8 O'Clock Buzz

Was dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki really necessary to prevent Japanese invasion as claimed by politicians? Martin Sherwin, Professor of History at George Mason University and author of a number of books including “World Destroyed: Hiroshima and Its Legacies”, says “No”, and the Japanese were already discussing terms of surrender prior to the U.S. dropping the bombs.

On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the dropping of nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Jan talks with Kevin Kamps from Beyond Nuclear about some of the effects of the nuclear industry on racial inequality — from deaths from mining uranium in Africa to bombing the Japanese to storage of radioactive waste in lands populated by Navajo tribes.

They also discuss the upcoming 75th anniversary live virtual commemoration of the victims of the bombing — click here for the programs of these events on August 6th and August 9th.

Damita Brown talks with..

Tisha Butler from Urban Triage and Nadya Mariam from Wheels for Winners about getting kids out on bikes in the pandemic and the Slow Ride;

Tim Cordon, Social Justice Coordinator from First Unitarian Society and Building Unity talking about their social justice programs and the Building Unity Bus Tour;

Brandi Grayson from Urban Triage on their efforts toward racial justice!

Photo by Ken Fager on Flickr

On July 30, President Trump took to his favorite communication tool, Twitter.  He posted:

As with many of Trump’s comments, it’s difficult to tell whether or not he actually believes he has the power to delay the election, or if he’s simply kicking the beehive.  Barry Burden, a professor of political science at the LaFollette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin Madison spoke with Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on August 3, 2020.

On July 30, 2020, at a press conference devoted to the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos renewed the Administration’s insistence that the nation’s public schools reopen for in-person classes this fall.  Trump and DeVos backed their stance by claiming that children are not a significant vector for the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.  Although those claims were quickly debunked by public health experts, the pressure on schools to reopen is enormous and growing.  Michael Addonizio is a Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Wayne State University and a member of Wayne State’s Kaplan Collaborative for Urban Education. He previously served as Assistant Michigan State Superintendent for Research and Policy.

In July, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced that the state government would try to trim 250 million dollars from its 38 billion dollar current year.budget, blaming the shortfall on the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.  Wisconsin may be getting off easy, compared to other states.  New York State, which is facing a 13 billion dollar shortfall this year and up to 60 billion over the next four years, called the impacts “unprecedented in modern history.”  Carla Flink, a professor of public administration and policy at American University, joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on August 3, 2020.

 

 

Impact Demand (Facebook, Instagram) is a youth-led group that has been the organizing force behind several of Madison’s ongoing protests for racial justice. The group formed in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and subsequent demonstrations against police brutality, and has quickly established itself as one of the driving forces behind Madison’s Black Lives Matter movement.

Damita Brown speaks with Impact Demand organizer Ayomi Obuseh to discuss the group’s demands, the fight for justice, and the group’s future events.

It’s been a quiet year for live theater, as the coronavirus pandemic has shuttered most venues since March.  Madison Shakespeare Company is planning on trodding the boards once more this summer, with an offering of classic short plays, all dealing with the theme of scandal.  The productions will take place at Tyranena Brewery’s outdoor beer garden, with ample room for social distancing.  Director Kendra Thompson and actors Jason Compton and Annie Jay joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on July 27, 2020.

 

On July 9, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Jimcy McGirt, a member of the Seminole, could not be tried in an Oklahoma court, because McGirt’s alleged crime occurred in territory reserved to the Creek under an 1833 treaty.  Aside from the impact on McGirt’s case, who could still be tried in federal court, the ruling has profound implications for the relationships between U.S. State governments and Native American nations.  Kirsten Carlson is a professor of Law and Political Science at Wayne State University, and she joined the Monday Buzz on July 27, 2020.

We think of our beds, and our bedrooms, as the most intimate, personal part of our house.  The bedroom is the room that is closed off if we have guests in our house, and inviting someone into your bedroom has certain… connotations.  But it hasn’t always been thus.  Throughout human history, beds were often more communal, public places — sometimes with sexual overtones, but more frequently with none whatsoever.  Brian Fagan is a Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at the University of California – Santa Barbara.  He, along with co-author Nadia Durrani, recently wrote “What We Did In Bed: A Horizontal History.”  Brian Fagan joined Buzz host Brian Standing on Monday, July 27, 2020.