WPKN: Politics, Policy, and Planet Podcast

Vetiveah Harrison and Héctor Freedom Gerardo, discuss their unique journeys that led them to the food justice movement and ultimately tothe formation of the Liberated Land Cooperative ( https://www.liberatedlandcooperative.com/). This group of BIPOC farmers and food justice activists has created a network of CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) farms that together are making a significant dent in food and nutricion deficits that plague so many urban and rural communites in Connecticut.Hosts:  Richard Hill and Diane Lauricella

Interview with Branko Marcetic, a Jacobin magazine staff writer and author of "Yesterday's Man: The Case Against Joe Biden," conducted by Scott Harris.Branko Marcetic discusses his soon-to-be-published in-depth profile of Russell Vought, the longtime radical anti-government ideologue who, as Trump’s recently confirmed director of the Office of Management and Budget, is now poised to see through the cause of his life: “dismantling the federal government and handing unlimited power over American life back to big business.”Link: "Russell Vought Wants to Burn the Government Down"https://jacobin.com/2025/02/russell-vought-trump-project-2025  

Interview with Mel Goodman, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, a professor of government at Johns Hopkins University, conducted by Scott Harris.Mel Goodman examines Trump’s latest initiative to end the Ukraine war, his reported conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin — and how these announced negotiations could impact the people of Ukraine, Russia and Europe.  Goodman is the author of a number of books on politics including, “American Carnage: The Wars of Donald Trump.”

Interview with Kenny Stancil, a senior researcher at the Revolving Door Project with broad interests in the political economy of inequality, conducted by Scott Harris. Kenny Stancil talks about his recent article, “Where Is the Democratic Opposition?” and an update on efforts being made to organize an effective and aggressive national Trump opposition movement both inside the Democratic Party and across civil society.

Interview with John Bonifaz, a constitutional attorney and the co-founder and president of the Free Speech For People, conducted by Scott Harris.John Bonifaz assesses our national crisis as the Trump/Musk coup continues, including the constitutional crisis this administration has provoked as the Trump regime ignores judge-issued injunctions ordering them to halt their illegal actions.  Bonifaz is co-author of the 2018 book, "The Constitution Demands It: The Case for the Impeachment of Donald Trump."

Resistance Roundtable features two guests:  -Prof. Christopher Vials, who teaches English at UCONN-Storrs, discusses the theory and practice of fascism and how Trump 2.0 is careening toward a complete dissolution of what remains of American democracy.  -Leslie Blatteau, president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers, talks about the threat posed by the Maga agenda to Connecticut schools, students, parents, and communities.Interviewed by: Scott Harris, Ruthanne Baumgartner and Richard Hill

A deep dive into the history of African American involvement in the US labor movement with Steven Pitts, recently retired labor policy advisor of the UC Berkeley Labor Center; and Michael Zweig, economist, labor and civil rights activist, and founder of the Center for the Study of Working Class Life at SUNY Stony Brook.Host: Richard Hill

Isabelle sits down with her friend Regina Mosley, a community organizer, to talk about love and community organizing. Clips from past conversations with community organizers are included and a wide ranging conversation ensues. Everything from key elements of organizing to the patriarchy's impact on Valentine's Day gift giving is discussed. Music from Ayminor featuring Call Me Ace is included. Please be advised that this show includes a conversation about the murders of unarmed Black people by the police.

Interview with Kay Evert, one of the co-founders of the group NoVoiceUnheard, and Sydney, an organizer with the Pittsburgh branch of the 50501 protest movement and 50501’s national press liaison, conducted by Scott Harris.Kay Evert talks about the national mobilization network opposing Donald Trump’s illegal conduct and authoritarian agenda that, on Feb. 5, coordinated some 80 protest rallies in all 50 U.S. states against Trump, Elon Musk, and the Republican Party’s power grab.

Interview with Derek W. Black, Professor of Law at the University of South Carolina, conducted by Scott Harris.Derek Black discusses what’s at stake in the Trump administration’s attack on the federal Department of Education, his motivation for this assault, and the importance of federal funds to providing quality primary and secondary education to millions of students across the U.S. He also touches on the issues examined in his new book, “Dangerous Learning: The South’s Long War on Black Literacy.”