KPFK - BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

Guest: Kevin Drum, financial/political journalist, Jabberwocking

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...

Corporate media is showing some pushback in the face of a US House controlled by accomplished GOP liars. Special Counsel Durham probe of Russian interference in the 2016 uncovered evidence of Trump financial crimes, but corrupt former US Attorney General Barr buried it. GOP hyped false claims of 'crime wave' in runup to 2022 election, but new report shows murder rates have been far higher in 'red' states than 'blue' states since 2000. Wealthy white voters in FL get slap on the wrist for intentional voter fraud. AZ GOP election denier Kari Lake facing new legal trouble for exposing voter data. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Michael Teter, The 65 Project

The State Bar of California has filed seroius disciplinary charges against John Eastman, the main attorney behind Donald Trump's failed effort to pressure then-VP Mike Pence to steal the 2020 election by blocking certification of valid electoral college votes. Michael Teter explains his organization's efforts to hold Trump attorneys accountable for violating professional rules of conduct and abuse of the court system in filing bogus election lawsuits, and much more. Also today: As the BradBlog/BradCast enters its 20th year, our deepest thanks to our listeners and readers!

Encore: Original air-date 1-23-2023. We open the phone lines to callers to get their thoughts as we catch up on a boatload of news, including the nation's latest mass shooting in Monterey Park, CA. Callers weigh in on the gun violence epidemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the similarities and differences between Trump's theft of government documents and new documents found at Biden's home, accountability for insurrectionists, the debt ceiling, the death penalty, corporate media false balance, record low unemployment, and more.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved up the metaphorical 'Doomsday Clock' to '90 seconds to midnight', citing Russia's threats to use nuclear weapons in its war on Ukraine. US and Europe will send modern battle tanks to Ukraine to support its self-defense against Russia's brutal war crimes. In New Jersey, a county race result was flipped after a probe revealed misprogramming errors in the electronic voting system, two months after the 2022 election; election security experts recommend hand-marked paper ballots and meaningful post-election audits. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Brendan Fischer, Documented

Newly-uncovered documents show the extent of the far-rightwing Heritage Foundation's $24 million effort to suppress voting rights on both state and federal levels after the 2020 election. Campaign finance expert BRENDAN FISCHER explains the dark money group's scheme, their deceptive tactics and plans to push anti-democracy laws in swing-state legislatures in advance of the 2024 election. Fischer also weighs in on new revelations of potential violations of campaign finance laws by Republican fabulist, Rep. George Santos (NY).

Former VP Pence announced a 'small number' of classified documents were found in his home. Corporate media again fixated on false equivalence between Trump's theft of government documents and obstruction of justice compared to the different responses by Biden and Pence. In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis argued that a final report from a special grand jury should not be released yet in the criminal probe of Trump's efforts to pressure election officials to steal the 2020 election on his behalf. America's gun violence epidemic is surging in 2023. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

We open the phone lines to callers to get their thoughts as we catch up on a boatload of news, including the nation's latest mass shooting in Monterey Park, CA. Callers weigh in on the gun violence epidemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the similarities and differences between Trump's theft of government documents and new documents found at Biden's home, accountability for insurrectionists, the debt ceiling, the death penalty, corporate media false balance, record low unemployment, and more.

Guest: Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, Exec. Director, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center

Progressive citizen-led ballot initiatives won big across the country on major issues like abortion rights, minimum wage, independent redistricting commissions, and more. Now heavily gerrymandered GOP-controlled states are moving to restrict or kill the ballot initiative process. CHRIS MELODY FIELDS FIGUEREDO of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center explains the GOP backlash, states like CA where corporations have seemingly captured the process, and how to protect citizen-led direct democracy against GOP efforts to restrict it nationwide. Also today: Federal judge issues scathing ruling and $1 million in sanctions against Trump and his attorneys for filing 'frivolous' lawsuit against Hillary Clinton and others.

Treasury Dept. deploys 'extraordinary measures' to avoid US Government default, as Republicans continue their dangerous game of holding hostage the previously-routine vote to raise the debt ceiling, in turn threatening both the US and global economy. New docs reveal Ohio GOP lawmakers colluded with fossil fuel-funded dark money groups to push through new Ohio state law redefining natural gas as 'green energy' at same time as federal bribery/corruption trial opens of former Ohio Republican lawmakers. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'