Making Contact

American Arabs and Muslims are under the microscope, and the effect on those communities has been devastating. On this edition, we’ll hear stories about the past 10 years of America’s homeland war on Muslims and Arabs, and about racial profiling during previous war times.

American Arabs and Muslims are under the microscope, and the effect on those communities has been devastating. On this edition, we’ll hear stories about the past 10 years of America’s homeland war on Muslims and Arabs, and about racial profiling during previous war times.

Youth and their use of social media have been cited as leading factors for Egypt’s “January 25th” revolution. But women also came out in force to protest Hosni Mubarak’s 30 years of dictatorial power. On this edition, we look at the role women played in the 2011 revolution– and in Egypt’s history.

Youth and their use of social media have been cited as leading factors for Egypt’s “January 25th” revolution. But women also came out in force to protest Hosni Mubarak’s 30 years of dictatorial power. On this edition, we look at the role women played in the 2011 revolution-- and in Egypt’s history.

This week, we revisit a recent show about a natural gas drilling method called "hydraulic fracturing" or "fracking." We'll hear excerpts from the oscar-nominated documentary "Gasland." We'll also hear from people from Pennsylvania to the mountains of Colorado who are trying to prevent the toxic fallout from 'fracking' before it starts.

This week, we revisit a recent show about a natural gas drilling method called "hydraulic fracturing" or "fracking." We'll hear excerpts from the oscar-nominated documentary "Gasland." We'll also hear from people from Pennsylvania to the mountains of Colorado who are trying to prevent the toxic fallout from 'fracking' before it starts.

About one in four adults in the United States suffers from a “diagnosable mental disorder” in any given year, according to the National Institute for Mental Health. But some Americans don’t find it useful to label their psychological experiences as ‘disorders.’ On this edition, we hear from people who say they have ‘dangerous gifts.’ They tell us about their experience with mainstream mental health care, and how they say they are navigating the space between brilliance and madness. We also look at some alternative models for care.

About one in four adults in the United States suffers from a “diagnosable mentaldisorder” in a given year – that’s according to the National Institute for Mental Health.But some Americans don’t find it useful to label their psychological experiencesas ‘disorders.’ On this edition, we hear about alternative models for mental health care.

The controversy over WikiLeaks has deep implications for the future of free speech in the Internet era. Beyond journalistic and national security issues that stem from the website, other concerns need to be considered as well. On this edition, we take you to a panel discussion focused on the importance of WikiLeaks within a legal, business and technology framework. Does the public have the right to know the secrets of its government? Should private companies keep commercial interests ahead of public interest? What role does the Internet hold for whistleblowers? Special Thanks to The Real News Network.

Professor Michelle Alexander, author of ‘The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness’ makes the case that the US’ criminal justice system policies can be traced directly back to slavery. The target then, and now, are African Americans.