Green & Red: Podcasts for Scrappy Radicals

Trump’s public life has long been a target of comedians and satirists. His notorious thin skin often led to him lashing out on Twitter and Truth Social at the likes of Alec Baldwin and Seth Meyers. Like other authoritarian, or wannabe authoritarians, humor become a strategy to confront the Trump regime. As some experts say, comedy is an incredibly important method of non-violent protest and satire can be a way to energize and mobilize a mass of people resisting politicians like Trump. In our latest, we talk with Prof. Sophia McClennen (@mcclennen65) about how comedians were able to counter Trump's absurdity with satire and humor. We also talked about how it's used to undermine authoritarians in other parts of the world. And we discussed political comedians Tina Fey, Michael Moore and Al Franken. Bio// Sophia A. McClennen is Director of the Center for Global Studies and Professor of International Affairs and Comparative Literature at Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA. She's the author of numerous books, including “Trump Was A Joke: How Satire Made Sense of a President Who Didn’t.” She’s also a regular contributor to Salon.com ------------------------------------------------------------- Outro- "Green and Red Blues" by Moody Links// + Prof. Sophia McClennen: https://www.sophiamcclennen.com/ + "Trump Was a Joke How Satire Made Sense of a President Who Didn’t" (https://bit.ly/3qSrkXc) + Salon: The news media is blowing Trump coverage again (https://bit.ly/3JmC4TY) + Salon: Sick of Trump? Try laughing at him (https://bit.ly/3PuICng) Follow Green and Red// +G&R Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast⁠ ⁠ +G&R's Website: https://greenandredpodcast.org/⁠ +We're part of the Labor Podcast Network: ⁠https://www.laborradionetwork.org/⁠ + Have you follow us on Discord yet? Just click this invite: https://discord.gg/SyUBxVNB Support the Green and Red Podcast// +Become a Patron at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast⁠ +Or make a one time donation here: ⁠https://bit.ly/DonateGandR⁠ This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). “Green and Red Blues" by Moody. Editing by Isaac.

Today we're all saddened to hear that Daniel Ellsberg had died. Ellsberg's life is well-known, and he's one of the more important figures in the history of American dissent and radicalism. In February 2003, Green and Red co-host Bob Buzzanco was really lucky, and honored, to host Dan Ellsberg in Houston, where he talked about the Vietnam War, nuclear weapons, the breakup of the Soviet Union, and the coming war against Iraq, and he finished by talking about his case and the need for whistleblowers in government. And so, as we remember Dan Ellsberg's magisterial contribution to the causes we care about, here are his words from 2003. Daniel Ellsberg, Presente . . . ———————— About Daniel Ellsberg// Daniel Ellsberg was a Marine in the 1950s, took a Ph.D. at Harvard, and then joined the RAND corporation as an analyst. In 1964, Defense Secretary Robert McNamara brought in Ellsberg as an advisor and he was assigned to study pacification in Vietnam along with the legendary General Edward Lansdale. Ellsberg concluded that the war was not going well and would continue to deteriorate with the possibility of a victory for the northern, Communist forces quite possible. In 1967, McNamara included Ellsberg in a group he had created to do a comprehensive study of the entire history of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, a role that would lead him to become one of the more dangerous men in that era, according to US government officials. After completing the study (in which Ellsberg didn't have a huge role) he returned back to the RAND Corporation and became immersed in antiwar work. By 1971, with the war still going on despite significant public opposition, Ellsberg made copies of the 7000-page report, known as "The Pentagon Papers," and leaked it to the media. The Nixon administration immediately acted and charged Ellsberg with espionage, conspiracy and other crimes. The White House also tried to prevent publication of the Pentagon Papers but the Supreme Court upheld the right of the press to publish them. By the time Ellsberg went to trial, Nixon's attempts to discredit and ruin Ellsberg--including illegal wiretapping of Ellsberg, a government break-in of his psychiatrist's office to steal his files, and an offer to the trial Judge to become director of the FBI if he found Ellsberg guilty--were so egregious that the judge threw the charges against him out. From then on, Daniel Ellsberg was a constant presence when Americans protested against wars, nuclear power and nuclear weapons, wars and interventions, and many other issues. His legacy as a defender of press freedom and a voice for peace and justice won't be forgotten, and we've seen his influence on the likes of Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning, Daniel Hale, Reality Winner, and others who've tried to warn us about the malignant actions of the state. --------------------------- Outro- "The Ballad of Daniel Ellsberg" by Rulie Garcia Links// + Daniel Ellsberg, Who Leaked the Pentagon Papers, Is Dead at 92 (https://nyti.ms/3Nx0EEe) Follow Green and Red// +G&R Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast⁠ ⁠ +G&R's Website: https://greenandredpodcast.org/⁠ +We're part of the Labor Podcast Network: ⁠https://www.laborradionetwork.org/⁠ Support the Green and Red Podcast// +Become a Patron at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast⁠ +Or make a one time donation here: ⁠https://bit.ly/DonateGandR⁠ This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). “Green and Red Blues" by Moody. Editing by Scott.

We got together to discuss the war in Ukraine. Currently the US is continuing to send money and military equipment to Ukraine, but conditions on the battlefield are at a stalemate, with neither side able to win the war not on the verge of surrendering either. We discussed the levels of US aid to Ukraine, in terms of money and arms. We also discussed the profits made by American military suppliers and other corporations. Importantly we also have responded to the "NATO Left" which is shouting for more aid to Ukraine and engaging in McCarthyist attacks on people calling for negotiations to end the war, as well as pointing out the follow of self-described leftists who are pro-Russia and pro-Putin. Finally, we discussed the scope of ruling class concern over the war--manifested in calls for talks by the likes of JCS Chair Mark Milley, the Rand Corporation, and Foreign Affairs, to name a few. And we ended by discussing the risks involved in a continued war, particularly with escalating tensions with China, and the way that spending in Ukraine has taken attention away from the myriad crises we face in the U.S. ------------------------------------------------------ Outro- "No More War" by Markus K Links// + CFR: How Much Aid Has the U.S. Sent Ukraine? Here Are Six Charts. (https://bit.ly/43yjccJ) +Defense Contractor Funded Think Tanks Dominate Ukraine Debate (https://bit.ly/45TdcNo) + Reuters: Ukraine war, already with up to 354,000 casualties, likely to last past 2023 (https://bit.ly/3MYhESg) + Hartung:Congress should freeze historically high Pentagon spending (https://bit.ly/45YNuXG) Follow Green and Red// +G&R Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast⁠ ⁠ +G&R's Website: https://greenandredpodcast.org/⁠ +We're part of the Labor Podast Network:⁠https://www.laborradionetwork.org/⁠ Support the Green and Red Podcast// +Become a Patron at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast⁠ +Or make a one time donation here: ⁠https://bit.ly/DonateGandR⁠ This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). “Green and Red Blues" by Moody. Editing by Scott.

In our latest episode, we talk with journalist Joshua Frank (@joshua_frank) about his book, "Atomic Days: The Untold Story of the Most Toxic Place in America," which details the story of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington State and a $677 billion environmental cleanup site. We also talk about the resurgence of nuclear power, its toxic legacy and the deadly impacts of its entire life cycle. We also discuss the left's recent embrace of it as a "renewable energy" source, how the pro-nuke leftists are doing the bidding of the nuclear industry and why the left must oppose nuclear power. Bio// Joshua Frank is an award-winning California-based journalist and co-editor of the political magazine CounterPunch. He is the editor and co-author of several books. Most recently, he is the author of the book "Atomic Days: The Untold Story of the Most Toxic Place in America" (Haymarket Books 2022). ---------------------------------------------------- Outro- "We Almost Lost Detroit" by Gil Scott Heron Links// +Atomic Days on Haymarket (https://bit.ly/3MZ6bSC) +The Case Against Nuclear Power (https://bit.ly/3X1XxHG) +Counterpunch: http://CounterPunch.org +The Pentagon Is Helping Bring the Next Generation of Nuclear Technology to Life (https://bit.ly/43R0Ljb) Follow Green and Red// +G&R Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast⁠ ⁠ +G&R's Website: https://greenandredpodcast.org/⁠ +We're part of the Labor Podast Network:⁠https://www.laborradionetwork.org/⁠ Support the Green and Red Podcast// +Become a Patron at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast⁠ +Or make a one time donation here: ⁠https://bit.ly/DonateGandR⁠ This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). “Green and Red Blues" by Moody. Editing by Isaac.

With Trump's federal indictment around his hoarding of classified documents, we thought it'd be good to repost this episode from September. Enjoy! Donald Trump might finally be in real trouble, because of . . .  archivists? Green and Red shows the love to archivists and librarians! We had a good discussion in this episode about the way national security  documents are classified, who can see them, how they're de-classified,  and Trump's theft of vital top secret documents that prompted the FBI to search Mar-a-Largo. With the Cold War, the government, the National Security State, created a  new system of classification, official secrets and surveillance. It was  done to prevent spies and foreign governments from gaining access to high-level secrets and it was always used against the Left--the Rosenbergs, Daniel Ellsberg, Julian Assange, Reality Winner, etc.  It's impossible to imagine that the Americans who created this system thought that a former  U.S. president would be the target of an official investigation for taking and possibly sharing such secrets with a foreign government, but  here we are. We also discussed the way that even significant segments of the GOP and  conservative media--such as Bill Barr and Fox News--have been  emphasizing this story and Trump's misdeeds. And at the end we paid tribute to a legend of the Left, the late Barbara Ehrenreich. --------------------------------------------------------- Links// Can Trump Just Declare Nuclear Secrets Unclassified?  (https://bit.ly/3RE0Jpj) America’s secrets: Trump’s unprecedented disregard of norms (https://bit.ly/3LbP7aK) G&R Links// G&R:The Military vs. Donald J. Trump  (https://apple.co/3cDUso8) G&R: The Coup That Wasn't (https://bit.ly/RulingClassGandR) G&R: The Capitol Hill Riots and the Ruling Class (https://bit.ly/RiotsRulingClassGandR) G&R: Baseball and Bosses vs. the Georgia GOP (https://bit.ly/CorpResistGandR) Follow Green and Red// G&R Linktree: https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast Check out our rad website: https://greenandredpodcast.org/ Donate to Green and Red Podcast// Become a Patron at https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast Or make a one time donation here: https://bit.ly/DonateGandR This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969).  “Green and Red  Blues"  by Moody.  Editing by Isaac.

Since the murder of forest defender Tortuguita last January, we've seen an escalation on the Stop Cop City by both activists and police. 34 people have been charged with "domestic terrorism." Atlanta police have cracked down on the smallest of demos resisting the project. Meanwhile, it's been revealed that Cop City would cost twice the amount originally asked for by the Atlanta Police Foundation. And 54% of Atlanta area residents oppose the project (with only 34% supporting it) in recent polls. This past week, three members of the Atlanta Solidarity Committee were arrested for alleged "financial crimes" by the state of Georgia. The Solidarity Committee is a bail fund that exists to support people arrested for protest-related actions. They began during the 2020 uprisings after the police murder of George Floyd and have been a pillar of support through the Stop Cop City campaign. Gov. Brian Kemp, and other politicians, has portrayed the movement to stop Copy City as a criminal organization. They are now targeting the campaign's legal and bail support for "charity fraud" and "money laundering." In our latest episode, Scott talks with Lauren Regan, executive director of the Civil Liberties Defense Center (@CLDC), about what's happening in Atlanta. They get into the intent of the authorities, other legal avenues they are pursuing to eradicate the Stop Cop City Movement and possible national effects. Bio// Lauren is the Executive Director & Senior Staff Attorney at the Civil Liberties Defense Center. She is a national expert in the defense of political activists, particularly those engaged in the climate, environmental, indigenous and animal rights movements. She is a trial lawyer who handles state and federal criminal defense, SLAPP defense, grand jury resistance, and federal civil rights litigation against police and government agencies for violating the rights of activists and organizations. --------------------------------------------------- Outro- Green and Red Blues by Moody Links// Civil Liberties Defense Center: https://cldc.org/staff/ Follow Green and Red// G&R Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast⁠ ⁠ G&R's Website: https://greenandredpodcast.org/⁠ We're part of the Labor Podast Network:⁠https://www.laborradionetwork.org/⁠ Support the Green and Red Podcast// Become a Patron at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast⁠ Or make a one time donation here: ⁠https://bit.ly/DonateGandR⁠ This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). “Green and Red Blues" by Moody. Editing by Isaac

"How to Blow Up a Pipeline" is an environmental-climate crisis action-thriller film. It's based on Andreas Malm's book of the same name. The New York Times called it a "cultural landmark" for its sympathetic portrayal of eco-terrorists. It deals with complex issues related to the climate crisis such as violence vs. non-violence, sabotage as self-defense and the necessity of fighting the oil industry. In our latest, we talk with Daniel Goldhaber (@chronopictures), the director of "How to Blow Up a Pipeline. We talked to him about his motives for turning the book into a film, what messages he wanted to put across, his own views on the urgency of direct action in the fight to save the earth, the responses to the movie, past actions they considered when making the film and more. Bio// Daniel Goldhaber is an American director, screenwriter, and producer. In 2018, he directed Cam, a psychological horror film set in the world of webcam pornography. In 2022, he co-wrote, directed, and produced the thriller film How to Blow Up a Pipeline, based on the book of the same name by Andreas Malm. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Outro- "Sabotage" by The Great American Beast Links// + "How To Blow Up A Pipeline" by Andreas Malm (https://bit.ly/42g5JVA) + Daniel Goldhaber: https://www.danielgoldhaber.com/ + A Frontline Response to Andreas Malm (https://bit.ly/3OOJLpJ) + “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” Movie Poses Terror Threat, Kansas City Intel Agency Claims (https://bit.ly/3C6kJe3) Follow Green and Red// +G&R Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast⁠ ⁠ +Our Rad Website: https://greenandredpodcast.org/⁠ +We're part of the Labor Podast Network:⁠https://www.laborradionetwork.org/⁠ Support the Green and Red Podcast// +Become a Patron at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast⁠ +Or make a one time donation here: ⁠https://bit.ly/DonateGandR⁠ This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). “Green and Red Blues" by Moody. Editing by Isaac

The U.S. is synonymous with forever wars and empire. U.S. troops sit in 70% of the world's nations on about 800 bases. Culturally, we're taught that this necessary and we shouldn't question it and the state sponsors tributes like Memorial Day to "thank the troops for their service" but which really give people a reason to have picnics and blow off fireworks. In our Memorial Day episode, we dive deep into Bush and Cheney's wars in the Middle East in a fascinating discussion w/antiwar vet Henri Henrikson, (@henrihateswar). We discussed his deployment and time in war zones in the Middle East, what he witnessed there, how he evolved politically to become an antiwar activist and counter-recruiter, military propaganda in films, and what he thinks Memorial Day should mean. It's a great, moving interview with a dedicated vet and activist. Bio// Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson (He/Him/His) is an Iraq war veteran from Portland, OR. He deployed in support of Operation Noble Eagle at the Pentagon following 9/11 and served two tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A former MP team leader, Henri also served two years as a CID drug investigator. Now a journalist, podcaster, writer, and especially anti-war activist, Henri no longer supports the lies of imperialism or the PR spin of the politicians, wherever the source. He seeks to make common cause with anyone tired of jingoistic-driven death from the American war machine and a desire to protect the innocents of the earth, no matter their origin. Except Alex Jones. Fuck that guy. --------------------------------------------------- Outro- Green and Red Blues Links// + Fortress on the Hill: https://www.fortressonahill.com/ Follow Green and Red// +G&R Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast⁠ ⁠ +Our Rad Website: https://greenandredpodcast.org/⁠ +We're part of the Labor Podast Network:⁠https://www.laborradionetwork.org/⁠ Support the Green and Red Podcast// +Become a Patron at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast⁠ +Or make a one time donation here: ⁠https://bit.ly/DonateGandR⁠ This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). “Green and Red Blues" by Moody. Editing by Isaac.

The rise of militarism and the climate crisis are intertwined in a myriad of ways. The Pentagon is largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. The U.S. has hundreds of bases around world polluting nearby communities. Money that could be preparing for climate resilience and disaster relief is used to prepare for U.S. adventures abroad. Private military contractors and the Pentagon play the same greenwashing game as the rest of the Ruling Class. Yet, the climate movements fighting fossil fuels, corporate financiers, and climate denying and climate neo-liberal politicians have little in way of consciousness about the intersections between the climate crisis, war, empire and militarism. We dive deep into this subject with the coordinator of CODEPINK's War is Not Green (WING) campaign- Teddy Ogborn. We also discuss CODEPINK's WING campaign against financial giant Blackrock. Teddy Ogborn is an activist and organizer based in New York City with a BA in Comparative Literature from Haverford College. They have several years of experience in documentary storytelling, strategic organizing, and direct action, particularly with climate actions in New York and New Jersey. Teddy is CODEPINK’s (@codepink) War Is Not Green (WING) Coordinator where they focus on the intersection of militarism and climate change. --------------------------------------- Outro- Edwin Starr - War (Dr Spider & 4bstr4ck3r remix) Links// War is Not Green Resources (https://bit.ly/4226Wj1) 10 Ways that the Climate Crisis and Militarism are Intertwined (https://bit.ly/41YiALP) Counterpunch: The Numbers BlackRock Won’t Crunch (https://bit.ly/3WyOhdQ) Follow Green and Red// G&R Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast⁠ ⁠ Our Rad Website: https://greenandredpodcast.org/⁠ We're part of the Labor Podcast Network:⁠https://www.laborradionetwork.org/⁠ Support the Green and Red Podcast// Become a Patron at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast⁠ Or make a one time donation here: ⁠https://bit.ly/DonateGandR⁠ This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). “Green and Red Blues" by Moody. Editing by Isaac.

In this very special episode from 2020, we celebrate the shared birthday of iconic revolutionaries Ho Chi Minh and Malcolm X, both born on May 19th (1890 and 1925, respectively). Join Scott and Bob as we go deep on two of the most important revolutionaries of the 20th century---their ideas, their organizations, their international leadership in the class and anti-imperial struggles, and the inspiration they gave to so many millions. Plus a little Last Poets love for Ho Chi Minh: I'm gettin' on out of here You see, I just could not win Against Ho Chi Minh No, I just could not win Against Ho Chi Minh -------------------------------- Further reading// William Duiker's Ho Chi Minh: A Life and Sacred War, The Autobiography of Malcolm X,  Peniel Joseph's The Sword and the Shield, James Cones' Martin and Malcolm and America Follow Green and Red// G&R Linktree: https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast https://greenandredpodcast.org/ We're part of the Labor Podast Network. Check them out here:https://www.laborradionetwork.org/ Support the Green and Red Podcast// Become a Patron at https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast Or make a one time donation here: https://bit.ly/DonateGandR This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). “Green and Red Blues" by Moody. Editing by Scott.