Recovering politician Arnie Arnesen's daily pubic affairs interview show from WNHN Radio in Concord, New Hampshire and the Pacifica Radio Network. Arnie hosts progressive voices from politics, journalism, industry, and academia. She talks electric cars with Barry Woods, she talks Texas with Scott Braddock, she talks Congress with Rho Khanna, she talks gun culture, she talks limericks, she talks campaigns ...
Part 1:We talk with Harvey Kronberg, publisher of the Quorum Report in Texas.We discuss the flooding in Texas, and how local municipalities have failed, often due to the way that the state has taken many of their powers and money away.Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry, former White House aide, and with Chris Lehman, DC Bureau chief forThe Nationand a contributing editor atThe Baffler.We discuss the many problems made glaringly obvious by the response to the Texas flood, and other floods, due to climate change. The problems of preparedness, notification, and response.WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Ryan Cooper, Managing Editor, The American Prospect.We discuss the provisions of the BBBill, and how these will affect many Americans, including children.Part 2:We talk with Susanne Schindler, Research Fellow at the Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University.We discuss how social housing can be used in the US to develop more housing. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with DeMareo Cooper, of Popular Democracy, about the 14th Amendment We discuss its history, and the current threats of the Trump administration's threats to abrogate it.Part 2:We talk with Lauren McGaughy, reporter for ProPublica.We discuss how Elon Musk is changing policy and governance in Texas, to better accommodate his business plans.WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
This is a panel discussion.We discussed multiple topics-Floods in Texas, and effects of non-notification-Vulnerabilities imposed by the BBBill-Troops deployed in Florida, California-the ICE budget-Trump's hate for half the US population WNHNLP.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1: We talk with Larry Tye about the role of the Pullman Porters in the early days of labor organizing and organizing to support civil rights.This is a rebroadcast of an interview with Larry Tye.Part 2:This is a rebroadcast.We talk with Elizabeth Minnich.We discuss the ideas of Hannah Arendt.This is a rebroadcast, WNHNFM.ORG production
Part 1:We talk with Robert Arnold, known in many circles as Defiance 13 ..he writes poetry and prose that speaks to hope defiance and revolution.We discuss who the Founders were, and their political beliefs. How does this translate to today?Part 2: We talk with Bill Curry and Robert Hockett.Bill Curry was a Connecticut state senator, comptroller and two time Democratic nominee for governor who served as Counselor to the President in the Clinton White House.Robert Hockett is an American lawyer, law professor, and policy advocate he teaches legal, financial and some philosophical subjects at Cornell University in New York, where he is the Edward Cornell Professor of Law and a Professor of Public Policy.How do we practice politics? Why?WNHMFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Melvin Goodman, who s a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and a professor of government at Johns Hopkins University. He is also a former CIA analyst.We discuss the current situation in the Middle East, and how the US is attempting regime change at the behest of Israel.Part 2:We talk with Whitney Curry Wimbish, staff writer at The American Prospect.We discuss the recent primary for NYC mayor, and how Mamdani won the Democratic Primary.We also discuss how the controversy about birthright citizenship will affect attempts to get social security numbers for newborns. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Peter Greene, who has written about how policies and practices affect classrooms for over a decade, and for Forbes since 2018.We discuss school vouchers and the proposed tax benefits for those who use school vouchers. These act as ways to further erode public education.We also discuss the growing use of AI technologies in education. What is the likely impact on students' development?Part 2:We talk with Timothy Robert Noah, staff writer for The New Republic.We discuss the erosion of democracy, and the growth of oligarchy in the US. How did we get here? How can this be reversed? WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part !:We talk with Larry Beinhart, who is an Americannovelist, columnist, and blogger.His principal concerns are the US economy and politics, taxes, and rising inequality.We discuss the BBB, which imposes a tax on wind and solar power, and how this affect the development of sustainable power generation and use. We also discuss the effect of marginal tax rates, and how these change the economic development of the US.Part 2:We talk with Professor Andrew Latham, who is a distinguished scholar of international security, strategic studies, and political economy. As a Professor of International Relations at Macalester College,We discuss the "commitment trap" as if affects US foreign policy, and how this affects the relationship between countries who are at war (declared or undeclared) with each other. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
This is a panel discussion.-A 49 year old Canadian citizen died in ICE custody on June 23, 2025-It is the one=year anniversary of Biden's poor debate performance-SCOTUS ruling on "private rights of action" strips individuals of their right to sue when rights are denied.-We are now in a post-Constitutional America-The NYC mayoral primary, and Mamdani's win-SCOTUS rules around the 14th Amendment: birthright citizenship WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Joe Jaworski, former mayor of Galveston Texas, lawyer, mediator.We discuss Texas politics, and the governor's veto of the THC ban, as proposed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. This is a $55B industry in Texas, and the ban was not popular.Trump wants a new legislative map in Texas.The state has turned down federal summer food support for poor children in Texas.Sen. Cornyn (R) is being challenged for his seat by a Democratic challenger, and likely, another Republican .Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry and Aaron Rosenthal.We discuss the mayoral campaign in NYC, and what the implications are for the city if he wins the general election, after Mandani won the Democratic primary. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1: We talk with Jeff Cohen, author, activist, and former journalism professor. He founded FAIR, the national media watch group, and in 2011 co-founded RootsAction, currently serving as its policy director.We discuss the state of health care in the US, and what problems are the result of the original plan. "By design"Part 2:We talk with Mark Joseph Stern, Slate senior writer.We discuss the worst Supreme Court decision made in a recent case to allow the administration to deport people to third countries, thus negating the rights under the Constitution. It also 'kneecaps' all lower courts who rule against this action. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Jacob Ware, Adjunct Professor of Domestic Terrorism,Georgetown UniversityWidely-published scholar of domestic and homegrown terrorism.We discuss the reasons why the military is not successful in meeting their recruitment goals. Young people are reluctant to join for many reasons. Most of those are the trauma that they experience as children in the US.Part 2:We talk with Lincoln Mitchell, who teaches political science at Columbia University.We discuss the mayoral election in New York City. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with John Nichols about the NYC mayoral election. We discuss the candidates, and how each will likely affect NYC and the Democratic party.Part 2:We talk with Zachary W. Schulz, a public health historian.We discuss the failure of the healthcare in the US, and how it will affect the future of the US. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
This is a panel discussion.Lawlessness:- as practiced by police , ICE, and at the highest levels of government-There is no order in the US-The assassination of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hartman and her husband- The mayoral race in New York City WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Harvey Kronberg, publisher of the Quorum Report of Texas.We discuss Trump's opinion of Juneteenth.We review the role of Elon Musk in Austin.The immigration raids in the US are continuing.Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry and Susan Milligan.Susan Milliganis a political writer and former White House and congressional correspondent for theBoston Globe,U.S. News and World Report, and theNew York Daily News.Contributingeditor oftor.comBill Currywas a Connecticut state senator, comptroller and two time Democratic nominee for governor who served as Counselor to the President in the Clinton White House. He has written for Salon, the Daily Beast, the HuffingtonPost and the HartfordCourant and has provided commentary on National Public Radio, MSNBC and many other news outlets.topics:Trump's need for attention.Who is running the government? Trump? Miller? war hawks? isolationists? Netanyahu?Americans increasingly less safe?The massive turnout for No Kings Day across the country. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovic
Part 1:We talk with Jenna Norton, who works at NIH. She is o a signatory to the Bethesda Declaration, which objects to the cuts to the NIH research budget and termination of research projects.We discuss how these cuts are affecting ongoing research projects, and the participants.Part 2:We talk withCraig Johnson, who holdsa PhD in history from the University of California, Berkeley, and hosts theFifteen Minutes of Fascismpodcast covering the global rise of the radical right.We discuss why fascism appears to be so attractive to young men all over the world, and in the US. WNHNFM.ORG productionsMusic: "War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing" Edwin Starr, 1969
Part 1:We talk with Sara Miller Llana, who is the Christian Science Monitors Americas bureau chief and deputy international editor, based in Toronto.We discuss Trump's leaving the G7 meeting early. Among the attendees were other leaders who had planned to talk with him. However, speculation was around the Iran-Israeli war, though he claimed other, un specified reasons. New relationships between countries are being established without the US presence.Part 2:We talk with Michael Tomasky, who is the editor ofThe New Republicand the author of five books, including his latest and critically acclaimed"The Middle Out: The Rise of Progressive Economics and a Return to Shared Prosperity".We discuss the right-wing extremists in the US and their relationship to Trump. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Mel Goodman, who a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and a professor of government at Johns Hopkins University.He is a former CIA analyst.We discuss the deployment of troops within the US to control peaceful demonstrators.We also talk about the increasing irrelevance of the US on the world stage. Iran and Israel are at war, and the US is playing no role to defuse that conflict.Part 2:We talk with Kareem Crayton, who is vice president of the Brennan Centers Washington, DC, office, where he manages the centers affairs inside the Beltway and leads programs that include a new organization-wide project focused on the American South.We discuss the political assassination of a lawmaker and her husband in Minnesota, with no response from Trump. We also discuss how Senator Padilla was assaulted by Noem's aides/troops, and what this means. What should be the role of the media to report honestly and completely the overreach of the administration? WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
This is a panel discussion.We discuss several issues:- Parade protests- Stephen Miller's influence- Israel's attack on Iran- The assault on Senator Padilla- Responsibility of the news media to report accurately- The unprecedented spending on the 'security state'WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Joe Jaworski, a third-generation Texas trial attorney and former Mayor of Galveston, Texas.We discuss the various "bans" in Texas being instituted at the behest of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.We also discuss the home insurance situation in Texas, where fewer than half of all claims are not paid by the insurers.Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry and Robert Hennelly.Bill Currywas a Connecticut state senator, comptroller and two time Democratic nominee for governor who served as Counselor to the President in the Clinton White House.Robert Hennellyis an Award-winning investigative journalist, broadcast and print reporter for more than 30 years, covering federal, state and local politics, public policy, labor, the environment, law enforcement and national security.We discuss the likelihood of protests in Washington D.C. during the military parade. Trump is looking for an excuse to 'come down hard' on those who disagree with him. What should be the strategy? WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: Beach Boys, "California Girls", in honor of Brian Wilson
Part 1:We talk with Chris Lehmann, DC Bureau Chief of The Nation Magazine.We discuss the military riot in Los Angeles, brought about by Trump's calling up the National Guard to provoke violent response from protestors against ICE tactics.Part 2:We talk with Steve Paikin, Canadian talk show host and commentator.We discuss the political climate in Canada, in the wake of Trump's assaults on Canadian sovereignty, and the tariff impositions. We discuss the last election in Canada, that of Carney to be Premier. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovic
Part 1:We talk with Ames Alexander, reported for Floodlight.We discuss the use of lighter colored roof materials as a way of cooling buildings and the areas surrounding them.Part 2:We talk with Mike Allen, Associate Professor at the College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter, England.We discuss his research into sea weed, and the many uses that it has in agriculture, animal husbandry, carbon sequestration, etc. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: "Stand" Sly and the Family Stone
Part 1:We talk with Sasha Abramsky, West Correspondent for The Nation.We discuss how Trump has escalated the response to the protests In Los Angeles.Part 2:We talk with Dr. John Nielson-Gammon, of Texas A&M University.We discuss storm and natural disaster costs. WNHN.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
This is a panel discussion.Party 1:The topics covered are:-Immigration and deportation-Dismantling the government-Gerrymandering and voter suppression-Workers' rightsPart 2:-Visitors to US-Resegregation and ethnic cleansing in the US-Use of military force in the US on US residents-The fantasies of the very rich-Expendable residents of the US-Cyber warlord Musk vs. TrumpWNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Derek Kelly, a recent Chief of Staff for the Texas Democratic Party, and now works for the Harris County Justice of the Peace.We discuss Texas politics. We specifically focus on the upcoming elections to the US Senate, where Cornyn is being challenged by Ken Paxton.Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry and Ryan Cooper. Bill Curry was a Connecticut state senator, comptroller and two time Democratic nominee for governor who served as Counselor to the President in the Clinton White House. Ryan Cooper is the Prospects managing editor, and author of 'How Are You Going to Pay for That?'We discuss the Trump and Musk disagreement. This show "privatized politics" and the tension between the elected leader versus the rule of corporations. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Laura Belin, publisher of "Bleeding Heartland", which originates in Iowa.We discuss Joni Ernst, and other Iowa Republicans. We also discuss the effects of Trump's Big Bill on health care, and rural areas of the US.Part 2:We talk with Jeremy Kohler, a reporter for ProPublica.We discuss the efforts in many states to restrict the power of direct voter participation in referenda. Elected officials want to undo what voters decide during referendum efforts.WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We speak with Harold Meyerson, Editor-at-Large for The American Prospect.We discuss how the Democratic Party has lost focus on working class Americans, and instead has listened to their wealthy donors. What should they do next?Part 2:We talk with Thom Walsh, Healthcare regulator in Vermont, and teaches health systems and policy at the Geisel School of Medicine and Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.We discuss the proposed work requirements for Medicaid recipients. What will be the effects? What cost savings will accrue, if any? WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Susan Milligan, a writer for the New Republic.How American families have changed. Only 18% of American families are now "traditional", in that there is a father and mother, with children. Unfortunately, policies and the society continues to treat this as if it were the only definition of families. We discuss how this should change.Part 2:We talk with Jamie Rowan, Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science at Amherst.We discuss how veterans are being mistreated and disadvantaged by the Trump administration. Budget cuts are affecting many, including through the Veterans' Administration changes. Protests are being planned for Friday June 6 2025. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
This is a pane discussionSeveral topics. were discussedElon Musk “Leaving” DOGE, though with a lot of data that will be useful to him. His legacy of disease, starvation, and death through DOGE actions will follow him.We discuss the corruption of the Trump administration.The “long termist” tech oligarchs who are now running the show.The actions of ICE with respect to the treatment of those who are targeted, many legal, authorized residents, not “illegals”. The role of the Supreme Court. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Harvey Kronberg, owner and publisher of the Quorum Report of Texas. We discuss Dan Patrick, who is attempting to re-criminalize the use of cannabis in opposition to the popular sentiment. In addition, we discuss the posting on the Ten Commandments in classrooms, but the refusal of passing ethics legislation for the Texan government. We also talk about the upcoming campaign for US Senate. Paxton, Cornyn are on the Republican side as candidates. On the Democratic side, there are several others: Allred, Castro, O'Roure among them. Part 2: We talk with Bill Curry and Laura Jedeed. We discuss the use of “war language” when Republicans describe Democrats as their opponents. We discuss how Democrats should respond to this, and the role of the Supreme Court. How should Trump be curbed?WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Jacob Mchangama, wo is the founder and Executive Director of The Future of Free Speech, and a Research Professor at Vanderbilt University. We discuss the recent surveys that indicate that young Americans' support for free speech is declining. We talk about why this is happening, and how it can be reversed. Part 2:We talk with Prof. Jonathan Feingold of Boston University. This is part of the ongoing Race Class Project.
Part 1:We talk with Anthony Pahnke, Assoc. Prof. of International Relations at SF State University, and VP of the Association of Family Farm Defenders.We discuss how farms, farmers, and food production is endangered in the US and other countries.Part 2:We talk with Denise Lynn, Prof. of History, University of Indiana in Evansville.We discuss the pro-natalism of the Trump administration. The goal is "more white babies" with mothers who stay home and out of the workforce. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovic
This program is a repeat of two previous programs which were aired on April 15 and April 22, 2025.The guest is Lori Wallach.We talk about tariffs. What are they? How do they work? What effect do they have on the economy of a country?WNHNGM.ORG production
This is a panel discussion.Janice Rowen is Prof of Legal Studies at U of Mass at Amherst.Stephen Pimpare is Prof. of Public Policy at the Vermont Law and Graduate School.Lincoln Mitchell teaches Political Science and public Policy at Columbia University.Ryan Melton, a progressive who is running for state representative in Iowa.We discuss multiple issues:-The "Big Bill" being touted by Trump includes many cuts, not only the budget for SNAP. This will affect the recipients, but farmers and food processors, and grocery vendors.-There are no AI regulations in the bill.-The climate crisis is not being addressed.-The goal is to increase populace vulnerability.-Crypto is now to be accepted as a legitimate means of payment. Benefit to Trump.-Corruption in the government, including Trump's own financial trades and acceptance of foreign gifts.-White South AfricansWNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Joe Jaworski of Texas. He is a lawyer and former mayor of Galveston.We discuss the offshore energy industry in Texas.we also talk about Medicaid in Texas.The federal government is being disabled, just as hurricane season is starting in Texas.Part 2:We talk with Robert Hockett and Bill Curry.We discuss the effects of the "BBB" which will gut Medicaid, and how this will affect many who are struggling now.We also talk about how this big bill will affect the US and world economy. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Rafia Zakaria, a political philosopher and author.We discuss the denaturalization threats that have been used by the Trump Administration, and how denaturalization has been used in the past.Pare 2:We talk with John Nichols, journalist and author.We discuss Trump's attacks on popular entertainers, such as Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift.We also talk about how Democrats have been outperforming in local elections. We discuss some of the tactics used by the winner Democrats to defeat 'safe' Republicans WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Jeff Hauser, founder and Executive Director, Revolving Door ProjectWe talk with Jeff about the current bill regarding the use of crypto currency by the US government. Normalizing crypto currency will have many effects on the US and world economy, and will provide Trump with huge personal profits. We talk about these effects.Part 2:We talk with Seth Miller, New Hampshire State RepresentativeWe discuss with Rep. Miller his advertisements regarding Avelo Air, the air line used by ICE for transporting persons that have been taken by ICE to foreign countries. We discuss the law suit that Avelo Air has filed against Rep Miller. WNHNFM.ORG production
Part 1:We talk with Garrett Epps, Local Affairs Editor, Washington Monthly.We discuss the recent case before the Supreme Court dealing with birthright citizenship and the rulings of lower appeals courts.Part 2:We talk with Mark Stern, Slate senior writer.We discuss the Supreme Court, and the due process issues ignored by Trump's administration.We also talk about the elimination of the filibuster currently being pushed by Republicans in the Senate. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
This is a panel discussion.Dave Levinthal is based in Washington, D.C., Dave has led Raw Story's newsroom as editor-in-chief and served as deputy editor of Business Insider, where he oversaw the publications political investigations and enterprise journalism.Lincoln Mitchell teaches political science and public policy at Columbia University.Stephen Pimpareis Professor of Public Policy at Vermont Law and Graduate School.Aaron Rosenthalis the research director for North Star Policy ActionThe discussion covers many topics.- Cost of living for US residents continues to rise- The age of the members of Congress is high, not representative of the population- The regulatory commissions are not working- The funding of local elections is no longer local- The Qatar plane for Trump WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Anjeannette Damont, who covers government accountability issues at the local, state and federal level in the Southwest. At Pro Publica, her work has included uncovering COVID-19 testing contracts awarded to the Nevada governors friends with disastrous results, documenting how a city council empowered a wealthy developer to raze motels and displace hundreds of low-income residents, and investigating how the countrys largest house-flipping company cashed in on homeowners desperation. Prior to Pro Publica, she was a government watchdog reporter and regional investigative editor for the USA Today Network.We discuss the damage done by a We Buy Ugly Houses Franchise Left a Trail of Financial Wreckage Across Texashttps://www.propublica.org/article/homevestors-fraud-charles-carrier-texasPart 2:We talk with Bill Curry and Harold Meyerson.Bill Curry was a Connecticut state senator, comptroller and two time Democratic nominee for governor who served as Counselor to the President in the Clinton White House. He has written for Salon, the Daily Beast, the Huffington Post and the Hartford Courant and has provided commentary on National Public Radio, MSNBC and many other news outlets.Harold Meyerson is editor at large of The American Prospect.We discuss how Trump uses policy as a political weapon. The 'bait and switch' approach that gets voters' attention for popular issues, on which he never delivers, but for which he takes credit.We also discuss the Qatar government's 'gift' to Trump of a $4 M airplane. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Laura Jedeed.Laura Jedeed is a freelance journalist based in New York City whose work has appeared in places likePolitico,Rolling Stone, andThe New Republic. You can find her newsletter,BANNED IN YOUR STATE, on Substack.Why Pete Hegseth Still Has a JobHegseth is terrible at every part of his job except the one that matters to Trump"a willingness to break with norms that keep the military in check.https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/why-pete-hegseth-still-has-a-job/Trump has been dismissing experienced and senior armed service officers who are not 'loyal enough' to him personally, rather to the Constitution. Hegseth has shown a willingness to use military force against US civilians. This appears to be a strategy to get complete authoritarian control.part 2: We talk with Amy Littlefield.Amy Littlefield is The Nations abortion access correspondent and a journalist who focuses on reproductive rights, healthcare, and religion. She is the author of the forthcoming book, American Crusaders, a history of the anti-abortion movement over the last fifty years, to be published in 2026.What Would It Mean to Defend All Abortions? Democrats love to avoid it, and Republicans love to lie about it. But later-abortion care has never been more important. https://www.thenation.com/article/society/defending-all-abortions/We discuss how late abortions (about 1% of all abortions) are important to those women who need them. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Jeet Heer.Jeet Heer is a national affairs correspondent forThe Nationand host of the weeklyNation podcast,The Time of Monsters. He also pens the monthly column Morbid Symptoms. The author ofIn Love with Art: Francoise Moulys Adventures in Comics with Art Spiegelman(2013) andSweet Lechery: Reviews, Essays and Profiles(2014), Heer has written for numerous publications, includingThe New Yorker,The Paris Review,Virginia Quarterly Review,The American Prospect,The Guardian,The New Republic,andThe Boston Globe.We discuss the adoption of crypto currency funds, first, by Trump, for the nation, and by the governor of New Hampshire for New Hampshire. More states will likely follow.We note that most of the crypto investment is from the Middle East. It may destabilize the US dollar, and has many other problems. Unfortunately, both Republicans and Democrats are buying into crypto. We discuss the implications for the future.Part 2:We talk with Professor Peter Rutland.Peter Rutland has taught at Wesleyan since 1989. Before that he taught at the University of Texas at Austin, and at the University of York and London University in the UK. He has a BA from Oxford and a D. Phil from York. He has also been a visiting professor at Columbia University, and is an associate of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University. His research interests focus on all things Russian and places where the Russian boot has trod (Nicholas II) in the former Soviet Union and the former East Europe. He started off studying workers and the Communist Party, moving on to broader questions of economic policy in the socialist and post-socialist economies. Along the way he developed an interest in nationalism and ethnic conflict. Since 2013 he has been editor in chief of Nationalities Papers, the journal of the Association for the Study of Nationalities along with serving as associate editor of Russian Review.We discuss the image that Putin is creating of himself in Russia. His control of all media in Russia allows him to present whatever facet he likes to give the Russians the image of a 'humble man of the people', and his propaganda is framed in such a way to make him seem to be 'defending' Russia. We also look at how Trump has also adopted this strategy to present himself to US voters. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Cameron Joseph, who is s a senior Washington reporter for The Christian Science Monitor. Prior to that, he was a freelance reporter with work in publications including The Guardian, The Columbia Journalism Review, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Politico Magazine. He previously was a staff reporter for VICE News, Talking Points Memo, the New York Daily News, The Hill, and National Journal. He's covered Washington since 2009, with most of his career focused on elections, Capitol Hill, and the White House. He is a recipient of the 2023National Press Foundation Dirksen Award for distinguished reporting on Congress and the 2020National Press Club award for excellence in political journalism.We discuss the increasing more authoritarian aspect of the current administration. Trump ignores the rule of law, and has essentially taken control of the media, which do not correct his statements. Congress is completely dysfunctional.Part 2:We talk with Robert Hennelly, who is an award-winning print and broadcast journalist focusing on labor, public health, national security, the economy, public finance and the environment. He is the New York City Hall reporter for Work-Bites and his weekly Monday morning radio program on WBAI closely tracks the latest local, regional and national labor movement news. Hennelly is also a regular contributor to InsiderNJ, Salon, the Village Voice, Raw Story and City & State. For over a decade, he was a reporter for WNYC covering New Jersey, New York and national politics. For several years, he was also the City Hall reporter for the Chief Leader newspaper, and a regular contributor to WBGO, the NPR jazz affiliate in Newark, NJ. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, the Miami Herald, the Detroit Free Press, CBS Money Watch, and dozens of other publications both in the United States and overseas.His book Stucknation: Can the US Change the Course of Its History of Choosing Profits Over People was published in 2022 by Democracy@Work.We discuss the arrest of Mayor Baraka of Newark, NJ. The Gestapo tactics used during an occasion when the mayor was performing his official duty are disturbing.
This is a panel discussion. Our guests discuss important issues of the day.Stephen Pimpare is Professor of Public Policy at Vermont Law and Graduate School. He is the author of four books, including A Peoples History of Poverty and, most recently, ,Politics for Social Workers: A Practical Guide to Effecting ChangeSusan Milligan is a political writer and former White House and congressional correspondent for the Boston ,Globe,U.S. News and World Report, and the New York Daily News.Lincoln Mitchell teaches political science and public policy at Columbia University. He is the author of nine books and his writings have appeared at CNN, Reuters, the New York Times, NBC, the San Francisco Examiner and numerous other media platforms. My new bookThree Years Our Mayor:George Moscone and the Making of Modern San Franciscois now available. For more of Lincolns work you can subscribe to his Substack Kibitzing with Lincoln at/lincolnmitchell.substack.com/.Laura Jedeed is a freelance journalist who primarily focuses on the American conservative movement. Her bylines include The New Republic, Rolling Stone, and Politico, and you can find her newsletter at BannedInYourState.comThe discussion :- There is a new pope, and he is American-born- Former Justice Souter has died- Trump is making new promises: tariff reduction, taxing the rich- Trump wants to shift from the dollar to crypto currencyWhat effect will this have on the value of US currency worldwide?- The panelists agree that what is happening now is destruction of the US: a) elimination of USAID has lost the US many friends, b) Universities and research institutions are under attack, and we now have "research refugees" who are leaving the country, thus preventing leadership in development, c)Media is under control of the administration, d) the rule of laws has been abandoned, since court rulings are being ignored, with no consequence, e) the US dollar is less important, since some countries are switching to other currencies. All of this is part of the "network state" playbook.- The US is trending to be a "christian" stateWNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics
Part 1:We talk with Joe Jaworsksi, a third-generation Texas trial attorney and former Mayor of Galveston, Texas. He has served as a law clerk to the United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit, and he has spent over 30 years in private practice as a trial attorney, mediator, and legal commentator. and can be heard on KPFT in Houston TX Tuesday mornings at 9:30am The Midterms.We discuss the political landscape in Texas. Ken Paxton is running for US Senate, to replace John Cornyn. Paxton is targeting Latino Democrats legally.For the first time, Trump's approval rating on the economy is low in Texas. This appears to be due to tariffs and other price shocks. Infrastructure for any new manufacturing is being neglected.Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry and Jamie Rowen.Bill Curry was a Connecticut state senator, comptroller and two time Democratic nominee for governor who served as Counselor to the President in the Clinton White House. He has written for Salon, the Daily Beast, the Huffington Post and the Hartford Courant and has provided commentary on National Public Radio, MSNBC and many other news outlets.Dr. Rowen is an associate professor of Legal Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and the founding director of UMass' Center for Justice, Law, and Societies. Her work focuses on both domestic and international criminal law. Her book, Worthy of Justice: The Politics of Veterans Treatment Courts in Practice, is forthcoming with Stanford University Press in December 2025.We discuss the corruption endemic to the US now with the Trump White House leading the way. NH has now adopted a crypto currency reserve into its budget, the first in the nation to do so, likely to be followed by other states.Cuts to research projects under NIH and other agencies has created a pool of "Research refugees" who are leaving for other countries to continue their research. This will have dire consequences for US leadership in many technologies in future. Music: David RovicsWNHNFM.ORG production
Part 1:We talk with Bob Sanders, who is planning a ride in support of the people of. He is a 70-year-old Jewish former reporter turned activist is cycling across the country this summer in a 4000-mile Ride Against War on Gaza (RAW GAZA).Bob Sanders, also a founder of Not In My Name, NH " a group of Jews opposed to Israeli policy on Palestine.We discuss the many Jews that disapprove of the Israeli policy in Gaza. We also talk about how any criticism of Israel is being weaponized by the administration as 'antisemitism'.Part 2:We talk with Sam Whitehead, a correspondent for Kaiser Health News. Bob covers the South from his base just outside Atlanta. He previously worked as a health care reporter for public radio station WABE, where he chronicled the covid-19 pandemic as host of the award-winning podcast Did You Wash Your Hands? Before that, he was a general assignment reporter and fill-in radio host at Georgia Public Broadcasting. He also co-founded a long-running nightly news program on WRFI Community Radio in Ithaca, New York. He is a graduate of Emory University.We discuss how changes are being made to Medicaid, by the imposition of a work requirement for recipients. Its should be noted that most recipients are elderly or disabled, and are living in nursing homes. This change does not increase the number of people who get jobs. Instead, the number people who are covered is reduced. No savings are evident, because of the additional administrative costs. Music: David RovicsWNHNFM.ORG production
Part 1:We talk with Stephanie Hanes, who has written broadly on subjects ranging from climate and the environment to education, families, food and farming. She has been an Alicia Patterson fellow and a multiple-time grant recipient from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. She holds teaching positions at Yale University's School of the Environment and The College of William & Mary.We discuss the push to drill and dig in the administration, when many of the minerals and metals we need are already available in the byproducts of existing mining an drilling, in addition to the resources available in discarded items. We talk about the amount of waste produced, and buried in land fills, when when it could be reprocessed and used.Part 2:We talk with Julie Su, a nationally recognized workers' rights and civil rights expert who served in President Biden's cabinet as the Acting Secretary of Labor where she successfully led efforts to build worker power and union strength, negotiate historic contracts, and expand good jobs for all. Prior to her nomination as U.S. Labor Secretary, she served as the Deputy Secretary, and before that as the California Labor Secretary appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Secretary Su brought a wealth of experience as a nonprofit attorney representing low wage, vulnerable workers for nearly two decades prior to being appointed to government positions and as California Labor Commissioner from 2011-2018, where she was widely credited with a renaissance in enforcement and creative approaches to combating wage theft and protecting immigrant workers. Secretary Su graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Law School. She speaks Mandarin and Spanish.We discuss the information skimming that the DOGE boys are doing. Different government agencies have data about US residents, most of it private. However DOGE is pushing for access to ALL data, by unauthorized individuals who are part of DOGE, with no controls or oversight. This data can be used in many ways to exploit in many ways detrimental to us. Music: David RovicsWNHNFM.ORG production
Part 1:We talk with Alex Sammon, Slate Features writer.We discuss how the administration has been treating people imprisoned because of immigration policies, and because of thought crimes that are critical of Trump. Specifically, we discuss the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a legal immigrant and graduate student, who has been held in Louisiana since his kidnapping by ICE. We discuss the prison, which is private, and its conditions. We also discuss the environment there and the local economy's dependence on this private prison. The prisoners there have not been convicted of any crimes.Part 2:We talk with MIchael Tomasky, the editor of The New Republic and the author of five books, including his latest and critically acclaimed The Middle Out: The Rise of Progressive Economics and a Return to Shared Prosperity. With extensive experience as an editor, columnist, progressive commentator, and special correspondent for renowned publications such as The Guardian, The Washington Post, The New York Times, the Daily Beast, and many others, Tomasky has been a trusted voice in political journalism for more than three decades.We discuss Trump and Musk.The president is peddling hot nonsense on what tariffs can do for America and the person he's conned the most seems to be himself. https://newrepublic.com/article/194821/trump-tariffs-income-tax-innumeracyElon Musk Is an Evil Piece of Garbage" and an A-Level Fraud Too He is stupid. He is incompetent. He is cruel. He is sinister. And people will die because of what he has done.https://newrepublic.com/article/194769/elon-musk-evil-garbage-fraudMusic: David RovicsWNHNFM.ORG production
Rethink the week.This is a panel discussionJamie Rowen is Associate Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She received her doctorate from the Jurisprudence and Social Policy Program at the University of California, Berkeley, as well as a law degree from Berkeley School of Law. Dr Rowen's work has been published in the International Journal of Transitional Justice, Law and Social Inquiry, Human Rights Quarterly, and numerous other outlets.Stephen Pimpare is Professor of Public Policy at Vermont Law and Graduate School. He is the author of four books, including “A Peoples History of Poverty” and, most recently, “Politics for Social Workers: A Practical Guide to Effecting Change”Lincoln Mitchell teaches political science and public policy at Columbia University. He is the author of nine books and his writings have appeared at CNN, Reuters, the New York Times, NBC, the San Francisco Examiner and numerous other media platforms. For more of Lincolns work you can subscribe to his Substack Kibitzing with Lincoln at /lincolnmitchell.substack.com/.Aaron Rosenthal is the research director for North Star Policy Action and the author of “The State You See: How Government Visibility Creates Political Distrust and Racial Inequality”We discuss taxes, and how tax cuts are structured to favor the very rich. If there are no taxes, there is no functioning government. Music: David RovicsWNHNFM.ORG production
Part 1:We talk with Harvey Kronberg, Publisher of the Texas Quorum Report.We discuss how Gov. Abbott has characterized criticism of Israel as 'anti-Israel' policies, and therefore 'anti-Texas' policies.We also discuss the latest Texas Senate-adopted criminalizing the 'morning-after' pill. This, despite Texas having a high maternal mortality rate. Since the Dobbs decision, the number of abortions has increased nationwide.We discuss the upcoming elections in Texas. Cornyn, Paxton, and possible candidates for the governorship.The Texas economy is contracting. The amounts collected by sales taxes have declined. Texas has no income tax. Small business owners are worried because of the tariffs.Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry and Ryan Cooper.Bill Curry was a Connecticut state senator, comptroller and two time Democratic nominee for governor who served as Counselor to the President in the Clinton White House. He has written for Salon, the Daily Beast, the Huffington Post and the Hartford Courant and has provided commentary on National Public Radio, MSNBC and many other news outlets.Ryan Cooper is the Prospects managing editor, and author of How Are You Going to Pay for That?: Smart Answers to the Dumbest Question in Politics. He was previously a national correspondent for The Week. His work has also appeared in The Nation, The New Republic, and Current Affairs.We discuss the speech recently by Gov. Pritzker (D-Ill). We note that Democrats MUST fight every fight. We discuss various methods to bring together most of the American voters: their own lives as they struggle in this economy. What is the divide between people? How can it be overcome?Music: David RovicsWNHNFM.ORG production