KPFA - Behind the News

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Host Doug Henwood covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

Behind the News


    • May 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 32m AVG DURATION
    • 845 EPISODES

    4.6 from 53 ratings Listeners of KPFA - Behind the News that love the show mention: show.


    Ivy Insights

    The KPFA - Behind the News podcast, hosted by Doug Henwood, is a rare gem among political podcasts. As one of the very few people on the left who is serious and professional, Henwood brings a unique perspective to the table. It's hard to believe that anyone could listen to just one episode and not gain some important insights from the diverse and studious perspectives of leftists on our world.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is Henwood's incisive style and his ability to attract great guests. His interviews are thought-provoking and delve deep into important topics. He has a knack for asking tough questions and challenging his guests' ideas, which leads to engaging conversations that go beyond surface-level discussions. The show offers an opportunity to hear from voices that are not typically heard in mainstream media, providing a refreshing alternative view on various issues.

    Another strength of this podcast is Henwood's subtlety and informed approach. While his perspective may lean towards the left, he avoids falling into simplistic narratives or becoming just another talking head in today's polarized political climate. For those interested in social justice but aware that the world is a complex place, this show provides a nuanced understanding of current events.

    On the flip side, one downside of this podcast might be its limited reach or lack of popularity reflected in the absence of reviews. Despite having valuable content and excellent guests, it seems that it hasn't received widespread recognition or attracted a large audience yet. This could potentially limit its impact or prevent it from reaching a wider range of listeners who could benefit from its insights.

    In conclusion, The KPFA - Behind the News podcast with Doug Henwood is an exceptional show for those seeking intelligent discussions on political issues through a leftist lens. With insightful interviews and nuanced perspectives, it stands out from other podcasts by avoiding oversimplification while maintaining relevance to social justice concerns. Although its limited reviews may suggest lower visibility, it remains a valuable resource for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of our complex world.



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    Latest episodes from KPFA - Behind the News

    Capitalism and its critics, real abundance vs. bogue abundance

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 59:59


    John Cassidy, author of Capitalism and Its Critics, on just that • Sandeep Vaheesan, author of this review, will talk about abundance—neoliberal vs. genuine The post Capitalism and its critics, real abundance vs. bogue abundance appeared first on KPFA.

    Fundraising special: two views of Israel–Palestine

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 17:35


    Meron Rapoport, co-author of this article, on Israel's strategy of destruction in Gaza • Mouin Rabbani on Israeli politics, the fate of the Palestinians, and Trump's scheming The post Fundraising special: two views of Israel–Palestine appeared first on KPFA.

    Fundraising special: wobbly dollar, perpetual wars

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 59:58


    Fundraising special: Barry Eichengreen on why the gyrations in the value of the US dollar matter • Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan, hosts of Always at War, on why the US is always buying more weapons and bombing people The post Fundraising special: wobbly dollar, perpetual wars appeared first on KPFA.

    Fundraising special: Trumpian ideology

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 59:58


    A look at Trumpian ideology: Kristin Du Mez on theology, Quinn Sloboidan on the latest iteration of neoliberalism (both rebroadcasts of interviews from February) The post Fundraising special: Trumpian ideology appeared first on KPFA.

    The US empire, the state of the working class, and things need to be bigger

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 59:58


    Vijay Prashad, executive director of Tricontinental, on the state of the US empire and the state of the global working class • Becca Rothfeld, author of All Things Are Too Small, speaks up for bigness The post The US empire, the state of the working class, and things need to be bigger appeared first on KPFA.

    How constitutional fetishism gave us Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 59:58


    Aziz Rana, author of The Constitutional Bind, on how the system crafted by the US Constitution, led to Donald Trump and has constricted our ability fight him The post How constitutional fetishism gave us Trump appeared first on KPFA.

    Hayek's bastards: the second, cruder generation of neoliberals

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 59:59


    Quinn Slobodian, author of Hayek's Bastards, talks about the IQ- and race-obsessed goldbugs of second generation neoliberalism The post Hayek's bastards: the second, cruder generation of neoliberals appeared first on KPFA.

    Financiers and universities, approaches to the climate crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 59:58


    Charlie Eaton and Alina Gibadulina on the increasing prominence of hedge fund and private equity titans on elite university boards (paper here) • Malcolm Harris, author of What's Left, on a trio of political approaches to the climate crisis The post Financiers and universities, approaches to the climate crisis appeared first on KPFA.

    Tariff extravaganza: the UAW’s view, a critical view

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 59:58


    Jason Wade of the UAW explains the union's endorsement of Trump's auto tariffs • Sam Gindin, author of this article and former long-time adviser to what used to be known as the Canadian Autoworkers Union, on what issues the tariff controversy obscures The post Tariff extravaganza: the UAW's view, a critical view appeared first on KPFA.

    Trump and the courts, class and politics, hipster nihilism

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 59:59


    Samuel Moyn on Trump and the courts • Chris Maisano, author of this article, on class and politics • Evgenia Kovda on hipster nihilism (article here) The post Trump and the courts, class and politics, hipster nihilism appeared first on KPFA.

    Professional class liberalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 59:58


    Brent Cebul and Lily Geismer, editors of Mastery and Drift, on professional class liberalism • a brief reprise of a 2019 interview with Gabriel Winant on the PMC The post Professional class liberalism appeared first on KPFA.

    Marx’s ethics, and what did the BLM protests do to police budgets?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 59:58


    Vanessa Wills, author of Marx's Ethical Vision, on the morality behind Marxian “science” • Mathis Ebbinghaus on the effects of the summer 2020 anti-cop protests on police budgets (paper here) The post Marx's ethics, and what did the BLM protests do to police budgets? appeared first on KPFA.

    Fundraising special: militancy and repression in the Valley, neofeudalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 39:58


    Ben Tarnoff on tech worker militancy, the bosses' crackdown, and their hard turn to the right • Jodi Dean, author of Capital's Grave, on neofeudalism The post Fundraising special: militancy and repression in the Valley, neofeudalism appeared first on KPFA.

    Fundraising special: worker-led organizing

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 3:42


    Eric Blanc, author of We Are the Union, on worker-led organizing (Amazon, Starbucks, etc.) The post Fundraising special: worker-led organizing appeared first on KPFA.

    Trump, a new/old kind of imperialist? • Is Trump a neoliberal?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 59:58


    Anatol Lieven looks at the global dimensions of Trumpism • Quinn Slobodian muses on whether Trump is a neoliberal, and examines the three major strands of DOGE-ism (NYRB article here) The post Trump, a new/old kind of imperialist? • Is Trump a neoliberal? appeared first on KPFA.

    The truth about DEI, a history of “choice”

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 59:58


    Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò picks apart the contradictory strands of the DEI obsession • Sophia Rosenfeld, author of The Age of Choice, explores this history of that concept over the last few centuries The post The truth about DEI, a history of “choice” appeared first on KPFA.

    The theology of MAGA, “sovereigntism” and Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 59:58


    Kristin Du Mez, author of Jesus and John Wayne, on Christian nationalism • Jennifer Middlestadt, author of this article, on “sovereigntism,” the foreign policy of Trump et al. The post The theology of MAGA, “sovereigntism” and Trump appeared first on KPFA.

    Moguls and their scribes, the New York intellectuals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 59:58


    Eoin Higgins, author of Owned, on tech moguls and the journalists, like Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi, who work for them • Ronnie Grinberg, author of Write Like a Man, on the mostly male, mostly Jewish New York intellectuals The post Moguls and their scribes, the New York intellectuals appeared first on KPFA.

    The Gaza ceasefire, and sex work today

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 59:58


    Mouin Rabbani on the Gaza ceasefire and Trump's plans for the Middle East • Angela Jones and Bernadette Barton, co-editors of Sex Work Today, on that topic The post The Gaza ceasefire, and sex work today appeared first on KPFA.

    Tech bros' plans for SF, the Resnicks and water in California

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 59:57


    Laura Jedeed, author of this article, talks about San Francisco and tech moguls' plans to “fix” it • Yasha Levine, co-director of Pistachio Wars, on the Resnicks and water in California The post Tech bros' plans for SF, the Resnicks and water in California appeared first on KPFA.

    The Y2K era, the South Korean political crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025


    Colette Shade, author of Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything, on culture at the turn of the millennium • Tim Shorrock discusses the political crisis in South Korea The post The Y2K era, the South Korean political crisis appeared first on KPFA.

    Best of 2024 retrospective

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 22:10


    Three interviews on Israel's many wars: Rashid Khalidi and Pankaj Mishra with a historical perspective, and Annelle Sheline adds a former insider's view. Then, Aziz Rana on the awfulness of the US constitution, Anna Kornbluh with a cultural critique of immediacy, and Brooke Harrington on the offshore money-hiding racket. And a memorial to Jane McAlevey. The post Best of 2024 retrospective appeared first on KPFA.

    Behind the News – December 26, 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 59:58


    Host Doug Henwood covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global. The post Behind the News – December 26, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.

    Syria and the failures of COP29

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 59:58


    Trita Parsi and Joshua Landis analyze what's been going on in Syria • Tina Gerhardt reviews the annual UN climate conference, COP29, where little happened The post Syria and the failures of COP29 appeared first on KPFA.

    Fundraising special: Gaza, the Constitution

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 59:57


    Fundraising reprise of two interviews from May: Annelle Sheline, who resigned from the State Department as a protest of the war on Gaza, on what's driving US support for that genocide • Aziz Rana on the awfulness of the US Constitution The post Fundraising special: Gaza, the Constitution appeared first on KPFA.

    Fundraising special: what’s driving the populist right?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 59:57


    Political scientist Larry Bartels, author of this article, on how it's politicians, not public opinion, that's driving the right-populist upsurge The post Fundraising special: what's driving the populist right? appeared first on KPFA.

    Stashing money offshore, a new government in Sri Lanka

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 59:58


    Brooke Harrington, author of Offshore, on how and where the mega-rich stash their cash • Mahendran Thiruvarangan on a new leftish government in Sri Lanka The post Stashing money offshore, a new government in Sri Lanka appeared first on KPFA.

    Ethel Rosenberg's innocence, problems of masculinity

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 59:58


    Michael Meeropol, son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, on how the government executed his mother despite knowing her innocence (docs here) • Ruth Whippman, author of BOYMOM: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity, on the challenges of raising boys The post Ethel Rosenberg's innocence, problems of masculinity appeared first on KPFA.

    Trump prognostications: foreign policy, criminal justice

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 59:57


    Anatol Lieven tries to divine a Trump foreign policy out of unreliable rhetoric and early appointments • Alex Vitale tries similar on Trump and criminal justice The post Trump prognostications: foreign policy, criminal justice appeared first on KPFA.

    Comments on Trump • Israeli public opinion • the role of Ukraine in Western politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 59:58


    DH comments on the Trump victory, especially the role of inflation • Dahlia Scheindlin on Israeli public opinion • James Foley and Vladimir Unkovski-Korica, authors of this article, on the role of Ukraine in the Western political imagination The post Comments on Trump • Israeli public opinion • the role of Ukraine in Western politics appeared first on KPFA.

    The right’s war on higher ed • What Israel’s wars are all about

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 59:57


    Laura Jedeed, author of this article, on the right's war on North Idaho College • Mouin Rabbani on what's driving Israel's multiple wars, and on the state of the Axis of Resistance The post The right's war on higher ed • What Israel's wars are all about appeared first on KPFA.

    How much US aid goes to Israel? • people actually like their jobs, a study shows

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 59:57


    William Hartung, co-author of this paper, on how much aid the US has given to Israel over the last year (plus some wacky stuff on AI weapons) • sociologist Scott Schieman on his surprising research showing that people actually like their jobs The post How much US aid goes to Israel? • people actually like their jobs, a study shows appeared first on KPFA.

    The Biden/Harris vision of the world, the emptying of the Balkans

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 59:58


    Anatol Lieven on the ambitiously aggressive grand design of the Biden/Harris foreign policy • Lily Lynch, author of this article, on the emptying out of the Balkans The post The Biden/Harris vision of the world, the emptying of the Balkans appeared first on KPFA.

    Translating Marx's Capital, Israeli society after October 7

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 59:57


    Paul North and Paul Reitter on their new translation of Marx's Capital • Nimrod Flaschenberg and Alma Itzhaky, authors of this article, on the political culture of Israel after October 7 The post Translating Marx's Capital, Israeli society after October 7 appeared first on KPFA.

    A century of war on Palestinians, a look at Hezbollah after Nasrallah

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 59:58


    Rashid Khalidi, author of The Hundred Years War on Palestine, talks about Israeli settler-colonialism and its imperial patrons • Aurélie Daher looks at Hezbollah and the challenges it faces after the assassination of its leader The post A century of war on Palestinians, a look at Hezbollah after Nasrallah appeared first on KPFA.

    Fires in Brazil, successes in Mexico

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 59:57


    Forrest Hylton, author of this article, on wildfires in Brazil and the political impotence of Lula's administration • Edwin Ackerman on politics in Mexico, as AMLO hands over power to Claudia Sheinbaum, having engineered a controversial overhaul of the judiciary (article here) The post Fires in Brazil, successes in Mexico appeared first on KPFA.

    The problem with boys and a history of inequality

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 59:58


    Niobe Way, author of Rebels with a Cause, on the emotional and social lives of boys and what they're telling us about our society • Branko Milanovic, author of Visions of Inequality, reviews what economists have had to say about the topic The post The problem with boys and a history of inequality appeared first on KPFA.

    Fundraising special: durability of slaveholder wealth, a conservative looks at the election

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 59:58


    Neil Sehgal, co-author of this paper, on the durability of slaveholder wealth, via a look at Congress • Emily Jashinsky with a conservative's view of the election The post Fundraising special: durability of slaveholder wealth, a conservative looks at the election appeared first on KPFA.

    German neo-Nazis on the march, a look at the superrich

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 59:58


    Robert Pausch of Die Zeit on the far right's strong showing in German regional elections • Rob Larson, author of Mastering the Universe, looks at the superrich The post German neo-Nazis on the march, a look at the superrich appeared first on KPFA.

    Bangladesh uprising, writing India's constitution

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 59:57


    Naomi Hossain explains the uprising in Bangladesh that deposed PM Shekih Hasina • Sandipto Dasgupta, author of Legalizing the Revolution, examines the transformation of India from colony to nation through the exercise of constitution-writing The post Bangladesh uprising, writing India's constitution appeared first on KPFA.

    A progressive China policy, and Petro’s record in Colombia

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 59:58


    Jake Werner on a progressive China policy (paper here) • Gabriel Hetland, author of this article, on the record of Colombian president Gustavo Petro, a leftist trying to govern a deeply conservative country The post A progressive China policy, and Petro's record in Colombia appeared first on KPFA.

    Behind the News – August 15, 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2024 59:58


    Pankaj Mishra, author of this article, on the propaganda-induced debasement of the Holocaust • Nancy Folbre, one of four authors of this report, on assigning a monetary value to care work [vacation rebroadcast of the March 28, 2024 show] The post Behind the News – August 15, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.

    Who’s Jeff Yass, and more on those allegedly pro-worker Republicans

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 59:58


    Arielle Klagsbrun of the All Eyes on Yass Campaign on the insufficiently known right-wing moneybags Jeff Yass • Sohrab Ahmari and Hamilton Nolan debate the existence, real or imagined, of pro-worker Republicans The post Who's Jeff Yass, and more on those allegedly pro-worker Republicans appeared first on KPFA.

    World Court v Israel, crypto politics, psychoanalyzing Biden

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 59:58


    Heidi Matthews analyzes the World Court's declaration of Israel's occupations illegal • Molly White on how crypto is spending its money in politics • Nausicaa Renner psychoanalyzes Joe Biden The post World Court v Israel, crypto politics, psychoanalyzing Biden appeared first on KPFA.

    The French elections, Vance's background, Jane McAlevey (very briefly) on power

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 59:58


    Cole Stangler on the monumentally inconclusive French elections • David Palumbo-Liu on the Silicon Valley world that launched JD Vance as a politician • a brief bit from Jane McAlevey on power The post The French elections, Vance's background, Jane McAlevey (very briefly) on power appeared first on KPFA.

    JD Vance, no friend of the working class • the chaos of the American political party system

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 59:58


    Brandon Mancilla of the UAW looks behind the GOP's pro-worker facade • Adam Hilton, author of True Blues, on the bizarre nature of the US political party system The post JD Vance, no friend of the working class • the chaos of the American political party system appeared first on KPFA.

    elections in Britain and Iran, in memory of Jane McAlevey

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 59:58


    Richard Seymour discusses the British election (Sidecar article here) • Trita Parsi, the Iranian election • remembering Jane McAlevey with a 2017 BtN interview (catalog of interviews here) The post elections in Britain and Iran, in memory of Jane McAlevey appeared first on KPFA.

    Israel is killing a lot of people but losing its war, and the latest on the US carceral state

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2024 59:58


    Robert Pape on how, despite Israel's murderous onslaught on Gaza, Hamas is winning (article here) • Wanda Bertram on how US incarceration rates stack up against the rest of the world (massively), and other news on crime & punishment (report here) The post Israel is killing a lot of people but losing its war, and the latest on the US carceral state appeared first on KPFA.

    Haiti and the death of the future

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 59:58


    Robert Fatton explains Haiti's further descent into poverty and chaos • Steve Fraser, author of this article, analyzes and mourns the death of any sense of a better future [holiday-induced reprise of a show first broadcast on March 14, 2024] The post Haiti and the death of the future appeared first on KPFA.

    death haiti kpfa steve fraser
    Israel and the Arab states and the latest on the education wars

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 59:58


    Steven Simon on Israel and the Arab states' relations with it • Jennifer Berkshire, co-author of The Education Wars, on the right-wing's latest educational ploys. (And here's Marcus Brown's website that I mentioned in the intro.) The post Israel and the Arab states and the latest on the education wars appeared first on KPFA.

    Mexican elections and radicals on the run

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 59:57


    Sociologist Edwin Ackerman on the Mexican elections, and the reasons for AMLO's immense popularity (Sidecar piece here) • Joel Whitney, author of Flights, on radical and revolutionaries' battles with the CIA The post Mexican elections and radicals on the run appeared first on KPFA.

    mexican flights amlo radicals sidecar kpfa mexican elections joel whitney

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