Original airdate 11-28-2023. On today's 'BradCast':  The warning signs for democracy continue to blink bright red. Ultra-conservative former federal Judge Michael Luttig warns: 'American democracy [is] on a knife's edge...in greater peril today than it's ever been in American history,' and argues that a second term for the former President would be 'catastrophic.' The warning sirens for democracy are coming from abroad, as well, after Argentina and The Netherlands elect far-right extremists leaders. Donald Trump continues to ratchet up his far-right authoritarian threats, including promising domestic deployment of the U.S. military under the Insurrection Act, if voters are foolish enough to allow him a second term. President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to boost domestic manufacturing of super-efficient, all-electric heat pump technology to save consumers and businesses money on energy costs and reduce indoor air pollution. Naturally Fox 'News' is furious about it. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

'BradCast' 12/27/2023 (Encore: 'Democracy on a Knife's Edge' - Far-right electoral victories in Argentina, Holland; Trump threatens Insurrection Act)

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com. Originating on Pacifica Radio's KPFK 90.7FM in Los Angeles and syndicated coast-to-coast and around the globe! NOW FIVE DAYS A WEEK!

News  & amp; Politics

Society  & amp; Culture

On today's 'BradCast':  The stolen-and-packed US Supreme Court issued two unusual rulings on Thursday. The rightwing supermajority upheld Louisiana's new, fairer US House district voting maps that add a second Black-majority voting district in the state, but the liberal justices dissented for critical reasons. In a 7-2 ruling, the Court rejected an effort by the sleazy payday lending industry to kill the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). CRAIG HOLMAN, veteran government ethics lobbyist at non-profit Public Citizen, explains the historic vote at the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on a shocking proposed rule to gut what little remains of our campaign finance laws by allowing all campaign donors to evade campaign cash disclosure requirements. Holman explains who was behind the proposal that sought to deprive voters of critical election information, what happens next, and another proposal to regulate the surge of A.I.-generated deepfake audio and video of candidates in the run-up to the critical 2024 election. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

'BradCast' 5/16/2024 (Guest: Campaign finance expert Craig Holman on shocking new FEC disclosure rule)

On today's 'BradCast':  Noteworthy results from Tuesday's primary elections in Nebraska, Maryland and West Virginia. President Biden challenged Donald Trump to two early debates hosted by media outlets, citing numerous reasons for ditching the non-partisan Committee on Presidential Debates, including the group's outdated practices that schedule debates long after millions of Americans have already cast their ballots in early voting. In Trump's NYC criminal hush money-election interference trial, Salon columnist HEATHER DIGBY PARTON, and former trial attorney KEITH BARBER of the progressive Daily Kos deliver insight and analysis on the most important week so far, with the riveting testimony of Trump's former 'fixer' Michael Cohen, the 'cult' of Donald Trump, and much more.

'BradCast' 5/15/2024 (Trump Trial Ketchup, with guests Heather Digby Parton, Keith Barber; 2024 primary election results)

On today's 'BradCast':  We're covering the track conditions of the 2024 election, rather than the horse race, as the GOP seems to be getting an early start on deploying dirty tricks and voter suppression tactics. Ohio's heavily gerrymandered, Republican-controlled state legislature has failed to pass a routine legislative fix to ensure President Joe Biden appears on the state's 2024 ballot, as they've done many times before. In Washington State, a rightwing activist's attempt to confuse Democratic voters with multiple bogus candidates has been foiled. Georgia's GOP Gov. Brian Kemp has signed another round of new voter suppression laws. The new progressive on Wisconsin's Supreme Court majority may finally overturn a silly, specious ban on secure ballot drop boxes. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

'BradCast' 5/14/2024 (GOP dirty tricks in WA, OH; GOP voter suppression in GA)

On today's 'BradCast':  A crazy election recount in California hopefully won't be a harbinger of election challenges in the critical upcoming November 2024 election. The state's March 5 Super Tuesday primary resulted in an exact tie for 2nd place to fill a U.S. House seat that could determine majority control of Congress. California law allows any voter to request a recount if they pay exorbitant fees that vary wildly by county, so only wealthy candidates can afford one.  DR. JOHN MAA, an expert in CA election recounts, explains how this recount exposed many flaws in California's antiquated recount laws, the need for standardization of costs, and much more.  Legal woes mount for top Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon, disgraced former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and sitting Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez. In his New York criminal hush money-election interference trial, Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen directly implicated Trump. Callers weigh in.

'BradCast' 5/13/2024 (Guest: Dr. John Maa on crazy U.S. House primary recount in CA; New legal woes for Trump, Giuliani, Bannon, Menendez)

Encore: original airdate 5-2-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  A surge of largely peaceful pro-Palestinian protests have sprung up on college campuses across the U.S., in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's punishing, ongoing assault of Gaza and the Biden Administration's facilitation of that effort. We focus on the response to those protests by counter protesters, media, politicians (including remarks by Joe Biden today), and the armed riot police who seem to be triggering the bulk of the violence, which is easy to show on television news whether it captures the truth of the moment or not. Congressional Democrats released a damning report exposing Big Oil's ongoing campaign of 'deception, disinformation, and doublespeak' to mislead the public about the role of fossil fuels in our accelerating climate crisis. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

'BradCast' 12/27/2023 (Encore: 'Democracy on a Knife's Edge' - Far-right electoral victories in Argentina, Holland; Trump threatens Insurrection Act)

Download our free app to listen on your phone