Hitting Left

We're back at a distance with Amanda Klonsky, prison activist and advocate talking about COVID19 and the need to release the incarcerated as a public safety issue.

Appointed to his first term, State Senator Robert Peters represents Barack Obama's former Illinois District. He is a strong proponent of ending cash bail. We talk about that and political organizing in the time of the coronavirus.

Christina Pacione-Zayas just returned from Puerto Rico. Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez join us to talk about all things Puerto Rico. We take time to commemorate the passing of independista Rafael Cancel-Miranda.

Jackie Serrato has become a regular on Hitting Left. She's now editor-in-chief of the South Side Weekly. Adeshina Emmanuel also returns to talk about his work at Injustice Watch and the secret reports in a story of a death in an Alabama prison.

The first half hour is about environmental racism and the 10th Ward in Chicago with Alderwoman Garza and her policy guy., John Harrof The second half Mike and Fred talk politics - national mostly, with some Blago stuff tossed in - and it's fun.

Diane Ravitch, educational historian and activist joins us (and Mario Smith - host of Lumpen Radio's News From the Service Entrance) for an hour talk about schools and her latest book, Slaying Goliath.

We sat down with two long-time advocates of democratic education, Monty Neill, retired director of Fair Test, and founder of the ground-breaking Harlem small school - Central Park East - Deborah Meier. 

Tribune reporter Greg Pratt is a newspaper Guild organizer battling the hedge fund takeover of the Trib by Alden Capital and Bob Reiter is the President of the Chicago Federation of Labor. A union show!

No guest this podcast. The brothers talk Iowa, presidential politics and the progressive movement.

Native American educator Patty Loew and film professor, maker of the film, The Return of Navajo Boy. The history and current state of Native people.