Month: August 2009

Remembering Ted Kennedy – KPFK Wed 8/26

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HAROLD MEYERSON talks about Ted Kennedy’s place in American politics — “He was, as he lay dying, new again,” Harold writes at The American Prospect Online — because “Kennedy outlived the Reagan-Thatcher conservative era to which for so many years he had led the opposition.”

Plus: Iraq: the Forever War.  DEXTER FILKINS  covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan starting 2001 for the New York Times.  Filkins describes “an arid, hopeless policy” in an unforgettable book: The Forever War.  It’s out now in paperback.  (first aired 9/17/2008)

And we feature a special Ted Kennedy edition of Your Minnesota Moment: Minnesotans remember Kennedy’s visits to the state.

Health Care – from LA to DC: KPFK Wed. 8/19

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 Two stories about health care in America: in LA, a week-long free clinic at the Forum in Inglewood brought thousands of people to camp out in the parking lot in the hopes of seeing a doctor or a dentist – dramatizing the problem of health care in America today. KIMI YOSHINO will explain – she was there, covering the story for the LA Times. The clinic was organized by the Remote Area Medical volunteer corps, an amazing organization.  More from Natasha Vargas-Cooper HERE

Meanwhile in DC, Obama first said he was willing to give up a public option for health care; then he said maybe not. Then liberals in the House said they would not vote for any bill unless it included a public option.  HAROLD MEYERSON will comment – he’s an op-ed columnist for the Washington Post.

Also: The “State Secrets Privilege” allows the president to withhold documents and block civil litigation in the name of national security. It didn’t always exist – it was created in 1953. BARRY SIEGEL will explain how that happened — his book CLAIM OF PRIVILEGE is out now in paperback. (Originally broadcast 6/25/08)  Update on Obama and the State Secrets privilege from the NY Times HERE and ACLU HERE.

And  we’ll also listen to music from Les Paul — he died Aug. 13 at 94.  Playlist: “How High the Moon,” “The World is Waiting for the Sunrise,” “Bye Bye Blues.”

Wal-Mart’s Story: L.A. Times Sun. 8/16

Bentonville, Ark., may be unknown to most Americans, but it is the center of the world for some 750 corporations that manufacture consumer goods — because Bentonville is the legendary home office of Wal-Mart, and those corporations want to sell their products to the world’s largest retailer. It’s also the largest private employer in the nation, operator of 4,200 stores.  Bentonville is a key to understanding the success of Wal-Mart, historian Nelson Lichtenstein argues in his terrific book, The Retail Revolution: How Wal-Mart Created a Brave New World of Business.  . . .MORE in the LA Times Sunday Book Review HERE

Barbara Ehrenreich: The crime of poverty – KPFK 8/12

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BARBARA EHRENREICH asks: Is it a crime in America to be poor? “You won’t be arrested for shopping in a Dollar Store,” she says, “but if you are truly, deeply, in-the-streets poor, you’re well advised not to engage in any of the biological necessities of life — like sitting, sleeping, lying down or loitering.” Barbara wrote about poverty for the New York Times op-ed page; her most recent book is This Land is Their Land.

Plus: JOHN NICHOLS on “the Cheney-like secrecy of the Obama White House.”  John is Washington correspondent for The Nation and writes “The Beat” blog at TheNation.com.

And MICHAEL POLLAN and his Eater’s Manifesto: he says “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly vegetables.” He will also provide his critique of the “Nutritional Industrial Complex.” Michael Pollan is the author of the number one-bestseller IN DEFENSE OF FOOD — it’s out now in paperback.  (originally broadcast 2/13/08)

Also: who will serve on Obama’s death panels — the ones Sarah Palin says will give the thumbs-down to her baby Trig?  We’ll have a report.

Is Obama’s Health Care Plan in Trouble? KPFK 8/5

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 Are people really turning against Obama’s health care plan? That’s what polls say.  That’s what Republicans are working on.  HAROLD MEYERSON will comment – he’s an op-ed columnist for the Washington Post.  Also: Gallup Poll shows only 5 Republican states.

And  JANE MAYER of The New Yorker talks about the “vast, secret regime of pain and torture” created by the Bush White house.  Her award-winning book The Dark Side is out now in paperback.  This is part 2 of my conversation with her in the downtown LA Public Library ALOUD series.  (Thanks again to Louise Steinman and the ALOUD staff for making this audio available for broadcast.)

And we’ll talk about bottled water: do you really need to drink bottled water?  Water from Fiji, or France, or the Sierras?  Do you really need nine glasses a day?  How bad is municipal tap water?  Elizabeth Royte has some answers – her book Bottlemania: Big Business, Local Springs, and the Battle Over America’s Drinking Water is out now in paperback. (originally broadcast 7/30/08)