WPKN: Politics, Policy, and Planet Podcast

Interview with David Rovics, an internationally known songwriter, musician, writer, podcaster and Portland, Oregon-based activist, conducted by Scott Harris. David Rovics, talks about Trump’s targeting of Portland with a National Guard troop deployment — which Rovics wrote about in a recent commentary, “Portland, Oregon: Myths and Realities in 2025,” covering what is, and is not going down on the...

Interview with Chuck Collins, a senior scholar and director of the Institute for Policy Studies' Program on Inequality and the Common Good, conducted by Scott Harris. Chuck Collins talks about his latest book titled, " Burned by Billionaires," where he chronicles how the actions of the top .01 percent have severe consequences for the rest of us, exposing how the rich rig the game in their favor, r...

Interview with Mel Goodman, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, professor of government at Johns Hopkins University, and a former CIA analyst , conducted by Scott Harris. Mel Goodman, author of American Carnage: The Wars of Donald Trump, and national security columnist for CounterPunch.org, discusses his recent article, “Setting the Stage for the Insurrection Act,” which examin...

Interview with Rick Goldsmith, documentary filmmaker of “Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink,” conducted by Melinda Tuhus Here Goldsmith talks about his film   which examines the role of vulture capital in the wrecking of local newspapers nationwide. The film profiles the courageous journalists who fought against the hedge funds gobbling up newspapers in order to save and rebuild...

Interview with John Whitehead, founder and president of The Rutherford Institute, conducted by Scott Harris. Whitehead is an attorney and author who has written, debated and practiced widely around constitutional law, human rights, and popular culture. Here he discusses his recent Counterpunch commentary, “Would Orwell Be Branded a Terrorist? The Government’s War on Thought Crimes,” regarding the...

Interview with Alan McPherson, professor of history at Temple University, conducted by Scott Harris. Alan McPherson examines whether recent U.S. military attacks on small boats off the coast of Venezuela were a violation of the congressional War Powers Resolution of 1973 and international law. McPherson also expresses his concern that the current buildup of U.S. military forces in the region could...

Interview with Abby Maxman, president & CEO of Oxfam America, conducted by Scott Harris. Abby Maxman shares her perspective on Donald Trump’s UN speech; his closing down USAID worldwide and the cost in lives lost; the ongoing slaughter and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza and other priorities Oxfam is currently working on.

Interview with Theodore Hamm, associate professor and chair of journalism and new media studies at St. Joseph's University, conducted by Scott Harris. Theodore Hamm talks about his latest book, Run Zohran Run! Inside Zohran Mamdani’s Sensational Campaign to Become New York City’s First Democratic Socialist Mayor, an inside look at how Mamdani’s bold, grassroots campaign toppled New York’s politica...

Jeet Heer, a national affairs correspondent for The Nation and host of the weekly Nation podcast, The Time of Monsters , joins the Roundtable to discuss his recent Nation Magazine article, The Killing of Charlie Kirk is Part of a Terrible New Era of Political Violence.   Hosted by Scott Harris, Ruthanne Baumgartner and Richard Hill.

Interview with Tom Swan, executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, conducted by Scott Harris. Tom Swan talks about the Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG) and other groups’ demand that Gov. Ned Lamont declare a fiscal emergency and call a special session of the  state legislature to take immediate action to protect the state’s residents from the Trump- GOP’s deep federal budg...

Interview with Elizabeth Jacobs, professor emeritus of epidemiology at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona, conducted by Scott Harris. Professor Jacobs shares her views on the actions taken by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which reversed recommendations for COVID vaccinations and a combined measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpo...

Interview with Matt Wood, vice president of policy and general counsel with the media democracy group Free Press, conducted by Scott Harris. Wood focuses on the continuing pattern of Trump regime threats, lawsuits and intimidation targeting media companies, as too many CEOs in the media industry are surrendering to authoritarianism, turning their backs on their duty to protect free speech.

Interview with Rachel Bitecofer, author of "Hit Em' Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game," conducted by Scott Harris. Rachel Bitecofer, a political analyst, pollster and strategist, discusses her views on the state of our democracy in the face of Donald Trump’s daily assaults on our Constitution, the rule of law and freedom of speech. She also talks about...

Interview with Kimberly Gill, community director with New Haven, Connecticut's Brave Nature School, and Carl Halberg and Hugo Crick-Furman of Bread & Puppet theater. Kimberly discusses the unique educational focus of the Brave Nature School, and Carl and Hugo talk about B&P's important history in political theater, their performance at New Haven’s Edgerton Park, 5:30 pm on Sept. 18, titled...

Interview with Justin Glawe, an independent journalist and editor of the American Doom newsletter, conducted by Scott Harris. Glawe discusses his latest column, “Martial Law is Already Here,” rising polarization and U.S. political violence in the aftermath of the murder of Charlie Kirk in Utah, and the blatant politicization and dysfunction of the Trump FBI and Department of Justice.

 Interview with Madison Sheppard, youth climate activist and lead organizer with Fridays For Future Cape Cod, conducted by Scott Harris Sheppard discusses the upcoming “Make Billionaires Pay” international mobilization for climate justice, happening from Sept. 19  to Sept. 21, with a focus on the issues, demands, and information on how listeners can participate in this action.

Interview with Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler, an advisor with FOR-USA, the founder and president of Faith Strategies USA, conducted by Scott Harris. Rev. Graylan Hagler discusses his recent column, “The Killing of Charles James Kirk: Violent Speech Leads to Violence,” and his views and experiences regarding Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. Rev. Hagler is a retired senior...

Dina Brewster, director of the Hickories, a CSA farm in Ridgefield, CT, discusses her work with the ecotype project, a collaboration focused on growing and distributing "source-identified" native plant seeds to restore local habitats, increase biodiversity, and support the food system. Also: the Small Farms Report with Steve Munno from Massaro Farm, the Honey Bee Update with Vincent Kaye, and Dian...

Erika Padilla, legal advocate with OLA -- Organización Latino Americano -- which provides a panoply of support services to immigrants on the East End of Long Island describes the work of her organization and the many ways it interfaces with the population and culture of that region. Interviewed by Richard Hill 

Interview with Pierre F. D'Haiti, community engagement officer at Bridgeport, CT's Housatonic Community College, conducted by Scott Harris.  Pierre D’Haiti talks about two workshops sponsored by WPKN during Latino Heritage Month at HCC on Sept. 17 and 29. The sessions from 7 to 9 p.m., will focus on immigrant rights and safety, addressing such questions as, What should you do if ICE stops you, and...

Interview with Micah Sifry, editor of the Connector newsletter, conducted by Scott Harris. Micah Sifry discusses his recent article, “Keep Calm and Protect Democracy,” on the issues of Pro-democracy activists and veteran organizers alike struggling with information overload and outrage fatigue — while also reflecting on his recent conversation with Ian Bassin, the executive director of Protect Dem...

Interview with Melvin A. Goodman is a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and a professor of government at Johns Hopkins University, conducted by Scott Harris. Melvin Goodman, the national security columnist for Counterpunch.org, talks about his recent commentary, “Trump and the Post-American World,” and Trump’s recent attack on a speedboat that killed 11 on board off the coast of...

Interview with Brett Edkins, Stand Up America’s managing director of policy and political affairs, conducted by Scott Harris. Brett Edkins, Stand Up America’s managing director of policy and political affairs, discusses his group’s work defending democracy, opposing Trump’s military deployments to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and likely other U.S. cities in the Trump-GOP attempt to rig the 2026 m...

Interview with Aziz Dehkan, executive director/lead organizer with Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs conducted by Scott Harris. Aziz discusses the Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs’ response to the Trump administration’s order halting construction of the Revolution Wind offshore wind project that’s 80 percent complete, and would have powered 350,000 homes in Connecticut and Rhode...

Craig Mokhiber is the former director of the New York Office of the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, who resigned in protest from his post in 2023 due to the unfolding Gaza genocide and the UN’s failures.  Here he discusses his recent Mondoweiss article, “How the UN Could Act Today to Stop the Genocide in Palestine,” and the general failure of international law in Gaza, Palestine and Israe...