WPKN: Politics, Policy, and Planet Podcast

Interview with Steven Hassan, a mental health professional, author, and one of the nation's foremost deprogrammers who have helped people leave destructive cults, conducted by Scott Harris.Steven Hassan talks about the new edition of his book, “The Cult of Trump,” and the impact Donald Trump’s election victory will have on the president-elect himself, his followers, and his MAGA movement’s attack on U.S. democratic institutions.

Interview with Alex Lawson Executive Director of Social Security Works, conducted by Scott Harris.Alex Lawson talks about his work ahead of the election to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare, with a focus on opposing Trump – GOP proposed cuts to benefits, and support for updating the Social Security COLA formula, V.P. Harris’ proposal to expand Medicare to cover long-term care at home and provide Medicare more power to negotiate lower drug prices.

Interview with Nora Benavidez, senior counsel and director of digital justice and civil rights with the media democracy group Free Press, conducted by Scott Harris.Nora Benavidez discusses the important issues examined in Free Press’ recent reports on how social media platforms have degraded or abandoned content moderation, creating an environment that could fuel the spread of dangerous disinformation before and after the November 5th election, which could lead to deepening distrust in the electoral process and violence. She will also explore policies Free Press has researched that could be implemented to control better the spread of both misinformation and disinformation adjacent to future elections and public health crises/ pandemics.

Interview with Amanda Marcotte, a senior politics writer at Salon.com, author of "Troll Nation: How the Right Became Trump-Worshipping Monsters" and publishes the biweekly politics newsletter, Standing Room Only, conducted by Scott Harris.Amanda Marcotte discusses election issues including the critical role the gender gap will play in the election outcome, and the long-term post-election damage we can expect from Trump’s toxic, hateful message targeting immigrants and the trans community.

Interview with Richard Eskow, host and managing editor of "The Zero Hour" and the lead writer for Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign. He recently wrote the piece "Dems Are Afraid Gaza Will Cost Them the Election. They're Not Afraid Enough," conducted by Scott Harris.Richard Eskow discusses the Biden/Harris administration’s position on Israel’s savage war in Gaza and how it may impact the turnout of voters Kamala Harris needs to win the battleground states essential for an electoral college victory. He’ll also assess Kamala’s move to the center on a host of issues during this campaign, and what progressive activists must do if she wins to advocate and support progressive policy initiatives, conducted by Scott Harris

What do you do when you are in a town that is politically polarized? Join Isabelle as she navigates bridging in a purple town. john a. powell, director of the Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley, provides sage advice to help Isabelle along. 

Interview with Teddy Wilson, a journalist and researcher on the U.S. radical right, conducted by Scott Harris.Teddy Wilson discusses the threat posed to the 2024 presidential election by Republican operatives, including the American First Legal Foundation, which are filing multiple lawsuits and laying the groundwork to challenge county and state election outcomes if Trump loses, as well as sowing chaos with plans to delay the certification of election results.

Interview with David Noll, associate dean for faculty research and development and a professor of law at Rutgers University, conducted by Scott HarrisDavid Noll discusses his new book, “Vigilante Nation: How State- Sponsored Terror Threatens Our Democracy,” co-written with UCLA professor of law Jon Michaels, which examines Trump/Republican election denialism, xenophobia and embrace of political violence in the 2024 election campaign.

An excerpt of former first lady Michelle Obama's speech delivered in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Oct. 26th, 2024.Michelle Obama powerfully spoke about the issue of reproductive rights and what’s at stake in the 2024 election, directly addressing the urgency of the issue for men, whose wives, sisters, mothers, cousins, aunts and girlfriends’ lives are jeopardized by Trump’s abortion ban.

Interview with Chris Lehmann, DC Bureau chief for The Nation magazine and a contributing editor at The Baffler, conducted by Scott HarrisChris Lehmann discusses his recent article, “The Press Needs to Start Taking Trump Literally,” addressing the media’s coverage of Trump’s unhinged and dangerous comments pronouncing Jan. 6 as “a day of love,” calls to use the U.S. military to round up his political enemies and his admiration of Adolph Hitler.