A run-of-the-mill, one-day news story about a billionaire holding a city hostage over a sports team and a new stadium buried the lede on the dark underbelly of Native American relations with the U.S. government. New York State agreed to finance a significant chunk of the $1.4 billion stadium for the Buffalo Bills, an NFL team owned by a billionaire worth 5.5x that amount. A deal done almost entirely behind closed doors. Beyond the myriad conflicts of interest within the governor’s office is the more insidious story, ignored almost entirely by the media, of where the state “found” the money to pay for it.

Chapters

Prologue: 00:01:36

Chapter One: Billionaire Rules: 00:04:53

Chapter Two: Hidden from View: 00:10:55

Chapter Three: The Tangled Web of F*ckery: 00:16:46 

Post Show Musings: 00:34:26

A Manny Interlude: 00:46:03

Post Show Musings Show Notes?: 00:47:21

Unf*cking Down Under Feedback: 00:48:24

Outro: 01:07:55

Support First Nation’s Causes

There are a number of charitable organizations that support First Nation’s causes (see a few below). However, we're firm believers in local support and making connections with First Nation’s peoples. If possible, endeavor to get in touch with the community center at the nearest tribal territory and inquire as to the best way to provide direct support to maximize impact.

Stand With Standing Rock

Let's Talk Native... with John Kane Patreon

First Nations University of Canada

Resources

The New York Times: Buffalo Bills Strike Deal for Taxpayer-Funded $1.4 Billion Stadium

The Guardian: Buffalo Bills will receive $850m from New York taxpayers to build new stadium

U.S. News: Bills' New Stadium Deal Carries $850M Taxpayer Tab, Gov Says

The Atlantic: Sports Stadiums Are a Bad Deal for Cities

Sports Illustrated: Austin Bills? NFL owners are running out of stadium grift ideas

Bloomberg: Terry Pegula - Bloomberg Billionaires Index

Forbes: #32 Buffalo Bills

New York Upstate: Seneca Indian Nation's $100 million-a-year casino payments to state on hold again

Buffalo News: The Editorial Board: Fed up with delays and broken promises, Hochul forces Senecas to pay their debt

Delaware North: Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack

Seneca Gaming Truth: Nation-State Gaming Compact Between The Seneca Nation Of Indians And The State Of New York

CDC Gaming Reports: Churchill Downs announces deal for Peninsula Pacific assets

Market Screener: Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. Announces Joint Venture with Churchill Downs Inc.

Pod Love

Let’s Talk Native with John Kane

UNFTR Episode Resources

March 2021 Quickie: Cuomo, Tanden & Manchin.

Culture Cancel.

An interview with Unkechaug Chief Harry Wallace and Native Coffee Trader’s Amy Wallace.

Oh, Canada.

Unf*cking Down Under.

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Unf*cking the Republic is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed with love.

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