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On Prime Day, one Amazon factory stands empty

caption: The Amazon fulfillment center in Shakopee, MN. On July 15th and 16th, 2019, employees are staging 6hr walkouts to protest working conditions.
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The Amazon fulfillment center in Shakopee, MN. On July 15th and 16th, 2019, employees are staging 6hr walkouts to protest working conditions.

The labor strike kicks off today. A look at the history of Silicon Valley culture (and how it sprang from war). And: why learn music theory from Shostakovich when you could learn from The Sugar Hill Gang?

Listen to the full show by clicking the play button above, or check out one of the show’s segments below. You can also subscribe to The Record on your favorite podcast app.

Amazon warehouse protests

It’s Prime Day! Which means protests. Workers at a Minnesota Amazon warehouse have walked off the job to protest their working conditions. Nicole Lee is senior editor from Engadget, and has been watching this strike as a possible turning point for modern workers’ rights. Seattle web development engineer Weston Fribley is in Minnesota too, in solidarity.

Margaret O'Mara, The Code

UW History professor Margaret O’Mara’s newest book is called The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America. She spoke with Bill Radke about capitalism, immigration, and the historical forces that created our current tech moment.

Michael Berry, hip-hop music theory

When you were younger, you might have learned music theory by way of Mozart and Bach. UW Music Theory lecturer Mike Berry says that in 2019, we can do better. His classes in Seattle and Tacoma feature hip hop as a window onto the underpinnings of music.

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