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WPKN: Politics, Policy, and Planet Podcast

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WPKN's leading public affairs coverage concerning politics, policy, planet and so much more.
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Episodes

The Organic Farm Stand Show -- July 17, 2025

News and views from and to the organic community: -Hot Topics with Diane Lauricella -Small Farms Report by Steve Munno of Massaro Farm -Legislative update from CT NOFA by Dr. Kim Stoner -Special guest, Reggie St. Fort Colin discussing BIPOC farming and food justice issues in Connecticut Hosts: Richard Hill and Diane Lauricella

Jul 28, 202549 minEp. 225

New Film Opposes Medical Assisted Suicide; Producers Say Is Open to Abuse

Interview with Joan Cavanagh, a founding member of Progressives Against Medical Assisted Suicide, conducted by Scott Harris. Joan Cavanagh talks about the new documentary film titled, “Thoughts on Medical Assisted Suicide,” which will be available for viewing online from July 23 through July 30, in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990.

Jul 24, 202512 minEp. 224

Trump, GOP Purging Millions of Voters to Win 2026 Midterm Election

Interview with Greg Palast, author of several New York Times best-sellers including,The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, conducted by Scott Harris. Greg Palast talks about his recent investigations into the Trump-Republican party plan to win the 2026 midterm elections in 2025 by employing massive voter purges in purple states, racial gerrymandering, and voter suppression tactics.

Jul 24, 202521 minEp. 223

Understanding Zohran Mamdani’s NYC Mayoral Primary Victory

Interview with John Tarleton, editor-in-chief of The Indypendent, New York City's free progressive monthly newspaper, conducted by Scott Harris. John Tarleton discusses his coverage of Zohran Mamdani’s surprise victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary and the obstacles ahead for his progressive campaign in the November election, where he’ll face both Mayor Eric Adams and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He also considers what Mamdani’s rise could mean for progressive candidates in...

Jul 24, 202520 minEp. 222

U.S. Doctors Describe the Catastrophic Gaza Civilian Death Toll They Witnessed

Interview with Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a trauma and critical care surgeon, and Dr. Ayaz Pathan, an emergency room physician, conducted by Scott Harris. Dr. Feroze Sidhwa and Dr. Ayaz Pathan discuss their experiences working as physicians in Gaza; the ongoing slaughter and starvation of Palestinian civilians there; and their understanding of the mission of the Israeli-U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in distributing food that has resulted in hundreds of lives lost and the U.S. role in Israel’s...

Jul 24, 202526 minEp. 221

Dr. Jack Rasmus' Forensics on the Big Bullsh**t Bill

Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor emeritus at St. Mary's College and author of The Scourge of Neoliberalism--US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump, looks under the hood of the recently-passed MAGA tax and spending cut bill, and finds more of the putrefaction associated with neoliberalism and late-stage capitalism. Interview by Richard Hill

Jul 21, 202541 minEp. 220

Can Israelis and Palestinians Find a Way to Live Together?

Excerpt of speech by Jonathan Kuttab, Palestinian-American human rights lawyer and author of Beyond the Two-State Solution, recorded and produced by Melinda Tuhus. Beyond the current bloody war and genocide in Gaza, people across the Middle East and world are asking whether or not the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians can ever be resolved. Jonathan Kuttab is a Palestinian-American human rights attorney who practices in the U.S., Palestine and Israel. Kuttab, a practitioner...

Jul 17, 20257 minEp. 219

‘Good Trouble Lives On’ Nationwide Pro-Democracy Protests July 17; Local Rally on New Haven Green

Interview with Debra, an organizer with the group Indivisible Amity, Connecticut -- and Tom of the Indivisible chapter in Orange, Connecticut, conducted by Scott Harris. Indivisible organizers Debra and Tom discuss plans for the Thursday, July 17 “Good Trouble Lives On Rally” — with speakers and music on the New Haven Green in downtown New Haven, CT from 6 to 7 pm. This event, part of the day’s some 1,000+ protests nationwide, is being organized in response to the attacks on our civil and human ...

Jul 17, 202517 minEp. 218

Trump is Carrying Out an Explicitly White Supremacist Policy Agenda

Interview with Kali Holloway is columnist for The Nation and the former director of the Make It Right Project, a national campaign to take down Confederate monuments and tell the truth about history, conducted by Scott Harris. Kali Holloway discusses her recent articles on white supremacy and the Trump regime, with a focus on the multiple ways Trump has carried out an explicitly racist, white supremacist agenda. She also addresses corporate media’s failure to call out Trump’s racism, while norma...

Jul 17, 202518 minEp. 216

Corporate Media’s Surrender to Trump a Wake-up Call for Urgent Reforms to Support Journalism and Democracy

Interview with Victor Pickard, professor of media policy and political economy at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication, where he co-directs the Media, Inequality & Change Center. Victor Pickard discusses the important issues examined in his recent Nation magazine article, “The Media’s Profits Trump Democracy, Once Again,” with Paramount’s settlement with Trump as a symptom of deep structural rot in our corporate media system. In his analysis, Pickard goes beyon...

Jul 17, 202528 minEp. 215

First Stop Cop City Protester Trial in Georgia RICO Case Ends in Mistrial

Interview with Xavier de Janon, an attorney representing one of 61 ‘Stop Cop City’ defendants in Atlanta, conducted by Melinda Tuhus. Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Xavier de Janon, an attorney representing one of the 61 defendants. Here, he discusses the status of the cases and the serious possible sentences — up to 20 years in prison — that await any who are convicted. On July 7, a few days after this interview was conducted, the judge in King’s case declared a mistrial, saying th...

Jul 10, 20256 minEp. 214

After Federal Budget Slashed, Connecticut Agency Serving Refugees Forced to Adopt New Mission

Interview with Maggie Mitchell Salem, executive director of Connecticut-based IRIS, Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services, conducted by Scott Harris. Maggie Mitchell Salem discusses the impact of the Trump administration’s new immigration policies on IRIS services, as well as federal funds revoked or withdrawn from IRIS’ budget. She also talks about her group’s latest Know Your Rights campaign that was launched on the July 4th weekend, and other projects and services local listeners can supp...

Jul 10, 202514 minEp. 213

Trump Pardoned-Indicted Jan. 6 Insurrectionist Hired as Counselor to DOJ’s ‘Weaponization Working Group’

Interview with Teddy Wilson, a journalist, researcher and publisher of the Radical Reports newsletter on the far right, conducted by Scott Harris. Teddy Wilson talks about indicted Jan. 6 insurrectionist Jared L. Wise’s appointment as a counselor to Ed Martin, director of the so-called Department of Justice Weaponization Working Group. Wilson also discusses investigations he’s conducted in his “Pardon Tracker” series regarding the alarming activities of insurrectionists and other convicted crimi...

Jul 10, 202518 minEp. 212

ICE Budget Spikes 365%: Evidence of Trump Move to Impose Repressive Police State

Interview with Chris Lehmann, the DC Bureau chief for The Nation magazine and a contributing editor at The Baffler, conducted by Scott Harris. Chris Lehmann discusses the important and timely issues examined in his recent Nation article, “Trump’s Big Bill is Building a Big Police State,” explaining that “with more than $150 billion in outlays to expand the horrific surveillance, detention and rendition regime created under the Laken Riley Act, the measure will carry out Trump’s pledge to make th...

Jul 10, 202518 minEp. 211

Trump-GOP Budget: 17 Million Americans Lose Health Insurance; 51,000 Preventable Deaths Expected Annually

Interview with Dr. Adam W. Gaffney, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus on Children. Dr. Adam W. Gaffney and Bruce Lesley discuss the expected overall healthcare impact of the Trump-GOP federal budget bill just passed by Congress that cuts $1 trillion from Medicaid and Medicare, will take away millions of poor families’ access to food and nutrition programs and close hundreds of community and rural hospitals. Both will also address...

Jul 10, 202528 minEp. 210

Monthly Labor Report -- July, 2025: The War On Immigrants and Why We Must Win It

The Monthly Labor Report welcomes Nadia Marin-Molina, executive director of NDLON, the National Day Laborers Organizing Network, to discuss the crisis, the activism, and the fight-back we are witnessing as the right-wing attack on immigrants (both documented and undocumented) reaches critical mass around the country. The conversation includes Michael Zweig, economist and labor historian, who brings his decades of experience as a labor and civil rights activist to bear on analyzing this dangerous...

Jul 07, 202536 minEp. 209

North Carolina Neighbors Put Mutual Aid to Work in Hurricane Helene Recovery

Interview with Padma Dyvine, a survivor of Hurricane Helene from Bat Cave, North Carolina, conducted by Melinda Tuhus. Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus visited friends in the area in June and saw firsthand some of the damage and ongoing recovery efforts. Padma Dyvine and her husband, who live in the hamlet of Bat Cave, were airlifted from their home by helicopter when fallen trees blocked their ability to leave their home and get supplies. The couple spent 55 days as refugees, moving back home j...

Jul 04, 20256 minEp. 208

Unconstitutional ‘Disaster Looms’ After Supreme Court’s Birthright Citizenship Ruling

Interview with Dulce Guzman, executive director of Alianza Americas, conducted by Scott Harris. Dulce Guzman discusses her group, Alianza Americas’ response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limits the power of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions, without addressing the constitutionality of Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship. She’ll also discuss the next steps in defending the U.S. Constitution from the Trump regime’s authoritarian rule.

Jul 03, 202516 minEp. 207

Zohran Mamdani’s Surprise Victory in New York City’s Democratic Mayoral Primary

Interview with India Walton, senior strategist with RootsAction.org, conducted by Scott Harris. India Walton discusses Zohran Mamdani’s apparent and historic victory in the New York City primary election, and the attacks and obstacles he’ll likely face in the general election campaign as the Democratic party establishment, their corporate allies, and Wall Street attempt to smear Zohran as a “dangerous Muslim socialist.” Walton won the Democratic primary for mayor of Buffalo, N.Y. in 2021, but lo...

Jul 03, 202517 minEp. 206

Why Evangelicals Want Trump to Go to War with Iran

Interview with Amanda Marcotte, a senior politics writer at Salon.com and author of "Troll Nation: How the Right Became Trump-Worshipping Monsters Set on Rat-F*cking Liberals, America and Truth Itself." Amanda Marcotte talks about her recent commentary, “Evangelicals Push Trump into Conflict with Iran,” making the case that the Christian Right remains Trump’s most important constituency.

Jul 03, 202519 minEp. 205

Fighting the Trump GOP Mafia State Attack on the Constitution and Democracy Interview with bestselling author Sarah Kendzior

Interview with Sarah Kendzior, author of four best-selling books including, “They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent,” and her latest, "The Last American Road Trip," conducted by Scott Harris. Sarah talks about the Trump-GOP mafia state’s aggressive attack on the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law and dissent, as the regime deploys National Guard troops and the Marines to U.S. cities and instigates war (with Israel) against Iran....

Jul 03, 202527 minEp. 204

Resistance Roundtable for June 14, 2025 - No Kings Day Protest Special Program

Resistance Round Table is broadcast on WPKN the 2nd Saturday of each month where we engage in conversation about local and nationwide organizing for a more just and democratic America during this pivotal and dangerous moment in our nation's history. Show hosts are: Ruth Anne Baumgartner , a longtime instructor in literature and writing at Central Connecticut State University, member of the executive Committee of the CT Conference of the American Association of University Professors. Richard Hill...

Jun 28, 202555 minEp. 203

As Veterans’ 40-Day Fast for Gaza Nears End, Conditions for Palestinians Worsen

Interview with Mike Ferner, former director and former chair of the board of Veterans for Peace, conducted by Melinda Tuhus. Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Mike Ferner, a former national director of Veterans for Peace who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, later discharged as a conscientious objector. Ferner began the fast with the others, but was forced to drop out after 21 days due to health reasons. Here he talks about his hope that the fast will draw attention to the hum...

Jun 27, 20256 minEp. 202

Danbury CT Activists Organize Community to Protest ICE Deportation Raids

Interview with Carolina Bortolleto, co-founder of Connecticut Students for a Dream, and Juliana Soares, immigrant rights activist, conducted by Scott Harris. Carolina Bortolleto and Juliana Soares discuss recent ICE deportation raids in Danbury and elsewhere in Connecticut, the Danbury community’s response and demands issued by Danbury Unites for Immigrants, a collective of local immigrant community leaders.

Jun 26, 202515 minEp. 201

Democrats Must Adopt Progressive Economic Agenda to Defeat Trump and Protect Democracy

Interview with Norman Solomon, co-founder of RootsAction.org, executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy and author, conducted by Scott Harris. Norman Solomon talks about the recent massive June 14th nationwide anti-Trump protests and his recent commentary, “No Kings Day’ Was Historic: Now We Need a Powerful — and Independent — Movement Against Trump,” discussing the strategies and tactics necessary to stop the Trump-GOP march toward fascism.

Jun 26, 202518 minEp. 200

Trump-MAGA’s Embrace of Political Violence Kills

Interview with David Schultz, distinguished professor in the departments of political science, environmental studies and legal studies at Hamline University, conducted by Scott Harris. David Schultz discusses his recent Counterpunch article, “The Tragedy of Political Violence: It Works,” recounting how violence has played a critical role in shaping history across the world and here in the U.S. He examines Donald Trump’s and the Republican party’s embrace and normalization of political violence, ...

Jun 26, 202520 minEp. 199

Trump Distorts Intelligence on Iran Nukes to Justify Bombing

Interview with Phyllis Bennis, director of the Institute for Policy Studies’ New Internationalism Project, conducted by Scott Harris. Phyllis Bennis talks about President Trump’s decision to launch of air strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities, the ongoing Israel-Iran air battle, and the danger that Trump’s entry into the conflict could ignite a dangerous regional war.

Jun 26, 202526 minEp. 198

House Approves Trump-GOP Budget That Will Decimate National Parks, Sell Off Public Lands

Interview with Randi Spivak, public lands policy director with the Center for Biological Diversity, conducted by Melinda Tuhus. Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Randi Spivak, public lands policy director with the Center for Biological Diversity, discusses these threats and suggests ways listeners can help protect America’s public lands.

Jun 19, 20256 minEp. 197

Trump Politicization of US Military, One More Step Toward Establishing a Police State

Interview with Ann Wright, a 29-year US Army/Army Reserves veteran who retired as a Colonel and a former US diplomat who resigned in March 2003 in opposition to the war. Ann Wright discusses her views on Donald Trump’s federalization and deployment of National Guard and Marine troops to Los Angeles over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, to suppress mostly peaceful protests regarding: militarized ICE deportation raids, and growing concern about the Trump regime’s partisan politiciza...

Jun 19, 202532 minEp. 196
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