Suzi Weissman

Suzi Weissman

Suzi Weissman

Guest: Joe Burns, Daniel Bessner Topic: Joe Burns, veteran union negotiator and labor lawyer, author of two books on the strike weapon, says that the only illegal strike is an unsuccessful one. We get his take on the spreading teachers strikes from West Virginia to Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky and beyond that demonstrate the power of strikes.
Daniel Bessner, Asst. Prof. in American Foreign Policy at the Univ. of Washington's works on the intellectual and anti-democratic origins of the US national security state. His new book is "Democracy in Exile." We talk to him about how Trump represents a continuation rather than a break in the history of US foreign policy, and the rise of intellectuals in foreign policy institutions and think tanks, with all the anti-democratic implications -- as well as what a left foreign policy might look like.

Suzi Weissman

Guest: Chris Phelps (Nottingham University) on the militant, creative, historic (and vi

Guest: Wagner Moura, Pedro Paulo Zahluth Bastos, John Nichols Topic: Brazilian actor Wagner Moura on targeted assassination of the popular leftwing Rio City Councillor (and her driver) this week that sparked huge protests across Brazil. Marielle Franco championed the poor in the favelas, and was a harsh critic of President Temer's recent move to put the military in charge of security in Rio. We get Wagner Moura's views on the volatile political situation, as well as the film he is directing -- Marighella -- about the Bahian revolutionary marxist writer and guerrilla fighter Carlos Marighella whose theories about the cities as the source of rebellion have renewed relevance in the Brazil of today.
Pedro Paulo Zahluth Bastos, Professor of political economy at Campinas University (UNICAMP) in Brazil, on the political (and economic) situation in Brazil in the wake of escalating police violence and the targeted assassination of Marielle Franco. Pedro Paulo analyzes the political calculus -- beyond urban security -- of the move by the highly unpopular President Temer, as well as the prospects for the left in the coming election.
John Nichols on the increased tumult in Washington as President Trump goes on another firing frenzy -- this time firing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, to be replaced by the Koch's errand boy (Nichols words) Mike Pompeo, currently head of the CIA. Trump's pick to replace Pompeo at CIA in Langley is Gina Haspel, a top CIA officer who oversaw a secret torture "black site" in Thailand. Also: the victory of Conor Lamb, a moderate pro-union Democrat in Pennsylvania who beat his Republican opponent in what is being touted as a bellwether special election, and this week's spectacular walkout of students across the county.

Suzi Weissman

Suzi Weissman

Suzi Weissman