Robert sits down with author and activist Cory Doctorow to discuss his new book, the Bezzle, and how finance monsters have turned American prisons into an even crueler institution.

Robert sits down with author and activist Cory Doctorow to discuss his new book, the Bezzle, and how finance monsters have turned American prisons into an even crueler institution.

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.

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.

It Could Happen Here

Private Prisons, Finance Ghouls and The Bezzle, with Cory Doctorow

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b2265529-e746-4a2c-8f63-b13e0015a49b/transcript

The gang discuss the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, memetic nazi accelerationism, tariff rebates, and Trump’s new $1.776 billion slush fund from a lawsuit against his own IRS.

Fundraiser: https://goodbricks.org/campaign/icsd.org/official-icsd-victim---family-support-fund

Sources:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/lets-talk-about-158456324

https://www.blm.gov/policy/ib-2024-024 

https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/huffman-celebrates-bureau-of-land-managements-decision-to-cease-use-of-cyanide-bombs-on-public-lands 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/climate/cyanide-bombs-public-lands.html

https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2057144264526598381?s=20

https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-10179.pdf

https://x.com/SecScottBessent/status/2056411947982115207?s=20

https://x.com/usf_army/status/2056395215833903335?s=20

https://x.com/cecelou18/status/2056746877798817830?s=20

https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/051526zr_1a72.pdf

https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/102325-alpr-revised-surveillance-report.pdf 

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3628735046

https://x.com/PGSA_IRAN/status/2056359507203142013?s=20 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/letlow-fleming-advance-to-runoff-louisiana-gop-senate-primary-cbs-news-projects/

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/185 

https://x.com/USAfricaCommand/status/2055614134851424487?s=20 

https://www.africom.mil/pressrelease/36568/isis-number-two-killed-in-nigeria

https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/2053890390126665819?s=20


https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/2053889711567970589?s=20

https://apnews.com/article/massie-gallrein-trump-kentucky-republican-primary-03a658b1a45593ad04ebf6283a3fdb47

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/17/massie-aipac-record-spending-israel-maga-trump-primary-00925375

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116602192066577324

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/republican-senators-trump-paxton.html

https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-dismisses-lawsuit-against-irs-court-filing-shows-2026-05-18/

https://www.ft.com/content/57334fae-a475-4ab0-a202-8df3766927e4?syn-25a6b1a6=1 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/5/20/bolivian-president-to-reshuffle-cabinet-amid-anti-government-protests

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/5/18/clashes-as-morales-allied-protesters-march-on-bolivian-capital

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/what-is-behind-bolivias-widening-protests-2026-05-18/

The gang discuss the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, memetic nazi accelerationism, tariff rebates, and Trump&rsquo;s new $1.776 billion slush fund from a lawsuit against his own IRS.
Fundraiser:&nbsp;<a href="https://goodbricks.org/campaign/icsd.org/official-icsd-victim---family-support-fund">https://goodbricks.org/campaign/icsd.org/official-icsd-victim---family-support-fund</a>
Sources:
<a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/lets-talk-about-158456324">https://www.patreon.com/posts/lets-talk-about-158456324</a>
<a href="https://www.blm.gov/policy/ib-2024-024">https://www.blm.gov/policy/ib-2024-024</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/huffman-celebrates-bureau-of-land-managements-decision-to-cease-use-of-cyanide-bombs-on-public-lands">https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/huffman-celebrates-bureau-of-land-managements-decision-to-cease-use-of-cyanide-bombs-on-public-lands</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/climate/cyanide-bombs-public-lands.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/climate/cyanide-bombs-public-lands.html</a>
<a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2057144264526598381?s=20">https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2057144264526598381?s=20</a>
<a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-10179.pdf">https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-10179.pdf</a>
<a href="https://x.com/SecScottBessent/status/2056411947982115207?s=20">https://x.com/SecScottBessent/status/2056411947982115207?s=20</a>
<a href="https://x.com/usf_army/status/2056395215833903335?s=20">https://x.com/usf_army/status/2056395215833903335?s=20</a>
<a href="https://x.com/cecelou18/status/2056746877798817830?s=20">https://x.com/cecelou18/status/2056746877798817830?s=20</a>
<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/051526zr_1a72.pdf">https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/051526zr_1a72.pdf</a>
<a href="https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/102325-alpr-revised-surveillance-report.pdf">https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/102325-alpr-revised-surveillance-report.pdf</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3628735046">https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3628735046</a>
<a href="https://x.com/PGSA_IRAN/status/2056359507203142013?s=20">https://x.com/PGSA_IRAN/status/2056359507203142013?s=20</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/letlow-fleming-advance-to-runoff-louisiana-gop-senate-primary-cbs-news-projects/">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/letlow-fleming-advance-to-runoff-louisiana-gop-senate-primary-cbs-news-projects/</a>
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/185">https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/185</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://x.com/USAfricaCommand/status/2055614134851424487?s=20">https://x.com/USAfricaCommand/status/2055614134851424487?s=20</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.africom.mil/pressrelease/36568/isis-number-two-killed-in-nigeria">https://www.africom.mil/pressrelease/36568/isis-number-two-killed-in-nigeria</a>
<a href="https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/2053890390126665819?s=20">https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/2053890390126665819?s=20 </a>
<a href="https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/2053889711567970589?s=20">https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/2053889711567970589?s=20</a>
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/massie-gallrein-trump-kentucky-republican-primary-03a658b1a45593ad04ebf6283a3fdb47">https://apnews.com/article/massie-gallrein-trump-kentucky-republican-primary-03a658b1a45593ad04ebf6283a3fdb47</a> 
<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/17/massie-aipac-record-spending-israel-maga-trump-primary-00925375">https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/17/massie-aipac-record-spending-israel-maga-trump-primary-00925375</a> 
<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116602192066577324">https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116602192066577324</a> 
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/republican-senators-trump-paxton.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/republican-senators-trump-paxton.html</a>
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-dismisses-lawsuit-against-irs-court-filing-shows-2026-05-18/">https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-dismisses-lawsuit-against-irs-court-filing-shows-2026-05-18/</a> 
<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/57334fae-a475-4ab0-a202-8df3766927e4?syn-25a6b1a6=1">https://www.ft.com/content/57334fae-a475-4ab0-a202-8df3766927e4?syn-25a6b1a6=1</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/5/20/bolivian-president-to-reshuffle-cabinet-amid-anti-government-protests">https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/5/20/bolivian-president-to-reshuffle-cabinet-amid-anti-government-protests</a>
<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/5/18/clashes-as-morales-allied-protesters-march-on-bolivian-capital">https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/5/18/clashes-as-morales-allied-protesters-march-on-bolivian-capital</a>
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/what-is-behind-bolivias-widening-protests-2026-05-18/">https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/what-is-behind-bolivias-widening-protests-2026-05-18/</a>

Executive Disorder: San Diego Mosque Shooting, Trump Settles Lawsuit with Trump

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5dea94a5-f5a8-41fd-ae3c-b4510153982e/transcript

Garrison attends New York Comic Con to investigate the (pop) culture war and why anime is beating western superhero comics. Oh also Lego Batman is here for some reason.

Sources:
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2018/report-anime-fest@nycc/.137926


https://yattatachi.com/anime-nyc-review-it-begins-anew


https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/dc-cancels-red-hood-comic-book-series-charlie-kirk-1236368576/


https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/demon-slayer-infinity-castle-record-box-office-opening-1236370035/


https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-strengthens-strategtic-parternship-with-mappa


https://animebythenumbers.substack.com/p/2025-netflix-anime-year-in-review


https://www.comicsbeat.com/tilting-at-windmills-297-bookscan-2023-comics-sales-sag-but-scholastic-was-still-a-powerhouse/

https://www.diversetechgeek.com/2023-bookstore-graphic-novel-sales/ 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/whats-behind-the-growing-popularity-of-japanese-comics-and-animations-in-u-s


https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/61689/manga-week-comic-stores-pace-manga-growth-2025  

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/andor-creator-tony-gilroy-gives-the-interview-1236510166/


https://variety.com/2025/film/news/james-gunn-superman-immigrant-backlash-response-1236449068/


https://deadline.com/2026/01/kathleen-kennedy-exit-interview-1236665253/


https://www.cbr.com/dc-jim-lee-manga-beats-western-comics/


https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-worlds-top-media-franchises-by-all-time-revenue/

https://animehunch.com/hideaki-anno-anime-shouldnt-be-made-with-western-audience/


https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/11/japan/japan-anime-games-content/


https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20251224-300194/

Garrison attends New York Comic Con to investigate the (pop) culture war and why anime is beating western superhero comics. Oh also Lego Batman is here for some reason.
Sources: <a href="https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2018/report-anime-fest@nycc/.137926">https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2018/report-anime-fest@nycc/.137926 </a><a href="https://yattatachi.com/anime-nyc-review-it-begins-anew"></a>
<a href="https://yattatachi.com/anime-nyc-review-it-begins-anew">https://yattatachi.com/anime-nyc-review-it-begins-anew </a><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/dc-cancels-red-hood-comic-book-series-charlie-kirk-1236368576/"></a>
<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/dc-cancels-red-hood-comic-book-series-charlie-kirk-1236368576/">https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/dc-cancels-red-hood-comic-book-series-charlie-kirk-1236368576/ </a><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/demon-slayer-infinity-castle-record-box-office-opening-1236370035/"></a>
<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/demon-slayer-infinity-castle-record-box-office-opening-1236370035/">https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/demon-slayer-infinity-castle-record-box-office-opening-1236370035/ </a><a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-strengthens-strategtic-parternship-with-mappa"></a>
<a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-strengthens-strategtic-parternship-with-mappa">https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-strengthens-strategtic-parternship-with-mappa </a><a href="https://animebythenumbers.substack.com/p/2025-netflix-anime-year-in-review"></a>
<a href="https://animebythenumbers.substack.com/p/2025-netflix-anime-year-in-review">https://animebythenumbers.substack.com/p/2025-netflix-anime-year-in-review </a><a href="https://www.comicsbeat.com/tilting-at-windmills-297-bookscan-2023-comics-sales-sag-but-scholastic-was-still-a-powerhouse/"></a>
<a href="https://www.comicsbeat.com/tilting-at-windmills-297-bookscan-2023-comics-sales-sag-but-scholastic-was-still-a-powerhouse/">https://www.comicsbeat.com/tilting-at-windmills-297-bookscan-2023-comics-sales-sag-but-scholastic-was-still-a-powerhouse/</a>
<a href="https://www.diversetechgeek.com/2023-bookstore-graphic-novel-sales/">https://www.diversetechgeek.com/2023-bookstore-graphic-novel-sales/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/whats-behind-the-growing-popularity-of-japanese-comics-and-animations-in-u-s">https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/whats-behind-the-growing-popularity-of-japanese-comics-and-animations-in-u-s </a>
<a href="https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/61689/manga-week-comic-stores-pace-manga-growth-2025">https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/61689/manga-week-comic-stores-pace-manga-growth-2025</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/andor-creator-tony-gilroy-gives-the-interview-1236510166/">https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/andor-creator-tony-gilroy-gives-the-interview-1236510166/ </a>
<a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/james-gunn-superman-immigrant-backlash-response-1236449068/">https://variety.com/2025/film/news/james-gunn-superman-immigrant-backlash-response-1236449068/ </a>
<a href="https://deadline.com/2026/01/kathleen-kennedy-exit-interview-1236665253/">https://deadline.com/2026/01/kathleen-kennedy-exit-interview-1236665253/ </a>
<a href="https://www.cbr.com/dc-jim-lee-manga-beats-western-comics/">https://www.cbr.com/dc-jim-lee-manga-beats-western-comics/ </a>
<a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-worlds-top-media-franchises-by-all-time-revenue/">https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-worlds-top-media-franchises-by-all-time-revenue/</a>
<a href="https://animehunch.com/hideaki-anno-anime-shouldnt-be-made-with-western-audience/">https://animehunch.com/hideaki-anno-anime-shouldnt-be-made-with-western-audience/ </a>
<a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/11/japan/japan-anime-games-content/">https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/11/japan/japan-anime-games-content/ </a><a href="https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20251224-300194/"></a>
<a href="https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20251224-300194/">https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20251224-300194/</a>

Pop Culture Commodity Warfare @ New York Comic Con

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c54e5665-b64e-4690-8872-b45100370083/transcript

Mia tells Molly about monopsony and how economists conspired to bury the theories that explain your wages.

Sources:


https://archive.org/details/bnarchives_0333

https://strangematters.coop/frederic-s-lee-profile-part-one/

https://www.jstor.org/stable/29769757?if_data=e30%3D&seq=1

https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/04/14/g-s1-117075/the-labor-economics-of-alien-and-its-lessons-for-inequality-on-earth

https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/04/21/g-s1-118071/the-hidden-power-keeping-wages-low

Mia tells Molly about monopsony and how economists conspired to bury the theories that explain your wages.
Sources: 
<a href="https://archive.org/details/bnarchives_0333">https://archive.org/details/bnarchives_0333</a>
<a href="https://strangematters.coop/frederic-s-lee-profile-part-one/">https://strangematters.coop/frederic-s-lee-profile-part-one/</a>
<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/29769757?if_data=e30%3D&amp;seq=1">https://www.jstor.org/stable/29769757?if_data=e30%3D&amp;seq=1</a>
<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/04/14/g-s1-117075/the-labor-economics-of-alien-and-its-lessons-for-inequality-on-earth">https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/04/14/g-s1-117075/the-labor-economics-of-alien-and-its-lessons-for-inequality-on-earth</a>
<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/04/21/g-s1-118071/the-hidden-power-keeping-wages-low">https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/04/21/g-s1-118071/the-hidden-power-keeping-wages-low</a>

Monopsony, or How You Get Underpaid

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/96270445-1ee2-459d-af90-b450002ed324/transcript

Private Prisons, Finance Ghouls and The Bezzle, with Cory Doctorow

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