WPKN: Politics, Policy, and Planet Podcast

Interview with Richard W. Behan, a contributor to Counterpunch, conducted by Scott Harris.Richard Behan discusses his recent Counterpunch article, “The Peril of Spectacle, Especially Jeffrey Epstein’s,” explores where the deepening bipartisan suspicion and anger about Donald Trump’s expanding scandal may lead the country; and how it may serve as a distraction from the central, existential fight to defend democracy against Trump-Republican party fascism.

Interview with Jennifer Loewenstein, former associate director of Middle Eastern studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, conducted by Scott Harris.Jennifer Loewenstein examines the current famine crisis in Gaza; the Trump regime’s incoherent and dishonest policies toward Gaza and Palestinians; France, the U.K. and Canada’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state — and what, if any, difference that policy shift could make.

Interview with Scarlett de Leon, executive director of ACT-LA, conducted by Melinda Tuhus. Scarlett explains that after June ICE raids led to the arrests of hundreds of immigrants in Los Angeles. ACT-LA sent a letter to the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority asking for changes to strengthen protections for immigrants against ICE abductions.

Interview with Hannah Levintova, Mother Jones' magazine D.C. bureau reporter, conducted by Scott Harris.Hannah Levintova talks about her investigation featured in the Public Radio series, “Reveal,” titled, “The Landlord Gutting America’s Hospitals,” which examines how a real estate company buys up hospitals and then leases them back to healthcare systems, causing dozens of its hospitals to go bankrupt, close or be sold because profits were sucked out of them, resulting in the deterioration of patient care.

Interview with Robert Greenwald, founder and president of Brave New Films, conducted by Scott Harris.Robert Greenwald talks about his new documentary titled, “Gaza: Journalists Under Fire,” which exposes Israel’s crimes against journalism and humanity, where more than 200 Gaza-based journalists have been killed since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel — through the lives and deaths of Palestinian journalists Belal Jadallah, Heba Al-Abadla and Ismail al-Ghoul.Brave New World, a nonprofit production company that creates and distributes investigative political and social justice documentaries.

Interview with Sharif Abdel Kouddous, Drop Site News Middle East and North Africa editor, conducted by Scott Harris.Sharif Abdel Kouddous discusses his coverage of Israel’s starvation campaign against Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinian civilians — and the Trump regime’s role in this war crime via the U.S.-backed “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” — as reported in his recent article, “Palestinians are Collapsing in Gaza’s Streets from Israeli-Imposed Starvation Campaign.”   Kouddous received a George Polk Award for his investigation into the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

Interview with Melvin Goodman, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, and professor of government at Johns Hopkins University, conducted by Scott Harris.Melvin Goodman, a former CIA analyst and author, discusses his recent Counterpunch commentary, “The Waste and Futility of the Golden Dome National Defense System,” estimated to cost between $161 billion and $542 billion over two decades, as well as the larger danger of expiring U.S.-Russia nuclear arms control treaties. 

News and views from and to the organic community:  -Hot Topics with Diane Lauricella  -Small Farms Report by Steve Munno of Massaro Farm  -Legislative update from CT NOFA by Dr. Kim Stoner  -Special guest, Reggie St. Fort Colin discussing BIPOC farming and food justice issues in ConnecticutHosts: Richard Hill and Diane Lauricella

Interview with Joan Cavanagh, a founding member of Progressives Against Medical Assisted Suicide, conducted by Scott Harris.Joan Cavanagh talks about the new documentary film titled, “Thoughts on Medical Assisted Suicide,” which will be available for viewing online from July 23 through July 30, in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990.

Interview with Greg Palast, author of several New York Times best-sellers including,The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, conducted by Scott Harris.Greg Palast talks about his recent investigations into the Trump-Republican party plan to win the 2026 midterm elections in 2025 by employing massive voter purges in purple states, racial gerrymandering, and voter suppression tactics.