KPFK - BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate

Slate legal reporter Mark Joseph Stern explains two cases regarding federal COVID vaccine mandates now before the Supreme Court, the hidden rightwing agenda behind them, and the terrifying, far-reaching fallout if the rightwing court majority rules to dismantle the 'administrative state'. Also today: The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection have requested a voluntary interview with House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). GA district attorney appears to be closing in on Trump and his co-conspirators in her probe of illegal election intimidation and interference.

President Biden and Vice President Harris delivered fiery remarks in Atlanta urging Senate Democrats to reform the filibuster and pass crucial voting rights and democracy protection legislation blocked by Republicans. Historians debunk obstructionist Sen. Joe Manchin's (D-WV) numerous false claims about the filibuster. GOP election officials issue report debunking false claims of AZ phony 'audit' firm Cyber Ninjas, as judge fines the firm $50k a day for failing to turn over public documents. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

U.S. COVID hospitalizations hit all-time record high amid Omicron surge. Last 7 years were hottest on record, and US greenhouse gas emissions spiked in 2021 as economy rebounded. Democrats focus to passing voting rights legislation despite obstruction by Senators Manchin (D-WV) and Sinema (D-AZ). The US Justice Department is moving slowly to prosecute those responsible for the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection, raising questions whether high-level planners will ever be held accountable. Callers weigh in.

Guest: Nils Gilman, Historian, The Berggruen Institute

Former Pres. Jimmy Carter warns that he now fears for the survival of our democracy as Republicans push to 'empower partisan legislatures to intervene in election processes.' Former GOP Solicitor General Charles Fried warns that the same 'demons of hell' that destroyed Czechoslovakia's democracy are rising in the U.S. Historian Dr. Nils Gilman warns of the 'runaway train of illiberalism' bearing down on American democracy and details specific actions that citizens can take at the state and local level to counter the fascist takeover of our democracy, and more. Also today: Ahmaud Arbery's murderers sentenced to life in prison in GA. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Special coverage of the grim 1st anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection and Donald Trump's deadly, failed attempt to steal the 2020 election. VP Harris and Pres. Biden spoke from the U.S. Capitol, underscoring the importance of federal legislation to restore voting rights and prevent the GOP's schemes to subvert elections and overthrow democracy itself. Biden forcefully called out the disgraced former president for his 'web of lies', accusing Trump and his supporters of holding a 'dagger at the throat of democracy', and calling on all Americans to stand up for the rule of law and preserve democracy. Plus: some light on a solemn day from poet Amanda Gorman.

Guest: Will Bunch, Philadelphia Inquirer

On the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6th Capitol Insurrection, what have we learned, and what questions remain unanswered in the year since disgraced former Pres. Trump attempted to the steal the 2020 by inciting his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol? Will Bunch, columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, joins us to answer those questions and more. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland vows to prosecute 'all perpetrators, at any level' of the Jan. 6 attack, and to defend voting rights. House Jan. 6 Committee invites Trump insider and Fox 'News' host Sean Hannity to testify.

Guest: Philip B. Stark, UC Berkeley

Pres. Biden again urged Americans to get vaccinated as surge of COVID hospitalizations strains the U.S. healthcare system. Prominent CA GOP anti-vaxxer dies of COVID. UC Berkeley Prof. Philip B. Stark, inventor of the post-election Risk Limiting Audit (RLA) protocol, discusses the very quietly-released Texas 2020 election 'audit' report (which so far has found nothing unusual). With American democracy itself now under very serious threat, Stark explains the big picture of election integrity, and crucial actions to ensure public oversight and 'evidence-based elections', to prevent what Stark calls the 'weaponization' of uncertainty. Plus our latest 'Green News Report.'

NY State AG has subpoenaed Donald Trump and his elder children in an investigation into tax and bank fraud. Climate change a primary factor in most destructive wildfire in CO history. Twitter has permanently banned ultra-far right Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-GA) for violating COVID misinformation policies. NYT Editorial Board warns the US 'faces an existential threat' from the GOP's anti-democratic maneuvers, but polls show the public is mostly unaware of the threat. The bipartisan House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6th Capitol attack reveals disturbing new details.

Guest: John Nichols, The Nation

Encore - original air-date 12/23/21
Unionized Kellogg's workers approved a new contract after a lengthy strike. The Nation's John Nichols explains how workers achieved several labor victories this year, and legislation boosting workers' rights pending in Congress. Nichols also discusses his new article on the FBI's weird scrutiny of the holiday classic, 'It's a Wonderful Life,' Sen. Joe Manchin's betrayal of Biden's Build Back Better Act, and much more. Trump gets caught doing the right thing on COVID vaccines. Exxon squeezes in one last disaster before year's end. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Heather 'Digby' Parton, Salon

Encore - original air-date 12-30-2021. The House Select Committee investigating the Jan.6 Capitol Insurrection is reportedly shifting focus to criminal offenses, and seeking testimony from far right House Republicans, including key Trump ally Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). The Wall Street Journal reports the U.S. economy is booming by all measures - yet the corporate media is downplaying or ignoring positive economic news. Opinion columnist Heather 'Digby' Parton offers incisive analysis on this tumultuous year, the corporate media's unbalanced coverage, accountability for Trump and his friends, the future of Biden's agenda, and a look ahead to the political landscape in 2022...