Driving Forces on WBAI

Jeff is joined in studio by Alex Nazaryan, author of "The Best People, Trump’s Cabinet and the Siege on Washington," and Allen Salkin, co-author with Aaron Short of "The Method to the Madness: Donald Trump’s Ascent as Told by Those Who Were Hired, Fired, Inspired—and Inaugurated." The trio takes your calls.

Jeff and Celeste break down the first televised Democratic presidential primary debates and take your calls. Special guests: Hunter College Political Science Professor Emeritus Ken Sherrill and New York Post Washington Bureau Reporter Nikki Schwab.

U.S. Rep. Peter King speaks to Jeff and Celeste about the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund and assistance for survivors of the World Trade Center attack. Then NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams discusses the latest on the Central Park Five case, followed by your calls.

NYS Sen. John Liu discusses religious exemptions for vaccinations, specialized high school admissions and the Asian-American "model minority myth," and more. Then NYC Councilman Ben Kallos delves into the controversy over the use of Roundup and similar herbicides in city green spaces and reforming "zombie" campaign finance committees. We round up the show with YOUR calls.

Jeff and Celeste open with a talk about New York politics and Election 2020 with veteran strategist Hank Sheinkopf, discuss the 75th anniversary of D-Day with National Medal of Honor Museum President Joe Daniels, and take your calls. Support our program by becoming a WBAI Buddy: www.give2wbai.org

On Sunday, June 2, 2019, Driving Forces cohost Jeff Simmons anchored WBAI's special four-hour show, Pride, Progress and Politics: 50 Years Since Stonewall. Guests during the fourth hour were: activist Melissa Sklarz, Heritage of Pride's Julian Sanjivan, former US Congressman Barney Frank, and former NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

On Sunday, June 2, 2019, Driving Forces cohost Jeff Simmons led WBAI's special coverage, Pride, Progress, and Politics: 50 Years Since Stonewall. Guests during the third hour of the show were: Columbia professor Tanya Domi, ACT UP's Ron Goldberg, author Andrew Tobias, and New-York Historical Society curators Rebecca Klassen and Rachel Corbman.

On Sunday, June 2, 2019, Driving Forces cohost Jeff Simmons anchored WBAI's special four-hour show, Pride, Progress and Politics: 50 Years Since Stonewall. Guests during the first two hours were: former New York State Senator Thomas Duane, author Karla Jay, AFT President Randi Weingarten, author Eric Marcus, Freedom to Marry Founder Evan Wolfson, Stonewall Inn Gives Back's Stacy Lentz, and Center...

In a special double edition of WBAI New York's "Waking Up," Celeste Katz talks Stonewall, money in politics, mass transit, the week in Washington, and Election 2020 with Jeff Simmons of WBAI, Anna Massoglia of the Center for Responsive Politics, Jose Martinez of The City, Elaine Quijano of CBS News, and Michael Gormley of Newsday. Show your support! www.give2wbai.org

In a special double edition of WBAI New York's "Waking Up," Celeste Katz talks Stonewall, money in politics, mass transit, the week in Washington, and Election 2020 with Jeff Simmons of WBAI, Anna Massoglia of the Center for Responsive Politics, Jose Martinez of The City, Elaine Quijano of CBS News, and Michael Gormley of Newsday. Show your support! www.give2wbai.org

Jeff and Celeste speak to scholar Ian Reifowitz about his new book, "The Tribalization of Politics: How Rush Limbaugh's Race-Baiting Rhetoric On The Obama Presidency Paved The Way For Trump." Up next is Dr. Diane Horvath, ob-gyn, with the latest updates on threats to abortion rights in America. Please consider a gift to listener-supported WBAI: www.give2wbai.org

In a special Memorial Day edition of WBAI's "Waking Up," Celeste Katz speaks with Jeremy Butler of IAVA; documentarians Danielle Bernstein and Jason Maris; Kristen Rouse of the NYC Veterans Alliance; Gold Star Mom Cyndy Jones of Heroes in Transition; and USAF veteran and radio host Stacy Washington.

In a special Memorial Day edition of WBAI's "Waking Up," Celeste Katz speaks with Jeremy Butler of IAVA; documentarians Danielle Bernstein and Jason Maris; Kristen Rouse of the NYC Veterans Alliance; Gold Star Mom Cyndy Jones of Heroes in Transition; and USAF veteran and radio host Stacy Washington.

In a special extended edition of WBAI FM's "Waking Up," Celeste Katz talks NY and US news and politics with guests Rick Klein of ABC, Brian Rosenthal of the NY Times, Greg B. Smith of The City, and Kerry Picket of SiriusXM radio. "Waking Up" host Julianna Forlano returns next week.

In a special extended edition of WBAI FM's "Waking Up," Celeste Katz talks NY and US news and politics with guests Rick Klein of ABC, Brian Rosenthal of the NY Times, Greg B. Smith of The City, and Kerry Picket of SiriusXM radio. "Waking Up" host Julianna Forlano returns next week.

In a special extended edition of WBAI FM's "Waking Up," Celeste Katz talks NY and US news and politics with guests Rick Klein of ABC, Brian Rosenthal of the NY Times, Greg B. Smith of The City, and Kerry Picket of SiriusXM radio. "Waking Up" host Julianna Forlano returns next week.

Jeff and Celeste analyze NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio's long-shot bid for the presidency with Nolan Hicks of the NY Post and Ivan Pereira of AMNewYork.

New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray, The City's Deputy Editor Alyssa Katz, and CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez appeared on Forces Driving with host Jeff Simmons on Thursday, May 16, 2019

In a special Mother's Day edition of City Watch, Celeste joins Jeff in studio to talk to some very special guests, including Natalia Cineas of NYC Health and Hospitals; Tom Shanahan, author of "Spiritual Adrenaline;" Carole Wacey of Women Creating Change; and... CELESTE'S MOM!!! Learn more at wbai.org.

It's a special two-hour edition of Driving Forces! Hour 1: Celeste speaks to Darrell West of the Brookings Institution about his memoir, "Divided Politics, Divided Nation," followed by a breakdown of Election 2020 with Lee Miringoff of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. Hour 2: Jeff and Celeste talk about Bill de Blasio for president (?) with Anna Sanders of the New York Daily News a...

It's a special two-hour edition of Driving Forces! Hour 1: Celeste speaks to Darrell West of the Brookings Institution about his memoir, "Divided Politics, Divided Nation," followed by a breakdown of Election 2020 with Lee Miringoff of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. Hour 2: Jeff and Celeste talk about Bill de Blasio for president (?) with Anna Sanders of the New York Daily News a...

Jeff and Celeste talk about the upcoming Queens District Attorney election with veteran consultant Patrick Jenkins and candidate Greg Lasak -- and thank you for your support during our spring fund drive! Help us out at www.give2wbai.org.

He's running: Jeff and Celeste discuss Joe Biden's campaign for president with Newsday national reporter Emily Ngo and author Aaron Short.

New York City Councilman Rafael Espinal joins Jeff and Celeste in studio, gets some very interesting caller questions, and makes a very interesting promise about his future...

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and City Councilman Mark Levine discuss New York City's measles epidemic. Plus, Julie Menin talks about the challenges and importance of the 2020 Census. Learn more at wbai.org