Rattling the Bars (https://therealnews.com/rattling-the-bars) puts the voices of the people most harmed by our system of mass incarceration at the center of our reporting on the fight to end it. The show was founded by the late Black Panther and political prisoner Marshall “Eddie” Conway, and is now hosted by Charles Hopkins, better known as Mansa Musa, who himself spent 48 years behind bars.
Rattling the Bars offers an honest look at the lives of prisoners, returning citizens, their families, and their communities. With Rattling the Bars, by presenting hard data and real-life stories, we examine and seek to shift public opinion around the misconception that incarceration, punishment, and increased policing make cities safer—the truth of which has been disproven by countless studies. The series examines the history and root causes of the current so-called justice system. It showcases individuals and communities nationwide who are grappling with real solutions to problems created by the prison-industrial complex.
Help us continue producing Rattling the Bars by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer. (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/rattling-the-bars--4799829/support)
Sign up for our newsletter (https://therealnews.com/eos-pod-subscribe)
The Black Panthers at 60: You can jail a revolutionary, but not the revolution
In the second half of this insightful conversation, former political prisoner Mansa Musa joins Black Panther Party archivist and photographer Billy X Jennings to examine the pivotal 1971 FBI office break-in by antiwar activists. The stolen documents exposed COINTELPRO—the federal government's covert operation to surveil, infiltrate, and dismantle radical political movements. Despite state-sponsored efforts to suppress the organization, the Panthers’ legacy survives through modern social movements, culture, politics, and communal socialism. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, who worked closely alongside the Panthers on their early survival programs, brings deep personal insight into their lasting community impact. Published in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the Black Panther Party, this feature continues our series on the BPP's enduring role in social justice.
Credits:
Production/Post-production: Cameron Granadino
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/rattling-the-bars--4799829/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/rattling-the-bars--4799829/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).
Follow Rattling the Bars on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/0KlHDkdaZ2gq4g0snp9lUH?si=661987d705374aa3) or Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rattling-the-bars/id1554787359)
Sign up for our newsletter (https://therealnews.com/eos-pod-subscribe)
Follow us on:
Bluesky: @therealnews.com (https://bsky.app/profile/therealnews.com)
Facebook: The Real News Network (https://facebook.com/therealnews)
Twitter: @TheRealNews (https://twitter.com/therealnews)
YouTube: @therealnews (https://www.youtube.com/therealnews)
Instagram: @therealnewsnetwork (https://www.instagram.com/therealnewsnetwork/)
Help us continue producing Rattling the Bars by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/rattling-the-bars--4799829/support)
6 Oct 2026
The Black Panthers at 60: A through line of resistance from the South to California
In this episode of Rattling the Bars, host Mansa Musa interviews archivist, photographer, and veteran Black Panther Party member Billy X Jennings.
Joining the Party at age 17 after relocating from Hobson City, Alabama, to Oakland, Jennings managed BPP offices and served as bodyguard to Huey P. Newton. During Bobby Seale’s 1973 Oakland mayoral run, Jennings helped spearhead an unprecedented electoral effort: "…an organizing event on the highest level the parties had ever been. I mean, the party is known for organizing, but to go into electoral politics and do what we did for a first time basis, it changed over. Even though Bobby lost that election, it changed openly because it opened up so many doors. Part of his job was to kick down doors because we were the Vanguard."
Today, Jennings operates the official Black Panther Party Alumni website and leads political education initiatives across the Bay Area for the Party’s 60th Anniversary.
Production/Post-production: Cameron Granadino
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/rattling-the-bars--4799829/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/rattling-the-bars--4799829/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).
Follow Rattling the Bars on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/0KlHDkdaZ2gq4g0snp9lUH?si=661987d705374aa3) or Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rattling-the-bars/id1554787359)
Sign up for our newsletter (https://therealnews.com/eos-pod-subscribe)
Follow us on:
Bluesky: @therealnews.com (https://bsky.app/profile/therealnews.com)
Facebook: The Real News Network (https://facebook.com/therealnews)
Twitter: @TheRealNews (https://twitter.com/therealnews)
YouTube: @therealnews (https://www.youtube.com/therealnews)
Instagram: @therealnewsnetwork (https://www.instagram.com/therealnewsnetwork/)
Help us continue producing Rattling the Bars by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/rattling-the-bars--4799829/support)
29 Sept 2026
Can This Independent Mass. Governor Candidate Rally a 67% Unenrolled Electorate?
In this episode of Rattling the Bars, the midterms edition, we take you to the Commonwealth, where Andrea James—abolitionist, author, and organizer—is currently running for governor of Massachusetts. The countdown to November 3 is officially underway. Debates are scheduled for October, but independent and third-party candidates are being excluded from participating. Andrea James has led national campaigns to reunite families by demanding clemency from high-level officials for incarcerated women and men. Now, she is running for governor with a platform focused on rent stabilization, lower energy costs, free childcare and stopping the construction of a new $360M women’s prison. As a 501(c)(3) organization, The Real News Network does not endorse candidates. However, as an independent news network, TRNN understands how corporate media gives disproportionate airtime to the DNC and GOP compared to independent and third-party candidates. The Real News will cover the midterms with journalistic integrity, fully supported by our editorial review process.
Related Links:
Andrea James' Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/andreaforgovernor/), X (https://x.com/ajforma), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/andreaforgovernor), TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@ajforma), Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/andreaforgovernor.bsky.social)
Credits:
Production/Post-production: Cameron Granadino
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/rattling-the-bars--4799829/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/rattling-the-bars--4799829/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).
Follow Rattling the Bars on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/0KlHDkdaZ2gq4g0snp9lUH?si=661987d705374aa3) or Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rattling-the-bars/id1554787359)
Sign up for our newsletter (https://therealnews.com/eos-pod-subscribe)
Follow us on:
Bluesky: @therealnews.com (https://bsky.app/profile/therealnews.com)
Facebook: The Real News Network (https://facebook.com/therealnews)
Twitter: @TheRealNews (https://twitter.com/therealnews)
YouTube: @therealnews (https://www.youtube.com/therealnews)
Instagram: @therealnewsnetwork (https://www.instagram.com/therealnewsnetwork/)
Help us continue producing Rattling the Bars by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/rattling-the-bars--4799829/support)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 54 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
77
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
Contact Rattling The Bars
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
