Authoritarians that they are, it’s not a huge surprise today’s Trump/DeSantis Republicans are pro-Putin. But as noted historian Michael Kazin points out, some alleged leftists are linking up with the far right on the war in Ukraine. Though there’s a long history of ugly American militarism where it doesn’t belong, the Russian war on Ukraine is not one of them. On this show, Kazin specifies why it’s important to reject this left-right alliance against Ukraine.

On the first half Wellesley  Professor of American Studies and author Michael P. Jeffries talks about his new book Black and Queer on Campus, the unexpected possibilities and challenges which remain. And on part two, noted feminist Amanda Marcotte talks about right wing families still blaming girls when men harass them.

The unchecked power of the Federal Reserve claims its current, never ending rate hike strategy is about curbing inflation. It is not, according to our guest today, economics professor Clara Mattei. That we have become so used to it we don’t see what it’s really doing, that the sacrifice is hardly collective. It’s never about balancing the budget; it arose from the fear by the wealth holders of the economic disorder post-WWI. She argues that liberal international monetary policy then and now is about protecting the wealthy and paving the way for fascism. Listen in to learn about austerity’s dark intellectual origins and intent.

There’s a science to the demise of democracy. On this show, Vanderbilt University political historian Eli Merritt talks about the new book he edited: How to Save Democracy; Inspiration and Advice from 95 World Leaders. It’s about the knowledge and tools gained from the first Summit for Democracy. There are threats and opportunities, each of us can do a little and it matters.

So many mass shootings; how did the gun culture become so powerful? Look to the Civil War. Militarily devastated, the Confederate culture transformed guns into a totem. In this revealing discussion, U of Wisconsin-Madison professor Nick Buttrick reveals the roots of America’s mass shootings and says kids today offer real hope for change.

Despite current assumptions, “protests can win even as they appear to lose.” So says Notre Dame professor emeritus David Cortright in his new essay in The Nation. On this show, we show how there are two superpowers on the planet: The US and world public opinion. Protest can and does matter.

There used to be some 50 military contractors, now it’s more like five.  Merger mania. And we’re playing right into what China wants. And we’re still pouring money into one of the most costly weapons ever, the F 35, which was developed pretty much blindly. On this show Center for Defense Information analyst Julia Gledhill explains how our defense budget is weakening America.

How big do you think Pakistan is? Would you guess over 200 million people? It’s a  nuclear armed power, deeply in debt, with a few rich powers and the military in control. On this show Murtaza Hussain fills in what we Americans don’t know and why it matters.

 

The Trumpist right today has had no small success erasing the productive history of liberalism. Today’s guest is author, lecturer, and journalist for The Washington Monthly David Masciotra who in this show talks about the renewed interest in Ted Kennedy, the liberal lion of the senate, as shown in two new books. Today we all benefit from his accomplishments. A leader for the future?

Though most of us never see it, instead of doing ethical justice, there’s a whole factory system routinely, intentionally turning injustice into revenue. On this show law professor, lawyer, and advocate for impoverished children and adults author Daniel Hatcher describes his new book Injustice, Inc.