The number 8 as in 88 refers to the eight letter in the alphabet. In other words, 88 is HH, which is short for "Heil Hitler" or "Hail Hitler".
The episode started off as a variation of the episode, Subterranean Homeboy Blues (1990), starring Cynthia Nixon of Sex and the City (1998) fame, pretty dancer attacked on the subway.
RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES: The episode is modeled after the May 1, 2023 incident in which Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old black man who was homeless and emotionally-disturbed, was placed in an extended chokehold by Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old former Marine, in response to Neely yelling and frightening riders on board a New York subway. Neely subsequently died. On June 14, 2023, Penny was indicted on a charge of second-degree manslaughter. The trial is scheduled to start October 8, 2024.
This episode takes place from January 17 to March 21, 2024.
It is mentioned that "blood and soil" is a slogan used by white supremacy groups. It originates from the days of Nazi Germany and was used to express their ideal of a racially pure population (blood) living together in the same geographic area (soil), separate from other races.