WPKN: Politics, Policy, and Planet Podcast

Interview with Dean Baker, senior economist with the Center for Economic and Policy Research, conducted by Scott Harris.Dean Baker discusses his recent articles, “The Democrats’ Necessary Apology” and “The Trump-Musk Recession: Because They Can,” as well as issues related to Trump’s tariffs, Wall Street’s response and what’s ahead for the U.S. economy.

Interview with Betsy Leondar-Wright, a community organizer, a diversity workshop facilitator, and a sociology professor teaching critical race theory and economic inequality.Leondar-Wright talks about her new book, “Is It Racist? Is It Sexist? Why Red and Blue White People Disagree, and How to Decide in the Gray Areas,” co-written with Jessi Streib, as well as President Trump’s attack on DEI and effort to overturn civil rights and anti-discrimination laws.

Interview with Justin Glawe, independent journalist and editor of the American Doom newsletter, conducted by Scott Harris.Justin Glawe discusses his latest Rolling Stone article, “Social Security Insiders Warn Trump and Musk Could Break the Program,” and growing concern that congressional Democrats can’t mount an effective defense of America’s most popular government program. He's the author of the forthcoming book, "If I Am Coming to Your Town, Something Terrible Has Happened."

Interview with Sam Carliner, a journalist who focuses on US imperialism and the climate crisis, conducted by Scott Harris.Sam Carliner talks about his recent Waging Nonviolence magazine article, “How pro-Palestine student activists are fighting increasing repression,” and the recent Trump administration’s arrest and attempt to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder who played a significant role in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University last spring.

Monique Bosch, the Soil Health Program Manager with CT NOFA, gets down and dirty about the microbial basis of healthy soil that promotes nutrient dense food and a sustainable environment.Also:  Steve Munno of Massaro Farm in Woodbridge, CT, provides the Small Farms Report; and Vincent Kaye of Swords into Ploughshares Honey, presents the Honey Bee Update.Host: Richard Hill

Interview with Tom Swan, executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, conducted by Scott Harris.Tom Swan discusses CCAG’s priorities and goals in the current state legislative session, as well as initiatives a coalition of groups in the state are working on to build a firewall to protect CT residents from Trump 2.0 authoritarian federal policies targeting civil rights, education, and critical social safety net programs.

Interview with Richard D. Wolff, professor of economics emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, author of 11 books including, “Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism,” and host of the weekly TV program Economic Update, conducted by Scott Harris.Richard D. Wolff examines Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, Europe and other nations; the impact on the U.S. economy, as well as indications that the Trump regime is getting ready to manipulate government-issued economic statistics by excluding government spending from data about U.S. economic output — and the Commerce Department’s decision to disband two expert committees that worked with the government to produce reliable economic statistics.Wolff is author of 11 books including, "Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism," and host of the weekly syndicated radio and TV program Economic Update.

Interview with the Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, senior pastor at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, conducted by Scott Harris.Senior Pastor Jamal-Harrison Bryant discusses his call for a 40-day “fast” from shopping at Target stores during Lent starting on March 5, in response to the company’s retreat from their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies after Donald Trump launched a campaign to eliminate DEI and decades-long civil rights policies in the federal government.

Interview with Jason Stanley, Jacob Urowsky professor of philosophy at Yale University and author of Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future, conducted by Scott Harris.Jason Stanley shares his views on the Trump regime’s unconstitutional attempt to eliminate entire federal agencies, the mass firing of government employees, the witch hunt targeting DEI and all federal anti-discrimination policies, as well as recent threats to criminalize student protest at university campuses nationwide. He is author of the books, "How Fascism Works," and "Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future."To follow our weekly updates on the Trump regime’s authoritarian playbook, subscribe to our Between The Lines Radio Newsmagazine Substack and receive additions to our “Hey AmeriKKKa, It’s Not Normal” compilation.

Sonia Hernandez and Veronica Ubaldo are team members with the community support organization Make the Road Connecticut, one of a national network of grassroots immigrant-led groups.  They share their personal stories of struggle for a better life in the US and their involvement in the fight for immigrant rights in their home town of Bridgeport, CT.Hosted by Richard Hill