Living in the USA

Living in the USA
  • 4.0 (76)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Living in the USA

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. Learning from the Election: Harold Meyerson; Trumpers for Abortion: Amy Littlefield; Sean Wilentz on Bob Dylan

    NOV 21

    Learning from the Election: Harold Meyerson; Trumpers for Abortion: Amy Littlefield; Sean Wilentz on Bob Dylan

    Trump's terrible cabinet picks – what if the Democrats use these remaining two months to hold their own confirmation hirings? Also, are Democrats out of touch with the American people? Harold Meyerson comments. Also: A lot of people who voted for abortion rights referenda this year also voted for Trump. What were they thinking? How do they understand politics? Amy Littlefield spent election day in Amarillo, Texas, trying to find out. Plus: From the archives: Bob Dylan in 1964, when he was 23; Sean Wilentz, historian and author of a Grammy-nominated essay about Bob Dylan, comments (originally recorded in January, 2005).

    59 min
  2. Trump's Crazy Cabinet: Harold Meyerson; Hope in the Dark: Rebecca Solnit; Where's Melania?

    NOV 15

    Trump's Crazy Cabinet: Harold Meyerson; Hope in the Dark: Rebecca Solnit; Where's Melania?

    Trump's initial nominees include Matt Gaetz for Attorney General – "the group that is probably most elated by this are his fellow Republican House members who hate his guts" – Harold Meyerson discusses Trump's crazy cabinet. Also: Hope does not mean saying ‘this is not bad,’ Rebecca Solnit argues; it just means we will not give up—because we know that what we do matters, and we also know we’ve been surprised by good things we never expected. Plus: Melania has been absent from Trump's side; and, is reported to have no intention of living in the White House for Trump's second term; so, where ​IS Melania?​

    58 min
  3. How Trump Won: Harold Meyerson and John Nichols; Harried Tubman: Tiya Miles

    NOV 7

    How Trump Won: Harold Meyerson and John Nichols; Harried Tubman: Tiya Miles

    Big Picture: Trump won a landslide in the electoral college and control of the Senate; control of the House is unclear at this point. So much good work went into fighting Trump; but, a majority of voters know who Trump is and chose him. So, how did we get here? And, what do we do next? Harold Meyerson comments. Also: John Nichols looks at the elections results: For starters: Trump got fewer votes than 4 years ago; 55% of voters in the CNN exit poll said he was “too extreme.” Plus: Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery and returned again and again to lead others north to freedom. Now her story is being told in a wonderful new book, with the wonderful title “Night Flyer” –​ the author is Harvard historian Tiya Miles​ (originally recorded June, 2024).

    57 min
  4. Closing Arguments: Harold Meyerson; Melania's Memoir: Amy Wilentz; Womens' Reproductive Health Care: Michelle Obama

    OCT 31

    Closing Arguments: Harold Meyerson; Melania's Memoir: Amy Wilentz; Womens' Reproductive Health Care: Michelle Obama

    If Harris wins Pennsylvania – a predominately working-class state – she probably wins the election; so, what could be the most effective closing argument to convince working-class voters there to vote for Harris? New research by The Center for Working-Class Politics tested messages and found that the strongest one singles out corporations for raising prices — Harold Meyerson comments. Also: Melania has published a memoir, Melania, where she revisits plagiarizing Michelle Obama for her 2016 RNC convention speech, and wearing that jacket that said “I don’t care, do U?” when she visited INS detention camps for children separated from their parents at the border. Amy Wilentz comments on her explanations—and on the rest of the book. Plus: Part of Michelle Obama's speech in Kalamazoo last weekend where she said "to the men who love us, let me just try to paint a picture of what it will feel like if America, the wealthiest nation on earth, keeps revoking basic care from its women; and how it will effect every single woman in your life"; and about Trump: "a vote for him is a vote against us."

    54 min
  5. On the Ground in Nevada: Harold Meyerson; Voters of Color: Steve Phillips; MLK's last years: Taylor Branch

    OCT 25

    On the Ground in Nevada: Harold Meyerson; Voters of Color: Steve Phillips; MLK's last years: Taylor Branch

    World famous gambling and entertainment hub Las Vegas, Nevada is also home to one of the "the most politically potent" unions in the United States, representing hotel casino workers there: Culinary Union Local 226 -- Harold Meyerson traveled to Las Vegas to find out what this powerful union is doing to help "push Kamala over the top". Also: Latino and Black voters in swing states, we are told by the New York Times, are “drifting away from the Democrats.” But how good is the evidence here? Steve Phillips has our analysis. Plus: From the Archives: The final years of Martin Luther King Jr. -- Taylor Branch discusses his book At Canaan’s Edge: America in the King Years, 1965-68 (originally recorded in March 2006).

    52 min
  6. Rick Perlstein: The Undecideds; Marc Cooper: Marie Gleusenkamp Perez; Eric Foner: Kamala and 'Freedom'

    OCT 17

    Rick Perlstein: The Undecideds; Marc Cooper: Marie Gleusenkamp Perez; Eric Foner: Kamala and 'Freedom'

    One in six voters, pollsters say, are “still unsure of their choice.” What do people mean when they say they are “undecided”? Rick Perlstein says political writers have failed to understand the undecideds—and what Kamala might do to win their votes. Also: Democrat Marie Gleusenkamp Perez won a House seat in a Trump district, pointing the way for others. Marc Cooper analyzes her current reelection campaign in southwestern Washington State, starting from the fact that she’s a working class woman in a rural area. Plus: Kamala’s campaign is challenging the Republican conception of “freedom” as freedom from government regulation, advancing instead a positive conception of the government’s ability to protect and expand freedom. Eric Foner explains the history, and significance, of this conflict.

    54 min
  7. Kamala's Media Blitz: Harold Meyerson; Polls and Us: Rick Perlstein; Older Women: Gail Collins

    OCT 11

    Kamala's Media Blitz: Harold Meyerson; Polls and Us: Rick Perlstein; Older Women: Gail Collins

    Kamala has been showing up: from "Call Her Daddy" – a podcast popular among young woman, to "The Howard Stern Show" – popular among young men; to "The View" and "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" – Harold Meyerson comments on Kamala's media blitz. Also: The polls have had disastrous failures for decades, but people continue to focus on them; Rick Perlstein has a better idea: ‘don’t follow polls—organize.’ Plus: From the archives: The great Gail Collins of The New York Times op-ed page talks about the adventures of older women – and her book, “No Stopping Us Now” (first recorded in ​November 2019).

    52 min
  8. What Walz Won: Harold Meyerson; Travels in Trumpland: John Nichols; Al Franken v. Fox News

    OCT 3

    What Walz Won: Harold Meyerson; Travels in Trumpland: John Nichols; Al Franken v. Fox News

    If the election were to happen today, polls point to 276 for Kamala; 262 for Trump. Also: The vice presidential debate – "Walz, who was plainly unaccustomed to dealing with such adept obfuscation, particularly when couched in Vance’s one-night-only dulcet tones" writes Harold Meyerson in The Prospect; so, what did Walz win? Harold Meyerson comments. Next: John Nichols has been driving to places in Middle America where Trump has gotten big majorities in the past: Iowa and Nebraska, central and western Illinois, and southwestern Wisconsin, asking Democrats there about politics in their towns right now. He’s on the podcast this week to discuss. Plus: Your Minnesota Moment – from the archives: Our interview with Al Franken, when Fox News sued him for the title of his book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right" (first recorded in 2003).

    52 min
See All (410)

4
out of 5
76 Ratings

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
    2011 - 2024
  • Episodes
    410
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Living in the USA

More From KPFK

  • KPFK - Jimmy Dore Live
    Performing Arts
    Performing Arts

    Updated 01/23/2021

  • KPFK - Middle East In Focus
    News
    News

    Updated 02/10/2019

  • KPFK - Feminist Magazine
    News
    News

    Updated 02/12/2019

  • KPFK - Connect The Dots
    News
    News

    Updated 02/17/2020

  • KPFK - Bike Talk Podcast
    News
    News

    Updated 01/20/2019

  • KPFK - Scholars Circle
    News
    News

    Updated 11/18/2018

  • Voices From The Frontlines
    News
    News

    Updated Jul 10

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada