KPFK - BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

Guest: Norm Ornstein, Congressional historian, AEI

Nihilist Congressional Republicans are trying to tank the U.S. economy for political purposes by refusing to raise the ridiculous 'debt ceiling', which pays for debts Congress (including Republicans) already incurred. Congressional historian NORM ORNSTEIN explains the stakes for the nation at this critical juncture, and offers several avenues by which Democrats can prevent the GOP from killing the economy, implement crucial social safety net programs, and pass Pres. Biden's Build Back Better proposals and voting rights protections to counter the tsunami of voter suppression and election subversion bills in GOP-controlled states. Ornstein also talks about his starring role in former Sen. Al Franken's hilarious, shockingly prescient 1998 satirical novel.

New court filings reveal Trump Campaign memo that provides proof that Trump's lawyers knew they were peddling lies in promoting the Big Lie that the 2020 election was 'stolen.' New reporting reveals GOP Senators Lindsey Graham and Mike Lee also determined Trump's Big Lie was a lie. 'More indictments coming,' says lawyer for indicted CFO of Trump Organization. Iraq War veteran confronts former Pres. George W. Bush over war crimes. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Dr. Christy Brigham, Chief Scientist, Sequoia National Park

Dr. Christy Brigham, Chief Scientist of Sequoia National Park delivers an update on the massive wildfire threatening the parks' iconic trees. The US will require proof of COVID vaccination and more for foreign visitors. California now has the lowest COVID infection rate in the nation and the fastest job growth. Trump's 'Justice for J6' rally in D.C. was a dud, but cost taxpayers millions. Callers weigh in.

Guest: Kevin Drum, Data journalist, Jabberwocking.com

New UN report warns nations' current Paris Agreement pledges are not enough to stave off catastrophic global warming without major action to cut global emissions. Wildfire has reached ancient trees in Sequoia National Park. Data journalist Kevin Drum discusses his deep dive into what data and history reveal about our worsening political divisiveness and insanity, the madness of this political moment, and how and why we arrived at it, explaining that the answer has been lying in plain sight for the past 20 years..

Debunking a new false conspiracy theory about the CA recall election tally. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) grills FBI Dir. Wray about agency's history of botched sexual assault investigations, including allegations against now-Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh. COVID has killed 1 in 500 Americans. The voluntarily unvaccinated are overwhelming the health care system in several states, mostly run by Trumpy GOP governors, with hospitals increasingly forced to ration scarce resources or turn away non-COVID criticial care patients. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Harold Meyerson, The American Prospect

CA Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom resoundingly defeated a GOP-led recall election that cost taxpayers nearly $300 million. HAROLD MEYERSON of The American Prospect analyzes the results from Newsom's landslide win and what lessons may be learned for both Democrats and Republicans as the nation heads into the 2022 mid-term elections. Plus: new details on Senate Democrats' 'Freedom To Vote Act' bill, including hand-marked paper ballots for all.

No major reports of voting day problems so far in the CA Recall election, but for days, GOP front-runner Larry Elder has been lying about 'fraud' and 'twisted results' with no evidence. Senate Democrats announce new voting and election reform package filled with important reforms - will Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) deliver GOP votes or vote for filibuster reform to pass it? More anti-vaccine rightwingers are dying from COVID, including another rightwing radio host. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Election Day is Tuesday, 9/14 in the California Gubernatorial Recall Election, which has national implications. But CA Sec. of State Weber has declined to mandate a statewide Risk Limiting Audit as recommended by the nation's top cybersecurity experts, after a severe security breach. Callers weigh in with their thoughts on the CA Recall, and the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on the U.S. Brad shares his never-before-seen 'Address to the Nation If I Were President (which I am not)'...

Guest: Emily Levy, Scrutineers; Jim Soper, Nat'l Voting Rights Task Force

GOP loses its mind over Biden's new vaccine mandates for federal employees and contractors. San Francisco announces zero child COVID infections thanks to masks/vaccines, as child COVID deaths surge in GOP-controlled states. Rightwing radio host Larry Elder already claiming CA Recall election is 'rigged' if he doesn't win. Election security experts Emily Levy and Jim Soper explain legitimate security concerns for CA voting systems after theft & release of election management software, their recommendations for CA election officials (and officials' bizarre request that they 'cheerlead' for CA) and direct actions voters can take now to help secure the CA recall election and elections in the future. Plus: monster supertyphoon threatens Taiwan.

EPA moves to block controversial Pebble Mine in Alaska. Weekly jobless claims at near pre-pandemic lows. Justice Dept. sues Texas over abortion ban. Idaho says it must ration healthcare because hospitals are overwhelmed with surge of unvaccinated COVID patients. With COVID death rates now 2x higher than Sept. 2020, Biden issues new vaccines/testing mandates for U.S. workers to combat spread. L.A. schools vote to mandate vaccinations for kids 12+. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'