Living in the USA

Living in the USA
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Talking about politics, thinking about the Left. Hosted by Jon Wiener, co-author of "Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties," contributing editor at The Nation, and broadcast live at KPFK 90.7FM in LA Thursdays at 4.

  1. The Blue Wave: Harold Meyerson; The Springsteen Movie: Greil Marcus; William RAndolph Hearst: David Nasaw

    1 DAY AGO

    The Blue Wave: Harold Meyerson; The Springsteen Movie: Greil Marcus; William RAndolph Hearst: David Nasaw

    The blue wave – or "blue tsunami" – this week restored the Democrats' winning coalition: people of color, young people and women. Harold Meyerson on how Tuesday shows us that while "candidate Trump is good for Republican turnout, President Trump is good for Democratic turnout". Also: Greil Marcus comments on the new film about Bruce Springsteen writing the songs for his 1982 album “Nebraska”, starring starring Jeremy Allen White of ‘The Bear.” The movie misses the context: working class decline in Reagan’s America. Greil Marcus is the author of two dozen books, including “Mystery Train,” which has just been reissued in a special 50th anniversary edition. Plus: From the archives: William Randolph Hearst: the media mogul the left loved to hate. David Nasaw discuses his biography "The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst" (first recorded by 2001).

    58 min
  2. Voters and Redistricting: Harold Meyerson; Confederate Monuments: Christopher Knight; Mansplaining: Rebecca Solnit

    1 NOV

    Voters and Redistricting: Harold Meyerson; Confederate Monuments: Christopher Knight; Mansplaining: Rebecca Solnit

    Voters can take a stand against Trump’s candidates in next Tuesday’s elections in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and New York City—and move toward redistricting that favors Democrats. Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect explains. Also: A new art exhibit in Los Angeles, called Monuments, displays 10 decommissioned Confederate monuments alongside the work of 19 artists responding or relating to them. It’s at MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and at the Brick, an arts nonprofit. Christopher Knight comments—he’s the art critic for the Los Angeles Times and a winner of the Pulitzer Prize in criticism. Plus: From the archives, Rebecca Solnit talks about how "Men Explain Things To Me." (originally broadcast in 2014).

    58 min
  3. Trump's bad week: Harold Meyerson; After No Kings: Rebecca Solnit; Reforming the LAPD: Danny Goldberg

    25 OCT

    Trump's bad week: Harold Meyerson; After No Kings: Rebecca Solnit; Reforming the LAPD: Danny Goldberg

    From the biggest single day of protest in American history – 7 million people demonstrating against Trump – to his worst major poll since he took office in January – it hasn't been a good week for Trump – unless you count the tearing down of the east wing of the White House. Harold Meyerson comments. No Kings Day on Oct. 18 was the largest peaceful protest in American history. Rebecca Solnit comments, and refutes Republican statements about violence on the left. Her most recent book is “Orwell’s Roses.” Also: the fight to control the LA police: a decades long effort that culminated in 1992, after the Rodney King riots, when longtime police chief Darryl Gates was forced out. Danny Goldberg comments – at the time he was board chair of the ACLU of Southern California Foundation, and his new book is “Liberals With Attitude.”

    57 min
  4. New Threats from The Supremes: Harold Meyerson; No Kings: Leah Greenberg; "One Battle After Another": John Powers

    18 OCT

    New Threats from The Supremes: Harold Meyerson; No Kings: Leah Greenberg; "One Battle After Another": John Powers

    The Supreme Court vs. The Voting Rights Act: The conservative majority of SCOTUS plans to eliminate 12 Democratic seats in the House, currently held by Black representatives. What are the implications for the 2026 midterms; and, what can the Democrats do to counter this latest gerrymandering nightmare? Harold Meyerson comments. Also: Saturday is the second No Kings Day – it should be the biggest single day of protest in American history, with more than 2,500 events planned. Leah Greenberg will explain the preparations – she’s co-founder of Indivisible, the group that called the first No Kings day, June 14 – five million people participated in that one, held the same day as Trump’s birthday parade – the one no one came to. Plus: There’s “a forthrightly antifascist film” that critics call “wild and thrilling” -- of course, that’s “One Battle After Another,” the Paul Thomas Anderson movie starring Leonardo di Caprio as a burnt out left wing bomber, targeted by an ICE captain played by Sean Penn. John Powers will comment—he’s critic at large on Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

    58 min
  5. Peace in Gaza: Harold Meyerson; plus the courts v. Trump: David Cole

    11 OCT

    Peace in Gaza: Harold Meyerson; plus the courts v. Trump: David Cole

    Harold Meyerson comments on what remains to be done for genuine peace in Gaza; he also reviews the National Guard deployments to Portland and Chicago, the upcoming elections in California and elsewhere, and Trump's lastest attacks on universities. Also: as the Supreme Court begins its new term, Trump lost six different cases in district courts just last week, ranging from bans on deploying the National Guard to defending freedom of speech for noncitizens, to yet another court rejecting his executive order abolishing birthright citizenship. At the same time, Trump is claiming an illegitimate legal basis for ordering the murder of civilians he claims are trafficing in drugs. David Cole will comment—he’s a former national legal director of the ACLU and The Nation’s legal affairs correspondent.

    46 min
  6. The Shutdown and the Dems: Harold Meyerson; Trump and Tylenol: Gregg Gonsalves; Against Football: Steve Almond

    3 OCT

    The Shutdown and the Dems: Harold Meyerson; Trump and Tylenol: Gregg Gonsalves; Against Football: Steve Almond

    For Senate Democrats this is a big week for defiance. At last they are making popular demands as part of a deal to pass a budget and avoid a government shutdown. But Trump still holds a lot of cards. Harold Meyerson will comment. Also: None of us were prepared for the double whammy of last week’s White House press conference, where Trump made false claims not only about vaccines but also about Tylenol causing autism. We’ll have analysis from Gregg Gonsalves. He teaches at the Yale School of Public Health; he’s been an AIDS activist for 30 years; and he’s also a MacArthur Fellow—class of 2018. And he’s The Nation’s public health correspondent.  And Steve Almond talks about the trouble with football - the thousands of concussions from "hits" that leave players with brain damage - for our entertainment. His book is "Against Football." (originally broadcast in 2015)

    46 min

  7. 27 SEPT

    Bhaskar Sunkara on Trump & Jimmy Kimmel; Beverly Gage on Trump & Harvard

    Trump is trying to stop speech that criticizes him and his administration. Last week began with JD Vance complaining about an article in The Nation that criticized the ideas of Charlie Kirk. Two days after that, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel. And a few days after that, a protest movement forced ABC to put him back on the air. Bhaskar Sunkara comments on the fight over freedom of speech—he’s president of The Nation magazine. Also: Attacking Harvard is not unique to Trump. For decades, indeed for centuries, American politicians have made hay by going after Harvard. Historian Beverely Gage talks about what’s familiar, and what’s new, in Trump’s efforts—based on a reconsideration of Richard Hofstadter’s classic 1963 book, Anti-Intellectualism in American Life. Also: Bill McKibben's 'Here comes the sun' - and the KPFK fund drive.

    57 min

  8. 20 SEPT

    Trump v. Jimmy Kimmel: Harold Meyerson; Some Good News for Dems: John Nichols; Teachers v. Fascists: Randi Weingarden

    With his attacks on late-night comedians, Trump is practicing the "cancel culture" he pledged to eliminate. Harold Meyerson comments. Also: Democrats have been winning big victories in special elections in diverse places across the country. John Nichols comments. Plus: Why fascists fear teachers - starting in L.A. Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT, explains - her new book is "Why Fascists Fear Teachers."

    57 min
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About

Talking about politics, thinking about the Left. Hosted by Jon Wiener, co-author of "Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties," contributing editor at The Nation, and broadcast live at KPFK 90.7FM in LA Thursdays at 4.

Information

  • Creator
    Living in the USA
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    459
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Living in the USA

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