KPFK - BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

New data show the turbulence in global energy markets has not slowed the growth of renewable energy around the world. Even Italy's fascists are not climate science deniers like the US Republican Party. Armed MAGA vigilantes in AZ are intimidating voters at dropboxes while GOP leaders stoke conflict with baseless lies about election security. NV county plans to hand-count its Nov. 8 election, but experts warn it should be done in a pilot project with strict protocols, not for the first time in a live major election. Corporate media is missing a key point when they ask candidates whether they'll accept the election results. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: David Dayen, Exec. Editor, The American Prospect

Financial journalist David Dayen reveals how giant corporations have figured out how to exploit California's statewide ballot initiative process to benefit themselves, and how the system can be reformed, using confusing Prop 30 on the Nov. 8 ballot as an example. Dayen also explains the stunning appeals court ruling striking at the heart of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that will have disastrous economy-wide implications if it stands, and a proposed merger between two giant grocery chains. Also: new data show CA's ill-advised Prop 31 will harm adults trying to quit smoking.

Guest: Angela Peoples, Election Defenders Campaign Director

With the Nov. 8 midterm elections fast approaching, new incidents of voter suppression and intimidation are raising concerns about the potential for intimidation and violence at polling places. ANGELA PEOPLES of Election Defenders explains how the national grassroots organization is recruiting and training volunteers in concrete ways to support voters at polling places who may be intimidated or challenged by partisans, and ensure that voting is a calm, joyful process. Also today: more accountability in the courts for Trump and his cronies, and how loose-lipped Trump may have screwed up his own defense in a defamation case.

Conservative U.K. Prime Minister Truss resigned after triggering economic chaos. Despite Republicans' shoddy economic performance, corporate media perpetuates the myth that the GOP is somehow better on the economy. Thanks to the rise in renewable energy, global CO2 emissions were nearly flat in 2022. New campaign ads highlight the threat to democracy from authoritarian Republicans and a dystopian future in which women are jailed for abortions. Real dystopian video shows Florida police arresting ex-felons on voter fraud charges after the state approved them to vote. Rep. Val Demmings (D-FL) exposes incumbent Sen. Rubio (R-FL) inaction and flip-flops on gun violence. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Norm Ornstein, Congressional historian

Republicans have released detailed plans for the nation if they win majorities in one or both houses of Congress in November, including endless investigations, impeachments, and holding the nation hostage by refusing to raise the dumb debt ceiling in order to extract cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Congressional historian NORM ORNSTEIN explains the history of the debt ceiling and its recent weaponization by radical Republicans, why a US default will wreak global economic havoc, tools that could stave off GOP debt ceiling brinksmanship, and other nightmares Republicans have promised if they win Congress. Also: a fascinating spy story involving retiring Sen. Patrick Leahy and the Bush/Cheney Administration's lies about WMDs...

High stakes 2022 midterm election will determine the course of the nation for decades to come, as the survival of democracy, rights and liberties, and climate action hang in the balance. Biden's streamlined student loan forgiveness portal opens at StudentAid.gov, while Republicans sue to kill the program. President Biden vowed to codify reproductive and privacy rights into federal law if voters elect 2 more Democratic Senators willing to reform the undemocratic Senate filibuster. Some surprising GOP Senate seats are up for grabs. Trump's Special Counsel John Durham fails again in court. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Sue Wilson, Media Action Center

The beginnings of accountabilty for rightwing lies and hoaxes? Trump crony Steve Bannon to be sentenced this week for defying lawful subpoenas. Rightwing hoaxster Alex Jones ordered to pay $985 million in damages for defaming and relentlessly harassing parents of murdered Sandy Hook Elementary students. Sue Wilson of Media Action Center discusses the poisonous impact of Jones' lies and actions to push the FCC to enforce laws barring use of the public airwaves to promote hoaxes. AZ attorney general criminally investigating 'vote fraud' fraudsters behind fake documentary '2000 Mules.' New polls show surprisingly close race for US Senate in Iowa.

Rightwingers lash out in clownish fury over new documentary evidence released by the House January 6 Committee exposing the premeditated plot by Trump and his fellow coup-plotters to steal the 2020 election and overthrow the US government, showing that Trump knew he was lying to the public about a 'stolen' election. GOP-controlled county in MI hired a 2020 election denier and J6 participant to train its pollworkers. FL GOP Gov. DeSantis finally issued orders easing newly-enacted voting restrictions for victims of Hurricane Ian's widespread devastation - but there's a catch. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Heather Digby Parton, Salon; 'Driftglass', Professional Left Podcast

Special Coverage: HEATHER DIGBY PARTON of Salon and Hullabaloo and 'DRIFTGLASS' of the Professional Left Podcast offer insight and analysis into stunning new revelations from the likely final public hearing of the House January 6 Committee -- new documentary evidence proving Trump knew he lost the 2020 election, knew there was no evidence of widespread fraud and was the ringleader of the multi-pronged plot to steal the election; and that the Secret Service knew weeks in advance that rightwing extremists planned violence on Jan. 6. Also today: US Supreme Court rejected Trump's request to intervene in the case of classified documents he stole from the White House, and a Trump employee reportedly told investigators that Trump directed the document boxes be moved after receiving a Justice Department subpoena for the materials.

Guest: Daniel Wolf, election integrity expert, AmericaCounts.us

Some suprising longtime Republicans like Rep. Liz Cheney are putting country over party, calling out the threat that their increasingly authoritarian party now poses to American democracy itself, and even endorsing pro-democracy Democrats to stop the election-denying Republican Party from gaining power. But our opaque computerized voting systems and lack of public oversight are easily exploited by charlatans. Election integrity expert DANIEL WOLF explains a new, free smart phone app that makes it much easier for the public to oversee their elections locally, spot fraud and programming errors, and help reconcile final results, to 'ignite a war of mutual assured accountability.'