WPKN: Politics, Policy, and Planet Podcast

Interview with Sim Kern, a former teacher, journalist, novelist, and best-selling author of The Free People’s Village, conducted by Scott Harris, conducted by Scott Harris.Sim Kern talks about his new book, Genocide Bad: Notes on Palestine, Jewish History, and Collective Liberation, a part-activist memoir, part-crash course in Jewish and Palestinian history. Genocide Bad dismantles Zionist propaganda in 10 unapologetic essays, drawing connections between Biblical promises and exploding pagers, medieval dress codes and modern-day apartheid.

Interview with Analilia Mejia, co-executive director of Popular Democracy in Action, conducted by Scott Harris.Analilia Mejia discusses her group’s opposition to the Trump/GOP budget proposal that will cut a combined $1 trillion from Medicaid and the SNAP food stamp program, which will result in 10.3 million people losing Medicaid coverage over the next decade to pay for major tax cuts primarily benefiting the nation’s wealthiest families.

 Interview with Raed Jarrar, advocacy director with the Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), conducted by Scott Harris.Raed Jarrar, advocacy director with the Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), discusses the group’s views on President Trump’s recent visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the U.A.E., the deals announced, gifts received, and major issues discussed, including the ongoing slaughter and starvation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.DAWN is an American non-profit organization founded in September 2020 by Saudi U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi before his assassination ordered by the Saudi monarchy.

Allison Pilcher, policy director, with the Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs discusses several important climate bills currently being debated in the Connecticut state legislature; and Luke Pickrell, a writer and member of Democratic Socialists of America, who talks about his recent Jacobin magazine article, "Only a Democratic Constitution Can Stop Trumpism."Resistance Roundtable Hosts: Ruth Anne Baumgartner, Scott Harris and Richard Hill

Juan Fonseca Tapia, a lead organizer with the Trust Act Now Coalition, discusses the history of this law, first passed in CT in 2013, then revised in 2019. The latest version, HB 7212, is now before the Conneticut State Legislature and contains an expansion of the protections to undocumented residents in the state.Interview by Richard Hill

Interview with Jeremy Brecher, a historian, documentary filmmaker, activist, and author of "Strike!" conducted by Scott Harris.Jeremy Brecher talks about his latest book, “The Green New Deal from Below: How Ordinary People Are Building a Just and Climate-Safe Economy,” which explores community-led initiatives in various sectors such as renewable energy, green schools and fair labor practices.Brecher has written over a dozen books on labor and social movements, including his widely acclaimed book, “Strike!” which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1972.

Interview with Margaret Poydock, a senior policy analyst at the Economic Policy Institute, conducted by Scott Harris.Margaret Poydock discusses EPI’s new report, “100 Ways Trump Has Hurt Workers in his First 100 Days,” which she co-authored, as well as the response of workers and opponents challenging the Trump regime policies. His new book Examines “The Green New Deal from Below” Jeremy Brecher, is a historian, documentary filmmaker, activist, and author of over a dozen books on labor and social movements, including his widely acclaimed book, “Strike!” which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1972. Jeremy will talk about his latest book, “The Green New Deal from Below: How Ordinary People Are Building a Just and Climate-Safe Economy,” which explores community-led initiatives in various sectors such as renewable energy, green schools, and fair labor practices.

Interview with Jacob Love, senior attorney with the Boston-based group Lawyers for Civil Rights, conducted by Scott Harris.Jacob Love talks about his work challenging President Trump’s executive order to strip birthright U.S. citizenship from children born to immigrant parents. He’ll also discuss his concern about reports that the Trump regime is now actively considering deporting immigrants from the U.S. to Libya and Rwanda — as well as the hundreds of Venezuelans who have already been remanded to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison without due process.

A Catholic Worker Activist’s Appeal to Pope Leo to Visit Gaza: Interview with Kathy Boylan, a member of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker community in Washington, D.C., conducted by Scott Harris.Kathy Boylan discusses her hopes for Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, as a peacemaker and advocate for social justice, as well as personal appeal to the new Pope to visit Gaza and take a moral stand against Israel’s continuing war against the civilian Palestinian population, and current blockade of all food and humanitarian aid.

The May, 2025 Monthly Labor Report focuses on the fully emergent fascist assault on higher education and intellectual life the US with special guest Fred Kowal, president of United University Professions (UUP) and economist Michael Zweig.  The conversation includes an analysis of what social and political forces must coalesce to create a truly effective anti-fascist front.Host: Richard Hill