Dirty Work
Ralph spends the whole hour with Eyal Press, author of “Dirty Work: Essential Jobs and The Hidden Toll of Inequality in America,” where they discuss the large gap separating the people who perform the most thankless, ethically troubling jobs in America from the rest of us, who benefit from their work. Plus, Ralph answers listener questions.
Why Do We Still Have The Electoral College?
Ralph welcomes Harvard history professor, Alex Keyssar, scholar of voting rights and author of “Why Do We Still Have The Electoral College?” to discuss the battle over the Electoral College and the role white supremacy played in conceiving and perpetuating it. Then, we welcome back Steve Silberstein, board member of “National Popular Vote,” to update us on the progress that movement is making on the interstate compact where states would promise to give their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote.
Wilkerson on Afghanistan
Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell’s former chief of staff, gives us his thoroughly unvarnished take on the history of our twenty-year debacle in Afghanistan. Then, we are joined by Jacob Wilson, cofounder of Congressional Progressive Staff Association an organization devoted to drawing congressional staff from the ranks of civic activists, organizers, faith leaders, and people from the labor movement in order to bring fresh, bold, progressive ideas directly into Congress members’ offices.
The Remaking of American Liberalism/Nairn on Afghanistan
In a fascinating interview, where the historian gets questioned by one of the main subjects of his history, Ralph welcomes professor Paul Sabin to discuss his history of the public interest movement, “Public Citizens: The Attack on Big Government and the Remaking of American Liberalism.” Plus, intrepid investigative reporter, Allan Nairn joins us to give us his take on U.S. culpability in the violent history of Afghanistan.
Feeding Local Economies/Starving the IRS
Ralph welcomes Stacy Mitchell, co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance to talk about how enforcing anti-trust laws would lead to more decentralized and productive local economies. And Pro Publica’s Jesse Eisinger joins us to explain how Republican anti-tax groups have starved the IRS budget, which leads to billions of dollars of uncollected taxes from the wealthy. Plus, Ralph answers your questions.
Eugenics/Wuhan Lab Leak?/Donziger Update
Andrew Kimbrell, director of the International Center for Technology Assessment, joins us to talk about his documentary “A Dangerous Idea: Eugenics, Genetics and the American Dream,” and to give us an update on the Wuhan Lab leak theory. Plus, Ralph welcomes legendary civil rights attorney, Martin Garbus, to update us on new developments in the case of corporate prisoner, Steven Donzinger.
April 12, 2015
We talk to Ralph about his new book, Return To Sender: Unanswered Letters to the President 2001-2015, a compilation of letters he sent to both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The Nation magazine called Return To Sender ” a twofer: a spiritual exercise in citizen participation and a counterfactual history lesson in what might have been if only our government had hewn to democratic first principles and priorities over the last fifteen years. And, as always, more listener questions.”
April 4, 2015
In this week’s episode, we talk to Remar Sutton, director of the Foolproof Foundation about how to teach your kids how to be smart about spending money and using credit cards. Ralph also talks to old friend and compatriot, Lois Gibbs, of Love Canal fame about how regular people can organize and make a difference in their communities. Plus more listener questions.
March 29, 2015
Ralph talks to Professor Allison Stanger about her book One Nation Under Contract and how private contractors have become an integral part of our foreign policy. We also talk to Bob Hunter, insurance director of the Consumer Federation of America, who warns us about the latest scam that may be affecting your auto insurance rates. Plus, Ralph tells us how you should be “getting steamed.”
March 21, 2015
Ralph talks to labor activist and author Bill Fletcher Jr. about the state of labor and the overall performance of the Congressional Black Caucus. And Good Jobs First research director Phil Mattera stops by to unveil a new web-tool (subsidy tracker) they have developed that identifies which prominent corporations are living off the government teat. Plus, more listener questions.
March 14, 2015
Former NYC Public Advocate and Nader’s Raider Mark Green engages Ralph in a lively debate over Hillary Clinton and the difference between a politician versus an advocate. We also delve into Israeli Prime Minister’s address to Congress and the letter to Iran signed by forty-seven Republicans. We also discuss those that the economic upturn have left behind in Ohio.
March 8, 2015
Ralph gets into a debate with his old friend, Victor Schwartz, about malpractice lawsuits and hot coffee. Along the way, former President Bill Clinton horns in on the discussion, and we get a visit from the ghost of Ronald Reagan. Plus more listener questions.
March 8, 2015
Renowned investigative reporter, James Ridgeway, tells us about his latest project, Solitary Watch, which exposes the uses and abuses of solitary confinement in our prison system. Ralph also answers a listener question about what it will take to spawn a second American Revolution.
February 21, 2015
We talk to peace activist and war tax resister, Frances Crowe, about her memoir Frances Crowe: Finding My Radical Soul and how she’s been arrested for civil disobedience more times than she can remember. Ralph also fills us in on the mess in Libya, tells us about how United Airlines employees are getting screwed, and we answer more listener questions.