This Week with David Rovics

Fear and Suspicion in the Northwest

Amidst all the solidarity is the unavoidable observation there is a whole lot of fear and suspicion making sure it's unlikely to spread.

Nakba 2.0: Songs for Palestine

On the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the Nakba, as what Israeli politicians have openly dubbed "Nakba 2.0" is well underway, I livestreamed a concert from my living room consisting of relevant songs.

New song: "Hani Mahmud and Tareq Abu Azzoum"

As the Israeli military shoots its way into the center of Rafah, they have made it abundantly clear that there are certain broad classes of Palestinians that are targets for assassination, and that seems to include anyone who works for Al-Jazeera.  Those of us who have been watching this genocide unfold live on Al-Jazeera's English channel for the past 7+ months are all especially familiar with and probably enamored of two reporters in particular who have been with us day in and day out the whole time.

To Sing or Not to Sing?

A brief analysis of some of the considerations that go into deciding whether or not to have live music at your protest rally or other social movement event.

New song: "The Poor People's March on Washington"

A song for Mother's Day, 1968 -- in deep appreciation for Cheri Honkala and the great organizing work of the Poor People's Army, the heir to the spirit of Resurrection City, who are organizing marches to both the RNC and the DNC this summer.

Where's the Music?

For many years now we hear a lot on the news about "the culture wars."  But there's another war that's been going on for decades:  the war against culture itself.

What Would Cointelpro Do?

If Cointelpro were still active today, what would the modern G-Men be doing?

A Cheerleader Without A Team

One more chapter in the tragic story of the League of Canceled Cheerleaders.

The Silenced Majority and How It Stays That Way

It's wonderful to see significant and dedicated fractions of the population take to the streets, or at least the campuses.  But where is everybody else?

New song: "The House Un-Israeli Activities Committee"

"Antisemitism" is the new "communism" -- have you ever said anything that could be construed in someone's convoluted mind as somehow anti-Jewish? Iran is the new USSR, Elise Stefanik is the new Joe McCarthy, and the House Un-Israeli Activities Committee is going strong, ruining one life at a time, and striking fear throughout academia and beyond.

The House Un-Israeli Activities Committee

If you imagine when considering a slogan
That it could have various interpretations
If you believe in understanding the other side
Then you’re clearly much too vulnerable, open wide
If you don’t want to be grilled by the Inquisition
If you’d rather avoid such a prone position

If you run a university and you act the way you ought
If you think there’s a place for nuanced thought
If it’s hard to boil it all down to yes or no
If you think context matters and you dare say so
You’d best be out of town when you’re the one they pick
To go get grilled by Elise Stefanik

You'd better tow the line or else you know what they’ll do
The House Un-Israeli Activities Committee will be coming after you

If you’re fond of notions like free discourse
If you think dialogue might be better than brute force
You’re thinking isn’t nearly black and white enough
And in the halls of Congress they’ll be talking tough
Showing those bureaucrats who knows best
Making sure who knows they could be their next guest

If you want to keep your job and your donor base
You don’t want to have to come face to face
You’d better call in the police and salute your leader
Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister
Make sure they crack the heads of all those Jew-haters
So says the queen of the new red-baiters