KPFK - BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Supreme Court expert

House Jan. 6 Select Committee votes unanimously to hold Trump crony Steve Bannon in criminal contempt of Congress. Senate GOP filibusters voting rights legislation for third time this year. Slate's Supreme Court expert Mark Joseph Stern explains the troubling conclusions in a draft report issued by Pres. Biden's blue ribbon commission examining ways to reform the Republican's packed and stolen U.S. Supreme Court - including court expansion and judicial term limits - noting that the US is the only country in the world to give its high court so much power and lifetime appointments. Stern also explains the legal rollercoaster of the blatantly unconstitutional Texas abortion law.

Guest: Dr. Leah Stokes, climate policy expert, UC Santa Barbara

Climate policy expert Dr. Leah Stokes explains key climate policies in Biden's Build Back Better Act, the landmark clean electricity provision now blocked by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), and other policy levers that will cut deadly air pollution and carbon emissions, including innovative new technologies to create millions of jobs electrifying buildings and cleaning up the electric grid. Dr. Stokes recommends voters go to Call4Climate.com to contact their representatives to enact meaningful climate policy. Also: Jair Bolsonaro may be charged for his mishandling of the COVID pandemic. Another rightwing anti-vaccine radio host contracts COVID. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Former Sec. of State Colin Powell has died from COVID-related complications amid a lengthy cancer battle; despite rightwing media's dishonest claims, the facts show that the unvaccinated helped kill Powell. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) may succeed in killing a crucial climate policy in Biden's Build Back Better bill. Callers weigh in on whether Democratically-controlled states should match Republicans' use of extreme, unfair partisan gerrymandering during redistricting of new legislative maps that will determine the balance of power in the U.S. House.

Guest: David Daley, gerrymandering expert,FairVote.org

The fate of Democrats' Freedom To Vote Act, which would expand and defend voting rights and prevent extreme partisan gerrymandering, will be put up for a test vote in the US Senate next week, against a GOP filibuster. Gerrymandering expert David Daley details the GOP's assault on voting rights across the country with new extreme partisan gerrymandering of legislative maps in advance of the crucial 2022 midterm elections. Should Democrats respond with equally extreme partisan district maps where possible, as the U.S. teeters ever closer to unstoppable authoritarianism? Plus: VA GOP state candidate has wildly idiotic ideas about rising sea levels...

US House Select Committee on Jan. 6 issues criminal referral for Trump operative Steve Bannon, but will DOJ follow through? Trump's threats to Republicans suggest he may not run in 2024. Judge's ruling dismissing last lawsuit challenging 2020 election unfortunately gives dishonest cretins an opening to continue falsely claiming it was stolen -- why that's a problem, and what can be done to solve it. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Dr. Matthew Boedy, American Assoc. of Univ. Professors

'Star Trek' actor William Shatner became the oldest person to travel in space. Essential workers are quitting their jobs in record numbers, in search of better wages and working conditions. Dr. Matthew Boedy of the Univ. of North Georgia discusses the pressure campaign mounted by university professors and students to demand mask and vaccine mandates that have been blocked by the state's Republican leadership, and more. Plus: the Biden Administration announces major plan to develop large-scale wind farms off the US coast.

Polls show the public widely supports Biden's Build Back Better Act once corporate media informs them what is in it. Democrats must pass the BBB Act and the bipartisan infrastructure bill soon and deliver results if they are to counter the authoritarianism that has overtaken the Republican Party. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) delivers chilling warning about GOP leadership's fealty to Trump. Republican columnist Max Boot warns today's GOP poses 'an existential threat to our freedom.' TX GOP Gov. Greg Abbott issues government mandate banning government mandates. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA)

One beach has reopened after last week's devastating oil spill. Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA-Long Beach) explains why he is calling for an end to all drilling in CA, the complex and thorny issues involved, and the current status of negotiations in Congress for Biden's Build Back Better Act. The corporate media is failing to adequately sound the alarm about the terrifying and dangerous rise of rightwing authoritarianism in the U.S. Bill Maher warns that Trump is laying the groundwork, along with Republicans, to install himself in power in 2024. Callers weigh in...

Guest: Eric Boehlert, media critic, Press Run

Press Run's Eric Boehlert discusses the corporate media's fixation with false balance and false equivalence in its 'both sides' coverage of the Republican Party's dangerous slide in authoritarianism, and more. Biden restores federal land protections to three key national monuments, including Bears Ears in UT. Biden White House become the first to formally recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, coinciding with Columbus Day.

Senate report shows how Donald Trump tried to pervert the Justice Dept. to steal the 2020 Presidential election, but corporate media still underplaying his actions. New revelations on CA oil spill on delayed reporting and delayed response. Texas judge blocks 'flagrantly unconstitutional' new abortion ban. Senate GOP blinks, allows debt ceiling vote to proceed, but corporate media misleads as 'both sides'. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'