Virtually Speaking

Sundays @ 6pm pacific | 9pm eastern •VIRTUALLY SPEAKING SUNDAYS: OUR MEDIA NOT THEIRS | Avedon Carol (  http://sideshow.me.uk/ )and Susie Madrak ( http://susiemadrak.com/) discuss developments of the week, highlighting issues neglected or misrepresented on the Sunday morning broadcasts.

Featuring Culture of Truth's Most Ridiculous Thing that Happened on the Sunday Morning Talk Shows.

This week in liberalism. | Stuart Zechman and Jay Ackroyd| discuss the steady encroachment on civil liberties and access to the court system for ordinary Americans. Response to Dahlia Lithwick on the dangers of the Robert's court,  SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act), ISP blocking under the new legislation.

Also response to our weekly What Digby Said segment: Freedom

Follow @Stuart_Zechman @JayAckroyd @digby56

This program is pre-recorded.

Jay talks with Doug J of Balloon Juice about the crazee in the Republcan nomination process. Follow @JayAckroyd

Recovering journalist, class warrior, Suburban Guerrilla Susie Madrak discusses the week's events with Marcy Wheeler aka emptywheel. They start off with memories of Christmas Past (Baby Alive!), then turn to the MF Global Hearings, the Plan B overrule, the continuing marginalization of the middle class in our political discourse, Newt Gingrich and the credibility problem of the Republican bench.

•Slate Sr Editor|Dahlia Lithwick and Culture of Truth discuss the Supreme Court on the Affordable Care Act (including Kagan, Scalia and Thomas recusals) and TX redistricting. Featuring Culture of Truth on the Most Ridiculous Moment from the Sunday morning talk shows. Follow @DahliaLithwick @bobblespeak. 

A reminder about Internet Relay Chat (IRC) using #VSpeak.

1. Connect to http://webchat.freenode.net/

2. Create a log-in name

3. Enter #vspeak into the channel field.

4. NOTE: ‘Relay Rinq’ is not a person but a bridge to IRC chat.

5. Type into the text field along the bottom of the screen.

6. Begin your question with ‘QUESTION’ so it’s easy to spot.

This week in liberalism.  | Culture of Truth sitting in for Stuart Zechman and Jay Ackroyd| In the continuing reflections on the Occupy movement, exploration of the role of Centrism in the Democratic party and for meaningful ways to express Movement liberalism as a registered Democrat. Or not.

This program is pre-recorded

Jay discusses effective activism in today's media environment with activists Spocko and Mike Stark.

MSNBC’s Alan Boyle (Cosmic Log) talks with Mars Society president, aerospace engineer and author, Bob Zubrin, best known for his advocacy of the manned exploration of Mars is the author of Merchants of Despair, The Case for Mars and Energy Victory.

They'll be talking about 1. the future of Mars exploration and 2. the implications of Merchants of Despair. According to Zubrin,  the Malthusianism arguments we are hearing amount to: "There isn't enough to go around, so some people are going to have to suffer, and therefore authorities are going to have to be empowered to enforce that." It's ultimately an argument for tyranny and justifying human oppression.

Jay Ackroyd in for recovering journalist and class warrior Susie Madrak who explores the impact of current events on the daily lives of working class people. Jay talks about Adam Smith, free markets, monopolies and the role of the state.

David Dayen, Stuart Zechman discuss developments of the week, often highlighting issues neglected or misrepresented on the Sunday morning broadcasts. Always informative, always passionate, frequently with a touch of snark.