Voice of the People: Radio By and For the 99%

Our word of the week is "climate," where we dive into the climate crisis. Jeff Smith of 350 Montana tells us about the proposed  Northwestern Energy gas-fired electric plant for Laurel, Montana and how it would contribute to climate change. And we look at the Kellogg's strike and the union election victories at Starbucks stores in Buffalo, NY. And we look at recent elections in Venezuela and...

Municipality is our theme this week, as Jim and Mark look at bit at the origins of local government in the US, and interview 3 democratic socialists elected to the city councils in Missoula and Billings. Denise Joy was re-elected in Billings despite an extreme right-wing smear campaign. Daniel Carlino was elected to a Missoula City Council seat after a very close campaign against a liberal Democra...

Our Word of the Week is "taxes." Sound soundman Jim, Linda Gillison and Mark dive deep into the topic, including a careful reading and discussion on a speech given in 1945 by NY Federal Reserve Chair Beardsley Ruml on why taxes for Federal government revenue is obsolete. We also talk about the UAW John Deere strike. And we review Toni Gilpin’s book "The Long Deep Grudge: A Story of Big Capital, Ra...

We look into housing as a human right and a social responsibility. We interview Nolan Fry, an organizer of the new Missoula Renters Union, and 5 participants. We also look at the political mishandling of the Build Back Better plan, the current worker strike wave, and the pandemic. Listen in to sound soundman Jim, Jim Lizka and Mark on the first episode of our 3rd year.

On this week's show we explore what democratic socialism is - and isn't. We interview Kristian Hernandez, newly re-elected member of the National Political Committee of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). And we look at some of the "Striketober" wave of worker strikes and the latest on the pandemic. Join sound sound guy Jim Gillan, friend of the show Linda Gillison and Mark for this episod...

How do we pay for trillions of dollars of infrastructure? How can we afford to tackle the climate crisis? Where is the money to provide universal healthcare? Modern monetary theory (MMT) helps us understand how our money system works and why it can be used to help people and the planet. We feature economist Stephanie Kelton"s TED talk on MMT. Join Linda Gillison, Sound money guy Jim, and Mark as w...

This is our Labor Day Show where we discuss with others on which directions the labor movement should grow into. We interview Derek Hitt President of the Missoula Area CLC; Erin Foley, newly elected Sec-Treas of the Montana AFL-CIO, and Don McIntosh reporter for the NW Labor Press out of Portland, OR. Join Sue Kirchmyer, Linda Gillison, sound soundman Jim and Mark as we join the discussion.

We discuss the events in Afghanistan, including our word of the Week "Nation-Building." And we look at the latest in the pandemic, some good news out of Missoula and we have a short memoriam for labor leader Rich Trumka.

The second part on Brandon Bryant features interviews of Missoula Councilpeople Jesse Ramos and Heather Harp, with Bryant public defender Jake Coolidge. Friend of the show Sue Kirchmyer and sound soundman Jim Gillan discuss with Mark about some of the ramifications of the trial on city politics, the media and free speech, and on the local criminal justice system.

Brandon Bryant, Missoula, MT resident, US Air Force killer drone program whistleblower, advocate for veterans and critic of public subsidization of high end development, is featured in this week's show. Bryant was arrested in February 2020 for allegedly violently threatening Missoula City Council members, held on an unprecedented $100,000 bail, and recently found not guilty on all counts by a unan...

Our word of the Week is "Press Freedom," as we look at the 1st Amendment, and assaults against a free press including the US government's persecution of Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange. We also look at an increasing number of strikes by workers in the US and on the latest on the pandemic. We feature an interview of journalist Dennis Swibold.

Neoliberalism is the Word of the Week. And we look at how neoliberalism affects the response to the pandemic, affordable housing for Missoulians with mental illness, labor relations at a Kalispell hospital, and popular uprisings and revolutions in Colombia, Peru and Chile. Plus interviews with people supporting a Free Palestine and an end to Israeli apartheid. Sound sound guy Jim is back from assi...

Our word of the week is Mental Health. We continue coverage of W. Montana Mental Health Center's intent to sell on the open market affordable housing built for people with mental health issues, featuring an interview with Missoula mental health workers Lisa Leon and Megan Bailey. We also cover the intent to strike on June 1 - 3 by the Kalispell, MT nurses of SEIU 1199NW at Logan Hospital. We look...

Our Word of the Week is apartheid, as it applies to the oppression of the Israeli government on the Palestinians. We feature an interview with Neve Gordon, Israeli native and professor of Human Rights, who discusses the current situation in Palestine/Israel. We also cover a Missoula mental health agency's outrageous attempt to make a buck off of clients and vaccine maker executives making billions...

Internationalism is the Word of the Week and we look at the two comping interpretations of the word. We look at the CDC's announcement of partially lifting masking recommendation and our progress on vaccination. The successful unionization of Big Sky, Montana ski patrol workers and the popular uprising against the neoliberal policies of the Colombian government are also discussed. We also cover th...

Housing is our Word of the Week. We also cover Montana Governor rejecting enhanced unemployment benefits in order to "incentivize" workers back to the job. We look at disturbing developments with COVID in India and Seychelles. Join Friends of the Show Linda Gillison and Kevin Hunt, soundman Jim Gillan and Mark for this week's show.

The Word of the Week is "May Day" for our May 1st episode. We explore two different holidays that share the same name. We look at the terrible resurgence of COVID in India, and how Bill Gates responds to calls for sharing vaccine technology. We review a bit more the United Mine Workers of America plan for just transition. And hear about a Mother's Day cultural action, how one-on-one organizing is...

Our word of the week is "just transition." We get an update on the striking Missoula airport workers from Jared Bonney. Friend of the Show Linda Gillison and Mark review the United Mine Workers proposal for transition away from coal, the state of cleanup of Colstrip 1 & 2, the Montana Legislature's attempts to guarantee on the backs of ratepayers Northwestern Energy's purchase of Colstrip 3 &a...

"Solidarity" is the Word of the Week. We interview 3 Missoula airport ground crew workers who have walked out on strike for higher wages and dignity on the job. And we have Jeff Smith of 350Montana report on Montana SB 379 which guarantees the survival of Northwestern Energy on the backs of its ratepayers. Sound sound man Jim Gillan, Friend of the Show Linda Gillison and Mark talk about these thin...

Word of the Week is PRO Act or Protect the Right to Organize Act. We broadcast an April 7th PRO Act Public Forum with worker stories from Ty Wheeler, fired Yellowstone National Park snowcoach guide organizer; Miles McCarvel, Ironworkers Local 14 union organizer and President of the MT Building & Construction Trades Council; and Tammy Kim, freelance writer, journalist and union organizer. Join...

The Word of the Week is "oilsands." Our interview is with Missoula resident water protector Josh Decker who has just returned from protests at the Line 3 oilsands pipeline construction in northern Minnesota. Join friend of the show Jim Lizka, sound sound guy Jim Gillan and host Mark for discussion of these and other news of the week.

The Word of the Week is "organizing," which sets up conversations about the PRO Act and the union organizing at Bamazon. Steve Wells reports from Nicaragua about COVID there and about the use of ivermectin as a therapy. Jim the sound Sound Guy returns as does Linda Gillison to talk about these and other topics.

Join Mark and Sue Kirchmyer as they discuss the news of the week. The Word of the Week is "Inflation." And we have an extended look at the awful role nursing homes have played in the pandemic and why they have been so bad.

Join sound soundman Jim Gillan, Friend of the Show Linda Gillison and Mark Anderlik. Our Word of the Week is "noncooperation," and we discuss this method in the people's struggle against a coup in Myanmar. And we have journalist Dennis Swibold discuss the future of the news media.

The Word of the Week is "deregulation." Sound sound guy Jim Gillan joins in on a discussion of the news of the week, of citizen uprisings in India and Myanmar, and a discussion of the Texas Electric Debacle.