What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains
Ralph welcomes Nicholas Carr, author of “The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains” who argues that despite it being a vast storehouse of knowledge, the internet could be turning us into superficial thinkers. Also, NY Times opinion writer, Justin Gillis, along with the executive director of the Energy Policy Institute, David Pomerantz report on the scandal of fossil fuel and nuclear companies bribing state politicians.
Young Activists/Can Trump Steal 2020?
Ralph welcomes civics educator and author, Barbara Lewis, who tells how best to teach kids how to be effective activists in their communities. Then, investigative reporter, Greg Palast, joins us to outline how we can protect our vote this election year, chronicled in his book “How Trump Stole 2020: The Hunt for America’s Vanished Voters.”
Deconstructing Biden’s Ads
Amidst a general discussion of this year’s presidential race, political ad guru Bill Hillsman deconstructs four Joe Biden ads and one Trump ad for message and effectiveness. Plus, child advocate Robert Fellmeth rejoins us to continue his crusade against anonymity on Facebook.
Did Covid-19 Come From a Lab?
Ralph welcomes back Andrew Kimbrell, founder of the Center for Food Safety, to discuss the dangers of genetically engineered viruses and the possibility that COVID-19 escaped from a lab. And Dr. Michael Carome, director of the Health Research Group at Public Citizen, tells us about Public Citizen’s effort to get President Trump and Vice President Pence to step down and put health experts in charge of the pandemic response.
Frank Luntz
Ralph, David, and Steve invite Republican pollster, Frank Luntz, coiner of the terms “climate change” and “clean coal,” for a freewheeling conversation about – among other things – why he has changed his mind about the climate crisis.
How To Fix Our Broken Democracy
Ralph welcomes Daniel Newman, author of the intriguing and accessible non-fiction graphic novel “Unrig: How To Fix Our Broken Democracy,” about how private “wealth hoarders” work to weaken government and what you can do about it. Then, Dr. John Geyman returns to remind us how corporate healthcare rips us all off as evidenced in his new book “Profiteering, Corruption and Fraud in U.S. Health Care.”
November 4, 2017
Ralph welcomes Sarah van Gelder, founder of PeoplesHub and Mark Pertschuk, director of Grassroots Change, two organizations that offer you the skills and expertise on how to make change in your community.
October 14, 2017
Ralph talks wildfires, single payer healthcare, and the state of the union movement with Executive Director of National Nurses United, RoseAnn DeMoro; and the head of the Humane Society of the United States, Wayne Pacelle, argues that if industry treated animals better, they’d actually increase profits.
October 7, 2017
Ralph and Alan Essig, Executive Director of Citizens for Tax Justice break down President Trump’s Tax Reform proposal and insurance expert, Robert Hunter, returns to explain what’s going on with hurricane and flood insurance in the wake Harvey, Irma and Maria.
September 30, 2017
Ralph talks to millionaire Morris Pearl, chairman of Patriotic Millionaires, a group of wealthy individuals fighting for economic and political equality, which includes raising their own taxes. And former FTC Chair, Michael Pertschuk reminisces with Ralph about how they got good things done in Congress. Plus, in the this week's Wrap Up Ralph weighs in on Donald Trump vs. the NFL.
September 23, 2017
Ralph talks everything water, including how cities can maintain clean water in the face of natural disasters with George Hawkins, CEO of the municipal utility, DC Water. And media maven, Douglas Rushkoff, author of Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus, talks about how to maintain your power and humanity in the age of digital monopolies.
September 16, 2017
Ralph spends the whole hour with journalist Franklin Foer, author of World Without Mind: The Existential Threat of Big Tech, about how the Big Four, Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon are attempting to dominate every aspect of our lives and minds. Plus, we get Ralph’s take on the Bernie Sanders’ single-payer bill, and he answers more listener questions.