Laura Flanders and Friends: Solutions-Focused Progressive Perspectives on Politics, News, and Culture - podcast cover

Laura Flanders and Friends: Solutions-Focused Progressive Perspectives on Politics, News, and Culture

Laura Flanders, Curious Communicationswww.lauraflanders.org
Uncensored history meets bold voices with Laura Flanders, award winning journalist and author. The show explores actionable models for creating a better world by reporting on the people and movements driving systemic change. We spotlight the solutions of tomorrow, today. The show airs on PBS stations in over 300 US markets, and airs on 60+ community radio stations via PRX Exchange and Pacifica, and is available on YouTube and here as a podcast. Subscribers receive lots of video and audio web exclusives in addition to the weekly episode. Recent field reports and specials include: Jimmy Carter; 60th Anniversary of Selma Bloody Sunday March; Bernie Sanders' Fighting Oligarchy; Labor Movement vs. Fascism: Worker Organizers & Teachers Under Attack; And interviewee highlights include Award Winning Actor, Director, Writer, Liev Schreiber on his documentary "Meeting Zelensky"; Award winning journalists Maria Hinojosa (Award Winning Suave Podcast and host of Latino USA) & Chenjerai Kumanyika (Award Winning Podcast Series Empire City) on Forced Removals, Foreign Detention, the War on Education & Free Speech; Democracy & Capitalism: A Failed Experiment? with Bloomberg Economist & host of Truponomics, Stephanie Flanders; Masha Gessen & Jason Stanley on fascism then and now; Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor on the arc of history and “End Times Fascism”; Congressman Jamie Raskin on Donald Trump, Elon Musk, DOGE, and congressional oversight of the executive branch."
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Episodes

Another January 6 Insurrection?: 'War Game' Film Asks if We’re Ready (broadcast edition)

What If January 6 Happened Again? Exploring the Risks of Another Insurrection. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support! Description: What if January 6 happened again? Are we prepared for another post-election insurrection? “War Game” is a riveting political thriller that tackles this question head-on in what Rolling Stone calls, “the scariest documentary you’ll see this year.” “War Game” features...

Nov 05, 202429 minEp. 131

Bad Surprises, Good Surprises: Reflections on the Trump Rally in New York City | Commentary

LAURA FLANDERS - COMMENTARY And one of those came to mind was in 1999, when V, then known as Eve Ensler of Vagina Monologues and V-Day and One Billion Rising fame, filled that 18,000 seat stadium, with women and their allies pledging themselves to stop violence against women and girls, to stop gender-based violence in our lifetime. Improbable? Unlikely? Unpredictable? You bet. They laced the whole place with red caution tape that read “rape-free zone.” Was it surprising? Yes, but it happened all...

Nov 04, 20244 min

Full Conversation- Another January 6 Insurrection?: 'War Game' Film Asks if We’re Ready

Full Description: What if January 6 happened again? Are we prepared for another post-election insurrection? “War Game” is a riveting political thriller that tackles this question head-on in what Rolling Stone calls, “the scariest documentary you’ll see this year.” “War Game” features a cast of senior officials war-gaming a constitutional crisis, including former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp, playing a senior advisor to a newly elected President, Retired US Army Lieutenant General Jeffrey ...

Nov 01, 202446 min

Election 2024 Lies: Money Media Misses the Mark (Meet the BIPOC Press Series)

As Election 2024 unfolds amid a collapsing media landscape, experts explore how BIPOC outlets are combating misinformation and seizing the opportunity to redefine news coverage ¿Podrían las elecciones 2024 ser una oportunidad para que nuevos medios construyan poder? Únete a Laura Flanders y Kadia Tubman mientras exploran este tema con Imara Jones y Lara Witt. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued suppo...

Oct 30, 202429 minEp. 130

Full Conversation- Election 2024 Lies: Money Media Misses the Mark

Full Description: Election 2024 is happening in a media environment unlike any other. With legacy papers closing and digital media in crisis, too, election ads are filling the news vacuum with misinformation and lies. What is to be done? In this episode of “Meet the BIPOC Press”, co-hosts Laura Flanders and Kadia Tubman of the Scripps News Network examine the state of election media and ask, could this be a moment of opportunity for others to transform the news and build power? Our guest Lara Wi...

Oct 25, 202449 min

From Ballots to Bodies: Abortion, Trans Rights & the Battle for Bodily Autonomy

Delve into the fierce debate over abortion rights in the U.S. and how recent measures could alter the course of reproductive freedom. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support! Description: The 2022 Supreme Court ruling to overturn Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health dramatically changed the political scene. Still, just two years on, we are witnessing another watershed moment in the struggle for aborti...

Oct 23, 202429 minEp. 129

Full Conversation- From Ballots to Bodies: Abortion, Trans Rights & the Battle for Bodily Autonomy

Full Description: The 2022 Supreme Court ruling to overturn Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health dramatically changed the political scene. Still, just two years on, we are witnessing another watershed moment in the struggle for abortion rights. This Election Day, 10 states will vote on whether to enshrine abortion rights in their state constitution. Since 2022, every ballot measure to protect abortion rights has passed while every measure to restrict or weaken those rights has failed. Meanwhile, extr...

Oct 18, 202440 min

Abolition, Decolonization, and Immigration, Election 2024: Key Topics at the Chicago Socialism Conference

Discover how the Left is envisioning a liberated future in today's political climate at the Socialism Conference, hosted by Haymarket Books, featuring key activists and organizers from diverse backgrounds. En el Socialismo Conferencia en Chicago, Laura Flanders y activistas discuten la abolición, descolonización e inmigración con un enfoque en estrategias más allá del ciclo electoral. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank yo...

Oct 16, 202430 minEp. 128

Full Conversation- Trump, Netanyahu & the Weaponizing of Fear One Year After October 7

While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters. Become a member at https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Full Conversation from our episode "Trump, Netanyahu & the Weaponizing of Fear One Year After October 7": Israel’s far-right leaders, assisted by their allies in the U.S., have waged a year-long assault ...

Oct 11, 20241 hr

Trump, Netanyahu & the Weaponizing of Fear One Year After October 7

Fears Exploited: The Dangerous Alliances of Netanyahu and Trump with Religious Extremists. As tensions escalate further in the Middle East, it's crucial to explore the unexpected alliances driving conflicts, as **I s r a e l ’ s f a r - r i g h t l e a d e r s** are fiercely defending their military actions under the banner of "self-defense" while leaving the safety of the Jewish people in question. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/...

Oct 09, 202429 minEp. 127

Full Conversation- Reporting on Policing at the Polls & BIPOC Voter Suppression in 2024

While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. The following is from our episode Reporting on Policing at the Polls & BIPOC Voter Suppression in 2024. And was recorded on September 17th, 2024. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters. Become a member at https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Description: Just this month, billionaire immigrant and R...

Oct 04, 202449 min

Polls, Voter Safety & BIPOC Reporting on Voter Suppression in 2024

Elon Musk's controversial comment reignites debate on voter suppression and democracy amid new voting barriers. Description: Just this month, billionaire immigrant and Republican mega donor Elon Musk amplified a post that seemed to suggest that the system would work better if voting was restricted only to “high status men.” Voting should be simple, but we’re seeing more and more barriers — especially for BIPOC voters — this election. From purges of the rolls, to efforts to eliminate same-day vot...

Oct 02, 202431 minEp. 126

Audio Exclusive- LGBTQ Backlash North Carolina: Meet the Organizers & Activists Speaking Out

LGBTQ rights in North Carolina are under attack, but activists and organizers across the state are standing up to hate. In this conversation, Laura brings together featured guests in our award-winning series, “The Roots of the January 6th Insurrection” to hear their stories now leading up to the 2024 election. She first investigated LGBTQ backlash in the state in 2023, one year after a deadly power grid attack in Moore County. It coincided with a “Downtown Divas” drag show that had been harassed...

Sep 26, 202443 min

What’s on the Ballot in North Carolina? Abortion, Trans Life, A Governorship, & Multiracial Democracy

Josh Stein vs. Mark Robinson: The Fight for Rights in North Carolina's Upcoming Elections. In-depth analysis of North Carolina’s political landscape reveals increasing threats to democracy and individual freedoms, with exclusive interviews by Laura including Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein and activists on the frontline. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support! Description: North Ca...

Sep 26, 202428 minEp. 125

SPECIAL REPORT: South Australia's Green Revolution: How Art & Policy Catalyze Climate Action

Art meets climate action in South Australia! Learn how creativity and community have driven a pioneering green energy transition, with insights from influential voices like Susan Close and Ruth Mackenzie. Climate Week Special Report. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support! Description: South Australia has become a global leader in green energy transition, getting off fossil fuels faster, and to ...

Sep 18, 202428 minEp. 124

Reflecting on 13 Years of Occupy Wall Street: Are We Closing the Wealth Gap?

Exploring the Unfinished Business of Occupy: How Far Have We Come in Closing the Wealth Gap? Insights from Experts and Activists, Including Marisa Holmes and Taifa Smith Butler. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support! Description: Were you one of the hundreds of thousands of people on the streets during the Occupy movement? For many the movement was a political awakening, as people rallied to en...

Sep 11, 202429 minEp. 123

Full Conversation- Solving Economic Inequality: An Occupy Movement for this Moment?

While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. The following is from our episode Solving Economic Inequality: An Occupy Movement for this Moment? And was recorded on July 23rd, 2024. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters. Become a member at https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Description: Were you one of the hundreds of thousands of people on the...

Sep 08, 202449 min

Labor Safety, Project 2025, & the Far Right’s Plot Against Workers: What You Need to Know

This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support! Description: What risks do working people face this Labor Day? Workers continue to die on the job and struggle to protect worker safety, but the dangers for labor go beyond bad bosses. On the federal level, the far Right’s Project 2025 playbook has plans to gut unions, fire federal workers and limit the power of agencies like the National Labor Relations B...

Sep 04, 202428 minEp. 122

Ai Weiwei's 'ZODIAC': How Art Battles Censorship and Inspires Hope

Transformative Power of Art: Ai Weiwei’s Stand for Palestinian Rights and Global Issues. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support! Description: In his recent graphic memoir “ZODIAC: A Graphic Memoir”, the renowned artist Ai Weiwei writes that artists should “ignite stories”, “fight for freedom” and “help us hope.” Over his long and defiant career, he has used his art in a wide variety of media to ...

Aug 28, 202430 minEp. 121

Full Conversation- Meet the BIPOC Press: How Emerging Journalists Are Shaping the Future Beyond Corporate Media Bubbles

Breaking Media Bubbles: Join Journalist Laura Flanders and her Guests in Discussing Movement Journalism, Climate Crisis, and Advocacy. While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. The following is an episode from our monthly meet the biopic media series titled "BIPOC Press for the People: Bursting the Corporate Media Bubble," where we discussed the crisis in journalism and wh...

Aug 22, 202443 min

Angela Davis on War, Climate, and Building a Better World: Insights from Her Five-Decade Activism Journey

Explore Angela Davis's insights on abolition, elections, creating systemic change, Palestine, June Jordan and more in a crucial discussion with Laura Flanders. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member or to make a one time donation go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support! Description: With so many urgent crises tugging at our hearts, from war, to climate, to discontent and violence, people want to know: How do we set priorities and do t...

Aug 21, 202429 minEp. 120

How Political Intimidation Endangers Marginalized Communities and Conservatives Alike

Uncover shocking narratives and examine the rise of politically motivated threats impacting various groups within the United States. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support! Description: Political violence is on the rise and has reached just about every corner of the country, whether it's confrontations on social media, at school board meetings or the chambers of Congress. Reuters reports that we...

Aug 14, 202429 minEp. 119

Full Conversation- Political Violence & MAGA Militancy: Strategies to Protect Democracy

Uncover shocking narratives and examine the rise of politically motivated threats impacting various groups within the United States. Description: Political violence is on the rise and has reached just about every corner of the country, whether it's confrontations on social media, at school board meetings or the chambers of Congress. Reuters reports that we've seen some 213 cases and 39 fatalities in the U.S. since January 6, 2021 — more than we've seen in decades. Women, people of color, Muslims...

Aug 11, 20241 hr 2 min

Full Conversation- Meet the BIPOC Press: Saving Journalism, Why Worker Ownership Matters in Media Today

Highlighting union vs. worker-owned business models in media: Hear from journalists at Defector, Hell Gate, and more. Full Uncut Conversation: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. The following is an episode from our monthly meet the biopic media series titled Is Worker-Owned Media the Future of Journalism? Where we discussed the crisis in journalism and what journali...

Aug 09, 202441 min

Christian Nationalism Exposed: 'God & Country' Documentary Warns of Immediate Threats

"Unpacking Christian Nationalism: 'God & Country' Documentary Explores the Roots of Violence at the Capitol" This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support! How does a religion that claims to be rooted in love and peace fire people up to commit violence, as at the Capitol on January 6, 2021? In a brand-new documentary, “God & Country”, producer Rob Reiner and director Dan Partland explore Christ...

Aug 07, 202430 minEp. 117

Full Conversation- Meet the BIPOC Press: Meet the BIPOC Press: Unveiling the Hidden Environmental Impact of Corporate Actions

Journalists of color tackle the siloing of environmental issues and the urgency of Earth Day's ideals amidst corporate greenwashing efforts. Full Uncut Conversation: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. The following is from our Meet the BIPOC Press series. For this edition, we assembled journalists to discuss Corporate Greenwashing and the Hidden Environmental Impact...

Aug 02, 202440 min

Democracy Under Siege: Battling Disinformation in the 2024 Election

This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support! Description: In a world where lies travel at the speed of light, truth struggles to keep up. From AI-generated deep fakes to lightning-fast social media rumors, disinformation is reshaping our reality. In the wake of Donald Trump's shooting, falsehoods flooded our feeds faster than facts. The problem of disinformation, the deliberate spread of false or mis...

Jul 31, 202429 minEp. 117

Full Conversation- Democracy Under Siege: Battling Disinformation in the 2024 Election

While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and *podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. The following is from our monthly meet the biopic press series. In this episode titled “Democracy Under Siege: Battling Disinformation in the 2024 Election,” Laura Flanders and Friends assembled a panel of journalists to discuss who are the targets of disinformation and why. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our m...

Jul 28, 202445 min

Corporate Prison Reform Will Not Keep Us Safe: A Report from Los Angeles

This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support! Description: Under the view of the iconic Hollywood Sign, a struggle is being waged over the future of policing and incarceration. Los Angeles is ground zero for fights over the job of District Attorney, Police Chief, and the size of prisons and jails. It recently became one of the only cities in the US to cancel construction of a jail. Activists have forc...

Jul 24, 202428 minEp. 116

Economic Struggles and Politics: Malaika Jabali on Milwaukee’s Challenges

As the Republican National Convention comes to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Laura talks with award-winning reporter and author, Malaika Jabali, author of "It's Not You, It’s Capitalism: Why It’s Time to Break Up and How to Move On”. Wisconsin is one of the most racially unequal states in the country, with rising housing costs outpacing wages and one of the highest Black male incarceration rates in the nation. It’s also seen a precipitous decline in Black voting — for either party. Are these things conn...

Jul 17, 202429 minEp. 115
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