Mamdani, Black Farmers, USDA & ICE: The Stories BIPOC Journalists Uncover [Episode]

Laura Flanders and Friends: Positive Independent Journalism for a Just World

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Description: Explore the top headlines of the month — and stories you won’t find in mainstream media — in this timely episode of Meet the BIPOC Press. From New York City, Documented’s Labor Reporter Amir Khafagy returns to fill us in on mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s win in the primary election, and how mainstream media overlooked the immigrant vote. Was this a “political upset” to journalists from those very communities? And reporting from the U.S. South, Capital B Rural Issues Reporter Aallyah Wright discusses new legislation from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will have devastating impacts on Black farmers. Also in this episode: employers allegedly threatening immigrant workers with ICE and deportation for speaking up about wage theft, the independent media model and holding journalists accountable. As you’ll hear, these reporters are not just covering their communities — they're helping to build the infrastructure for more inclusive, accurate storytelling about race, place, and power.

“In the mainstream media there was this conversation happening around, maybe the gentrifier class and the hipsters were the ones coming out and voting for [Zohran Mamdani]. And that may have been true to some extent, but immigrant communities, especially Asian immigrant communities, were really excited for him . . . Some of the districts in Queens that even went Trump voted for Zohran. - Amir Khafagy

“I've been seeing a lot of news coverage about the USDA, when we talk about office closures or folks being laid off, or these grants that are being cut . . . But they're not always focused on the realities of what that looks like for Black farmers, given the history of the fraught relationship between Black farmers and the USDA and the historic discrimination.” - Aallyah Wright

Guests:

• Amir Khafagy: Senior Labor Reporter, Documented NY

• Aallyah Wright: Rural Issues Reporter, Capital B

Watch the episode released on YouTube July 25th 5pm ET; PBS World Channel July 27th, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio (check here to see if your station airs the show) & available as a podcast July 30th.

Full Episode Notes are located HERE.

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Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:

• BIPOC Media Answers the Call: Community Action After Hurricane Helene: Watch / Listen: Episode and Full Conversation

• Los Angeles Wildfires: BIPOC Media Are Telling Stories Other Media Aren’t: Watch / Listen: Episode and Full Conversation

• Crime & Migration: An Abolitionist Plan for Immigration Justice: Watch / Listen: Episode

Related Articles and Resources:

•. In the Mississippi Delta, Black Farmers Are Rebuilding the Legacy of Land Ownership, by Aallyah Wright, July 9, 2025, Capital B

• Black Farmers Brace for Trump’s Tariffs While Navigating USDA Office Closures, by Aallyah Wright, April 4, 2025, Capital B

• Advocates Say Leaked Farm Bureau Memo Promotes Racist Science, by Amir Khafagy, July 9, 2025, Documented

• On Election Day, Immigrant Communities Split on Mamdani and Cuomo, by Clarissa Leon, Meghnad Bose, Amir Khafagy, April XU, Rommel H. Owed, and Paz Radovic, June 24, 2025, Documented

• The Marines Did Not Sigh U to Police LA: A veteran and military law expert on “Being used against your neighbor” as a soldier. By Peter Berger, June 24, 2025, Mother Jones

• Farmworkers Call for Worker-Led Strikes and Boycotts Amid Recent Raids Targeting Farms at Press Conference Monday, by Eli Young, July 16, 2025, Los Angeles Magazine

• USDA’s end of diversity efforts in farm programs will mean ‘less food for the community’ by Héctor Alejandro Arzate, July 14, 2025, Harvest Public Media-KCUR, NR Kansas City

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