An Armao On The Brink Rosemary Armao

All five of the Armao sisters in one place is a rare event but we captured just that in this last podcast before OTB takes a three-week summer hiatus. We talk about the validity of birth order research from our perspective, about Justice Altio's wife and his flags, and about the summers we have shared and will share over the next three months. In birth order: Rosemary, Jo-Ann, Kate, Lisa, and Christine

Early in May, On the Brink featured some smart, angry women talking about attacks on American women in the form of legislative fiats and judicial rulings that banned abortion, criminalized miscarriages, inserted government into their bedrooms, and hobbled doctors. Now we are giving men a turn to talk about abortion: what it has to do with them and why they are standing up for and with women. You'll hear no fundamentalist preachers extolling the sanctity of unborn life on this program. You will hear from a public relations expert who watched a brilliant campaign against Roe unfold over the past 50 years, a former newspaper editorial page editor who's seen opinion about abortion swing wildly, and from a long-time Planned Parenthood official who has ideas about fighting back against anti-abortion extremists.

Just as in the 1970s when students on campuses nationwide began sitting-in, dropping out, occupying campus buildings, and marching against war in Vietnam, young people are now protesting US involvement in the war in Gaza. Also just as 50 years ago the nation is divided over the university unrest, many sympathizing with the students, many also decrying violence and lack of control by university officials. Host Rosemary Armao talks with a Palestinian student who helped organize the Washington student encampment, and journalists/activists involved in the Black Lives Matter, Civil Rights, and Vietnam peace movements about whether the First Amendment right to publicly contest the actions of our government is endangered. Law enforcement and government officials don’t like demonstrations and want control over them. Does protesting, really, however, even make a difference?

May means flowers, lawns and gardens --  outdoor glory that can make war, famine, student protests and hate  go away for a while. But  while planting native plant species and shrinking grassy areas around your home to make room for flower beds is relaxing and beautifying, it's also an important way to fight back against climate change and environmental degradation. Listen to two of the best Master Gardeners in New York's capital area explain how it all works. They also answer a slew of your frequently asked gardening questions.

Why do old men judges and politicians get to make decisions about how women use their bodies? Why is the US moving backward in matters of reproductive health when even Catholic countries are modernizing? Why should doctors face criminal charges just for caring for patients? Rosemary talks with some smart and angry women about abortion lunacy. Hear from women’s cancer care Dr. Heidi Godoy, long-time Planned Parenthood Spokeswoman Blue Carreker, college administrator Malia Du Mont, and political activist Christine Primomo. 

The news has been so intensely bizarre lately that we had to take a minute to talk about it all rationally. Former and maybe future President Trump is on trial for paying a porn star to shut up about their sex-capades, Trump won't shut up about jurors and witnesses despite a gag order, the press is catching flak  for giving airtime to Trump and writing about the jury. While meantime in DC Republicans in Congress led by Margery Taylor Greene are talking about shaking up the speakership again. Talking about this circus with me are editorial writer Mark Mahoney of the Gazette in Schenectady and former Washington political reporter Phyllis Jordan.