Margaret interviews the author and activist Cory Doctorow about the role of fiction in making a better world

Margaret interviews the author and activist Cory Doctorow about the role of fiction in making a better world

As long as there’s been oppression, there’ve been people fighting it. This weekly podcast dives into history to drag up the wildest rebels, the most beautiful revolts, and all the people who long to be—and fight to be—free. It explores complex stories of resistance that offer lessons and inspiration for us today, focusing on the ensemble casts that make up each act of history. That is to say, this podcast focuses on Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff.

As long as there’s been oppression, there’ve been people fighting it. This weekly podcast dives into history to drag up the wildest rebels, the most beautiful revolts, and all the people who long to be—and fight to be—free. It explores complex stories of resistance that offer lessons and inspiration for us today, focusing on the ensemble casts that make up each act of history. That is to say, this podcast focuses on Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff.

Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts. 

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts.&nbsp;

Podcasts from iHeartRadio

As long as there&rsquo;s been oppression, there&rsquo;ve been people fighting it. This weekly podcast dives into history to drag up the wildest rebels, the most beautiful revolts, and all the people who long to be&mdash;and fight to be&mdash;free. It explores complex stories of resistance that offer lessons and inspiration for us today, focusing on the ensemble casts that make up each act of history. That is to say, this podcast focuses on Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff.

Part One: Cory Doctorow on Speculative Fiction for Social Change

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/bcec3066-8978-4683-abae-b4a1012991df/transcript

Margaret tells you the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them

Sources:

https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/
https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/arizona-police-agencies-gather-share-license-plate-data-but-few-ensure-rules-are-being-followed/
https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/aurora-police-detain-black-family-after-mistaking-their-vehicle-as-stolen
https://sls.eff.org/technologies/automated-license-plate-readers-alprs
https://www.winonapost.com/news/crime/all-of-wpd-s-flock-cameras-stolen/article_9c61aa25-411b-4f2f-a5cd-ca02942f5f9f.html
https://krocnews.com/stolen-flock-cameras-winona-mn/
https://www.winonapost.com/news/wpd-wont-replace-stolen-flock-cameras-citing-public-trust/article_06a67859-2d97-414b-aa8f-d8751ad214bb.html
https://www.military.com/air-force-engineer-accused-of-cutting-down-13-police-cameras-says-they-are-unconstitutional
https://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justice/2025/12/16/timeline-the-brief-troubled-history-of-flock-cameras-in-eugene-springfield/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/
https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/flock-cameras-destroyed-nationwide-ice-backlash-2026/
https://ngscinc.com/history-license-plate-recognition
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/automatic-license-plate-readers-legal-status-and-policy-recommendations
https://www.policechiefmagazine.org/patrol-cars-poles-alpr/
https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/state-house-hopeful-arrested-in-flock-fiasco/article_2bb9aca2-5ede-4f42-9329-a8754aad7350.html
https://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/posts/pfbid0YWZxSJqZSBJu2BDQiQQnWUqzNiYEoHxQEgF88NBRjRXfDwQxMtqfNyHoiry5m3Mel
https://www.wlky.com/article/attorney-lmpd-flock-camera-scandal/69895783
https://www.alxnow.com/2026/07/14/alexandria-man-arrested-for-allegedly-destroying-multiple-license-plate-readers/
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/flock-camera-sawed-old-braeswood-22370015.php
https://nypost.com/2026/08/02/us-news/flock-safety-cameras-vandalized-on-long-island-after-accusations-cop-tracked-lover/
https://nypost.com/2026/07/29/us-news/flock-cameras-vandalized-in-monterey-county/
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/08/04/down-with-the-flock-florida-man-uses-simple-trick-to-combat-flock-cameras/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/08/03/police-flock-safety-surveillance-cameras-getting-pushback-florida/90915780007/
https://web.archive.org/web/20120819233022/http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/166494646.html
https://www.etymonline.com/word/scofflaw
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/anti-surveillance-mapmaker-refuses-flock-safetys-cease-and-desist-demand
https://www.404media.co/the-open-source-project-deflock-is-mapping-license-plate-surveillance-cameras-all-over-the-world/
https://www.eff.org/document/flock-safety-cd-deflockme
https://www.eff.org/document/eff-deflock-letter-flock-safety
https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/
https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/
https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/former-kechi-police-lieutenant-sentenced-in-stalking-case/
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2015/05/11/paradise-valley-license-plate-camera-reader/27144369/
https://www.wsj.com/articles/gun-show-customers-license-plates-come-under-scrutiny-1475451302
https://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2013/va-alpr.pdf
https://www.thenewspaper.com/news/42/4232.asp
https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2018/10/dea-plans-to-expand-license-plate-surveillance-program/
https://qz.com/1400791/that-road-sign-telling-you-how-fast-youre-driving-may-be-part-of-a-us-government-surveillance-network
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443995604578004723603576296
https://www.docsumo.com/blog/optical-character-recognition-history
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3330771.stm
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=18001802465783784125
https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/corpus-christi-police-use-basic-license-plate-readers-not-flock/
https://legislativeanalysis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ALPRS-Fact-Sheet-FINAL.pdf

Margaret tells you the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them
Sources:
<a href="https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/">https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/ https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/arizona-police-agencies-gather-share-license-plate-data-but-few-ensure-rules-are-being-followed/ https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/aurora-police-detain-black-family-after-mistaking-their-vehicle-as-stolen https://sls.eff.org/technologies/automated-license-plate-readers-alprs https://www.winonapost.com/news/crime/all-of-wpd-s-flock-cameras-stolen/article_9c61aa25-411b-4f2f-a5cd-ca02942f5f9f.html https://krocnews.com/stolen-flock-cameras-winona-mn/ https://www.winonapost.com/news/wpd-wont-replace-stolen-flock-cameras-citing-public-trust/article_06a67859-2d97-414b-aa8f-d8751ad214bb.html https://www.military.com/air-force-engineer-accused-of-cutting-down-13-police-cameras-says-they-are-unconstitutional https://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justice/2025/12/16/timeline-the-brief-troubled-history-of-flock-cameras-in-eugene-springfield/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/ https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/flock-cameras-destroyed-nationwide-ice-backlash-2026/ https://ngscinc.com/history-license-plate-recognition https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/automatic-license-plate-readers-legal-status-and-policy-recommendations https://www.policechiefmagazine.org/patrol-cars-poles-alpr/ https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/state-house-hopeful-arrested-in-flock-fiasco/article_2bb9aca2-5ede-4f42-9329-a8754aad7350.html https://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/posts/pfbid0YWZxSJqZSBJu2BDQiQQnWUqzNiYEoHxQEgF88NBRjRXfDwQxMtqfNyHoiry5m3Mel https://www.wlky.com/article/attorney-lmpd-flock-camera-scandal/69895783 https://www.alxnow.com/2026/07/14/alexandria-man-arrested-for-allegedly-destroying-multiple-license-plate-readers/ https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/flock-camera-sawed-old-braeswood-22370015.php https://nypost.com/2026/08/02/us-news/flock-safety-cameras-vandalized-on-long-island-after-accusations-cop-tracked-lover/ https://nypost.com/2026/07/29/us-news/flock-cameras-vandalized-in-monterey-county/ https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/08/04/down-with-the-flock-florida-man-uses-simple-trick-to-combat-flock-cameras/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/08/03/police-flock-safety-surveillance-cameras-getting-pushback-florida/90915780007/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120819233022/http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/166494646.html https://www.etymonline.com/word/scofflaw https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/anti-surveillance-mapmaker-refuses-flock-safetys-cease-and-desist-demand https://www.404media.co/the-open-source-project-deflock-is-mapping-license-plate-surveillance-cameras-all-over-the-world/ https://www.eff.org/document/flock-safety-cd-deflockme https://www.eff.org/document/eff-deflock-letter-flock-safety https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/ https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/ https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/former-kechi-police-lieutenant-sentenced-in-stalking-case/ https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2015/05/11/paradise-valley-license-plate-camera-reader/27144369/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/gun-show-customers-license-plates-come-under-scrutiny-1475451302 https://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2013/va-alpr.pdf https://www.thenewspaper.com/news/42/4232.asp https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2018/10/dea-plans-to-expand-license-plate-surveillance-program/ https://qz.com/1400791/that-road-sign-telling-you-how-fast-youre-driving-may-be-part-of-a-us-government-surveillance-network https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443995604578004723603576296 https://www.docsumo.com/blog/optical-character-recognition-history http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3330771.stm https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=18001802465783784125 https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/corpus-christi-police-use-basic-license-plate-readers-not-flock/ https://legislativeanalysis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ALPRS-Fact-Sheet-FINAL.pdf </a>

Part One: The Valiant War on Flock: How People Are Fighting Mass Surveillance

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/555dfb41-5829-41fa-9da2-b4b700182992/transcript

Natural Causes is a podcast about the politics and practicalities of going outside in a world on fire, hosted by Dr. James Stout. It approaches the outdoors, conservation, agriculture, food sovereignty, and Indigenous land rights as interconnected issues. We want to combine unflinching journalism with unabashed advocacy for the land we all share, and welcome everyone into the outdoors and the fight for our public lands. Our shared wild spaces are under threat like never before, from climate change, the Trump administration, and extractive capitalism. Now, more than ever, we need serious journalism and serious solidarity that engages people with the struggle to protect these spaces for generations to come. New episodes weekly.


Listen here and subscribe to Natural Causes on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!

Natural Causes is a podcast about the politics and practicalities of going outside in a world on fire, hosted by Dr. James Stout. It approaches the outdoors, conservation, agriculture, food sovereignty, and Indigenous land rights as interconnected issues. We want to combine unflinching journalism with unabashed advocacy for the land we all share, and welcome everyone into the outdoors and the fight for our public lands. Our shared wild spaces are under threat like never before, from climate change, the Trump administration, and extractive capitalism. Now, more than ever, we need serious journalism and serious solidarity that engages people with the struggle to protect these spaces for generations to come. New episodes weekly.
 Listen <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-natural-causes-340763248">here</a> and subscribe to Natural Causes on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!

Introducing: Natural Causes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4fa3cafe-03bc-4821-b661-b4aa0162e629/transcript

This week, Margaret finished the story of the tragic and powerful strike that shook Michigan and copper production, through the lens of the Joan of Arc of Calumet

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Finland

https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/scandinavian/the-finns/

https://bestneighborhood.org/conservative-vs-liberal-map-michigan/ 

https://trailsendup.com/en/weather-in-the-upper-peninsula

https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2014/spring/women-citizenship-repatration

https://ss.sites.mtu.edu/cca/tamarack-co-operative-store/ 

Beyond Brothers & Bars: Disovering Women’s Roles in One Mining Community, Jean F. Ellis

Annie Clemenc and the Great Keweenaw Copper Strike, Lyndon Comstock

https://www.bls.gov/charts/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries/rate-and-number-of-fatal-work-injuries-in-selected-occupations.htm

https://weneverforget.org/we-never-forget-strikers-alois-tijan-and-steve-putrich-shot-down-by-gunthugs-august-14-1913-at-seeberville-michigan/ 

https://libcom.org/article/sabotage-elizabeth-gurley-flynn 

https://www.facebook.com/KeweenawNHP/posts/the-tamarack-co-operative-association-store-on-oak-street-just-outside-of-red-ja/1762278843850820/ 

https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/western-federation-miners 

https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/miners-magazine/index.htm 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_V._Debs#Sedition_conviction_and_appeal_to_U.S._Supreme_Court 

https://www.copperrange.org/strike.htm 

This week, Margaret finished the story of the tragic and powerful strike that shook Michigan and copper production, through the lens of the Joan of Arc of Calumet
Sources:
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Finland">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Finland</a>
<a href="https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/scandinavian/the-finns/">https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/scandinavian/the-finns/</a>
<a href="https://bestneighborhood.org/conservative-vs-liberal-map-michigan/">https://bestneighborhood.org/conservative-vs-liberal-map-michigan/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://trailsendup.com/en/weather-in-the-upper-peninsula">https://trailsendup.com/en/weather-in-the-upper-peninsula</a>
<a href="https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2014/spring/women-citizenship-repatration">https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2014/spring/women-citizenship-repatration</a>
<a href="https://ss.sites.mtu.edu/cca/tamarack-co-operative-store/">https://ss.sites.mtu.edu/cca/tamarack-co-operative-store/</a>&nbsp;
Beyond Brothers &amp; Bars: Disovering Women&rsquo;s Roles in One Mining Community, Jean F. Ellis
Annie Clemenc and the Great Keweenaw Copper Strike, Lyndon Comstock
<a href="https://www.bls.gov/charts/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries/rate-and-number-of-fatal-work-injuries-in-selected-occupations.htm">https://www.bls.gov/charts/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries/rate-and-number-of-fatal-work-injuries-in-selected-occupations.htm</a>
<a href="https://weneverforget.org/we-never-forget-strikers-alois-tijan-and-steve-putrich-shot-down-by-gunthugs-august-14-1913-at-seeberville-michigan/">https://weneverforget.org/we-never-forget-strikers-alois-tijan-and-steve-putrich-shot-down-by-gunthugs-august-14-1913-at-seeberville-michigan/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://libcom.org/article/sabotage-elizabeth-gurley-flynn">https://libcom.org/article/sabotage-elizabeth-gurley-flynn</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KeweenawNHP/posts/the-tamarack-co-operative-association-store-on-oak-street-just-outside-of-red-ja/1762278843850820/">https://www.facebook.com/KeweenawNHP/posts/the-tamarack-co-operative-association-store-on-oak-street-just-outside-of-red-ja/1762278843850820/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/western-federation-miners">https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/western-federation-miners</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/miners-magazine/index.htm">https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/miners-magazine/index.htm</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_V._Debs#Sedition_conviction_and_appeal_to_U.S._Supreme_Court">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_V._Debs#Sedition_conviction_and_appeal_to_U.S._Supreme_Court</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.copperrange.org/strike.htm">https://www.copperrange.org/strike.htm</a>&nbsp;

Part Four: Big Annie Clemenc and the Copper Strike of 1913

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1023106c-ae4d-4ee0-a56d-b4b20013caab/transcript

Part One: Cory Doctorow on Speculative Fiction for Social Change

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