WPKN: Politics, Policy, and Planet Podcast

Interview with Sam Pizzigati, veteran labor journalist, Institute for Policy Studies associate fellow, co-editor of IPS' newsletter Inequality.org, and author, conducted by Scott Harris.Sam Pizzigati discusses his recent article, “Could Elon Musk Destroy Social Security as We Know It? — and issues related to the Trump-Musk attempt to sabotage Social Security’s reliability and smooth operation over 88 years, and the millions of Americans who are now angry and becoming active in resisting the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle the nation’s social safety net.

Interview with Tim Wise, one of the nation’s most prominent antiracist essayists and author of nine books, including his latest, "Dispatches from the Race War," conducted by Scott Harris.Tim Wise, whom scholar and philosopher Cornel West calls “a vanilla brother in the tradition of (abolitionist) John Brown,” assesses Trump and Trumpism since his inauguration on Jan. 20. He focuses on the twice-impeached convicted felon’s attempt to repeal civil rights law, the legalization of discrimination, and the effort to eradicate DEI in the federal government, while coercing states and universities also to eliminate DEI or lose federal funding. 

Interview with Barbara Fair, a licensed clinical social worker, social justice activist, organizer, and founding member of Stop Solitary CT, conducted by Scott Harris.Barbara Fair talks about a press conference on Tuesday, March 25 that demanded the release of a video related to the correction officer beating death of J’Allen Jones on the 7th anniversary of his death.

Interview with Aaron Regunberg, a contributing editor at The New Republic, senior climate policy counsel at Public Citizen and a steering committee member of the Pass the Torch, conducted by Scott Harris.Aaron Regunberg discusses his recent New Republic article, “Bernie Sanders Is Showing Democrats How It’s Done,” and the current debate about the need to replace the Democratic party’s leadership, i.e. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer after he voted to support the Republican House Continuing Budget Resolution, which cuts $13 billion in domestic spending while increasing defense spending by $6 billion.

Interview with Kayla Gogarty, research director with Media Matters for America, conducted by Scott Harris.Kayla Gogarty discusses her group’s recent study, “New analysis found 9 out of the 10 top online shows assessed are right leaning.” Ideas are being debated on how progressive activists, journalists and scholars can break through right-wing media domination to reach more Americans to counter dangerous Trump-GOP authoritarianism in defense of democracy and advocate for policy solutions to address our nation’s many problems and failings.

Interview with Christopher Wright Durocher, vice president for program and policy with the American Constitution Society, conducted by Scott Harris.Christopher Durocher assesses the threat to democracy posed by the Trump administration’s actions over the past eight weeks and offers thoughts on what it will take to mount an effective defense of the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law.

Interview with Dean Baker, senior economist with the Center for Economic and Policy Research, conducted by Scott Harris.Dean Baker discusses his recent articles, “The Democrats’ Necessary Apology” and “The Trump-Musk Recession: Because They Can,” as well as issues related to Trump’s tariffs, Wall Street’s response and what’s ahead for the U.S. economy.

Interview with Betsy Leondar-Wright, a community organizer, a diversity workshop facilitator, and a sociology professor teaching critical race theory and economic inequality.Leondar-Wright talks about her new book, “Is It Racist? Is It Sexist? Why Red and Blue White People Disagree, and How to Decide in the Gray Areas,” co-written with Jessi Streib, as well as President Trump’s attack on DEI and effort to overturn civil rights and anti-discrimination laws.

Interview with Justin Glawe, independent journalist and editor of the American Doom newsletter, conducted by Scott Harris.Justin Glawe discusses his latest Rolling Stone article, “Social Security Insiders Warn Trump and Musk Could Break the Program,” and growing concern that congressional Democrats can’t mount an effective defense of America’s most popular government program. He's the author of the forthcoming book, "If I Am Coming to Your Town, Something Terrible Has Happened."

Interview with Sam Carliner, a journalist who focuses on US imperialism and the climate crisis, conducted by Scott Harris.Sam Carliner talks about his recent Waging Nonviolence magazine article, “How pro-Palestine student activists are fighting increasing repression,” and the recent Trump administration’s arrest and attempt to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder who played a significant role in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University last spring.