Fortress On A Hill (FOH) Podcast

Jovanni and Monisha sit down with Reverend Claudia De La Cruz for a great discussion around liberation theology’s origins, meaning, and political stakes in Latin America and beyond. They describe liberation theology as a grassroots faith practice systematized in the 1960s–70s (notably by Gustavo Gutiérrez) that takes a “preferential option for the poor,” emerging amid global revolutionary movements and severe exploitation, while clashing with the hierarchical church and facing violent repression and U.S. Cold War countermeasures. Reverend De La Cruz urges organized solidarity—especially with Cuba (via IFCO Passages for Peace), Puerto Rico, and Palestine—and resisting the loss of hope.Main website: https://www.fortressonahill.comLet me guess. You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?! https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahillEmail us at [email protected] out our online store on Spreadshirt.com. T-shirts, cell phone covers, mugs, etc.: https://bit.ly/3qD63MWNot a contributor on Patreon? Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – https://www.patreon.com/fortressonahillA special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Fahim’s Everyone Dream, Paul Appel, Julie Dupree, and Helge Berg. You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast. Thank you so much!!!Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?! Visit https://paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!!Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, Keagan Miller, Jovanni Reyes, Shiloh Emelein, Monisha Rios, and MIke James. https://bit.ly/3yeBaB9Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks. Click here for Clifton’s Patreon page: https://bit.ly/3h7Ni0ZCover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL: https://bit.ly/2U8qMfnNote: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Medea Benjamin of CodePINK joins Jovanni to reflect on 25 years since 9/11 and the U.S. response fueling “forever wars” that caused mass death, displacement, and destabilization while enriching the war industry. Topics covered include how grief was leveraged to expand U.S. power through the Iraq invasion, the Patriot Act, DHS, surveillance, Guantanamo detentions, torture, the normalization of drone strikes, and Israeli influence pushing the Iraq war. Main website: https://www.fortressonahill.comLet me guess. You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?! https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahillEmail us at [email protected] out our online store on Spreadshirt.com. T-shirts, cell phone covers, mugs, etc.: https://bit.ly/3qD63MWNot a contributor on Patreon? Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – https://www.patreon.com/fortressonahillA special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Fahim’s Everyone Dream, Eric Phillips, Paul Appel, Julie Dupree, Thomas Benson, Janet Hanson, Ren jacob, and Helge Berg. You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast. Thank you so much!!!Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?! Visit https://paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!!Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, Keagan Miller, Jovanni Reyes, Shiloh Emelein, Monisha Rios, and MIke James. https://bit.ly/3yeBaB9Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks. Click here for Clifton’s Patreon page: https://bit.ly/3h7Ni0ZCover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL: https://bit.ly/2U8qMfnNote: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Jovanni previews a republished report from Detroit organizer and podcaster Shay (Radicals for Good), who traveled with the 19th International May Day Brigade to deliver medical and school supplies and document Cuban and international perspectives on sovereignty, imperialism, and solidarity. Shay shares interviews and a historical timeline of U.S.-Cuba relations, argues the blockade is “economic warfare,” highlights Cuba’s healthcare, education, unions, and food and energy sovereignty efforts, draws parallels to Detroit, describes May Day participation in Havana, and closes with suggested actions and resources to support Cuba and oppose war.Main website: https://www.fortressonahill.comLet me guess. You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?! https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahillEmail us at [email protected] out our online store on Spreadshirt.com. T-shirts, cell phone covers, mugs, etc.: https://bit.ly/3qD63MWNot a contributor on Patreon? Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – https://www.patreon.com/fortressonahillA special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Fahim’s Everyone Dream, Eric Phillips, Paul Appel, Julie Dupree, Thomas Benson, Janet Hanson, Ren jacob, and Helge Berg. You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast. Thank you so much!!!Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?! Visit https://paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!!Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, Keagan Miller, Jovanni Reyes, Shiloh Emelein, Monisha Rios, and MIke James. https://bit.ly/3yeBaB9Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks. Click here for Clifton’s Patreon page: https://bit.ly/3h7Ni0ZCover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL: https://bit.ly/2U8qMfnNote: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Jovanni and Monisha are joined by Leonardo Flores, a Code Pink Land American campaign spokesperson and coalition organizer, a Venezuela American political analyst and activist with a degree in philosophy. Leonardo has was born in Venezuela and maintains close ties to the social movements that have transformed the country over the past 27 years. He served as a media analyst and later policy advisor at the Venezuela Embassy in Washington, DC before joining Code Pink as Latin American Campaign coordinator from 2019 to 2022. He's a founding member of the Venezuelan Solidarity Network and has worked as a consultant with the Alliance for Cuba engagement and respect. The discussion covers the January 3 US “shock and awe” attack on Venezuela, including bombings, over 100 deaths, and the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores to New York for a show trial after key “Cartel de los Soles” charges were dropped. Leonardo argues the US won militarily but failed to spark a coup, with Venezuelan movements backing acting president Delcy Rodríguez and mobilizing for Maduro’s return. The conversation covers US escalation tactics (airstrikes on boats, oil blockade, attempted no-fly zone), shifting justifications from “narco-terror” to Iran/Hezbollah rhetoric, sanctions’ impact on oil production, and Venezuela’s new hydrocarbon law to attract investment. They discuss sidelined US-backed opposition figures, an amnesty and reconciliation dynamic, diaspora polarization, and concerns about a “Shield of the Americas” as Plan Condor 2.0. Main website: https://www.fortressonahill.comLet me guess. You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?! https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahillEmail us at [email protected] out our online store on Spreadshirt.com. T-shirts, cell phone covers, mugs, etc.: https://bit.ly/3qD63MWNot a contributor on Patreon? Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – https://www.patreon.com/fortressonahillA special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Fahim’s Everyone Dream, Eric Phillips, Paul Appel, Julie Dupree, Thomas Benson, Janet Hanson, Ren jacob, and Helge Berg. You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast. Thank you so much!!!Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?! Visit https://paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!!Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, Keagan Miller, Jovanni Reyes, Shiloh Emelein, Monisha Rios, and MIke James. https://bit.ly/3yeBaB9Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks. Click here for Clifton’s Patreon page: https://bit.ly/3h7Ni0ZCover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL: https://bit.ly/2U8qMfnNote: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Jovanni is joined by Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink and other advocacy coalitions, to discuss the third week of what he calls the US–Israel war of aggression against Iran, sparked after the killing of Ayatollah Khomeini and the collapse of reportedly positive US–Iran negotiations, with the conflict expanding beyond what the Trump administration claimed would be a four-day incursion. Guest , argues the US entered a quagmire with no strategy or exit plan, notes reports of a 2,500-Marine deployment tied to the mined Strait of Hormuz, and warns against a ground invasion. They discuss why protests are smaller than pre-Iraq war mobilizations, the roles of AIPAC and biblical pro-Israel politics in Congress, differing US versus Israeli goals (including regime change and regional chaos), Gulf monarchies’ alignment with the US, and the need to translate anti-war polling into public action and congressional pressure.Main website: https://www.fortressonahill.comLet me guess. You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?! https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahillEmail us at [email protected] out our online store on Spreadshirt.com. T-shirts, cell phone covers, mugs, etc.: https://bit.ly/3qD63MWNot a contributor on Patreon? Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – https://www.patreon.com/fortressonahillA special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Fahim’s Everyone Dream, Eric Phillips, Paul Appel, Julie Dupree, Thomas Benson, Janet Hanson, Ren jacob, and Helge Berg. You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast. Thank you so much!!!Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?! Visit https://paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!!Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, Keagan Miller, Jovanni Reyes, Shiloh Emelein, Monisha Rios, and MIke James. https://bit.ly/3yeBaB9Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks. Click here for Clifton’s Patreon page: https://bit.ly/3h7Ni0ZCover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL: https://bit.ly/2U8qMfnNote: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.