The Weed Out Podcast
A podcast by abolitionists for those who are in the mood to hear that discussion. We are Western Massachusetts based but hope to resonate everywhere. Discussions will focus on both local topics and events that impact us all on a broad level and could be applied to people all over the country. We will share ways to get involved with direct action, information on how to make records requests from public officials, and good news about our area and beyond! We hope you will listen and follow along with us as we weed out the nonsense in our town and maybe even yours too.
Episodes
ICE ICE BABY
todays episode was recorded on 06/09/2025
ICE created havoc in Worcester in May 2025 detaining women and children while creating an environment where local folk felt they had to intervene. The fallout: a counselor charged with assault and a local "instigative journalist" David Webb was hit with a trespass order and a cease and desist for his role in demanding answers and data regarding this incident.
hey hey hey thanks for tuning into the weedout where we weed out the bull shit going on in our backyard.
this episode Michael Hitchcock, organizer from Roots and Dreams and Mustard Seeds in Pittsfield MA joins us to discuss the town and the mayors attempt to curb free speech and harm panhandlers/the unhoused.
lack of housing is a policy choice and Michael discusses the inner workings of the political system in Pittsfield to explain...
Currently on the federal level, "DOGE" is defunding contracts, institutions, so on and so forth the un-fun way: the fascist way.
Defunding can be a wonderful thing when done with the proletariat in mind, but when left in the hands of Neo_badguys, defunding is never helpful. They will destroy and defund "helpful" institutions like the FAA and CDC but never the corrupt and unhelpful law enforcement.
When the chips are down, say in a...
Hey y'all. 2025 is mask off fash, so we figured we would update and add our thoughts on recent news regarding ICE and other Federal agencies invading our communities.
Our guiding principle remains simple: we keep us safe.
keep weeding out the bullshit. get to know your neighbors and please don't let our public servants like Joshua Garcia, Maura Healey and the rest promise the bare minimum. They wanted to lead so hold them to tha...
Joanna and Spence hop in to break down the shoestring's reporting of the victim of Officer Reyes potentially getting a settlement due to the allegations brought against Ofc Reyes in a court of law.
We do not want to focus on Ofc. Reyes, but use this as an example of how these systems and institutions of law enforcement are not used to protect and serve. It is a corrupt institution from its founding and these stories are in every ...
On Friday Oct 11, 2024, Northampton PD and other local law enforcement forcibly swept Moose Camp from their Fitzgerald Lake camp in Northampton, MA. Please reach out to those organizing around Moose Camp if you can help. At the very least, call the Northampton Mayors and Police offices to demand better treatment of these folks.
Link to article here
https://theshoestring.org/2024/10/11/police-in-northampton-evict-outdoor-recovery-...
Laura Saylor and Spence react to the news from www.theshoestring.com reporting on documents pertaining to possible settlement payments for the former police officer who was alleged to have been harassed and abused by Officer Reyes (technically a Captain but we don't respect rank here)
link to story here
This story is important and we will break it down in further episodes. This story made the light of day because of committed folk...
UPDATE on the camp for unhoused in Northampton, known as Moose Camp, was set to be swept and cleared today 10/07/2024 but that did not happen. Solidarity to the community who showed up in numbers when the Northampton PD, HHS and Mayor's Office arrived. Reports from the ground said that no arrests were made and the sweep/eviction did not ultimately occur.
details here via the shoestring
Akil Vicks of On One joins us again to discuss the presidential ticket and the importance a comma makes. The fascists are weird but the liberals normalize it and help move the goal posts.
ghoulery & tomfoolery:
Mass State Trooper trainee dead at Academy "training"
Laura Saylor joins us to update on sandra birchmore and the accused murderer, officer matthew farwell
this is far from over. this isn’t true crime. this is the weed out.
www.theweedout.com
This week, Laura Saylor joins us and we discuss the deadly police exchange of the IOF and USA policing. Have you heard of #copcity? Yeah, that's our DNC liberals wet dream of "training" and the program is built on an exchange of "ideas" between USA policing and IOF occupation.
GHOULERY AND TOMFOOLERY:
This week the Shoestring covers Holyoke PD in conjunction with other local ghouls they are harassing folk in lower ward apartment ...
Join Akil Vicks of On One and Spencer Fox discuss Akil's piece on the VEEP sweepstakes in the 2024 Federal elections. Find his article here published to In These Times
We skipped Ghoulery and Tomfoolery™️ this week but we will bring it back next time. Too much ghoulishness in the main story with these elected officials to need a separate segment!
As always follow us on social media or www.theweedout.com
this episode we welcome back former guests, Demilitarize Western Mass, to discuss their recent direct actions and what its like to be in the organizing spaces locally. Joey and Clara are just two of many in their collective and we are so happy to have them on to discuss action at L3Harris in Northampton.
If you wish to learn more about demilitarize wmass follow them on instagram and twitter
and as usual stick around for ghoulery...
Join us as Akil Vicks (On One on substack) and Spencer discuss recent news that Real Page has been colluding with landlords to artificially raise the prices of rent to the detriment of tenants.
Links referenced in the show:
https://jacobin.com/2024/04/homelessness-constitution-rights-supreme-court
https://jacobin.com/2023/03/biden-administration-homelessness-public-housing-crisis
the weedout is happy to have Neighbor to Neighbor in #holyoke José Maldonado-Velez join us to update what's happening with holyoke's police commission, office of tenant protections, organizing and more!
please get connected with Neighbor to Neighbor to organize better communities!
links mentioned in the episode:
Neighbor to Neighbor Website: n2nma.org Email Holyoke Organizer: joseM@n2nma.org Email Springfield Organizer: katie@n2...Laura Saylor guest cohosts with Spencer, in this episode, and they get into the Karen Read cause out East along with the tragic case of Sandra Birchmore. Come for the true crime updates and stay for the ghoulery and tomfoolery! Thanks for your support. xoxo
theweedout.com
Listen in to Spence and co-host Akil Vicks discuss all things local along with some difficult topics near and far! Thanks for the support :)
xoxo
theweedout.com
Morgan Peterson the winner of Season 4 of Blown Away on Netflix joins us to chat about art and the experience on Blown away as well as how life and the political cannot be left out of Morgan's work. Please visit her website and see for yourself if you haven't already at www.themorganpeterson.com
P.S. Morgan is Spence's sister :)
www.theweedout.com
Some members of the SJP at Smith College join Spence for a conversation about what they are doing and more. Please listen in and support the students across WMA that are protesting peacefully in hopes to end a genocide.
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