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.”
March 29, 2015
Ralph talks to Professor Allison Stanger about her book One Nation Under Contract and how private contractors have become an integral part of our foreign policy. We also talk to Bob Hunter, insurance director of the Consumer Federation of America, who warns us about the latest scam that may be affecting your auto insurance rates. Plus, Ralph tells us how you should be “getting steamed.”
March 21, 2015
Ralph talks to labor activist and author Bill Fletcher Jr. about the state of labor and the overall performance of the Congressional Black Caucus. And Good Jobs First research director Phil Mattera stops by to unveil a new web-tool (subsidy tracker) they have developed that identifies which prominent corporations are living off the government teat. Plus, more listener questions.
March 14, 2015
Former NYC Public Advocate and Nader’s Raider Mark Green engages Ralph in a lively debate over Hillary Clinton and the difference between a politician versus an advocate. We also delve into Israeli Prime Minister’s address to Congress and the letter to Iran signed by forty-seven Republicans. We also discuss those that the economic upturn have left behind in Ohio.
March 8, 2015
Ralph gets into a debate with his old friend, Victor Schwartz, about malpractice lawsuits and hot coffee. Along the way, former President Bill Clinton horns in on the discussion, and we get a visit from the ghost of Ronald Reagan. Plus more listener questions.
March 8, 2015
Renowned investigative reporter, James Ridgeway, tells us about his latest project, Solitary Watch, which exposes the uses and abuses of solitary confinement in our prison system. Ralph also answers a listener question about what it will take to spawn a second American Revolution.
February 21, 2015
We talk to peace activist and war tax resister, Frances Crowe, about her memoir Frances Crowe: Finding My Radical Soul and how she’s been arrested for civil disobedience more times than she can remember. Ralph also fills us in on the mess in Libya, tells us about how United Airlines employees are getting screwed, and we answer more listener questions.
February 14, 2015
We talk sports with Dr. Ken Reed policy director of League of Fans and author of How We Can Save Sports: A Game Plan. Ralph pitches his idea for bettering the country by organizing people born in the same year to support civic engagement, and he also explains how Canada may be following our bad example.
February 7, 2015
We talk to one of Ralph’s favorite Republicans, attorney Bruce Fein, about the constitution and how Bush, Cheney, Obama, and Hillary Clinton could be tried as war criminals. Ralph actually has some praise for the NFL during the Super Bowl and answers a slew of listener Facebook questions.