Laura Flanders and Friends: Solutions-Focused Progressive Perspectives on Politics, News, and Culture

Many are protesting Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant's proclaiming April as Confederate Heritage Month, the last state banner to feature confederate iconography. The movement to change it has become a klaxon for the greater movement to take down Confederate symbols. Laura speaks with actress and activist Aunjanue Ellis about her organization Take It Down America , and why this movement is personal. +G...

Two hundred dollars a year, to make private profits off public water is little for Nestle Water Company in the state of Michigan. When it’s what residents in Flint Michigan are paying every month to drink private water because the public supply’s been poisoned, it’s a lot.  Become a member today .  Thank you!    Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer;...

When it comes to the heart of the matter of art in New York City, what does a more equitable landscape for art and culture look like? Laura speaks with 3 guests who make it their job to figure out how we’ll democratize access to art and art making plus an example of what that looks like with Educated Little Monsters and Silent Barn . Betty Yu, Chinatown Art Brigade , Amin Husain, MTL Collective, a...

“Politicians and pundits tend to get excited about war, but the US-led strike on Syria of April 14th, was more of a show of weakness than of strength, veteran Middle East correspondent, Patrick Cockburn tells Laura Flanders.“ Patrick has reported on the middle east since the 1970's. Please take the time to write a review in iTunes. Our goal is to thrive, not just survive.  Become a member today . ...

Laura talks to SEIU International President, Mary Kay Henry (of the Service Employees) and labor journalist Sarah Jaffe about worker wins, challenges, and some new models for organizing. Then, a conversation with Palak Shah and Michelle Miller on a new online platform that's helping labor activists cooperate and win. Music: "Everyday People" by Groove Collective, released on Kufala Recor...

As Israeli forces kill unarmed demonstrators for a third week in Gaza and while the US simultaneously prepares to strike Syria over human rights abuses, I spoke to Lana Abu Hijileh, Country Director-Global Communities,  a Palestinian humanitarian and development professional attending the SKOLL World Forum conference in Oxford, UK, April 13, 2018.   Please take the time to write a review in iTunes...

While the money media shifts to emerging social crises, many continue to struggle for basic supplies, medical care, and services including electricity.  Our guests Edna Benitez and Damaris Whittaker  Middle Collegiate and Ft Washington Collegiate Churches respectively and Amy Tidd,  National Nurses United all are playing a part in community relief efforts. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz on reaff...

Related articles referenced:  "When towns lose their newspapers, disease detectives are left flying blind"  and How America's Largest Local TV Owner Turned It's News Anchors Into Soldiers In Trump's War Against the Media Please take the time to write a review in  iTunes. T hank you! Why does independent media matter?  Find out why . Our goal is to thrive, not just survive. By  becoming a...

Monopoly capitalism may be on its last legs! This week, economist Michael Hudson joins us to say his predictions on the Trump budget have come true and seem to suggest, more than ever, that capitalism is not only a disservice to the people, but it's also unsuccessful. Then, Stacy Mitchell and Joe Maxwell join us at the Progressive Caucus Strategy Summit in Baltimore. Monopoly capitalism, they say,...

March 21st, 2018 the Senate approved the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, or SESTA.  Sex trafficking is terrible. No one’s for it. Everyone’s against it. What’s awful is what SESTA does, which is encourage big-tech companies to robo-police the internet, with extreme filters that won’t know a survivor story from a sex ad.   Please take the time to write a review in  iTunes. T hank you! Why does i...

Xenophobia, austerity, and an activated constituency -- there's a lot in common across int'l progressive fronts. From the Progressive Caucus Center Strategy Summit 2018: Raúl Grijalva, co-chair,Democrats' Progressive Caucus, Diane Abbott, Labour Party, Nancy Pelosi Minority Party Leader, Mark Pocan, co-chair of Dems' Progressive Caucus and Eduardo Maura, spokesperson of Spanish political party, Po...

#SayHerName : Marielle Franco, assassinated last Wednesday, advocated for the rights of Afro-Brazilian woman.  “She was executed because she was a black favela dweller who fought against the murder of black favela dwellers. The genocide of the black population continues in this country.” Please take the time to write a review in  iTunes  or wherever you get this podcast. Thank you! Why does indepe...

Over 30million Americans are uninsured, and even more are sickened by the sky-high costs. While Congress seems sunk in a partisan fight over the Affordable Care Act, & Bernie Sanders Medicare for All bill nowhere near becoming law- though popular, might Big Business offer a way out?  Guests: Ben Palmquist, National Economic and Social Rights Initiative & Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, Physicians...

We hear from some of the speakers and strikers present at the New York 2018 Women’s Strike . Unifying themes included an end to gender violence, a demand for adequate universal social services, the fight for labor rights, and the need for an anti-racist, anti-imperialist feminism. Guided by the tenets of a renewed radicalism, solidarity, and internationalism, the evening was an electric display of...

Women's leadership on the screen, in the streets and on the world stage. This week, New Zealand's former prime minister, Helen Clark and filmmaker Gaylene Preston regarding their documentary, " My Year With Helen ," about Clark's foiled bid to become the UN's 1st female Secretary General. Then we stop by the Athena Film Festival to find out why representation remains to important to lead...

Laura Flanders' weekly commentary the 'F-word'.  Write to Laura,  Laura@LauraFlanders.com  And please take the time to write a review in  iTunes  or wherever you get this podcast. Thank you! Why does independent media matter? Find out why . Our goal is to thrive, not just survive. By becoming a member, you sustain our independent, and grassroots-driven content! Make a  one time donation  or become...

"Some of us have too much of this world’s goods​... and we are thereby separated too widely from each other," ​wrote Eleanor Roosevelt, the subject of Blanche Wiesen Cook's three-volume biography ​. ​For Women's History​ ​Month, Laura speaks to Cook about ​Eleanor - the First Lady of the World - and why her work still resonates. ​Plus, a documentary by filmmaker Ross Watne on Arthurdale...

Racial Literacy and Rural Solidarity, this week, Laura talks with two pairs of young activists. Jessica Campbell of the Rural Organizing Project and Lou Murrey of Stay Together Appalachia share tips on combating the right in rural communities. Then, Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi share their high school project - a crowdsourced racial literacy curriculum. Music featured: "Afro-Dixie Remix" by multi-m...

Go to March For Our Lives for more information on the March 24th march. Laura Flanders' weekly commentary the 'F-word'.  Write to Laura, she'd love to hear from you Laura@LauraFlanders.com Please take the time to write a review in  iTunes , Stitcher or wherever you get this podcast, it helps spread the word. Thank you! Make a one time donation or become a sustaining member for as little as $2 a mo...

Power politics and the politics of power - this time on the show, we talk with New York City’s Chief Resilience Officer, Daniel Zarrilli, about the decision to divest from fossil fuels and Clara Vondrich of Divest/Invest , one of the activist groups that helped make it happen. And journalist, Christian Parenti, author of " If We Fail " and " Tropic of Chaos " explains why he th...

What lies ahead for change makers in 2018, the right and the rest. Laura talks politics, culture, and economics with Tarso Luis Ramos, executive director of Political Research Associates, and Sarah Ludwig, co-founder of the New Economy Project. Plus, Laura tries to imagine a real human family? Music Featured: “Um, Did He Lie?” a parody commentary on SOTU by Parody Project with lyrics by Don Caron...

Laura Flanders' weekly commentary the 'F-word'.  Write to Laura, she'd love to hear from you Laura@LauraFlanders.com Please take the time to write a review in iTunes , it helps spread the word. Thank you! Make a one time donation or become a sustaining member for as little as $2 a month  http://LauraFlanders.com/donate   Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders-Executive Producer...

Architect Carl Anthony and activist Ashley Dawson in dialogue about the confluence of economic and racial inequality, and new forms of extreme weather. In the urbanscape, they argue, more inequality equals less resilience against climate disaster. [00:19:00] Then, Avery Bang from the non-profit Bridges to Prosperity, on how a community's access to bridges is a public right.  Thanks to TED Women. M...

Laura Flanders' weekly commentary the 'F-word'.  Write to Laura, she'd love to hear from you Laura@LauraFlanders.com Please take the time to write a review in iTunes, it helps spread the word. Thank you! Make a one time donation or become a sustaining member for as little as $2 a month  http://LauraFlanders.com/donate Sponsor: Try the weekly meal kit delivery service 'HelloFresh' and get %30 off y...

What difference does it make when some people are left out of the picture? When police don’t keep data on queer women, for instance - or when the culture looks all white. Activist attorney Andrea Ritchie returns with her book, Invisible No More and Deborah Willis and Hank Willis Thomas - 2 generations of picture makers talk about mothers, sons and radical art. Thanks to TED Women for their collabo...