Podcast appearances and mentions of Aaron J Leonard

The Folk Singers and the Bureau: The FBI, the Folk Artists and the Suppression of the Communist PartyMay 1, 2021The first book to document the efforts of the FBI against the most famous American folk singers of the mid-twentieth century, including Woody Guthrie, 'Sis Cunningham, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays and Burl Ives.Some of the most prominent folk singers of the twentieth century, including Woody Guthrie, 'Sis Cunningham, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Burl Ives, etc., were also political activists with various associations with the American Communist Party. As a consequence, the FBI, along with other governmental and right-wing organizations, were monitoring them, keeping meticulous files running many thousands of pages, and making (and carrying out) plans to purge them from the cultural realm.In The Folk Singers and the Bureau, Aaron J Leonard draws on an unprecedented array of declassified documents and never before released files to shed light on the interplay between left-wing folk artists and their relationship with the American Communist Party, and how it put them in the US government's repressive cross hairs.At a time of increasing state surveillance and repression, The Folk Singers and the Bureau shows how the FBI and other governmental agencies have attempted to shape and repress American culture.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Our guest Aaron J. Leonard is most unusual for an historian, or indeed any kind of guest. For a great deal of his adult life he was a member of arguably the most radical political organization in the United States, the Revolutionary Communist Party, something which he and many now admit is a cult.  His unique experiences as a thoroughgoing activist gives me great insight not only into the history of the United States working class economic cycles but developed in Leonard a knowledge about and sensitivity to the relationship of the state to  free expression, censorship and political activity in the twentieth century. I really enjoyed our discussion for the uniqueness that only somebody of Leonard's life experience and scholarship could bring.  His Meltdown Expected is an exploration of the late 70s and he has authored books on the histories of radicalism in the United States. More about Aaron, here: Aaron J. Leonard is an author and historian with a particular focus on the interplay of radicalism and repression. He is the author of "Heavy Radicals: The FBI's Secret War on America's Maoists,” and "A Threat of the First Magnitude," pathbreaking books that revealed the untold story of the FBI's efforts in the 60s-early 70s against US Maoism. Along with those works he, with colleague Conor A. Gallagher, published examinations based on secret information about the FBI's role in the killing of Black Panther Party member, Fred Hampton.      Following his first two books he turned to writing about contention in the cultural realm. In "The Folk Singers & the Bureau," and "Whole World in an Uproar,” he tracks the interplay of artists such as Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Sis Cunningham, Dave Van Ronk, Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan, and a host of others who sparred with forces of the status quo in producing their music. In May 2024 he will publish "Meltdown Expected: Crisis, Disorder & Upheaval at the end of the 1970s" (Rutgers Univ. Press), reframing the map of the end of the much-maligned Seventies decade. He is currently working on a history of the repression leveled at the Communist Party USA, which will also be published by Rutgers Univ. Press. He has a BA in Social Sciences and History magna cum laude, from New York University. Originally from the Central New York town of Herkimer, Leonard lived most of his adult life in Brooklyn, but he now calls Los Angeles home. Links to Aarons many wonderful works, here: Website: http://www.aaronleonard.net/index.html #Meltdown Expected #marxism #marxistleninist #newleft #oldleft #communism #capitalism #1970s #1960s #politics #activism #bobavakian #carldix #china #sds #blackpanther #maoism #feminism #culturalrevolution #industrialism #factory #christianity #islam #judaism #zionism #afghanistan #1978 #1979 #brucespringsteen #theclash #joestrummer #philochs #peteseeger #woodyguthrie #theweavers #beegees #disco #theghostoftomjoad #bornintheusa #revolution #mujahideen #taliban #iran #khomeini cpusa #earlbrowder #theinternational #scottsboroboys #eldridgecleaver #symbioneseliberationarmy #pattyhearst #richardnixon #georgejackson #hrapbrown #bobbyseale #california #joandidion #tomwolfe #newjournalism #inflation #energycrisis #jamesfallows #crisisofconfidence #iranhsotagecrisis #threemileisland #thechinasyndrome #janefonda jessejackson #rainbowcoalition #gushall #angeladavis #progressivelaborpart #revolutionarycommunistparty #jimjones #guyana #harveymilk #georgemoscone #danwhite #twinkiedefense #anitabryant #jerryfalwell #fundamentalism #opec #saudioarabia #stagflation #inflation #geraldford #christpherlasch #studentsforademocraticsociety #tomhayden #freespeech #stonewall  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mitch-hampton/support

Aaron J. Leonard returns to the show to discuss his newest book "Meltdown Expected: Crisis, Disorder, and Upheaval at the End of the 1970s". The final years of the 1970's were a moment of crisis and transition for the United States, both at home and abroad. Today, in 2024, we are also in a moment of crisis and transition - though without the benefit of hindsight we struggle to see where this transition might lead; moreover, we still have the ability to learn from the past and influence this transition through political struggle. Aaron not only writes about this period as a historian, but also lived through this period as a Marxist and an organizer and has personal as well as professional reflections on it. Together, Aaron and Breht talk about the end of the 70's, the imperial crisis in the middle east (specifically regarding Iran) which still shapes regional politics to this day, The opening up of China and its consequences, Jimmy Carter and the rise of neoliberalism, de-industrialization inside the US, the shifts in and around the FBI, the changes in music and culture, and much more.  Check out all of Aaron's previous interviews on Rev Left HERE Get 15% off any book in the Left Wing Books Library HERE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Support Rev Left and get access to over 300 bonus episodes in our back catalogue, as well as new bonus episodes each month.   

The first book to document the efforts of the FBI against the most famous American folk singers of the mid-twentieth century, including Woody Guthrie, 'Sis Cunningham, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays and Burl Ives.Some of the most prominent folk singers of the twentieth century, including Woody Guthrie, 'Sis Cunningham, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Burl Ives, etc., were also political activists with various associations with the American Communist Party. As a consequence, the FBI, along with other governmental and right-wing organizations, were monitoring them, keeping meticulous files running many thousands of pages, and making (and carrying out) plans to purge them from the cultural realm.In The Folk Singers and the Bureau, Aaron J Leonard draws on an unprecedented array of declassified documents and never before released files to shed light on the interplay between left-wing folk artists and their relationship with the American Communist Party, and how it put them in the US government's repressive cross hairs.At a time of increasing state surveillance and repression, The Folk Singers and the Bureau shows how the FBI and other governmental agencies have attempted to shape and repress American culture.read less9 months agoThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/1198501/advertisement

The first book to document the efforts of the FBI against the most famous American folk singers of the mid-twentieth century, including Woody Guthrie, 'Sis Cunningham, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays and Burl Ives.Some of the most prominent folk singers of the twentieth century, including Woody Guthrie, 'Sis Cunningham, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Burl Ives, etc., were also political activists with various associations with the American Communist Party. As a consequence, the FBI, along with other governmental and right-wing organizations, were monitoring them, keeping meticulous files running many thousands of pages, and making (and carrying out) plans to purge them from the cultural realm.In The Folk Singers and the Bureau, Aaron J Leonard draws on an unprecedented array of declassified documents and never before released files to shed light on the interplay between left-wing folk artists and their relationship with the American Communist Party, and how it put them in the US government's repressive cross hairs.At a time of increasing state surveillance and repression, The Folk Singers and the Bureau shows how the FBI and other governmental agencies have attempted to shape and repress American culture.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/1198501/advertisement

Maggie speaks with Aaron J. Leonard, author and historian whose intriguing and insightful works include "Heavy Radicals: The FBI's Secret War on America's Maoists," "A Threat of the First Magnitude—FBI Counterintelligence & Infiltration" and "The Folk Singers & the Bureau." His latest book is "Whole World In An Uproar: Music, Rebellion and Repression 1955-1972" which we discuss is detail in this interview. Leonard has established himself as a leading expert when it comes to accessing and researching FBI files. He deftly sorts through these documents to demonstrate the breadth of state surveillance against musicians who offended those in power.— Scott Costen, Morning Star (UK)Whole World in an Uproar is a great trip back for those who were there and, more importantly, an excellent and very readable history for those who weren't.—Ron Jacobs, CounterPunch.A fascinating counter-history of the 1960s music revolution through the eyes of the persecutors, paranoiacs, and culture warriors who tried to stop it—Dorian Lynskey, 33 Revolutionary Per Minute.What happened when HUAC, the FBI, Jim Crow, corporate media outlets, drug warriors, the religious right, and even the Old Left tried to stop a freight train? Drawing on a broad range of sources, including FBI files, Whole World in an Uproar recounts that momentous story—Peter Richardson, No Simple Highway: A Cultural History of the Grateful DeadAaron Leonard integrates an amazing amount of research into a story that ranges from FBI surveillance of the Old Left to the rock scene to the social dissension around the anti-Vietnam War and Black liberation movements...a well-thought-through, fascinating documentary about movements and people who were affected by oppressive societal actions—Terri Thal, early manager of Bob Dylan, then-husband Dave Van Ronk, the Holy Modal Rounders, and others.******Artists such as Jim Morrison, Miriam Makeba, Bob Dylan, and Nina Simone transformed pop music in the 1960s, but they did not do so without a fight. They were confronted by deeply entrenched forces within the status quo who pushed back against them. This book charts the rise of these artists, the opposition they encountered, and how they responded—all amid the unprecedented upheaval of the Black freedom movement, opposition to the war in Vietnam, and the arising of the counterculture. Through the use of previously unreleased FBI files and other government documents, interviews, extensive research of the media of the day, and other works, the book brings to light a hidden and unexplored aspect of a period in history that continues to impact our world. Whole World in an Uproar is a great trip back for those who were there and, more importantly, an excellent and very readable history for those who weren't.Source: http://aaronleonard.net/index.htmlHost Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.Support the show

On this edition of Parallax Views, Aaron J. Leonard joins us to discuss the new revised and updated edition of his and Conor A. Gallagher book Heavy Radicals: The FBI's Secret War on America's Maoists: The Revolutionary Union/Revolutionary Communist Part 1968-1980. We delve into the radical left-wing politics of the late 1960s into the 1970s and the influence of Mao Tse-Tung's variant on communist thought on American radicals as well as how revolutionary groups in the U.S. applied theory and praxis in their operations at the time. This leads us into discussions of figures like H. Bruce Franklin as well as the infamous Bob Avakian, Chairman of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA (RCP). It is well-known that the post-WWII era saw the intelligence community become very concerned about radical left-wing politics, specifically the activities of communist groups, in the U.S. during the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Much has been made of J. Edgar Hoover, the House on Un-American Activities Committee, and COINTELPRO in this regard. But Aaron specifically focuses on the FBI's counterintelligence operations against Maoist groups. We discuss the "dirty tricks" that were used against these groups by the FBI at this time. We discuss FBI informant recruiting in the time as well as the specific players involved in activities against U.S.-based Maoist groups. Aaron names names and gives insight into FBI actions against left-wing radical groups in the United States post-Hoover. Additionally Aaron and I discuss the Black Panthers, the media vs. radical activities, the labor movement, conspiracy theories vs. systemic analysis, the evangelical couple that sought to help the FBI by infiltrating the Revolutionary Union, W. Mark Felt (the man who confessed to being "Deep Throat" in the Nixon-era Watergate saga in 2005), the FBI report that referred to the RCP as a "threat of the first magnitude" to the U.S., the concept of the deep state and why Aaron believes there is just the State rather than deep state, the JFK Records Act and how the files released from that has value beyond the questions surrounding the Kennedy assassination itself (ie: files on Fred Hampton, Bob Dylan, etc.), how do you read and evaluate FBI files?, the Fair Play for Cuba Committe, the CIA and Richard Gibson (Codename: Sugar), Donald Wright, why is Maoism neglected when looking at the history of the New Left?, COINTELPRO and the Ad Hoc Commitee, the FBI's war against radical folk musicians and Aaron's latest books Whole World in an Uproar: Music, Rebellion and Repression – 1955-1972 and The Folk Singers and the Bureau: The FBI, the Folk Artists and the Suppression of the Communist Party, USA-1939-1956, Pete Seeger and the radical nature of much 20th century folk music, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and what Aaron refers to as the "soft revocation" of FOIA, and more.

Aaron J. Leonard returns to the show to discuss his newest book, "Whole World in an Uproar: Music, Rebellion and Repression". Throughout the interview, we play many of the artists and songs mentioned in the book and conversation (time stamps below). Together, Aaron and Breht discuss the history, social upheavals, cultural shifts, and the political context in which the music from this era emerged and the reaction it created from the mainstream culture. Topics include: the beatniks, the cultural context of the 50's in America, the civil rights movement, the 1960's, the Kent State Massacre, the introduction of psychedlic drugs, the Vietnam War, the Cuban Revolution, the shift from the old left to the new left, and much more!       Music included:   10:30 - People Are Strange by The Doors   28:05 - Ohio by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young   48:40 - Mississippi Goddamn by Nina Simone   59:00 - Santo Domingo by Phil Ochs   74:50 - White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane   87:00 - Luang Prabang by Dave Von Ronk     Outro music: "For What it's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield   Support Rev Left Radio: https://www.patreon.com/RevLeftRadio

Aaron J. Leonard, author of Whole World In An Uproar joins us to talk about the relationship between the revolutionary culture of the 60s as seen through the repressive apparatus of the FBI.Read more from Aaron on Truthout: https://truthout.org/authors/aaron-leonard/Including this great article about the FBI's tracking of Bob Dylan and Suze Rotolo: https://truthout.org/articles/fbi-tracking-of-bob-dylan-and-suze-rotolo-foreshadowed-future-abuses/Also check out his book about the history of American Maoism Heavy RadicalsAnd his Spotify playlist for the book: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Eo6dUNjUiDUXlMdvEDjUXSongs: Black Flag - Louie Louie Lou Reed - Busload of Faith Country Joe and the Fish - Free Someday

The first book to document the efforts of the FBI against the most famous American folk singers of the mid-twentieth century, including Woody Guthrie, 'Sis Cunningham, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays and Burl Ives.Some of the most prominent folk singers of the twentieth century, including Woody Guthrie, 'Sis Cunningham, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Burl Ives, etc., were also political activists with various associations with the American Communist Party. As a consequence, the FBI, along with other governmental and right-wing organizations, were monitoring them, keeping meticulous files running many thousands of pages, and making (and carrying out) plans to purge them from the cultural realm.In The Folk Singers and the Bureau, Aaron J Leonard draws on an unprecedented array of declassified documents and never before released files to shed light on the interplay between left-wing folk artists and their relationship with the American Communist Party, and how it put them in the US government's repressive cross hairs.At a time of increasing state surveillance and repression, The Folk Singers and the Bureau shows how the FBI and other governmental agencies have attempted to shape and repress American culture.

In this interview, Kenny Novis speaks with the historian Aaron Leonard about his latest book, Whole World in an Uproar: Music, Rebellion and Repression 1955-1972. This book deals with the radical history of American folk music during the cold war, as well as the ways in which radical folk singers were repressed by various institutions, including not only the FBI, but also the press and radio. In their discussion, Kenny and Aaron review some of the key themes of the book, including how the nature of political music shifted across the 40s-50s, the place of famous musicians in the resistance to the Vietnam war (including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Phil Ochs, and more), and the broader relation between art and revolutionary politics.Buy Aaron's book here: https://repeaterbooks.com/product/whole-world-in-an-uproar-music-rebellion-and-repression-1955-1972/Aaron's website: http://www.aaronleonard.net/Support Zer0 Books on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/zerobooksSubscribe: http://bit.ly/SubZeroBooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZeroBooks/Twitter: https://twitter.com/zer0books-----Other links:Check out the projects of some of the new contributors to Zer0 Books:Acid HorizonPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/acidhorizonpodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/acidhorizonMerch: crit-drip.comThe Philosopher's Tarot from Repeater Books: https://repeaterbooks.com/product/the-philosophers-tarot/The Horror VanguardApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/horror-vanguard/id1445594437Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/horrorvanguardBuddies Without OrgansApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/buddies-without-organs/id1543289939Website: https://buddieswithout.org/Xenogothic: https://xenogothic.com/Support Daniel Tutt's work by visiting the Torsion Groups Patreon account: https://patreon.com/torsiongroups

Breht welcomes Aaron J. Leonard and Conor A. Gallagher back on the show to discuss the recent release of the revised and updated version of "Heavy Radicals: The FBI's Secret War on America's Maoists: The Revolutionary Union / Revolutionary Communist Party 1968-1980". We discuss the importance of the original book, what changes were made in the updated and revised version (just released Oct. 2022), who the Revolutionary Union (and later the Revolutionary Communist Party) were, the difficulty of writing about Maoist movements in the US, how the FBI and CIA work to destroy left wing movements and organizations, their tactics and strategies, and much more.  Listen to our original interview with Aaron on "Heavy Radicals" here: https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/heavy-radicals-the-fbis-secret-war-on-americas-maoists-1968-1980 Get the book here: https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/zer0-books/our-books/heavy-radicals Check out more of Aaron's work, including his upcoming book here: http://www.aaronleonard.net/ Outro Song: Read Mao, Drink Water by Bambu Support Rev Left Radio: https://www.patreon.com/RevLeftRadio

Donald and Jackson are joined by historian Aaron J. Leonard, author of The Folk Singers and the Bureau: The FBI, The Folk Artists and the Suppression of the Communist Party USA 1939-1956, to discuss the folk-revival music scene that emerged within and around the American Communist Party in the mid-1930s and which continued through the early 1950s. We dive into the scene's relationship with the Party's changing strategy and platform, how Earl Browder related to this revival, the scene's institutional development in the late-1940s, as well as the suppression and surveillance of its leading members in the immediate post-WWII period and beyond.

The first book to document the efforts of the FBI against the most famous American folk singers of the mid-twentieth century, including Woody Guthrie, 'Sis Cunningham, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays and Burl Ives. Some of the most prominent folk singers of the twentieth century, including Woody Guthrie, 'Sis Cunningham, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Burl Ives, etc., were also political activists with various associations with the American Communist Party. As a consequence, the FBI, along with other governmental and right-wing organizations, were monitoring them, keeping meticulous files running many thousands of pages, and making (and carrying out) plans to purge them from the cultural realm. In The Folk Singers and the Bureau, Aaron J Leonard draws on an unprecedented array of declassified documents and never before released files to shed light on the interplay between left-wing folk artists and their relationship with the American Communist Party, and how it put them in the US government's repressive cross hairs. At a time of increasing state surveillance and repression, The Folk Singers and the Bureau shows how the FBI and other governmental agencies have attempted to shape and repress American culture.

Aaron J Leonard gives us a preview of his next book on folk music, revolutionary politics, and state repression in the '60s. We discuss Dylan going electric, his relationship with the old and new left, the black panthers' obsession with Highway 61 Revisited, and how much revolutionaries should worry about COINTELPRO today For the full episode please support the show at Patreon.com/TheAntifada

Historian of the radical left and state repression Aaron J. Leonard discusses his book Folk Singers and the Bureau, a chronicle of the relationship between American musicians, the Communist Party, and the FBI. We also talk about state repression today, human evolution, and Eric Adams' history of backing the blue. For the bonus episode on Dylan, the Panthers, and the '60s please support the show at Patreon.com/TheAntifada Check out Aaron's twitter or his website Songs: Pete Seeger - Song for Bridges Woody Guthrie - 1913 Massacre The Weavers and Howard Fast - The Peekskill Story

The FBI has long devoted its resources to stamping out dissent. As part of its ruthless war on the Communist Party, the Bureau set its sites on America's folk singers. In his new book The Folk Singers and the Bureau: The FBI, the Folk Artists and the Suppression of the Communist Party, USA-1939-1956, historian and writer Aaron J. Leonard draws on an unprecedented array of declassified documents and never before released files to chronicle the FBI's attacks on such folk musicians as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. Aaron J. Leonard is a writer and historian with a focus on the history of radicalism and state suppression. He is the author of Heavy Radicals: The FBI's Secret War on America's Maoists and A Threat of the First Magnitude--FBI Counterintelligence & Infiltration: From the Communist Party to the Revolutionary Union. He is a contributor to the History News Network, Jacobin, and Truthout.On September 16, 2020, the Still Spying Podcast hosted a livestreamed event with Leonard to discuss his new book and this is a lightly edited audio-only version of that event, moderated by Still Spying host Chip Gibbons.

In this episode, Breht welcomes Aaron J. Leonard back on the show, this time with his co-author Conor Gallagher, to discuss new FOIA documents they recently received regarding the FBI agent assigned to Fred Hampton, the informant who helped in the efforts to assassinate Fred Hampton and Mark Clark, what the left gets wrong in their understanding of COINTELPRO, and reactions to the new film on Fred Hampton "Judas and the Black Messiah". Check out Aaron and Conor's books: A Threat of the First Magnitude: FBI Counterintelligence & Infiltration from the Communist Party to the Revolutionary Union Heavy Radicals: The FBI's Secret War on America's Maoists   Previous Rev Left episode on Fred Hampton here: https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/fred-hampton   Outro Music: "Fight For You" by H.E.R. ----- Support Rev Left Radio: https://www.patreon.com/RevLeftRadio or make a one time donation: PayPal.me/revleft LEARN MORE ABOUT REV LEFT RADIO: www.revolutionaryleftradio.com

In the first Pop Oracle divination of Gregorian 2021 ANDRAS JONES welcomes AARON J. LEONARD, the author of The Folk Singers & the Bureau to engage some synchronicity and discuss the history of American Communists during the week of Trump's attempted coup. Featuring music from STEVE POLTZ, RANDY KAPLAN, ALEX LILLY & ANDRAS JONES Featuring: The Radio8Ball Theme Song performed by STEVE POLTZ The Pop Oracle Song of The Day for January 13th, 2021: ALEX LILLY with Vikram Devasthali http://www.radio8ball.com/song-of-the-day/january-13-2021/ Featured Music: "Super Taco Dilemma" by STEVE POLTZ "Wooden Arms" by RANDY KAPLAN "Three Day Weekend" by ANDRAS JONES Double Naught Spy Car provides the musical bed with “The Mooche” by Duke Ellington & “In Walked Bud, Out Walked Bud” by Thelonious Monk Thanks to Alan Green for “special projects”. Graphics by Tony Householder Join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/radio8ball  LINKS: RADIO8BALL WEBSITE - www.radio8ball.com AARON J. LEONARD - http://www.aaronleonard.net/ STEVE POLTZ - https://poltz.com/ RANDY KAPLAN - https://www.randykaplan.com/ ALEX LILLY - https://www.alexlillyland.com/ THE WORLD IS WRONG podcast:https://www.theworldiswrongpodcast.com/ RADIO8BALL APP - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/radio8ball/id1326738822 RADIO8BALL PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/radio8ball RADIO8BALL FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/radio8ball/ RADIO8BALL TWITTER - @radio8ball RADIO8BALL INSTAGRAM - @theradio8ballshow Link at the Radio8Ball website: http://www.radio8ball.com/2021/01/16/aaron-j-leonardthe-folk-singers-the-bureau Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/radio8ball See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aaron J. Leonard returns to the show to discuss his newest book "The Folk Singers and The Bureau: The FBI, The Folk Artists, and the Suppression of the Communist Party USA (1939-1956)".  We cover a lot of fascinating history and then we link that history up with the present!  Here is Aaron's playlist mentioned in the show: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHCUjL6Jr73FNc_ak3MyOV_V-6Khic2u4 Music featured in order of appearance: Woody Guthrie - I Ain't Got No Home In This World Anymore Pete Seeger - Which Side Are You On Paul Robeson - No More Auction Block Woody Guthrie - All You Fascists Bound To Lose Woody Guthrie - Tear the Fascists Down Pete Seeger - Solidarity Forever -------- Please Support Rev Left Radio HERE LEARN MORE ABOUT REV LEFT RADIO: www.revolutionaryleftradio.com

Amber interviews author Aaron J. Leonard to discuss his book "A Threat of the First Magnitude: Counterintelligence & Infiltration From the Communist Party to the Revolutionary Union — 1962-1974" You can find A Threat of the First Magnitude here: https://repeaterbooks.com/product/a-threat-of-the-first-magnitude-fbi-counterintelligence-infiltration-from-the-communist-party-to-the-revolutionary-union-1962-1974/