KPFK - BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

The corrupt rightwing supermajority on the US Supreme Court ignored the plain text of the Civil Rights Act to rule that otherwise legitimate absentee ballots must be discarded if they contain immaterial minor technical errors. FBI Director Wray downplayed the surge of rightwing extremist threats of political violence and election security breaches in several states by MAGA conspiracy theorists. Justice Department has begun prosecuting rightwing extremist death threats against election officials. Democratic Senate candidates Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Wisconsin's Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes excoriate their hypocritical, Republican insurrection-supporting opponents in debates. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Ion Sancho, former Florida Elections Supervisor

Critical midterm elections are just weeks away, but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued no guidance for election officials after stripping them of emergency tools to conduct elections after Hurricane Ian's destruction. Legendary FL election official Ion Sancho explains the serious mess facing FL voters and officials, and what must be done to ensure a successful election. Nearly all GOP nominees are 2020 election deniers who have pledged to use their offices to undermine valid elections, and now they're lying to the public about their true positions. Russia escalates war on Ukraine.

Guest: Cory Doctorow and Rebecca Giblin, authors of the new book, "Chokepoint Capitalism: : How big tech and big content capture creative labor markets and how we’ll win them back".

Guest host Nicole Sandler speaks with authors Cory Doctorow and Rebecca Giblin about their new book, "Chokepoint Capitalism: How big tech and big content capture creative labor markets and how we’ll win them back". Both are activists in the field of copyright and anti-trust issues, trying to improve the situation for the little guy.

Florida will require billions in federal aid to rebuild after Hurricane Ian. But its Republican leadership voted against disaster aid for other states, against legislation to harden infrastructure, against funding to adapt to and mitigate climate change. Will voters hold them accountable? Pres. Biden pardoned simple marijuana possession crimes and set in motion processes to decriminalize it. Voter registration surges among women after SCOTUS ruling overturning their reproductive rights. House January 6 Committee will hold next hearing on Donald Trump's insurrection next Thursday. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Dan Vicuña, Common Cause

At the US Supreme Court, Alabama is seeking to subvert the landmark Voting Rights Act's prohibition on racial discrimination in redistricting to legally deny Black voters their choice of representatives. New Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson deployed an ingenious 'originalist' argument for 'race-conscious' voting laws as the framers explicitly intended. Redistricting expert DAN VICUÑA of Common Cause explains the AL challenge and how the Court's rightwing supermajority is systematically dismantling voting/civil rights. New reporting reveals top Republicans knew, but did not care, that Georgia GOP US Senate nominee Herschel Walker paid for his girlfriend to obtain an abortion, despite their professed anti-abortion stance, because they need him to win back the Senate majority. Justice Department gets a procedural win in its criminal investigation of Donald Trump's theft of thousands of White House documents…

Yet another Republican election official is caught breaching election system security (MI). New US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson kicks ass in first days on the bench. SCOTUS rejects pillow salesman/election denier's attempt to dismiss $1.3 defamation lawsuit against him. New reporting provides documentary evidence that GOP Senate nominee Herschel Walker, who backs a total abortion ban in all cases, paid for his girlfriend's abortion in 2009, while his adult son accused him of domestic violence and more. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Craig Holman, Public Citizen

Authoritarianism is rising around the world, increasing the stakes for November's midterm elections here in the US. Brazil's far-right Bolsonaro is headed to a runoff despite pre-election polls showing a decisive loss. Russia unlawfully annexed parts of Ukraine. Craig Holman of Public Citizen explains new legislation to ban members of Congress and their families from engaging in insider trading. Growing questions about delayed evacuation orders in Florida's Hurricane Ian. Pres. Biden pledged full, timely assistance for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Fiona.

Guest: Thomas Frank, climate reporter, E&E News

Florida's GOP Gov. DeSantis is requesting billions in federal disaster aid for his state after Hurricane Ian, despite voting against aid for states affected by Superstorm Sandy when he was in Congress. Climate impact reporter Thomas Frank explains Florida's unstable insurance market, how profit drove a 30-year real estate building boom in high risk areas despite many warnings, and how Ian 'smashed' it all in a day. House Democrats release trove of internal documents showing Big Oil executives admitting to 'gaslighting' the public about climate change. Plus a special new 'ad' reveals how Big Oil really feels about people and the planet.

Guest: Nicole Sandler, FL radio host

Updates on Hurricane Ian's impacts in Florida. Florida radio host Nicole Sandler discusses the storm and its impacts on Florida politics, from GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis' re-election bid to US Senate and US House races. Florida Republicans in Congress are trying to prevent the SEC from mandating businesses disclose climate risks to investors, while DeSantis is trying to block state pension funds from considering climate risks. Trump MAGA lawyers lose again in multiple courts. MI election worker charged with election system tampering. Trump judge issues another insane ruling in probe of Trump's theft of classified documents. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Tom Bonier, Election data expert, TargetSmart

Hurricane Ian crashed into South Florida as high-end Category 4 storm, unleashing torrential rains, damaging high winds, unprecedented storm surge, and breaking several records, super-charged by man-made climate change. Election data expert TOM BONIER explains new research suggesting that the fight over abortion rights is energizing voters around the country and has the potential to upend conventional wisdom about midterm elections. Donald Trump has reportedly sidelined his very expensive new lawyer in the Justice Department's criminal investigation into classified documents Trump stole from the White House.