WPKN: Politics, Policy, and Planet Podcast

Interview with Andra Watkins, a New York Times best-selling author and Project 2025 dissector on her Substack online newsletter, "For Such a Time as This," conducted by Scott Harris.Andra Watkins discusses the current government shutdown, suspension of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) food and nutrition benefits that relate to her recent, timely discussion and articles, “How Project 2025 Plans to Starve You into Faith” and “How to Starve Fascists and Cause Their Christian Nationalist Takeover of SNAP and Other Welfare Assistance to Backfire.”

Interview with Chad Marlow, senior policy counsel with the ACLU, conducted by Scott Harris.Chad Marlow takes a critical look at President Trump’s late September National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM-7) authorizing government-wide investigations into nonprofits, activists, and their donors and funders using vague and overbroad labels of “terrorism” and “conspiracy against rights.” He also explores what pro-democracy groups and state governments can do to protect groups and individuals’ right to dissent and free speech.

Interview with Gregg Gonsalves, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, and a founder of the group 'Defend Public Health,' conducted by Melinda Tuhus.Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Gregg Gonsalves, a recipient of a MacArthur fellowship in 2018, who describes Defend Public Health’s work over the past year and what he thinks the future prospects are for repairing the damage done to U.S. public health policy.

Interview with David Paul, a member of the Task Force on the Americas and Democratic Socialists of America, conducted by Scott Harris.David Paul assesses the Trump regime’s escalating military threats against Venezuela, Columbia and Latin America; the bombing of small boats and murder of 40+ alleged drug smugglers or fishermen in international waters; open White House discussion of a regime change war targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and a summary of recent U.S.-Venezuela relations.

Interview with Hardy Merriman, former president of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, conducted by Scott Harris.Hardy Merriman discusses his views on the direction and strength of the U.S. anti-authoritarian resistance movement, i.e. the recent No Kings Day mobilization — and what new strategies and tactics may be necessary to rapidly adopt in the face of Donald Trump’s deployment of heavily armed ICE agents and the U.S. military to cities across the country.The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict’s research and training focuses on support for nonviolent civil resistance movements fighting for rights, freedom, and justice and how communities can organize to counter political violence.

Interview with Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, conducted by Scott Harris.Secretary Thomas discusses the importance of local elections, highlighting typical low turnout and the need for more civic engagement. She also talks about steps her office is taking to ensure elections in Bridgeport, Connecticut are secure and open to all eligible voters, questions about early voting and absentee voting, as well as concerns that the Trump regime is now laying the groundwork to manipulate the results or cancel the 2026 midterm election.

Interview with Robert Weiner, director of the Voting Rights Project at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, conducted by Scott Harris.Robert Weiner discusses the critical issues being decided in the Louisiana v. Callais case now before the U.S. Supreme Court: racial gerrymandered congressional district maps eliminating the voices of Black and Latino legislators and the battle ahead to restore and strengthen civil rights law, democracy and equal access to the ballot box in coming months and years.

The Organic Farm Stand hosts an interview with L. Michael Green, executive director or Food First (Institute for Food and Development Policy), about the mission and history of this organization that has been fighting for food justice and innovative food policy for 50 years.Hosts: Richard Hill and Diane Lauricella   

Interview with Eddie Lejuine, a 62-year-old fisherman from Cameron, Louisiana, conducted by Melinda Tuhus.Eddie Lejuine traveled with other Gulf residents to Washington, D.C. in September to protest the continued buildout of LNG facilities. The group met with government agency representatives and politicians, and participated in a 'Petrostate Tour' organized by Third Act Actions Lab.  They also visited the offices of powerful fossil fuel industry promoters including the American Petroleum Institute, the American Gas Association and Venture Global, the company behind the construction of two LNG terminals in Cameron. Here Lejuine talks about the decimation of fishing in his community and fisherfolks’ efforts to hold Venture Global accountable.

Interview with Dr. Ira Helfand, member of the International Steering Group of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), conducted by Scott Harris.Dr. Ira Helfand, a steering committee member of the 'Back from the Brink' campaign, discusses the threat nuclear warfare poses to humanity and how the public can help mitigate it. He is calling on the U.S. to implement policies to lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war. Dr. Helfand will be speaking at the Wilton, Connecticut Quaker meeting on Sunday, Oct. 26, from noon-1:30 pm.Helfand is past president of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and co-founder and past president of Physicians for Social Responsibility.