Guest host Nicole Sandler checks in with economist, 'Modern Monetary Theory' expert, author and educator Stephanie Kelton to try to understand our economic situation in the wake of Friday's jobs report showing 20.5 million jobs lost in April and an unemployment rate of over 14 percent, and forecasts that it's going to get worse.  Then, on the heels of the Attorney General completely upending due process and the rule of law on Friday, we talk with Lisa Graves, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the US, one of about 2000 former DOJ officials who've signed on to a letter asking Barr to resign.

'BradCast' 5/11/2020: (Nicole Sandler with 'Modern Monetary Theory' economist Stephanie Kelton, fmr Dep Asst AG Lisa Graves)

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': In Pennsylvania's primary elections, a large percentage of Republicans voted for ousted rivals of presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump. President Biden signed a long-overdue aid package for Ukraine. The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether federal law requires hospitals to provide abortion care when necessary to save a patient's life. In Arizona, state Democratic lawmakers gained ground on an effort to repeal the state's 1864 abortion ban. Columnist HEATHER DIGBY PARTON of Salon and attorney KEITH BARBER of Daily Kos discuss Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York on allegations that he conspired to falsify business records to cover up hush money payments he made to a porn star, to help him cheat to win the 2016 Presidential election. Parton and Barber analyze what we've learned so far in the historic trial, the legal hurdles faced by prosecutors, and what to expect in the days ahead.

'BradCast' 4/24/2024 (NY Trump Trial analysis with Heather Digby Parton and Keith Barber)

On today's 'BradCast':  Voters in Pennsylvania's primary election are reportedly struggling with newly-implemented voter ID restrictions. Donald Trump's election-fraud-via-hush-money criminal trial in New York began with a hearing over whether Trump violated a court-imposed gag order on attacking jurors and witnesses, then the former National Enquirer publisher detailed his participation in a 'catch and kill' scheme to bury negative stories about Trump (like affairs with porn stars) to help him win the 2016 election. US Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Arizona Republican election deniers Kari Lake and Mark Finchem. Wisconsin GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde backtracked on comments suggesting the elderly should not vote. Trump Campaign/RNC launch an 'election integrity' initiative. Republican Arizona state representative resigns amid accusations he forged petition signatures for his own re-election campaign. Plus Desi Doyen has our new 'Green News Report.'

'BradCast' 4/23/2024 ('Election Fraud, Pure and Simple': Trump trial update)

On today's 'BradCast':  With assistance from House Democrats, GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson finally allowed passage of critical military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and Taiwan that has been blocked by far-right Republicans. Donald Trump's first criminal trial got underway in New York City, focused on allegations that he unlawfully falsified business records and violated campaign finance laws in paying hush money to a porn star before the 2016 election. Veteran labor journalist and author STEVEN GREENHOUSE discusses the landslide vote by non-union autoworkers at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee to join the United Auto Workers union. Greenhouse explains why the historic vote succeeded where others have failed in the famously anti-union South, the UAW's ongoing organizing efforts to unionize other plants, the surge to restore labor rights in many sectors across the US, and much more.

'BradCast' 4/22/2024 (Guest: Labor journalist Steven Greenhouse on historic union vote at VW's Tennessee factory)

Encore: original airdate 4-10-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  The real news is bad enough, but fake news sites masquerading as real news sites are proliferating across the country and spreading disinformation in advance of the critical 2024 election. Funded by shadowy rightwing billionaire activists, the number of fake 'pink slime' news sites now equals the number of legitimate local news sites. ALEX MAHADEVAN, Director of the non-profit Poynter Institute's MediaWise project, explains how and why these fake news sites are surging, the rightwing funders behind them, techniques to protect against misinformation and disinformation, and much more. Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg sentenced to five additional months in prison for committing perjury in Donald Trump's massive New York bank, tax, and insurance fraud trial. The Arizona Supreme Court's ruling reinstating an 1864 ban on all abortions in the state has Republicans in panic mode to manage the fallout, which may have a remarkable effect on turnout in the November election.

'BradCast' 4/19/2024 (Encore: Alex Mahadevan on proliferation of fake 'local news' sites in advance of 2024 election)

On today's 'BradCast':  Climate change is a key factor in persistent inflation by driving the skyrocketing costs of insurance premiums for homes and cars, according to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Loss and damage from human-caused climate change is already costing Americans dearly, and a new study warns it will cause $38 trillion in global economic damages every year, unless governments move faster to cut climate-warming fossil fuel pollution. Ohio Republicans threaten to block President Biden from the 2024 ballot over a scheduling issue. Nevada Supreme Court approves a measure guaranteeing reproductive rights for the November ballot. Jury selection for Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York is complete, but two were excused after reporters revealed personally identifying details. Non-union autoworkers in Tennessee may succeed at unionizing, despite unprecedented threats from southern Republican governors. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

'BradCast' 5/11/2020: (Nicole Sandler with 'Modern Monetary Theory' economist Stephanie Kelton, fmr Dep Asst AG Lisa Graves)

Download our free app to listen on your phone