"It's Important Work—As Long As Someone Else Does It" (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast) It's in the Code ep 187

Josh Hawley tells us that blue-collar and manual labor are the domains of true masculinity. He tells us that they are the path to freedom, and meaning, and purpose. He tells us that men have no social value if they do not undertake this kind of work. 

But is any of this true? 

Does this kind of work bring us the freedom he claims? 

Is he really the voice of "working men?" 

Or is he another elitist who benefits from the exploitation of workers while masquerading as a liberator? Dan argues that this is the real story. Listen to this week's episode to find out why.

Interview: 

https://www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/episodes/its-in-the-code-ep-187-its-important-workas-long-as-someone-else-does-it?hsLang=en

Oklahoma’s Scammy PragerU Teacher ”Test” (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #599)

— Oklahoma’s meaningless “America First” teacher test is just a PragerU ad campaign. (1:45)

— New Jersey town sues mall for ignoring Blue Laws and selling merch on Sundays. (34:49)

— Mormon columnist who preached “traditional values” busted for alleged child exploitation. (48:55)

— Judge orders Arkansas school district to remove illegal Ten Commandments posters. (1:02:15)

— 25% of Texas districts are using Bible-heavy reading lessons in public elementary schools. (1:11:20)
Interview: 

https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2025/09/03/oklahomas-scammy-prageru-teacher-test/

Tennessee Brando- How The Rich Men Conned Appalachians

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNXCuEFEBZs

On America's farms, foreign workers solve one problem but raise others : NPR

"I want to make sure that there are fewer obstacles in front of our ability to produce food in this country, and to make sure that the American people continue to have an abundant and safe food supply," says Newhouse. "If we don't have an adequate labor force for the agricultural industry, that's in jeopardy."…https://www.npr.org/2023/07/27/1187682674/farm-workers-guest-workers-h-2a-visa-agricultural-harvest-farm-labor

A Suffering Servant ( Dan Miller; It’s In the Code podcast Ep. 53)

The previous episode explored how Christian churches, as well as other religious, non-profit, and volunteer organizations, exploit the idea of “having a servant’s heart,” or service or giving of one’s time and resources, for their own gain. In this episode, Dan considers how the idea of serving to the point of “suffering” elevates this abusive pattern within Christian organizations. Beginning with a discussion of the “suffering servant” idea in the Hebrew Bible, Dan traces how this idea of suffering has become part of the “source code” of Christianity, and why that matters for people today.

Interview: 

https://www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/episodes/its-in-the-code-ep-53-a-suffering-servant/

Jane Mayer: Trump Used Pandemic To Weaken Worker Protections (Fresh Air)

Journalist Jane Mayer reports the Trump administration has weakened federal health and safety regulations of the poultry industry as plants have become COVID-19 hotspots, and allowed managers to speed up production lines. She says the U.S. Labor Department is effectively supporting an effort at one Delaware plant — owned by a major Trump campaign donor — to expel the union that has represented workers there for decades. Her article in the current issue of the 'New Yorker' is called, "How Trump is Helping Tycoons Exploit the Pandemic."
Interview:
https://www.npr.org/2020/07/15/891424492/jane-mayer-trump-used-pandemic-to-weaken-worker-protections

Officials from at least 4 countries privately discussed ways to manipulate Kushner: report -- Raw Story

Jared Kushner was identified as exploitable by at least four countries because of his complex and troubled business dealings, according to a new Washington Post report. ....
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/02/officials-least-4-countries-privately-discussed-ways-manipulate-kushner-report/

The Secret Cost of Chinese Buffets: Part 1

Wang’s Employment Agency is nestled on the third floor of a barbershop in Flushing, N.Y. No sign outside suggests its existence. Inside, there is an undecorated, white-walled office where a dozen middle-aged Chinese immigrants sit and wait in nervous silence. Wang, the owner of the agency, is a heavyset woman in her early 50s. She snacks on walnuts from a Styrofoam cup as she considers people’s job requests....
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_secret_cost_of_chinese_buffets_part_1_20161102?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+Truthdig+Truthdig%253A+Drilling+Beneath+the+Headlines

An Astonishing Tale of Foreign Worker Exploitation by Silicon Valley's Darling Carmaker, Tesla

Instead of exporting jobs, some companies arrange for immigrants to come to America. But there's a catch....
http://www.alternet.org/labor/imported-worker-sues-us-tech-company-employed-him-after-returning-home

Trump Exploited a Loophole to Pocket 150k in Funding Meant for Small Businesses Affected by 9/11

For all the money Donald Trump claims to have, the Republican frontrunner could not resist taking advantage of a government program designed to help small businesses in New York City recover from the economic impact of 9/11, the New York Daily News reports.

The loophole, exploited by Trump and other wealthy business owners, allowed the billionaire to pocket $150,000 for the Trump Building, a commercial space located at 40 Wall Street from the Empire State Development Corp (ESDC), the organization that processed $20 billion in federal aid allocated to rebuilding downtown Manhattan.

According to the Daily News, the state’s loose rules for what constitutes a small business enabled Trump and other wealthy business owners to profit off the federal aid. The money was originally intended for mom-and-pop shops whose businesses were threatened by a lack of foot traffic in the aftermath of the attacks....
http://www.alternet.org/donald-trump-exploited-loophole-pocket-150k-federal-funding-meant-small-business-affected-911