Rising Up with Sonali

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Rising Up With Sonali is a women-run daily one-hour radio and television broadcast offering progressive news analysis with an emphasis on racial and gender justice. Created, hosted, and executive produced by Sonali Kolhatkar.

Sonali Kolhatkar


    • Feb 5, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 18m AVG DURATION
    • 1,039 EPISODES

    4.8 from 63 ratings Listeners of Rising Up with Sonali that love the show mention: need, like, work, great, sonali.


    Ivy Insights

    The Rising Up with Sonali podcast is a gem in the world of independent news and political commentary. As a listener who initially followed the show on KPFK and now enjoys it through the podcast format, I am thrilled to have access to Sonali's insightful discussions and thought-provoking topics. This podcast offers unique coverage that I can't find anywhere else, tackling issues that are often overlooked or marginalized by mainstream media. Sonali's affiliation with YES is another reason to celebrate, as it adds even more credibility and depth to the content.

    One of the best aspects of The Rising Up with Sonali podcast is its ability to cover a wide range of topics and bring on guests that offer diverse perspectives. From discussing the need for Medicare for All and the Green New Deal, to examining prison reform and police demilitarization, this podcast leaves no stone unturned when it comes to important issues. Sonali does an excellent job of asking probing questions that challenge prevailing narratives, allowing listeners to gain a deeper understanding of complex topics. The intelligence and pertinence of the content produced each day make this show a must-listen for anyone seeking in-depth analysis.

    While there may not be any glaring flaws with The Rising Up with Sonali podcast, some listeners may find that it leans heavily towards progressive viewpoints. However, as someone who thinks like millennials/progressives despite being a boomer myself, I appreciate the show's unapologetic stance on important issues. It provides a refreshing alternative to mainstream media's often biased coverage. That being said, those who hold more conservative views may feel alienated or frustrated by the lack of balance in perspectives offered.

    In conclusion, The Rising Up with Sonali podcast delivers intelligent and relevant content that challenges conventional wisdom and dives into crucial topics often overlooked by mainstream media. It is a valuable resource for anyone seeking alternative perspectives on current events and politics. With its thought-provoking interviews and commitment to shedding light on important issues, Sonali and her show have established themselves as a vital voice in the world of free press.



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    Latest episodes from Rising Up with Sonali

    Community Solidarity in the Face of ICE

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2026


    A new short movie by filmmaker Ellen Gavin, called "The People, United," depicts the importance of solidarity against ICE raids.

    Nationwide General Strike Draws Hundreds of Thousands

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2026


    Hundreds of actions in all fifty states on Friday January 30 sent a message to the Trump administration against its deployment of ICE agents into American cities.

    Rising Up For Justice: Freeing the Press in a Democracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2026


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Craig Aaron the co-CEO of Free Press and Free Press Action joins us.

    A Simple Solution for Youth Homelessness That Works

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2026


    An ambitious national program to address homelessness among youth is showing remarkable success.

    Minneapolis is Rising Up, Unafraid

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026


    CBP agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti on Saturday January 24 in Minneapolis. 

    Rising Up For Justice: In Pursuit of Global Justice

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2026


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Margaret Kwateng joins us. She is the Campaign Director at Grassroots Global Justice Alliance.

    Why Won't California's Gov. Tax Billionaires?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2026


    Unions have backed a ballot measure in California to levy a one-time 5% tax on billionaires.

    Minnesotans Are Done Playing Nice with ICE

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2026


    Nearly six years ago, the people of Minneapolis took center stage in unprecedented protests against racial police terror after George Floyd was videotaped being murdered.

    Eyewitness Report of ICE Terror in Minneapolis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026


    In the weeks after the January 7th ICE killing of Renee Good, a Minneapolis mother and wife, protests have continued to escalate in response to the violence of federal agents.

    Rising Up For Justice: Building a Debt-Free World

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2026


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Jim Walsh, Policy Director for Food & Water Watch joins us.

    Rising Up For Justice: Safeguarding Our Food and Water

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2026


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Jim Walsh, Policy Director for Food & Water Watch joins us.

    How a Small New England Town Won Divestment from Israel

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025


    Somerville, Massachusetts became the first in the nation to pass a ballot measure instructing local authorities to divest from Israel.

    Rising Up For Justice: Fighting for the People

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Unai Montes-Irueste, the Media Strategy Director for People's Action and People's Action Institute joins us.

    How Mentorship Saves Lives

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025


    Dortell Williams is a regular correspondent on Rising Up With Sonali. He spoke with Sonali Kolhatkar about mentorship, his experience with it, and why it works.

    The Fight Against Pro-Israel Censorship in Public Schools

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025


    In October 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 715 into law, a troubling piece of legislation aimed at public education in the state, primarily around criticism of Israel. 

    2025's Most Censored News Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025


    Project Censored, now in its 50th year, continues to publish the most censored news stories of the year. 

    Rising Up For Justice: Giving Voice to Immigrants

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, founding Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera and Voces de la Frontera Action joins us.

    Wishing You a Plastic-Free Holiday Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025


    Can we free ourselves of plastic? Yes we can, says Judith Enck, founder and president of Beyond Plastics.

    Beating the Corporate Democrats Who Ensured Trump's Victory

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025


    Norman Solomon new book is The Blue Road to Trump Hell: How Corporate Democrats Paved the Way for Autocracy.

    Rising Up For Justice: Science for the Common Good

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Dr. Jen Jones, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

    Ethnic Fraud and Other Difficult Conversations about Native American Identity

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025


    Dina Gilio-Whitaker discusses her new book Who Gets to Be Indian? Ethnic Fraud and Other Difficult Conversations about Native American Identity. 

    Rising Up For Justice: Ending Our Reliance on Oil

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2025


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Collin Rees, the U.S. Program Manager at Oil Change International joins us.

    Coloradans Are Taxing the Rich for Free School Lunches

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2025


    Propositions LL and MM passed by wide margins and levy taxes on the wealthiest Coloradans to ensure school kids are fed at no cost to families and that cafeteria workers would be better paid. 

    Starbucks Baristas Begin “Red Cup Rebellion” for a Contract

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2025


    Thousands of Starbucks baristas began an indefinite strike on November 13, the so-called “Red Cup day,” a major holiday-season marketing gimmick by the corporate coffee chain.

    Rising Up For Justice: Preserving Sacred Indigenous Places

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2025


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Angela Mooney Darcy, Executive Director and Founder of the Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples joins us.

    “Now We Are Here,” Stories of Immigrant Families

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2025


    A new book called Now We Are Here: Family Migration, Children's Education, and Dreams for a Better Life, follows the stories of 16 migrant families from Latin America who were victims of harsh government enforcement.

    Nature Has Rights–A Tool for Climate Justice

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2025


    A new brief by the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) brings to the forefront a critically important tool for climate justice: the rights of nature.

    How Mamdani Won: Lessons for Progressives

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2025


    Yashica Dutt is a Dalit journalist covering New York's Mayoral election since April 2025.

    Rising Up For Justice: Centering Abortion in Social Justice

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2025


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Nourbese Flint, President of All* Above All, joins us.

    AI Data Centers Are Spewing Carbon. Can They Be Stopped?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2025


    A new report by the Center for Biological Diversity outlines the threat of AI data centers' carbon emissions and how they can be addressed. 

    Ending Dark Money One State at a Time: Yes, It's Possible

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2025


    Voters in Montana are gearing up to ban corporate dark money in their state in 2026 by using a simple and innovative redefinition of what a corporation is.

    War on Venezuela? Why Trump is Killing People in the Caribbean

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2025


    US airstrikes on ships in the Caribbean have killed dozens of people under the dubious claim of illegal narcotics shipments.

    Rising Up For Justice: A People's Movement for Bodily Autonomy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2025


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Eliel Cruz, co-founder of Gender Liberation Movement, joins us.

    Do Confederate Monuments Belong in a Museum?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2025


    A Los Angeles museum is displaying several of toppled Confederate monuments, some still sporting the graffiti of rage, and one, chopped up and reassembled in a grotesque manner. 

    Food Stamps Dry Up: Who's To Blame?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2025


    Citing the federal government shutdown as an excuse, President Donald Trump is allowing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to expire.

    Shutdown Shenanigans: How to Make Sense of GOP's Talking Points

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2025


    On October 28, a month into the federal government shutdown, the United States Senate voted for the 13th time on a funding bill to reopen the government.

    Rising Up For Justice: Campaigning for Palestinian Rights and Liberation

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2025


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Ahmad Abuznaid, the Executive Director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights and USCPR Action joins us.

    Federal Workers are Fed Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2025


    Undeterred by ICE Attack, US Citizen Activist Defends Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2025


    What Did Attendees of Los Angeles' No Kings Gathering Demand?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2025


    In Southern California, where this program is based, numerous local NO KINGS gatherings took place.

    Rising Up For Justice: Can the Law Work for Marginalized Communities?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2025


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Chaumtoli Huq, founder and editor of Law@theMargins joins us.

    A Second “No Kings” Mobilization Promises to Be Even Bigger Than First

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2025


    On October 18th, in an event that will be televised on Free Speech TV, a second so-called “No Kings” mobilization promises to be even more wide ranging than the first. 

    After Gaza Ceasefire, How to Beat “Digital Settler Colonialism”?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2025


    After two long and horrific years, a relentless Israeli bombing campaign centered on a genocidal project of erasing Palestinians in Gaza, has been put on hold.

    Rising Up For Justice: Seeking Justice for Planet Earth

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2025


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Chip Gibbons, policy director of Defending Rights & Dissent  joins us.

    The Art and Poetry of Resisting Genocide

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2025


    In a new book, Art of Defiance: Protest Graphics and Poetry for Palestine, editor S. A. Bachman brings together verse in English and Arabic from the likes of Susan Abulhawa, Refaat Alareer, and Saul Williams.

    How to End Israel's Genocide in Gaza?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2025


    In a powerful new book, historian Ilan Pappe imagines a more hopeful future for Palestine, one that he hopes will come about via 8 “mini revolutions” in Israel.

    Two Years Into Genocide, a Gaza Journalist Shares Her Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2025


    In a new book by young Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad, we learn what it was like to see Gaza through her eyes.

    Rising Up For Justice: What Does it Take to Defend Immigrants?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2025


    This week on Rising Up For Justice, Yliana Johansen-Méndez, Chief Program Officer of Immigrant Defenders Law Center  joins us.

    Socialists are Coming For You and Your Rotten System

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2025


    Jonathan Rosenblum is the author of a new book about Kshama Sawant's leadership in Seattle, called We're Coming for You and Your Rotten System: How Socialists Beat Amazon and Upended Big-City Politics.

    Why Renters Are Going on Strike Against Corporate Landlords

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2025


    The Debt Collective has organized a rent debt strike against Equity Residential, the fifth largest landlord in the nation and the largest in the city of Los Angeles.

    Time for Incarcerated Fire Fighters To Earn a Living Wage

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2025


    California's incarcerated firefighters may win a huge pay bump if Gov. Gavin Newsom signs AB 247, a bill that's just reached his desk.

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