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Ralph welcomes Robert Reich (professor of Public Policy and former Secretary of Labor) to discuss his "Pledge to Make America Affordable Again." Then, Ralph speaks to Derek Shearer (former economic policy adviser and US Ambassador to Finland) about his recent work, "A Bold Economic Program for America."Robert Reich is Emeritus Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. He has served in three national administrations, including as secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton. Mr Reich has written eighteen books, including The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It, The Common Good, Supercapitalism, and Coming up Short: A Memoir of My America. He is co-founder of Inequality Media, co-founder of the Economic Policy Institute, and co-founding editor of The American Prospect.Democrats have an opportunity now to talk to the working class about—and not just the working class, the middle class too—about prices, about affordability in ways that are terribly important and meaningful and that really could get prices down or at least stop the onslaught of inflation. And also that are very, very consistent with what we believe as Democrats, as progressives, as people who want to see the nation move back toward its pursuit of social justice.Robert ReichYou can bet that the right, the apologists for wealth in this country are going to say, “Oh, no, no, no, don't do that because wealthy people will leave the country!” I mean, what they always do reflexively is say, “If you do that, we'll leave.” And I say in California the same thing I would say about a national wealth tax—if they want to leave, let them leave. But they're not going to leave because there are so many advantages to staying in California in terms of: this is where a lot of the high tech talent actually is. This is where the infrastructure for high tech is already. The climate, as I talk to you, I'm looking at a beautiful day out here. You know, who wants to leave California? And if you are a billionaire, and you are just so intent on leaving California because of this one very, very minor tax, then frankly, goodbye.Robert ReichI am a believer, though, in the common sense of the American people. Now, if that makes me naive, if that makes me gullible, so be it. But I think at the end of the line, the bottom line here is that the American people will make a decision starting with the midterm elections coming up in just 96 days (something like that). And those elections are going to be critical in terms of trying to constrain Trump and the people, the sycophants and lapdogs behind him and Hegseth and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and all these people who are ripping the social contract to shreds. And I think that the one way that (this brings us back to my pledge, my affordability pledge for Democrats), I think one way the Democrats can be sure to get the House back and maybe even possibly the Senate in 96, 97 days, is to pledge to make America affordable again. And using these 10 particular steps that are widely, widely supported.Robert ReichDerek Shearer served as the US Ambassador to Finland from 1994 to 1997. Previously, he worked in government at the national, state, and local levels, including the founding board of directors of the National Consumer Cooperative Bank in 1978 and Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs in 1993. He is emeritus Chevalier Professor of Diplomacy and World Affairs at Occidental College and Diplomat in Residence at Occidental for 2025-26. During the 1992 presidential campaign, Ambassador Shearer was a senior policy adviser to Bill Clinton and helped to write the campaign's economic program, Putting People First. He has continued this policy work by co-authoring the comprehensive proposal A Bold Economic Program for America and exploring its political path forward in his recent article, Planning for the Day After Trump.The point of our program is not that it should be endorsed in its entirety. It's almost meant to be a discussion document to show what is possible—that this can be done. It doesn't require some dramatic change in the way the government operates. It just demands a change in priorities and some new lawsDerek ShearerYou can't get to those issues until you are actually in the government. And if we don't win back the House and at least have a shot at winning back the Senate, talking about these issues while Trump and the MAGA Republican Party controls the government (and might continue to control it), makes us feel good, but it doesn't change anything. What I've learned about the so-called leaders of the party is you don't really expect them to lead. They will follow when they see where the voters are going. And they'll also follow when they see if there is a Presidential candidate who takes off on these kinds of issues…I don't expect the leadership to lead on these issues. So I don't rail against them. Because what I'm doing (and I'm doing it with a lot of different people out there, including a lot of young people) is trying to find good candidates, provide them with economic ideas to run on, and then hope that we win back the House and that these kinds of then-elected officials who share our viewpoint become the Democratic Party. I mean, that's how you do these things. If we don't win these elections, then we're just kind of crying in the wilderness.Derek ShearerLet's Start the RevolutionTools for Displacing the Corporate State and Building a Country that Works for the PeopleIn his latest eye-opening exploration, political maverick Ralph Nader dissects the astonishing twists and turns of the 2020 presidential election, a race that left the nation on the edge of its seat. Although Joe Biden clinched victory with a substantial popular vote lead, Nader unveils the precarious nature of the outcome, where a mere 100,000 votes in key swing states could have catapulted Donald Trump back to the presidency. Get your copy here.News 8/7/26* This week, a new wave of Democratic primaries were held, most notably in the state of Michigan. In the closely watched Senate primary, which came down to a two-way race, Bernie Sanders-backed progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed emerged triumphant. Some have played up the fact that his opponent, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, overperformed relative to her polling in an attempt to downplay the significance of El-Sayed's victory. Yet, this narrative ignores the fact that Stevens enjoyed the backing of the Democratic Establishment and AIPAC, which gave her an 12-to-1 spending advantage according to Axios, and that she ran misleading ads that made it seem as though former President Barack Obama had endorsed her campaign. Viewed in this light, it is clear just how impressive El-Sayed's victory – statewide, in a must-win swing state for Democrats – is. El-Sayed will now face off against former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers in the general election.* In Detroit, the left scored another major win with the victory of Donavan McKinney. McKinney, a DSA member and Michigan state representative, won his primary race against incumbent Congressman Shri Thanedar in Michigan's 13th congressional district, the Detroit Free Press reports. Thanedar, a millionaire businessman, was a DSA member but left over disagreements over Israel. Thanedar fought hard to keep this seat, which he won in 2022, and was supported by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries despite many members of the Congressional Black Caucus supporting McKinney. Given that this is a heavily Democratic district, McKinney is essentially guaranteed a seat in the next Congress, bringing the number of DSA-backed House Members to an unprecedented high of seven. Moreover, between McKinney and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the city of Detroit will now enjoy all DSA representation in Congress.* In Michigan's seventh congressional district, progressive climate activist and co-founder of the Sunrise Movement William Lawrence pulled out a win in his primary as well. NBC notes that Lawrence defeated his two more moderate opponents, retired Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam and former Ambassador to Slovakia Bridget Brink, in part by aggressively criticizing the construction of new AI data centers. Some have alleged that Lawrence received support from Republicans using dark money to boost his campaign because they believe him to be an easier candidate to defeat in the general election. However, the Hillary Clinton campaign's “pied piper” strategy to boost Donald Trump in 2016 proves that this is ever a risky strategy. Michigan's seventh district is seen as a critical battleground seat. Donald Trump won the district by just one single percentage point in 2024.* In more data center news from the Midwest, Hell Gate reports former New York City Mayor Eric Adams was in “Wisconsin Rapids—population 18,654—trying to convince residents that they should allow a real estate developer to build a data center in the heart of their town.” In a video of his pitch, the townspeople can be seen heckling, booing and shouting down the former Mayor, with attendees saying “You belong in prison!” and “You're here to steal our water!” Community activist Kaitlyn Federwitz is quoted in this piece saying “Our whole town does not want him here at all,” adding “We want our resources to be properly safeguarded, our farmers to be protected, our waterways protected.” The Wisconsin Rapids economy had been largely dependent on a local mill, which closed its doors in 2020; Federwitz spoke to this, arguing that “When the mill closed, we lost 900 jobs. We're aware we need jobs and industry in our city.” However, she added that the people of Wisconsin Rapids are “not willing to accept that a data center is the answer to that problem.”* In more news from the midwest, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain has published a new op-ed in Newsweek contending that “Democrats Must Pick a Side: Billionaires or Working-Class.” Fain cited numerous examples of Democrats in powers betraying their working class supporters, from NAFTA to modern governors like Abigail Spanberger of Virginia vetoing collective bargaining rights for public-sector workers. He criticized Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in particular for vetoing “nine bills restoring pensions, lowering health care costs, and restoring bargaining rights for public-sector workers,” after “Michigan Democrats fought an 18-month legal battle to force the bills to the governor's desk.” He claims that “When the courts finally ordered [the bills] delivered, Whitmer vetoed all nine the same day—without so much as a phone call to legislative leaders or the unions that helped elect her.” He ends this piece with a call for “every elected official and candidate to…[reject] corporate PAC money,” and “adopt a platform that addresses the needs of working-class people.” This clear-eyed, laser focus on the working class is what has put Fain into conversation for a 2028 presidential run by some on the populist left, particularly if Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ultimately declines to run. A recent article in POLITICO quotes Bhaskar Sunkara, the 2020 Sanders surrogate and former vice chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, saying “If he's willing to run, [Fain] might be the best candidate for the left…Since he's progressive but very much says his egalitarian value system comes from his Christianity, [he] can speak in a moral language that can reach more independents than other candidates, and I think it would set a good precedent for labor.”* For the DSA left, all eyes now turn to Wisconsin, where Francesca Hong's campaign for the gubernatorial nomination continues to pick up steam. Just this week, per Wis Politics, Hong picked up the endorsement of the SEIU Wisconsin Healthcare and Service Workers. In their endorsement statement, SEIU Wisconsin called Hong “a longtime advocate and fighter for the working class,” who is “committed to building back strong labor protections by overturning Act 10 and so-called ‘Right-to-Work' laws, expanding Badgercare, and abolishing poverty wages in Wisconsin.” The union added that Hong's “support for a $20 minimum wage, adopting family-centered policies such as paid family leave and affordable child care, and enacting much-needed regulations on corporate monopolies make her the clear choice for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy.” Hong currently leads in the polls, despite the sitting Democratic Governor's attempts to boost her primary rival, David Crowley. Both Hong and Crowley have racked up labor support, though Crowley decidedly leads among the building trades and firefighter unions.* In St. Louis, the left experienced its biggest setback this cycle, with former Congresswoman Cori Bush losing her comeback bid against Congressman Wesley Bell by a large margin. Bush was ousted in 2024 as part of “a broader strategy by AIPAC to unseat Israel's sharpest critics in Congress, including the ‘Squad,' which Bush was a part of,” per the Missouri Independent. This piece notes that AIPAC spent over $8 million to oust Bush in that cycle and outside groups spent $7.2 million on Bell's behalf this year. Bell's official campaign outspent Bush's by a margin well over 10 to 1. Bush is the first candidate backed by National DSA to lose their race in 2026, which, while disappointing in this case, is a stunning testament to the track record of the group.* In a totally different part of the country, this week Julian Beaudion, the Democratic nominee for Senate in South Dakota, dropped out of the race. Beaudion cited personal hardships for himself and his family in his statement of withdrawal citing a recent house fire. However, many see this as an acknowledgement that the independent candidate in this race, veteran and former park ranger Brian Bengs, has a better chance of defeating incumbent Republican Senator Mike Rounds in a head-to-head matchup. This dynamic has been playing out in other states; Democratic Senate candidates have dropped out to clear the way for independents in Nebraska and Idaho already and there is immense pressure on the Democratic nominee in Montana to do the same. For his part, Beaudion will not endorse either candidate in South Dakota, according to KELOLAND News, but South Dakota Searchlight reports the South Dakota Democratic Party will not replace Beaudion on the ballot, giving the greenlight for Democrats to coalesce around Bengs in the general election.* In another primary election story, Lehigh Valley Public Media is out with a story on the strange dynamic emerging in Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district. According to this story, this race – between incumbent Republican Ryan Mackenzie and his Democratic challenger Bob Brooks, who seems to have done the impossible by getting Bernie Sanders and Josh Shapiro on the same side in a primary – has been upended by the entry of one Andrew Tupone. Mr. Tupone, a former Republican candidate, is running on the Green Party ballot line and claims to have “joined the Green Party this spring, drawn by its environmental policies on water conservancy and opposition to data centers, after growing disillusioned with both major parties.” Yet, apparently, “Green Party leaders warned in a statement this month that a wave of candidates may be posing as party members across the state.” Chris Robinson, a Green party spokesman, claims that “The party hasn't endorsed any congressional candidates in Pennsylvania and has never heard from Tupone.” Robinson adds that he “looked at [Tupone's] Facebook page, and he seems like he's a nice Republican.” According to LVPM, “a third-party candidate wouldn't need to move the needle much,” to influence the outcome of the election, noting that the current Congressman defeated the Democratic incumbent, Rep. Susan Wild by just 1 percentage point, in 2024, while “Tim Silfies, the last third-party congressional candidate to appear on a Lehigh Valley ballot, earned 8,011 votes, or 3 percent of the vote, in 2018.”* Finally, in more third party news, POLITICO reports several leading figures on the anti-MAGA right – including Congressman Thomas Massie, former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, and commentator Tucker Carlson – convened last weekend to “[sow] the seeds for a future third-party political organization…aimed at undercutting the Republican establishment.” This gang of three, joined by former Trump national security official Joe Kent, are particularly incensed by the president's intervention in Iran, with Greene writing “We said no more foreign wars and we meant it and supported Donald Trump because he made that promise. But he's betrayed us all.” This group is reportedly mulling a right-wing, third-party presidential campaign in 2028. While Carlson has declined to launch a presidential bid in the past, despite urging from within his circle, a sprawling new “10-point vision for America” he debuted during a recent stream implies that he is increasingly interested in articulating an alternative vision of right-wing politics from those espoused by Trump. This manifesto, as reported by Axios, includes everything from declassifying records on the JFK assasination and 9/11 to enforcing universal sobriety to “halting immigration until the effects of AI become clearer.” We will be watching closely to see if this effort moves forward or peters out as has been the pattern with other recent third party attempts.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Republicans are begging Max Miller to quit. Michigan Democrats just turned out 600,000 more voters than ever before. The midterm alarms are ringing. In this episode: Max Miller's own ex-father-in-law says he is "a danger to my granddaughter" A Republican senator called Miller a "degenerate sociopath" Democrats shattered their primary turnout record in Michigan AIPAC wasted least $40 million to beat Dr. Abdul El-Sayed Cori Bush lost her seat, and AIPAC spent millions to make it happen GOP Congressman Chuck Edwards quits amid looming censure vote Why Democratic "in-fighting" is actually the Party's secret weapon Key figures covered: Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Haley Stevens, Cori Bush, Wesley Bell, Max Miller, Bernie Moreno, Tim Sheehy, Chuck Edwards, Ken Paxton, Mike Rogers
Chris and Amy wrap up primary week with political analyst Michael Kelley, discussing Wesley Bell's victory, Steve Ehlmann's win in St. Charles County and Jake Zimmerman's successful campaign. They also debate what St. Louis needs to regain the national spotlight, compare life in Chicago and New York and offer some blunt dating advice.
Chris and Amy recap Missouri's primary election with Michael Kelley, including Wesley Bell's win, Steve Ehlmann's victory and Jake Zimmerman's successful County Executive campaign. Sarah Fenske discusses the election results and the St. Louis-based “Betting on the Wedding” app, while Jen Siess breaks down CITY SC's playoff push and Marcel Hartel's future. Retired FDNY Lt. Tom O'Connor shares his experience responding on 9/11, the mission of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and details on the World Trade Center steel beam visiting near Busch Stadium. Zimmerman also joins the show to discuss St. Louis County's budget challenges, regional cooperation and his campaign for County Executive.
Thursday, August 6, 2026 Today, Abdul El-Sayed wins in Michigan and Amendments 4 and 5 go down hard in Missouri; new polling says voters prefer Democrats on the economy for the first time in a decade; Trump's immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents; ICE begins outfitting Haitian migrants with ankle monitors as temporary protected status is taken away; the New Mexico attorney general has sued the Department of Justice for access to the Epstein files; a pained Judge Mehta has dismissed the seditious conspiracy charges against the Oath Keepers; plus Allison delivers your Good News. Thank You, DailyLook For 50% off your first order, head to DailyLook.com and use code DAILYBEANS. The Trump Epstein Memorial Bookmobile The Daily Beans is proud to partner with Miles Taylor and our friends at DEFIANCE.org For a limited time, members of the Daily Beans community can receive a FREE 3-month full membership to DEFIANCE.org and gain access to one of the fastest-growing pro-democracy movements in America. Join here: https://www.defiance.org/beans Guest: Stephanie Mencimerhttps://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/07/the-irs-is-imploding/Stephanie Mencimer – Mother Jones@smencimer - Bluesky, @smencimer - Twitter The Latest Breakdown→ NEW: Todd Blanche Admits Epstein Redaction Error StoriesJudge Pained as He Grants Dismissal of Jan. 6 Charges Against Oath Keepers | The New York Times Everyone got a little bit of what they wanted in Tuesday's primary elections | NPR Voters prefer Democrats over Republicans on economy for first time in a decade, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds | Reuters AP Report: Trump's immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents | PBS News ICE begins outfitting Haitian immigrants with ankle monitors, attorneys say | The Washington Post New Mexico Attorney General Sues DOJ for Access to Epstein Files | WSJGood TroubleVoteRiders.orgHelpline Orientation- Spanish Speakers Needed! · VoteRiders Check your voter registration and deadlines → Voter Registration Deadlines - Vote.org →Blue Wave California- secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc →Help save Texas from Ken Paxton! →Urge Democrats to Oppose and Stop Trump's Crypto Corruption | Indivisible Guide →Defiance.org/beans →Stand With Minnesota →iceout.org Good News Kitten for adoption in Asheville, NC: Trixie Mattel - Adoptable Pet | Petfinderhttps://www.facebook.com/share/1K6JvQD2Uc/?mibextid=wwXIfr dana-goldbergs-southwest-funnyfest Oct 9 -Email Dana@DanaGoldberg.com for sponsorship informationTickets for Dana Goldberg: Outrageous - Sep 23 - Den Theater - Chicago →Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans →Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.com Subscribe to the MSW on YouTube - MSW Media - YouTube Our Donation Links The Trevor Project - trevorproject.org/beans Blue Wave California - ActBlue.com/donate/msw-bwc Donate to Public Citizen - https://citizen.org/beans/ Donate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans Fundraiser Pathways to Citizenship - boomerang - pathways Dana and The Daily Beans support of Human Rights Campaign ONE CAUSE HRC The Daily Beans supports It Gets BetterNational Security Counselors - Donate, WhistleblowerAid.org/beans Dr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill, Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com - Bluesky, MSW & The Daily Beans Podcast @muellershewrote - Instagram, MSW Media - YouTube →Federal workers email AG - fedoath@pm.me Dana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook, DanaGoldberg.com More from MSW Media - Shows, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
John Stewart questions John Fetterman on prioritizing Israel and candidate Wesley Bell defeats Cori Bush in Democratic rematch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Abdul El-Sayed narrowly won his Michigan primary against Haley Stevens. Brian breaks down what that proves, and the much harder thing progressives have to prove next in the generals.Abdul El-Sayed beat Haley Stevens in the Michigan Senate primary and now faces Republican Mike Rogers for a seat Democrats almost certainly need. Brian had it at two to three points in his pre election briefing while the loud polling said ten plus, and he explains why the margin matters less than what comes next. Michigan is a must win. It is also the first real test of whether the progressive surge that started with Mamdani actually converts in a general.The rest of the map was messier. William Lawrence, who helped found Sunrise Movement, took Michigan's 7th with 43 percent against two moderates who together got more. Donavan McKinney took the 13th. In Missouri, Wesley Bell beat Cori Bush in a race that drew 8.4 million dollars, 7.2 million of it behind Bell. Virginia moderates swept. Brian's read: progressives just bought themselves a put up or shut up November. Glennis makes the case that what moves a general is relational organizing and message discipline, not plane tickets.Then the money. Nike booked a 986 million dollar tariff refund. Ford expects 1.3 billion. Businesses can claim roughly 166 billion total after the Supreme Court threw out the IEEPA tariffs in February, S&P 500 profits are running near 50 percent year over year, and your grocery bill has not moved. Brian's question is the one nobody is asking: the tariffs are gone, so where is the price drop?Also: Oath's new Dirtbag Slate, Chuck Edwards dropping his reelection bid hours after the House Ethics Committee recommended censure, Todd Blanche clearing committee 12 to 10, and Brian teaching Glennis what vibe coding is. Clickbait or Double Click takes on Gen Z and the cost of a first date, California's billionaire tax, and Jeanine Pirro walking back the reflecting pool cases. Then a Good Vibe Goodbye out of Missouri and Kansas, where voters buried two Republican amendments to their state constitutions.UPDATE: This episode was recorded Wednesday morning, August 5, 2026. At time of recording, The Associated Press called Michigan for El-Sayed at 9:56 a.m. that morning and Haley Stevens conceded shortly after and Todd Blanche has cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee but has not received a full floor vote.New episodes drop every Thursday morning! Hit that FOLLOW and we'll help you stay informed for the midterms.EPISODE RESOURCES/LINKSDefeat the Dirtbags with OathClickbait or Double-click 1: Gen Z Can't Afford a First Date - The New York TimesClickbait or Double-click 2: California Democrats Support Billionaire Tax, Infighting Lingers - The New York TimesClickbait or Double-click 3: Prosecutor in D.C. Moves to Dismiss More Reflecting Pool Cases - The New York TimesSend us a text!Watch us on YoutubeFollow us on Instagram Oh, we're on TikTok tooFollow Brian on IG Follow Glennis on IG
Chris and Amy talk with Congressman Wesley Bell following his primary victory over former Rep. Cori Bush. Bell discusses rejecting the Democratic Socialists of America's agenda, reconnecting Democrats with working-class voters and focusing on tangible results instead of political labels. He also addresses federal tornado relief for St. Louis, the push for transparency in the Epstein investigation and the challenges of getting legislation through Congress
Chris and Amy examine the failure of St. Louis County's online use tax and the painful budget cuts officials say could follow. Congressman Wesley Bell joins the show after defeating Cori Bush, discussing working-class priorities, disaster relief, Democratic messaging and the Epstein investigation.
Chris and Amy break down Missouri's primary results with Congressman Wesley Bell, Major Garrett and St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann. Matt Pauley joins to discuss the Cardinals' series win over the Yankees, Jordan Walker's injury and Iván Herrera's eventful game. The show also covers Proposition U, regional cooperation, the Epstein investigation and modern dating.
Over the course of Donald Trump's second term, Democratic voters have expressed dissatisfaction with their party over what many view as an inability to stand up to the president and his broader movement. That dissatisfaction with the establishment has manifested in primaries in coastal cities across the country, where the progressive movement appears to be ascendant. On Tuesday, that test played out in Midwestern states, Michigan and Missouri.Within roughly two hours of polls closing, The Associated Press called the closely watched rematch between Cori Bush and Rep. Wesley Bell for the incumbent. In 2024, AIPAC and other outside groups spent more than $18 million to oust Bush from her Missouri district, and her defeat, along with New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman's, has served as a warning sign for Democrats not to be too progressive or too pro-Palestine.But by Wednesday morning, Abdul El-Sayed, who ran on Medicare for All and ending military aid to Israel for its continued genocide in Gaza, narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens by less than 20,000 votes. According to AdImpact, the Michigan Democratic Senate primary saw $98 million in ad spending and reservations. At least $60 million was spent boosting Stevens or attacking El-Sayed, with more than $30 million from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's super PAC, United Democracy Project — its largest spend in a single race ever, nearly double the then-record-breaking amount spent on Bowman's 2024 primary race.This week on The Intercept Briefing, host Jessica Washington and colleagues Akela Lacy and Jonah Valdez discuss what results from Tuesday's primaries signal for progressives and the broader left in the Democratic Party, especially in swing states and outside of coastal cities.Full transcript: https://interc.pt/4wgacXj Keep our investigations free and fearless at theintercept.com/join. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Cori Bush loses to Wesley Bell in a well-funded House race. The DSA slams AIPAC's funding, while ironically celebrating Muslim Abdul el-Sayed in Michigan. Dana fact-checks, yet again, AIPAC's political mission and fact-checks leftists' stereotypes about AIPAC. Rep. Beth Van Duyne joined Dana Loesch to share commentary on her bill, the GTFO Act, to deport illegal aliens convicted of terrorism, Trump's aggressive stance on Iran, including the degrading of its nuclear and military capabilities. The Pew Pew Jew, Yahuda Remer joins us to reveal the flood of antisemitic comments he received after being invited to read his children's book at a Gun Owners of America event, which led GOA to provide him armed security.Thank you for supporting our sponsors that make The Dana Show possible…Alliance Defending Freedomhttps://JoinADF.org/DanaAlliance Defending Freedom is on the front lines defending the freedoms and values that matter. Join the fight today. Byrnahttps://Byrna.com/DanaTrusted by law enforcement, security professionals, and everyday Americans—defend yourself and your family with Byrna.HumanNhttps://Humann.com/DanaGet the limited edition Watermelon Flavor and find out how to get a FREE 30-day supply before they sell out.Patriot Mobilehttp://PatriotMobile.com/DANAVisit online or call 972-PATRIOT and use promo code DANA for a FREE month of service.Relief Factorhttps://www.ReliefFactor.comYou could be the next person sharing a Relief Factor success story. Get started today with the 3-Week QuickStart for only $17.76.Ghost Bedhttps://GhostBed.com/DANAGhostBed has the cooling luxury mattress you need for the best summer sleep. Use code DANA for an extra 10% off sitewide.Webroothttps://Webroot.com/DanaSave 60% off Webroot. Protect your devices. Protect your family. Protect your peace of mind. Live a better digital life with Webroot. Fast Growing Treeshttps://FastGrowingTrees.com/DanaGet an additional 20% off your first Fast Growing Trees. Get better plants and a better looking yard. Noble Goldhttps://NobleGoldInvestments.com/DanaIf you want to see how physical gold and silver could fit into your portfolio, download Noble Gold Investments FREE Wealth Protection Kit.Concerned Women For Americahttps://ConcernedWomen.org/DanaDonate today and together, we can defend our girls, equip parents and protect the next generation.Chapterhttps://Chapter.org/DanaAsk Chapter today if you could be saving money on your medicare coverageSubscribe today and stay in the loop on all things news with The Dana Show. Follow us here for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:YoutubeFacebookInstagramXMore InfoWebsite
Missouri voters sent clear messages in Tuesday's primary election, rejecting a proposal to make it harder to amend the state constitution and one to phase out the income tax. Democratic voters also settled two closely watched races, with U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell defeating former Rep. Cori Bush in a rematch and Jake Zimmerman winning a three-way contest for the Democratic nomination for St. Louis County Executive. On this special edition of “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air,” STLPR reporters Rachel Lippmann and Sarah Kellogg break down the results. We also hear from Secretary of State Denny Hoskins about his controversial rejection of a referendum aimed at overturning a 2025 redistricting plan aimed at ousting Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City. Zimmerman and St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann join the program too.
Voters weighed in on a measure to make it harder to pass ballot initiatives, an effort to remove the Missouri income tax, and a rematch between U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell and Cori Bush. We'll talk about the results and what's next.
On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Sarah Kellogg and Rachel Lippmann break down Tuesday's primary election results – including the massive failures of Amendments 4 and 5 and Congressman Wesley Bell's big re-election victory in the state's 1st Congressional District.
Hour 1 of The Annie Frey Show with Ryan Wrecker begins with a discussion over last night's primary elections. Eben Brown, Fox News Radio National Correspondent, joins the show to discuss last night's primary results. Trump is making a rare western trip to talk about the economy. Canadian who battered teen on New Jersey boardwalk is being deported. Hour 2 begins with Deroy Murdock, Nationally Syndicated Columnist and Project 21 Ambassador, who joins the show to discuss Tillis and Cornyn killed "The Justice" Fund. A dad posed as his 11-year old daughter on Tik Tok and lures her alleged rapist home to shoot him. Is it wrong to vacation while you are in debt, and where can you go? An Australian airline will begin to charge passengers to use overhead bins. Hour 3 with Ryan Wrecker begins with an update on the Cyclosporiasis outbreak and how it is looking in Missouri. Taco Bell AND Chipotle are pulling things from their menu. A young boy was mocking a cancer patient, and his dad found out, he made him shave his own head. Cori Bush lost to Wesley Bell. We finish the show with our poll results!
Hour 3 with Ryan Wrecker begins with an update on the Cyclosporiasis outbreak and how it is looking in Missouri. Taco Bell AND Chipotle are pulling things from their menu. A young boy was mocking a cancer patient, and his dad found out, he made him shave his own head. Cori Bush lost to Wesley Bell. We finish the show with our poll results!
Shri Thanedar and Cori Bush both got wiped out in their primaries — and Larry O'Connor breaks down every brutal moment. Watch Thanedar fumble the Insurrection Act on Piers Morgan, blank on his own district, and Cori Bush blame AIPAC as Wesley Bell buries her. For complete Medicare guidance, dial 580-308-0975 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to https://askchapter.org/oconnorBecome a Townhall VIP member with promo code "LARRY": https://townhall.com/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Josh Kraushaar, 97.1 Political Insider, Editor in Chief of the Jewish Insider, and Political Analyst for FOX News Radio, joins the show to discuss Abdul El-Sayed's big primary win in Michigan, and Cori Bush's loss in St. Louis.
Duane Patterson, with HotAir.com and Host of Duane's World Podcast, joins the show to discuss all things political. Missouri voted to keep the income tax, Cori Bush loses to Wesley Bell and more!
Hour 3 begins with Duane Patterson, with HotAir.com and Host of Duane's World Podcast, who joins the show to discuss all things political. Missouri voted to keep the income tax, Cori Bush loses to Wesley Bell and more! We also hear from Dennis Hancock, St. Louis County Councilman and GOP Nominee for County Executive, who joins the show to discuss facing off against Jake Zimmerman in November. We finish the show with our Audio Cut of the Day!
Hour 1 of The Mark Reardon Show begins with a discussion surrounding the elections last night. David Barklage, GOP Political Strategist, joins the show to discuss the results from last night's primary elections. Josh Kraushaar, 97.1 Political Insider, Editor in Chief of the Jewish Insider, and Political Analyst for FOX News Radio, joins the show to discuss Abdul El-Sayed's big primary win in Michigan, and Cori Bush's loss in St. Louis. Hour 2 begins with Mark discussing the scare tactics on social media regarding the elections. We hear today's edition of Sue's News! Steve Ehlmann, St. Charles County Executive, joins the show to discuss his big win last night over Bill Eigel and Jason Law. Bob Kershaw from the Retirement Advisory Group joins to talk about their upcoming retirement seminar. Hour 3 begins with Duane Patterson, with HotAir.com and Host of Duane's World Podcast, who joins the show to discuss all things political. Missouri voted to keep the income tax, Cori Bush loses to Wesley Bell and more! We also hear from Dennis Hancock, St. Louis County Councilman and GOP Nominee for County Executive, who joins the show to discuss facing off against Jake Zimmerman in November. We finish the show with our Audio Cut of the Day!
Chris and Amy recap Missouri's primary election results, including the overwhelming defeats of Amendments 4 and 5, the passage of Amendments 1 and 2 and St. Louis County voters rejecting Prop U. They also break down Wesley Bell's victory over Cori Bush, Jake Zimmerman's win in the St. Louis County executive race and Steve Ehlmann defeating Bill Eigel in St. Charles County. John Hancock and Michael Kelley join the show to examine Missouri's complicated political identity, Governor Mike Kehoe's difficult election night and what the results could mean for the future of state tax policy.
THE TIM JONES AND CHRIS ARPS SHOW 0:00 SEG 1: Guest Co-Host, Jim Gwinner || ls2group.com Wesley Bell defeated Cori Bush 13:45 SEGMENT 2: Don Palmer, Senior Legal Fellow for Election Integrity at the Heritage Foundation || TOPIC: How secure were last night’s elections? || Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary. Is this good for Republicans? || The SAVE America Act and voter I.D. || Don is a 20-year Navy vet as an intelligence officer and judge advocate general || Don served as a trial attorney || Don served as senior election official in Florida and Virginia heritage.orgx.com/VotingGuy 34:17 SEGMENT 3: CHRIS CORNER: Non-citizens on the voter rolls https://newstalkstl.com/ FOLLOW TIM - https://twitter.com/SpeakerTimJones FOLLOW CHRIS - https://twitter.com/chris_arps 24/7 LIVESTREAM - http://bit.ly/NEWSTALKSTLSTREAMS RUMBLE - https://rumble.com/NewsTalkSTL See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hour 1 kicks off Election Day as Marc Cox and Kim St. Onge analyze early voter participation trends and key primary races, including the high-stakes Democratic battle between Cori Bush and Wesley Bell in Missouri's 1st Congressional District. The hosts highlight national political headlines, reviewing President Donald Trump's reaction to D.C. court decisions and the Democratic National Committee's campaign debt. In Kim on a Whim, Kim calls out New York City leadership over municipal grocery store ID policies, contrasting left-wing identity verification checks with opposition to voter ID laws. Hour 1 wraps up with audio from Governor Mike Kehoe guaranteeing a veto on any sales tax expansion onto healthcare or real estate, while Marc dismantles opposition myths surrounding Amendments 4 and 5. Hour Hashtags #ElectionDay2026 #MOpol #CoriBush #GovKehoe #KimOnAWhim #VoteYesOn5
On the August 4, 2026 edition of the Marc Cox Morning Show, hosts Marc Cox and Kim St. Onge deliver live coverage across four hours on Primary Election Day in Missouri. In Hour 1, Marc and Kim analyze early voter participation trends and examine the high-stakes Democratic primary in Missouri's 1st Congressional District between incumbent Cori Bush and Wesley Bell. In Kim on a Whim, Kim targets New York City municipal grocery store proposals, contrasting left-wing identity verification checks with opposition to voter ID laws. In Hour 2, the hosts review local news in the St. Louis Morning Brief, including a Creve Coeur trench collapse rescue, security improvements at the Railway Exchange Building, and Cardinals trade deadline moves. Former State Senator John Lamping stops by to discuss turnout expectations, initiative petition reform, and the St. Charles County Executive race. In In Other News, Kim and Marc review Zac Brown's $40 million cruise giveaway and Clay Travis's WNBA challenge. In Hour 3, field reporter Hugh St. Onge calls in live from the St. Charles County Election Authority to detail advance voting surges. Fox & Friends First co-anchor Todd Piro joins to discuss wealth taxes and national political trends. On 2A Tuesday, Mark Walters of Armed American Radio breaks down the August 1 mass shooting at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, where an armed citizen intervened. In Kim on a Whim, Kim examines NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers calling out Dr. Anthony Fauci's congressional testimony. In Hour 4, Hugh St. Onge provides a second field report from the St. Louis County Government Center. State Senator Nick Schroer joins the show to address conservative concerns regarding Amendment 5, assuring listeners that healthcare and real estate remain protected from sales taxes while laying out a statutory "Plan B" to zero out the state income tax if the ballot measure falls short. Bob from Retirement Advisory Group wraps up the broadcast discussing market volatility and income preservation strategies. Full Show Hashtags #MOpol #ElectionDay2026 #VoteYesOn4 #VoteYesOn5 #GovKehoe #NickSchroer #ToddPiro #JohnLamping #2ATuesday #KimOnAWhim #RetirementAdvisory Master Guest List John Lamping (Former Missouri State Senator) Hugh St. Onge (Field Reporter) Todd Piro (Co-Anchor of Fox & Friends First) Mark Walters (Host of Armed American Radio) Nick Schroer (Missouri State Senator) Bob (Retirement Advisory Group)
Fox & Friends First co-anchor Todd Piro joins Marc Cox and Kim St. Onge to evaluate national political headlines and tax policies. Piro lampoons New York City mayoral proposals to levy "Pied-à-Terre" surcharges on high-value homeowners, warning that aggressive wealth taxes only incentivize tax-paying residents and businesses to flee blue states for zero-income-tax jurisdictions like Missouri, Florida, and Texas. The discussion covers the high-stakes 1st Congressional District Democratic primary between Cori Bush and Wesley Bell, double standards in identity verification policies, and Clay Travis's viral $10 million sports challenge proposing a matchup between a high school boys' basketball team and WNBA champions for charity. Hashtags: #ToddPiro #FoxNews #TaxReform #CoriBush #MOpol #WNBA
Former Rep. Cori Bush is trying to return to Congress in a Democratic primary rematch against Rep. Wesley Bell. The race is expected to be close, with outside spending, Bush's record and Bell's first term all shaping the contest. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A battle of Dr. Browns is heating up in St. Louis, as the local baby bottle-manufacturer Dr. Brown's is fighting in court against the New York-based manufacturer of Dr. Brown's soda. The dispute is just one of the cases on this month's edition of the Legal Roundtable on "St. Louis on the Air." Along with the fate of Dr. Brown's trademark, our expert panelists discuss a lawsuit filed by protesters after they were arrested at a Wesley Bell town hall, a judge in hot water over his social media posts, and more.
St. Louis Magazine's Ryan Krull joins Chris & Amy to about the local races going on, a new shocking poll that puts Zimmerman on top of the county executive race, his thoughts on the controversy around Dr. Faisal Khan, the polling having Wesley Bell in the lead over Cori Bush and the growth of AI slop in the political spectrum.
With less than two weeks to go before voters in St. Louis and St. Louis County decide their nationally-watched race, Congressman Wesley Bell and Cori Bush clashed in an intense joint appearance Friday. The two Democrats got into tense exchanges about their campaign finance donations and spending during an appearance on “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.”
NOTE: After honorably recounting his harrowing experience in the West Bank, Ro Khanna then said some dumb shit: https://x.com/SpookySocialist/status/2077073429610590290?s=20To everyone's surprise, on the same day Mitch McConnell announced he was indeed alive, Lindsey Graham died, and you wouldn't believe who eulogized him. Ro Khanna was detained by Israeli settlers and the IDF during a trip to the West Bank, the Iran war seems to be back on with announcements of Trump's very own tolls for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Finally, the boys continue the critically acclaimed ELECTION WATCH series to once again talk about the Michigan Senate Primary and Cori Bush's race against Wesley Bell in Missouri.Early access on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/headintheofficepodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4iJ-UcnRxYnaYsX_SNjFJQSubscribe to second channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3UoTN328OA7fK2dzicP-ZATikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headintheoffice?lang=enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/headintheoffice/Twitter: https://twitter.com/headintheofficeThreads: https://www.threads.com/@headintheofficeDiscord: https://discord.gg/hito Collab inquiries: headintheofficepod@gmail.com(0:00) Goodbye Lindsey Graham(6:55) Intro(10:07) ICE took another innocent life(16:35) Rep. Ro Khanna detained by Israeli settlers and IDF(33:45) Iran War begins again(45:00) ELECTION WATCH: Missouri and Michigan(1:11:00) Reviews/endingSeen on this episode:Ro Khanna detained - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/us/politics/ro-khanna-west-bank.html?eafs_enabled=falsehttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/rep-ro-khanna-says-he-was-detained-by-the-israeli-military-and-settlers-in-the-west-bankIran war - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/13/world/iran-war-us-trump-hormuzhttps://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/11/us-airstrikes-iran-strait-hormuz.htmlELECTION WATCH: MISSOURI & MICHIGAN - https://www.axios.com/2026/07/09/aipac-missouri-israel-cori-bush-bell-primary https://integrityindex.us/candidate/wesley-bell https://apnews.com/article/haley-stevens-endorsement-peters-michigan-senate-democrats-57b6f5dbd306093cbd5ea2e774da5bd5 https://theintercept.com/2026/05/22/haley-stevens-center-forward-corporate-pac-portugal-michigan/
Ralph speaks to historian Omer Bartov about his new book “Israel: What Went Wrong?” with special guest, international law expert Bruce FeinBruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law. Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.Many of the things that you describe in Israel apply in spades in the United States. We also have an administration that says we're being invaded militarily by Venezuela gangs, so we have to go kidnap their president and annex Venezuela. We've stated that Iran is an existential threat to the United States because at some future time, it's conceivable they may get one nuclear weapon. We have 5,000, Israel probably has 300 or 400. Or make the argument that we are being invaded by defenseless immigrants across the southern border. And it does seem to me that all countries—I don't think it's unique anyway to the United States or Israel, but it's generally true those in power are there to manufacture fear, to inflate fleas into elephants and say “My gosh, tomorrow the sky is falling down. We need to have national emergencies, rule by decree.” Everything is “an imminent danger”, the Communist domino theory. It's a very challenging issue. I say what you've described in Israel is not unique to Israel. We confront it every day right in the United States. And it works.Bruce FeinOmer Bartov is the Dean's Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University. A historian, Professor Bartov was born on a kibbutz, grew up in Tel Aviv, and served in the Israel Defense Forces during the Yom Kippur War. He went on to become a leading scholar of the German army and the Holocaust, before turning his attention to his native country. His early research concerned the Nazi indoctrination of the Wehrmacht and the crimes it committed in World War II. He then turned to the links between total war and genocide and interethnic relations in the borderlands of Eastern Europe. His current interest is reflected in his recent books, Genocide, the Holocaust and Israel-Palestine: First-Person History in Times of Crisis, Israel: What Went Wrong?, and the forthcoming The Broken Promise: A Personal Political History of Israel and Palestine. The whole idea of creating a Jewish state (and it says so in the Proclamation of the State from May 1948) is that it would be a state for Jews—that it would be both Jewish and democratic. And that has proven to be not possible. A Jewish state can be both Jewish and democratic only if the overwhelming majority (if not all) of its citizens are Jews.Omer Bartov[Zionist zealots] believe that history is on their side—so in that sense, they are similar to Communists they're similar to Fascists they're similar to Nazis in that they believe that they can see the way forward, they know the logic of history, and the logic of history as they see it is on their side.Omer BartovIn Israel, since the 1980s (really since after the War of 1973, with the rise of the right wing in Israel in particular) the Holocaust has come to serve a particular purpose. Instead of being commemorated as an event that happened in the past that we should remember and commemorate and research, it's become a kind of image of an imminent danger to Israel. And the farther Israel has moved from the actual event of the Holocaust, and the more the Israeli army has become the military hegemon in its region, the more this alleged threat of an “Auschwitz around the corner” has been used by Israeli governments. Why has it been used? Because Israel actually needs to explain to itself and to its citizens: Why is it bossing it over millions of Palestinians? Half of the population under Israeli control are Palestinians. Two million are citizens, but they don't have equal rights, and the others have no rights at all (they're simply under arbitrary military rule). So how do you explain that? You explain that by telling your population and the rest of the world that those Palestinians—who have no power, who can never pose a threat to you—are an existential threat. And in Israel, that has worked quite well.Omer BartovBecause of the focus on Hebrew—to create Hebrew as a mother tongue for children whose mothers didn't speak Hebrew—because of that, there was a great antagonism towards speaking any other language. And the notion of having bilingual schools (that is, of having schools in Palestine where people would learn both Hebrew and Arabic, the language of the place) is not entertained by the vast majority of educators. Now, if you think about what would have been the result of having bilingual schools already in the 1920s and 30s, that children could speak each other's language and recognize each other's culture—that could have had a huge effect on how Zionism developed and how the state would have developed. But in today's Israel, the only bilingual population are the Palestinians. Palestinian citizens of Israel speak Arabic and Hebrew. Most Israelis don't speak Arabic. And most Israelis who trace themselves (quite large numbers) not to Europe, but to North Africa and the Middle East, where their parents and grandparents spoke Arabic (this was their language) have forgotten that language and were ashamed of their parents speaking it because it associated them with the Arabs. So the loss in this kind of creation of a nation around one language was the ability to imagine yourself as sharing the space with another group.Omer Bartov * Our top story concerns a progressive insurgent running in a must-win Senate race – and not the one you're thinking of. Late last week, Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed won the endorsement of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The New York Times notes that this is AOC's first Senate endorsement of this cycle, coming just about a month ahead of the August 4th Michigan primary. El-Sayed is quoted saying that he is “honored for what her support says about what this campaign is building and what we're fighting for,” adding that he thinks that “too many establishment Democrats are…afraid that I will win.” He pointedly attacked Senator Chuck Schumer, charging that the Minority Leader “doesn't want to see me on the inside of the U.S. Senate,” because El-Sayed would “call out the kind of politics where we take money from corporations and AIPAC to run milquetoast campaigns and don't say anything about the problems that everyday people are facing.” El-Sayed has announced that he will campaign with AOC and Senator Bernie Sanders in Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids on July 18th and 19th, per MLive.* Another earthquake occurred in the Michigan Senate race on July 5th, when State Senator Mallory McMorrow announced that she would be withdrawing from the race – turning what was a competitive three-way race into a head-to-head between El-Sayed and the Democratic establishment pick, Congresswoman Haley Stevens. The Detroit Free Press notes that this announcement “comes after absentee ballots have already been mailed out to some voters and too late to remove her name from the primary ballot,” though voters are able to rescind their absentee votes and submit new ones up through Friday, July 24th. In a video statement, McMorrow maintained that “People are crying out for change and we need to listen.” McMorrow once led her opponents in this race but saw her support collapse and was trailing in a distant third place in recent polls. Rumor also had it that outgoing Senator Gary Peters was privately calling for her to exit the race so centrists could consolidate around Stevens. While many of her supporters are expected to go to Stevens, El-Sayed is energetically courting McMorrow's voters as well. The Detroit News reports McMorrow herself has announced that she will remain neutral in the remaining days of the primary, leaving her voters to vote their own consciences.* In more Michigan news, DSA-backed congressional candidate Donavan McKinney is running strong in his primary campaign against incumbent Congressman Shri Thanedar, whom McKinney has labeled “Detroit's own Elon Musk,” according to the New York Post. If McKinney pulls it off, he will join the growing group of DSA members in the House, along with Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier and AOC from New York, Chris Rabb and Melat Kiros from Pennsylvania and Colorado respectively, and Rashida Tlaib from Michigan. Another candidate endorsed by his local DSA chapter, Kyle Blomquist, is running for Congress in Michigan but even if he wins his primary he is not expected to flip the deep red 1st congressional district.* In Missouri, Cori Bush has also won the support of DSA for her comeback congressional run against Wesley Bell, who defeated her in the 2024 primary, Andrew Solender reports. Bush had already won the support of her local DSA chapter, along with many other progressive organizations, and has been endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, and former Congressman Jamaal Bowman. This week though, she won the support of the national DSA. In a statement, Bush wrote “I am honored to be once again endorsed by the Democratic [Socialists] of America as I campaign to return to Congress and keep building our movement to fight for economic justice, Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, and a world where everyday people have a real voice in our workplace's neighborhoods and society.” Bush also praised DSA for its “decades of organizing…[mobilizing] thousands of people across the country to demand an economy that works for all of us…[and] take on war profiteers, the for-profit healthcare industry, and the billionaire funded lobbies that subvert our democracy.” There has been little polling of this race, but what there has been appears to show the race in a statistical dead heat. One sign that Bush is being taken seriously is the new $865,000 ad buy taken out by the United Democracy Project, an AIPAC cutout.* Ironically, it would seem that American Jews have a more favorable view of the progressive left than Israel. According to the Forward, a new AP poll found that “44% of American Jews hold a favorable opinion of Zohran Mamdani, compared with 39% who view him unfavorably.” This is in contrast to the 32% of respondents who said they have a favorable opinion of Netanyahu and 59% who said they have a negative view of the Israeli PM. Perhaps more surprisingly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a “staunch supporter of Israel,” garnered only a 41% favorability rating, though far more respondents said they don't know enough about him to have an opinion than said they have a negative view.* Turning back to the Senate, the other major story this week of course is the fall of Graham Platner. Accusations of sexual assault, detailed in a POLITICO article, resulted in a deluge of opprobrium that cascaded upwards culminating in Platner's earliest and highest profile supporter, Senator Bernie Sanders, calling on him to drop out of the Senate race in Maine. In a video message released Wednesday, Platner stated that he would be suspending his campaign effective immediately, later telling staff that he plans to wait until Monday, the final possible day, to formally withdraw from the race, Axios reports. In the same video, Platner categorically denied the accusations calling them “all false,” and maintaining that the “things that have been claimed did not happen.” He implied that the scandal was orchestrated by “those in power“ who would “rather see Susan Collins win than have me be the next Senator from Maine.”* Platner's impending, late-stage withdrawal from the race has set off a chaotic blitz primary to replace him as the Democratic nominee. Numerous candidates have announced they are running including former Maine Senate president Troy Jackson, former Director of Maine's Center for Disease, Control and Prevention Nirav Shah, co-founder of Maine beer company Dan Kleban, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and state lawmaker Valli Geiger, along with Jordan Wood and Paige Loud, both of whom ran in the Maine second congressional district Democratic primary. The actual process for selecting a nominee has been the subject of debate – with many progressives arguing for caucuses – but POLITICO reports that by July 27th, “600 delegates must be selected,” including 500 from the state's 16 county parties, and these delegates will decide on a candidate to replace Platner via “an unprecedented nominating convention,” wherein all delegates come in unpledged to any candidate setting the stage for “what could be a raucous and unpredictable free-for-all.” It remains to be seen how this will all shake out, but it is notable that almost all of these candidates poll very strongly against Senator Susan Collins, with many polling higher than Platner ever did, while the Democratic Party's handpicked primary candidate, sitting Governor Janet Mills, still polls lower than Platner even since the scandal broke.* For our final Senate story, we turn to the senior Senator from Kentucky, Mitch McConnell. McConnell was recently found unconscious in his Washington, DC home and has been hospitalized since, and while Republican Senators and media figures like Scott Jennings claim to have spoken with him directly, his being sequestered away from the public has fueled rampant speculation about the severity of his condition and why it is being kept so secretive. Forbes reports that some figures on the right, including Steve Bannon, are “suggesting the Republican establishment is shielding the state of McConnell's health from the public to allow him to remain in office long enough to avoid [Kentucky Congressman Thomas] Massie running for his seat.” Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene told TMZ, “Thomas Massie would make a great senator.” The Hill reports that Andy Beshear, the Democratic Governor of Kentucky, sent a letter to McConnell's Senate office strongly requesting an update on the Senator's health, noting that “Over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the health and well-being of Sen. McConnell,” and that “Allowing speculation to continue in the media is not fair to the Senator or to Kentuckians, and my hope is that this provides him the opportunity to share the information in a transparent manner, direct from the source.”* In more positive news, AP reports former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan, who helped an immigrant escape ICE by ushering him through her jury room door was spared prison time in her sentencing this week. After the incident in her court room, Dugan was convicted of felony obstruction in what was widely seen as a political trial designed to exact retribution on behalf of the Trump administration. Dugan resigned her circuit judgeship under this assault; in her resignation letter, she warned that this prosecution threatened “the independence of our judiciary.” Dugan was fined $5,000.* Finally, in spiritual news, a story in the National Catholic Reporter recounts how Pope Leo XIV excommunicated thousands of clergy and followers of the far right, schismatic group, the Society of St. Pius X. While bishops and priests are judged prima facie schismatic for their consecration in the Society, lay followers of the sect will be judged schismatic if they consciously choose “adherence to the society over obedience to the pope,” and “exclusive participation in Lefebvrian ‘ecclesial' acts, without taking part in the acts of the Catholic Church,” a reference to the group's founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The proximate cause of this excommunication was the Society creating four new bishops in open defiance of Pope Leo, essentially daring the Church to act. This piece notes that the Society “has long been a thorn in the side of Rome,” and notes that the new papal decree rolls back privileges granted to the sect under Pope Francis, including administering the sacrament of penance and solemnizing marriages.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Local accountability takes center stage on the St. Louis Morning Brief. Marc and Kim break down Webster Groves' lawsuit against a bankrupt fireworks vendor that canceled just days before the Fourth of July, leaving dozens of Missouri and Arkansas cities scrambling. They also spotlight a Post-Dispatch report exposing the growing split in the local Democrat Party, as Wesley Bell's union endorsement collides with Cori Bush's backing from the Democratic Socialists of America in the CD1 primary. Sobering numbers come out of St. Louis Public Schools, where enrollment has collapsed from 43,000 to under 17,000 students, forcing potential closures of up to 22 schools — a direct result, Marc argues, of years of failed leadership. The segment also covers a watchdog group's push to investigate the St. Louis County Health Department director, and closes with the somber discovery of a child's body near Belleville tied to a parental kidnapping case. The Marc Cox Morning Show keeps its finger on the pulse of the region. Hashtags: #MarcCoxMorningShow #STLMorningBrief #WebsterGroves #SLPS #CoriBush #WesleyBell #DemocraticSocialists #STLCounty #MissouriNews #LocalAccountability #STLNews #FaithFamilyFreedom #STLRadio
Hour Two of The Marc Cox Morning Show delivers a mix of hard-hitting accountability and hometown pride. Marc and Kim open with outrage over Judge Hannah Dugan's lenient $5,000 fine for helping an illegal immigrant evade ICE, calling out what they see as a broken, politicized judiciary, while fresh U.S. strikes pound Iran overnight. The St. Louis Morning Brief covers Webster Groves' lawsuit against a bankrupt fireworks vendor, a revealing Post-Dispatch report on the Democrat Party's internal split between Wesley Bell and Cori Bush, and the sobering decline of St. Louis Public Schools enrollment. Tom Ackerman joins to talk Cardinals pitching heroics, World Cup perspective, and his upcoming Congressional testimony to protect AM radio. The hour closes with lighter fare in In Other News, from a Chick-fil-A budget hack to Kim's own remarkable birth story. Faith, family, freedom, and hometown grit run through it all. The Marc Cox Morning Show keeps St. Louis informed and entertained. Hashtags: #MarcCoxMorningShow #Hour2 #JudgeHannahDugan #RuleOfLaw #STLMorningBrief #TomAckerman #Cardinals #IranStrikes #FaithFamilyFreedom #STLNews #STLRadio #AMRadio Guest List: Tom Ackerman (Cardinals recap, World Cup discussion, AM radio Congressional testimony preview)
Hour 4 opens with Marc and Kim reacting to audience comments about identity politics and then pivoting into the Democratic primary results in New York, where a slate of Democratic Socialists—including candidates aligned with figures like Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander—defeat more moderate Democrats. The discussion frames it as a sharp ideological shift inside the party and raises concern about the downstream effects for congressional races, including renewed attention on former Missouri Rep. Cori Bush's effort to reclaim her seat from Wesley Bell. The tone briefly lightens when Sue Thomas reveals that background noise occasionally heard during traffic updates comes from her bulldog, Lulu, whose loud snoring becomes an on-air joke and running gag among the crew. The “Short List” follows, highlighting internal Democratic criticism of the party's left flank, President Trump's remarks on foreign policy and Iran, and commentary suggesting the Democratic Party is increasingly divided between moderates and socialist-aligned progressives. The segment sets up the hour's first guest, Fox Across America host Jimmy Failla. Failla joins with humor, reacting to the New York results by joking about increased interest in leaving for Florida real estate and mocking what he describes as the influence of TikTok-driven political narratives among younger voters. He argues that anti-capitalist messaging is gaining traction in digital spaces despite being disconnected from economic reality. The conversation touches on controversial rhetoric from some winning candidates, debates over Israel and antisemitism in political discourse, and Failla's observation that many supporters of anti-capitalist ideas are benefiting from capitalist systems in their personal lives. The segment closes with Failla celebrating a new three-year Fox contract and trading stories about working with Sean Hannity before signing off. Next, Fox Business correspondent Taylor Riggs joins to break down both the political and economic implications of the moment. She reacts to reports of New York's shifting political climate, noting that many business leaders and moderate voters have already relocated to states like Florida, Texas, and Tennessee. Riggs argues that coastal political ecosystems no longer reflect the national electorate and says capitalism-driven migration is reshaping where economic influence is concentrated. On the economic front, she highlights stronger-than-expected U.S. manufacturing data, crediting AI infrastructure investment, data center construction, and reshoring incentives for recent gains, while cautioning that factory employment trends remain mixed and job cuts in some sectors are still elevated. The hour closes with a detailed discussion on healthcare pricing and insurance systems, featuring a pharmacy operator who describes how insurance-driven billing inflates drug prices and creates administrative barriers like prior authorizations. He contrasts extreme insurance-negotiated costs with significantly lower cash prices for the same medication, arguing the system is structurally distorted by opaque pricing models and incentives. The segment broadens into a critique of healthcare insurance complexity, concluding with a call for reform and a preview of upcoming show coverage and voter resources before signing off for the day.
The first hour of June hits like a thunderstorm — and Marc Cox brought the lightning. Hour one opens with a bombshell exposé of a coordinated Democrat scheme to smear ICE detention facilities across the country, from New Jersey to rural Ste. Genevieve, Missouri — complete with fabricated allegations of maggot-infested food and neglected pregnant women. You'll hear directly from Sheriff Gary Stoltzer as he dismantles every lie Wesley Bell and Nikki Budzinski told the cameras, lie by lie, with 25 years of federal inspections backing him up. Then Kim takes the wheel on a whim, making the case that the family dinner table might be the most radical — and most necessary — act of resistance left in America, with a side of 90s nostalgia and a real conversation about Trump accounts and the future of the American family. The hour closes with Marc calling out the orchestrated celebrity boycott of America's own 250th birthday party, and the breathtaking hypocrisy of artists who performed for every Democrat on the planet but suddenly found their conscience when it came to celebrating the United States of America. If you missed hour one of the Marc Cox Morning Show, you missed the first shot across the bow — and it landed. Hour Hashtags #MarcCoxMorningShow #MarcCox #Hour1 #ICETruth #SheriffStoltzer #StGenevieve #WesleyBell #NikkiBudzinski #KimOnAWhim #FamilyFirst #TrumpAccounts #Celebration250 #TDS #MartinaMcBride #AmericaFirst #MAGA #ConservativeRadio #PatriotRadio #StLouisRadio #BorderSecurity #CommonSense #FaithFamilyFreedom
The “St. Louis Morning Brief” spotlights mounting local frustrations, starting with a bipartisan push from Wesley Bell and Ann Wagner to fix chronic mail delays through the proposed Postal Accountability and Reform Act after audits revealed systemic issues and claims of intentional slowdowns tied to overtime control. The segment then turns to confusion and concern after St. Louis tornado sirens unexpectedly blared despite being postponed, raising fresh doubts about automated emergency systems following last year's deadly storm failures. It closes with sharp criticism of the juvenile justice system after police detained teens tied to downtown car break-ins—including a 14-year-old with a stolen gun—only to release them to their parents, fueling outrage over what's described as a consequence-free cycle of repeat crime. Hashtags: #StLouisNews #PostalService #AnnWagner #WesleyBell #TornadoSirens #STLWeather #CrimeCrisis #JuvenileJustice #CarBreakIns #STLMorningBrief
Protest and activism come in many forms, including music that draws attention to current issues that artists find most pressing, and important. On this episode of “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air,” St. Louisans share their favorite protest songs and what that music means to them. We also hear from hip-hop artist KVTheWriter about her latest diss tracks aimed at Mayor Cara Spencer, developer Paul McKee and Congressman Wesley Bell, and talk with WashU professor Lauren Eldridge Stewart about the history of protest music.
Kim St. Onge's “Kim on a Whim” spotlights comments from Ayanna Pressley calling eviction “an act of violence” and promoting expanded tenant protections, prompting Marc Cox to argue the policy unfairly punishes landlords while rewarding nonpayment. The discussion highlights Pressley's reported real estate holdings and questions whether she would accept tenants living rent-free, while expanding into criticism of progressive lawmakers including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Cori Bush. Cox and Kim also discuss Bush's fundraising effort to challenge Wesley Bell, broader populist messaging, and contrast progressive wealth-transfer ideas with remarks from Steve Bannon and Zohran Mamdani advocating policies like global wealth taxes, framing the debate as a broader ideological battle over government redistribution and economic fairness. Hashtags: #KimOnAWhim #AyannaPressley #Evictions #Landlords #CoriBush #WesleyBell #AOC #RashidaTlaib #IlhanOmar #SteveBannon #ZohranMamdani #WealthTax #HousingPolicy #ProgressivePolitics
Hour 1 opens with Marc Cox discussing commute frustrations before pivoting to Steve Bannon confronting globalists at the Semaphore World Economy Conference and warning about immigration, H-1B visas, and establishment Republicans. The hour continues with a DHS funding standoff discussion featuring references to Chad Wolf, Shannon Bream, and Keith Self, along with reaction to Donald Trump's economic messaging and inflation debate. “Kim on a Whim” spotlights Ayanna Pressley's eviction comments, sparking a broader conversation about landlord rights, progressive policies, and political fundraising involving Cori Bush and Wesley Bell. The hour wraps with Cox defending Trump's Iran strategy and arguing the president has reshaped expectations for leadership by confronting Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and border issues despite political risk. Hashtags: #SteveBannon #KimOnAWhim #DonaldTrump #AyannaPressley #Iran #DHS #CoriBush #WesleyBell #Economy #Immigration #ForeignPolicy #Politics
It was great to be in Chicago - but I was happy to get back home. That's a lot of people and I may not be that much of a people person
2.2.26 - Ryan Krull - St. Louis Magazine – How'd the City do on the Snow?; State-Run police board plans to give Raises the City can't afford; Wesley Bell vs. Cori Bush by
Synopsis: Dems win big on Election Day, but what's next? Join Cori Bush and Kat Abughazaleh as they discuss the future of progressive politics.This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription: What do the results of this past Election Day signal for politician-activists running for office and the future of the Democratic Party? “Politivists” Cori Bush and Kat Abughazaleh say the tides are changing. In what was widely viewed as a rebuke of the Trump administration's policies, Democrats won races at every level in blue and red states on November 4, including Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayor's race. Today's guests know firsthand how challenging and costly it can be to run for office as a progressive — especially when mega donors and backdoor deals are the name of the game in our political system. Cori Bush is fighting to retake the seat she won in 2021, Missouri's First District, which covers the city of St. Louis. She'll be up against incumbent Wesley Bell, whose successful campaign against her in 2024 was heavily funded by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, a zionist political action committee. Kat Abughazaleh is a 26-year old Palestinian-American, former journalist and political commentator who is currently facing a federal indictment related to her protests outside an ICE facility in Western Chicago. She's making waves in a crowded Democratic field to represent Illinois' Ninth District, covering the Chicago-area. How can modern progressives keep up this political momentum? And where does the Democratic Party go from here? Join us for that conversation, plus a commentary from Laura on making Congress less classist.“I've been in Congress and I know the change that can happen when someone not only works for their district, but fights for the district . . . I have heard from my community, their frustrations with the lack of leadership. I've heard their despair as it relates to what happens tomorrow, because this manufactured chaos coming down from the Trump administration is not being dealt with . . . We are saying, ‘Wait till 2026 because things will get better.' People are living it right now.” - Cori Bush“A lot of people have lost faith in our political system, from every political stripe, because politicians are about words and not actions. We are using our resources to not only reach voters, but materially improve their lives. We do backpack drives, food drives, our campaign office doubles as a mutual aid hub . . . We are genuinely making a change on the ground and win or lose, this campaign is a net benefit to this community.” - Kat AbughazalehGuests:• Kat Abughazaleh: Congressional Candidate (D-IL-09)• Cori Bush: Former Congresswoman (D-MO-01); Current Congressional Candidate (D-MO-01)Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio (check here to see if your station is airing the show and air date & time) & available as a podcast.RESOURCES:Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:• Mamdani v. The Establishment: What His Campaign Means for America: Watch / Listen: Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation• “They Targeted Me”: Mayor Ras Baraka on His Arrest, Immigration Rights & Leading New Jersey: Watch / Listen: Episode cut and Full Uncut Conversation• Bernie Sanders & AOC: “Fighting Oligarchy” with People Power: Watch / Listen: Episode cut and Full Uncut Conversation with Bernie SandersRelated Articles and Resources:• Democrats Flip Two Seats in Deep Red Mississippi, Break GOP Supermajority, by Daniel Orton, November 5, 2025, Newsweek• Here are the key races to watch in Tuesday's off-year elections, by Caroline Vakil, November 3, 2025, The Hill• Anti-genocide protests attacked and beaten at St. Louis town hall event for Democrat Wesley Bell, by Andrew Clyde & Kristina Betinis, August 21.2925, World Socialist Web Site• How Kat Abughazaleh's Parents Shaped Her Identity and Political Worldview, by Trisha Faulkner, October 30, 2025, Distractify• Deciding To Win: Toward a Common Sense Renewal of the Democratic Party, Principal Author Simon Bazelon, Co-Authors, Lauren Harper Pope and Liam Kerr. October 27, 2025, Politico• AOC and the Squad's List of Left-Wing Accomplishments Is Quite Long, by Branko Narcotic, Jacobin Magazine• Mamdani opens floodgates of younger Democrats running for office, by Surina Venkat, November 11, 2025, The Hill• Kat Abughazaleh On the Right to Protest, November 1, 2025, The Intercept Briefing - Listen• Press Release: Congresswoman Bush Endorsed by Justice Democrats, October 23, 2025, Coribush.org•. House candidate Kat Abughazaleh indicted over ICE confrontation, by Andrew Solender, October 29, 2025, Axios Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit: “The World Is Cold” by Cookin' the Books featuring Mantra and Jane Tyrell from their album Cookin' On 3 Burners released on Soul Messin' Records, "Steppin" by Podington Bear, and original sound design by Jeannie HopperSupport Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel
Synopsis: What does this past Election Day signal for politician-activists running for office?This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription: What do the results of this past Election Day signal for politician-activists running for office and the future of the Democratic Party? “Politivists” Cori Bush and Kat Abughazaleh say the tides are changing. In what was widely viewed as a rebuke of the Trump administration's policies, Democrats won races at every level in blue and red states on November 4, including Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayor's race. Today's guests know firsthand how challenging and costly it can be to run for office as a progressive — especially when megadonors and backdoor deals are the name of the game in our political system. Cori Bush is fighting to retake the seat she won in 2021, Missouri's First District, which covers the city of St. Louis. She'll be up against incumbent Wesley Bell, whose successful campaign against her in 2024 was heavily funded by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, a zionist political action committee. Kat Abughazaleh is a 26-year old Palestinian-American, former journalist and political commentator who is currently facing a federal indictment related to her protests outside an ICE facility in Western Chicago. She's making waves in a crowded Democratic field to represent Illinois' Ninth District, covering the Chicago-area. How can modern progressives keep up this political momentum? And where does the Democratic Party go from here? Join us for that conversation, plus a commentary from Laura on making Congress less classist.“I've been in Congress and I know the change that can happen when someone not only works for their district, but fights for the district . . . I have heard from my community, their frustrations with the lack of leadership. I've heard their despair as it relates to what happens tomorrow, because this manufactured chaos coming down from the Trump administration is not being dealt with . . . We are saying, ‘Wait till 2026 because things will get better.' People are living it right now.” - Cori Bush“A lot of people have lost faith in our political system, from every political stripe, because politicians are about words and not actions. We are using our resources to not only reach voters, but materially improve their lives. We do backpack drives, food drives, our campaign office doubles as a mutual aid hub . . . We are genuinely making a change on the ground and win or lose, this campaign is a net benefit to this community.” - Kat AbughazalehGuests:• Kat Abughazaleh: Congressional Candidate (D-IL-09)• Cori Bush: Former Congresswoman (D-MO-01); Current Congressional Candidate (D-MO-01) Full Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters.Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel November 16th, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio starting November 19th (check here to see if your station is airing the show and air date & time) & available as a podcast.RESOURCES:Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:• Mamdani v. The Establishment: What His Campaign Means for America: Watch / Listen: Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation• “They Targeted Me”: Mayor Ras Baraka on His Arrest, Immigration Rights & Leading New Jersey: Watch / Listen: Episode cut and Full Uncut Conversation• Bernie Sanders & AOC: “Fighting Oligarchy” with People Power: Watch / Listen: Episode cut and Full Uncut Conversation with Bernie SandersRelated Articles and Resources:• Democrats Flip Two Seats in Deep Red Mississippi, Break GOP Supermajority, by Daniel Orton, November 5, 2025, Newsweek• Here are the key races to watch in Tuesday's off-year elections, by Caroline Vakil, November 3, 2025, The Hill• Anti-genocide protests attacked and beaten at St. Louis town hall event for Democrat Wesley Bell, by Andrew Clyde & Kristina Betinis, August 21.2925, World Socialist Web Site• How Kat Abughazaleh's Parents Shaped Her Identity and Political Worldview, by Trisha Faulkner, October 30, 2025, Distractify• Deciding To Win: Toward a Common Sense Renewal of the Democratic Party, Principal Author Simon Bazelon, Co-Authors, Lauren Harper Pope and Liam Kerr. October 27, 2025, Politico• AOC and the Squad's List of Left-Wing Accomplishments Is Quite Long, by Branko Narcotic, Jacobin Magazine• Mamdani opens floodgates of younger Democrats running for office, by Surina Venkat, November 11, 2025, The Hill• Kat Abughazaleh On the Right to Protest, November 1, 2025, The Intercept Briefing - Listen• Press Release: Congresswoman Bush Endorsed by Justice Democrats, October 23, 2025, Coribush.org•. House candidate Kat Abughazaleh indicted over ICE confrontation, by Andrew Solender, October 29, 2025, Axios Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit: 'Thrum of Soil' by Bluedot Sessions, and original sound design by Jeannie HopperSupport Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel
Ralph welcomes Andy Shallal of Busboys and Poets to discuss his new memoir, “A Seat at the Table: The Making of Busboys and Poets.” Then, Ralph speaks to business consultant and activist Bennett Freeman about why Big Business isn't standing up to the Trump Administration.Andy Shallal is an activist, artist and social entrepreneur. Mr. Shallal is the founder and proprietor of Busboys and Poets restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area, which feature prominent speakers, poets and authors and provide a venue for social and political activism. He is also co-founder of The Peace Cafe and a member of the board of trustees for The Institute for Policy Studies. He is the author of the new book A Seat at the Table: The Making of Busboys and Poets.I've called Andy Shallal “democracy's restaurateur”, and he really fits the bill.Ralph NaderActivism is the best antidote to depression. It's really hard to be able to sit back—and especially now with social media and everything else that's right at your fingertips, to be able to watch the little babies being snipered and their limbs being chopped up. And it just feels so, so horrific. And the only way you can really be able to make sense of it—if there's any way to make sense of it—is to continue to fight for a better world.Andy ShallalSince, of course, October 7th opened up a whole new thing for activists and really exposed in a very stark way the myth of “Western civilization,” the idea of how obvious the lies and the deceit that's been happening, and the power of the military industrial complex that we've been warned about over the years I think [a new understanding is] taking shape right now, and we're starting to understand it more and more. And as I think we are trying to free Gaza and free Palestine, at the same time I think Gaza and Palestine are freeing us to be able to understand our system better.Andy ShallalOne of the things that I find is necessary for movements to be sustained is to have joy. You've got to have opportunities for joy. You got to have opportunities for people to actually have fun together, really feel like they're part of a community. Because a lot of times, the work we do isn't—well, it's soul-sucking work, you know, and you need to have those opportunities to be able to refuel and re-energize.Andy ShallalBennett Freeman is principal of Bennett Freeman Associates, where he advises multinational corporations, international institutions, and NGOs on policy and strategy related to human rights and labour rights. Mr. Freeman was founding chair of the advisory board for Global Witness (an investigative, campaigning organisation that challenges the power of climate-wrecking companies). He was also founding trustee of the Institute for Human Rights and Business, co-founder of the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark, and co-founder of the Global Network Initiative. He served on the governing board of the Natural Resource Governance Institute, as well as the board of Oxfam America. Mr. Freeman was the lead author of “Shared Space Under Pressure: Business Support for Civic Freedoms and Human Rights Defenders.”[Ralph,] you correctly characterize the silence and obeisance of much of corporate America (not least the tech CEOs) so far this year. I would use another pair of words as well to characterize their stance, which I think during the campaign last year in 2024 was: complacency, [and] I think the complacency now has become complicity in a dramatic, historic, democratic backsliding in the United States with the erosion of rule of law and our constitutional democracy.Bennett FreemanAt the end of the day, I'm much more interested in democratic governance based on rule of law and fair elections than I am in what corporate America has to say. But they have a stake now. And I think that those of us who have tried to promote corporate responsibility (and in Ralph's case and many others, to impose corporate accountability) have to continue this work. And we've got to engage corporate America without illusions, but with still aspirations to try to get them back to support—in a nonpartisan or bipartisan way—the fundamentals of what our country is supposed to be about.Bennett FreemanNews 10/10/25* Two polls came out this past week which reveal key data points about Americans' views on Israel. First, a Washington Post poll of American Jews, published October 6th and covering September 2-9th, shows that 61% say Israel has committed “war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.” This nearly two-thirds majority should put the lie to the canard that American Jews monolithically support Israel's actions in Gaza. They don't. Furthermore, 39% say Israel has committed “Genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.” Some contend these numbers might be higher if the question was worded slightly differently, for example asking in the present tense whether Israel is committing genocide, rather than in the past tense. Regardless, while this result is slightly less than a majority, it certainly proves that a substantial share of American Jews do believe that Isreal is guilty of the crime of genocide. Astute politicians should take note.* Another survey that shrewd pols should consider is the Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project (IMEU) poll released October 3rd. In this poll, 43% of respondents identified “U.S. foreign policy and relations with Israel” as an issue that will play a role in their 2026 Democratic primary vote. As for more ambitious Democrats, 71% said they would be more likely to vote for “A candidate for president who voted to withhold weapons to Israel,” compared to just 10% who said the same about “A candidate who voted against withholding weapons to Israel.” The numbers are cut and dried.* Last week, CBS confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu “directly approved military operations on two vessels,” in the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying aid to Gaza. According to this report, Netanyahu ordered Israeli forces to “[launch] drones from a submarine and [drop] incendiary devices onto the boats that were moored outside the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said.” As this report notes, “Under international humanitarian law and the law of armed conflict, the use of incendiary weapons against a civilian population or civilian objects is prohibited in all circumstances.” Put simply, this attack amounted to a war crime. In a statement, the Global Sumud Flotilla wrote “Confirmation of Israeli involvement…simply lay[s] bare a pattern of arrogance and impunity so grotesque that it cannot escape eventual reckoning.” The flotilla was intercepted off the coast of Gaza last week and over 400 activists were detained in Israeli custody. Many have alleged mistreatment, with Turkish activist Ersin Çelik claiming guards “dragged [Greta Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag.”* Unfortunately, this is the last news critical of Israel we can expect to see from CBS for a long time. On October 6th, CNN reported that Paramount will officially acquire The Free Press for $150 million and appoint its founder, Bari Weiss, the editor-in-chief of CBS News. This position was created specifically for Weiss. According to Paramount, in this role, Weiss will “shape editorial priorities, champion core values across platforms, and lead innovation in how the organization reports and delivers the news.” In an interview with Democracy Now!, journalist David Klion of the Nation and Jewish Currents, said Weiss, “has presented herself as a champion of free speech…But in reality, she has a 20-year history of suppressing speech that she finds objectionable, especially when it's speech championing the rights of Palestinians and criticizing the state of Israel.”* Meanwhile in Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum called for the immediate repatriation of the six Mexican nationals among the Gaza aid flotilla participants following their detention by Israeli forces, per Mexico News Daily. Following a speech by the Mexican president, the foreign ministry wrote that Mexican Embassy officials had gone to Ashdod, where the activists were being held, to “directly verify the conditions on the ground, request consular access, and ensure that … [the] safety and integrity [of the Mexicans] is respected, in accordance with applicable international law.” Notably, President Trump has made no such moves to publicly demand the return of, or even lawful treatment of, the Americans on board these vessels. Perhaps this is a contributing factor to Sheinbaum's stunning 78% approval in a recent El País poll, which shows her not just overwhelmingly popular among her own party's base but even among those registered to competing parties. According to this poll, 73% of PAN members, 72% of PRI members, 70% of MC members, and 59% of voters with no party preference approve of her performance in office. These numbers are frankly unimaginable in America, but so are the achievements Sheinbaum has delivered in her short time in power.* Turning to Congress, Representatives Mark Pocan, Pramila Jayapal and Jared Huffman have authored a letter expressing “grave concerns,” regarding President Trump's executive order designating “Antifa” as a Domestic Terrorist Organization, calling for the order and accompanying memorandum, known as NSPM-7 to be “immediately rescinded,” according to the related press release. In the letter, the members warn “the sweeping language and broad authority in these directives pose serious constitutional, statutory, and civil liberties risks, especially if used to target political dissent, protest, or ideological speech.” The members also note that the memo “characterizes ‘anti-capitalism' as a hallmark of violent behavior without explaining the term…[allowing] officials to potentially treat Americans as domestic terrorists for something as routine as organizing a local boycott or operating an employee-owned business.” Perhaps most critically, they write “These actions are illegal, and…We stand ready to take legislative action should you fail,” to rescind the order.* In St. Louis, former Congresswoman Cori Bush is running to take back her seat. Bush, who came to prominence as an activist during the 2014 Ferguson protests and eventually primaried 10-term incumbent Congressman Lacy Clay, was ousted in a close 2024 primary by prosecutor Wesley Bell. According to POLITICO, Bell received $8 million dollars from AIPAC during that campaign; the pro-Israel PAC had identified Bush, along with former Congressman Jamaal Bowman, as key targets because of their pro-Palestine positions.* Of course, for the time being, Congressional deadlock is keeping the federal government in a shutdown. One symptom of this shutdown surfaced in Los Angeles this week, when dozens of flights into and out of Hollywood Burbank Airport were delayed or canceled because its air traffic control tower was temporarily unstaffed, the LA Times reports. Staffing shortages also caused delays at Newark Liberty International Airport, Denver International Airport and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. This report added that the Federal Aviation Administration “warned of more disruption at airports due to staff shortages as a result of the government shutdown.” Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said in a joint press conference with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, “We need to bring this shutdown to a close, so that the [FAA] and the committed aviation safety professionals can put this distraction behind us and completely focus on their vital work…We do not have the luxury of time.”* More troubling signs are emerging in the economy as well. For months now, analysts have warned that the U.S. is not just on the brink of a recession, but rather already in one – it is just being masked by the massive speculative bubble of AI. Back in August, Axios reported that “excitement over artificial intelligence…is clouding recessionary signals in more cyclical corners of the market,” citing longer lengths of unemployment and slower hiring. Now, the AI bubble is reaching epic proportions. According to the Financial Times, “AI spending by companies now accounts for a 40 per cent share of US GDP growth this year,” while the Financial Post reports AI companies have accounted for 80 per cent of the gains in U.S. stocks so far in 2025. Given the market's reliance on AI speculation, the economic damage if that bubble bursts whilst the economy is on such unstable footing could be catastrophic.* Finally, for some good news, a new California law is aiming to regulate the noise level of advertisements on streaming services. The Guardian reports the new legislation, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, “forces the powerful streaming platforms to comply with existing regulations that have barred television broadcasters from bombarding the eardrums of viewers with overly loud commercials since 2010.” According to this story, the bill was sponsored by State Senator Tom Umberg, whose newborn child was consistently awoken by overloud ads. As the Guardian notes, “Since so many of the streaming platforms are based in California, the new state bill could set a national standard and lower volumes across the country.” Rest assured industry will strike back at this law somehow, but it remains to be seen how they will argue for their right to blast ads at consumers at outrageous volumes.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
After years of construction and planning, Friday marked the opening of the new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency campus in St. Louis. STLPR economic development reporter Kavahn Mansouri was on the scene for the event, along with public officials including U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell and director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Mansouri shares his takeaways from the grand opening of the $1.7 billion facility, and what happens next as 3,100 federal employees, and the surrounding neighborhoods, adapt to the changes.
It's a classic News Day Tuesday on Majority Report On Today's show: Trump is attempting to fire Federal Reserve Govenor Lisa Cook via tweet, accusing her of mortgage fraud yet no charges have been filed. This is just the continuation of his crusade to influence interest rate cuts. As the Pentagon reports that preparation for a National Guard invasion of Chicago started months ago, Illinois governor JB Pritzker fires back and points out that 13 of the 20 cities with the highest homicide rates and 8 out of 10 states with the highest crime rates are red states. Missouri GOP Representative Mark Alford is scorched at a town hall by a farmer, In the Fun Half: Graham Platner is peppered with horrible questions on CNN and answers them all perfectly. Ben Shapiro lies about how much he can bench press in a pathetic attempt to shame Zohran Mamdani. Wesley Bell desperately attempts to justify receiving millions from AIPAC and Crypto. Hakeem Jeffries writes a strongly worded letter in another feckless display. All that and more. The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors: NUTRAFOL: Get $10 off your first month's subscription + free shipping at Nutrafol.com when you use promo code TMR10 SUNSET LAKE: Head to SunsetLakeCBD.com and buy any three 4-packs, and you'll get a fourth one for free. Just add four 4-packs to your cart and use the code LABORDAY25 at checkout Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder – https://majorityreportradio.com
Ryan, Emily, and Griffin discuss a morning FBI raid on John Bolton's house, violent mayhem breaking out at Wesley Bell's town hall, Gavin Newsom's ongoing meme war, and then we turn to the Israelis admitting their army database shows at least 83% of deaths in Gaza were civilians. To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show AD FREE, uncut and 1 hour early visit: www.breakingpoints.comMerch Store: https://shop.breakingpoints.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tonight on The Last Word: Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell is granted limited immunity during meetings with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Also, Axios reports Nevada swing state voters are turning on Donald Trump. Plus, the Trump administration backs down and releases over $5 billion in Education Department funds. And a Republican congressman is caught misrepresenting his grandfather's “legal” immigration story. Lisa Rubin, Rep. Wesley Bell, Margaret Talev, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, and Chase Woodruff join Ali Velshi.