By Bob Hennelly

Dariel Vasquez, an 18-year-old New York State Parks employee and volunteer firefighter was recently killed battling a forest fire at Sterling Forest in Greenwood Lake, New York. Forest fires linked to prolonged drought conditions in both New York and New Jersey—like another recent blaze at Prospect Park in Brooklyn—continue to degrade local air quality. Individuals with respiratory and coronary pre-existing conditions  should take precautions.

According to the website OpenSecrets, the price tax on the 2024 federal campaign cycle is approaching an eye popping $16 billion, setting a record.

On this episode of the Stuck Nation Labor Radio Hour, we talk with Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, professor of Law at Stetson University and author of “Corporatocracy-How to Protect Democracy from Dark Money and Corrupt Politicians.” We will examine who is spending this money and why.

We also check in with Professor Mary Anne A. Trasciatti, director of Hofstra University’s Labor Studies Program and author of the forthcoming book “Elizabeth Gurley Flynn: The Rebel Girl, Democracy, and Revolution” from Rutgers University Press. 

While exit polls indicate that Vice-President Kamala Harris got most of the votes cast by union members nationally, in rust belt states like Ohio, President-Elect Donald Trump made inroads with union households while his pledge to not tax tips or overtime scored with non-union working class voters.

We ask Professor Traciatti for her take away from the election.

Listen to the entire show below:

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