Our Future on the Line 2024: WPKN Election Podcasts

Interview with Cody Bloomfield, Communications Director with the group Defending Rights and Dissent, conducted by Scott Harris.

Cody Bloomfield discusses the recent House defeat of The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, and the likelihood this legislation that would permit the Treasury Dept. to revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofits deemed to be supporting “terrorism,” or something like it, will be voted on again, which if passed and signed into law would give Donald Trump a powerful weapon to use against his perceived enemies.

Interview with Coleen Rowley, a retired FBI agent who was named one of TIME magazine’s Persons of the Year in 2002 for exposing and sharing some of the FBI's 9/11 intelligence failures, and a member of Veterans for Peace, conducted by Scott Harris.

Coleen Rowley discusses Donald Trump’s picks for various cabinet positions thus far, i.e. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for Sec. of State, Pete Hegseth for Sec. of Defense, John Ratcliffe as CIA Director, Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as Attorney General, Mike Huckabee as Ambassador to Israel, and NY Rep. Elise Stefanik as US ambassador to the UN. Rowley will assess these nominations and the implications for US domestic and foreign policy under the coming Trump regime.

Interview with Rachel Bitecofer, is a political scientist, election forecaster, political strategist and author of the book, "Hit 'Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game," conducted by Scott Harris."

Rachel Bitecofer discusses her analysis on how/why Trump won the election, the Democrats’ misunderstanding of Trump’s strategy of demonizing immigrants and trans kids, the enormous influence of the right-wing social media, and the urgent need for progressives to develop effective fact-based media to counter the MAGA propaganda machine.

Interview with Sarah Kendzior, author, "They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent," and "Hiding in Plain Sight," conducted by Scott Harris.

Sarah Kendzior discusses her views on the outcome of the 2024 election, with a focus on Biden Attorney General Merrick Garland and the DOJ’s 2 1/2 year delay to prosecute Trump for his coup attempt – – allowing him to run and win back the presidency, as well as advice on how to maintain your sanity during the very dark and dangerous four years of the Trump regime ahead.

Interview with Dulce Guzman, executive director of Alianza Americas talks about her groups' recent call for justice and unity, conducted by Scott Harris.

Dulce Guzman’s recent call for justice and unity after Donald Trump’s election victory, and nationwide preparations are being made to resist Trump’s campaign pledge to deport 11+ million immigrants living in the U.S.

Interview with Victor Pickard, C. Edwin Baker professor of media policy and political economy and co-director at the Media, Inequality & Change Center at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication, conducted by Scott Harris.

Victor Pickard assesses corporate media’s coverage of the 2024 election with a focus on the decline of legacy media outlets such as newspapers and cable TV news, the growing strength, reach and influence of right-wing “Bro” social media and podcast sphere, and the lack of funding support to develop a progressive counterpart and alternative.

Interview with Branko Marcetic, a Jacobin magazine staff writer and author of "Yesterdays Man: The Case Against Joe Biden," conducted by Scott Harris.

Branko Marcetic examines why Vice President Kamala Harris lost the election to twice impeached, convicted felon and coup plotting insurrectionist Donald Trump, with a focus on the Democrat’s failure to speak to the economic concerns that were by far voters’ leading motivation for choosing a candidate on Election Day.

Interview with Steven Hassan, a mental health professional, author, and one of the nation's foremost deprogrammers who have helped people leave destructive cults, conducted by Scott Harris.

Steven Hassan talks about the new edition of his book, “The Cult of Trump,” and the impact Donald Trump’s election victory will have on the president-elect himself, his followers, and his MAGA movement’s attack on U.S. democratic institutions.

Interview with Alex Lawson Executive Director of Social Security Works, conducted by Scott Harris.

Alex Lawson talks about his work ahead of the election to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare, with a focus on opposing Trump – GOP proposed cuts to benefits, and support for updating the Social Security COLA formula, V.P. Harris’ proposal to expand Medicare to cover long-term care at home and provide Medicare more power to negotiate lower drug prices.

Interview with Nora Benavidez, senior counsel and director of digital justice and civil rights with the media democracy group Free Press, conducted by Scott Harris.

Nora Benavidez discusses the important issues examined in Free Press’ recent reports on how social media platforms have degraded or abandoned content moderation, creating an environment that could fuel the spread of dangerous disinformation before and after the November 5th election, which could lead to deepening distrust in the electoral process and violence. She will also explore policies Free Press has researched that could be implemented to control better the spread of both misinformation and disinformation adjacent to future elections and public health crises/ pandemics.