth-about-retail-theft https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/dec/07/retail-theft-losses-inventory-nrf https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/Is-shoplifting-forcing-Walgreens-to-cut-back-in-16536960.php https://www.businessinsider.com/target-closing-stores-due-to-crime-stats-tell-another-story-2023-10 https://www.youtube.com/live/CcfggLuNAIk?si=wpu-uZyUisXLWRZT&t=1768 https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-12/newsom-suggests-ways-to-crack-down-on-property-crime-without-dismantling-proposition-47 https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/01/09/property-crime-framework/ https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Proposition?number=36&year=2024 https://nrf.com/podcast/how-san-diego-district-attorney-summer-stephan-combats-organized-retail-crime https://www.npr.org/2021/10/27/1049651009/mountain-dew-arrest-felony-count-dropped https://youtu.be/LXwNudSOWls?si=Jbg8Kh3_ucWxmTXQ&t=2327 https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2018/05/22/states-can-safely-raise-their-felony-theft-thresholds-research-shows https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/money2026.html https://www.lao.ca.gov/policyareas/cj/6_cj_inmatecost https://www.sdcda.org/content/office/newsroom/tempDownloads/8c903f42-47ab-4b6d-baf7-4f5dc5a6f4d0_DA%20Testifies%20at%20Senate%20Hearing%207-15-25.pdf https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/19/us/one-year-old-mississippi-boy-police-shooting https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/15/banko-brown-killed-walgreens-security-guard-video https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/01/us/south-carolina-murder-trial-cyrus-carmack-belton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHNKn0oAdMo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryMorocco’s US-Backed Occupation of Western Sahara
3d ago00:25:15Summary readyIn this episode Dana El Kurd talks with Mohamedsalem Werad, co-founder of Saharawi Voice. Saharawi Voice is a collective of citizen journalists and filmmakers based in the Western Sahara refugee camps in south-west Algeria that provides a platform for Saharawis to share their challenges, experiences, perspectives, and hopes with an international audience. Mohamedsalem is also the co-director of the documentary Haiyu. They discuss recent events related to Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara, and how the US is implicated. Sources: Saharawi Voices youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SAHARAWIVOICESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryA Second Electrolysis Union Appears
4d ago01:03:51Summary readyMia talks with Layne and Andy of the Gender Affirming Care Workers Alliance about organizing trans workers and building community through struggle. Links: gacwa@protonmail.com https://linktr.ee/GACWASee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryCZM Book Club: What We Want, What We Believe by Alex Smith, Part One
5d ago00:55:08Summary readyPrince Shakur reads Margaret a story about revolution, repression, and survival for Black AugustSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryIt Could Happen Here Weekly 243
6d ago03:10:07Summary readyAll of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file. Lebanon's Agreement with Israel Ukraine Update: Political Chaos, Drone War, Crimes & More (ft. Romeo Kokriataski) Why is DHS Buying Private Prisons Why DSA Keeps Winning Executive Disorder: Asylum Seekers Forced to Meet with Iranian Officials, Ken Paxton, Activist Charged for GrapheneOS Phone Wipe You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today! http://apple.co/coolerzone Sources/Links: Lebanon's Agreement with Israel https://www.972mag.com/lebanon-israel-trap-withdrawal-sovereignty/ https://thefirethesetimes.com https://hauntologies.net https://eliaayoub.com Ukraine Update: Political Chaos, Drone War, Crimes & More (ft. Romeo Kokriataski) https://english.nv.ua https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ukraine-without-hype-127616838/ Why is DHS Buying Private Prisons https://calmatters.org/justice/2026/07/corecivic-sells-ice-detention-centers/ Why DSA Keeps Winning https://socialists.nyc/ https://www.dsausa.org/ https://podcasts.apple.com/ru/podcast/the-dsa-red-scare/id1449762156?i=1000777008325 Executive Disorder: Asylum Seekers Forced to Meet with Iranian Officials, Ken Paxton, Activist Charged for GrapheneOS Phone Wipe https://www.givesendgo.com/letsamgo https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/07/fourth-circuit-says-border-agents-can-search-your-phone-hand-no-suspicion-required https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/us-citizenship-and-immigration-services-rescinds-2022-public-charge-regulation https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2025-20278/public-charge-ground-of-inadmissibility https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1999-05-26/pdf/99-13202.pdf https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.294220/gov.uscourts.dcd.294220.9.3_1.pdf https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.294220/gov.uscourts.dcd.294220.9.4.pdf https://www.reuters.com/world/china/iran-get-chinese-shoulder-launched-missile-systems-weeks-sources-say-2026-07-29/ https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2082260118930956482 https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/28/texas-senate-poll-james-talarico-ken-paxton-july-2026/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/politics/ken-paxton-has-survived-years-of-scandals-can-james-talarico-change-thathttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/politics/ken-paxton-has-survived-years-of-scandals-can-james-talarico-change-thathttps://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/19/ken-paxton-waco-plea-deal-child-sex-abuse-texas-attorney-general/https://www.kwbu.org/news/2026-05-15/lawmakers-call-for-legal-reforms-response-to-adam-hoffman-case?_amp=truehttps://www.kwtx.com/2025/06/11/wife-waco-attorney-adam-hoffman-disputes-allegations-sexual-abuse-made-by-local-boy/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/technology/meta-data-center-louisiana.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jul/28/school-shootings-pepper-spray-drones https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8800https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/119/hr8800/text#H6C56E3050B5F4792AEBB0DF665B1D5D9https://breakthroughnews.org/2026/07/22/breakthrough-news-is-under-attack/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Bg1RJk3_8 https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cuba-Report.pdf https://peoplesforum.org/blog_post/trump-allies-in-congress-subpoena-the-peoples-forum-help-us-fight-back/ https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/business/media/new-york-times-subpoenas-withdraw.html https://www.chandralaw.com/files/assets/2026-05-27def.morenosmotforexpeditedreliefunderupepa.pdf https://www.chandralaw.com/files/assets/2026-06-04def.morenossecondsupplementtohermot.forexpeditedrelief.pdfhttps://www.cnn.com/2026/06/10/politics/video/max-miller-abuse-allegations-emily-moreno-digvid-invs https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/07/14/ohio-congressman-max-miller-is-being-sued-amid-domestic-violence-allegations/ https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/07/assault-misogyny-verbal-threats-records-detail-new-allegations-against-rep-max-miller-bernie-moreno/ https://x.com/GrapheneOS/status/2082212225364746306 https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71998357/1/united-states-v-tunick/ https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.gand.351976/gov.uscourts.gand.351976.21.0.pdfhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/23/cop-city-protester-phone See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Summary
Executive Disorder: Asylum Seekers Forced to Meet with Iranian Officials, Ken Paxton, Activist Charged for GrapheneOS Phone Wipe
1w ago01:03:24Summary readyWe discuss the second White House Correspondents' Dinner, school shooter response drones, a massive data center in Louisiana, ICE coordinating with Iranian officials to deport asylum seekers, why James Talarico might beat Ken Paxton, abuse allegations against GOP House rep. Max Miller, and a Stop Cop City activist charged for allegedly wiping his phone at the airport. Sources: https://www.givesendgo.com/letsamgo https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/07/fourth-circuit-says-border-agents-can-search-your-phone-hand-no-suspicion-required https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/us-citizenship-and-immigration-services-rescinds-2022-public-charge-regulation https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2025-20278/public-charge-ground-of-inadmissibility https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1999-05-26/pdf/99-13202.pdf https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.294220/gov.uscourts.dcd.294220.9.3_1.pdf https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.294220/gov.uscourts.dcd.294220.9.4.pdf https://www.reuters.com/world/china/iran-get-chinese-shoulder-launched-missile-systems-weeks-sources-say-2026-07-29/ https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2082260118930956482 https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/28/texas-senate-poll-james-talarico-ken-paxton-july-2026/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/politics/ken-paxton-has-survived-years-of-scandals-can-james-talarico-change-thathttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/politics/ken-paxton-has-survived-years-of-scandals-can-james-talarico-change-thathttps://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/19/ken-paxton-waco-plea-deal-child-sex-abuse-texas-attorney-general/https://www.kwbu.org/news/2026-05-15/lawmakers-call-for-legal-reforms-response-to-adam-hoffman-case?_amp=truehttps://www.kwtx.com/2025/06/11/wife-waco-attorney-adam-hoffman-disputes-allegations-sexual-abuse-made-by-local-boy/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/technology/meta-data-center-louisiana.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jul/28/school-shootings-pepper-spray-drones https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8800https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/119/hr8800/text#H6C56E3050B5F4792AEBB0DF665B1D5D9https://breakthroughnews.org/2026/07/22/breakthrough-news-is-under-attack/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Bg1RJk3_8 https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cuba-Report.pdf https://peoplesforum.org/blog_post/trump-allies-in-congress-subpoena-the-peoples-forum-help-us-fight-back/ https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/business/media/new-york-times-subpoenas-withdraw.html https://www.chandralaw.com/files/assets/2026-05-27def.morenosmotforexpeditedreliefunderupepa.pdf https://www.chandralaw.com/files/assets/2026-06-04def.morenossecondsupplementtohermot.forexpeditedrelief.pdfhttps://www.cnn.com/2026/06/10/politics/video/max-miller-abuse-allegations-emily-moreno-digvid-invs https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/07/14/ohio-congressman-max-miller-is-being-sued-amid-domestic-violence-allegations/ https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/07/assault-misogyny-verbal-threats-records-detail-new-allegations-against-rep-max-miller-bernie-moreno/ https://x.com/GrapheneOS/status/2082212225364746306 https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71998357/1/united-states-v-tunick/ https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.gand.351976/gov.uscourts.gand.351976.21.0.pdfhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/23/cop-city-protester-phoneSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryWhy DSA Keeps Winning
1w ago00:43:23Summary readyGarrison talks with Grace Mausser, co-chair of the New York City chapter of DSA, about the chapter’s on-the-ground organizing strategy, DSA’s relationship to the democratic party, and what their electoral wins could mean for building working class power. Resources: https://socialists.nyc/ https://www.dsausa.org/ https://podcasts.apple.com/ru/podcast/the-dsa-red-scare/id1449762156?i=1000777008325 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryWhy is DHS buying private prisons?
1w ago00:31:29Summary readyJames is joined by Wendy Fry from CalMatters to discuss her story on DHS buying Core Civic facilities in California and what this might mean for immigration detention. Sources: https://calmatters.org/justice/2026/07/corecivic-sells-ice-detention-centers/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryUkraine Update: Political Chaos, Drone War Crimes & More (ft. Romeo Kokriataski)
1w ago00:32:32Summary readyRobert sits down with journalist and Ukrainian citizen Romeo Kokriataski to discuss the recent political shake-up by Zelensky, Russian drone-based war crimes, and the mental toll of ongoing war. Links: https://english.nv.ua https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ukraine-without-hype-127616838/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryLebanon’s Agreement with Israel
2w ago00:20:00Summary readyIn this episode Dana El Kurd talks with Elia Ayoub about Lebanon’s agreement with Israel, the concerns regarding the agreement, and how it fits in to the broader regional war on Iran.* *Note: This episode was recorded on Thursday July 2, 2026, so does not reflect any subsequent developments. Sources: https://www.972mag.com/lebanon-israel-trap-withdrawal-sovereignty/ https://thefirethesetimes.com https://hauntologies.net https://eliaayoub.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Summary