The Fallon Forum

Manu Martin and Kelly Gerling discuss The People's Congress. Chris Wilbeck talks about the victory in Greene County yesterday temporarily stopping the construction of a huge corporate hog confinement. It discusses the most recent discovery of salmonella in a DeCoster chicken confinement in Clarion. Finally, Rachel Garrett joins Ed to argue the pros and cons of Ayn Rand's political philosophy.

As the Occupy Wall Street movement celebrates its one-year anniversary, we focus on the good stuff and wish the movement a happy birthday and many more. Ed also talks about the cult established by the late Sun Myung Moon, and shares his experience helping to deprogram a young man he met in England years ago. Finally, talent manager Heather Ryan joins us for an update on the bizarre child custody case involving a Mom who allowed her daughter to participate in a pageant.

Jamie Woodson pulls tarot cards on three matters of pressing political importance: the presidential election, the congressional race between Steve King and Christie Vilsack, and whether or not Ed's producer, Maddie Arington, will finish college. Then Troy Church and Dave Shepherd, both writers for the Big Foot Diaries, discussed the growing corporate domination of the media in the unrelated topic of Terry Branstad's decision to award one Egyptian company, Orascom, over $250 million in public subsidies.

Sonia Ashe with Iowa Public Interest Research Group discusses the organization's latest report, Megaphones for Millionaires, which takes a look at the unprecedented influence of the very wealthy through new Super PACs. Also, we talk about the anti-labor position of Whole Foods' CEO John Mackey.

We talk with Chris Wilbeck about Prestage Farms' hog confinements being forced upon rural communities. We also talked with Adam Mason of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement about the issue. The conversation hits a nerve, as we receive calls from rural residents in Jefferson, Clayton, Poweshiek, Adair, Dallas and Greene counties. Adam and I also dig into the question 'What is it going to take before Iowa Democratic lawmakers, who for years campaigned in favor of local control yet did nothing when they had power for four years, free themselves from the chains of corporate money and stand with the people they pledged to support?

Colin Gordon with the Iowa Policy Project talks about wage theft and the $600 million each year stolen from Iowa workers! You will be astounded to learn how many low-wage workers are not paid the wages they are legally owed. And if you think the State of Iowa is doing its job to crack down on violators and protect such workers, think again. We also talk with Vanessa Mancano of Iowa CCI about the problem. And Kerry Skram and Joseph Leonardi with Repertory Theater of Iowa tell us about the company's upcoming world premiere production of "Sense and Sensibility."

Taking political fibbing to a new low, Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan lies through his teeth on one issue after another during his speech at the Republican National Convention. Ed calls him out, as do some of the programs callers. We also talk about how the FDIC, Wells Fargo and the other big national banks have found a new way to try to ruin people's lives, as evidenced by one example locally that has gained national attention. Finally, we talk about the justice retention vote on the ballot this fall and encourage Justice David Wiggins to campaign, as the opponents of marriage equality are certainly doing.

Daniel Kessler, a spokesperson for Bill McKibben (who was unable to join us today but will in the future) with 350.org discusses climate change and his organization's efforts across the globe to address it. Also, State Sen. Rob Hogg (D-Cedar Rapids) discusses Hurricane Isaac, which the mainstream media have played down, although nearly everything about Isaac fits with predictions that climate scientists have been making for a long time. Finally, State Rep. Dan Kelley (D-Newton) pays his usual Thursday afternoon visit to our program.

We talk with Scott Laird from American Prairie Reserve. No surprise that reclaiming a 3-million acre grassland preserve is not without its detractors and obstacles. Also, we talk with Mandi Hillman with Iowa Birth Activists.

Thanks to the caucuses, Iowans are accustomed to influencing US politics. But how often do those of us concerned about justice get a chance to make a difference in the lives of a couple hundred thousand people in rural Tanzania? An Iowa-based company, AgriSol (think Bruce Rastetter), is engaged in a massive land grab in Tanzania, and a coalition of groups and individuals has already been successful putting the brakes on it. Today on the Fallon Forum, Anuradha Mittal with The Oakland Institute and Tim Schwab with Food and Water Watch join me to discuss it.