KPFK - BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

Guest: Ernest A. Canning, BradBlog Legal Analyst

Biden is leading against Trump in national polls on eve of 1st presidential debate, but ballot "X Factors" could end up making a huge difference in election outcomes at the federal and state level - including a tsunami of mail-in ballots and a stolen rightwing Supreme Court majority that could interfere. BradBlog Legal Analyst Ernest Canning explains a number of important ballot access and vote-by-mail lawsuits underway in crucial swing states like PA, WI, MI and more. NYC scrambles to correct major absentee ballot debacle in the making. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Legal reporter, Slate

Slate legal reporter Mark Joseph Stern reports on the very high stakes for the nation in the anti-civil rights record of the far rightwing judge, Amy Coney Barrett, who Donald Trump has nominated to the US Supreme Court, saying explicitly he wants her installed immediately to rule in his favor in any potential election disputes in November. Stern explains actions Democrats can take, like expanding the court, and what voters can do now. Also today: Major flaw threatens accuracy and security of GA's electronic voting system. Jaw-dropping revelations from Trump's tax records.

Guest: Art Belendiuk, former FCC official; Sue Wilson, media reformer

In testimony to US Senate, FBI Dir. Wray contradicts Trump's repeated lies about mail-in voting, says 'no evidence' of absentee ballot fraud in 2020 election. Judge blocks Trump Administration's attempts to monkey-wrench US Census data collection, accuracy and deadlines. Art Belendiuk and Sue Wilson explain new petition to challenge rightwing Sinclair Broadcasting Company's secret ownership of multiple local news stations in several markets in violation of FCC media ownership rules. Plus a very catchy new ditty from musical satirist Randy Rainbow.

Trump wants to frighten and demoralize you. Don't let him. Sen. Bernie Sanders said today the solution is an overwhelming landslide of a vote. Trump will do almost anything to come up with a way to win -- his absurd lies about absentee voting, threats refusing a peaceful transfer of power, attempting to further tilt the rightwing Supreme Court, and more -- posing a grave test to the nation. Also today: Judge orders Trump's son Eric be deposed in NY State corruption investigations. GOP sues to block safer voting in NV and TX. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Art Levine, investigative journalist

KY police not charged for murdereing Breonna Taylor in her own home. FBI warns public that malicious actors could attempt to take advantage of necessary delays in tallying mail-in ballots to spread disinformation about election results, and urges the public to "seek out reliable and verified information from trusted sources"' at the state and local level (but not federal). VP Pence says Trump's Supreme Court nominee must be seated quickly to rule on election lawsuits involving Trump. Art Levine discusses his blockbuster new article, 'Donald Trump's Favorite Voting Machines: Ballot-marking devices in key swing states could give him the perfect excuse to contest the election.'

Guest: Prof. Mark Klarman, Harvard Law School legal historian

200,000+ American have died from COVID-19. Trump continues to mislead about its lethality. Republicans have hypocritically jettisoned their invented 'precedent' and are ready to steal yet another Supreme Court seat to install a super-majority on the Court. Legal historian Prof. Michael Klarman explains the history and context of court expansion, Republicans' unprecedented theft of the Supreme Court majority, and how we might be able to begin to repair our broken democracy. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Trump's politicized CDC deletes info warning the coronavirus is airborne, as US deaths surpass 200,000. An update on record hurricanes. A few words on the historic legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Sen. Mitch McConnell reverses his 2016 claims, now pledges to ram through Trump court nominee just 46 days before the presidential election. Should Democrats pack the court if they win? Callers weigh in...

Guest: Dr. Nils Gilman, Transition Integrity Project; Mark Joseph Stern, Slate

'BradCast Recounted': Historian Dr. Nils Gilman discusses the bipartisan Transition Integrity Project's chilling report, generated from a series of bipartisan tabletop 'war games,' concluding that the Trump Administration is likely to seek to manipulate, ignore, undermine or disrupt the 2020 presidential election and transition process. Slate's Mark Joseph Stern explains good voting rights news out of North Carolina, where state court judges struck down an 1877 law meant to 'secure white supremacy' by denying former felons the right to vote.

Top homeland security aide to VP Pence excoriates Trump and his deadly, failed pandemic response, and endorses Biden. FBI Dir. Wray reports Russia taking active measures to interfere in the 2020 election to denigrate Biden and boost Trump. GOP War on Voting continues, but state courts are issuing mostly positive rulings protecting voting rights during the pandemic. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Marilyn Mark, Coalition For Good Governance

Delaware held the final primaries of the 2020 election season, with some surprising, historic and very fun successes for progressive candidates. Marilyn Marks of the non-partisan Coalition for Good Governance discusses stunning revelations that emerged from a crucial court hearing seeking to decertify Georgia's dangerously vulnerable new computerized voting system. Hurricane Sally brings record flooding to the Gulf Coast. Trump appoints a climate science denier to a top post at the nation's premiere federal climate research agency.