Making Contact

CointelPro, the secret FBI project to infiltrate and disrupt domestic organizations thought to be “subversive.”, targeted many African American, Native American, and other movements for self-determination by people of color in the U.S.   Between 1956 and 1971, the FBI conducted more than 2,000 COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program) operations.   Over the next two weeks, we’ll broadcast the docu...

COINTELPRO, the secret FBI project to infiltrate and disrupt domestic organizations thought to be 'subversive,' targeted many African-American, Native-American, and other movements for self-determination by people of color in the US.   Between 1956 and 1971, the FBI conducted more than 2,000 COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program) operations.   Over the next two weeks, we’ll be broadcasting the...

African-Americans have endured more than 246 years of slavery, 100 years of racism and segregation. The trauma from that experience continues to impact African-Americans and society today. Dr. Joy DeGruy presents a discussion on post traumatic slave syndrome.

Racism in the American media goes back even further than the founding of the US. Now, media consolidation and shrinking news budgets are threatening to make things even worse. On this edition, a discussion on Race and the American Media, from the 2011 National Conference on Media Reform, featuring Democracy Now’s Juan Gonzalez, Rinku Sen from the Applied Research Center, and the first woman of col...

Almost 4,500 American soldiers and more than 100,000 Iraqis have died since the start of the “Shock and Awe” campaign. Eight years later, we assess the consequences of the war in Iraq through an audio documentary, “The Cost of War: A Reflection on Eight Years in Iraq,” produced by KALW News.

Solidarity has long been used as an organizing tool, but it is shifting radically amidst a new political landscape and new technologies. Left Forum’s ‘Towards a Politics of Solidarity’ conference explores this in depth and discusses its impact today.

2011 marks the year for redistricting – the once-in-a-decade process to draw boundaries that determine your elected officials from local school boards to state and congressional representatives. On this edition, we examine the U.S. redistricting system and some of its pitfalls.

2011 marks the year for redistricting – the once-in-a-decade process to draw boundaries that determine your elected officials from local school boards to state and congressional representatives. On this edition, we examine the U.S. redistricting system and some of its pitfalls.

A look at pregnancy, and motherhood, inside US jails and prisons. What does the huge number of incarcerated women in prison foretell for the next generation of America’s kids?

A look at pregnancy, and motherhood, inside US jails and prisons. What does the huge number of incarcerated women in prison foretell for the next generation of America’s kids?

An exclusive interview with economist Richard Wolff, who explains how failed ‘trickle down economics’ theories are being recycled under a different name. Can the working and middle classes withstand the newest round of cuts to vital services, and how can the trend be reversed?

American Arabs and Muslims are under the microscope, and the effect on those communities has been devastating.  On this edition, we’ll hear stories about the past 10 years of America’s homeland war on Muslims and Arabs, and about racial profiling during previous war times.

American Arabs and Muslims are under the microscope, and the effect on those communities has been devastating.  On this edition, we’ll hear stories about the past 10 years of America’s homeland war on Muslims and Arabs, and about racial profiling during previous war times.

Youth and their use of social media have been cited as leading factors for Egypt’s “January 25 th” revolution. But women also came out in force to protest Hosni Mubarak’s 30 years of dictatorial power. On this edition, we look at the role women played in the 2011 revolution– and in Egypt’s history.

Youth and their use of social media have been cited as leading factors for Egypt’s “January 25 th” revolution. But women also came out in force to protest Hosni Mubarak’s 30 years of dictatorial power. On this edition, we look at the role women played in the 2011 revolution-- and in Egypt’s history.

This week, we revisit a recent show about a natural gas drilling method called "hydraulic fracturing" or "fracking." We'll hear excerpts from the oscar-nominated documentary "Gasland." We'll also hear from people from Pennsylvania to the mountains of Colorado who are trying to prevent the toxic fallout from 'fracking' before it starts.

This week, we revisit a recent show about a natural gas drilling method called "hydraulic fracturing" or "fracking." We'll hear excerpts from the oscar-nominated documentary "Gasland." We'll also hear from people from Pennsylvania to the mountains of Colorado who are trying to prevent the toxic fallout from 'fracking' before it starts.

About one in four adults in the United States suffers from a “diagnosable mental disorder” in any given year, according to the National Institute for Mental Health. But some Americans don’t find it useful to label their psychological experiences as ‘disorders.’ On this edition, we hear from people who say they have ‘dangerous gifts.’ They tell us about their experience with mainstream mental healt...

About one in four adults in the United States suffers from a “diagnosable mental disorder” in a given year – that’s according to the National Institute for Mental Health. But some Americans don’t find it useful to label their psychological experiences as ‘disorders.’ On this edition, we hear about alternative models for mental health care.

The controversy over WikiLeaks has deep implications for the future of free speech in the Internet era. Beyond journalistic and national security issues that stem from the website, other concerns need to be considered as well. On this edition, we take you to a panel discussion focused on the importance of WikiLeaks within a legal, business and technology framework. Does the public have the right t...

Professor Michelle Alexander , author of ‘The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness’ makes the case that the US’ criminal justice system policies can be traced directly back to slavery.   The target then, and now, are African Americans.

Many retirees enjoy the rest and relaxation that eluded them during their working years. But for some, retirement means opportunities to affect change in their communities. We profile three elders who became activists in the second half of their lives.  

With the UN’s climate negotiations faltering, indigenous and other grassroots community groups are re-strategizing.   We’ll hear voices from the streets of Cancun, and a look at where the world might turn for answers to a perilous problem.    

If you’ve ever stepped into a nail salon, you know the smell of a chemical cocktail that hits you like an invisible wall. While consumers may tolerate it during a short visit, the nail salon workers find themselves stewing in a toxic bubble for years. On this edition, we take a look at the health impacts of chemical exposure, the shoddy regulation of cosmetics, and the movement towards greener nai...

The 1973 Roe versus Wade decision was hailed as a victory by many advocates of a woman’s right to choose. But decades later, many young people still lack the resources to make informed choices about sex – choices that could affect the rest of their lives. On this edition, we bring you a discussion about sex education in schools, federal funding for sex-ed and how advocacy groups and parents are ma...