Libera Talks

Libera Talks, is an internet talk show that started airing live on the streaming platform, Twitch, in January of 2020 as part of a new year’s resolution started by a political activist Elenore Malcom. (Libera) That features several unique opinions on political issues from the view of an incarcerated individual. It follows a blog format and the commentary is usually rather calm with Malcom expressing her views calmly while reviewing and giving updates of her life in prison. There is currently 181 consecutive episodes.

Early Episodes
The first episode of Libera Talks is a blog about life in the capital of Doggerland (Nadel's Port) and shows Malcom preforming daily tasks with her face hidden from view and speaking using a microphone. As the year goes on, Malcom grows increasingly political and starts discussing the problems with the monarchy in Doggerland and the socialist movements that she does not approve of. She puts out episodes biweekly and starts every episode by talking about what she did that day, then addresses the problems facing the nation. By the end of 2020, she had seventy-thousand followers, some from other countries. Her popularity exploded when she recorded the crisis in the Dogger government live, bringing her vision truth to thousands of people. She then expressed her opinion on national security and socialism and expresses that she rather stay independent from any party because of her extreme length to which she will attempt to go to accomplish her goals. By her 138th episode, she expressed that if she did choose a party, she would want to be a traditional liberalist and believes in a capitalist republic for the country instead of a socialist “(or any form of a)” monarchy.

Extreme Political Activism
On her 146th episode, she announced the fact she could, in fact commit a terrorist act against the Doggerland Parliament and was arrested later that day. Her fans made the connection that the janitor that stormed the Doggerland Parliament and was arrested the same day as the 146th Libra episode that addressed what Malcom believed to be Doggerland’s national security issue. Following the incident, she lost a bunch of her fans, yet a few remained and supported her decision. On her 147th episode in July, two months later- she regained some her fans and brought in some new fans. She posted daily the first few weeks, and during that time her fanbase grew from interest of an incarcerated journalist, and her profile picture was created by a fan artist that Malcom now uses on all her social media platforms that features are cartoony caricature of Malcom in court that included her wearing a prison jumpsuit and holding a cigarette up to the camera between two of her fingers while smiling a lopsided smile.

Each new episode features Malcom sitting on her prison cot, sometimes sitting directly on it, or sometimes walking around in her cell and showing viewers around the cell while under guard supervision, where she talks about her day and then speaks about current political issues, occasionally with guards or other prisoners; but instead, usually focuses on directly addressing the Doggerland audience about national security, anti-socialist movements, and abolition of the monarchy. She is especially passionate about each issue individually, but she admitted she would be content with a socialist society that did at least allow people to have total ownership over certain objects, like homes, cars, and cellphones; but sees the benefits of a democratic republic and wants a total abolishment of the Doggerland monarchy. She presses for prison reforms and heightened national security as well as opportunities to become wealthy from nothing like in capitalist societies. The talks are usually 20 to 30 minutes long depending on how much time Malcom gets a week to make videos and she is made to hand her phone in. Libera Talks is still a biweekly series and is posted on Saturdays and Wednesdays- however Malcom usually finds a way to smuggle more messages out to the public (daily) on twitter, reddit, and other social media platforms, some of which are entirely anonymous. She also associates with the PLUS party and has considered running for thier party from inside of the prison using her various platforms.

Malcom’s fanbase has doubled sense her first vlog inside of the prison and although there have only been 37 episodes sense her arrest (Of the date of this article being written: November 3rd, 2021.) her actions and multiple social media posts have garnered the attention of people around the world, as Malcom outlines the problems and adversity she faces. Her fans have produced merchandise, including T-shirts, pins, flags, and coffee mugs baring her simi-popular online caricature, as well as her prison number, 103033. Malcom disapproves of this and does not want unofficial merchandise to turn profit, nor does she want any merchandise, or does agree with the statement printed on many of the articles of clothing from fans: “Give Liberty to Libera free 103033!”; stating, “I am a criminal. I did what I did for political reasons, but I am a criminal. Don’t glorify me, I deserve to be here.”

Commentary on Yunberg Prison
Malcom also offers real footage and commentary on Yunberg Prison, the federal facility where she is being held. She comments on the run-down nature of the prison and offers solutions to help the financial situation the prison, from an entire prison reform to more wise financial decisions. She seems to behave in the prison enough to have respect from the prison's warden, who has granted her the legal ability to record her show uninterrupted in her cell after lockup. She has given her public viewers a tour of her cell, which is clearly run down, with cracks in the bricks and faded colors from the sheets and instructions on the wall. Her toilet has also clogged up twice in just the 37 episodes she has posted from inside of the prison, and she has also documented a cockroach which she nicknamed Cocky the Cockroach as a joke for her viewers. "Libera has made unspoken commentary on the prison just by existing in it." One YouTuber commented in her analysis of the channel. "I feel like sometimes they only show parts of the prison they want us to see" said another commenter.

Commentary on Prison Mentality
Malcom has attempted to remain professional, but due to mental health issues that may or may not be associated with her time spent in a dark and (described as) damp prison cell- and after an outburst on episode 180 of the show, she was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.

Criticism
Despite her quick success over her fanbase and growing number of interested viewers, Malcom has faced both backlash from citizens and political figures, claiming her to be a rebellious and delusional journalist who is the real cause of the Doggerland national security issue. An American Journalist commented that, “Libera created Doggerland’s issue in her delusional mind. Ms. Malcom is intelligent, no doubt about that- of course that information was easy to come to her, but not others. She built trust with the guards. They wouldn’t have let anyone into security, no country is stupid enough to do that.”