Part 1:
​We talk with Scott Braddock, dean of the Austin Press Corps, about the performance of Texas’ senators during the Katanji Brown Jackson confirmation hearings. Cruz, predictably, grandstanded, since he appears to be running for president. Cornyn has his target chosen: gay marriage revocation, assuming that the abortion bans will all stand. Both showboated for the cameras. Trump himself is losing some support, because of his focus on his message: himself. People in the country are worried about inflation, even as governors are busy spending federal dollars to prop themselves up. The culture wars are in full swing.
Part 2:
We talk with Harold Meyerson, of the American Prospect, and Bill Curry, former advisor to Pres. Clinton. We discuss how many people moved to small towns and ‘red’ states during the pandemic. There are several reasons, most of them are economic: better housing affordability, climate, and some liberal policies: lower taxes in red states. Many blue states have high property taxes because those are what pays for schools. These are are regressive.
We also discuss Clarence and Ginny Thomas. Do we have a right to know Clarence Thomas’ health status? How do we treat them? Will she be summoned by the Jan 6 Committee? Will she comply?
It appears that the Republicans now define their party by Trump’s psychology. “His lunacy has become their ideology”. Is this politically actionable?
We also touch on the newly emerging Covid problem in China, and how it will likely affect supply chains, and the world’s economies.   

 Part 1:
Walter Shapiro is a staff writer at The New Republic. We discuss the possibility that the Democratic party will move the first in the nation presidential primary to another state, rather than New Hampshire. This will have a huge effect on New Hampshire. NH is predominantly white, a small state, and in general, many rich people live there. This means that it is not very representative of the country as a whole. On the other hand, it is an inexpensive state in which to run a campaign.
​Part 2:
We talk with Risa Palm, past-president of the American Association of Geographers, and has written about the problem of rebuilding states that suffer huge losses after catastrophic climate events. The behavior of people when they are buying homes is that they do not consider the cost of future losses due to climate issues. These are also not considered by lenders. Policy must change in order to change behaviors to take climate dangers into account.

 Part 1:
Jeremy Schwartz is an investigative reporter for the ProPublica-Texas Tribune Investigative Initiative. He discusses the most recent actions by Republican activists to ban books in libraries and schools. This has been to the forefront in Texas by the governor, Abbott. We discuss a specific county about the announcement that “we are going to be more conservative” in their approach. A list of 130 books was presented to the review committee, even though only three were actually banned. However, those who wanted them banned have not conceded going forward, and want to revisit that decision. This has a chilling effect on librarians for future purchases. The students themselves oppose these bans.
​Part 2:
Ben Elgin writes about business and climate change for Bloomberg and talks to us about carbon offsets. This is a Billion dollar market, but not regulated or controlled to test if offsets are really making a difference in the climate. No actual changes are being noted by climatologists, and many companies are benefiting from the carbon market without providing proof of different practices or outcomes. We are “paying owners to not do what they would not do anyway”. Changes are needed.

Part 1:
Melvin A. Goodman is a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and a professor of government at Johns Hopkins University. He is a former CIA analyst, We discuss the situation in Ukraine, the causes, and likely outcomes. What could be done now?
We also discuss Madeleine Albright’s tenure as Secretary of State, and how her influence has affected Russians' attitude.
Part 2: 
Liz Willen, Hechinger Report editor in chief discusses the issues facing public schools in the US. Teachers are being targeted in many ways, and curricula are being tinkered with in the name of ‘parental rights.’ This is a continuation of the culture wars, and scare tactics to limit education.  

political limerick for the times we live in by Skip Tenczar
​In response to a white mammoth so woolly,
Judge Jackson explained her record more fully,
But Lindsay Graham interrupted
And the hearing he corrupted
With the rudeness of a chauvinist bully.

rethink the week:
Lincoln Mitchell teaches in the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.He covers the politics of NYC and San Francisco as well as International politics. He is the author of seven books and is a frequent contributor to CNN Opinion, the San Francisco Examiner and Brussels Morning.
Dean Spiliotes Presidential Scholar and Civic Scholar at SNHU and blogs at NHPoliticalCapital
Robert Hennelly  award-winning investigative reporter and broadcast journalist, author at StuckNation, currently writes/reports for The Chief Leader, salon.com, InsiderNJ.com you can hear him on Mondays on WBAI what is going on
Jeff Van Treese II is a professor of pre-law, environmental science, and horticulture at Palm Beach State College.  Jeff is a passionate environmental advocate that uses his knowledge as an attorney and scientist to enhance public awareness of environmental issues as host of Mobilized on Free Speech TV (also carried on multiple Pacifica affiliate stations)
Part 1:
We start our discussion with the revelations about Ginni and Clarence Thomas, and how their actions affect perceptions of the Supreme Court. There is currently no Code of Conduct for the Supreme Court, as there is for other courts. What will Chief Justice Roberts do with this problem? It is obvious that the Supreme Court is a partisan branch of government, with now two branches actively conspiring against the Executive.
In other news, Trump’s influence appears to be waning somewhat. The unendorsement of Mo Brooks is a sign. Other signs point to others who have been endorsed by Trump failing. However there are no guard rails to save the federal government, given the Republicans’ actions.
Part 2:
We discuss the opportunity presented by the current status of the Russian war against Ukraine, and the European response. For independence from Russia, Europeans have an opportunity to change to more green energy sources.
We also discuss the state of party building, at which the Democrats have been weak. They need to build at lower levels, not just the presidency. The Republicans want to win at any cost, and that includes destroying local governments.

Part 1:
Serial entrepreneur Harvey Kronberg publishes two online news services, Quorum Report and theTexas Energy Report. We discuss how Texas politics work. Unfortunately other states often follow Texas’ lead. We talk about the recent primary for Texas offices, and the effects of having Beto O’Rourke enter the race. Dan Patrick is weaker, Gov. Abbott is weaker. The lawsuit filed by Kelsey Warner has brought O’Rourke publicity, and has opened Abbott to discovery procedure.
​Part 2:
Bill Curry,an American lawyer and politician who has been a two-time Democratic nominee for Governor of Connecticut and a White House advisor in the administration of Bill Clinton.He was head of Freeze Voter, a nuclear freeze group.
Alex Sammon a staff writer at The American Prospect. He’s a former columnist and feature writer for the New Republic and former contributing politics writer at Pacific Standard. His work has also appeared in n+1, Wired, and Mother Jones.
We discuss Sec. Albright, who has died. She was an example of recent diversity of government officials. We also discuss the current SCOTUS hearings for Judge Brown Jackson, as a candidate. These have amply demonstrated the racism of the Republicans, in the questions they have asked, and the manner in which they have behaved toward Judge Jackson. It seems that now that they have everything they wanted in government, they are giddy with their power. It is time for the Democrats to tell the truth as relenlessly as the Republicans lie. 

Part 1:
Robert Hockett is an American lawyer law professor, and policy advocate. We discuss with him the concept of “making __________ great again”. What does this mean? What is “great?” Whom is it great for? 
​Part 2:
Jonathan Feingold is a Professor of Law at Boston U with a focus on Critical Race Theory. We explore the relationship between race, law, and the mind sciences . This is part 3 of Race Class.
​We know that race matters. But it can be hard to pinpoint precisely *how* race matters. In episode 3, we discuss 5 ways that race shapes life in America—even if we wish it didn’t. We’ll cover how race shapes (1) access to resources; (2) others’ expectations of us; (3) different treatment people receive; (4) our perspectives; and (5) the conditions we must navigate as we move through life. This list is not exhaustive. Still, it expands our vocabulary and helps us explain what we might mean when we say “race matters.”

 Part 1:
Kathryn Joyce is an investigative reporter at Salon, and the author of two books: "The Child Catchers: Rescue, Trafficking and the New Gospel of Adoption" and "Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement.”
Ms. Jones discusses her latest project, a three-part series about Hillsdale Christian College who has as its goal the dismantling of public education in the US. Many of its graduates are at the Heritage Foundation, and were in the Trump administation, part of its “1776 Commission” with the goal of pushing charter schools, heavy on “western civilization”. This is a coordinated movement across the US to siphon money from public education, to dominate US education, in order to “win the country back” by using “teaching as our weapon”.
​Part 2:
We talk with Lily Geismer, author of Left Behind: The Democrats’ Failed Attempt to Solve Inequality. We discuss the rise of the New Democrats, and how they became more beholden to bankers and other business interests, rather than the people’s interests. This led to restricting the social welfare state, in favor of a “public-private partnership” that did not help ordinary Americans. One of the most profound changes was the revocation of the Glass-Spiegel Act, which led to the financial abuses of the 1990’s.  

Part 1:
Lindsay Chervinsky Ph.D. is a presidential historian and Scholar in Residence at the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona College and the author of “The Cabinet, George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution” talks about how Supreme Court Justices are chosen and appointed. They should be political, to reflect the country’s sentiment. However, it might be better, to have, in addition, term limits.
​Part 2:
Henry Grabar, Slate.com
Gas Tax Holiday is not a good or effective way to use gasoline responsibly. The top quintile of US drivers spend 3 times as much as lower income brackets. Giving them a gas tax holiday will not help . Gas tax is useful, and pays for infrastructure items, such as roads. High gas taxes will encourage sustainable alternatives. Instead, using a child credit/gas tax would be more effective.

 Part 1
We discuss the feeling in the US about the war in Ukraine. Americans seem eager to embrace democracy abroad, but not so much here in the US. Especially, because the Russian military is being humiliated. Biden seems more comfortable when discussing foreign policy than domestic policy.
In the US, inflation, non-prosecution of those responsible for January 6, restrictions on voting are creating a general malaise about the direction of the country. We discuss possible strategies that the government can pursue.
Part 2
We discuss education, and the problems confronting public education. The Republicans have deliberately damaged faith in institutions and government, including education. We discuss the purpose of education. The US has the highest poverty rates, crime rates, and incarceration rates of modern industrialized countries. We need to fix this.