jwiener

Listen HERE
Katha Pollitt asks, “Is it wrong for women Democrats to want to vote for a woman Democrat?”  In 2008 she voted for Obama rather than Hillary; today she’s a Clinton supporter.

Gary Younge looks back on Hillary’s 30-plus years in American politics and argues that “It is easy to forget what a mould-breaking, bad-ass figure Hillary cut when she first appeared on the national stage in 1992.”

Award-winning filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer talks about The Look of Silence, his Oscar-nominated documentary on genocide in Indonesia in 1965-66 and its aftermath today—in Indonesia, and in American politics.

Listen online HERE
Republican disarray deepens after New Hampshire: Rick Perlstein explains the dilemma of the GOP establishment, as their chosen candidates continue to slide.

Also: The startling success of Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire. It’s not just that he’s from the state next door, says D. D. Guttenplan.  And, he says, Hillary’s problem is bigger than “the messaging.”

And Jane Mayer of The New Yorker examines the secret efforts of the Koch brothers and their billionaire friends to move the Republican Party, and the country, to the right—the far, far right.

John Nichols explains how Bernie went from 50 points behind to tie Hillary in Iowa – and what she is doing to change course.

Plus: Gary Younge says Trump is not a uniquely American phenomenon, but part of a broader Western European phenomenon of white, nativist responses to globalization, immigration and terrorism.

Also: Joan Walsh analyzes the GOP after Trump’s second place finish—as the party establishment has a chance to reassert itself.

And, as the Superbowl approaches, David Zirin has some unkind words about the NFL’s claims that its “Head Health Initiative” has reduced concussions.

Listen HERE
The Republican establishment is moving toward accepting Donald Trump as their candidate, says FRANK RICH—they think he will make deals with them, while Ted Cruz won’t.

Also: BILL McKIBBEN, founder of 350.org, on the global climate movement. He says the fight to end the fossil-fuel era is happening almost in secret, as local activists battle on thousands of fronts around the world.

Plus: ANNA DEVEARE SMITH, the actor and playwright, talks about her new work on the school-to-prison pipeline, and about performing in her home town of Baltimore after the police killed Freddie Gray.

Listen HERE
The Iowa caucuses on Monday: will we see the triumph of Trump? Bernie in the lead? HAROLD MEYERSON will explain everything—he’s executive editor of The American Prospect, where he wrote “Can the Democrats Channel America’s Discontent?”

Also: DAVE ZIRIN, sports editor of The Nation, talks with KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR about black politics, Ferguson, John Lewis, Donald Trump, and also Gil Scott-Heron. The full conversation is at Dave’s podcast, “Edge of Sports,” HERE.

And we’ll talk about “revolutionary fast food” – The amazing new restaurant “LocoL” in Watts, from celebrity chefs Roy Choi and Daniel Patterson—they say “the giant corporations that feed most of America have degraded our communities by maximizing profits over decades. We believe that chefs should feed America, and not suits.” JOSH KUN will explain: he writes about music, culture, and food, and teaches at USC.

Listen HERE
The Nation magazine has endorsed Bernie Sanders for president; editor and publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel explains why.

Also: Dave Zirin, sports editor of The Nation, talks with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar about black politics, Ferguson, John Lewis, Donald Trump, and also Gil Scott-Heron.

Plus: The Big Short is probably the best movie Hollywood has ever made about an economic crisis—it’s fun, but it’s also serious.  Kenneth Turan explains—he’s film critic for the LA Times.

Listen HERE
Black Votes Matter — in Ferguson: A federal trial challenging the city’s discriminatory election system is underway. ARI BERMAN reports—he’s The Nation’s expert on voting rights struggles, past and present.

Also: Feminists and Hillary, for and against: LIZA FEATHERSTONE and KATHA POLLITT consider whether Hillary or Bernie offers the most promise, especially for poor and working women.

Plus: The Gay Revolution: LILLIAN FADERMAN explores the 50-year fight for gay, lesbian, and trans civil rights—the years of outrageous injustice, the early battles, the heart-breaking defeats, and the victories beyond the dreams of the gay rights pioneers.  Her new book is The Gay Revolution.