KPFK - BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

Guest: Randall D. Eliason, Georgetown Univ. Law

Corporate media is focused on FL GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis' horserace with disgraced Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination, while ignoring the very real victims of DeSantis' Big Government weaponization against people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. DeSantis' cruel agenda is playing out in terroristic threats against Target employees, muzzled teachers and banned books, including the 2021 inauguration poem by Amanda Gorman, 'The Hill We Climb.' Former federal prosecutor RANDALL D. ELIASON connects the US Supreme Court's erosion of anti-corruption laws to the decades-long corruption of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice John Roberts' refusal to act, and details ways that Congress can repair this clearly corrupt and broken system and begin to restore the Court's legitimacy with the public.

Congressional Republicans make clear they don't actually care about the national debt and deficit, and they've been pulling the same trick for decades: slash taxes for the rich, explode the debt/deficit, refuse to raise revenue, and crash the economy in hopes of hurting Democrats in the next election. Texas GOP lawmakers enact laws allowing takeover of free and fair elections in Harris County (Houston). Several updates in Trump criminal woes. Special Counsel Jack Smith subpoenaed documents on Trump's foreign business deals after he entered the White House. Indictments likely to come in GA criminal probe into Trump's 2020 election interference between July 31-August 18. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: David Dayen, Financial journalist, Editor, The American Prospect

Republicans continue to hold the nation's economy hostage by refusing to raise the debt ceiling in order to extort severe budget cuts. Financial journalist DAVID DAYEN explains a new active lawsuit that could halt the GOP's scheme, with deep insights into the nuances of the high-stakes negotiations and the long-term impact on the U.S. economy if Republicans succeed in pushing the nation into default. AZ Democratic Gov. Hobbs vetoes landmark bipartisan election transparency bill on false grounds. E. Jean Carroll to sue Trump again for ongoing defamation.

Guest: Dan Vicuña, National redistricting mangers, Common Cause

In an unprecedented move, the new rightwing majority on the NC state supreme court has reversed a previous court ruling striking down partisan gerrymandered maps. What does the reversal at the NC state Supreme Court mean for the U.S. Supreme Court's pending ruling in 'Moore v. Harper'? DAN VICUÑA, national redistricting manager at Common Cause, explains. The Court will also hear a case that seeks to overturn the 'Chevron Doctrine' and dismantle the federal government's authority to craft regulations on major issues like pollution and climate change. Original air-date 5/1/2023.

Guest: State Sen. Ken Bennett, Arizona

A new, truly bipartisan, landmark election transparency bill awaits the signature of AZ's Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, with broad support across the political spectrum, including AZ's Democratic Sec. of State Adrian Fontes. Republican AZ State Senator KEN BENNETT explains the bill's central focus on allowing the public to access and verify digital ballot images (routinely scanned in the process of tallying votes) to increase transparency, and advance public oversight and public confidence in our elections. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Ernest A. Canning, BradBlog legal analyst

Results in key election races in KY, PA, FL delivered promising results for Democrats and some embarrassment for FL Gov. Ron DeSantis. Grotesque sexual assault lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani reveals the early plot to lie about the 2020 election. Does Pres. Biden really have to play along with far-right Republicans hell-bent on holding the nation and world economy hostage to their pretend concerns about spending and debt? BRAD BLOG legal analyst ERNEST A. CANNING explains the legal underpinnings of a simple but bold solution that Biden can use to raise the debt ceiling and prevent economic disaster.

Key election races underway today in KY, PA, FL. Rightwing billionaire-funded 'No Labels' group allegedly deceiving voters into changing party affiliation. Rudy Giuliani sued by former employee alleging sexaul assault and serious criminal allegations that Giuliani was 'selling pardons for $2 million' during the Trump Administration. Florida's far-right Gov. DeSantis bars colleges and universities from investing in programs that promote diversity (DEI). DeSantis' Big Government book ban results in rejection of Holocaust textbooks. WI State Supreme Court rules hospitals cannot be forced to administer unproven COVID treatments. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Major elections in Turkey and Thailand hold potential promise for the strengthening of fragile democracies overseas. Assailant seriously injures aides to Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), the latest in a sharp increase in political violence and threats against lawmakers. Callers weigh in on disturbing questions raised by CNN's appalling, lie-filled, 70-minute Donald Trump town hall last week, and how corporate media should cover the 2024 election.

Guest: Jamie Corey, Documented

Leaked audio reveals Republican attorney and vote suppressor Cleta Mitchell pitching GOP donors on several schemes to 'combat' young voters. Documented's JAMIE COREY explains new revelations exposing how top Republican state election officials have been participating in secret, off-the-record conferences with notorious GOP Voter Fraud fraudsters and election denial groups hosted by the far-right Heritage Foundation. Disney Co. sues FL GOP Gov. DeSantis for 'weaponizing government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint.' Judge tosses out former Rep. Devin Nunes' (R-CA) bogus defamation lawsuits. Voters reject MAGA school board candidates. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.' Original air-date 4-26-2023.

Guest: Heather 'Digby' Parton, Salon and Hullabaloo

Ohio's heavily gerrymandered, Republican-controlled state legislature enacted an anti-democratic scheme to block a voter-led initiative protecting abortion rights in the state, and are lying to voters about it. Award-winning columnist HEATHER DIGBY PARTON discusses the spectacle of CNN's disturbing 'town hall' with disgraced former Pres. Trump and his tsunami of lies, an