KPFK - BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

Guest: Peter Sinclair, Yale Climate Communications

Farmers and climate activists rallied in DC for climate provisions in the federal Farm Bill, with Democrats boosting funding for farmers grappling with climate impacts and Republicans seeking to slash farm funding across the board. Journalist Peter Sinclair explains his on-the-round reporting in America's heartland that has exposed a well-coordinated, under-the-radar campaign to harass and intimidate farmers and elected officials trying to build wind and solar projects on their lands and in their small towns, the shadowy groups behind the campaign, and why renewable energy has served as a critical lifeline to farmers and struggling rural communities. Also today: Michigan repeals 2012 so-called right-to-work (for less!) law.

In 2018, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) accurately warned that GOP rollbacks of banking regulations would lead to bank failures like Silicon Valley Bank. The collapse of SVB is a textbook case of deregulation leading to preventable failure, but Republicans are trying to blame 'wokeness'. Polls show Americans like 'woke' and dislike book bans. GOP Senate Leader McConnell is holding Republicans together in support of Ukraine. Now that FL GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis is a 2024 presidential contender, he has flip-flopped, now joining with Trump in criticizing U.S. support for Ukraine's defense. NM expands voting rights. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Investigative journalist, blogger, and broadcaster Brad Friedman's investigative interviews, analysis and commentary, as ripped from the pages of The BRAD BLOG (BradBlog.com), today's current events (if they matter) and the rest of the stuff we have to live with.

Guest: Stephen Schwartz, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Encore: original air-date 2/22/2023. In the first elections of 2023, Democrats again outperformed expectations in NH, KY, VA and in a critical WI state supreme court primary. Nuclear weapons policy analyst and historian STEPHEN SCHWARTZ unpacks the implications of Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a unilateral suspension of participation in the New START treaty, explaining the history and context, Putin's 'nuclear blackmail,' next steps for nuclear arms control policy, and much more.

Russia commits new war crimes in nationwide missile attack on Ukraine, claiming without evidence and with zero sense of irony that Ukrainians crossed over its border to conduct an attack. Fox 'News' host Sean Hannity interview with Trump conspicuously edits out Trump's declaration that he would let Russia 'take over' Ukraine. Judge should grant Dominion Voting System' request for summary judgment in its defamation lawsuit against Fox 'News' amid flood of damning evidence. AZ judge sanctions another GOP election denier over 'frivolous' election challenge. Manhattan DA may be on verge of filing criminal charges against Trump. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Prof. Tarah Williams, Andrew Bloeser, Center for Political Participation, Allegheny College

House GOP 'investigations' are going very poorly. Fox News host Tucker Carlson's ridiculous, cherry-picked videos falsely portraying the January 6 Capitol Insurrection are so ridiculous that Republicans and even Fox News are pushing back. Allegheny College political scientists TARAH WILLIAMS and ANDREW BLOESER explain their concerning new study finding that significant numbers of Americans, across the entire political spectrum, are increasingly supportive of authoritarianism and anti-democratic actions, and discuss actions that can help strengthen democratic values and protect democracy.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) has signed a bill restoring voting rights to former felons, a direct result of voters electing Democrats to trifecta control of the state in the 2022 midterms. After a protacted battle, PA has seated Joanna McClinton (D) as the state's first African-American female House Speaker. Former CO election clerk Tina Peters convicted on obstruction charges while she awaits trial on felony charges of breaching election system security. Pres. Biden has revived a program that refunds students ripped off by predatory for-profit schools. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Dr. Nelson Lichtenstein, Labor historian, UC Santa Barbara

Public support for labor unions is at near all-time highs, while lawlessness by major companies willfully violating labor laws has also skyrocketed. Labor historian DR. NELSON LICHTENSTEIN explains the latest successes and obstacles faced by the new union movement in the US, the illegal tactics of major corporations to quash them, and potential solutions. UN reaches breakthrough agreement to protect the world's oceans. Lawmakers consider making Daylight Saving Time permanent.

Guest: Angelo Carusone, Media Matters

Encore: original airdate 2/21/2023. Accountability is on the menu for the liars and disinfo artists on the Right. The GA special grand jury investigating Trump's attempts to steal the 2020 election revealed details about their indictment recommendations. GOP disinfo artist James O'Keefe, who built his reputation on deceptively edited videos, forced to resign from his own fake news organization. ANGELO CARUSONE of Media Matters explains the impacts and implications of court filings exposing how Fox 'News' executives, hosts and guests knowingly lied to their audience to promote bogus allegations of election fraud in the 2020 Presidential election. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

The rightwing's fake 'culture war' outrages are weaponized nonsense designed to keep their viewers angry. We debunk the right's latest manufactured trope over a mundane investment framework known as ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance), which considers factors like the environment in business decisions. Former AZ GOP Attorney General Brnovich referred to state bar association for investigation after revelations he hid and lied about a report concluding the 2020 election was not rigged or stolen. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'