KPFK - BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

Guest: David Roberts, Volts newsletter

Encore: Original airdate 8-30-2022. Judge unseals the warrant detailing 'probable cause' for the FBI's court-approved search of Donald Trump's FL residence, showing that Trump is under federal criminal investigation for obstruction of justice, unlawful removal of government records, and alleged violations of the Espionage Act. House Democrats pass the Inflation Reduction Act, containing historic investments in climate and healthcare, with zero Republican votes. Environmental journalist David Roberts explains the well-founded criticisms of the I.R.A., its key mechanisms, and why, on balance, it is likely to be a 'transformative' game-changer for the economy and the multi-generational fight to address climate change.

Guest: Heather 'Digby' Parton, Salon and Hulaballoo

An unsealed, heavily redacted version of the affidavit establishing 'probable cause' for the FBI search of Donald Trump's FL residence revealed disturbing new details about highly classified documents Trump stole from the White House. Meanwhile, Pres. Biden delivered a barn-burner speech focused on the Democrats' surge of landmark legislative and policy achievements, drawing a stark contrast with Republicans' policies to strip Americans of personal liberties and dismantle democracy. Opinion columnist Heather 'Digby' Parton brings history, context and perspective to the flood of historic developments of just the last few weeks, and the landscape going into the critical November 2022 midterm elections.

The fight for personal freedoms and voting rights will remain a grueling state-by-state slog. New evidence reveals the deep corruption of former Trump Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke. Anti-abortion trigger laws now in effect in TX, ID, TN. Judge overturns one of ID's most draconian abortion restrictions. Federal judges strike down GOP voter suppression laws in TX, NC, AR. CA moves to phase out gasoline-powered cars by 2036. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Tom Bonier, TargetSmart

Good news, bad news, and noteworthy results from primaries in New York and Florida, including a stunning Democratic win in a US House special election considered a 'bellwether' for the 2022 midterm elections. Tom Bonier, Democratic election data expert, explains surprising results around the country in favor of Democrats, upending 'conventional wisdom' about the midterm elections, and big data trends in batttleground states showing voters are increasingly focused on the rightwing US Supreme Court ruling overturning women's reproductive rights and threats to democracy.

Guest: Ben Wizner, ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project

New reporting reveals that Trump stole 300+ documents marked as classified, the National Archives tried for a year and a half to get Trump to return the documents, and more. The ACLU's Ben Wizner explains the history and misuse of the Espionage Act, how it has been used to prosecute both spies and whistleblowers (Edward Snowden) and journalists (Julian Assange) working in the public interest, and how it might apply to Trump. Hand-count of losing KS anti-abortion referendum boosts confidence in elections. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

New polling finds plurality of Americans now say that democracy is the 'most important issue facing the country.' Congressional Democrats are not campaigning on the threat to democracy posed by Donald Trump and his anti-democracy GOP. Fox 'News' poll finds Democrats' odds improving in midterm elections. SC state lawmaker emotionally regrets vote to enact severe abortion restrictions. Sen. Lindsey Graham gets temporary reprieve from GA criminal probe. Callers weigh in on the issues that are leading them to vote...

Guest: Dan Froomkin, media critic, Press Watch

Polls and other new data points continue to suggest that the 2022 midterm elections may defy conventional wisdom in these un-conventional times. Sitting Republican governor calls GOP gubernatorial nominee 'not mentally stable.' 18 former top Trump Administration officials debunk Trump's false claims that he 'declassified' documents he stole from the White House as 'ludicrous.' Media critic DAN FROOMKIN explains why U.S. corporate media is still cowed by the radical Right and still failing in its constitutional mandate to inform and educate the electorate, deeply invested in false, misleading 'both sides' framing, and CNN's abrupt cancellation of the last remaining media criticism program on broadcast/cable TV.

New Dept. of Energy data confirms Inflation Reduction Act will reduce US emissions 40% by 2030, and any new emissions under the law will be overwhelmingly offset by its CO2 reductions. House Republicans still calling climate change a 'hoax'. GOP 2020 Election denier set to win Wyoming Sec. of State, with election deniers winning the GOP nominations for chief elections official in 5 swing states. Hand recounts are helpful to restore confidence in election results. Trump Organization CFO pleads guilty to 15 counts of tax fraud. Justice Dept. argues release of affidavit for FBI search of Trump property for stolen documents would endanger ongoing investigations. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Marcy Wheeler, National security journalist, Emptywheel.net

n the Wyoming GOP primary, ultra-conservative GOP Rep. Liz Cheney lost to a Trump-backed 2020 election denier, and vowed to 'do whatever it takes' to stop Trump from getting 'anywhere near the Oval Office.' Results from Alaska's U.S. House open primary will be delayed for weeks due to Ranked Choice Voting, with former GOP Gov. Sarah Palin among the top vote-getters. National security journalist Marcy Wheeler of Emptywheel explains the latest developments and what you need to know about the highly sensitive documents retrieved by the FBI that Donald Trump stole from the White House -- what is known/unknown, potential paths forward, and much more.

Guest: Stephanie Foggett, The Soufan Center

Pres. Biden signed into law the landmark climate-healthcare-tax reform bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, passed by Democrats without a single GOP vote. Rightwing America is showing its true colors with a surge in violent incidents and rhetoric, calling for violence, mayhem and murder of American law enforcement officials, led there by disgraced former President Donald Trump in the wake of the FBI's court-approved search to retrieve documents he stole. Rightwing extremism expert STEPHANIE FOGGETT explains how far-right extremists spread their ideology of hate and why rightwing domestic extremism is now considered the greatest threat facing the US, and offers historical context and solutions. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'