Living in the USA

From the pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats, to Trump's efforts to distract voters with stories about migrants on the march in Mexico -- Harold Meyerson analyzes the state of the midterm elections, now less than 2 weeks away. Also: pop-up Guerilla theater in Los Angeles: the great Hieronymous Bang explains what's going on with the political play whose name cannot be spoken on the radio, and Alan Minsky joins in.

The most important voting rights issue on the ballot in 2018 is restoring the voting rights of 1.4 million ex-felons in Florida--and it seems likely to pass. An initiative on the ballot there would repeal one of country's worst Jim Crow laws. Sasha Abramsky has that story. Also: the political power of women’s anger: Rebecca Traister has been thinking about that. Her new book is called “Good and Mad.” .

What the Democrats can do about newly-confirmed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh when they win the House in November and take control of the Judiciary Committee in January: John Nichols talks about investigations that could lead to the filing of articles of impeachment--and some other possibilities. Also: D.D. Guttenplan talks about some alternatives to those old white Republican men who shouted and pouted and voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing – his new book is “The Next Republic: the Rise of a New Radical Majority.”

Amy Wilentz of The Nation talks about Kavanaugh, Trump, and women --the women in the hearings, in Kavanaugh's past, and in America. Also: John Nichols on politics and the Senate--and how Mitch McConnell is killing the senate. Plus: Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the Law School at UC Berkeley, says the Supreme Court will soon have FIVE Republican justices, all of whom were seated illegitimately.

The facade has been ripped off: Christine Blasey Ford faced the Senate Judiciary Committee today, followed by a raging Brett Kavanaugh. Moments after the hearing adjourned, we turned to historian Rick Perlstein and journalist Sarah Posner for their comments on the "ugly business" of the Republican-dominated Judiciary Committee.

Did Trump's Supreme Court nominee try to rape a 15-year-old girl when he was 17-years old, 36 years ago? Was he telling the truth when he said he did not, and how much should it matter now? For comment we turn to Amy Wilentz. Next, Michael Moore's new film, "Fahrenheit 11/9" opens tomorrow — David Edelstein, chief film critic for New York Magazine, shares his review. Finally: Michael Moore on Trump--and his film, "Fahrenheit 11/9."

Republican Senate candidate and current Florida Gov, Rick Scott challenged Trump today on Puerto Rico casualty figures; SCOTUS nominee Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual misconduct, and, measuring the Blue Wave now that Obama has joined the campaign — Harold Meyerson with the political update. Next, Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress, has quit the House to run for state Attorney General. What was he thinking? David Dayen reports. Plus: Unions are fighting for their lives and DeVos wants to put more guns in schools — we talk with Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation for Teachers about the state of education.

In a dramatic showdown on the floor of the Senate, the third day of hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. released documents deemed 'committee confidential' — and, last Tuesday, Boston city councilor Ayanna Pressley unseated 10-term US Rep. Michael Capuano in a Democratic primary — John Nichols with the political update. Also, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Miriam Pawel on Jerry Brown's fight against climate change--and Donald Trump. Her new book is “The Browns of California: The Family that Transformed a State and Shaped a Nation.” Finally — Melania Trump: Hero of the people, or accomplice of evil? We turn to Amy Wilentz for comment.

After 40 years as an investigative journalist, Judith Coburn became a private investigator. We talk with her about Surveillance Capitalism in the Age of Trump. Next, Florida's general election for governor will feature two candidates who could not be more different: Andrew Gillum, a black progressive, and Ron DeSantis, "a fully 'Trumpacized'" conservative -- John Nichols reports. Plus: We might have reached peak-Trump, but Gary Younge says, "if Dems want to win, they've got to motivate their base."

Trump's attorney Micheal Cohen has pled guilty to many crimes of bank fraud and tax fraud but there were two really significant ones: payments of hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels (real name, Stephanie Clifford) and Playboy model Karen McDougal -- on orders of the president. Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect comments. Also: Around the world, mothers and pregnant women are undervalued, discriminated against, and punished -- we talk with Katha Pollitt about why and how. Plus: Farah Griffin of Columbia University comments on Aretha and Angela, and Aretha and Obama.