WPKN: Politics, Policy, and Planet Podcast

Interview with Scarlett de Leon, executive director of ACT-LA, conducted by Melinda Tuhus. Scarlett explains that after June ICE raids led to the arrests of hundreds of immigrants in Los Angeles. ACT-LA sent a letter to the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority asking for changes to strengthen protections for immigrants against ICE abductions.

Interview with Hannah Levintova, Mother Jones' magazine D.C. bureau reporter, conducted by Scott Harris.Hannah Levintova talks about her investigation featured in the Public Radio series, “Reveal,” titled, “The Landlord Gutting America’s Hospitals,” which examines how a real estate company buys up hospitals and then leases them back to healthcare systems, causing dozens of its hospitals to go bankrupt, close or be sold because profits were sucked out of them, resulting in the deterioration of patient care.

Interview with Robert Greenwald, founder and president of Brave New Films, conducted by Scott Harris.Robert Greenwald talks about his new documentary titled, “Gaza: Journalists Under Fire,” which exposes Israel’s crimes against journalism and humanity, where more than 200 Gaza-based journalists have been killed since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel — through the lives and deaths of Palestinian journalists Belal Jadallah, Heba Al-Abadla and Ismail al-Ghoul.Brave New World, a nonprofit production company that creates and distributes investigative political and social justice documentaries.

Interview with Sharif Abdel Kouddous, Drop Site News Middle East and North Africa editor, conducted by Scott Harris.Sharif Abdel Kouddous discusses his coverage of Israel’s starvation campaign against Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinian civilians — and the Trump regime’s role in this war crime via the U.S.-backed “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” — as reported in his recent article, “Palestinians are Collapsing in Gaza’s Streets from Israeli-Imposed Starvation Campaign.”   Kouddous received a George Polk Award for his investigation into the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

Interview with Melvin Goodman, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, and professor of government at Johns Hopkins University, conducted by Scott Harris.Melvin Goodman, a former CIA analyst and author, discusses his recent Counterpunch commentary, “The Waste and Futility of the Golden Dome National Defense System,” estimated to cost between $161 billion and $542 billion over two decades, as well as the larger danger of expiring U.S.-Russia nuclear arms control treaties. 

News and views from and to the organic community:  -Hot Topics with Diane Lauricella  -Small Farms Report by Steve Munno of Massaro Farm  -Legislative update from CT NOFA by Dr. Kim Stoner  -Special guest, Reggie St. Fort Colin discussing BIPOC farming and food justice issues in ConnecticutHosts: Richard Hill and Diane Lauricella

Interview with Joan Cavanagh, a founding member of Progressives Against Medical Assisted Suicide, conducted by Scott Harris.Joan Cavanagh talks about the new documentary film titled, “Thoughts on Medical Assisted Suicide,” which will be available for viewing online from July 23 through July 30, in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990.

Interview with Greg Palast, author of several New York Times best-sellers including,The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, conducted by Scott Harris.Greg Palast talks about his recent investigations into the Trump-Republican party plan to win the 2026 midterm elections in 2025 by employing massive voter purges in purple states, racial gerrymandering, and voter suppression tactics.

Interview with John Tarleton, editor-in-chief of The Indypendent, New York City's free progressive monthly newspaper, conducted by Scott Harris.John Tarleton discusses his coverage of Zohran Mamdani’s surprise victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary and the obstacles ahead for his progressive campaign in the November election, where he’ll face both Mayor Eric Adams and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He also considers what Mamdani’s rise could mean for progressive candidates in the Democratic party and across the U.S.

Interview with Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a trauma and critical care surgeon, and Dr. Ayaz Pathan, an emergency room physician, conducted by Scott Harris.Dr. Feroze Sidhwa and Dr. Ayaz Pathan discuss their experiences working as physicians in Gaza; the ongoing slaughter and starvation of Palestinian civilians there; and their understanding of the mission of the Israeli-U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in distributing food that has resulted in hundreds of lives lost and the U.S. role in Israel’s 21 month-long Gaza war.