The Leslie Marshall Show

China’s Slave Labor of Uyghurs; American Industrial Strategy; The Return of U.S. Manufacturing

Leslie is joined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union.

The two discuss:

1. "Congressional Pressure on SHEIN and Temu Increases — and on Nike and Adidas, Too" (by AAM's Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch)

2. "White House National Security Advisor: It’s De-risking, not De-coupling" (by AAM's Matthew McMullan)

3. "The Return of Manufacturing to the United States Won’t be Without Challenges" (by AAM's Matthew McMullan)

For over 16 years, Mr. Paul and AAM have worked to make American manufacturing a top-of-mind issue for voters and our national leaders through effective advocacy, innovative research, and a savvy public relations strategy.

WEBSITE: AmericanManufacturing.org

TWITTER: 1. AAM - @KeepItMadeInUSA 2. Scott Paul - @ScottPaulAAM

NYT Best-Selling Historian on Biden’s Re-election Campaign; Pulitzer Center Grantee’s New Book on Grieving

Leslie is first joined by New York Times best-selling author Julian Zelizer, who has been among the pioneers in the revival of American political history. He is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University, a CNN Political Analyst, and a regular guest on NPR’s "Here and Now."

The pair discusses his two most recent pieces for CNN.
They're titled, "Why Biden is Lying Low Ahead of 2024," and "Why DeSantis’ War on Disney is a Big Mistake."

During the second half of the show, Leslie is joined by Dina Gachman, a Pulitzer Center Grantee and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Vox, Texas Monthly and more. She’s a New York Times bestselling ghostwriter, and the author of "Brokenomics: 50 Ways to Live the Dream on a Dime," as well her latest book, just out this month.

That book is what Leslie and Dina discuss during their interview. It's titled, "So Sorry for Your Loss: How I Learned to Live with Grief, and Other Grave Concerns."

Julian Zelizer is the award-winning author and editor of 25 books including his latest, "Myth America: Historians Take on the Biggest Lies and Legends About Our Past," which he co-edited with Kevin Kruse.
His website is JulianZelizer.com and his Twitter handle is @JulianZelizer.

Dina Gachman lives near Austin, Texas, with her husband and son.
Her website is DinaGachmanWrites.com and her Twitter handle is @DinaGachman.

Fred Guttenberg Debunks Myths that Fuel Gun Violence

Leslie begins today's show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment.

Here are the stories that she commented on:

1. AXIOS: "Biden's never-Trump campaign for '24"
2. AXIOS: "White House threatens to veto GOP debt ceiling bill"
3. AXIOS: "What to know as the civil trial over E. Jean Carroll's rape allegation against Trump starts"
4. CNN: "Company with ties to GOP megadonor and longtime friend of Justice Thomas had business before Supreme Court"


For the remainder of the show, Leslie is joined by Gun Reform Advocate, and Author, Fred Guttenberg.
Fred has dedicated his life to saving lives fighting for gun safety in America. He began his public life after the murder of his beautiful 14 year old daughter Jaime in the Parkland school shooting on Feb 14th of 2018. Fred’s mission ultimately led him to write his first book, "Find the Helpers."
And now, Fred and International gun policy consultant Thomas Gabor team up in a brand new book, titled, "American Carnage: Shattering the Myths That Fuel Gun Violence." The book will dismantle some of the most common myths about guns and gun violence. Its release date is May 2nd.

Here is just a sample of the myths and slogans exposed as false in 'American Carnage':

- Gun owners frequently use firearms to fend off attackers
- An armed society is a safer society
- Guns don’t kill people, people kill people

You can purchase both of Fred's books, and find out more information about what events he's participating in, at FredGuttenberg.com. His Twitter handle is @Fred_Guttenberg.

Could ’Relational Organizing’ Success in Wisconsin Be a National Model for 2024?

Leslie begins today's show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment.

Here are the stories that she gave her take on:

1. CNN: "The US economy could depend on McCarthy corralling his extremist Republican troops"
2. AXIOS: "Fetterman returns to Senate after depression treatment"
3. AXIOS: "Trump, other potential 2024 rivals slam DeSantis over Disney feud"
4. AXIOS: "Record number of Americans say they're politically independent"
5. AXIOS: "Sprawling heat wave envelops large swath of Asia"
6. AXIOS: "FDA approves 2nd omicron booster for high-risk people"

For the second half of the show, Leslie is joined by Mike Pfohl, Executive Director of Empower Project, which works to get us back to the foundational roots of organizing. 'Empower Project' has assisted groups with Relational Organizing in rural districts, urban and suburban districts, communities of color, and in multiple languages.

Leslie and Mike discuss what 'relational organizing' is, and explore whether its recent success in the high profile Wisconsin Supreme Court election could be a model for elections in 2024.

'Empower Project' partners with progressive organizations and non-profits, and works with leaders already engaged in targeted communities. Relational Organizing is about building real power and a movement that is sustainable beyond the next election, with organizers who will continue to work to ensure their communities thrive.

Empower Project's website is EmpowerProject.us and their Twitter handle is @EmpowerProjUS.

Workers Leading the Way

Leslie is joined by Tom Conway, President of the United Steelworkers (USW), North America’s largest industrial union.
They’re 1.2 million members and retirees strong in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. They proudly represent men and women who work in nearly every industry there is.

The two have a broad conversation about how workers are leading the way in the United States as our society is facing big challenges, from rampant economic inequality to the continuing human and economic toll of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and more.

Here are the subtopics that they covered during the interview, with a big focus on how workers and their unions are taking matters into their own hands to improve their lives, and fight for social and economic justice on a wider scale:

Organizing unions is one of the surest ways to improve wages, ensure safer working conditions and have a voice on the job, and workers in a wide variety of sectors are organizing to draw on their collective power.

- Last fall, 700 workers at Bobcat in Bismarck, N.D., voted to join the USW, and just last week 200 more at a Bobcat facility in Rogers, Minn., did the same.
- Football players in the USFL organized with the USW last year. This year, they overwhelmingly ratified a first contract to help provide safety and stability to their jobs. Now, players in the XFL are also looking to join the USW.

Workers and their unions are leading the way on trade, working to contain bad actors like Russia and China, and foster growth in domestic industries.

Workers are also using their activism to roll back bad laws, like the historic repeal of the so-called right-to-work (RTW) law in Michigan.

USW members have been on the vanguard fighting for less-publicized but equally needed legislation, including bills to help veterans.

The website for the USW is USW.org and their handle on both Twitter and Instagram is @steelworkers.

SCOTUS Hears Arguments Challenging Biden’s Student Loan Cancellation Plan

Leslie begins today's show with her 'Ripped from the Headlines' news segment.

Here are the stories that she gives her take on:

1. ABC NEWS:"Conservative justices question Biden's student loan plan in crucial SCOTUS case "
2. AXIOS: "Why poverty rates are likely to rise this year"
3. AXIOS: "House Dems introduce bill to tighten rail safety measures"
4. ASSOCIATED PRESS: "Biden to nominate Julie Su as next US labor secretary"
5. AXIOS: "Majority of countries guarantee paid paternity leave — but not the U.S."

During the second half of the show, Leslie is joined by Natalia Abrams, President and Founder of the Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC), and a monthly guest host of the Leslie Marshall Show.The SDCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that centers the needs and voices of borrowers, and partners with allies, to impact public policy and end the student debt crisis.

The two discuss today's "People’s Rally for Student Debt Cancellation" that the SDCC co-organized with over 20 different organizations in attendance at the rally, including the Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC), the NAACP, and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Hundreds of protesters, many college students from across the country, rallied outside the Supreme Court this morning, carrying signs and posters urging the justices to back President Biden’s effort to cancel some $400 billion in student loan debt.

Democratic lawmakers like Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Robert Menendez and Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Judy Chu addressed supporters of the plan from the steps of the Supreme Court.

The SDCC's website is StudentDebtCrisis.org and their handle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook is @DebtCrisisOrg. Natalia's Twitter handle is @NataliaAbrams.

Biden Administration’s Approach to EV Chargers and ’Buy America’ Rules

Leslie is joined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union.

The two discuss:

1. "The Biden Administration Issues Standards for American-made EV Chargers" (by AAM's Matthew McMullan)

2. The Biden Administration's Approach on EV Chargers is Helping to Turbocharge Growth in this Manufacturing Sector (from Scott Paul Twitter thread)

3. The Columbus Dispatch: "For good of Ohio, Biden, government must give teeth to Buy America" (Opinion piece by Scott Paul)

4. NBC News: "'A serious committee': Lawmakers have high bipartisan hopes for China panel as tensions rise"

For over 16 years, Mr. Paul and AAM have worked to make American manufacturing a top-of-mind issue for voters and our national leaders through effective advocacy, innovative research, and a savvy public relations strategy.

WEBSITEs: 1. AmericanManufacturing.org
2. Please join us in telling your state transportation officials to make sure that our new infrastructure is Made in the USA! Take action by visiting TinyURL.com/EnforceBuyAmerica

TWITTER: 1. AAM - @KeepItMadeInUSA 2. Scott Paul - @ScottPaulAAM

House GOP Holding Economy Hostage for Social Security & Medicare Cuts; Two California Mass-Shootings in Three Days

Leslie is joined by Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Here are the topics that the two discussed:

1. THE HILL: "Institutional anarchy prevails in the GOP House " by Brad Bannon

2. TIME: "What the U.S. Hitting the Debt Ceiling Means for You"

3. REUTERS: "California reels from back-to-back shootings that killed 18"

4. AXIOS: "Atlanta district attorney pushes to keep Trump election report secret"

Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles.
You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His Twitter handle is @BradBannon.

National Security Requires Sound Trade Policy

Leslie will be joined by Tom Conway, President of the United Steelworkers (USW), North America’s largest industrial union. 
They’re 1.2 million members and retirees strong in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. They proudly represent men and women who work in nearly every industry there is.

The two will have a broad conversation about how national security requires sound trade policy.

Here are the subtopics that they'll be covering during the interview:

Manufacturing in key sectors like steel and aluminum underpins national security, providing vital resources for our military and helping the nation meet its critical infrastructure needs.

Section 232s have been an essential part of this since 2018. While there have been some modifications in relations to trading partners like the European Union and the United Kingdom, these measures remain an essential part in ensuring the U.S. can protect itself and rebuild its infrastructure.

Facing global overcapacity, largely driven by China’s unfair trade practices, 232 relief measures worked –and are continuing to work – as intended.

- In steel, they improved industry conditions, spurred investments, and directly created thousands of new jobs.
- They also allowed for needed capital investments so that U.S. steelmakers can continue to produce some of the best, cleanest steel in the world.
- And domestic steel is underpinning the massive infrastructure upgrades we’re making in communities across the country thanks to President Biden’s vision and leadership.

This is why a recent ruling by the World Trade Organization (WTO) was not only deeply flawed, but also dangerous. A recent decision by the dispute panel of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, (USMCA), raises similar concerns about overreach.

- The WTO has no standing to interfere with national security, and its attempt to do so undermines the credibility of the entire organization.
- Allowing China to join the WTO, more than 20 years ago, was a mistake that has allowed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to leverage its position and continue its predatory practices.
- Overcapacity, dumping, and illegal subsidies remain urgent concerns – which the WTO again made clear it is not equipped to address.
- Until we have a broader reform of our trade system, we must instead rely on the tools we have at our disposal like filing trade cases and keeping the 232 relief measures in place.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine also reinforced how critical trade is to national security.

- The U.S. aluminum industry was already struggling, and then last year Century Aluminum Company idled its smelter in Hawesville, Ky.. They were the last domestic producer of commercial quantities of military-grade aluminum remaining after decades of foreign competition undercut the U.S. industry.
- Energy prices caused by the war are also hurting European Aluminum producers, leaving markets open to Russian exports.
- Sanctions on Russian aluminum will be a critical part of keeping not only the U.S. but the whole world safe, as will bringing new smelting capacity online.

As we look to the future, domestic production and sound trade policy will be essential in another aspect of our national security: meeting our energy needs.

- There is tremendous potential in areas like offshore wind, and the Biden administration is working to build out our domestic industry and secure the supply chain this industry will need to be successful.

- Europe has a significant lead.
- And China is ramping up production. Chinese producers are currently able to produce relatively inexpensive products because they can rely on the country’s overcapacity in steel, dominance in rare earths, and control over the supply chain, setting up a “race to the bottom.”
- So the U.S. needs to act quickly.

The previous administration made it clear that we cannot exist in a vacuum when it comes to trade, that we need careful coordination with trusted partners. This is why it is crucial that we’re deliberate in our work in the Indo-Pacific region. 

- The administration’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework contains important priorities, including strong labor and environmental standards.
- However, it’s essential that the agreement adheres to worker-centered values, and that the U.S. selects only partners who are serious about realizing these goals, and intend to meet its terms.
- Only then will this new chapter make our trade policy sounder – and our nation safer.

The website for the United Steelworkers is www.USW.org. Their handle on Twitter and Instagram is @steelworkers.

Student Debt Cancellation Heads to Supreme Court

Student Debt Cancellation is heading to the Supreme Court in just a few weeks. Hear from SDCC leaders and their special guest, Mike Pierce, about what borrowers can expect leading up to SCOTUS, as well as afterwards. The hosts will also briefly discuss President Biden's new student loan repayment plan.

The Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that centers the needs and voices of borrowers, and partners with allies, to impact public policy and end the student debt crisis.

Today's SDCC guest hosts are President and Founder, Natalia Abrams, Executive Director, Cody Hounanian, and Managing Director, Sabrina Calazans.
They're joined by special guest Mike Pierce, Executive Director of the Student Borrower Protection Center.

The SDCC website is StudentDebtCrisis.org and their handle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook is @DebtCrisisOrg.

The Student Borrower Protection Center's website is protectborrowers.org and their Twitter handle is @theSBPC.