KPFK - BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

Guest: Lisa Graves, former DOJ official, True North Research

Former DOJ/US Court official Lisa Graves explains the new blockbuster investigation by Pro Publica revealing how rightwing US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito omitted the required disclosure of luxury travel funded by a rightwing billionaire 'vulture capitalist' with business before the Court. Graves debunks Alito's laughable, self-serving excuses, and discusses the toxic, corrupting effect of unbridled rightwing money pouring into our political and judicial system. Rightwing GOP House majority beclowns itself in attempting to censure Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.' Original airdate 6-22-2023.

Guest: David Daley, FairVote

In a 5-4 ruling, the US Supreme Court struck down racially-gerrymandered maps in Alabama. Gerrymandering expert DAVID DALEY of FairVote explains the ruling, the sordid history of the rightwing court majority's efforts to dismantle voting rights and fair elections, and the potential effects the decision may have on the 2024 election and ongoing voting rights lawsuits in 10 states. The Republicans' gerrymandered US House majority is in disarray amid a mutiny by its far-right faction that has shut down the chamber. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.' Original airdate 6-8-2023.

Guest: Douglas Lucas, investigative reporter

Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman, brave 2020 election workers who were despicably, falsely targeted by Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani with bogus allegations of election fraud, have been officially cleared of all wrongdoing by the FBI, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and state elections officials. Journalist DOUGLAS LUCAS discusses his investigative exclusive published at The BRAD BLOG, 'A Secret Meeting Within a Secret Meeting: Unspooling the Coffee County, Georgia Voting System Breach and Continuing Cover-Up.' Lucas explains the bizarre machinations of local GOP election officials to cover up the unlawful breach and copying of sensitive voting system software by MAGA operatives, its national implications, and much, much more. Read the full exclusive story at BradBlog.com. Original air-date 6-21-2023.

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to two minor tax-related misdemeanors and a rarely-prosecuted gun-related charge. Trump continued to undermine his own defense against 31 charges of willful retention of national defense information, offering a rotisserie of contradictory excuses. But many Americans imprisoned under the Espionage Act have received far harsher treatment than Trump, like NSA whistleblower Reality Winner, who exposed one classified document detailing Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election. American whistleblower and hero Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the 'Pentagon Papers' detailing US lies in the Vietnam War, passed away at 92. A 'plague of locusts' of sorts invades Nevada. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.' Original airdate 6-20-2023.

Guest: Former AL Gov. Don Siegelman (D)

Smoke from 400+ wildfires in Canada is choking the skies in the Northeast, underscoring the rising costs of the climate crisis. Alabama's former Democratic Gov. Don Siegelman explains the racist history and politics of the death penalty, why he regrets overseeing executions while in office, and details specific reforms to end the unequal, unjust application of the death penalty in our perverted justice system. EPA announces $115 million in funding to repair the deteriorating water system in Jackson, Mississippi. Justice Clarence Thomas gets more time to complete required annual financial disclosures after revelations that he omitted luxury travel and gifts from a rightwing billionaire. Original air-date 6/7/2023.

PLEASE DONATE to KPFK!
Man-made climate change has intensified Canada's record wildfires and Texas' deadly record heat, but you'll find no mention of climate change on Fox 'News' and its deceptive Fox Weather website -- and we all pay the price of denial and delay. In the wake of the 24-hour mutiny by Gen. Prigozhin in which he said Russia's imperialist invasion of Ukraine was built on 'lies', new polls show a big bump in Americans' support of US helping Ukraine to defend itself. The rightwing Supreme Court supermajority overturned 40 years of precedent to demolish affirmative action policies in college admissions, a long-sought goal of far-right activists. A brand-new version of Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire' updated for 2023. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Dr. Philip Stark, UC-Berkeley

The US Supreme Court's rejection of the fringe, rightwing 'independent state legislature' theory is 'the single most imoprtant constitutional case for American Democracy since the nation's founding.' New reporting sheds light on Justice Alito's years of climate denial and decisions favoring the oil and gas industry. Voting system expert DR. PHILIP STARK explains a newly-unsealed expert report exposing shocking, widespread security vulnerabilities in Georgia's statewide electronic voting system and its weak security policies, and debunks nonsense claims and attacks by the state's top election officer, Republican Sec. of State Brad Raffenspgerger, who is refusing to install security patches and upgrades urged by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and election security experts.

Guest: Keith Barber, Attorney, Daily Kos

In a 6-3 ruling, the US Supreme Court rejected the fringe 'independent state legislature' theory, pushed by rightwing Republicans, that would have granted state legislatures sole, unreviewable, unstoppable power over elections, including the authority to ignore the will of the voters and choose different electors in presidential elections. Attorney KEITH BARBER explains the legal implications of a newly-released audiotape that confirms details in the 31-count criminal indictment of Donald Trump and his alleged mishandling of classified documents. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Extreme heat and storms hit 2/3rds of the nation, but most corporate media outlets are failing to inform the public about the role of climate change. US Supreme Court paves way to redraw Louisiana GOP's racist House maps, and allowed lawsuits to proceed in Ohio State University sex abuse cases. Lower court judges protect free speech and trangender healthcare in GOP states, and much more. Callers weigh in on the bizarre developments in Russia instigated by rogue general Prigozhin.

Guest: Heather Digby Parton, Salon; Keith Barber, Daily Kos

PLEASE DONATE to KPFK!
Historic day in federal court as Donald J. Trump entered a plea of 'not guilty' to 37 criminal felonies related to Trump's theft of hundreds of highly classified documents and repeated attempts to obstruct the government from taking them back. HEATHER DIGBY PARTON, award-winning columnist at Salon, and attorney and former Republican KEITH BARBER of Daily Kos discuss the granular, damning evidence in the indictment and the legal and political implications for the country going forward, debunk Republicans' attempts to deflect accountability and portray Trump as a victim, and much more. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.' Encore: original air-date 6-13-2023.