Podcast appearances and mentions of harold meyerson

Trump, facing the wave of popular opposition to pretty much everything he's doing, is working to block Democrats from voting in the midterms, and “election protection” has become a key part of the preparations underway from blue state attorneys general and from voting rights groups like the Brennan Center and the ACLU. Harold Meyerson explains.Also: A large proportion of slaves who escaped from slavery in the South escaped not on foot, but by boat. Marcus Rediker tells their story – his new book is ​"Freedom Ship: The Uncharted History of Escaping Slavery by Sea.​"Plus: The Battle for Black History: On February 1, 1976 President Gerald Ford – a Republican – asked the public to "seize the opportunity to honor the too often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history" – commemorating the first Black History Month. Fifty years later, February 1, 2026, Trump sent workers with crowbars who pried off all 30 interpretive signs about slavery from the walls of the Presidents' House in Philadelphia. The city sued and a federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore the displays about slavery, stating that Trump did not "have the power to erase or alter historical truths."

Trump, facing the wave of popular opposition to pretty much everything he's doing, is working to block Democrats from voting in the midterms, and “election protection” has become a key part of the preparations underway from blue state attorneys general and from voting rights groups like the Brennan Center and the ACLU. Harold Meyerson explains.Also: A large proportion of slaves who escaped from slavery in the South escaped not on foot, but by boat. Marcus Rediker tells their story - his new book is Freedom Ship: The Uncharted History of Escaping Slavery by Sea.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Your Minnesota Moment: Today, ICE is pulling out of Minneapolis after a massive and sustained resistance movement – demonstrating that when you fight Trump you CAN win. Harold Meyerson comments.Also: The size and scale of the resistance to ICE in Minneapolis is too vast to fully comprehend. John Nichols has our report – he's The Nation's executive editor, and he's just spent several days talking to the city's leaders and activists.Plus: Democrats could win a Senate seat in Texas this November. Texas is not so much a red state as it is a low-turnout state. Steve Phillips analyzes Jasmine Crockett's campaign for the Democratic nomination, which relies on organizing non-voters and reluctant voters.

Congress is debating restrictions for ICE this week, we'll go into the funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security; it seems the real negotiations are not between the Democrats and the Republican senators, but between the Democrats and Trump. The "Big Beautiful Bill" provided an additional $75 billion to ICE last July so, if no funding deal is made next week, the Coast Guard and FEMA will be shut down while ICE will continue to operate. Harold Meyerson comments.Next: The Super Bowl is by far the biggest entertainment event of the year in the US, and this Sunday the halftime show will feature Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny, who has been demanding “ICE Out!” How did the Super Bowl halftime show become the center of resistance to ICE? Dave Zirin​ will explain.Also: On February 1, 1960 four students sat down on stools at Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina and ordered coffee and donuts, challenging the rules of segregation with non-violent resistance. They were refused service but were joined the next day by a group of people – sparking a movement to desegregate with sit-ins nationwide.As the Trump administration works to replace multiculturalism with white nationalism – this February – America's 50th observance – Black History month is especially important. From the archives, we revisit an interview with Isabel Wilkerson on her book about the great migration of Black people out of the South: “The Warmth of Other Suns” (originally recorded in 2010).Plus: Your Minnesota Moment: A first-hand account of anti-ICE demonstrations in Minnesota​, and attending Bruce Springsteen's First Avenue performance of "Streets of Minneapolis" – the No. 1 song in America this week.

Eyes on Minneapolis: three-quarters of Americans have seen all or some of the video of the murder of Alex Pretti. With this attention, we have the power to challenge ICE; where do we stand on the Democrats' bill proposing to enforce restrictions? Harold Meyerson comments.Next: The Nation nominates Minneapolis for the Nobel Peace Prize; the first time a city and its people have been nominated for the prize.Also: We have the power to rein in ICE and protect our neighbors, Leah Greenberg argues – she's co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, the group that organized No Kings 2 last October, the largest demonstration in American history. The key right now, she says, is for Senate Democrats to refuse to fund Homeland Security in this week's budget vote, unless Republicans agree to put meaningful restrictions on that lawless agency.Plus: The group Standing Together says it is still possible for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side with full equality and justice for everyone. The are the largest Jewish-Arab grassroots movement in Israel, working to create an alternative to the existing reality by building political power. Sally Abed explains -- she's a Palestinian citizen of Israel, a leader of Standing Together, and she was elected to the Haifa city council in February 2024.

Trump's first year has seen a collapse of support in DC and among voters nationwide, huge losses in the lower courts, and the rise of a massive opposition movement. Meanwhile, as Trump year two begins and the midterms approach, it's looking very good for the Democrats. Harold Meyerson comments.Also: The landscape of resistance in Minneapolis, John Nichols reports, includes surprisingly powerful and effective faith groups, plus unions, neighborhood mutual aid and community safety networks, ICE observer teams, and direct action groups, plus the ACLU and its allies, as well as the outspoken mayor and the fighting state attorney general.Plus: DOGE did NOT reduce spending – at all. But it did reduce federal employment; 271,000 people lost their jobs in the federal government, according to CATO. Sasha Abramsky set out to find out what it was like for some of those people -- his new book reports on the experiences of eleven fired federal workers: American Carnage: How Trump, Musk, and DOGE butchered the US Government.

Part 1:We talk with Anders Croy, Communications Director of Florida Watch and De Santis Watch.We discuss the affordability crisis in Florida, and the promises being made by outgoing governor DeSantis to eliminate property taxes. No substitute for that revenue source is being mentioned, which likely mean cutbacks in services and school budgets. The main contributors to the affordability problems are homeowners insurance costs, and no effective regulation of insurance in Florida, and the likelihood of natural disasters forcing the issue for homeowners. Energy costs, health care, food, other costs continue to rise.Part 2:We talk with Harold Meyerson, Editor at Large at The American Prospect.We discuss the problems of workers in the U.S. Worker compensation is the lowest since 1947. Costs have risen, causing the affordability crisis in the US. Home buyers are priced out of the market, and the median age of first time home buyers has risen to 40. Real wages are shrinking, while costs rise.  WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: John Prine, "That's how Every Empire Falls" 2015

As Trump's support collapses, he has lashed out in two directions–sending an unprecedented number of ICE agents to Minneapolis, where one of them murdered Renee Good, and sending the military to Venezuela, where he says he has seized control of the oil industry. Harold Meyerson comments.Also: Twenty Minutes Without Trump: There's a new TV series about how capitalism came to Communist China: 30 episodes made for Chinese TV by the great Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai, running now on the Criterion Channel. John Powers, critic-at-large on Fresh Air with Terry Gross, explains.Plus: Rick Perlstein talks about the rise of Reagan, from what seemed like a career-ending defeat in the 1976 GOP primary, to his narrow victory in the popular vote in 1980–and how the darkness of the culture war has shaped the Republican Party that Trump came to dominate. Rick's long-awaited book, 1100 pages long, is “Reaganland: America's Right Turn, 1976-1980.”

As Trump's support collapses, he has lashed out in two directions--sending an unprecendented number of ICE agents to Minneapolis, where one of them murdered Renee Good, and sending the military to Venezuela, where he says he has seized control of the oil industry. Harold Meyerson comments.Also: Twenty Minutes Without Trump: There's a new TV series about how capitalism came to Communist China, 30 episodes made for Chinese TV by the great Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai, running now on the Criterion Channel. John Powers, critic-at-large on Fresh Air with Terry Gross, explains.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As Trump's support collapses, he has lashed out in two directions--sending an unprecendented number of ICE agents to Minneapolis, where one of them murdered Renee Good, and sending the military to Venezuela, where he says he has seized control of the oil industry. Harold Meyerson comments.Also: Twenty Minutes Without Trump: There's a new TV series about how capitalism came to Communist China, 30 episodes made for Chinese TV by the great Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai, running now on the Criterion Channel. John Powers, critic-at-large on Fresh Air with Terry Gross, explains.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What is to be done about that ICE agent murdering a woman in Minneapolis, Renée Good, who was a peaceful legal observer trying to drive away from him? Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem called the murder "self defense" – the mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey said that was "bullshit" and to ICE he said, "Get the fuck out of Minneapolis" – and Minnesota Senator Tina Smith said to ICE "Leave us the fuck alone" – Harold Meyerson comments.Also: the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered the VA to provide housing for disabled vets on its land in Los Angeles, something they have refused to do for more than a decade. The ruling should end homelessness among disabled vets everywhere – Mark Rosenbaum of Public Counsel, who won the case, explains.Plus: How a small group of people challenged an unjust law and changed history: Eric Foner, historian and author of “Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad,” talks about the Underground Railroad and its challenge to the Fugitive Slave Act in the years leading up to the Civil War (first broadcast in January, 2015).

The year in politics: Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect comments on Trump's collapsing support in 2025, and the rise of the resistance—in both the unprecedented national mobilizations culminating in the second No Kings Day, and the Democratic triumph in virtually all elections in 2025.Also: the year in court: David Cole, who stepped down this year as national legal director of the ACLU, reviews the 149 rulings against Trump in federal courts this past year, and the 21 times the Supreme Court has supported his attacks on democracy.Plus: From the archives: Ricky Jay was one of the world's great sleight-of-hand artists, distinguished by the remarkable variety of his accomplishments as an author, actor, and historian. In Jay's Journal of Anomalies he described some of his favorite strange entertainments through the ages: throwing cards into watermelons, how to run a flea circus, the art of dental performance and much more – we remember master magician Ricky Jay (first recorded in 2002; he died in 2018).

The year in politics: Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect comments on Trump's collapsing support in 2025, and the rise of the resistance—in both the unprecendented national mobilizations culminating in the second No Kings Day, and the Democratic triumph in virtually all elections in 2025.Also: the year in court: David Cole, who stepped down this year as national legal director of the ACLU, reviews the 149 rulings against Trump in federal courts this past year, and the 21 times the Supreme Court has supported his attacks on democracy.Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The year in politics: Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect comments on Trump's collapsing support in 2025, and the rise of the resistance—in both the unprecendented national mobilizations culminating in the second No Kings Day, and the Democratic triumph in virtually all elections in 2025.Also: the year in court: David Cole, who stepped down this year as national legal director of the ACLU, reviews the 149 rulings against Trump in federal courts this past year, and the 21 times the Supreme Court has supported his attacks on democracy.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Last week, the Indiana state legislature voted down Trump's redistricting demands that would've created more Republican seats in the House; now, four Republicans have joined the Democrats in forcing a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies, AND, 20 House Republicans are supporting the federal workers union — Trump's grip on the Republican party is slipping — Harold Meyerson comments.Also: Today, Friday, is the deadline for the Justice Department to turn over the Epstein files to Congress. But we already know the key fact about Epstein's famous friends—they didn't care that he had hired a 14-year-old girl for sex—and gone to jail for it. But why was that? Katha Pollitt comments.

In this week's special elections, a Democrat got elected mayor of Miami for the first time in almost 30 years — by a 19-point margin; and, even Trump country in Georgia is not safe from Democratic wins – Harold Meyerson comments.Also: How did we end up with Trump back in the White House? We got here in part because Republicans built a movement over several decades centered on what are called “the culture wars.” But there's a long history behind the culture wars, going back at least a century to the Scopes Trial, in 1925, about teaching evolution. It's still an issue today. Adam Hochschild is on the show to explain. (First recorded February 18, 2025)

Trump Targets Venezuela's Oil, Intensifying Pressure on Maduro | Why Are Trump and Vance Trashing a "Decaying" Europe When They Have a Better Quality of Life Than We Do? | The Vexed Relationship Between the U.S. and Iran With a Hostility That Has Lasted Longer Than the Cold War backgroundbriefing.org/donate twitter.com/ianmastersmedia bsky.app/profile/ianmastersmedia.bsky.social facebook.com/ianmastersmedia linktr.ee/backgroundbriefing

Part 1:We talk with Harold Meyerson, Editor-at-large at The American Prospect.We discuss the foreign policy now in place in Trump's administration: White Christians only are our friends. All others, no matter how long they have been allies of the US, are not acceptable.Part 2:We talk with Aaron Regunberg, Contributing Editor for The New Republic.We discuss whether child endangerment charges should be brought against Zuckerberg, for the policies of Facebook, Instagram, etc. These applications are designed to be addictive, and to attract children and young users, who are targeted by adults for sexual and other reasons. There are at least 1/4 M interactions between children and adults daily on these platforms. Decisions about allowing this are made by company executives, with no real oversight.  WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: David Rovics

Trump on Wednesday declared that Democrats who say we are in an affordability crisis are "pulling a con job" – he said prices are "falling across the country, just about everything is down." But the statistics show the opposite, prices have NOT been falling; another key factor of affordability is stagnation of wages – Harold Meyerson comments.On Bob Dylan's earliest recordings "Through the Open Window: A bootleg Series vol. 18" – they start in 1956 when he was 15 years old up through 1963, his historic performance in Carnegie Hall – "Bob Dylan in America" author Sean Wilentz comments.

Last Friday Marjorie Taylor Greene announced she was quitting after Trump excommunicated her from MAGA, while the same day Trump welcomed Zohran Mamdani to the White House with open arms and high praise. What's going on with Trump? Harold Meyerson comments - he's editor at large of The American Prospect.Also: Alice Waters, the legendary founder of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, winner of the National Humanities Medal, awarded by Obama, talks about how to make school lunch delicious, affordable, organic, and beautiful - and locally sourced from regenerative farmers. Her new book is A School Lunch Revolution. Plus: The Republicans call it ‘illegal immigration': Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Sonia Nazario recounts the journey of a 16-year-old Honduran boy who fought immense obstacles and dangers to reach his mother in the US, who he hadn't seen since he was five. Sonia's book is Enrique's Journey. (Originally broadcast in March, 2006)

Last Friday Marjorie Taylor Greene announced she was quitting after Trump excommunicated her from MAGA, while the same day Trump welcomed Zohran Mamdani to the White House with open arms and high praise. What's going on with Trump? Harold Meyerson comments - he's editor at large of The American Prospect.Also: Alice Waters, the legendary founder of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, winner of the National Humanities Medal, awarded by Obama, talks about how to make school lunch delicious, affordable, organic, and beautiful - and locally sourced from regenerative farmers. Her new book is A School Lunch Revolution.Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

ast Friday Marjorie Taylor Greene announced she was quitting after Trump excommunicated her from MAGA, while the same day Trump welcomed Zorhan Mamdani to the White House with open arms and high praise. What's going on with Trump? Harold Meyerson comments - he's editor at large of The American Prospect.Also: Alice Waters, the legendary founder of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, winner of the National Humanities Medal, awarded by Obama, talks about how to make school lunch delicious, affordable, organic, and beautiful - and locally sourced from regenerative farmers. Her new book is A School Lunch Revolution.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On Wednesday night, Trump signed the bill requiring release of the Epstein Files; something he devoted all of his political power to preventing. What does this mean for Trump, for MAGA, and for the rest of us? Harold Meyerson comments. Also: After almost a year of Trump stonewalling about the Epstein files, Republicans in the House finally took a stand against him. More than a hundred Republican members were prepared to vote for releasing the files. Facing a dramatic defeat, on Sunday night Trump caved, and Tuesday the vote in the House was nearly unanimous. John Nichols has our analysis.Plus: The Americans who fought in World War II have been called “the greatest generation,” but historian David Nasaw argues that it's more appropriate to regard them as “the wounded generation.” That's the title of his new book about vets coming home after WWII.

Last week ended with the Democrats triumphant after huge wins with voters across the country; then at the start of this week the Republicans were triumphant when eight Senate Democrats caved on the shutdown; but then, since Wednesday, Trump and the Republicans have been reeling since Democrats on the House oversight committee released devastating emails from the Epstein files – Harold Meyerson comments. Also: As mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani will be the first socialist in American history to hold significant power. It's a huge opportunity, and a huge responsibility. Bhaskar Sunkara, president of The Nation and author of “The Socialist Manifesto,” will comment.Plus: How a band of visionaries and a million dollars upended America – in the 1920s, which had some remarkable similarities to our own era. Award winning historian John Fabian Witt will explain; his new book is ‘The Radical Fund.'

The blue wave – or "blue tsunami" – this week restored the Democrats' winning coalition: people of color, young people and women. Harold Meyerson on how Tuesday shows us that while "candidate Trump is good for Republican turnout, President Trump is good for Democratic turnout".Also: Greil Marcus comments on the new film about Bruce Springsteen writing the songs for his 1982 album “Nebraska”, starring starring Jeremy Allen White of ‘The Bear.” The movie misses the context: working class decline in Reagan's America. Greil Marcus is the author of two dozen books, including “Mystery Train,” which has just been reissued in a special 50th anniversary edition. Plus: From the archives: William Randolph Hearst: the media mogul the left loved to hate. David Nasaw discuses his biography "The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst" (first recorded by 2001).

Voters can take a stand against Trump's candidates in next Tuesday's elections in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and New York City—and move toward redistricting that favors Democrats. Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect explains.Also: A new art exhibit in Los Angeles, called Monuments, displays 10 decommissioned Confederate monuments alongside the work of 19 artists responding or relating to them. It's at MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and at the Brick, an arts nonprofit. Christopher Knight comments—he's the art critic for the Los Angeles Times and a winner of the Pulitzer Prize in criticism.Plus: From the archives, Rebecca Solnit talks about how "Men Explain Things To Me." (originally broadcast in 2014).

Part 1:We talk with Harvey Kronberg, Publisher of the Quorum Report in Texas.We discuss upcoming elections in Texas, and who is likely to do well in the Senate Race.We also talk about Texans' dissatisfaction with the governor's actions regarding sending the Texas National Guard to other states.Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry and Harold Meyerson.We discuss the upcoming mayoral elections in NYC, and what the likely outcome would mean the two major parties. We also talk about the destruction of the east wing of the White House, and what it represents.  WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: David Rovics

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Voters can take a stand against Trump's candidates in next Tuesday's elections in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and New York City – and move toward redistricting that favors Democrats. Harold Meyerson explains.Also: a new art exhibit in Los Angeles, called ‘Monuments,' displays ten decommissioned Confederate monuments alongside the work of 19 artists responding or relating to them. It's at MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and at the Brick, an arts nonprofit. Christopher Knight comments -- he's art critic for the LA Times and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Criticism.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Voters can take a stand against Trump's candidates in next Tuesday's elections in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and New York City – and move toward redistricting that favors Democrats. Harold Meyerson explains.Also: a new art exhibit in Los Angeles, called ‘Monuments,' displays ten decommissioned Confederate monuments alongside the work of 19 artists responding or relating to them. It's at MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and at the Brick, an arts nonprofit. Christopher Knight comments -- he's art critic for the LA Times and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Criticism.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

From the biggest single day of protest in American history – 7 million people demonstrating against Trump – to his worst major poll since he took office in January – it hasn't been a good week for Trump – unless you count the tearing down of the east wing of the White House. Harold Meyerson comments.No Kings Day on Oct. 18 was the largest peaceful protest in American history. Rebecca Solnit comments, and refutes Republican statements about violence on the left. Her most recent book is “Orwell's Roses.”Also: the fight to control the LA police: a decades long effort that culminated in 1992, after the Rodney King riots, when longtime police chief Darryl Gates was forced out. Danny Goldberg comments – at the time he was board chair of the ACLU of Southern California Foundation, and his new book is “Liberals With Attitude.”

Part 1:We talk with Stephen Pimpare.We discuss the demolition of the east wing of the White House. This embodies the systematic destruction of the state itself. What will come after this?Part 2:We talk with Harold Meyerson.We discuss how Executive Orders are the way in which Trump has seized more and more power over the US government. How will a successor use this power?We discuss the dramatic rise in racism in the US.We also discuss Trump capitalism.  WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics

The Supreme Court vs. The Voting Rights Act: The conservative majority of SCOTUS plans to eliminate 12 Democratic seats in the House, currently held by Black representatives. What are the implications for the 2026 midterms; and, what can the Democrats do to counter this latest gerrymandering nightmare? Harold Meyerson comments.Also: Saturday is the second No Kings Day – it should be the biggest single day of protest in American history, with more than 2,500 events planned. Leah Greenberg will explain the preparations – she's co-founder of Indivisible, the group that called the first No Kings day, June 14 – five million people participated in that one, held the same day as Trump's birthday parade – the one no one came to.Plus: There's “a forthrightly antifascist film” that critics call “wild and thrilling” -- of course, that's “One Battle After Another,” the Paul Thomas Anderson movie starring Leonardo di Caprio as a burnt out left wing bomber, targeted by an ICE captain played by Sean Penn. John Powers will comment—he's critic at large on Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

Hamas Moves to Assert Control Over Gaza Making the Prospect of an Arab/Muslim Police Force Taking Over Dubious While Trump, Miller and Vance's Demonization of the American Left is Ludicrous, We Look Into Rifts Between the Fundis and the Realos | How Far Will the Country Sink Into the Trump Abyss of Corruption, Venality, Malevolence and Vulgarity? backgroundbriefing.org/donate twitter.com/ianmastersmedia bsky.app/profile/ianmastersmedia.bsky.social facebook.com/ianmastersmedia

Harold Meyerson comments on what remains to be done for genuine peace in Gaza; he also reviews the National Guard deployments to Portland and Chicago, the upcoming elections in California and elsewhere, and Trump's lastest attacks on universities.Also: as the Supreme Court begins its new term, Trump lost six different cases in district courts just last week, ranging from bans on deploying the National Guard to defending freedom of speech for noncitizens, to yet another court rejecting his executive order abolishing birthright citizenship. At the same time, Trump is claiming an illegitimate legal basis for ordering the murder of civilians he claims are trafficing in drugs. David Cole will comment—he's a former national legal director of the ACLU and The Nation's legal affairs correspondent.

For Senate Democrats this is a big week for defiance. At last they are making popular demands as part of a deal to pass a budget and avoid a government shutdown. But Trump still holds a lot of cards. Harold Meyerson will comment.Also: None of us were prepared for the double whammy of last week's White House press conference, where Trump made false claims not only about vaccines but also about Tylenol causing autism. We'll have analysis from Gregg Gonsalves. He teaches at the Yale School of Public Health; he's been an AIDS activist for 30 years; and he's also a MacArthur Fellow—class of 2018. And he's The Nation's public health correspondent. And Steve Almond talks about the trouble with football - the thousands of concussions from "hits" that leave players with brain damage - for our entertainment. His book is "Against Football." (originally broadcast in 2015)

For the Senate Democrats this is a big week for defiance. At last they are making popular demands as part of a deal to pass a budget and avoid a government shutdown. But Trump still holds a lot of cards. Harold Meyerson will comment.Also: None of us were prepared for the double whammy of last week's White House press conference, where Trump made false claims not only about vaccines, but also about Tylenol causing autism. We'll have analysis from Gregg Gonsalves. He teaches at the Yale School of Public Health; he's been an AIDS activist for 30 years; and he's also a MacArthur Fellow -- class of 2018. And he's The Nation's public health correspondent. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

With his attacks on late-night comedians, Trump is practicing the "cancel culture" he pledged to eliminate. Harold Meyerson comments.Also: Democrats have been winning big victories in special elections in diverse places across the country. John Nichols comments.Plus: Why fascists fear teachers - starting in L.A. Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT, explains - her new book is "Why Fascists Fear Teachers."

Who is the real mainstream of the Democratic party? Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani? Or Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries? Some recent polls might have the answer – Harold Meyerson comments.Also: Trump had four major court decisions against him in a single week last week: on tariffs, defunding Harvard, sending troops to LA, and deporting Venezuelans, different courts and appellate panels said he was violating the law. Erwin Chemerinsky comments – he's Dean of the Law School at Berkeley.Plus: The new film “Caught by the Tides” by Jia Zhangke, considered worldwide to be the most important director in China: Over the last 30 years, his great project has been to tell stories that show the radical transformation of Chinese life by capitalism and the state. John Powers explains – he's critic at large on Fresh Air with Terry Gross. The film is streaming now on the Criterion Channel.

part one:Trump Says America's Oil Industry Is Cleaner Than Other Countries'. New Data Shows Massive Emissions From Texas Wells The oil industry touts Texas as a success story in controlling climate-warming methane emissions. The state's regulator, however, grants nearly every request to burn or vent gas into the atmosphere.reporter: Martha Pskowski covers climate change and the environment in Texas from her base in El Paso. part two:24 years since 9-11the assassination of Charlie Kirkthe state of the US economya conversation with: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.Harold Meyerson is editor at large of The American Prospect.

Putin Tests the NATO Alliance With a Drone Incursion Into Poland | Why Are Democratic Leaders Avoiding Popular And Promising Candidates Like Mamdani and Maine's Oysterman? | Qatar Was Not Warned About the Israeli Attack Which Happened at 3.46 Because the US Told Them About it 10 Minutes Later at 3.56 backgroundbriefing.org/donate twitter.com/ianmastersmedia bsky.app/profile/ianmastersmedia.bsky.social facebook.com/ianmastersmedia

The United States government is taking a 10 percent stake in Intel, blurring the lines between capitalism and state ownership. While critics say it's a dangerous power grab, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is praising President Donald Trump's move.On this episode of Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with The American Prospect's Harold Meyerson and Cornell University law professor Bob Hockett to tackle the deeper question: Should the U.S. government own pieces of big corporations? Get ad-free episodes, bonus content and extended interviews by becoming a member at levernews.com/join.To leave a tip for The Lever, click here. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism.

While Labor Unions are more popular than ever in America, a federal appeals court has ruled the NLRB itself is unconstitutional - which, if upheld, means it's up to the states to do what the NLRB did. Harold Meyerson comments.Also: What is Trump's strategy in deploying the National Guard to LA, then DC, and now probably Chicago and New York? Does he want the military in the streets of blue cities for the midterms next year? They will still elect Democrats to the House. John Nichols comments.Plus: It's time to take a step back from the daily barrage of bad news to look at the big picture of the strategy Trump has been following. David Cole explains how he's exploited the power of the federal government, not just to attack his political opponents in the Democratic Party, but also weaken the institutions of civil society that form the bedrock of democracy.

The National Guard, still in DC, bolstered by units from southern Red states, remains overwhelmingly unpopular, especially ICE's deportation efforts – Harold Meyerson reports.Also: In The Nation's interview with Zohran Mamdani, he talks how he won the New York City Democratic primary for mayor, by addressing the city's affordability crisis—and what the Democrats can learn from his victory. Katrina vanden Heuvel and John Nichols, who conducted the interview, introduce our excerpts and set the stage.Plus: In WWII, Denmark rescued a larger proportion of their Jewish population than any other country – 95%. How they did it suggests how we can resist Trump's attacks on undocumented residents. Sarah Sophie Flicker explains – she's an organizer who's a co-founder of the Women's March on Washington.

Report from Washington D.C. – where Trump has deployed the National Guard, ICE and FBI agents. He has also federalized the D.C. Police Department​ – this requires them to cooperate with ICE. These operations contrast with Trump's deployment of the National Guard in LA, which, has a "different political topology"– Harold Meyerson comments.Also: Donald Trump is demanding that UCLA pay a $1 billion fine for antisemitism on campus – in addition to the $584 million in cuts to medical and scientific research already imposed by his administration. But one Billion? Why not one Trillon? David Myers will comment – He's a distinguished professor at UCLA who teaches Jewish history.Plus: From the Archives: Adam Hochschild on guns in Trump's America after the Parkland shootings. He talks about armed militias, about the law in Iowa that permits the carrying of loaded guns in public by people who are blind, and about why the Koch Brothers are major funders of the NRA—even though they are not especially enthusiastic about guns. (Originally recorded April 20, 2018.)

Trump's Performative Takeover of the Street of Washington DC as Its Residents Cry "Fascists", "Pigs" and "Go Home" | What Can Democrats Do To Be Proactive, Not Reactive to Trump | California Governor Newsom's Announcement of a November 4 Special Election to Counter the Texas Gerrymander backgroundbriefing.org/donate twitter.com/ianmastersmedia bsky.app/profile/ianmastersmedia.bsky.social facebook.com/ianmastersmedia

Trump's ICE is attacking undocumented people in LA County because there are a lot of them -- maybe a million, out of a total of 3.3 million Latinos, and also because LA is one of the most Democratic counties in the country. And LA has a big and militant alliance of immigrants rights groups that are fighting Trump. Harold Meyerson will explain the deportation battle in Southern California at this point. Also: Rachel Kushner will talk about the informant and provacateur who infiltrates an anarchist eco-commune in rural France – the central character in her award-winning novel, “Creation Lake” - it's out now, in paperback.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Trump's ICE is attacking undocumented people in LA County because there are a lot of them -- maybe a million, out of a total of 3.3 million Latinos, and also because LA is one of the most Democratic counties in the country. And LA has a big and militant alliance of immigrants rights groups that are fighting Trump. Harold Meyerson will explain the deportation battle in Southern California at this point. Also: Rachel Kushner will talk about the informant and provacateur who infiltrates an anarchist eco-commune in rural France – the central character in her award-winning novel, “Creation Lake” - it's out now, in paperback.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

With tanks rolling down the street in DC on Saturday and troops being deployed to LA, it's never been more important to come together in nonviolent action to exercise our First Amendment right to peaceful protest. That's what the organization Indivisible says about Saturday's National Day of Defiance – the nationwide “No Kings” protests. Ezra Levin will explain; he's co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible. Also: Who, exactly, is being arrested by ICE agents in Los Angeles? Why is the National Guard downtown LA? And What are the 700 marines Trump sent to LA supposed to do? Harold Meyerson will comment - he's editor at large of The American Prospect.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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