"Be Bold America!"

Jill Cody, MPA
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Politics
  • Updated Biweekly

“Be Bold America!” is produced by KSQD 90.7, 89.5 & 89FM and is a live, biweekly, radio talk show for those who are motivated to step out with the bold actions necessary to reimagine ethical politics, restore our democracy and fight the climate crisis. “Be Bold America” is for those who want to understand the unique challenges ahead and who are curious to learn what they can Keep doing, Stop doing, and Start doing to fight for a bold democracy. Our future depends on it. Our future is unwritten. It will be shaped by how we treat each other and what we do right now. We have big things to do!

  1. Sep 7

    Was America Wired for Authoritarianism from the Start?

    In contrast to current thinking, that treats Trump's authoritarianism as new and singular, what if authoritarianism in the United States has a long history that explains the extent to which authoritarianism has been embraced by large sections of US voters? The Magna Carta, the foundation of our Constitution, really is much more than what we were taught in school. Americans were never taught that the 1215 Magna Carta’s official name was the “ARTICLE OF THE BARONS” written by 25 oligarchs to keep King John in check! Since Donald Trump ascended to the presidency, Americans are increasingly concerned about authoritarianism and creeping fascism. Their fears are justified, but according to eminent sociologist and prolific author, Dr. Charles Derber, America was wired for authoritarianism long before the emergence of Donald Trump. Elites have long wired US institutions to benefit them at the expense of everyone else. Dr. Derber argues that US history is best understood as a series of corporate regimes and for American democracy to flourish we must build new systems wired for constitutional democracy and the common good. Interview Guest: Charles Derber is Professor of Sociology at Boston College and has written 32 books - on politics, democracy, fascism, corporations, capitalism, climate change, war, the culture wars, culture and conversation, and social change. He writes for and has been reviewed in the NY Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, Truthout, and other leading media. His books are translated into 14 languages. His most recent books include Wired for Authoritarianism, Dying for Capitalism, Who Owns Democracy, Welcome to the Revolution, Moving Beyond Fear, Sociopathic Society: A People's Sociology of the United States; Capitalism: Should You Buy It?.

    Was America Wired for Authoritarianism from the Start?

  2. Aug 24

    Who are the Deny-o-sours and Solutionaries?

    Produced by KSQD 90.7, 89.5 & 89.7FM “Be Bold America!” Aired August 21, 2026 at 5:00pm (PT) It’s 2026, just a little over halfway through Donald-the-Deny-o-sour’s second term and the world is seemingly on fire. As if record heat waves, fires, and floods on multiple continents aren’t bad enough … the regular rollbacks the Trump administration is boldly (and not the good kind) making, would be comical were it not so serious! And as if pouring kerosene on the fire isn’t bad enough, Deny-o-sours are gaslighting everyone they can by calling the Solutionaries alarmists and insisting there’s nothing to see nor learn about the climate emergency. If you live in the fact-based world, it is the Deny-o-sours who have created the climate 5-alarm fire on behalf of the mighty fossil fuel barons, by peddling doubt for money. Environmental journalist turned advocate; Betsy Rosenberg, is just not having it. The host and producer of hundreds of interviews with what she calls “Solutionaries”— on all shades of green-- will join cohost Mike Clancy for a dynamic discussion about the attacks on the health of people and planet, as well as democracy and decency. What does it portend for our kids’ future? Can any of the damage to our climate be reversed? Although the news is pretty grim, Betsy’s three decades covering the green beat has not diminished her passion for preserving our precious planet. Find out where she finds hope and why she cannot quit. Interview Guest: Betsy Rosenberg is a broadcast pioneer and an award-winning CBS Radio News journalist and longtime green advocate. She is best known for her pioneering environmental and climate-focused interviews which began in 1997. Over the years Rosenberg has hosted several radio, internet and video programs, including the current CODE GREEN! YouTube series. (Live streams, worldwide, on any electronic device. Visit the ksqd.org website)

    Who are the Deny-o-sours and Solutionaries?

  3. Aug 10

    Who is the Man Behind the Curtain? It’s Russell Vought!

    Produced by KSQD 90.7 89.5 & 89.7FM Who is the Man Behind the Curtain? It’s Russell Vought! Be Bold America! August 7, 2026 “We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected. … When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains.” – Russell Vought, Director, US Office of Management and Budget Public service was viewed as an honorable profession. In 1986, Ronald Reagan uttered words that were designed to divide The People from their Government. Those words were: “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help.” Through the decades, these words have been disastrously effective. Now, neighbors and families have been successfully divided and many do see public servants as villains. This will be an important show with a very courageous guest. Two New York Times articles were written about Jenna Norton and her efforts to inform the public and the tragic budget cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Did you know that there is an informal organization called the “Civil Servants Coalition” comprised of federal employees who are on the front lines directly watching the harm being done to your government? Jenna Norton, a federal employee herself, will join “Be Bold America!” in her PERSONAL CAPACITY to explain the most devastating actions the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought, is doing to the National Institutes of Health, Science, and other departments throughout the federal government.

    Who is the Man Behind the Curtain? It’s Russell Vought!

  4. Jul 12

    Every Voter Deserves a Voice That Matters

    Produced by KSQD 90.7, 89.5 & 89.7FM “Be Bold America!” Live Interview Aired Friday, July 3, 2026 at 5:00pm (PT) Times have changed! 45% of today's voters identify as political independents. They are rejecting rigid opinions. Now, there is a non-partisan reform organization who are advancing fair participation for independent-minded voters. The Independent Voter Project (IVP) is focused on three reforms: • Open primaries for every voter! Over 26 million Americans are locked out of primary elections simply because they refuse to join a political party. The independent Voter Project is leading the fight to change that. • Improve better representation with More Choice Voting! When elections offer only two viable choices; voters settle. More Choice Voting advances reforms that expand the field, increase competition, and force candidates to earn broader support. • End Super PACs! 74.9% of Maine voters said yes to capping Super PAC donations at $5000. Now, IVP is defending that law in court – and building the legal framework to take the fight to all 50 states. IVP’s legal work is the engine behind every reform they pursue. They author legislation, build the constitutional framework, and defend it in court. Their track record isn't theoretical – it's precedent. IVP’s litigation record, spans, offense and defense – from federal district courts to the US Supreme Court. Interview Guest: S. Chad Peace is an attorney, media executive, and election reform advocate based in San Diego. He is the founder of IVC Media, a digital strategy and public affairs firm working with corporate, nonprofit, and political clients, and a partner at Peace & Shea LLP, where his legal work focuses on election law and voter participation. Chad has been involved in national and state efforts to expand access for independent voters, including litigation, ballot initiatives, and public education. He is a frequent commentator on election reform and political systems and co-hosts the Independent Voter Podcast. View Chad Peace's interview on ABC News!

    Every Voter Deserves a Voice That Matters

  5. Jun 25

    The Global Crackdown on Free Expression

    Produced by KSQD 89.5, 89.7 & 90.7FM "Be Bold America!" Live Interview Aired / June 19, 2026 The Global Crackdown on Free Expression in Honor of Project Censored's 50th Anniversary In this interview, on the global crackdown of free expression, Dr. Steve Macek from North Central College in Illinois will discuss his work to combat the growing attacks on free speech and academic freedom in the U.S. and around the world. Over the past decade, free speech and academic freedom have faced a synchronized, global decline. This erosion is not limited to traditional autocracies; it has increasingly taken root within established liberal democracies – most notably, right here in the United States. The threats manifest in two primary ways: external political and legal coercion (from governments and lawmakers) and internal culture pressures (leading to self-censorship and polarization). Tune in to “Be Bold America!” on Friday, June 19 at 5:00pm to learn how restrictions on free expression mirrors a country’s broader shift toward authoritarian governance. Interview Guest: Dr. Steve Macek is a professor of communication and chair of the department of communication and media studies at North Central College in Illinois. He teaches courses on the First Amendment, journalism history, media policy, media, criticism, and urban studies. Dr. Macek is the author of Urban Nightmares: The Media, the Right, and the Moral Panic over the City, that is a critical analysis of media discourse about American cities. His ads, commentaries and articles on censorship, academic freedom, media regulation and politics have been published in a wide range of newspapers, magazines, and websites

    The Global Crackdown on Free Expression

  6. Jun 12

    How Women Are Centered and Silenced in Pop Culture

    Produced by KSQD 89.5, 89.7 & 90.7FM "Sexism is something that exists because it has existed, does exist, and therefore feels inevitable that it will exist. Certain treatments of women and girls are rooted in inequity simply because those bodies are female. Sexism over time and across institutions sends repeated messages about who women are and where they belong, and constructs a palatable version of womanhood that is non-threatening." - Allison T. Butler In Allison T. Butler's new book, The Judgement of Gender, Allison examines how women are both centered and silenced, and maligned in popular culture. She explores a generational legacy in which media harms women, and unpacks what it means when women are cast as “problematic.” Allison uses grounded and critical media literacy to look at celebrity stories, and those thrust into the spotlight, with more nuance, including the infamously sensationalized coverage of Britney Spears, Anita Hill, and Monica Lewinsky. Interview Guest: Allison Butler is a Senior Lecturer, Associate Chair, and the Director of the Media Literacy Certificate Program in the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she teaches courses on critical media literacy and representations of education in the media. Allison serves as the Vice President on the Media Freedom Foundation and co-run Mass Media Literacy, a grassroots organization that builds curriculum and trains teachers in critical media literacy across K-12 schools. She is the author of numerous articles and books on media literacy and is co-author of multiple practical resources for media literacy education. In addition, Allison previous book The Media and Me was the subject of her previous "Be Bold America!" interview on media literacy, visit: The Media and Me: A Guide to Media Literacy.

    How Women Are Centered and Silenced in Pop Culture

  7. May 20

    How to Mobilize to Defend Democracy

    Produced by KSQD 90.7, 89.5 & 89.7FM "Be Bold America! ~ Aired May 15, 2026 With the 2026 midterm elections looming and democracy on the line, progressive attorney, activist, and author, Gary Lucks, presents in his new book We Are The People fiercely practical, street-level directions for Americans who want to engage beyond posting, protesting, or donating, to actually helping flip the House and Senate this November. Drawing on postmortem data from Activate America, Lucks shows that grassroots volunteers shifted outcomes by 2-4% in battleground districts in 2024 and that Democrats need to flip just three seats in the House and four in the Senate to restore a legislative firewall against the current administration's agenda. Unlike many tomes on the current political situation, We Are the Power tells readers exactly how to close that gap. Gary Lucks, JD, CPEA, is a progressive author, activist, and environmental attorney who has spent four decades at the intersection of law, policy, and sustainability. He is the founder of Progressive Action East Bay and Resistance Action East Bay Indivisible, two of California's most active grassroots political networks. Lucks is also the author of You Are Not Alone: Your Roadmap to Effective Political Action. More at garylucks.com. Top Three Resources Shared in Podcast to Defend Democracy: 1) Hopium Chronicles (sign up for free) 2) Indivisible (look for a chapter near you) 3) Activate America (volunteer)

    How to Mobilize to Defend Democracy

  8. May 7

    Saving the American Dream

    Produced by KSQD 90.7, 89.5 & 89.7FM The American Dream at its best is an ethical ideal and a moral compass. If respected and sustained, it can guide the United States through Trump 2.0. Anchored in the US Constitution, Saving the American Dream features meditations for dark times. Meditations are intentional acts of focused attention. They seek insight—a clear and deep understanding—about critical issues. What, for example, is most important for the United States today? Are we Americans doing the best we can? How may inquiry about the American Dream advance the reflection and action needed now to support and defend the Constitution of the United States? Saving the American Dream is a journey that goes where such questions lead. Its fundamental premise is that individuals moved to communal action by warned awareness and committed resistance are indispensable to meet challenges that grow by the day. Guidance from reliable American writers—philosophers, historians, novelists, poets, essayists, religious thinkers—maps the way.” Interview Guest:  John Roth, is the Edward J. Sexton professor emeritus of philosophy at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California. Dr. Roth was named the 1988 U. S. National Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Dr. Roth's expertise in Holocaust and genocide studies, as well as in philosophy, ethics, American studies, and religious studies, has been advanced by postdoctoral appointments as a Graves Fellow in the Humanities, a Fulbright Lecturer in American Studies at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and a Fellow of the National Humanities Institute, Yale University.

    Saving the American Dream
See All (144)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

“Be Bold America!” is produced by KSQD 90.7, 89.5 & 89FM and is a live, biweekly, radio talk show for those who are motivated to step out with the bold actions necessary to reimagine ethical politics, restore our democracy and fight the climate crisis. “Be Bold America” is for those who want to understand the unique challenges ahead and who are curious to learn what they can Keep doing, Stop doing, and Start doing to fight for a bold democracy. Our future depends on it. Our future is unwritten. It will be shaped by how we treat each other and what we do right now. We have big things to do!

Information

  • Creator
    Jill Cody, MPA
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    144
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jill Cody, MPA
  • Show Website
    "Be Bold America!"