KPFA - Letters and Politics
Letters & Politics seeks to explore the history behind today’s major global and national news stories. Hosted by Mitch Jeserich.
Latest episodes

Mar 4, 2025 • 25min
The Luddites: The First Revolt Against Big Tech
Guest: Brian Merchant is a veteran technology reporter and author of Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech. Read his writings on-line at www.bloodinthemachine.com.
The post The Luddites: The First Revolt Against Big Tech appeared first on KPFA.

Mar 3, 2025 • 10min
John Nichols on the Imperial Presidency, the Press, & the Mounting Anti-Trump Opposition
Guest: John Nichols is the national affairs correspondent for The Nation Magazine. He is the author of several books including his latest co-written with Senator Bernie Sanders “It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism.”
His latest article in the Nation is Democracy Dies at “The Washington Post” …and oligarchy lives.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
The post John Nichols on the Imperial Presidency, the Press, & the Mounting Anti-Trump Opposition appeared first on KPFA.

Feb 27, 2025 • 20min
How Project 2025 Became Reality
Guest: David A. Graham is a journalist who covers politics and national affairs for The Atlantic Magazine. He is the author of the forthcoming book The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America.
The post How Project 2025 Became Reality appeared first on KPFA.

Feb 26, 2025 • 60min
Richard Wolff on the Impacts and Chaos of Trumpenomics
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#inbox/FMfcgzQZTVlkDVthzZZJBWJxPWqnRjNv?projector=1
Guest: Richard Wolff is Professor of Economics Emeritus at University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Visiting Professor at The New School University in New York. Richard Wolff is the founder of Democracy at Work and host of the weekly national television and radio program Economic Update. Professor Wolff is the author of a number of books including Understanding Capitalism.
The post Richard Wolff on the Impacts and Chaos of Trumpenomics appeared first on KPFA.

Feb 25, 2025 • 46min
The Nature of Imperial Power with Mary Beard
Guest: Mary Beard is a renown classist and the author of the best-selling The Fires of Vesuvius, SPQR, and most lately, Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World.
The post The Nature of Imperial Power with Mary Beard appeared first on KPFA.

Feb 24, 2025 • 60min
Ralph Nader on the Trump and Musk Dismantling the Government & the Tax Cuts for the Rich
Guest: Ralph Nader is a consumer advocate, lawyer, and political activist. He is the host of The Ralph Nader Radio Hour that broadcasts on the Pacifica Radio Network. Ralph Nader is the author of many books including his latest, “Let’s Start the Revolution: Tools for Displacing the Corporate State and Building a Country that Works for the People.” Ralph Nader is the founder of the monthly newspaper Capitol Hill Citizen.
The post Ralph Nader on the Trump and Musk Dismantling the Government & the Tax Cuts for the Rich appeared first on KPFA.

Feb 20, 2025 • 60min
A History of the Athenian Democracy (Part 3): Decline and Fall of the Empire
Host Mitch Jeserich recounts the story of how the decline and destruction of he Ancient Athenian Democracy happened. Included in this episode are such stories of how the Athenian Democracy turned into a militaristic empire and how through a democratic process, Athens executed its most famous philosopher.
The post A History of the Athenian Democracy (Part 3): Decline and Fall of the Empire appeared first on KPFA.

Feb 19, 2025 • 60min
A History of Athenian Democracy (Part 2): Demagogues, Tyrants, Coups, and the People
Host Mitch Jeserich talks about how democracy was born out of a class struggle between the aristocrats and the poor masses in ancient Athens. This episode covers part 2 of the 3 part telling of the oldest fully formed democratic system we know of 2500 years ago. In this episode we hear about tyrants, demagogues, coups, reformers, and the people.
The post A History of Athenian Democracy (Part 2): Demagogues, Tyrants, Coups, and the People appeared first on KPFA.

Feb 18, 2025 • 60min
A History of Athenian Democracy (Part 1): Democracy & Tyranny
Host Mitch Jeserich tells the story of the oldest democracy we have accounts of, how it was born, and how it evolved 2500 years ago in ancient Athens.
The post A History of Athenian Democracy (Part 1): Democracy & Tyranny appeared first on KPFA.

Feb 17, 2025 • 60min
The Intellectual Life of Frederick Douglas
Guest: David W. Blight is Sterling Professor of History and African American Studies at Yale University. He is the author of several books on Slavery and Abolition including, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom.
The post The Intellectual Life of Frederick Douglas appeared first on KPFA.