KPFK - BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

Guest: David Dayen, The American Prospect

Financial journalist DAVID DAYEN explains two different challenges, both largely absurd, to the Biden Administration's student loan debt forgiveness program that were heard in oral arguments before the rightwing supermajority US Supreme Court this week. Dayen also discusses why the 'deeply radical' ruling by an appeals court declaring the funding mechanism of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is unconstitutional also has major implications for programs like Social Security, Medicare, the FDA and more. Incumbent Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost her re-election bid. Plus comedian Hasan Minhaj has some hilarious advice for older folks angry that student loan borrowers might receive a bit of debt relief.

Guest: Joshua A. Douglas, election law expert, Univ. of Kentucky

In an unprecedented move, North Carolina's new GOP majority on the state supreme court will rehear a case that could upend decades of voting rights and election laws and grant gerrymandered state legislatures sole, unreviewable power over elections. Election law professor JOSHUA A. DOUGLAS explains the 'brazen power grab by the new majority', its implications for state and national elections in advance of the critical 2024 Presidential Election, and the politicization of the judiciary at all levels. Listeners share thoughtful comments regarding whether the U.S. should continue supporting Ukraine's self-defense against Russia's brutal invasion. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

It's been a year since the launch of Russia's unlawful invasion of its soverign neighbor, Ukraine. Newly-leaked documents, purportedly from the Kremlin, detail Putin's plan to take over neighboring Belarus. Nuclear weapons policy expert Stephen Schwartz warns of the long-term geopolitical dangers of turning a blind eye to an adversary that is threatening nuclear blackmail. Callers weigh in with their thoughts on whether the U.S. and Europe should continue supporting Ukraine's self-defense against Russia's invasion.

Guest: Marcy Wheeler, independent national security journalist

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Encore: original air-date 2-15-2023. Independent national security and accountability journalist MARCY WHEELER of Emptywheel.net delivers a deep dive into the latest revelations from the various federal investigations into Donald Trump that are now being overseen by Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith. Wheeler, who knows nearly as much about the many criminal cases against Donald Trump as the prosecutors themselves, offers new insights into the latest developments in the probe of hundreds of stolen classified documents retrieved f

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Republican supporters of Donald Trump continue to lie on his behalf despite losing elections. New documents reveal former AZ GOP Attorney General Brnovich kept secret a comprehensive report confirming no fraud in the 2020 election, and exposed that other AZ GOP candidates lied about the 2020 election, as well. DOJ Special Counsel reportedly subpoenaed Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, while a court ruled Trump can be deposed in FBI employee retribution lawsuit. GOP operative Jesse Benton sentenced to prison for facilitating illegal foreign donations for Trump. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Stephen Schwartz, nuclear weapons policy analyst

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In the first elections of 2023, Democrats again outperformed expectations in NH, KY, VA and 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.

Guest: Angelo Carusone, Media Matters

PLEASE DONATE to KPFK! 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.'

PLEASE DONATE to KPFK! In a surprise trip to Ukraine, Pres. Biden pledged support for Ukraine prior to the first anniversary of Russia's horrific, unlawful invasion of its sovereign neighbor. Former Pres. Jimmy Carter has chosen to move to hospice care. Court filing in Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit against Fox 'News' reveals Fox hosts knowingly peddled lies and disinformation to viewers about the 2020 election. Key CA race flipped after discovery of Ranked Choice Voting problems, more than 3 months after the Nov. 2022 election.

Guest: Kevin Drum, Finance/politics journalist

Encore: original air-date 2/1/2023. House Republicans are capable of causing real economic harm as they try to hold the nation's economy hostage to extort deep spending cuts in exchange for raising the statutory debt limit. Financial/political journalist KEVIN DRUM explains the history of the debt ceiling, the GOP's cyclical extortion (only with a Democratic President), and various solutions. Also today: the circus of insanity barreling toward us with the GOP's takeover of the U.S. House is underway, from deeply partisan 'investigations' to hilarious, idiotic culture war tropes...

Guest: Keith Barber, attorney and legal commentator

A partial report has been relesaed from the Fulton County special purpose grand jury investigating Donald Trump's efforts to unlawfully pressure election officials to alter 2020 election results to reverse his loss. Among several revelations, the special grand jury found no evidence of fraud and recommended the indictment of witnesses they believe committed perjury. Attorney KEITH BARBER offers offers legal analysis and insight into the partial report, any potential indictments, and next steps. Fox 'News' is suddenly very concerned about toxic pollution in the Ohio chemical train derailment. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'