KPFK - BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

Guest: Susan Greenhalgh, Free Speech For People

Senate Democrats reach 'transformative' deal to invest $3.5 trillion in 'human infrastructure' and climate action, bypassing GOP filibuster through budget reconciliation. Election security expert Susan Greenhalgh explains shocking revelations that the EAC weakened voting system security guidelines after secret meetings with voting system vendors. Senate Democrats introduce proposal to decriminalize marijuana.

In a landmark speech today, Pres. Biden clearly spelled out that we are in a battle to save American democracy, voting rights, and free and fair elections, while calling on Congress to pass crucial voting rights legislation. New book details what may have been the genesis of Trump's Big Lie to deny the 2020 election results. TX Dems fly to D.C. to block TX GOP's voter suppression bill. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Ernest Canning, BradBlog legal analyst

Texas Democratic lawmakers' walkout halts passage of massive voter suppression bill. Extreme heat, drought and wildfires impact power supplies across the West. Bradblog legal analyst Ernest Canning explains the progressive history of California's recall statute, how state Republicans have perverted the process to remove Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom via an expected low-turnout recall election, and offers suggested reforms to counter abuses. Callers weigh in.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate legal reporter

The rightwing SCOTUS majority ignored the plain text of the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act to fabricate new guidelines allowing states to disproportionately disenfranchise minority voters. Slate's ace legal reporter Mark Joseph Stern explains the end of the U.S. Supreme Court's term, the final two rulings gutting the Voting Rights Act and CA's campaign disclosure law, and what to expect next term. Also today: Corporations that pretended to be outraged over GOP voter suppression laws and the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection are still donating to Republicans who voted against certification of the 2020 election...

Pres. Biden announced all U.S. combat troops will leave Afghanistan by 8/31, and responded to critics objecting to ending America's longest war. COVID surging among the unvaccinated in red states. Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani's law license suspended in DC. Former Fox News executive condemns Rupert Murdoch for doing 'real damage' to the country, as Murdoch launches new weather channel. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Randall Eliason, GW University Law School

Donald Trump sued major social media companies today, alleging they violated his 1st Amendment rights in banning him from their platforms. Trump is refusing to pay his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. White-collar crime expert and former Ass't. U.S. Attorney Randall Eliason explains the 'very serious' 15 indictments against Trump's company and its top executive for tax fraud and other crimes, what happens next, and why he doesn't expect more charges to come, as others have speculated. Plus: Tropical Storm Elsa wreaks havoc in FL.

Guest: Robert Brandon, FairElections.org

Voting rights expert and founder of Fair Elections, Robert Brandon, explains two new US Supreme Court rulings that uphold new voting restrictions in AZ despite disproportionately harming minority voters, the hypocrisy of rightwingers' pretend reverence for 'contextualism', and how the new rulings will impact current lawsuits challenging waves of new GOP voter suppression laws around the country. Also today: catching up on a tsunami of news. Plus: Iceland study shows worker productivity increased after switching to a four-day workweek.

Guest: Dr. Brian Hughes, American University's Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab

Trump's family business could face criminal charges in Manhattan next week. Justice Department sues Georgia over massive voter suppression law. Causes of Florida condo collapse probed. Dr. Brian Hughes explains a new, expanded approach to addressing the rise in violent far-right extremism in the U.S. by treating it as an urgent public health issue; the influence of online disinformation and social media; and actions and resources for communities, parents, and caregivers to help address root causes and prevent radicalization long before it begins.

Pres. Biden and a bipartisan group of senators reached agreement on an infrastructure package that doesn't include his American Families Plan 'human infrastructure' proposal. House Speaker Pelosi, citing Republicans' record of bad-faith negotiations, vows the House will not vote on any bill unless first passed in the Senate. Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani's law license suspended for false statements in courts about the 2020 election. MI Republican state lawmakers issue scathing report debunking Team Trump's false claims alleging systemic fraud in the 2020 election. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate's Supreme Court reporter

Ace Supreme Court reporter Mark Joseph Stern explains several new rulings handed down by the US Supreme Court, covering a cheerleader's free speech rights, police powers to enter your home, a troubling decision kneecapping labor organizing for farm workers, and whether Justice Stephen Breyer will step down. Senate GOP leader McConnell has suggested he'll block any Pres. Biden SCOTUS nominee if Republicans gain Senate control in 2022. Also today: results (sort of) in NY State's primary elections