Living in the USA

Michelle Obama declares in her new memoir, “I am not a political person, so I’m not going to attempt to offer an analysis” of Trump’s victory. That’s her stance in the rest of the book as well. It seems strange for the person the New York Times called “The most outspoken first lady in modern history.” What’s going on here? Amy Wilentz comments. Plus: The Democrats won the midterms by the largest popular vote margin for either party in the history of midterm elections — larger than the Watergate midterm after Nixon resigned in 1974, 44 years ago. But there was a deeper and more significant victory hidden behind those numbers, Kai Wright argues: the political mobilization of millions of people of color in the South.

Fifty-three per cent of white women voters, according to exit polls in 2016, voted for Trump. Why? And, will their minds be changed? We turn to Katha Pollitt for comment. Next up: Republicans who stood up to the president's abuses of power in the early 1970s -- and Republicans today, who don't. Micheal Koncewicz, author of "They Said No to Nixon" revisits Watergate and 'The enemies list project'. Magician, actor, author, scholar and master showman, Ricky Jay passed away last Sunday -- we remember him with an interview from 2001.

Frank Rich finds lessons for Democrats in the midterms: seeking “the political center,” as recommended by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff, running on “clean-government themes and promises of incremental improvement to the health care system rather than transformational social change,” is “ridiculous.” Frank writes about politics for New York Magazine and is executive producer of VEEP on HBO. Also: Trump’s appointment of a new acting attorney general, Matt Whitaker: is it legal? He hasn’t been confirmed by the Senate – or even nominated. Erwin Chemerinsky comments—he’s dean of the law school at UC Berkeley, and his new book is “We the People: A Progressive Reading of the Constitution for the 21st Century.”

The 2018 Midterm Elections: What can we learn from what happened in the Midwest and the Rust Belt? John Nichols has the report on Pennsylvania, Michigan, and--of course--Wisconsin. Next, we talk with Sasha Abramsky for his take on the Southwestern states: Arizona, Nevada, Texas--and of course California. Plus, Katha Pollitt talks about all those women candidates -- the Democrats and the Republicans.

The terrible record of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General: Ahilan Arulanantham, ACLU SoCal Senior Counsel, who argued in the 9th circuit against Sessions' policies -- and won. Also: the latest on DACA. Also, Harold Meyerson on the midterms: they deepened the Dem hold on cities and suburbs -- and the Republican hold on the hills and the dales. Plus: Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the law school at UC Berkeley, on the old Attorney General, and the new one--and what the change could mean for Mueller and his investigation.

With under five days until the November 6, Midterm elections, we have two political updates: John Nichols comments on national matters and David Dayen reports on the California situation. Plus: Singapore-born film-maker Sandi Tan, joins us in-studio to talk about her Sundance award-winning documentary, "Shirkers," now streaming on Netflix.

From the pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats, to Trump's efforts to distract voters with stories about migrants on the march in Mexico -- Harold Meyerson analyzes the state of the midterm elections, now less than 2 weeks away. Also: pop-up Guerilla theater in Los Angeles: the great Hieronymous Bang explains what's going on with the political play whose name cannot be spoken on the radio, and Alan Minsky joins in.

The most important voting rights issue on the ballot in 2018 is restoring the voting rights of 1.4 million ex-felons in Florida--and it seems likely to pass. An initiative on the ballot there would repeal one of country's worst Jim Crow laws. Sasha Abramsky has that story. Also: the political power of women’s anger: Rebecca Traister has been thinking about that. Her new book is called “Good and Mad.” .

What the Democrats can do about newly-confirmed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh when they win the House in November and take control of the Judiciary Committee in January: John Nichols talks about investigations that could lead to the filing of articles of impeachment--and some other possibilities. Also: D.D. Guttenplan talks about some alternatives to those old white Republican men who shouted and pouted and voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing – his new book is “The Next Republic: the Rise of a New Radical Majority.”

Amy Wilentz of The Nation talks about Kavanaugh, Trump, and women --the women in the hearings, in Kavanaugh's past, and in America. Also: John Nichols on politics and the Senate--and how Mitch McConnell is killing the senate. Plus: Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the Law School at UC Berkeley, says the Supreme Court will soon have FIVE Republican justices, all of whom were seated illegitimately.