America We Need to Talk podcast

Trump and G.O.P. on verge of creating major food crises in Puerto Rico  The latest on public housing, homelessness, and poverty in New York City Guests: NYC City Council Member Stephen Levin, Chair, General Welfare Committee; José Calderón  President of the Hispanic Federation

Topics: Why progressives should fight hard for their values but also accept compromises that concretely improve the lives of the people for whom they claim to be fighting. Why progressives must reject the facile, false, and self-defeating notion that there is no difference between the Democrats and Republicans, Music: “Capitol Air” by Allen Ginsburg and the Clash off the box set “Allen Ginsberg; Holy Soul Jelly Roll Poems and Songs 1949-1993” “The Drum Also Waltzes,”   by Max Roach off the album “Drums Unlimited” “Big Eyed Rabbit,” by Samantha Bumgarner & Eva Davis off the album “Oxford American- Southern Music Issue- featuring North Carolina”   “Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding off the album “Stax/Volt Revue Live Volume 2 – Live in Paris

Topics: Wrap up of 2018: Top stories in the news; Top under-reported stories; Our favorite movies, books, music of 2018; our hopes for 2019 Music: “Milono Kola” by Sau Family Orchestra off the album “NYC Global Beat of the Boroughs”   (Banat Romanian Gypsy/Roma Music) “Happy Go Lucky – Night Train” by Oscar Peterson off the album “Night Train” “Campo” by Los Pleneros de 21” off the album “NYC Global Beat of the Boroughs”– Tradit0onal Puerto Rican bomba music “Know Your Rights” by the Clash off the album “From Here to Eternity Live”

Topics: Mattis resignation, stock market collapse, government shut-down, shafting hungry Americans (again), and the U.N.’s Anti-Poverty work Guest: Dr. Mila Rosenthal, Director of Communications for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Music: “My Baby’s Gone” by Robert Belfour off the album “What’s Wrong with You” “B Funk” by Lester Bowie off the album “Works ” “Mario Tambien Come” By y Sergio Mendoza off the album “Mambo Mexicano” “Al Capone” by Prince Buster off the box set “The Story of Jamaican Music”

NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer Discusses His Bold Plan for Affordable Housing

Topics: Affordable housing in NYC, Michael Cohen Guilty Plea, Cultural Appropriation and Inferior White Covers of Classic African-American Song Guest: New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer Music: “That’s All Right ” by Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup “Shake, Rattle, & Roll” by Big Joe Turner “Hound Dog” by Big Mama Thornton “Eyesight to the Blind ” by Sonny Boy Williamson

Topic: The Contradictory Legacy of George Herbert Walker Bush: an In-Depth Nuanced, Discussion. Plus Hear Joel Get Berated by Callers Who Believe the Whacky Conspiracy Theory that Bush Killed JFK Music: “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” by Lester Bowie’ Brass Fantasy off the album “Serious Fun” “Political Song for Michael Jackson” by the Minutemen off the album “Double Nickels on the Dime” “Motel Blues” by Loudon Wainwright III off the album “A Live One” “We the Common” by Thao & The Get Down and Stay Down off the album “We the Common”

Topic: How can we ensure that the U.S. Department of Justice stands for the equal rule of law for everyone? Guest: Bert Brandenburg,  a former top U.S. Justice Department Official Music: “Spitu pront number 1” by Franc Baldachio and and Karenu Bonnici from the album “Malte” Ballades et joutes chantees” (Malta: Ballads and Song Concerts “White Man’s World” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit from the album “the Nashville Sound” “Tu Cuerpo en la Arena” (Your Body en La Arena) by Rikarena from the album The Rough Guide to Merengue “O Ponos tu Prezakia” (The Anguish of an Addict) by Anestis Delias, from the Album “Rembetika: Songs from the Greek Undeground, 1925-1947”

Topic: Discussion of the history of hunger in America, and why NYC and America still have so much of it today Guest: NYC Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks Music:– “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra, “Sugar is So Bitter” by Elvis Costello; and “Boul Di Tagale”  by Cheikh Lo

Topics: Mid-term election results and the future of the Democratic Party. Plus, if you are given the name “Goddess of Melody and Song" at birth, must you become a singer? Guests: Tibetan-American singer Yungchen Lhamo and Political Science Professor Dr. Christine Greer Music: “Isouwa” by lhousseini Anivolla, “Happiness Is” by Yungchen Lhamo, “The Witches” by the Sonics

Topics: The latest on the mid-term elections and the meaning of the recent, deadly hate attacks in America. Why we should be all energized to peacefully fight even harder for social progress and to elect progressive candidates. Plus, some solace from Allen Ginsburg. Guests: Rabbi Rachel Grant Meyer, HIAS’ Director of Education, Community Engagement and Senior Rabbi Rachel Timoner of Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn. Music: Zot Nit Keynmol (Song of the Warsaw Ghetto) By Paul Robson from the album “On My Journey- Paul Robeson’s Independent Recordings. “Sahara” by Songhoy Blues with Iggy Pop” from the album “Resistance”

Topics include: Bombs sent to prominent Democrats and Trump responds by blaming the victims. national and mid-term elections and NYC voting procedures, novel “Everything Belongs to Us” Guests: Yoojin Grace Wuertz an American novelist, acclaimed novelist, and Onida Coward-Mayers, Director, Voter Assistance, NYC Votes Campaign Finance Board Music: “Tibo Gadeina” by Leila Gobi from the album “Leila Gobi 2017;” “True Dark” by Murder by Death from the album “The Other Shore;” Can You Get to That” by Mavis Staples from the Album One True Vine;” “Wealth Center – Risk Capital” by Mothers the Album “Render Another Ugly Method”

Discussion of the mid-term elections, Trump covering up murder and inciting violence, single payer health care, and the New Democratic movement. Guests: Ramell Ross, filmmaker of “Hale County, This Morning This Evening” and Will Marshall, president and founder of the Progressive Policy Institute Music: “Convex” by St Paul and the Broken Bones from the album Young Sick Camelia; “Water on Mars” the Nude Party from their self-titled debut album; “When Mavis Sings” by Mike Farris from the album “Silver and Stones”

Discussions of: Kanye West in the Oval Office, the mid-term elections, an inspiring personal immigration story, a documentary about Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and a tribute to baritone saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett Guests: author Reyna Grande, political science professor Dr. Christina Greer, and Joseph Dorman and Toby Perl Freilich, the filmmakers behind “Moynihan: the Movie” Music: “Dock of the Day” by the World Saxophone Quarter from the album “Rhythm and Blues”

Discussion of the sordid state of judicial nominations with Bert Brandenburg, a former Department of Justice official. Discussion of the precarious state of immigration “dreamers” with Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis, the Director of Freedom University, and with Arizbeth, a dreamer.  Music: “Sweetener” by Ariana Grande from the Album “Sweetener” “Nanda” by Pedrinho from the album “Synthesize the Soul: Astro-Atlantic Hypnotica from the Cape Verde Islands 1973-1988”

Topics: Mid-term elections Kavanaugh nomination New threats to immigrants Updated report on U.S. income and poverty Co-Host: Jennifer Jones Austin Guests: Leslie Marshal, nationally-syndicated, liberal radio talk show host Rebecca Vallas, Vice President, Poverty to Prosperity Program, Center for American Progress. Yasmine Chahkar Farhang, Lead Immigration Attorney at Make the Road NY  Music: Alejandro Escovedo - “Outlaw for You” from the album “The Crossing”

This show focused on what the Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas sexual harassment hearing teaches us about the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation fight and the sliming of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. Also includes discussion of why Mike Bloomberg would be a horrible Democratic candidate for President. Plus child immigrant detention update. Also features songs: “”I Just Lived a Country Song” by Robbie Fulks and Gail Lewis, “Right in the Middle” by Bettye Lavette, and “America the Beautiful” covered by Band of Heathens covering Ray Charles’ version of the song.

Guests:  Tom Colicchio, Chef, TV host, and food activist Donna Minkowitz, journalist whose article for the Village Voice Brandon Teena story inspired the film Boys Don't Cry Joel’s brother Mark, talking about sports Topics: John McCain’s mixed mostly negative legacy , Anti-Trump Op-Ed in NY Times by Trump appointee, Kavanaugh nomination fight, new report on hunger in America, the movie “Eighth Grade,” and the book “The Roosevelt I Knew” by Frances Perkins Music Review: Review of the album “Kin Sonic” by Jupiter & Okwess, a Congolese funk/rock/afropop band

Special guests were: - Congressman Jim McGovern, a House Democratic leader from Massachusetts, discussing the importance of which party controls the House and why the GOP is wrong for continuing to try to slash SNAP (food stamps) benefits - AnnMaura Connolly, President, Voices for National Service, talking about the importance of the AmeriCorps National Service Program -Peter Graham, Managing Director of Policy and Research at Climate Advisers, discussing how trees combat climate change. Also, the show featured the world premiere of the Swamp Pig Theme Song, and a review of the album Ruins by the Swedish alt folk/pop duo First Aid Kit, along with the cut from that album. Plus Joel argued with a caller who espoused the chemtrail conspiracy theory and another who claimed to be a Green Party supporter but thought Trump “wasn’t that bad.”

This is the premier broadcast of "America, We Need to Talk", hosted by Joel Berg, on August 24, 2018. It featured interviews with:  * Conservative talk radio show host Joyce Kaufman;  * Music journalist and guitarist Banning Eyre, who specializes in African pop music; and  * New York State Commissioner of Agriculture Richard Ball. The show also includes: a special tribute to Aretha Franklin’s gospel music; a listener call-in; a brief sports report from Joel’s sports-crazed brother followed by Joel’s point that sports don‘t really matter; and a humorous but frightening Trump Administration corruption quiz.