With the world’s attention focused on the fallout of yet another illegal war waged by the United States and Israel, Palestinians across Gaza and the Occupied West Bank continue to be rounded up, imprisoned, and tortured within a network of military detention camps throughout the region—many held without charges or trials, some indefinitely, others killed. We’ve released several episodes covering the ongoing genocide there, and this latest drop is a continuation, focusing on Israel’s targeted abuse, detention, and torture of Palestinian journalists risking their lives to report on the relentless atrocities and vicious humanitarian crisis that has claimed tens of thousands. Our guest is Sara Qudah, Middle East & North Africa Regional Director at the nonprofit Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)—a leading global organization dedicated to defending truth-tellers and press freedoms worldwide—which recently published a damning special report titled ‘We Returned From Hell’: Palestinian Journalists Recount Torture in Israeli Prisons” exposing such unimaginable horrors. Speaking with us from Paris, she explains its key findings along with the plights of imprisoned and tortured journalists, and stresses the ongoing quest for accountability.

News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.

Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com

Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian

With the world&rsquo;s attention focused on the fallout of yet another illegal war waged by the United States and Israel, Palestinians across Gaza and the Occupied West Bank continue to be rounded up, imprisoned, and tortured within a network of military detention camps throughout the region&mdash;many held without charges or trials, some indefinitely, others killed. We&rsquo;ve released several episodes covering the ongoing genocide there, and this latest drop is a continuation, focusing on Israel&rsquo;s targeted abuse, detention, and torture of Palestinian journalists risking their lives to report on the relentless atrocities and vicious humanitarian crisis that has claimed tens of thousands. Our guest is Sara Qudah, Middle East &amp; North Africa Regional Director at the nonprofit Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)&mdash;a leading global organization dedicated to defending truth-tellers and press freedoms worldwide&mdash;which recently published a damning special report titled &lsquo;We Returned From Hell&rsquo;: Palestinian Journalists Recount Torture in Israeli Prisons&rdquo; exposing such unimaginable horrors. Speaking with us from Paris, she explains its key findings along with the plights of imprisoned and tortured journalists, and stresses the ongoing quest for accountability.
<hr>
News Beat is produced in&nbsp;association with <a href="https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com">Manny Faces Media</a>.
Sign up for our free newsletter at <a href="https://newsbeat.substack.com">newsbeat.substack.com</a>
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian

‘We Returned From Hell’: Palestinian Journalists Recount Torture in Israeli Prisons

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy encompasses so much more than simply his 'I Have a Dream' speech, and his mission is as imperative today as it was then. We republish “MLK: What They Won’t Teach in School”—our 2017 inaugural episode—each MLK Day as a reminder of the civil rights leader’s lasting impact, the movement’s ongoing struggle, and still unrealized goals. Learn some of what the history books left out. Featuring interviews with Pastor Roger C. Williams of the First Baptist Church of Glen Cove, NY and Larry Hamm of the Newark, NJ-based social justice group People's Organization for Progress; original verses performed by hip hop artist Silent Knight; and King’s own words, listeners learn about MLK’s Poor People’s Campaign, which he believed would be his true legacy. More than likely, it was this that got him killed.

News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.

Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com

Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jeff Main

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy encompasses so much more than simply his 'I Have a Dream' speech, and his mission is as imperative today as it was then. We republish &ldquo;MLK: What They Won&rsquo;t Teach in School&rdquo;&mdash;our 2017 inaugural episode&mdash;each MLK Day as a reminder of the civil rights leader&rsquo;s lasting impact, the movement&rsquo;s ongoing struggle, and still unrealized goals. Learn some of what the history books left out. Featuring interviews with Pastor Roger C. Williams of the First Baptist Church of Glen Cove, NY and Larry Hamm of the Newark, NJ-based social justice group People's Organization for Progress; original verses performed by hip hop artist Silent Knight; and King&rsquo;s own words, listeners learn about MLK&rsquo;s Poor People&rsquo;s Campaign, which he believed would be his true legacy. More than likely, it was this that got him killed.
News Beat is produced in&nbsp;association with <a href="https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com">Manny Faces Media</a>.
Sign up for our free newsletter at <a href="https://newsbeat.substack.com">newsbeat.substack.com</a>
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian Episode Art: Jeff Main

MLK: What They Won't Teach In School [2026]

This episode’s guest is Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a trauma and critical care surgeon based in California who volunteered twice in Gaza—witnessing a systematic pattern of children shot in the head and chest by Israeli ground forces, and narrowly escaping death when Israel broke the latest ceasefire and bombed the hospital he was treating patients in. He recalls his experiences from both visits, discussing the critical role of the United States in perpetuating the ongoing atrocities; Israel’s intentional targeting of hospitals, schools, and caregivers; the horrific humanitarian crisis decimating the civilian population of Gaza; and the utter impunity enjoyed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—a fugitive war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. Feroze stresses the vital need for the United States to immediately cease supplying Israel with U.S. taxpayer-funded bombs and weaponry, and end its participation in the mass killings.

News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.

Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com

Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian\

This episode&rsquo;s guest is Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a trauma and critical care surgeon based in California who volunteered twice in Gaza&mdash;witnessing a systematic pattern of children shot in the head and chest by Israeli ground forces, and narrowly escaping death when Israel broke the latest ceasefire and bombed the hospital he was treating patients in. He recalls his experiences from both visits, discussing the critical role of the United States in perpetuating the ongoing atrocities; Israel&rsquo;s intentional targeting of hospitals, schools, and caregivers; the horrific humanitarian crisis decimating the civilian population of Gaza; and the utter impunity enjoyed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&mdash;a fugitive war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. Feroze stresses the vital need for the United States to immediately cease supplying Israel with U.S. taxpayer-funded bombs and weaponry, and end its participation in the mass killings.
<hr>
News Beat is produced in&nbsp;association with <a href="https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com">Manny Faces Media</a>.
Sign up for our free newsletter at <a href="https://newsbeat.substack.com">newsbeat.substack.com</a>
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian\

Hospital Bombings, Children Shot in the Head & Mass Starvation: Trauma Surgeon Dr. Feroze Sidhwa on His Time in Gaza

Like we always do at this time of year, we present an important, alternative look at Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy, examining how the civil rights icon was so much more than simply the “I Have a Dream” soundbite, which has become known as the cornerstone of his public perception. Along with Pastor Roger C. Williams of the First Baptist Church of Glen Cove, NY, Larry Hamm, of the People's Organization for Progress, Hip Hop artist Silent Knight, and King’s own words, listeners learn of MLK’s Poor People’s Campaign, which he believed would be his true legacy. More than likely, it was this that got him killed.

News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.

Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com

Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jeff Main

Like we always do at this time of year, we present an important, alternative look at Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy, examining how the civil rights icon was so much more than simply the “I Have a Dream” soundbite, which has become known as the cornerstone of his public perception. Along with Pastor Roger C. Williams of the First Baptist Church of Glen Cove, NY, Larry Hamm, of the People's Organization for Progress, Hip Hop artist Silent Knight, and King’s own words, listeners learn of MLK’s Poor People’s Campaign, which he believed would be his true legacy. More than likely, it was this that got him killed.
News Beat is produced in association with <a href="https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com">Manny Faces Media</a>.
Sign up for our free newsletter at <a href="https://newsbeat.substack.com">newsbeat.substack.com</a>
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian Episode Art: Jeff Main

MLK: What They Won't Teach In School [2025]

Amnesty International, the largest human rights organization on the planet, has released a sweeping, scathing, landmark report concluding that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Titled ‘You Feel Like You Are Subhuman,’ the nearly 300-page investigation bases its damning findings on the international stipulations of the Genocide Convention, hundreds of interviews with witnesses and survivors, and forensic analysis of Israel’s offensive in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas. Joining us from Ramallah in the Occupied West Bank is Budour Hassan, international researcher on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories at Amnesty International, who provides critical context and insights regarding the report and the unimaginable, ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people. Read the full report at Amnesty.org. 

News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.

Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com

Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jon Chim

Amnesty International, the largest human rights organization on the planet, has released a sweeping, scathing, landmark report concluding that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Titled &lsquo;You Feel Like You Are Subhuman,&rsquo; the nearly 300-page investigation bases its damning findings on the international stipulations of the Genocide Convention, hundreds of interviews with witnesses and survivors, and forensic analysis of Israel&rsquo;s offensive in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas. Joining us from Ramallah in the Occupied West Bank is Budour Hassan, international researcher on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories at Amnesty International, who provides critical context and insights regarding the report and the unimaginable, ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people. Read the full report at Amnesty.org.&nbsp;
<hr>
News Beat is produced in association with <a href="https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com">Manny Faces Media</a>.
Sign up for our free newsletter at <a href="https://newsbeat.substack.com">newsbeat.substack.com</a>
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian Episode Art: Jon Chim

‘Unspeakable Horror’: Amnesty International Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza

As Gaza smolders, Lebanon burns, and the world rightfully continues to demand Hamas release the remaining hostages it abducted during its attack on October 7th 2023, we illuminate the underreported plight of Palestinians held and abused throughout what one human rights group dubs Israel’s ‘network of torture camps,’ where men, women, and children—yes, children—are imprisoned, beaten, sodomized, raped, and/or murdered. Inmates undergo amputations due to prolonged shackling, genital electrocutions, waterboarding, and other sinister forms of torment. Many are held without charges or trials, some indefinitely. The United Nations and other human rights groups have condemned these crimes, and whistleblowers have been leaking more and more, yet these detention facilities and those imprisoned haven’t garnered much international outcry, if any. Milena Ansari of Human Rights Watch and Jenna Abuhasna of Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association—who spoke with us from Jerusalem and Ramallah, respectively—discuss the deplorable conditions, controversial policies, and horrific abuses occurring at these facilities, along with the quest for accountability, and freedom.

News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.

Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com

Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jon Chim

As Gaza smolders, Lebanon burns, and the world rightfully continues to demand Hamas release the remaining hostages it abducted during its attack on October 7th 2023, we illuminate the underreported plight of Palestinians held and abused throughout what one human rights group dubs Israel&rsquo;s &lsquo;network of torture camps,&rsquo; where men, women, and children&mdash;yes, children&mdash;are imprisoned, beaten, sodomized, raped, and/or murdered. Inmates undergo amputations due to prolonged shackling, genital electrocutions, waterboarding, and other sinister forms of torment. Many are held without charges or trials, some indefinitely. The United Nations and other human rights groups have condemned these crimes, and whistleblowers have been leaking more and more, yet these detention facilities and those imprisoned haven&rsquo;t garnered much international outcry, if any. Milena Ansari of Human Rights Watch and Jenna Abuhasna of Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association&mdash;who spoke with us from Jerusalem and Ramallah, respectively&mdash;discuss the deplorable conditions, controversial policies, and horrific abuses occurring at these facilities, along with the quest for accountability, and freedom.
<hr>
News Beat is produced in association with <a href="https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com">Manny Faces Media</a>.
Sign up for our free newsletter at <a href="https://newsbeat.substack.com">newsbeat.substack.com</a>
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian Episode Art: Jon Chim

Disappeared: Inside Israel’s ‘Torture Camps’

“I'll answer that part first, that’s the easy one,” explains John Kiriakou, the former CIA intelligence officer who served 30 months in federal prison for exposing the agency’s torture program to the world, when asked whether he’d do it all again despite the personal and professional fallout from his disclosure.

Those are just some of the many profound insights he shared with us during a recent, wide-ranging conversation encompassing everything from the significance of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s recent plea deal with U.S. authorities to the lack of affirmative defense under the WWI-era Espionage Act to his thoughts on Israel’s indefinite detention and alleged torture of Palestinians, the personal toll of truth-telling, ongoing ‘War on Terror,’ and much more.

News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.

Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com

Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jon Chim

“I'll answer that part first, that’s the easy one,” explains John Kiriakou, the former CIA intelligence officer who served 30 months in federal prison for exposing the agency’s torture program to the world, when asked whether he’d do it all again despite the personal and professional fallout from his disclosure.
Those are just some of the many profound insights he shared with us during a recent, wide-ranging conversation encompassing everything from the significance of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s recent plea deal with U.S. authorities to the lack of affirmative defense under the WWI-era Espionage Act to his thoughts on Israel’s indefinite detention and alleged torture of Palestinians, the personal toll of truth-telling, ongoing ‘War on Terror,’ and much more.
<hr><hr>
News Beat is produced in association with <a href="https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com">Manny Faces Media</a>.
Sign up for our free newsletter at <a href="https://newsbeat.substack.com">newsbeat.substack.com</a>
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian Episode Art: Jon Chim

CIA Torture Whistleblower John Kiriakou Talks Assange, Israel & Toll of Truth-Telling

The occupied, blockaded, walled territories of Palestine have served as an incubator for some of Israel’s deadliest and most intrusive weapons and surveillance systems. Once tested and perfected on the captive population, they’ve been sold to some of the most oppressive, murderous autocracies—and democracies—in the world.
These are some of the many revelations exposed in the latest book by acclaimed journalist, filmmaker, and author Antony Loewenstein: “The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation around the World.”
A guest on previous episodes ”Disaster Capitalism” and “Grifter’s Paradise,” Loewenstein joins us once again to discuss the ascent of Israel into one of the largest arms dealers on the planet, its insanely disturbing testing and marketing techniques, the authoritarian regimes that have unleashed these weapons and technologies to crush dissenters and massacre countless people, 9/11’s lasting impact on all this, his warning for the future, and much more. 

For links to the book and Loewenstein's work, head over to newsbeat.substack.com.



News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.

Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com

Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jon Chim

The occupied, blockaded, walled territories of Palestine have served as an incubator for some of Israel’s deadliest and most intrusive weapons and surveillance systems. Once tested and perfected on the captive population, they’ve been sold to some of the most oppressive, murderous autocracies—and democracies—in the world. These are some of the many revelations exposed in the latest book by acclaimed journalist, filmmaker, and author Antony Loewenstein: “The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation around the World.” A guest on previous episodes ”Disaster Capitalism” and “Grifter’s Paradise,” Loewenstein joins us once again to discuss the ascent of Israel into one of the largest arms dealers on the planet, its insanely disturbing testing and marketing techniques, the authoritarian regimes that have unleashed these weapons and technologies to crush dissenters and massacre countless people, 9/11’s lasting impact on all this, his warning for the future, and much more. 
For links to the book and Loewenstein's work, head over to newsbeat.substack.com.
 
<hr>
News Beat is produced in association with <a href="https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com">Manny Faces Media</a>.
Sign up for our free newsletter at <a href="https://newsbeat.substack.com">newsbeat.substack.com</a>
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian Episode Art: Jon Chim

The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued provisional orders in response to South Africa’s case charging Israel with committing genocide against Palestinians, ruling that Israel must refrain from genocidal acts, punish public incitement of genocide, facilitate humanitarian aid, and more. Our previous guest, international human rights attorney Francis Boyle, describes the legally binding mandates as a monumental win to help stop the massacres and civilian carnage, while MSM and others dismiss their weight since they don’t explicitly call for a “ceasefire.” What do these historic directives actually mean? What happens next? And will they stop the daily atrocities leveled against the innocent Palestinian people?!? We break it all down, sharing critical context and explaining just what’s at stake, as the death toll in Gaza continues to mount.

News Beat is produced in association with Manny Faces Media.

Sign up for our free newsletter at newsbeat.substack.com

Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jon Chim

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued provisional orders in response to South Africa’s case charging Israel with committing genocide against Palestinians, ruling that Israel must refrain from genocidal acts, punish public incitement of genocide, facilitate humanitarian aid, and more. <a href="https://newsbeat.substack.com/p/the-genocide-case-against-israel">Our previous guest, international human rights attorney Francis Boyle</a>, describes the legally binding mandates as a monumental win to help stop the massacres and civilian carnage, while MSM and others dismiss their weight since they don’t explicitly call for a “ceasefire.” What do these historic directives actually mean? What happens next? And will they stop the daily atrocities leveled against the innocent Palestinian people?!? We break it all down, sharing critical context and explaining just what’s at stake, as the death toll in Gaza continues to mount.
<hr>
News Beat is produced in association with <a href="https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com">Manny Faces Media</a>.
Sign up for our free newsletter at <a href="https://newsbeat.substack.com">newsbeat.substack.com</a>
Producer/Audio Editor: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian Episode Art: Jon Chim

ICJ to Israel: Halt Genocidal Acts

MLK: What They Won't Teach In School [2024]

A social justice podcast combining hard-hitting journalism and interviews with hip-hop music and original lyrics from independent artists. Each episode delves into an important issue with an alternative take to widely accepted narratives, arming listeners with knowledge and insight they won't hear from mainstream media outlets.

News Beat

One trillion dollars. That’s how much the United States has spent in the last 40 years on the war on drugs. Currently, more than 450,000 Americans are imprisoned for drug offenses—up from 40,000 in 1980. In the federal system alone, almost half of all inmates are drug offenders. Despite the government’s investment in this war, America remains the No. 1 country in the world for illicit drug use, and in 2015, overdose deaths reached an all-time high, claiming 50,000 lives. To better understand this endless drug war we wanted to find out how it all started. And the trail led to a man most Americans have never heard of.

News Beat is an MP Studios production, a division of Morey Publishing www.MoreyPublishing.com

News Beat is produced and engineered by Michael “Manny Faces” Conforti www.MannyFaces.com

Original Music Supervision by Eden White www.EdenWhiteMusic.com

News Beat Executive Producer is Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jon Chim

<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/13/ap-impact-years-trillion-war-drugs-failed-meet-goals.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">One trillion dollars</a>. That’s how much the United States has spent in the last 40 years on the war on drugs. Currently, more than 450,000 Americans are imprisoned for drug offenses—up from 40,000 in 1980. In the federal system alone, almost half of all inmates are drug offenders. Despite the government’s investment in this war, America remains the No. 1 country in the world for <a href="http://theinfluence.org/five-countries-with-the-highest-rates-of-illicit-drug-use-in-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">illicit drug use</a>, and in 2015, overdose deaths reached an all-time high, claiming 50,000 lives. To better understand this endless drug war we wanted to find out how it all started. And the trail led to a man most Americans have never heard of. News Beat is an MP Studios production, a division of Morey Publishing <a style="color: #999999;" href="https://www.moreypublishing.com/">www.MoreyPublishing.com</a> News Beat is produced and engineered by Michael “Manny Faces” Conforti <a style="color: #999999;" href="https://www.mannyfaces.com/">www.MannyFaces.com</a> Original Music Supervision by Eden White <a style="color: #999999;" href="http://www.edenwhitemusic.com/">www.EdenWhiteMusic.com</a> News Beat Executive Producer is Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jon Chim

Racism, Weed, Jazz and Harry Anslinger [Episode 0002]

The True Origins of the War on Drugs

More than 400,000 people toil in U.S. jails annually because they can't pay bail. So why in the "Land of the Free" does freedom come at a debilitating cost?

Learn how the money bail system in the United States has crushed the poor and forced potentially innocent people to confess to crimes they did not commit, transforming the so-called "Land of the Free" into the world's biggest prison state, and deceivingly inflating conviction rates to grease the campaign coffers of political parties and the power elites.

News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: www.MoreyCreative.com

News Beat is produced, engineered and hosted by Michael “Manny Faces” Conforti: www.MannyFaces.com

News Beat Executive Producer is Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

More than 400,000 people toil in U.S. jails annually because they can't pay bail. So why in the "Land of the Free" does freedom come at a debilitating cost? Learn how the money bail system in the United States has crushed the poor and forced potentially innocent people to confess to crimes they did not commit, transforming the so-called "Land of the Free" into the world's biggest prison state, and deceivingly inflating conviction rates to grease the campaign coffers of political parties and the power elites. News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: <a href="https://www.moreycreative.com/">www.MoreyCreative.com</a> News Beat is produced, engineered and hosted by Michael “Manny Faces” Conforti: <a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com/">www.MannyFaces.com</a> News Beat Executive Producer is Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

How Money Bail Crushes America’s Poor & Inflates The World’s Largest Prison State

Money Bail: Freedom for Sale

There are tens of thousands of kids incarcerated across the United States within youth prisons, which are often outdated, antiquated, and dilapidated former military prisons dating back to the Civil War. Conditions inside mirror those of adult prisons. There’s rampant violence and abuse, both physical and psychological. Kids are placed in solitary confinement and even hog-tied by guards. And just as with the United States’ adult prison population, it’s African American children and kids of color who are locked up at a grossly disproportionate rate than whites.

News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: www.MoreyCreative.com

News Beat is produced, engineered and hosted by Manny Faces: www.MannyFaces.com

News Beat Executive Producer is Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

There are tens of thousands of kids incarcerated across the United States within youth prisons, which are often outdated, antiquated, and dilapidated former military prisons dating back to the Civil War. Conditions inside mirror those of adult prisons. There’s rampant violence and abuse, both physical and psychological. Kids are placed in solitary confinement and even hog-tied by guards. And just as with the United States’ adult prison population, it’s African American children and kids of color who are locked up at a grossly disproportionate rate than whites. News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: <a href="https://www.moreycreative.com/">www.MoreyCreative.com</a> News Beat is produced, engineered and hosted by Manny Faces: <a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com/">www.MannyFaces.com</a> News Beat Executive Producer is Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

Juvenile Detention’s Racial Disparity, Rampant Violence & Lasting Damage

Youth Prisons: Juvenile Detention’s Racial Disparity, Rampant Violence & Lasting Damage

More than 6 million Americans are barred from voting due to Jim Crow-era laws that strip citizens' voting rights following a felony conviction. Nearly all states have mechanisms in place amounting to civil death sentences for those who served their time and were released back into society, but remain oppressed by a system that refuses to abolish Civil War-era policies. Florida is home to a quarter of the voting-revoked population, with nearly 1.7 million former offenders stripped of their rights. It’s one of the rare barriers to voting that intersects with America’s broken criminal justice system—a system that disproportionately incarcerates black and brown citizens at higher rates than whites. As a result, one in 13 disenfranchised voters are black. Meanwhile, efforts are underway across the country to do away with these discriminatory laws, which literally prevent millions of U.S. citizens from exercising their right to participate in the democratic process.

News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: www.MoreyCreative.com

News Beat is produced, engineered and hosted by Manny Faces: www.MannyFaces.com

News Beat Executive Producer is Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

More than 6 million Americans are barred from voting due to Jim Crow-era laws that strip citizens' voting rights following a felony conviction. Nearly all states have mechanisms in place amounting to civil death sentences for those who served their time and were released back into society, but remain oppressed by a system that refuses to abolish Civil War-era policies. Florida is home to a quarter of the voting-revoked population, with nearly 1.7 million former offenders stripped of their rights. It’s one of the rare barriers to voting that intersects with America’s broken criminal justice system—a system that disproportionately incarcerates black and brown citizens at higher rates than whites. As a result, one in 13 disenfranchised voters are black. Meanwhile, efforts are underway across the country to do away with these discriminatory laws, which literally prevent millions of U.S. citizens from exercising their right to participate in the democratic process. News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: <a href="https://www.moreycreative.com/">www.MoreyCreative.com</a> News Beat is produced, engineered and hosted by Manny Faces: <a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com/">www.MannyFaces.com</a> News Beat Executive Producer is Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

Felony Disenfranchisement’s Civil Death Sentence

The Real Voter Fraud

A new wave of progressive prosecutors hopes to reform the criminal 'injustice' system & dismantle mass incarceration by sweeping the midterm elections.

News Beat: Social Justice Never Sounded So Good

News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: www.MoreyCreative.com

News Beat is produced, engineered and hosted by Manny Faces: www.MannyFaces.com

News Beat Executive Producer: Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

A new wave of progressive prosecutors hopes to reform the criminal 'injustice' system & dismantle mass incarceration by sweeping the midterm elections. News Beat: Social Justice Never Sounded So Good News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: <a href="https://www.moreycreative.com/">www.MoreyCreative.com</a> News Beat is produced, engineered and hosted by Manny Faces: <a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com/">www.MannyFaces.com</a> News Beat Executive Producer: Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

A new wave of progressive prosecutors hopes to reform the criminal 'injustice' system & dismantle mass incarceration by sweeping the midterm elections. News Beat: Social Justice Never Sounded So Good News Beat is a Morey Creative...

Law & Disorder: Progressive Prosecutors Hope to Dismantle Mass Incarceration, One County at a Time

In an era when women comprise the fastest-growing prison population in the U.S., those incarcerated are screaming #MeToo, too. But is anyone listening?

News Beat: Social Justice Never Sounded So Good

News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: www.MoreyCreative.com

News Beat is produced, engineered and hosted by Manny Faces: www.MannyFaces.com

News Beat Executive Producer: Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

In an era when women comprise the fastest-growing prison population in the U.S., those incarcerated are screaming #MeToo, too. But is anyone listening? News Beat: Social Justice Never Sounded So Good News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: <a href="https://www.moreycreative.com/">www.MoreyCreative.com</a> News Beat is produced, engineered and hosted by Manny Faces: <a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com/">www.MannyFaces.com</a> News Beat Executive Producer: Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

In an era when women comprise the fastest-growing prison population in the U.S., those incarcerated are screaming #MeToo, too. But is anyone listening? News Beat: Social Justice Never Sounded So Good News Beat is a Morey Creative...

Abused and Alone: Prison Rape in the #MeToo Era

Prison abolition may appear to be a radical conception, but it wasn't always that way. In fact, in the '60s and '70s, the idea of prison abolition in the United States was a very real issue being discussed among academics and politicians alike. This was before the passage of sweeping policies and laws targeting impoverished black and brown communities, a resurgence of the racist war on drugs, and Clinton-era criminal justice policies that collectively transformed America into the world's largest prison state. The prison abolition movement is alive and well, and those who ascribe to its principals are still hoping for drastic change.

News Beat: Social Justice Never Sounded So Good

News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: www.MoreyCreative.com

News Beat is produced, engineered and hosted by Manny Faces: www.MannyFaces.com

News Beat Executive Producer: Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

Prison abolition may appear to be a radical conception, but it wasn't always that way. In fact, in the '60s and '70s, the idea of prison abolition in the United States was a very real issue being discussed among academics and politicians alike. This was before the passage of sweeping policies and laws targeting impoverished black and brown communities, a resurgence of the racist war on drugs, and Clinton-era criminal justice policies that collectively transformed America into the world's largest prison state. The prison abolition movement is alive and well, and those who ascribe to its principals are still hoping for drastic change. News Beat: Social Justice Never Sounded So Good News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: <a href="https://www.moreycreative.com/">www.MoreyCreative.com</a> News Beat is produced, engineered and hosted by Manny Faces: <a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com/">www.MannyFaces.com</a> News Beat Executive Producer: Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

Prison abolition may appear to be a radical conception, but it wasn't always that way. In fact, in the '60s and '70s, the idea of prison abolition in the United States was a very real issue being discussed among academics and politicians alike. This...

Is Prison Abolition Possible?

Tens of thousands each year, and hundreds of thousands collectively, are shackled with electronic monitors—devices that track a person’s every move. In most cases, these are attached to those on parole. In others, courts may even choose to lock them onto a person’s body as a condition of pretrial release. Critics of e-carceration are warning the increased use of this technology could be the beginning of a future where more people will be incarcerated inside their homes than within traditional penitentiaries, effectively undermining the movement to decarcerate jails and prisons and dismantle mass incarceration, and transforming communities into digital prisons.

News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: www.MoreyCreative.com

News Beat is produced and engineered by Michael “Manny Faces” Conforti: www.MannyFaces.com

News Beat Executive Producer is Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

Tens of thousands each year, and hundreds of thousands collectively, are shackled with electronic monitors—devices that track a person’s every move. In most cases, these are attached to those on parole. In others, courts may even choose to lock them onto a person’s body as a condition of pretrial release. Critics of e-carceration are warning the increased use of this technology could be the beginning of a future where more people will be incarcerated inside their homes than within traditional penitentiaries, effectively undermining the movement to decarcerate jails and prisons and dismantle mass incarceration, and transforming communities into digital prisons. News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: <a href="https://www.moreycreative.com/">www.MoreyCreative.com</a> News Beat is produced and engineered by Michael “Manny Faces” Conforti: <a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com/">www.MannyFaces.com</a> News Beat Executive Producer is Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

Tens of thousands each year, and hundreds of thousands collectively, are shackled with electronic monitors—devices that track a person’s every move. In most cases, these are attached to those on parole. In others, courts may even choose to lock...

E-Carceration: Are Digital Prisons the Future?

Since a U.S. Supreme Court-imposed mandate in 2011, the Golden State has sought to address prison overcrowding through myriad reforms, including by moving people from state prisons to county jails, reducing prison sentences for certain crimes, and creating resources to help people reenter society. Crime in California is now at historic lows. Yet some reforms have been met with resistance from law enforcement organizations and “tough-on-crime” politicians concerned these initiatives will endanger public safety. While there’s still a lot to be done concerning criminal justice reform, California has presented itself as a model for the rest of the nation.

This is a special podcast collaboration with The Marshall Project, a New York City-based nonprofit news organization dedicated to covering, and creating and sustaining a sense of national urgency about, the U.S. criminal justice system.

News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: www.MoreyCreative.com

News Beat is produced and engineered by Michael “Manny Faces” Conforti: www.MannyFaces.com

News Beat Executive Producer is Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

Since a U.S. Supreme Court-imposed mandate in 2011, the Golden State has sought to address prison overcrowding through myriad reforms, including by moving people from state prisons to county jails, reducing prison sentences for certain crimes, and creating resources to help people reenter society. Crime in California is now at historic lows. Yet some reforms have been met with resistance from law enforcement organizations and “tough-on-crime” politicians concerned these initiatives will endanger public safety. While there’s still a lot to be done concerning criminal justice reform, California has presented itself as a model for the rest of the nation. This is a special podcast collaboration with <a href="https://www.themarshallproject.org/tag/the-california-experiment">The Marshall Project</a>, a New York City-based nonprofit news organization dedicated to covering, and creating and sustaining a sense of national urgency about, the U.S. criminal justice system. News Beat is a Morey Creative Studios production: <a href="https://www.moreycreative.com/">www.MoreyCreative.com</a> News Beat is produced and engineered by Michael “Manny Faces” Conforti: <a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com/">www.MannyFaces.com</a> News Beat Executive Producer is Jed Morey Editor in Chief: Christopher TwarowskiManaging Editor: Rashed MianCover Art Design: Jeff Main

Since a U.S. Supreme Court-imposed mandate in 2011, the Golden State has sought to address prison overcrowding through myriad reforms, including by moving people from state prisons to county jails, reducing prison sentences for certain crimes, and...

California: Epicenter of Mass Incarceration Reform

This episode introduces the concept of restorative justice, in which crime victims actually have a say in the punishment handed down to their offenders. So instead of universal prison time, atonement might come in the form of community service, or in a face to face meeting, or any number of other acts of redress that those affected see as fit.

 This isn’t a radical, new approach, but a centuries-old practice, that many say empowers victims and paves the road for true healing.

This episode introduces the concept of restorative justice, in which crime victims actually have a say in the punishment handed down to their offenders. So instead of universal prison time, atonement might come in the form of community service, or in a face to face meeting, or any number of other acts of redress that those affected see as fit. This isn’t a radical, new approach, but a centuries-old practice, that many say empowers victims and paves the road for true healing.

This episode introduces the concept of restorative justice, in which crime victims actually have a say in the punishment handed down to their offenders. So instead of universal prison time, atonement might come in the form of community service, or in...

Restorative Justice: Healing Instead of Incarceration

From the award-winning News Beat podcast, here's a playlist examining the evolution of mass incarceration in the United States.

From the award-winning News Beat podcast, here's a playlist examining the evolution of mass incarceration in the United States.

Guide to Mass Incarceration

The warnings were clear: COVID-19 would spread like wildfire in jails and prisons. It has. The top COVID-19 clusters across America are overwhelmingly jails and prisons, and efforts to reduce jail populations have stalled amid a surge in infections. Among the hardest-hit is San Quentin State Prison in California, which is responsible for about a quarter of the state prison system’s COVID-19 infections and almost half its deaths.

Guests: Danielle Harris, managing attorney for the San Francisco Public Defender's Integrity Unit. Emily Widra, research analyst at the Massachusetts-based Prison Policy Initiative. Sharon Dolovich, professor of law at UCLA School of Law, and director of the UCLA Prison Law & Policy Program. She also serves as director of the UCLA Law COVID-19 Behind Bars Data Project.

News Beat is an award-winning Morey Creative Studios podcast.

Producer: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jeff Main
Executive Producer: Jed Morey

The warnings were clear: COVID-19 would spread like wildfire in jails and prisons. It has. The top COVID-19 clusters across America are overwhelmingly jails and prisons, and efforts to reduce jail populations have stalled amid a surge in infections. Among the hardest-hit is San Quentin State Prison in California, which is responsible for about a quarter of the state prison system&rsquo;s COVID-19 infections and almost half its deaths.
Guests: Danielle Harris, managing attorney for the San Francisco Public Defender's Integrity Unit. Emily Widra, research analyst at the Massachusetts-based Prison Policy Initiative. Sharon Dolovich, professor of law at UCLA School of Law, and director of the UCLA Prison Law &amp; Policy Program. She also serves as director of the <a href="https://law.ucla.edu/academics/centers/criminal-justice-program/ucla-covid-19-behind-bars-data-project">UCLA Law COVID-19 Behind Bars Data Project</a>.
News Beat is an award-winning <a href="https://www.moreycreative.com">Morey Creative Studios</a> podcast.
Producer: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian Episode Art: Jeff Main Executive Producer: Jed Morey

Death Sentence: COVID-19 Cases Are Soaring in Jails & Prisons

While the coronavirus has indiscriminately ravaged communities across the nation, African Americans are dying at disproportionately higher rates, according to preliminary data. Those who study racial health disparities aren’t surprised, considering that African Americans suffer inordinately from chronic conditions, symptoms linked to systemic racism, and a deleterious physiological process dubbed “weathering” three decades ago.

Features interviews with Dr. Uché Blackstock, a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician and founder & CEO at Advancing Health Equity; Dr. Sharrelle Barber, a social epidemiologist and assistant research professor at Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health; and Arline Geronimus, a professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, and associate director and research professor in the Population Studies Center at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan.

News Beat is an award-winning Morey Creative Studios podcast.

Producer: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jeff Main
Executive Producer: Jed Morey

While the coronavirus has indiscriminately ravaged communities across the nation, African Americans are dying at disproportionately higher rates, according to preliminary data. Those who study racial health disparities aren&rsquo;t surprised, considering that African Americans suffer inordinately from chronic conditions, symptoms linked to systemic racism, and a deleterious physiological process dubbed &ldquo;weathering&rdquo; three decades ago. Features interviews with Dr. Uch&eacute; Blackstock, a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician and founder &amp; CEO at Advancing Health Equity; Dr. Sharrelle Barber, a social epidemiologist and assistant research professor at Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health; and Arline Geronimus, a professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, and associate director and research professor in the Population Studies Center at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan.
News Beat is an award-winning <a href="https://www.moreycreative.com">Morey Creative Studios</a> podcast.
Producer: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian Episode Art: Jeff Main Executive Producer: Jed Morey

How Racism Fuels Higher Coronavirus Death Rates

A career public defender is now on the other side of the law. We speak to San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin about embracing reforms as district attorney of a prominent U.S. city, and combating COVID-19.

News Beat is an award-winning Morey Creative Studios podcast.

Producer: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jeff Main
Executive Producer: Jed Morey

A career public defender is now on the other side of the law. We speak to San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin about embracing reforms as district attorney of a prominent U.S. city, and combating COVID-19.
News Beat is an award-winning <a href="https://www.moreycreative.com">Morey Creative Studios</a> podcast.
Producer: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian Episode Art: Jeff Main Executive Producer: Jed Morey

[BONUS] Exclusive: San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin Talks Bail, Sentencing Reforms & COVID-19

As part of our continuing coronavirus coverage, we examine the threat the virus poses to correctional facilities in Florida, which acted much later than other states to enact bans on nonessential workers. In the second part of the episode, we explore how the suspension of family visitation impacts inmates and their families.

News Beat is an award-winning Morey Creative Studios podcast.

Producer/Host: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jeff Main
Executive Producer: Jed Morey

As part of our continuing coronavirus coverage, we examine the threat the virus poses to correctional facilities in Florida, which acted much later than other states to enact bans on nonessential workers. In the second part of the episode, we explore how the suspension of family visitation impacts inmates and their families.
News Beat is an award-winning <a href="https://www.moreycreative.com">Morey Creative Studios</a> podcast.
Producer/Host: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian Episode Art: Jeff Main Executive Producer: Jed Morey

Coronavirus Behind Bars: Florida Jails + Effects of Visitation Bans

On March 13, the foremost expert on healthcare in correctional settings appeared on this podcast and warned of a “perilous and looming threat” inside these facilities. Rikers Island now has more than 200 coronavirus cases and recorded its first COVID-19-related death last weekend. Advocates warn that anyone held in the jail is in mortal danger.

For more on this issue, visit www.usnewsbeat.com.

On March 13, the foremost expert on healthcare in correctional settings appeared on this podcast and warned of a &ldquo;perilous and looming threat&rdquo; inside these facilities. Rikers Island now has more than 200 coronavirus cases and recorded its first COVID-19-related death last weekend. Advocates warn that anyone held in the jail is in mortal danger. For more on this issue, visit <a href="https://www.usnewsbeat.com">www.usnewsbeat.com</a>.

Coronavirus Behind Bars: Crisis In New York

As the coronavirus pandemic exposes long-standing inequities in the United States, advocates say marginalized communities are going to suffer the worst from the consequences of a broken economy, neglect, and a decaying social safety net.

Featuring Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis (Poor People's Campaign), Maria Morris (ACLU), and Alieza Durana (Eviction Lab).

News Beat is an award-winning Morey Creative Studios podcast.

Producer: Michael "Manny Faces" Conforti
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski
Managing Editor: Rashed Mian
Episode Art: Jeff Main
Executive Producer: Jed Morey

As the coronavirus pandemic exposes long-standing inequities in the United States, advocates say marginalized communities are going to suffer the worst from the consequences of a broken economy, neglect, and a decaying social safety net.
Featuring Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis (Poor People's Campaign), Maria Morris (ACLU), and Alieza Durana (Eviction Lab).
News Beat is an award-winning <a href="https://www.moreycreative.com">Morey Creative Studios</a> podcast.
Producer: Michael "<a href="https://www.mannyfaces.com">Manny Faces</a>" Conforti Editor-In-Chief: Chris Twarowski Managing Editor: Rashed Mian Episode Art: Jeff Main Executive Producer: Jed Morey

When Epidemics Collide: Coronavirus, Criminal Justice & Poverty

One of the foremost experts on correctional health services warned of a “very perilous and looming threat” inside American correctional facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic outbreak. [BONUS EPISODE]

One of the foremost experts on correctional health services warned of a &ldquo;very perilous and looming threat&rdquo; inside American correctional facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic outbreak. [BONUS EPISODE]

Expert Warns Of ‘Perilous’ Coronavirus Threat In Jails & Prisons

At the News Beat podcast, we made it a point to cover the real-life impact the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had on the most marginalized among us, and we will continue to do so. Check out our compelling coverage of the coronavirus pandemic and stay tuned as we continue to report on this life-altering crisis in our signature style, looking at the issues through an independent, down-to-earth, honest lens.

At the News Beat podcast, we made it a point to cover the real-life impact the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had on the most marginalized among us, and we will continue to do so. Check out our compelling coverage of the coronavirus pandemic and stay tuned as we continue to report on this life-altering crisis in our signature style, looking at the issues through an independent, down-to-earth, honest lens.

News Beat

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