Election Protection: The ACLU’s $25M Project, plus Howard Zinn’s Life and Work

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The ACLU is organizing thousands of volunteers, preparing to respond to 25 different ways Trump could try to subvert or sabotage the midterms. Deirdre Schifeling explains—she’s the ACLU’s Chief Political and Advocacy Officer. More info at https://www.aclu.org/campaigns-initiatives/people-power.

Also: Howard Zinn’s book A People’s History of the US has sold four million copies—and now we have a biography of the author, written by Dave Zirin, The Nation’s longtime sports editor – his new book is The People’s Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn. 

Transcript HERE  8-11-2026

Abdul El-Sayed’s Tasks: Harold Meyerson; A GOP Ballot Seizure: Zach Roth; Jurassic Museum: David Wilson

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Abdul El-Sayed’s first task is winning Black Detroit; next is making inroads in working class white Michigan. Harold Meyerson comments.

Also: A rehearsal for the election protection groups: the California sheriff who seized 650,000 ballots from November’s referendum, claiming he needed to recount them. Zach Roth of Democracy Docket will explain how the Chad Bianco case provides a test of one key Republican strategy for holding on to the House after the midterms.

Plus: From the archives: The Museum of Jurassic Technology is one of Culver City’s hidden treasures – David Wilson explains (originally broadcast 6-19-2001).  8-7-2026

How Abdul El-Sayed Can Win Michigan, Plus an Election Protection Test Case

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The Michigan Democratic senate primary provided a test of the power of AIPAC and big money, and the political talents of Abdul El-Sayed. John Nichols has our analysis.

Also: a rehearsal for the election protection groups: the California sheriff who seized 650,000 ballots from November’s referendum, claiming he needed to recount them. Zach Roth of Democracy Docket will explain how the Chad Bianco case provides a test of one key Republican strategy for holding on to the House after the midterms.

Transcript HERE  8-7-2026

Trump’s Todd Blanche problem: Harold Meyerson; Election Protection: Skye Perryman; ‘The Odyssey’: John Powers

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Trump’s trouble this week is getting the Senate committee to advance his nomination of Todd Blanche as Attorney General. Two key Republican senators are refusing to vote for Blanche unless Trump gives up on his deal that gives him immunity from tax audits – Harold Meyerson comments.

Also: An impressive alliance of groups have been preparing for months to counter Trump’s threats to Democrats in the midterms. Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward and a member of The Senate Democrats’ Election Protection Task Force, explains why “we are going to have free and fair elections” in November.

Plus: Elon Musk calls Christopher Nolan’s film “The Odyssey” “part of a left-wing plan” to “destroy Western Civilization.” John Powers has a different view – he’s critic-at-large on NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross.  7-31-2026

Election Protection for the Midterms, plus ‘The Odyssey’ for Filmgoers

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An impressive alliance of groups have been preparing for months to counter Trump’s threats to Democrats in the midterms. Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward and a member of The Senate Democrats’ Election Protection Tast Force, explains why “we are going to have free and fair elections” in November.

Also: Elon Musk calls Christopher Nolan’s film “The Odyssey” “part of a left-wing plan” to “destroy Western Civilization.” John Powers has a different view – he’s critic-at-large on NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross.

Transcript HERE  7-29-2026

Sinking Republicans: Harold Meyerson; Rising Democrats: John Nichols: ‘Blonde on Blonde”: Alan Minsky

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The Dems vs. the GOP in the 2026 Midterms: in the latest Fox News poll, 53% of Americans said they’d vote Democrat; but will that hold until November? “Assuming Donald Trump continues to be Donald Trump… these gaps may grow larger” – in the Dems’ favor – Harold Meyerson comments.

John Nichols on the Senate Candidates in Maine and Nebraska, and the governor’s race in Wisconsin. John of course is executive editor of The Nation.

Plus: It’s the 60th anniversary of Bob Dylan’s “Blonde on Blonde” – “Everybody Must Get Stoned” “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again” and “Visions of Johanna” – we discuss this historic – and literary – album with Alan Minsky.  7-24-2026

The Plan for November–and After: Ben Wikler and John Nichols

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How are we going to defeat Trump and the Republicans and win control of Congress in the midterms? How are we going to win the White House in two years? Ben Wikler has a plan – he’s published a book with the title This is the Plan. Ben was chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin for six years, ending in 2025, where he shaped what became the most powerful and effective state political party in the country.

Plus: John Nichols on the Senate Candidates in Maine and Nebraska, and the governor’s race in Wisconsin. John of course is executive editor of The Nation.

Transcript HERE  7-22-2026

Trump from 2020 to 2026: Harold Meyerson; Smithsonian & History: Beverly Gage; Trump and Golf: Robert Lipsyte

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Trump’s TV speech, and his declining situation, politically and mentally: Six years after he lost the 2020 election, Trump is still trying to find someone, anyone, to tell him he won. Trump said that last night’s speech was about the 2020 election but really it was about the 2026 elections – and Trump’s efforts to cause people to doubt the vote counters because he knows Republicans are set to suffer great losses in the upcoming midterms – Harold Meyerson comments on Trump’s bad week leading up to the speech.

Also: Trump believes the teaching of history really matters—that’s why on July 4 he issued a 162-page attack on the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Yale historian Beverly Gage comments – her new book is This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip through US History.

Plus: from the archives, “Trump and Golf”: The Saudi-backed LIV golf league returned to Trump’s Doral Resort in April 2025 – an early sign that Trump family business deals using Saudi government financing were going to continue into the new presidency. The legendary sportswriter Robert Lipsyte comments on Trump and golf. (broadcast originally in August 2017)

Trump’s Renewed War, More ICE Killings, and Teaching American History

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It’s been another bad week for Donald Trump – from the Strait or Hormuz to the streets where ICE has killed more people, to the scheduled Senate hearings on Todd Blanche. Harold Meyerson comments.

Also: Trump believes the teaching of history really matters—that’s why on July 4 he issued a 162-page attack on the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Yale historian Beverly Gage comments – her new book is This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip through US History.  Transcript HERE  7-15-2026

Dems after Platner: Harold Meyerson; House Dems v. Trump: Jamie Raskin; Haitians After TPS: Amy Wilentz

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The Democrats in Maine have got to pick a new candidate to replace Platner by July 27th. As we’ve learned from Kamala Harris, replacing a candidate this late is hard – but​, Harris carried Maine by 7 points in 2024, the Democratic candidate for governor there leads by 15 points, and Susan Collins’ approval rating is negative. So, what​ chance ​does new Democratic candidate ​have to defeat Collins? Harold Meyerson comments.

Also: Jamie Raskin, Democrat from Maryland, talks about Congress reforming the Supreme Court, and the House challenging Trump’s corruption. His article in the current issue of The Nation magazine is “We Must Restore Congress as the Predominant Branch of Government.”

Plus: The Court ended Temporary Protected Status, TPS, for Haitians (and others), but that does not mean deportations will begin immediately. Instead most of those with TPS will be given an opportunity to contest a deportation order or apply for remaining on a different basis. Amy Wilentz comments on the current responses in New York City, Miami, Springfield, Ohio, and in Congress.  7-10-2026