Servants of the Damned
“Everyone is entitled to a defense” contend large law firms when they represent notorious corporate clients, but many of these firms push the ethical envelope. That’s the crux of the discussion Ralph has with David Enrich as outlined in his book, “Servants of the Damned: Giant Law Firms, Donald Trump, and the Corruption of Justice.” Plus, we welcome Dr. Michael Jacobson, founder, and former director of Science in the Public Interest to tell us how we need to raise taxes on alcohol to reduce alcohol-related deaths and mayhem.
The Federal Reserve and Debt
Ralph does a deep dive into the real purpose of the Federal Reserve and other aspects of the American economy with progressive economist, Michael Hudson. Plus, our resident constitutional scholar, Bruce Fein, joins us to talk about the elected official from New Mexico, who got removed from office because of his role in the Jan. 6th insurrection and what that possibly could mean for Donald’s Trump eligibility for office. And he also discusses a letter from retired Secretaries of Defense and Joint Chiefs about military leaders rejecting illegal presidential orders.
The Crack Up of the Republican Party
Ralph welcomes Washington Post columnist, Dana Milbank, who draws a direct line from Newt Gingrich’s ascendency to Speaker of the House in 1994 to the January 6th insurrection in his book “The Destructionists: The Twenty-Five Year Crack-Up of the Republican Party.” Plus, a new Capitol Hill Citizen is out!
Slaughtering Corporate Hogs
Ralph interviews North Carolina attorney, Mona Lisa Wallace, whose litigation team won more than $500 million in damages for the facility’s North Carolina neighbors against the hog production component of Smithfield Foods along with author Corban Addison who chronicled the gripping John Grisham-like tale in his book: “Wastelands: The True Story Of Farm Country On Trial.”
Some Justice for Sandy Hook
In a live Zoom recording, Ralph welcomes attorney Josh Koskoff, who tells us how he won a groundbreaking 73 million dollars from Remington and other gun manufacturers on behalf of the families of the Sandy Hook mass school shooting. Ralph and Josh lay out the story then Josh takes questions from our virtual audience.
Recession or Recovery?
In a packed program, Ralph first speaks to our resident constitutional scholar, Bruce Fein, about the latest Trump-anigans from Mar a Lago, then Washington Post business reporter, Allan Sloan, joins to talk about the Federal Reserve and answers the question of whether we are headed for an economic recession or a recovery. And finally, Steve Silberstein of National Popular Vote comes by to update us on their latest efforts to ensure that the candidate for president who wins the popular vote actually wins the election.
December 23, 2017
We track down disabilities champion, Ralf Hotchkiss, who is in Nicaragua helping poor communities design and build more durable, low cost wheelchairs. Then filmmaker Helen Young promotes her gripping documentary about the elderly activists who snuck onto two of the most fortified military installations in the country to peacefully protest the nuclear weapons industry. Plus, David, Steve and Ralph talk more about Al Franken and sexual harassment as well as the GOP tax bill.
December 16, 2017
Ralph talks to activist coal miner, Stanley Sturgill, who advocates for the strengthening of EPA regulations on the coal industry and mountaintop removal. Also, Mark Green gives us his take on the sudden, steep fall of Senator Al Franken.
December 9, 2017
Ralph and Washington Post columnist, E.J. Dionne debate the distinction between “Progressive” and “Liberal,” and Original Nader’s Raider, Robert Fellmeth tells us why he thinks speech on the Internet should not be anonymous.
December 2, 2017
Ralph spends the whole hour with Dr. Bandy X. Lee, psychiatrist from the Yale School of Medicine and editor of “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President.
November 25, 2017
Ralph spends the hour with fraud expert, Frank Abagnale, inspiration for the Spielberg film, “Catch Me If You Can.” They talk about how to protect yourself from identity theft and other scams in our high tech, digital economy. Plus listener questions!
November 18, 2017
Ralph welcomes back America’s #1 populist, Jim Hightower, to discuss how to make sure that robots will work for us and not the other way around. Then, attorney Roberta Walburn joins us to discuss her book about firebrand populist judge “Miles Lord: The Maverick Judge Who Brought Corporate America To Justice.”
November 11, 2017
Economist James Henry takes apart the Republican tax plan, calling it “the largest wealth transfer in history to the ruling class" And activist, law student, Pete Davis, tells us how he’s trying to get Harvard Law School to fulfill it’s stated mission by funneling fewer of its graduates toward powerful corporate firms and more toward the public interest.
November 4, 2017
Ralph welcomes Sarah van Gelder, founder of PeoplesHub and Mark Pertschuk, director of Grassroots Change, two organizations that offer you the skills and expertise on how to make change in your community.