Podcasts about public agenda

In this week's episode of the Momentum Parenting Podcast, join your hosts, Dr. Roseanne Lesack and Dr. Jillian Wilson as they discuss the ever-present question, how much is too much when considering after-school activities? The goal of this episode is to help parents determine the right balance of activities that fit your child's unique needs and your family's busy life. Hosts will discuss three major considerations to make when navigating the world of extracurriculars: (1) choosing the right activities, (2) how to include your child in the choice of extracurriculars, and (3) juggling your own responsibilities and keeping the success of the whole family unit in mind. Tune in for a fun and informative chat that will help you create a well-rounded schedule for your family! References: Brown, S. L., Nobiling, B. D., Teufel, J., & Birch, D. A. (2011). Are kids too busy? Early adolescents' perceptions of discretionary activities, overscheduling, and stress. Journal of School Health, 81(9), 574-580. Duffett, A., Johnson, J., Farkas, S., Kung, S., & Ott, A. (2004). All work and no play? Listening to what kids and parents really want from out-of-school time. Public Agenda. Disclaimer: This podcast represents the opinions of the hosts and their guests. Views and opinions expressed in the podcast are our own and do not necessarily represent that of our employers or Momentum Parenting, LLC. The content discussed by the hosts or their guests should not be taken as mental health or medical advice and is for informational and educational purposes only. In no way does listening, contacting our hosts, or engaging with our content establish a doctor-patient relationship. Please consult your or your child's healthcare professional for any mental health or medical questions. Strategies discussed in this podcast are backed by peer-reviewed literature. Please see show notes for references. All examples mentioned in the podcast have been modified to protect patient confidentiality.

David Schleifer, the VP of Research at Public Agenda, joins Lisa Dent to talk about their recent poll that revealed most Chicago residents gave Chicago Public Schools a “C” when it comes to performance. Schleifer explains what led to the poll results. Follow The Lisa Dent Show on Twitter:Follow @LisaDentSpeaksFollow @SteveBertrand Follow @kpowell720 Follow @maryvandeveldeFollow […]

For our final show in 2023, enjoy these recent favorites: Andrew Seligsohn, president of Public Agenda, talks about his group's project to ensure participation in voting and restore trust in democracy ahead of the 2024 elections. Dave Isay, founder and president of StoryCorps, reflects on 20 years of stories produced by StoryCorps. Larry Buchanan, graphics editor and reporter at The New York Times, talks about the "extremely detailed map" he made of New York City neighborhoods, and what the map, neighborhood names and fuzzy (and sharp!) borders say about, as he writes, "gentrification, displacement, inequality, status." Jill Lepore, professor of American History at Harvard University, staff writer at The New Yorker, host of the podcasts The Last Archive and Elon Musk and the author of several books, including These Truths and her latest, The Deadline: Essays (Liveright, 2023), talks about her latest collection of essays, most of which focused on the relationship between America's past and its polarized present. Don't ask Lydia Polgreen, New York Times opinion columnist and co-host of the “Matter of Opinion” podcast, to go on a walk with you. In a column this autumn, she celebrated the "solitary amble" and laments the "social tyranny" of the walking date or meeting. Polgreen made her case, as listeners responded.   These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions of the interviews are available through these links:  A Plan to Strengthen Democracy in 2024 (Nov. 9) Celebrating 20 Years of StoryCorps (Oct. 23) Where One Neighborhood Ends and Another Begins (Nov. 2) Jill Lepore on the Past and Present, the Personal and Political (Aug. 30) Take A Walk With Me? (Sep 21)

Andrew Seligsohn, president of Public Agenda, talks about his group's project to ensure participation in voting and restore trust in democracy ahead of the 2024 elections. → Public Agenda's "Democracy Renewal Project" 

On Today's Show:Andrew Seligsohn, president of Public Agenda, talks about his group's project to ensure participation in voting and restore trust in democracy ahead of the 2024 elections.

On Today's Show:Andrew Seligsohn, president of Public Agenda, talks about his group's project to ensure participation in voting and restore trust in democracy ahead of the 2024 elections.

This week on a special episode of “Off the Cuff,” Justin is joined by Michael Itzkowitz, the former director of the College Scorecard under the Obama administration, in a wide-ranging discussion focused on data and accountability metrics in higher education. Michael, the founder and president of the Higher Education Advisory Group and a non-resident senior fellow at Public Agenda, goes on to share his insights on varying metrics and outcome data, as well as his thoughts on short-term Pell Grants. Hugh catches listeners up on some new institutional oversight from Federal Student Aid and developments concerning the 2024-25 FAFSA.

Andrew J. Seligsohn, political scientist and president of Public Agenda, and Errin Haines, editor-at-large at The 19th, offer analysis of President Biden's State of the Union address and what the remarks reveal about the White House agenda for 2023.

After yesterday's State Of The Union, a look at what President Biden said, how he said it, what the response has been so far, and what it means for politics. On Today's Show:Andrew J. Seligsohn, political scientist and president of Public Agenda, and Errin Haines, editor-at-large at The 19th, offer analysis of President Biden's State of the Union address and what the remarks reveal about the White House agenda for 2023.

For decades, colleges and universities enjoyed almost unquestioned public support as some of America's most important institutions. Like most institutions, they've been knocked off that pedestal in recent years, amid growing questions not about whether higher education remains important but whether it's available, affordable and valuable enough. This week's episode of The Key is the first in a three-part series on the concept of “value” in higher education, made possible by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The topic has gotten increasing attention as college prices and student debt continue to rise and policy makers develop data showing the return on investment for specific academic programs. Today's episode looks at several recent surveys of public attitudes about higher education. Participants include Sophie Nguyen, senior policy analyst with New America's Education Program, which publishes Varying Degrees and numerous other surveys about higher education; David Schleifer, vice president and director of research at Public Agenda, a national research organization; and Natasha Quadlin, an associate professor of sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and co-author of Who Should Pay? Higher Education, Responsibility, and the Public, published this year by the Russell Sage Foundation.   Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Editor Doug Lederman Episode sponsored by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

A new USA Today and Public Agenda poll shows people still value higher education but think the cost of a degree is too expensive and time-consuming for working adults. USA Today's education enterprise reporter Chris Quintana explains the results of the survey and discusses the health of the nation's higher education system.

Sense & Signal Podcast Episode 5: Why Higher Education? What is its value? Building off their previous conversation around Simon Sinek's Golden Circle and the importance of asking why, Jodah and Dan delve into answering why higher education? What is its value? Is higher education important to society and the individual? Links: Report on Public Agenda study on people's perceptions of the value of higher education: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/07/12/most-americans-skeptical-value-college-degree Vice Interview with Anya Kamenetz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMAm2u_J50g Bryan Alexander on Future of Higher Education https://www.google.com/search?q=bryan+alexander+higher+education&source=lmns&bih=1487&biw=2504&client=safari&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj6_dW05rX5AhXoKjQIHXITBjAQ_AUoAHoECAEQAA Sense & Signal Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/518823636727833 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-tarker/message

John's guests are Melissa Whitler and Sara Spafford Freeman (and Sara's large dog). We talk about the Minneapolis Public Schools, racism and segregation, unfunded mandates for special education and English learners, white parents who don't send their kids to the neighborhood school, why you should "defund your PTA," and how to fill an oncoming budget hole once the federal covid relief money dries up. Call your state legislators: The most important bill currently before the legislature is from Rep. Wolgamott of St. Cloud. It would require the state to pay districts for the full cost of the special education services that they provide to students. For MPS, this would be approximately $50 million additional funding in the next fiscal year. Melissa Whitler currently covers Minneapolis Public Schools for Southwest Voices. She is an MPS parent, a public education enthusiast, and has lived in Minneapolis for over two decades. In her free time, she makes pottery. Read her article about the district's "budget emergency" https://www.southwestvoices.news/posts/mps-is-quietly-facing-a-budget-emergency Sara Spafford Freeman is a strategy consultant in the med tech industry, long time volunteer at two Minneapolis Public Schools, cofounder of the MPS Academics Advocacy Group, and Board member for the Advancing Equity Coalition. Watch Sara's presentation: "How Parent Fundraising Perpetuates Racial Disparities in Minneapolis Public Schools." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDQc4XaWGSU FURTHER READING Four years of the Minneapolis school district's financial projections: 2021- https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1807?meeting=505243 2020- https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1807?meeting=444110 2019- https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1807?meeting=320564 2018- https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1807?meeting=320091 Links to the audited financial statements of the district, and the meetings at which they were presented: 2018- https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1807?meeting=320100 2019- https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1807?meeting=320564 2020- https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1807?meeting=444109 2021- https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1807?meeting=507242 Report on MN K-12 education finance: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/mnschfin.pdf Watch this episode and view other clips: youtube.com/wedgelive Join the conversation: twitter.com/wedgelive Support the show: patreon.com/wedgelive Wedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee

Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss America's obsession with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ritter argues that the US obsession with the person of Vladimir Putin misses the critically important issues involving US and European security interests.Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to discuss domestic politics. The Poor People's Campaign is blasting Senator Joe Manchin's proposal to apply means-testing to a revival of the expired child tax credit. Also, the Florida GOP is pushing to weaken the ballot initiative process after losing on several important issues.Dr. David Oualaalou, international geopolitical consultant, global speaker, author, veteran, former international security analyst in Washington, DC, and the founder of Global Perspective Consulting headquartered in Dallas, TX., joins us to discuss the NATO security crisis. Cracks are opening up in NATO leadership as the security interests of some EU nations clash with the hegemonic desires of the US empire. Also, Ukraine, the UK, and Poland are creating a three-nation security pact that as yet remains undefined.Marvin Weinbaum, director for the Middle East DInstitute's Center for Pakistan and Afghanistan Studies, joins us to discuss Afghanistan. Russia and China are sending supplies to Afghanistan and working to stabilize the nation's economy and possibly normalize relations.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Turkey has bombed several Kurdish locations in Northern Iraq. Also, Amnesty International has a new report defining the Israeli occupation as apartheid and Iran says that their maximum resistance will overcome the US campaign of maximum pressure.Steve Poikonen, national organizer for Action4Assange, joins us to discuss Yemen. The US is getting more deeply involved with the Yemen war as the conflict spreads to other parts of the region. Ted Rall, political cartoonist and syndicated columnist, joins us to discuss censorship. Germany has banned Russian News Channel RT claiming that it does not meet the necessary license requirements. Also, Caitlyn Johnstone talks about the propensity of consumers of western media to attack those who reject the mainstream foreign policy narratives towards Russia and China. Dr. Ken Hammond, professor of East Asian and global history at New Mexico State University, joins us to discuss China. The upcoming meeting between Presidents Putin and Xi Jinping is significant for the security of the world. Also, China issues a clear warning to the US about their willingness to use force if necessary to resolve the Taiwan crisis.

Dr. Gene Olinger, Professor at Boston University, and principal science advisor for MRI Global Inc., joins us to talk about the ongoing debate over boosters and lockdowns. We discuss the efficacy of booster shots, whether we will have to take multiple shots over years as populations reach immunity, and how vaccine hesitancy could hinder these efforts. We also talk about a wave of lockdowns in Europe as COVID cases surge, the economic consequences of lockdowns, and whether they become redundant in highly vaccinated populations. Jenna Kunze, journalist at Native News Online talks to us about the Makah community of coastal Washington and their efforts to exercise their right to whale hunting. We talk about how this struggle for autonomy and tradition becomes entangled in a debate over conservation and commercial fisheries, and how long standing treaties allowing these practices sometimes get caught up in bureaucratic fights with federal and state regulatory bodies.Dr. Garth Myers, Professor of Urban International Studies and Director of the Center for Urban and Global Studies at Trinity College, joins us to discuss the implications from a report concluding that by the end of this century, thirteen of the world's 20 biggest urban areas will be in Africa. We talk about how these reports sometimes should be treated with caution, and how countries could manage this growth, create new global partnerships, and provide the necessary infrastructure for their populations.Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda talks to us about media and media manipulation, how major outlets continue to maintain their imperial and neocolonialist outlook towards the world that do not reflect reality, and how media literacy is crucial. We also talk about how the New York State Assembly found “overwhelming evidence” that former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo engaged in sexual harassment while in office and mishandled the pandemic.Darren Thompson, reporter for Native News Online and Unicorn Riot tells us about the Pocahontas Reframed Storytellers Film Festival with both a live and virtual film festival highlighting Indigenous voices, stories, filmmakers, producers, and writers, and the importance of highlighting native voices in the arts.

Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to wrap up the important stories for the week. Facebook is under attack as a "whistleblower" that is highly connected to US intelligence agencies pushes a narrative of government censorship. Julian Assange faces the wrath of the US empire, Nicaragua stands up against the US regime change push, and Tony Blinken steps on China's Taiwanese red lines.Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri- Kansas City, joins us to discuss the economic stories for the week. The left flank of the Democratic Party refuses to sign onto Biden's stripped down legislation, economic growth slows to 2%, and the weekly jobless numbers are in.Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, professor, epidemiologist, veterinarian, and the daughter of former Nigerian President Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, joins us to discuss the US empire in Africa. The US empire seems connected to recent coups in Guinea and Sudan. The coup plotters in Guinea were trained by US soldiers, and the US envoy met with the plotters in Sudan just hours before they arrested the prime minister. Dr. Colin Campbell, a Washington, DC, news correspondent, and Gary Flowers, host of “The Gary Flowers Show” on radio station Rejoice WREJ-AM 990, come together to talk politics. Disgraced former New York governor Andrew Cuomo has been charged with a criminal offense related to one of the allegations of a sexual offense. Also, we discuss Julian Assange and Biden stripping social programs from his Build Back Better bill as the war budget increases.Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.net and CounterPunch, and Margaret Kimberly, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report, join us to discuss this week's important stories. There are new allegations of miscreant behavior against the 2016 Clinton campaign as they pushed falsehoods about Trump-Russia ties. Also, the Facebook whistleblower is outed as a likely intelligence operative, the Assange hearing concludes, and the US regime change machine fires up in Cuba once again.

Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to discuss the debt ceiling fight. The US House of Representative has passed a temporary debt ceiling bill that will expire in December. The bill passed without a single Republican vote and many Republicans are arguing that it should not be raised. Will Congress imperil the credit of the United States? Steve Poikonen, national organizer for Action4Assange, joins us to discuss Amazon. A recent investigation has revealed that Amazon is copying products and then rigging its internal searches to promote its own products. The tech giant has previously denied those allegations and the investigation reveals that at least two senior executives were in on the plot.Jack Rasmus, professor in economics and politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss the economy. Dr Jack Rasmus has an interesting new article in which he argues that the desperate shortage in the labor market is a new type of worker action. Dr Jack says that because the workers are withholding their labor for better pay and working conditions their action can be classified as a strike. Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, joins us to discuss Israel. Israel settlers have desecrated one of the oldest Muslim graveyards near the Al Aqsa mosque. Cheryl LaBash, Cuban solidarity activist and co-chair of the National Network on Cuba, joins us to discuss Cuba. Cuba's Henry Reeve Medical Brigade has been recognized worldwide for its work on the coronavirus pandemic. Our guest argues that the US is hampering actions that work for the betterment of humankind in its quest for domination over the tiny island nation and ultimately the world.Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss the US military. A US marine who was disciplined for publicly criticizing the US handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal will reportedly plead guilty to a few charges. Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller is seeking to work out a plea bargain in which he is allowed to maintain some of his retirement benefits.K. J. Noh, peace activist, writer, and teacher, joins us to discuss China. A Democratic congresswoman has proposed that President Biden should have the authority to attack China and potentially start World War 3 without congressional approval. Also, our guest discusses the potential for war in the Pacific.Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal. Mark Sledoba lends us his technical expertise on submarines to discuss the issue of underwater warfare and in particular in regards to the US/China/Russia confrontation. Many observers believe that Europe must realign itself diplomatically for a closer relationship with Russia, China, and the Eurasian realm due to the recent actions of the US empire.

Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to wrap up the important stories for the week. North Korea is working on strengthening its missile program in light of US aggression and threats. Also, the US is arguing that they need to work with the Europeans to retard China's innovative advancement in technology. Dr. Anthony Monteiro joins us to talk about the US empire and a potential 2024 presidential run by Donald Trump. Robert Kagan has penned an article in the Washington Post wherein he discusses whether the government can or should do anything to prevent a second Trump presidency. Also, we discuss whether the US empire is losing its power as the world's hegemonic force.Jack Rasmus, professor in economics and politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss the economic stories for the week. President Biden has signed the bipartisan bill which has temporarily halted a government shutdown. Also, we discuss the weekly jobless rates and the battle between the left flank of the Democratic party and the corporate leaders of the organization.Niko House, political activist, independent journalist and podcaster, and Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.net & CounterPunch and the author of "Danger to Society: Against Vaccine Passports," come together to talk politics. Mike Pompeo has tacitly admitted to the claims that he threatened the life of Julian Assange by arguing that those who leaked this claim should be prosecuted for revealing state secrets. Also, we discuss YouTube's blocking of Russia Today Germany, Israel's influence in US politics, and the arms industry's economic stranglehold on Congress.Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, and Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, join us to discuss this week's important news stories. President Biden recently rejected a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the UN in New York. Also, President Biden's approval rating is dropping among key voters, the battle is heating up between corporate Democrats and their left flank, and the US envoy to Haiti has resigned in protest.

Michelle Witte, co-host of Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, joins us to talk about the results of the federal elections in Germany, where the Social Democrats won a narrow victory, paving the way for a center-left coalition. We talk about what this coalition building effort may look like, who will become kingmaker, and how the right-wing Alternative for Germany Party lost seats, but still came ahead of the leftist party Die Linke. We also talk about how the Greens have lost influence, and what lies ahead for the party. John Kiriakou, co host of The Backstory on Radio Sputnik, talks to us about how CIA officials during the Trump administration had contemplated either abducting or even assassinating Julian Assange, with Mike Pompeo publicly describing Wikileaks in 2017 as a “non-state hostile intelligence service.” We talk about some of the proposals that, at times, took an outlandish quality, and whether they would have been able to pull any of these off. Dr. Sharon Anderson, attorney and business consultant, former law school professor and lecturer at Howard Law, and the CEO and Founder of KCG Consulting Services, joins us to talk about the Minnesota Supreme Court throwing out the third-degree murder conviction of a former Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot a woman who had called 911 to report a possible rape behind her home, whether this ruling could give former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin grounds to appeal his own third-degree murder conviction, and the legal tools to hold police accountable Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to talk about the ongoing fight over President Biden's $3.5 trillion infrastructure deal, how it has become a do-or-die fight that now includes the threat of a government closure if the debt ceiling is not expanded by September 30th. We also talk about how Biden, despite presenting himself as the great uniter of both the Democrats and Republicans, is now struggling to unite his own party, and how some profitable corporations may still pay no taxes under a Democratic proposal.

A survey by Public Agenda's Hidden Common Ground initiative continues to take on the very common belief that Americans are ideologically divided, to the point of being incapable of working together. The organization's most recent survey was “fielded” in May 2021 and finds that most Americans believe the democracy is in trouble. The respondents differ … Continue reading "Survey results indicate many believe the “democracy is in crisis”"

The Brian Lehrer Show observes the Independence Day holiday with these recent interviews: Ibram X. Kendi, professor in the humanities and the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, columnist at The Atlantic, and Keisha Blain, University of Pittsburgh historian and president of the African American Intellectual History Society, talk about this moment in Black history and their new collection of 80 writers' and 10 poets' take on the American story, Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 (One World, 2021). Told five years at a time, the book documents the history of Black people across this country's 400-year history. Census data revealed in April that Puerto Rico lost almost 12% of its population since the last count. Alana Casanova-Burgess, host of WNYC and Futuro Studio's La Brega and producer for WNYC Studios, talks about the conditions that led to so many people leaving the island, and listeners who moved to the mainland call in to talk about why they did and where they went. David Schleifer, director of research at Public Agenda, a nonpartisan public opinion research organization, and Gerard Robinson, USA Today opinion contributor, AEI scholar and a former secretary of education in Virginia and former Florida education commissioner, talk about the latest report on America's "Hidden Common Ground" and what issues research shows run counter to narratives of "bubbles" and separate realities. Gregory Jost, adjunct professor of sociology at Fordham University; a researcher, facilitator, and organizer with expertise on the history of redlining and the Bronx; and a consultant with the Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association — and Wanda Salaman, a longtime activist and the executive director of Mothers on the Move, a member-led community organization that advocates for the well-being of low-income people of color in the South Bronx, offer a historical and sociological overview of a neighborhood in the Bronx that has become the epicenter of the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic in New York City, West Farms, zip code: 10460. These interviews were edited slightly for time, the original versions are available here:  A 'Community History' of Black America (February 3, 2021) What the Census Revealed About Puerto Rico (April 30, 2021) Finding Common Ground (May 19, 2021) West Farms 10460: An Overview (February 4, 2021)

Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, and Sean Blackmon, co-host of By Any Means Necessary, join us to talk about a new poll conducted in San Francisco, where crime and homelessness were ranked among the highest levels of concerns, and how the framing of this survey purposely demonize the working poor and the homeless. We also talk about another poll out from Axios and Momentive which looked at attitudes of Americans towards capitalism and socialism, and found that just half of younger Americans now hold a positive view of capitalism, and how these shifting attitudes could point a way towards a different economic system.Tiana Caldwell, Leader and Board President of KC Tenants, and José Torres, Sputnik Radio producer, join us to talk about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against lifting a nationwide moratorium on evictions put in place by the Centers for Disease Control, and how this is just kicking the can down the road without a real plan for rent cancellation. We also talk about the programs established to provide rent relief for tenants and the difficulties navigating various systems within these, how the onus is put on the tenants to receive help, and how this problem will not be solved without having a conversation around the idea of housing as a human right and not as a commodity.Mohamed Elmaazi, freelance journalist and contributor to numerous outlets including Jacobin, The Canary and The Electronic Intifada, talks to us about a series of actions by the group Palestine Action against numerous UK-based companies connected to Israel, the evolution of the American left after the last bombing campaign by Israel against Palestine, the continued removal of Palestinians from Jerusalem neighborhoods, and the news of the fabrications of a key witness in the Assange case.Nookie Bishop, host of the Digital Gumbo podcast, talks to us about Carmelo Anthony winning the NBA's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award, the controversy over the Gwen Berry reprimand over political protests, and the OSU sexual assault case.

Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Supporters of the Palestinians are enraged as a civil leader is arrested and dies in the custody of the Palestinian National Authority. Also, international security analysts are asserting that the Afghan government will likely fall within six months after the US reduces its troop levels. Jack Rasmus, professor in economics and politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss economics. Dr. Jack asserts that the illusion of partisan haggling over the details of the infrastructure bill was kabuki theatre, and the final arrangements were worked out weeks ago. Also, he breaks down the plan and explains that it is just another corporate giveaway.Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, joins us to talk about the Global South. President Biden continues the oppression of Venezuela, as he refuses to relieve the devastating sanctions on the anti-imperialist nation. Also, 184 nations voted to relieve the US blockade on Cuba, with only Israel and the US voting to maintain the brutal sanctions.Danny Haiphong, author and contributor to Black Agenda Report, teams up with Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents," to discuss news stories of the week. Our guests review the US corporate media's reaction to the Biden-Putin meeting. Also, they discuss the outcome of the New York primaries, the US seizure of Iranian websites, and the Global South.Ajamu Baraka, former VP candidate for the Green Party, and Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, join us to discuss this week's important news stories. Our guests discuss the issue of critical race theory and why it is getting hard pushback from certain elements in the media. Also, the Afghan president is set to visit the White House while Julian Assange continues to languish in a London prison.

Jamarl Thomas, cohost of Fault Lines on Radio Sputnik and host of The Progressive Soapbox on YouTube, joins us to talk about the summit between the European Union and the U.S., whether Biden saying “America is Back” is different from Trump's nationalist statements about U.S. hegemony. We also talk about U.S. media coverage of Biden's upcoming meeting with President Putin, which has likened it to a sporting event, and the prospects of repairing relations between the U.S. and Russia.Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to talk about Biden's statements about the state of the GOP being weakened and fractured, Merrick Garland's statements about fighting white supremacist extremists without acknowldedging the systemic racism that is part and parcel of the country. We also talk about how critical race theory has been under attack by conservative sectors, and how this has turned into a culture war that fails to consider actual policy debates that would tackle the structural issues that sustain white supremacy.Guy McPherson, scientist and professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, tells us about the historic heatwave and wildfires that continue to impact Western states in the US, which have burned hundreds of thousands of acres and caused mass evacuations, how an ongoing drought is creating the conditions for more wildfires, the impacts on the ecosystem, and whether we will see similar events in the future due to climate change.Robert Hockett, Edward Cornell Professor of Law and a professor of public policy at Cornell University in New York, Senior Counsel at Westwood Capital, and a Fellow of The Century Foundation, joins us to talk about the NATO summit and how it was viewed as a success for Biden by focusing on China and enlisting members on a new cold war, how this anti-Chinese sentiment has had a domestic impact, the Trump DOJ's persecution of leakers, and whether the Trump cabinet's inability to function at a reasonable level could have led to these leaks.

Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to discuss mass shootings in the United States. Mass shootings in the US have increased dramatically over the first five months of the year from 135 in 2020 to 232 in 2021. Mass shootings are defined as incidents in which four or more people were shot regardless of whether or not there was a death involved. Alexander Mercouris, editor-in-chief at theduran.com and host of "The Alexander Mercouris Show" on YouTube, joins us to discuss sanctions against Russia. Emmanuel Macron has stated that the sanctions policy against Russia has been counterproductive. Macron argues that the NATO alliance needs to consider alternate methods to restore relations between Moscow and the West. Some posit that he is providing diplomatic cover in Europe for President Biden's summit with the Russian President.George Koo, journalist, social activist, international business consultant, and chemical engineer, joins us to discuss China. A top Biden official has said that the Biden administration will not engage with China, but that their relationship will be defined by competition. Also, the discussion regarding the origins of covid is evolving due to new information. Robert Fantina, journalist and Palestine activist, joins us to discuss Iran. Iran is making it clear that they will not make a deal with the US unless all sanctions are dropped first. Also, The New York Times has published an article that comes across as a press release for Benjamin Netanyahu and the Iran hawks. Julie Varughese, solidarity network coordinator for the Black Alliance Committee for Peace, joins us to talk about Afghanistan. The Taliban is warning neighboring nations that hosting US bases could make them targets for military attacks. Also, the military is arguing that they will need to leave approximately 600 soldiers behind to guard the embassy. Marcy Winograd, congressional coordinator for Code Pink, joins us to talk about nuclear weapons. A number of US Senators are pushing for nuclear upgrades and modernization that cost billions of dollars. Marcy co-authored an article in Responsible Statecraft that discusses the issues and the money that changes hands in these types of transactions. Gerald Horne, professor of history at the University of Houston, author, historian, researcher, joins us to discuss Israel. In an interview with Israeli TV, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the Israeli military took all precautions to protect the lives of civilians when bombing the Gaza strip. Also, Big Tech is censoring Palestinian advocacy organizations at the behest of the Israeli government. Niko House, political activist, independent journalist, podcaster, joins us to talk about censorship. Pundits on the "Young Turks" online news show are attacking journalist Aaron Mate, arguing that he is paid by Russian entities, seems to be working for dictators, and denies chemical attacks on Syrian children. Mate has responded against the attack, arguing that the smearing of journalists is unacceptable.

Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to discuss this week's important news stories. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to Central America to push America's Monroe Doctrine policies of domination. Also, the Biden administration has indicated that it will not renew the Open Skies Treaty, and a so-called dissident journalist that was taken off of a plane in Belarus has been connected to Neo-Nazis in Ukraine. Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor in the economics and politics departments at St. Mary's College of California, joins us to discuss the economy. The White House is putting forth a $6 trillion budget that they believe will reshape the US economy. President Biden's defense budget is taking fire from all sides, as progressives say that it is too big and conservatives say that it is too small. Also, Biden trims his infrastructure plan to attract Republicans, but finds no takers.Lenneal Henderson, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Virginia State University, joins us to discuss several important stories. Prosecutors are allegedly moving forward with a criminal probe of former President Donald Trump. The San Jose massacre was the 232 mass shooting in the US this year, after only 135 over the same period in 2020. Also, the nation of Ukraine is part of the discussion again, as former Trump lawyer Rudy Guiliani is also under investigation for his research into Hunter Biden's business dealings.Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents," joins Ted Rall, political cartoonist and syndicated columnist, to discuss this week's stories. Margaret has an article in Black Agenda Report in which she discusses President Biden's budget juxtaposed against his campaign promises and rhetoric. The mainstream media has put out another thinly sourced hacking claim against a group from Russia conspicuously close to the scheduled meeting between President Biden and Russian President Putin. Gerald Horne, professor of history at the University of Houston, author, historian, researcher, and Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to discuss several articles. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is warning Democrats that they may lose Congress if they get mired in negotiations with the GOP. Antony Blinken appeared with Benjamin Netanyahu on Israeli TV, as Netanyahu argued that the US must not return to the JCPOA. Also, American arms makers are making a fortune off the slaughter of Palestinians.

Gerald Horne, professor of history at the University of Houston, author, historian, researcher, and Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to discuss several articles. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is warning Democrats that they may lose Congress if they get mired in negotiations with the GOP. Antony Blinken appeared with Benjamin Netanyahu on Israeli TV, as Netanyahu argued that the US must not return to the JCPOA. Also, American arms makers are making a fortune off the slaughter of Palestinians.

Could an Encore Career be in your future? How do you transition to a second career with purpose? Our guest, Ruth Wooden, is in her encore career - and it led her to create a program to help others build their own encore careers. Ruth joins us from Hawaii. _________________________ Bio Ruth Wooden retired in 2011 from her career in communications in both the commercial and nonprofit sectors. In retirement, she went back to grad school and received an MA in religious studies from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. That experience led her to design a non-degree class for adults 55 plus - the Encore Transition Program - which combines discernment about aging and spirituality and experiential social justice opportunities in the nonprofit, religious or public sectors. Ruth Wooden’s career encompassed 30 years of experience in marketing and advertising, including serving for 12 years as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Advertising Council, the leading producer of public service communications programs in the United States. She also served as President of Public Agenda, which was founded in 1975 by former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and social scientist Daniel Yankelovich to help citizens better understand critical policy issues and to help the nation’s leaders better understand the public’s point of view. Before serving as Public Agenda’s President, she was Senior Counselor at the international communications firm, Porter Novelli and she also served as the volunteer coordinator of the “Madison Avenue” advertising team for the Presidential Campaign of Senator Bill Bradley. Ruth Wooden also served as the Board Chair of Encore.org, the leading voice in research and advocacy for building a movement to tap the skills and experiences of those in midlife and beyond. _________________________ Wise Quotes On Purpose "This was the one and that really clued us into service or community activism as a definer of the Encore stage, the Encore ethic, the Encore movement. It isn't just about what you do in your Encore stage. Say at 60 or after retirement, it's about purpose. That's endemic to the definition in our view. There are lots of things we all do. I like to read and walk on the beach and play with my nieces and nephews and whatever, but purpose is inextricably linked to the idea of the Encore movement." On Seminal Moments "If you arrive at 65, let's just use 65, and you're in reasonably good health and you feel reconciled to having a good ending to your work life. Then I think people do turn to, you know what's right in line with Erik Erikson's developmental stage model. It's what he calls the longevity stage. But then he talks about the generativity stage. What do you generate at this time? And in history, most of that generativity work has been a legacy with your family, whether it's a financial legacy or storytelling, but now there are a few more years of that legacy moment. And so people do turn to thinking about what's next. For a lot of people, it's a continuation of what they were doing, but they go deeper. I teach this class at Union called the Encore Transition Program. We can talk about our Encore transition phase because it is a seminal transition moment. It's like getting married or [other] big moments like becoming an empty nester. These are seminal life moments where things change. So what I've noticed is that for a lot of people, their world, in some ways, gets narrower, but deeper. A number of people find themselves deeply engaged with their families or deeply engaged with a small group of friends. They don't have as many acquaintances anymore and they also get more engaged in their community and with more one-on-one kinds of things. They're not so likely to be writing the operational plan for a protest, but they might join it. It tends to be a little bit more individual. So I like to think of it for a lot of people, it's a conscious choice to be somewhat narrower,

David Schleifer, director of research at Public Agenda, a nonpartisan public opinion research organization, and Gerard Robinson, USA Today opinion contributor, AEI scholar and a former secretary of education in Virginia and Florida education commissioner, and talk about the latest report from on America's "Hidden Common Ground" and what research shows as issue that run counter to narratives of "bubbles" and separate realities.

Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation is an advocacy and action nonprofit created by and for restaurant workers. RWCF was founded in 2018 to advocate for – and raise funds for other nonprofits working toward – gender equity, racial justice, fair wages, and healthy work environments in the restaurant industry. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, RWCF's additional focus is on supporting workers in crisis and small business owners with the Restaurant Workers COVID19 Crisis Relief Fund.Michael Hamill Remaley is Board Vice President and Fundraising Committee Chair or Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation. For the first three years of its growth, Michael Hamill Remaley was board Treasurer and the Lead Consultant to Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation. As an independent consultant to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations with his firm Hamill Remaley, he works with a client roster that includes the New York Community Trust, Bridgespan, J.M. Kaplan Fund, Public Agenda, the Support Center for Nonprofits and Inside Philanthropy.Tune in for this sensible conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by clicking here.Show Notes‍Segment 1The first segment opens with an introduction of the show and this episode's guest, Michael Hamill Remaley, Vice president and fundraising committee chair of restaurant workers community foundation. Tommy then gives a history of how he met today's guest and the networking group TNG. Through multiple networking opportunities, Tommy met Michael and ultimately led to appearing on today's episode. Michael and Tommy give a history of his organization and their impact on the restaurant and non profit industry. Michael gives a semi detailed story about his beginning days working in philanthropy and nonprofits. For Michael, these early days were crucial for establishing his love for helping others and forming his mentality of leaving the world a better place than you found it.Segment 2The second segment opens with Tommy discussing the main topic of the episode which is Michael's Restaurant Workers Community Foundation. In 2018 Michael started RWCF as an action nonprofit. Michael and his foundation raise and distribute funds through grants for workers in the labor sector. He believes that in 2018 his foundation became the first to focus specifically on issues facing these labor workers and the organizations that support them. Michael and Tommy share their experiences over some of the most damaging factors facing the restaurant industry and their workers. For Michael and his husband, the results of the 2016 election was proof to them that either restaurant workers were unaware of the policies impacting their lives or they didn't care. Either way, this was enough motivation for Michael and his husband John to start RWCF as a way to help these workers.Segment 3The next segment opens with Michael discussing RWCF program goals. Michael hopes to provide the services needed to help restaurant workers with wage fairness, gender equity, racial justice, support for the immigrant community, mental health, and substance abuse. Michael explains that the best way to reach these goals is through grant making, community organization, and impact investing. In the first fiscal year of the organization, Michael saw growth he wasn't expecting and was able to raise $40,000 in 2019. He then distributed $13,000 over 11 different companies. This was working well for Michael, even growing a board of 20 people. Michael explains that this helped survive the incoming year. In one notable way. The board signed off on hiring a part time employee to handle all of their social media. Michael explains this was insanely helpful due to the fact that he and his husband were doing most of the work for the foundation all through 2020. What RWCF needed, according to Michael, in this time was a more diverse leadership across their committees. Michael got that diverse leadership he was looking for and was able to start other projects in the foundation to get even more people help. This was of course 2020 so the one thing on their mind, like everyone else's, was the global pandemic. More relief funds were set up to help workers and restaurants with being able to survive the lockdown in New York, not only as business but in general. Michael and his team raised over 8 million dollars. Yes, 8 million dollars, to be distributed to workers and businesses.‍Segment 4The final segment opens with a reintroduction of the show and a reminder that yes, what you before was right. 8 million dollars. Michael gives a hopeful yet complex vision of the future for his foundation. Michael explains that he and his team have distributed funds to over 40 companies working with COVID relief and how he plans to network his foundation and those nonprofits to work together because they all have similar goals. Michael explains that the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation will continue the work they have been doing, but actively looking for new ways to help the people in the restaurant industry. This means informing the roughly 15 million restaurant workers in the United states of their existence and their services.

Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to talk about this week's important stories. The US is playing dangerous games that flirt with nuclear disaster and the American people are woefully unaware of the danger. Also, President Biden needs to abandon the Cold War confrontation with China in order to adequately address the issue of climate change.Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor in the Economics and Politics Departments at St. Mary's College of California, joins us to discuss several important issues related to the economy. Jobless claims have hit an all-time low for the pandemic. Is the bump in jobs a temporary benefit of the stimulus package, or is the economy waking up from its year-long slumber? Also, officials from several powerful nations are meeting to discuss climate change and the final day will focus on innovation. Dr. Jehan "Gigi" El-Bayoumi, professor of medicine and founding director of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences' Rodman Institute, and Dr. Yolandra Hancock, a board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, join us to discuss the latest coronavirus news. A US panel will be meeting today to discuss the future of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as blood clot issues continue to raise concern. Also, many healthcare workers are considering leaving the profession due to overwork and burnout from the COVID-19 pandemic.Ajamu Baraka, former VP candidate for the Green Party, and Netfa Freeman, host of Voices With Vision on WPFW 89.3 FM, pan-Africanist and internationalist organizer, join us to discuss issues in the Global South. Raul Castro has retired from his position as Cuban leader and is being replaced by long-time ally Miguel Diaz-Canel. Also, Haiti fights back against colonialism, and Juan Guaido steals over 150 million dollars from Venezuela's funds.Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, and Jim Kavanagh, a writer at The Polemicist and CounterPunch and author of "The American Farce Unravels: Shreds of January 6th," join us to discuss critical stories for the week. Civil liberties activists are extremely alarmed as multiple reports have come out exposing that the United States Postal Service is involved in a covert operation that monitors social media posts. Also, Vice President Kamala Harris is moving forward with a questionable strategy for addressing the migrant crisis, and America refuses to spend the nominal amount necessary to end homelessness.

Juan José Gutiérrez, an immigration attorney and executive director of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, and Maru Mora Villalpando, community organizer, immigrant activist, and founder of La Resistencia, joins us to talk about how President Biden is flip-flopping on his campaign promises to enact a more humane immigration policy, how there will be significantly fewer refugees admitted in 2021 than even in 2020 under the Trump administration, the justifications for this sudden change of direction, the impact on refugees because of this inaction, and how the Biden administration is moving forward to complete Trump’s border wall. Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, tells us about the newest round of sanctions imposed on Russia over accusations of election-meddling, how valid are any of these allegations, what impact will these sanctions have, and how this will affect future relations between the U.S. and Russia. We also talk about the cyber attack on the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran and how this will affect negotiations between Iran and western nations over their nuclear program. Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us in a conversation about the newest spate of police shootings and police terror happening in the country, with the allegedly accidental shooting of Daunte Wright in Minneapolis as the Derek Chauvin is taking place in the city, as well as the incident in Virginia involving a service member assaulted by police, how police and civilians are held to different standards and are portrayed in the media, how white supremacy pervades all these incidents, and how we need to continually challenge it if we are to see any real change. Michael Sampson of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Jacksonville Community Action Committee, and co-host of Redspin Sports, joins Ray Baker along with hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber on our Trends with Benefits segment to talk about new legislation being proposed around the country that will crack down on political protests by imposing new penalties on peaceful activities and that will empower police to engage in even more violence.

Kathy Kelly, American peace activist, pacifist and author, tells us about the flare-up in violence between Saudi Arabia and Yemen taking place over the weekend. We also talk about whether the characterization of this as a tit-for-tat is a correct assessment, the U.S. and other western powers flooding the region with weapons, and what Saudi actions are going to be supported by the Biden administration and which ones won’t, within the context of the evolving relationship between the Kingdom and the U.S.Danny Shaw, professor of Latin American & Caribbean Studies and Race, Ethnicity, Class & Gender at the City University of New York, joins us to talk about the latest news from the political crisis fueled by Jovenel Mosies’ refusal to leave office, the ensuing unrest in the country, state of public protests, the long history of the U.S. intervention in the country, the role of non-profit organizations in this, and whether or not a resolution is on the horizon.Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us in a conversation about the upcoming trial of Derek Chauvin in Minnesota, the prospects of achieving justice in this case and the misplaced role police play in situations that should be addressed at a structural level. We also talk about the proposed George Floyd Bill in Congress and whether it will address the problems of poverty, violence, and racism in the U.S., and Kyrsten Sinema’s vote against the $15 minimum wage. In our Miss the Press section, hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber talk about Chuck Todd’s story-telling skills chronicling the great 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic, the insidious framing of bipartisanship during the relief bill negotiations, and the curious exchange between Jake Tapper and Michigan governor Gretchen Witmer over the mayor of Detroit rejecting 6,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The Misfits also talk about mask burning parties in Idaho, SWAT units breaking up a wild college party in Boulder, Colorado, and Biden’s plans for covert cyberattacks on Russia over the Solar Wind hack.

Elena Byhoff, MD, MSc, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine speaks with David Schleifer, PhD, the director of research at Public Agenda, a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and public engagement organization. This conversation is the third in a series focused on health care sector efforts to increase Awareness about both patient and community-level social conditions. Drs. Byhoff and Schleifer discuss their respective research studies examining patients' and caregivers' perspectives about the acceptability of social risk screening in the context of clinical care settings and explore the common question, “Should I screen for a social need I can't address?”Recommended references: De Marchis EH, Hessler D, Fichtenberg C, et al. Part I: A Quantitative Study of Social Risk Screening Acceptability in Patients and Caregivers. Am J Prev Med. 2019 Dec;57(6 Suppl 1):S25-S37. Byhoff E, De Marchis EH, Hessler D, et al. Part II: A Qualitative Study of Social Risk Screening Acceptability in Patients and Caregivers. Am J Prev Med. 2019 Dec;57(6 Suppl 1):S38-S46. Public Agenda. It's About Trust: Low-Income Parents' Perspectives on How Pediatricians Can Screen for Social Determinants of Health. 2019.

Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to talk about this week's important stories. The US war machine is back in full swing as President Biden ordered an illegal airstrike against Syria, while Congress dawdles over an economic relief bill. Also, Biden spoke with the King of Saudi Arabia in preparation for the release of a report about the killing of Jamaal Khashoggi, and Iran goes after Israel for recent activity at their clandestine nuclear weapons facility.Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor in the Economics and Politics Departments at St. Mary's College of California, joins us to discuss economic news for the week. The push for a 15-dollar minimum wage is waning as progressive Democrats in the House of Representatives warn that failure to pass the legislation will cost the party dearly in the midterms. Additionally, Dr. Jack is warning that a number of significant economic red flags are showing, and President Biden's argument against student debt relief is panned and rebutted by a Harvard newspaper. Dr. Jehan "Gigi" El-Bayoumi, professor of medicine and founding director of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences' Rodman Institute; and Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, join us to discuss the latest coronavirus news. A New York Times story argues that a combination of vaccine therapy and an abundance of caution could allow a return to normal life by mid-summer. Also, two new studies seem to show that a single Pfizer dose is sufficient for people who have had COVID and have some level of resistance.Ajamu Baraka, former VP Candidate for the Green Party, and Dan Kovalik, labor and human rights lawyer, professor, and author come together to discuss foreign policy. Friend of the show Professor Danny Shaw reports from Haiti that the people are in total revolt over the US-backed dictator Jovenel Moise's refusal to leave office at the constitutionally mandated time. Joe Biden has launched airstrikes in Syria, Secretary of State Tony Blinken is threatening a long list of "adversaries" including Venezuela, Iran, Nicaragua, China, Cuba, and Russia, and President Biden continues Trump's maximum pressure campaign against Iran. Dr. Emmit Riley, political scientist and assistant professor of Africana Studies at DePauw University, and Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, join us to talk about domestic politics. The US accounts for 40.3 percent of the world's military spending, and China is a distant second with 10 percent. Is this sustainable as the citizens face a pandemic-related economic catastrophe? Also, progressives press VP Kamala Harris to intervene on behalf of the fight for a fifteen-dollar minimum wage and Trump flexes his political muscles as he still dominates the GOP landscape.

In this episode, Public Agenda president Will Friedman discusses why it is important to highlight the things on which Americans can agree, how to pave the way for a discussion that doesn’t feel loaded from the beginning, and why his organization started Hidden Common Ground, a project exploring where Americans agree or disagree on solutions for issues from economic opportunities and equity to immigration or law enforcement. This is part 2 of a 4 part series about division and common ground in the U.S. Guest: Will Friedman, president of the nonpartisan research and public engagement organization Public Agenda https://www.publicagenda.org/ Useful links: Hidden Common Ground’s first report deals explores how Americans think and feel about divisiveness. https://www.publicagenda.org/reports/divisiveness-and-collaboration-in-american-public-life-a-hidden-common-ground-report/ Over the year 2020, Hidden Common Ground published several reports on where Americans agree – and where there really is division – on a range of issues. https://www.publicagenda.org/programs-reports/the-hidden-common-ground-initiative/

David Schultz, Distinguished University Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies at Hamline University and author of "Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter, joins us to discuss a recent Washington Post article called “The Definitive List of the 20 Presidential Norms Trump Broke.” We'll also get into post-Trump analysis.Monica Cruz, producer, host and labor beat reporter for BreakThrough News, joins us to discuss essential workers and the barriers they’re still encountering to fair wages and work conditions, despite all the clapping and all the praise we’ve heaped on them this year. Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to talk about what was and was not said yesterday during the inaugural festivities, the insanity of US foreign policy and double standards regarding this thing called Democracy.Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, joins us for our Trends With Benefits segment where we take a look at the latest trends and tell you whether or not they are your friend or your future enemy. This week we take a look at COVID trends and let you know which they are heading!

Like him or not, Trump's social media tirades have taught us a lot and begged us to ask how far censorship should go?Jim Kavanaugh, who publishes at thepolemicist.net and Counterpunch, joins us to discuss the social media response to the protest Wednesday, Trump’s statements and the mob that ended up breaking into the US Capitol. Their response has both political implications and potentially far-reaching consequences. Both Facebook and Twitter suspended President Donald Trump from posting to their platforms Wednesday, after the Capitol was breached. Twitter was first to shut Trump down for 12 hours, Facebook and Instagram followed later, but now Facebook is saying Trump’s accounts will be locked at least until Inauguration Day and perhaps longer. YouTube took down a video of Trump’s on Wednesday praising the mob and continuing to say the election was rigged - he’s been shut out from social media.Dr. Linwood Tauheed, President of the National Economic Association, joins us to discuss Joe Biden’s picks for Labor Secretary and Commerce Secretary. What should we think about his choices?Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda to talk about the latest fallout from Donald Trump’s inspired attack on the Congress. We'll also discuss policing, terrorism and impeaching Trump.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reflected the sentiment of many world leaders as his spokesman said he was "saddened" by the events at the US Capitol.Bob Schlehuber, host of Sputnik's Political Misfits; and Ted Rall, political cartoonist and syndicated columnist, joins us to talk about the stunning violence as protesters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday. Hundreds of protesters rushed past Capitol police and wandered through the halls of Congress, calling for a revolution and confronting authorities. Analysts question whether this was a one-off event or the beginning of a long-term cycle of violence. Gary Flowers, radio talk show host and public policy analyst; and Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, join us to discuss the outcome of the Georgia Senate races. In a stunning turn of events, the Democrats swept both Senate seats and are poised to control the upper chamber. President-elect Joe Biden seems set to take office with his party in control of both houses of Congress. What will this mean for his domestic and foreign policy agendas?Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup," joins us to discuss the outcome of Julian Assange's bail hearing in the UK. In a reversal of fortune, Judge Vanessa Baraitser denied bail for the WikiLeaks co-founder on Wednesday, arguing that he posed a flight risk. Assange will be held in jail indefinitely pending the outcome of the US Department of Justice's appeals to the extradition denial. Additionally, Lazare discusses the odds that Baraitser's extradition denial will be overturned.Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, joins us to discuss the possibility of a new approach to economic stimulus under a Biden administration. Democratic control of both houses of Congress creates a scenario in which bold economic moves can be made. However, Biden's record of neoliberal conservatism indicates that such a strategy is unlikely. Also, the small- and medium-sized business sectors are pending collapse, and a considerable capital inflow is necessary to keep them afloat. Will a Biden administration wake up the economy or sit idly by while it turns to ashes?Dan Kovalik, labor and human rights lawyer, professor and author, joins us to discuss his book "The Plot to Scapegoat Russia." Kovalik argues that the CIA and the deep state have conspired to scapegoat Russia for US political and economic failings and that vilifying Russian President Vladimir Putin is a foundational part of their strategy.Teri Mattson, Latin America coordinator for Code Pink, joins us to discuss the political future of Juan Guaido. The EU has announced that it no longer recognizes Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela following the swearing-in of the new parliament. The US-backed opposition is struggling for legitimacy, as Venezuelans have executed an effective democratic election with over 100 political parties participating. KJ Noh, peace activist, writer and teacher, joins us to discuss China. Antony Blinken, Biden's nominee for secretary of state, is signaling that the incoming administration is planning to confront China over the issue of the US-funded "pro-democracy" movement in Hong Kong. China argues that the US has no business meddling in its internal affairs. Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to talk about international cooperation regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Venezuela is having difficulty paying for vaccines, as the US and its allies are refusing to unfreeze funds needed to cover the costs. Additionally, human rights organizations are demanding that the US cease and desist from activities that are inhibiting Iran from addressing its coronavirus outbreak.

David Schultz, Distinguished University Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies at Hamline University and author of "Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter,” joins us to discuss declining college enrollment, declining aid applications and what they mean for education, income and the future workforce, as well as for the concept of a politically educated and engaged population.Bill Honigman, California state coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America and co-coordinator of its Healthcare Human Rights Issue Organizing Team, joins us to discuss a provision in the relief bill Congress passed earlier this week that would put an end to some surprise medical bills in this country. Chris Smalls, former Amazon employee and founder of The Congress of Essential Workers, joins us to discuss Amazon's impact on warehouses, transit wages and US President-elect Joe Biden's infrastructure plan.Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to discuss the three-sided showdown between US President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Either it’s Trump outflanking Democrats from the left on stimulus checks, or it’s Trump forcing a battle with McConnell for the soul of the GOP, or it’s Trump just shooting Republicans in the gut on his way out of the White House. Trump could be ensuring a Democratic loss in Georgia's Senate runoff elections or handing them the win. Will he be the hero, or will it be someone like Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who called Trump’s holding up the recent stimulus bill to demand larger checks for citizens “an attack on every American” and an attempt by Trump to “burn this country down.” What is really going on?Nate Wallace, creator and co-host of the podcast Redspin Sports, joins us to discuss everything we ought to know about paying college athletes, protesting at the Olympics and elsewhere, and the impact of youth sports!

Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to discuss Iran's decision to be open to talks with the incoming Biden administration, even after veteran physicist Moshen Fakhrizadeh, a major player in Iran's nuclear research and defense activities, was assassinated in an ambush outside of Tehran on November 27. "Underscoring the support for diplomacy, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said while 'Iran and the US will continue to have fundamental differences,' the tension between Tehran and Washington needn't continue after Trump is out of office," Bloomberg reported this week.Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor of economics and politics at St. Mary's College of California, returns to discuss this week's top economic stories, including the $908 billion stimulus package proposed in the US Senate and slow sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. He will also talk about a Washington Post report on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which revealed that more than half of the emergency funds intended for small businesses went to larger businesses instead.Garland Nixon, co-host of The Critical Hour, joins us from Caracas, Venezuela. He will discuss the various measures that the Venezuelan government is using to contain the COVID-19 crisis, as well as sanctions and other news from the region.Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda; and Gary Flowers, radio talk show host and public policy analyst, return to discuss the bipartisan stimulus package talks, who will lead the US Defense Department, and Republicans fearing US President Donald Trump's criticism of Georgia officials over the handling of the presidential elections could cause a rift in the party and hurt their chances in the state's Senate runoff elections. They also discuss the Trump administration is scheduling several executions in the days leading up to the presidential inaugurationJim Kavanagh, writer at The Polemicist and CounterPunch; and Daniel Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup," return to tackle the subjects of the proposed bipartisan stimulus package, the search for the next Pentagon chief by US President-elect Joe Biden and a group of House Republicans on Thursday who were accused of pulling an "outrageous" maneuver by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and fellow Democratic lawmakers when they attempted to pass a motion to adjourn the chamber while the pandemic rages. Common Dreams reported on the matter: "'People are going hungry and they're treating this like a game,' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tweeted in response to the motion, which Republicans used to complain about House rules allowing proxy voting to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on Capitol Hill. 'Leaders don't abandon people in their time of greatest need.'"

Morgan Artyukhina, Sputnik News journalist, joins us to talk about news that’s come out over the past week about the US war machine and the consequences it has for us and the rest of the world. A report by Airwars documents almost every single one of the US coalition’s strikes against ISIS. It’s being called a major transparency breakthrough, and the Pentagon is getting some credit for giving Airwars such specific geographic data about the strikes. But what does this report say about civilian casualties in the war on ISIS? Antone Barnes, founder CEO of Brand Architects and Bryan Weaver, Founder of Hoops Sagrado, joins us to discuss the future of sports in the age of COVID, the NBA draft, and why baseball players continue to use Performance Enhancing Drugs even after testing positive several times.Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda to talk about the latest on Rudy Guiliani’s literal meltdown, some of Joe Biden’s worse picks so far, and the State Department’s new offensive against BDS.

Alon Ben-Meir, former diplomat and professor, joins us to discuss U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trips on Wednesday and Thursday to Israeli settlements. These trips marked the first time a U.S. secretary of state had officially visited settlements, a deeply provocative move that previous American administrations went to lengths to avoid.Dr Gigi El Bayoumi, professor of Medicine and founding director of the Rodman Institute at George Washington Hospital, returns to The Critical Hour to discuss a new at-home coronavirus test that was recently approved. The test relies on a nose swab and runs in just 30 minutes. However, it requires a prescription and there has not been an evaluation in asymptomatic people. Will this new technology create a turning point for battling the infection as a second wave overruns the U.S.Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, joins us to discuss reports that prosecutors are declining to pursue many cases of previously arrested protesters. They concluded the defendants were exercising their fundamental civil rights. As a result, prosecutors will only pursue cases involving more substantial charges like property destruction or other violence. Gary Flowers, radio talk show host and public policy analyst, joins us to discuss a recent demand by Rep. Bill Pascrell, who argues for DOJ Prosecution of President Trump for what he describes as "Innumerable Crimes Against the United States." Pascrell's call seems to be falling on deaf ears as former VP Joe Biden has indicated to advisors that he is not inclined to continue investigations and pursue prosecution should wrongdoing be found.Randi Nord, co-founder of geopoliticsalert.com, joins us to discuss pressure from numerous interest groups that will affect the Biden Administration's ability to return to Iran's nuclear agreement. Many forces are at work to sabotage any future Biden administration attempts to reenter the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Officials from Israel and Gulf states hostile to Iran are warning Joe Biden against rejoining the JCPOA.Alexander Mercouris, editor in chief at theduran.com & host of "The Duran" on youtube, returns to The Critical Hour to update us on the dispute in the British labour Party over the Suspension and subsequent reinstatement of Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn was suspended over claims of antisemitism. His reinstatement is causing a furor as he is not allowed to return as a member of the Party. Will the Labour Party return to power or grow weaker over this internal struggle?Scott Ritter, former U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq joins us to discuss a significant alliance forming between the two major world powers of Russia and China. Recent articles from Russian media outlet Tass and Chinese media outlet CGTN indicate that the two nations consider the benefits of joining forces to protect themselves from hegemonic actions in the world. William J Astore, retired lieutenant USAF colonel, who has taught at the Air Force Academy and the Naval Postgraduate School, and now teaches History at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, joins us to discuss his recent articles in consortiumnews.com. He argues that people should not interpret President Trump's troop reduction in Iraq and Afghanistan as ending the conflicts. Also, we discuss his other article in which he examines the bipartisan rejection of ending the endless wars.

Will Friedman is president of Public Agenda, a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and public engagement organization that strives to strengthen democracy and expand opportunity for all Americans. One of the organization's major projects is the Hidden Common Ground Initiative, which challenges the increasingly dominant narrative of a hopelessly-divided America by identifying and elevating the areas and narratives where Americans agree on solutions to politically-polarized issues, and by fostering productive dialogue on those areas where we truly disagree.This work, along with the Hidden Tribes initiative, Common Ground Committee, and others begs the question — if this common ground is already prevalent in our society and our democracy, then why is it hidden? We explore that question in this episode and ask how to work toward common ground in a way that does not simply maintain the status quo.Additional InformationHidden Common Ground InitiativeRelated EpisodesTrust, facts, and democracy in a polarized worldDoes Congress promote partisan gridlock?

Maru Mora-Villalpando, immigrant rights activist and organizer, joins us to take a look back on the past four years of US immigration policy. Have Trump’s actions matched his rhetoric? Has his administration significantly changed American immigration policy, and which of its efforts have been failures? We'll also look at what immigration would look like under Biden and the best ways to keep pressure on a Biden administration. There are a number of Trump administration policies that Biden could reverse if he wins the election. Which would he pick first?Steven Hill, journalist and author of "Raw Deal: How the 'Uber Economy' and Runaway Capitalism Are Screwing American Workers" and "10 Steps to Repair American Democracy," joins us to discuss one of the most important ballot initiatives of the year, Proposition 22 in California. It's the most expensive California ballot measure of the year, and apparently the most expensive in the state's history. It is described by Ballotpedia as a citizens' initiative. Was it really a bunch of concerned citizens who forced this measure onto the ballot, after California last year passed Assembly Bill 5, which was supposed to fix this problem and force gig employers to extend benefits to staff who reasonably fit the category of “employee” rather than “contractor?” How is some of that money being spent?Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda; and Dr. Dave Ragland, co-executive director of the Truth Telling Project and director of the Grassroots Reparations Campaign, join us to discuss the sentiments behind Tuesday's election and the division it's caused. "Voters in Republican-led Arizona and South Dakota and Democrat-led Montana and New Jersey will consider proposals to legalize recreational marijuana," CNN reported Saturday. "Another red state, Mississippi, is weighing a pair of ballot questions to legalize medical marijuana." We are really at a great dividing point in American politics. Are families actually ripping apart in new ways? And if that is the case, did the huge spike in protests and the shock of wokeness through the American populace actually stick? What's really going on across the US?

Moderator:Quixada Moore-Vissing,  Associate Director for National Engagement Programs at Public Agenda  Introduction by Will Friedman, President of Public Agenda, and Steve Newell, Project Director, Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues, American Association for the Advancement of ScienceSpeakers:Emily Owens - Professor, Department of Criminology, Law, and Society, University of California IrvineMichael Sierra-Arévalo - Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Texas at AustinWalter Katz - Vice President of Criminal Justice, Arnold VenturesResources:America’s Hidden Common Ground on Race and Police ReformPolicing, Public Safety and Equity: Evidence and Insight for Better Policymaking

Push back against Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s decision to address the Republican National Convention on Tuesday. Democrats say he violated the Hatch Act.Mitchell Plitnick, political analyst, writer and president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, reflects on night two of the RNC, Mike Pompeo on a tour of the Middle East, and reports that Israel in the last days has bombed both Gaza and Lebanon.Jim Goodman, president of the National Family Farm Coalition discusses the reality of our “economy” on a large scale is obscured by some of its traditional indicators in the context of agriculture. We'll discuss agricultural headlines that have been in the news lately - ones about farmers increasingly filing for bankruptcy, coupled with ones about unusually high prices for commodities at the global level and food in our grocery stores. Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, discusses the third night of protests in Wisconsin following the shooting of Jacob Blake and what to make of the drop in viewers at both major parties conventions this year.

It’s two years on from the first solo school strike by Greta Thunberg, which turned into a global call to action. It wasn’t long ago that climate change was the issue on everyone’s lips. However, has the climate agenda fallen off the radar in recent times?  On Thursday's edition of the Hard Shoulder, Fellow in Environmental Policy in UCD, Cara Augustenborg, and Green MEP for Dublin Ciaran Cuffe joined Mark Cagney to discuss the issue, and whether we're getting at all lax.

When it comes to immigration, Americans have a lot of misconceptions about immigrants. That’s one of the findings from a new national survey released Thursday from Public Agenda, USA Today and Ipsos Hidden Common Ground.

Paul and Bill welcomed Dick Garrett to our podcast. Find an overview of his distinguished career in this story about Dick’s zeal for researching and promoting education reform. (The story was written for Purdue’s College of Engineering by Bill last year.) Dick’s book, The Kids Are Smart Enough, So What’s the Problem?, traces his growing concerns about problems in public elementary education. Those concerns led to extensive research from a business executive’s perspective, applying systems analysis skills from his background in engineering. Our interview probed not only the findings from that research, but even more current knowledge of education reform efforts which Dick continues to harvest and share. He has created an online gallery of videos for the general public, explicating what he has learned about educational-outcome statistics and various efforts to improve the outcomes. The videos are part of his “Elevate Teachers” website, which champions robust investments to help both teachers and students succeed.  . Observed as systems established to give students the knowledge and skills they need, elementary schools face a number of challenges, Dick said. They include segments of young people whose daily classroom behavior is a major burden, requiring teachers to pull away from educating in order to focus on discipline during sizable portions of the school day. He says the lack of self-discipline stems from parenting experiences and other factors tied to low-income community conditions. Students exhibit the combination of discipline problems and poor academic achievement not because of low intelligence—there is no doubt that they are smart enough to perform well—but because educational systems don’t appropriately respond to gaps in their non-cognitive abilities, according to Dick. He says schools must get better at forming general traits he summarizes as character and grit. His book presents examples of educational approaches that have aimed to enhance those traits, making classroom success more likely for all students and teachers. Where that success is lacking, schools fall behind in graduating students with key competitive metrics—especially a grasp of reading and math skills. This shows up in poor rankings for United States schools in statistics tallied by the Program for International Student Assessment, the US Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress, and other oversight mechanisms. A 2004 Public Agenda survey found that 85 percent of teachers felt new teachers were particularly unprepared to deal with disciplinary problems in their classrooms. A recent study by the Kirwan Commission yielded a comprehensive report on problems and prospective solutions in elementary education, and this became the basis of a legislative action plan for Maryland schools. The state government acted in early 2020 to approve funding for preliminary implementation of a major initiative based on Kirwan Report recommendations. Dick said one part of the plan envisions hiring 15,000 teachers. A major thrust of the plan is improved education of low-income children, including a cadre of teachers for smaller class sizes. One of Dick’s aspirations is to help in spreading the word about the Kirwan recommendations so that educational and governmental leaders elsewhere, such as his home states of Wisconsin and Indiana, will consider and implement similar proposals. Episode 107 of “That’s So Second Millennium” next month will include part two of the interview with Dick Garrett. If you find the audio quality for this episode a little lacking, don't blame Morgan... she's on vacation this week. It's all Paul's fault (as usual).

Dr. Clarence Lusane, African-American author, activist, lecturer and former chair of the Political Science Department at Howard University, sheds light on the tensions between France and Turkey, which could leave the NATO alliance in limbo.Helena Olea, human rights adviser for Alianza Americas, discusses Mexican President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador's visit to the White House on Wednesday to celebrate the entry into force of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Is there anything really new in this trade deal, and how will the impact be felt in the three North American nations? The deal is supposed to replace the 1990s-era North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but is it more of the same?Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, tears down the hidden agenda and white privilege in the Trump administration's Tuesday announcement telling states to reopen schools in the fall and threatening to cut federal funding for those that didn't follow suit. Also, Democrats need to gain four seats to take the majority in the Senate in November. Will they be able to do it, and is anyone a sure bet?

"Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison held a somber press conference on Friday to announce that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) had conducted a raid on a sitting member of the New South Wales parliament all because, so far, he'd said favorable things about China and had gone on junkets to the country," Joe Lauria wrote in Consortium News on June 26. He joins the program to discuss this incident. "The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that a state may require presidential electors to support the winner of its popular vote and may punish or replace those who don't, settling a disputed issue in advance of this fall's election," the Washington Post reported Monday. Joining us to discuss this issue is Dr. Gerald Horne. "The pandemic map of the United States burned bright red Monday, with the number of new coronavirus infections during the first six days of July nearing 300,000 as more states and cities moved to reimpose shutdown orders," the Washington Post reported Monday. What's going on here? For insight, we turn to Ray Baker.In his latest article for Consortium News, former United Nations weapons inspector Scott Ritter argued that "the story of the alleged 'bounty scheme' grew up in the context of top US brass blaming Russia for America's defeat in Afghanistan," according to the subheadline. Ritter wrote that Afghan security officials said a January 2020 raid on "the offices of several businessmen in the Northern Afghan city of Konduz and the capital city of Kabul" had "nothing to do with 'Russians smuggling money.'” What, then, was the purpose of the raid?Guests:Joe Lauria - Editor-in-chief at Consortium News, political commentator and author of "How I Lost By Hillary Clinton."Dr. Gerald Horne - Historian and award-winning author of more than 30 books who currently holds the Moores Professorship of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston. Ray Baker - Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda. Scott Ritter - Former UN weapons inspector.

After 10 very long and troublesome days in the United States, a private memorial service was held on Thursday in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for George Floyd, who died last week while in police custody. Similar services will be held in Houston, Texas, and North Carolina in the coming days. In the midst of all of this we must also remember the deaths of African-American medical worker Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, and Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County, Georgia."As President Donald Trump faces growing criticism from veterans and some ex-military leaders — including his former Defense Secretary Gen. Jim Mattis — for deploying US troops against peaceful protesters, busloads of soldiers arrived in the nation's capital on Wednesday in what critics warned is part of the White House's effort to intimidate and squash nationwide demonstrations against the police killing of George Floyd," Common Dreams reported Thursday. How does all of this play into the militarization of America?"Google was sued on Tuesday in a proposed class action accusing the internet search company of illegally invading the privacy of millions of users by pervasively tracking their internet use through browsers set in 'private' mode," Reuters reported Tuesday. "The lawsuit seeks at least $5 billion, accusing the Alphabet Inc. unit of surreptitiously collecting information about what people view online and where they browse, despite their using what Google calls Incognito mode."According to a Thursday piece in CounterPunch, "The response of socialist Cuba to the global SARS-CoV2 pandemic has been outstanding both domestically and for its international contribution." The article explains how it is that the "small island nation of Cuba, subjected to hundreds of years of colonialism and imperialism and, since the Revolution of 1959, six decades of the criminal United States blockade, can play such an exemplary role" in the fight against this pandemic. What is it about Cuba's socialist system that makes it so effective?GUESTS:Ray Baker — Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda.Dr. Ajamu Baraka — Journalist, American political activist and former Green Party nominee for vice president of the United States in the 2016 election. Chris Garaffa — Web developer and technologist. Arnold August — Canadian writer and journalist who is the author of three books on Cuban politics. Over the last year, he has been on an international book tour which took him throughout Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Cuba to promote his latest work.Medea Benjamin — Co-founder of CodePink.

On this episode the The Critical Hour, Dr. Wilmer Leon is joined byRay Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda;and Shermichael Singleton, writer, political consultant and former CNNpolitical commentator.Some US states such as Alaska, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and SouthCarolina took tentative steps toward reopening from COVID-19-relatedlockdowns over the weekend. Hair salons, tattoo parlors, retailers andrestaurants reopened as governors began easing restrictions in somesectors in an effort to begin to repair the battered economy. Howrisky is this, and will the public respond?According to Politico, "Tens of millions of pounds of American-grownproduce is rotting in fields as food banks across the country scrambleto meet a massive surge in demand, a two-pronged disaster that hasdeprived farmers of billions of dollars in revenue while millions ofnewly jobless Americans struggle to feed their families." There's beenan ongoing discussion in this country since its founding: what is therole of government? Conservatives love to advocate for smallergovernment, less government. Is this is an example of what happens ina country when government fails?A Saturday headline in The Grayzone reads: "US elites use Russiagateplaybook to blame China and promote hostility." The article states:"The bipartisan US establishment has coalesced around increasedhostility to China in response to the coronavirus pandemic. China hasfaced numerous allegations including that it covered up the pandemicat the world's expense, developed the virus in a lab, and has spreaddisinformation." In the midst of a global pandemic, why has Chinabecome the new bogeyman, and what are the methods being used toperpetuate this narrative?There's a great piece in CounterPunch, entitled “Capitalism Can't BeRepaired, Coronavirus Shows Its Huge Weaknesses,” wherein the authorwrites, “Consider this absurdity: The US government's policy in theface of the current capitalist crash is to 'return the economy to thepre-coronavirus normal.' What? In that 'normal' system, privatecapitalists maximized profits by not producing the tests, masks,ventilators, beds, etc., needed when coronavirus hit. ... Incapitalism, a small minority — employers — makes all the key decisions(what, how, where to produce and how to use the proceeds) governingproduction and distribution of most goods and services. The majority —employees and their families — must live with the results ofemployers' decisions but are excluded from making them." I thought themarket — or as Adam Smith termed it, the "invisible hand" — thatpeople acting in their own self-interest, will eventually help thebest interests of the greater public good. What's happening here?GUESTS:Ray Baker — Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda.Shermichael Singleton — Writer, political consultant, and former CNNpolitical commentator.Rashid Nuri — Founder of the Truly Living Well Center for NaturalUrban Agriculture (TLW). TLW is Atlanta's premier urban agriculturalorganization, growing tons of chemical-free, nutritious food,providing jobs and educating communities about food, nutrition andself-sufficiency. His new book is titled "Growing Out Loud: Journey ofa Food Revolutionary." Mark Sleboda — International affairs and security analyst.Dr. Richard Wolff — Professor of economics emeritus at the Universityof Massachusetts, Amherst, and founder of the organization Democracyat Work, whose latest book is "Capitalism's Crisis Deepens: Essays onthe Global Economic Meltdown."

Some people within the Trump administration, including US President Donald Trump himself, are hoping to reopen the country on May 1, but the actual decisions about resuming operations at schools, businesses and other establishments will be up to the people who shuttered them over COVID-19 in the first place: mayors and governors. Meanwhile, former US Vice President Joe Biden, who has all but locked up the Democratic presidential nomination, says he has a plan to reopen the country. But when is a plan not a plan? When it's a list of ideas. "The first batch of stimulus payments promised to American taxpayers amid the coronavirus pandemic were direct deposited on Saturday, the Internal Revenue Service said," CBS News reported Monday. What will this do to pull the economy out of the recession, if not depression?"We Can't Let Tech Companies Use This Crisis to Expand Their Power," reads a Friday headline in Jacobin. We touched on this last week, but this is such a well-written article and such an important issue that I though it deserved deeper exploration. The article says, "Whether in China or the United States, tech companies are teaming up with governments to boost surveillance amid the coronavirus pandemic. It's a slippery slope that threatens to bring more civil liberties violations and more power for profit-hungry tech companies.""Domestic Violence Is on the Rise With Coronavirus Lockdown. The Responses Are Missing the Point," reads the headline of a Monday article by Natasha Lennard in The Intercept. She writes, "To say that we have seen a spike in domestic violence during the coronavirus pandemic would be an understatement. In the weeks since populations worldwide have been directed to 'stay home' to prevent the virus's spread, cases of domestic violence have surged — and that's reported cases."GUESTS:Ray Baker — Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda.Dr. Yolandra Hancock — Board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist who combines her hands-on clinical experience and public health expertise with her passion for building vibrant families and communities by providing patient-empowering, best-in-class health and wellness care to children and adolescents who are fighting obesity.Dr. Jack Rasmus — Professor of economics and politics at St. Mary's College in California and the author of the new book "The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump."Amina McWhirter — Founder of the nonprofit Love By the Handles, domestic violence survivor and victims' advocate and author of "Shh… No More: Be Free & Live Life."

"President Trump on Wednesday signed into law a multibillion-dollaremergency aid package aimed at helping Americans impacted by thecoronavirus," The Hill reported Wednesday. It will go into effect in15 days. The measure, which was previously approved by the House ofRepresentatives, passed the Senate Wednesday in a 90-8 vote. It"includes provisions offering paid leave benefits for Americans,bolstered unemployment benefits and free diagnostic testing for thevirus," The Hill noted. What does this mean for the US economy duringthis coronavirus outbreak?On Tuesday, "Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportedthirty-three people from the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) toMexico and possibly other countries," the Yakima Immigrant ResponseNetwork wrote in a Thursday Facebook post. The network "reported theon-boarding at Yakima Airport of thirty men and three women, all fromthe NWDC in Tacoma, [Washington], a facility located in greaterSeattle, a region with the highest number of COVID-19-related deaths.Despite Governor Jay Inslee's recommendation to limit as much aspossible large gatherings under fifty people, to practice socialdistancing at all times, and the Center for Disease Control's (CDC)recommendation to cancel all non-essential plane travel, especiallyinternational travel, ICE continues its unnecessary forcedtransportation of immigrants and migrants across the country andbeyond the US border, endangering the lives of detained people andpotentially further spreading the Coronavirus from the hardest-hitmetropolitan area in North America. These deportations reveal anagency failing to respect the United States government's efforts tocontain the novel COVID-19 pandemic. As ICE continues its assault onimmigrants and migrants, behaving as if this is a time for business asusual — detaining, deporting, and denying entry to asylum seekers —its actions now far exceed the domain of immigration enforcement."What's going on here?"Brazilians on Wednesday held what was described as the largestprotest against far-right President Jair Bolsonaro to date, but thedemonstration did not take place in the streets," Common Dreamsreported Thursday. What's going on in Brazil? "Instead, voluntarilyconfined to their homes to prevent the spread of the novelcoronavirus, millions of people in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro tookto their balconies and windows to demand Bolsonaro's ouster over hishandling of the COVID-19 outbreak, which the president continues todownplay even after more than a dozen members of his inner circletested positive for the disease." What's the difference between what'shappening in Brazil and what's happening in Spain and Italy?A Tuesday headline in The Grayzone reads: "US ramps up sanctionsdevastating Venezuela's health sector as coronavirus spreads." Thearticle says, "Promising to 'smash' Venezuela's government during a'maximum pressure March,' Trump has imposed crushing sanctions thatforce Venezuela to spend three times as much as non-sanctionedcountries on coronavirus testing kits." What has happened to diplomacyand soft power? Could this be considered virtual germ warfare?GUESTS:Joia Jefferson Nuri — Political strategist and CEO of In The PublicEye Communications.Ray Baker — Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda.Maru Mora-Villalpando — Nationally known immigrant rights activist,co-founder of the Latinx organization Mijente and community organizerwith Northwest Detention Center Resistance.Dr. Gerald Horne — Professor of history at the University of Houstonand author of many books, including "Blows Against the Empire: USImperialism in Crisis."Teri Mattson — Code Pink Latin America coordinator and founder andcoordinator for the Campaign to End US and Canada Sanctions AgainstVenezuela.

Here is today's agenda! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newsnowbaytown/support

The POTUS will meet with the secretary of defense for lunch at 12:30 p.m. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newsnowbaytown/support

Did the Democrats advance their position that US President Donald Trump has abused his power as president, or did Republicans defend their position that this impeachment inquiry is a politically motivated witch-hunt intended to overturn the 2016 election? I have no doubt that the Democrats will get articles of impeachment out of the House. Those articles will go forward to the Senate, where they will die their natural death. The Senate is controlled by the Republicans, and Chief Justice John Roberts will oversee the trial. Was anything provided Wednesday that is going to shift anyone's position either way?"Bolivian Senator Jeanine Añez, a leader of the nation's right-wing opposition party, declared herself interim president of the country Tuesday night despite lacking the constitutionally required number of lawmakers to approve her appointment," Common Dreams reported Wednesday. "'I assume the presidency immediately and will do everything necessary to pacify the country,' declared Añez, who has a history of racist attacks against indigenous Bolivians." This sounds eerily reminiscent of Venezuela and Juan Guido."Comcast's Supreme Court battle with Byron Allen may make racial discrimination harder to fight," read the headline for a Wednesday editorial for NBC News by legal analyst Maya Wiley. "The case isn't just about the cable company and one media mogul. The results of the company's legal strategy could be devastating to civil rights law." Who is Byron Allen, and why is this case so important?GUESTS:Ray Baker — Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda.David Schultz — Professor of political science at Hamline University. Nino Pagliccia — Activist and freelance writer based in Vancouver. A retired researcher from the University of British Columbia, Canada, Pagliccia is a Venezuelan-Canadian who follows and writes about international relations with a focus on the Americas, and is also the editor of the book “Cuba Solidarity in Canada – Five Decades of People-to-People Foreign Relations.” Jackie Luqman — Co-editor-in-chief of Luqman Nation and the co-host of the Facebook livestream "Coffee, Current Events & Politics."

Brooke talks with Dr. Peter Bjerre Mortensen from the University of Aarhus about two recent articles, "The Bureaucracy and the Public Agenda," co-authored with Martin Baekgaard and Henrik Bech Seeberg, and "Do Local Policy Agendas Respond to Local Problems?" co-authored with Henrik Bech Seeberg. Dr. Mortensen's recommendations for political science readers are both classics: The Semi-sovereign People by E.E. Schattschneider, and The Strategy of Conflict by Peter Schelling.

Curtis Ewbank, a senior engineer at Boeing, filed an internal ethics complaint this year regarding the development of the company's 737 MAX jet, the New York Times reported Wednesday. He reportedly said that in an effort to cut costs, Boeing declined to add a safety system to the jet that Ewbank felt could have reduced the risks that contributed to two deadly 737 MAX crashes in 2018. The circumstances around this plane keep getting worse.While the US' private sector added more jobs in September than forecasts predicted, the pace of job growth flagged, and there are increasing indications that the labor market is tightening, according to a Wednesday report from ADP and Moody's Analytics. "Manufacturing activity is contracting across advanced economies, according to a raft of data released on Tuesday that pointed to the impact of US President Donald Trump's trade policies," the Financial Times reported. "Output this summer was lower than a year earlier across all 36 advanced economies and sentiment indicators show that it is the most geographically widespread manufacturing downturn for seven years. The global purchasing managers' index in September recorded its fifth month below the 50 mark, the level that divides expansion from contraction. That was the longest period that indicator has been so low since 2012." Are these blips of data outliers, or should we be paying attention to them as indicators of what's to come?A federal judge ruled in favor of Harvard University's race-conscious admissions process in a decision released Tuesday. Judge Allison Burroughs determined that although Harvard could benefit from implicit bias training for admissions officers, the court will not dismantle an admissions program “that passes constitutional muster, solely because it could do it better.” How are we to interpret this decision?A recent Common Dreams article titled "Warnings That Millions More Could Go Hungry as Trump Pushes $4.5 Billion in Food Benefit Cuts" is taking aim at Trump's attack on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It states, "In its latest potentially devastating attack on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Trump administration on Tuesday unveiled a proposal that would slash food stamps benefits by $4.5 billion over five years, a move analysts warned would increase hunger for millions of low-income families." The article further quotes Stacy Dean, vice president for food assistance policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, who says: "The Trump administration describes its SNAP proposals as a means to 'modernize' SNAP, but they all would reduce benefits or eligibility. Americans struggling to put food on the table will be worse off if the administration's regulatory agenda for SNAP moves forward." GUESTS:Keith Mackey — President of Mackey International, an aviation consulting firm specializing in aviation safety, risk management, accident investigation, air carrier certification and safety/compliance audits. Linwood Tauheed — Associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Joseph L. Graves Jr. — American scientist and the associate dean for research and professor of biological studies at the Joint School for Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, which is jointly administered by North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and UNC Greensboro.Ray Baker — Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda.Rashid Nuri — Founder of the Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture (TLW). TLW is Atlanta's premier urban agricultural organization, growing tons of chemical-free, nutritious food, providing jobs and educating communities about food, nutrition and self-sufficiency. His new book is titled "Growing Out Loud: Journey of a Food Revolutionary."

Protesters in Hong Kong are once again disrupting transportation. Hundreds of demonstrators are staging a sit-in at a suburban train station to mark one month since a violent attack there by masked assailants. On July 21, a group of men suspected of organized crime links flooded the Yuen Long station and began to attack protesters. Demonstrators are flooding the same station to protest what they are calling a lack of progress by police in investigating those attacks. They held a moment of silence, then covered their right eyes, referencing to a woman who suffered a severe eye injury after being struck by a police projectile. The student activists who crashed the political arena after the mass shooting last year at their high school in Parkland, Florida, are throwing their weight behind a new and ambitious gun control program that they hope will set the tone for the debate following the most recent mass shootings and headed into the 2020 elections. This occurs after police stopped three potential mass shootings that could have taken place over the weekend in Florida, Connecticut and Ohio with help from the public. Authorities arrested three men in their 20s who sent threatening social media posts or text messages alluding to the desire to carry out mass shootings late last week. Despite these realities, it still appears that the chances of real legislation impacting the purchasing of guns are once again waning.The US and Venezuela are now confirming secret, high level talks have been held between the countries. US President Donald Trump and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro have said that talks are underway between senior officials from their governments to attempt to resolve the Latin American country's deepening crises. The US has been attempting to pressure Maduro through sanctions to step down and hold presidential elections, something he has steadfastly refused to do.The United States envoy negotiating with the Taliban for an end to nearly 18 years of fighting in Afghanistan departed Tuesday for Qatar to resume talks, the State Department said, amid concerns about a growing threat in Afghanistan from a Daesh affiliate. The new talks in Qatar, where the Taliban has a political office, will take place in the wake of a suicide bombing at a wedding in Kabul over the weekend, for which a brutal Daesh affiliate has taken responsibility. In light of the attack, Afghans have questioned whether a deal between the US and the Taliban would deliver peace for civilians in the war-torn country. GUESTS: Bob Schlehuber — Producer for By Any Means Necessary and Sputnik news analyst. Joia Jefferson Nuri — Communications specialist for In The Public Eye Communications. Ray Baker — Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda. Margaret Flowers — Co-editor of Popular Resistance. Dr. Gerald Horne — Professor of history at the University of Houston and author of many books, including "Blows Against the Empire: US Imperialism in Crisis."

On this episode of The Critical Hour, Dr. Wilmer Leon is joined by David Rosen, author of "Sex, Sin & Subversion: The Transformation of 1950s New York's Forbidden into America's New Normal." He can be found at www.DavidRosenWrites.com. Jeffrey Epstein, the 66-year-old billionaire hedge fund manager, has been charged with running a sex-trafficking operation that brought dozens of girls as young as 14 to his opulent Upper East Side home in New York City. He has a lot of friends in very high places. This story has the potential to become a major problem for people on both sides of establishment politics. Look at the list of people who flew on his private plane, nicknamed “The Lolita Express”: former US President Bill Clinton was a passenger more than 20 times; the UK's Prince Andrew flew on it. US President Donald Trump once praised Epstein as a nice guy who shares his affection for women, but on the slightly younger side. How big of a problem will this be going forward?As Democratic presidential candidates try to differentiate themselves from the pack and some try to move to the left of center, they are engaging in revisionist history. How does this portend for the general election?The New York Times reports: "Afghan Talks With Taliban Reflect a Changed Nation." Is this an accurate accounting of developments? "When the Taliban met Sunday for the first time with Afghan officials, the delegates they faced formed a moving tableau of a new Afghanistan that has taken shape since the movement was toppled 18 years ago," the Times says. First, is this as significant of a change in terms of makeup as the Times is reporting, and if so, from a policy, political and cultural perspective, is it as significant as professed?Iran says it is fully prepared to enrich uranium "at any amount and any level." In a live news conference Monday, senior officials said Tehran would reduce its commitments to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action every 60 days unless world powers who agreed to the deal move to protect Iran from US sanctions. A spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said that "in a few hours" the technical process will come to an end, and enrichment beyond the agreed limit will begin. Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran can enrich uranium below the purity needed for a nuclear weapon. Iran's energy spokesman says it's enriching uranium to fuel a power plant and is prepared to do it "at any speed, any amount and any level."Outgoing Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Monday suffered a huge defeat and handed over power to his successor, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The landslide victory was met with a pledge to boost investments, cut taxes and create jobs. Mitsotakis will likely face an uphill battle squaring his promises with fiscal targets agreed with lenders. But how was the upset accomplished?GUESTS:David Rosen — Author of "Sex, Sin & Subversion: The Transformation of 1950s New York's Forbidden into America's New Normal". He can be found at www.DavidRosenWrites.com. Ray Baker — Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda. Dr. Marvin Weinbaum — Scholar-in-residence and director of the Middle East Institute's Center for Pakistan and Afghanistan Studies.Daniel Lazare — Journalist and author of three books: "The Frozen Republic," "The Velvet Coup" and "America's Undeclared War." John Kiriakou — Co-host of Loud and Clear on Radio Sputnik.

Some of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigators have told associates that Attorney General William Barr failed to adequately portray the findings of their inquiry and that they were more troubling for President Donald Trump than Mr. Barr indicated, according to government officials and others familiar with their simmering frustrations. The officials and others interviewed declined to flesh out why some of the special counsel's investigators viewed their findings as potentially more damaging for the president than Barr explained. It was unclear how much discussion Mueller and his investigators had with senior Justice Department officials about how their findings would be made public. It was also unclear how widespread the vexation is among the special counsel team, which included 19 lawyers, about 40 FBI agents and other personnel.A reparations bill wins new momentum in Congress. House legislation to form a commission to study whether black Americans should receive reparations for slavery is getting a significant boost from Democrats on the presidential campaign trail. Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), the head of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), suggested that action on a reparations measure sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) is all but certain, with Democrats now in control of the lower chamber and the idea gaining prominence on the national stage. What does this mean for the movement going forward, and does it say anything about a change in the American perspective on the issue?Facebook users' data is still being exposed in other places. A cybersecurity firm found hundreds of millions of users' data on Amazon's cloud computing services. Bloomberg first reported that UpGuard found more than 540 million records, including account names, comments and likes, were available to the public. For years, Facebook shared this kind of data with third party developers to allow users to sign into a service using Facebook. The database was closed Wednesday after Facebook contacted Amazon. A recent Intercept article, titled "Trump Administration Is Spending Enormous Resources To Strip Citizenship From A Florida Truck Driver," states, "With almost no one watching, the federal government on Tuesday went to trial in one of the first denaturalization cases of the Trump era, a project the administration enthusiastically rolled out in 2017. The man at the center of the trial is Parvez Manzoor Khan, a 62-year-old Floridian. The federal government has so far expended extraordinary resources trying to denaturalize Khan, a truck driver and grandfather of three who's been a citizen without incident since 2006. His case has been in the works for a year and a half, involves high-ranking Justice Department lawyers, and will likely continue for at least another year — even as the backlog in immigration courts, which also fall under the Justice Department's purview, continues to grow. In a budget request for the 2019 fiscal year, the administration asked for $207.6 million to investigate 887 additional leads it expects to get into American citizens who may be vulnerable to denaturalization, and to review another 700,000 immigrant files."GUESTS:Ray Baker — Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda. Raymond A. Winbush — Research professor and director of the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University. He is the author of numerous articles and has published three books, "The Warrior Method: A Parents' Guide to Rearing Healthy Black Boys," "Should America Pay? Slavery and the Raging Debate on Reparations" and "Belinda's Petition: A Concise History of Reparations for the Transatlantic Slave Trade." Chris Garaffa — Web developer and technologist. Amanda Frost — Professor of law at American University. She writes and teaches in the fields of constitutional law, immigration and citizenship law, federal courts and jurisdiction and judicial ethics. Her articles have appeared in the Duke Law Journal, the Northwestern Law Review, the NYU Law Review and the Virginia Law Review, among others. Her non-academic writing has been published in The Atlantic, Slate, the Washington Post, the New York Times, USA Today and the LA Times, and she authors the “Academic Round-up” column for SCOTUSblog.

President Trump will address the nation Tuesday night about the situation at the US-Mexico border. Trump tweeted out that it is "Humanitarian and National Security crisis." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will deliver the Democratic response to Trump's speech. They are demanding equal time to challenge Trump's claim that there is a national security crisis along the border. The government shutdown is in its 18th day. Will the president use his executive power to get funding for his wall?The Russian lawyer involved in the infamous Trump Tower meeting in 2016 is being indicted in a separate case. Federal prosecutors in New York are charging Natalia Veselnitskaya [vessel-nit-SKY-ah] with obstruction of justice. She allegedly attempted to prevent an investigation into money laundering that involved an influential Russian businessman and his investment firm. Veselnitskaya was present at the meeting with Trump campaign officials in Trump Tower during the 2016 presidential campaign. The Trump Tower meeting included Donald Trump Jr., then-campaign chief Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law. But, there are some serious holes in this story. The New York Times reports, “The money-laundering case was not directly related to the Trump Tower meeting. But a federal indictment returned in Manhattan seemed to confirm that Ms. Veselnitskaya had deep ties to senior Russian government officials and rekindled questions about whether the Kremlin tried to use her as an intermediary to Donald J. Trump's campaign.” The Magnitsky Act is a bipartisan bill passed by the US Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama in December 2012, intending to punish Russian officials responsible for the death of Russian tax accountant Sergei Magnitsky in a Moscow prison in 2009. Since 2016, the bill, which applies globally, authorizes the US government to sanction those it sees as human rights offenders, freezing their assets and banning them from entering the US. If the Russian response stating that Magnitsky and other persons defrauded the Russian Treasury is, in fact, true, wouldn't that mean that the basis of the Magnitsky act is wrong?The Trump administration is attempting to end temporary protected status — known as TPS — for over 50,000 Haitians living in the US. Tens of thousands of Haitians were given TPS after an earthquake devastated their country in 2010. In November 2017, the Trump administration announced it would revoke TPS for Haitians. The move was met with protests and multiple lawsuits, and is now being challenged in court. In October, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump effort, which also affects immigrants from Sudan, El Salvador and Nicaragua, citing a “discriminatory” motivation. Haitian TPS recipients and their supporters are expected to rally this morning outside the Brooklyn courthouse where the suit is being argued.News that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is visiting China is reinforcing rumors that Kim will meet Trump, possibly in Vietnam, in the near future, for a critical second summit. China remains North Korea's closest ally, extending a cross-border economic lifeline to the cash-strapped and heavily sanctioned state, and China has called for economic sanctions on North Korea to be eased. The timing of Kim's trip to China could be highly significant, potentially suggesting an imminent summit with Trump. In 2018, Kim met Xi for discussions prior to his first summits with both South Korean President Moon Jae In in April and with Trump in June. While no date for the second Kim-Trump summit has yet been set, nor has a location been decided, South Korean daily the Munhwa Ilbo reported Monday that the meeting could take place in Hanoi.GUESTS:Ray Baker — Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda.Caleb Maupin — Journalist and political analyst who focuses his coverage on US foreign policy and the global system of monopoly capitalism and imperialism.Dahoud Andre — Haitian activist who works with the Free Haiti Movement.Lee Stranahan — Co-host of Fault Lines on Sputnik Radio.

Suzanne Delbanco checks in with David Schleifer, Ph.D.,Vice President and Director of Research at Public Agenda, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research and public engagement organization that works to strengthen democracy and expand opportunity in America by fostering thoughtful public opinion, meaningful public participation and responsive public institutions. They discuss the perspectives of Americans who have experienced either type 2 diabetes, maternity care or joint replacement on what makes for good quality health care, based on research funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: www.publicagenda.org/pages/qualities-that-matter. David also gives a preview of future research designed to shed light on whether or not New Yorkers think that state policy should play a larger role in improving transparency and accountability in health care quality.

It's Friday, so it's time for the panel news roundup! Today was quite a day in the US Senate and in an elevator in the Capitol. Just as Senators Chuck Grassley, Lindsey Graham and Orrin Hatch were about to take their victory lap, Senator Jeff Flake got cornered by a woman whose personal story rocked him to his socks. With that, Flake agreed to vote to send Kavanaugh's nomination to the Senate floor, but said he would not be comfortable voting for Kavanaugh's final confirmation without giving the FBI a week to investigate. What's going on here? Dr. Cosby was given a three-to-10 year prison sentence for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, at his home outside Philadelphia 14 years ago. Judge Steven T. O'Neill upheld a state board's finding that Dr. Cosby is a sexually violent predator. He was immediately taken into custody and will go straight to prison, as the judge denied him a request to remain free on bail while he pursues an anticipated appeal. It is a tragic end to a brilliant career.We'll take another look at President Donald Trump's UN speech, with our guest Dr. Jack Rasmus. In his recent piece, "Trump At the UN: Lies, Damn Lies & Statistics," he states, "In the course of his over-the-top, self-congratulatory announcement he said the US economy had grown faster in his first two years at the presidential helm than in any administration before during a like period, he had reduced unemployment to the lowest rate ever in the US, and his policies have produced record wage gains for American workers. The reality, however, is none of the above are true.” We'll drill into the details.We've got all your news analysis and so much more to cover!GUESTS:Abdus Luqman — Co-editor-in-chief of Luqman Nation, and the co-host of the Facebook LivestreamCoffee, Current Events & Politics, Thursdays at 9 p.m.Earl Ofari Hutchinson — Political analyst, author of Why Black Lives Do Matter and host of the weekly Hutchinson Report on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network.Ray Baker — Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda.Dr. Jack Rasmus — Professor of economics at Saint Mary's College of California, author of Central Bankers at the End of Their Ropes: Monetary Policy and the Coming Depression and writer at jackrasmus.com.

On this episode of The Critical Hour, Dr. Wilmer Leon is joined by Johanna Fernandez, a filmmaker with Big Noise Films, professor of history at Baruch College (CUNY) and one of the coordinators of The Campaign to Bring Mumia Home.Arguments in a request by former death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal to have his previous appeals vacated have been postponed. The Philadelphia District Attorney's office turned over a document Monday that the defense says could show former Pennsylvania State Supreme Court Justice Ronald Castille was personally involved in the case. The judge ordered the parties to continue searching for additional documents before he hears arguments in October.It's Friday, so it's time for my panel. We'll get into all the latest news and controversies from the Arizona and Florida primaries: President Trump warning evangelical leaders in a closed-door meeting that there would be “violence” if Republicans lose the House in the November midterm elections; Florida Rep. Ron DeSantis using the term "monkey this up" when referring to his African American gubernatorial opponent Andrew Gillum; and what do people really know about Brett Kavanaugh's record, and what impact will he have if appointed to the US Supreme Court? GUESTS:Johanna Fernandez — Filmmaker with Big Noise Films, professor of history at Baruch College (CUNY) and one of the coordinators of The Campaign to Bring Mumia Home.Ray Baker — Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda. Caleb Maupin — Journalist and political analyst who focuses his coverage on US foreign policy and the global system of monopoly capitalism and imperialism. He has appeared on Russia Today, PressTV, TeleSur and CNN. He has reported from across the United States, as well as from Iran, the Gulf of Aden and Venezuela.Earl Ofari Hutchinson — Political analyst, author of Why Black Lives Do Matter and host of the weekly Hutchinson Report on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network.

On this episode of The Critical Hour, Dr. Wilmer Leon is joined by Ray Baker, political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda, to remember the life, legacy and politics of the late Senator John McCain.Arizona Senator John McCain is dead at the age of 81. The late senator will lie in state at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix and later in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC. McCain died Saturday at age 81 following a battle with aggressive brain cancer. If you've turned on your TV since his passing, it's on every news channel: John McCain the Maverick, John McCain the War Hero, John McCain international spokesmen for democracy. Well, that's not quite the Senator McCain that I followed. As I have listened to the news since Sunday, this really appears to be what I call the protectors of the narrative (corporate media) going into high gear to manage the image of John McCain, thereby validating the atrocities he backed and championed.At least 28 people were shot in Chicago over the weekend, two of them fatally. The most violent period was Friday night, when two were killed and eight others wounded between 5 p.m. and midnight. Shootings on Saturday wounded five people; nine were wounded Sunday; and four were wounded early Monday before 5 a.m. One shooting Friday left a woman dead in the back of the Yards neighborhood on the South Side. There are those who talk about the poor relationship between the community and the police and place the blame on the community. The Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability has outlined an ordinance that would give a civilian oversight board a lot of power over the police department. A seven-member civilian board would oversee Chicago's police department. They would have the authority to fire the police superintendent and set department policy, which would be a dramatic change for the city. What is going on in our community?Whitney Webb from MintPress News has a very disturbing story on the site - "US Sanctions Against Venezuela Force Abby Martin's 'Empire Files' to Shut Down." The US government is not only seeking to punish the Venezuelan government with its increasingly draconian sanctions but is seeking as well to cripple the TeleSur media network, despite the fact that it is funded by several other countries. What's actually going on here? What does this say about the power of independent journalism, and what does it say about a free press and censorship in America? GUESTS:Ray Baker - Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda.Dr. Ameena Matthews - Senior Violence Interrupter whose job is to mediate conflict on the front end to stop the transmission of violence from one person to another. She has worked for six years with the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention's Ceasefire Program in the University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Public Health. Abby Martin - Journalist and host of The Empire Files, a weekly investigative news program on TeleSur.

Aretha Franklin, universally recognized as the “Queen of Soul” and one of America's greatest singers in any genre, died this morning in Detroit. She was 76. She sang at a time when the clarity of her voice was needed, and she had one of the clearest and most soul-piercing voices ever. I mean bone marrow piercing. We'll dive into what she meant on a cultural level and as a supporter of the Civil Rights movement. Over 350 US newspapers devoted print space today to a coordinated defense of press freedom and a rebuke of US President Donald Trump for saying some media organizations are foes of Americans. So, kudos to the 350 newspapers that coordinated in defense of press freedom. But is there a free press? Is the “free press” in America doing its job? This morning, the president tweeted that the “fake news media” are the “opposition party,” and we know he has labeled the news media “the enemy of the American people.” Is this a valid complaint? Steve Bannon continues to push his own pro-Trump agenda. He is launching a 25-person rapid response polling operation and will also be an advisor to Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro for the upcoming elections in October. What does this mean for Bannon, and what does it say about geopolitics and the next phase of the alt-right? Has the GOP become so desperate to gain ground in the midterms that it has to create a rapid response team?GUEST: Gerald Horne - African-American historian who currently holds the John J. and Rebecca Moores Chair of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston.Rev. Dr. Keith William Byrd Sr. - Pastor at the historic Zion Baptist Church in Northwest Washington, DC.Lauren von Bernuth - Writer and co-founder of Citizen Truth. Orane Sharpe - Writer and co-founder of Citizen Truth.Ray Baker - Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda.

Some races are still too close to call this evening after voters hit the polls in several states yesterday. In Ohio's 12th, it's too close to call. In Kansas for governor, it's also too close to call. Missouri voters decided against becoming a right-to-work state. In Michigan, Rashida Tlaib became the first Muslim woman to be elected to US Congress after winning the Democratic primary. So, what's going on here, and what are we to make of it? The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced a 25 percent tariff on $16 billion worth of US goods, including certain vehicles, fuel and fiber optics. China said today it will retaliate against the latest round of U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports. Can China win a trade war? Documents reveal that President Donald Trump's claims of voter fraud are unsubstantiated and his defunct voter commission was misleading in its agenda. In May of 2017, President Trump announced his Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, declaring it would find widespread evidence of 3-5 million fraudulent ballots, but just the opposite happened. In a letter addressed to Vice President Mike Pence and Chris Kobach, Maine's secretary of state, Matthew Dunlap says he joined the commission in good faith but left questioning the intent of the study and thinking the lack of evidence reveals a troubling bias. GUESTS: Ray Baker - Political analyst and host of the podcast Public Agenda.Dr. Paul Sheldon Foote - Professor in the Department of Accounting at California State University, Fullerton.Natasha Merle - Special Counsel to NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.

In the early days at World Resources Institute, founder Gus Speth charged Rafe Pomerance with outreach on climate change. Pomerance went on to organize high-profile hearings in the U.S. Senate that put climate on the policy radar and introduced Jim Hansen to the world. These hearings are the subject of a new issue-length article in the New York Times Magazine, "Losing Earth." (Link below) In a conversation with WRI Vice President for Communications Lawrence MacDonald, Pomerance returns to WRI to talk about what went into the hearings, what has hindered progress since then and why he thinks Florida is the key to decisive climate action in the United States. Article: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/01/magazine/climate-change-losing-earth.html

On today’s episode of Loud & Clear, Shawn Garcia, Executive Director of Revolutionary Fitness; Gloria La Riva, who was the Coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five; and Greg Cruz, an activist who will soon be traveling to Puerto Rico to take part in relief efforts, join the show.In our first hour, we discuss the crisis in Puerto Rico. After the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, there are dire shortages of essential goods and services. On top of this, Puerto Rico is still suffocating under a mountain of debt and the colonial status imposed on it by the United States. The far right Alternative for Germany has made a breakthrough in last week’s election, securing nearly 13 percent of the vote and entering parliament. What’s behind the party’s stunning rise and deep internal divisions? Marcel Joppa, a journalist and Sputnik News analyst, talks about the issue.Incumbent Republican Senator Luther Strange has been defeated in a landslide by far right challenger Roy Moore in the Alabama primary election. What does it mean for Trump, McConnell, and the future of politics in the United States? Ray Baker, the host of the podcast Public Agenda, discusses this development.The Venezuelan opposition has broken off talks with the government that were being held in the Dominican Republic, just weeks ahead of crucial regional elections. Lucas Koerner, a Caracas-based activist and writer for VenezuelAnalysis.com, joins the show.Saudi Arabia’s government has announced that it will legally permit women to drive for the first time following years of protest. But horrific restrictions on women’s rights still persist in this close ally of the United States. Catherine Shakdam, a political analyst and author, talks about this issue

On this episode Ray talks with Stefanie Brown James, co-founder of The Collective PAC. They discuss recruiting, training & supporting black progressive candidates and the future of black politics on the federal, state and local level.

For anyone who has ever sought to find the price of healthcare services before obtaining them it will come as little surprise that information is not readily available. A recent study from Public Agenda, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the New York State Health Foundation, set out to find how Americans seek and use healthcare price information. We spoke to David Schleifer Director of Research for Public Agenda about what extent healthcare consumers seek price information, the implications of having a system with little price transparency, and what can be done to fix the problem.

On this episode of Public Agenda, Ray talks with sociologist Eve Ewing. She discusses the intersection of feminism & race from the perspective of a black woman. She also examines the value of public goods in our society.

On this episode of Public Agenda, Ray talks with W. Paul Coates. A former Black Panther Party Captain, an activist, a publisher and father of MacArthur Genius Award Winner Ta-Nehisi Coates. They discuss the senior Coates' life and career as a war veteran, a community worker, a Black Panther and family legacy.

On this episode of Public Agenda, Ray talks with mutli-media journalist Kenya Downs about her experience as a woman of color in America's newsrooms. She also explores two of her feature stories, including one on why Milwaukee is the worst place for black Americans and why sharing viral videos of police violence against African Americans can be a bad thing.

Prospective students often start their college searches with high expectations, and soon into their exploration, high anxiety. Both students fresh out of high school and older adults returning to school are making crucial choices about their educations without key information and resources and with misconceptions about everything from application requirements to financial aid and sound student loan options.According to recent research from New America's Education Policy Program and Public Agenda, 41 percent of students say they did not find enough helpful information to make their college decisions, and less than 1 in 5 adult prospective students has used an interactive website like the College Scorecard when considering college choices. And when it comes to paying for college, for example, 48 percent of students from families making less than $50,000 were unfamiliar with the Pell Grant, the cornerstone of federal financial aid for low-income students.What do these findings mean for the systems of higher education admissions and recruiting? As Congress begins looking towards the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, how can policymakers and education practitioners better address students' needs and help them become savvier about choosing the college that's right for them? Join New America NYC and Public Agenda for a discussion with the researchers and policymakers charged with recruiting and counseling New York's prospective students into making beneficial choices for their educations and their futures.Follow the discussion online using #CollegeDecisions and by following @NewAmericaNYC and @PublicAgenda. PARTICIPANTSIntroduction:Rachel Fishman @higheredrachelSenior Policy Analyst, Education Policy Program, New AmericaCarolin HagelskampVice President and Director of Research, Public AgendaParticipants:Paul Marthers, Ph.D.Associate Vice Chancellor and Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success, State University of New YorkCarmel Paleski, Ed.M.Director of Academic Affairs, Manhattan Educational Opportunity CenterLaura A. Bruno, M.S.W.Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management, Queensborough Community CollegeR. Ummi Modeste, M.S.Ed.College Advisor, City-As-School High SchoolModerator:Kim Clark @kclarkcollegeSenior Writer, Money MagazineThis event is presented in partnership with Public Agenda, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps diverse leaders and citizens navigate divisive, complex issues and work together to find solutions.