WPKN: Politics, Policy, and Planet Podcast

Interview with Justin Glawe, an independent journalist and editor of the American Doom newsletter. Here he discusses the urgent issues examined in his recent article, “How Trump’s National Guard shock troops could seize voting machines,” and other concerns about the security of the 2026 midterm election that Trump and the Republican party are clearly worried they’ll lose — and now taking action on...

Interview with Bill Fletcher Jr., a senior scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies, discusses the critical issues examined in his recent In These Times magazine article, “The Labor Movement Is in a Fight for Its Existence Against a Neofascist Threat.” Fletcher Jr. is the former president of TransAfrica Forum and the author of "They’re Bankrupting Us!: And 20 Other Myths about Unions.” His la...

The Monthly Labor Report, broadcast on WPKN the 1st Tuesday of each month, presents an interview with Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants (CWA - AFL-CIO), conducted on the Friday before Labor Day. Sara Nelson, regarded by many as one the most militant, class conscious labor leaders in the country, addresses the current struggle of her union, and working people in general...

Interview with Tabitha Sookdeo, executive director of CT Students for a Dream, conducted by Melinda Tuhus. Melinda Tuhus spoke with Tabitha Sookdeo, executive director of CT Students for a Dream, which works mostly with young immigrants. Sookdeo herself is West Indian and she recently convened a meeting in Hamden, Connecticut, to bring together black immigrants from various countries to discuss th...

Interview with Rev. Sierra-Marie Gerfao, director of family ministry at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury, and Juliana Soares, an organizer with Greater Danbury Unites for Immigrants, conducted by Scott Harris The Rev. Sierra-Marie Gerfao and Juliana Soares talk about the escalation of violent ICE raids and abductions in Danbury and in Connecticut, as well as what opponents of thi...

Interview with Heather Digby Parton, a contributing writer to Salon.com, conducted by Scott Harris. Heather Digby Parton discusses the important issues examined in her recent Salon article, “Paging FDR: Democrats need to embrace New Deal-style politics,” where she recounts how President Franklin Delano Roosevelt fought for the underdog — and was brazenly ruthless, urging floundering Democrats to f...

Interview with Dr. Ferric C. Fang, professor of laboratory medicine, pathology and microbiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, conducted by Scott Harris. University of Washington School of Medicine professor Dr. Ferric C. Fang discusses his views on the decision by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattach...

Interview with Sam Rosenthal, political director with the RootsAction.org, conducted by Scott Harris. RootsAction.org ‘s Political Director Sam Rosenthal talks about the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the coalition of progressive groups supporting a resolution calling for “an immediate ceasefire, an arms embargo and suspension of military aid to Israel” that will be heard at a meeting of the Democra...

Organic Farm Stand features the Honey Bee Update with Vincent Kaye, the Small Farms Report with Steve Munno, and special guest Bill McDonald, director of Sticks and Stones Farm in Newtown, CT. Hosted by Richard Hill and Diane Lauricella

Interview with Susan Campbell, distinguished lecturer, College of Arts & Sciences at the University of New Haven, conducted by Scott Harris. Susan Campbell discusses her recent commentary, “Debunking Lies about America’s Homeless,” in the context of President Trump’s takeover of the Washington, D.C.’s police department and his announced deployment of 800+ National Guard troops to “crack down o...

Interview with Sydney Register, Press Secretary with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and Aaron Stephens, senior legislative strategist for P Street, conducted by Scott Harris. Sydney Register and Aaron Stephens discuss their group’s campaign targeting Paramount’s cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s contract on “The Late Show” as an example of Donald Trump’s transactional corruption vis-a-...

Interview with Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, co-founder and executive director of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, conducted by Scott Harris. Mara Verheyden-Hilliard discusses her group’s response to Donald Trump’s militarized takeover of Washington, D.C., and growing concern that this is yet another test (along with Los Angeles) that is laying the groundwork for the deployment of the U.S. milit...

Interview with Jason Stanley, professor of philosophy and chair of American Studies at the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, conducted by Scott Harris. Professor Stanley explains why he left the U.S. after Donald Trump's election, and examines the Trump regime’s seven-month history of imposing authoritarian rule, including the recent executive order mandating an expansive revie...

Manny Robinson, Gulf South Fossil Finance Hub, and Roishetta Ozane, founder and CEO of the Vessel Project address crowds gathered outside banks, insurance companies and their board members' homes, conducted by Melinda Tuhus. Anti-fossil fuel campaigners from the U.S. Gulf South joined other activists in New York City from July 28 to Aug. 2 for an action dubbed, “From the Gulf South to the Global S...

Interview with Kellie Snider, a contemporary American artist, conducted by Scott Harris. Kellie Snider discusses the nation’s history of white supremacy and racism before, during, and after slavery. She also talks about her work as an artist and the intersection of art and politics during our current crisis, where the Trump regime is launching attacks on virtually all democratic institutions.

Interview with Matt Gertz, Media Matters for America senior fellow, conducted by Scott Harris. Matt Gertz assesses how corporate and MAGA media are covering public demand for the release of the Epstein files, with some cooperating with the Trump White House by amplifying bogus distraction stories designed to tamp down the controversy. He also comments on Paramount’s decision to cancel The Late Sho...

Interview with Candice Fortin, U.S. campaign manager with the climate group 350.org, conducted by Scott Harris. Candice Fortin provides an overview of the Trump regime’s multi-pronged attack on all federal climate regulations; the short- and long-term impact on the environment; what if anything states can do to implement their climate regulations and how climate/environmental activist groups like...

Interview with David Daley, former editor-in-chief of Salon, conducted by Scott Harris. David Daley discusses his recent Nation article, “How the GOP Hopes to Gerrymander Its Way to a Midterms Victory,” given what Trump and Republicans are doing to carve out five new GOP-leaning districts in Texas and what democracy defenders could and should be doing now to prevent the further erosion of our demo...

Resistance Roundtable double header:     --the fight against the genocide in Gaza with Branko Marcetic, staff writer with Jacobin Magazin; and Daniella Colombi, a graduate student at the U. of Maryland who led the fight that resulted in court settlement of $100,000 to the Students for Justice in Palestine by UMD    --Connecticut re-groups to fight for a clean environment in the face of the Trump r...

Interview with Kimberly Fountain, consumer financial justice field manager at Americans for Financial Reform, conducted by Melinda Tuhus. Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Kimberly Fountain, consumer financial justice field manager at Americans for Financial Reform. Here she explains why medical debt shouldn’t be included in consumers’ credit ratings and the disparate impact it has on di...

Interview with Ayesha R. Clarke, executive director of the Connecticut-based Health Equity Solutions, conducted by Scott Harris. Ayesha Clarke discusses how the federal slashing of social safety net programs in Trump’s recently passed budget bill will impact Connecticut residents, and what Gov. Ned Lamont and the legislature can do to prepare and offset the pain and disruption to essential service...

Interview with Rebecca Gordon, TomDispatch.com writer, longtime political activist, and adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, conducted by Scott Harris. Rebecca Gordon discusses her important coverage of how the Trump regime is expanding the “surveillance state” targeting perceived enemies to extend and consolidate authoritarian power. Gordon taught philosophy at the University of...

Interview with Richard W. Behan, a contributor to Counterpunch, conducted by Scott Harris. Richard Behan discusses his recent Counterpunch article, “The Peril of Spectacle, Especially Jeffrey Epstein’s,” explores where the deepening bipartisan suspicion and anger about Donald Trump’s expanding scandal may lead the country; and how it may serve as a distraction from the central, existential fight t...

Interview with Jennifer Loewenstein, former associate director of Middle Eastern studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, conducted by Scott Harris. Jennifer Loewenstein examines the current famine crisis in Gaza; the Trump regime’s incoherent and dishonest policies toward Gaza and Palestinians; France, the U.K. and Canada’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state — and what, if any, differen...

Interview with Scarlett de Leon, executive director of ACT-LA, conducted by Melinda Tuhus.  Scarlett explains that after June ICE raids led to the arrests of hundreds of immigrants in Los Angeles. ACT-LA sent a letter to the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority asking for changes to strengthen protections for immigrants against ICE abductions.