Episode 890: Arnie Arnesen Attitude January 7 2026

Part 1:We talk with Farshid Vahedifard, of Tufts University.We discuss the aging infrastructure in the US, and how this makes the country vulnerable to climate change and its consequences.Part 2:We talk with Nora Gilbert, Prof. of Literature and Film Studies at the Univ. of North Texas.We discuss gaslighting, and how it is used in the political sphere to make people believe something that they know not to be true, despite seeing the truth with their own eyes. We used the film "Gaslight" as an example of how this kind of manipulation can skew reality.  WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: David Rovics

Part 1:We talk with Michael Tomasky, editor, The New Republic.We discuss Trump's work against the Western Alliance (NATO and associated countries). Unfortunately, very few mechanisms exist to check his actions, especially in light of the fealty of the Supreme Court. Polls seem to have no meaning.Part 2:We talk with Erin M. Carr, Asst. Prof. lf Law, Seattle School of Law.We discuss the extensive use of the "shadow docket" of the Supreme Court to make its rulings, favoring Trump. The Court is doing "sane-washing" of his claims, no matter how they conflict with established law and the Constitution.  WNHNFM.ORG  production 

Part 1:We talk with Jan Dutkiewicz, contributing editor at The New Republic, and Asst. Prof. of Political Science at the Pratt Institute.We discuss the promise of newly inaugurated Mayor Mamdani to establish city grocery stores in 'food deserts' in NYC. We discuss this in the context of affordability of all aspects of life in NYC: rents, transportation, health care, child care, and the communities that comprise NYC. Budget issues for families are important.Part 2:We talk with Joyce Frieden, who oversees the MedPage coverage of Washington and health policy. We discuss how Medicare is being changed to adopt some features of the various Medicare Advantage Plans, specifically, around prior authorization. This is a feature that is particularly unpopular with doctors and patients, but is being tried in some markets: NJ, OH, OK, TX, AZ, and WA. The vendors who perform these prior reviews are paid for denials. In addition, we talk about how having been with a Medicare Advantage plan hurts patients who want to return to Original Medicare coverage only, with only a few states that avoid this: IN, ME, MA, CONN, and NY.  WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: David Rovics

Part 1:We talk with Mel Goodman, a national security and intelligence expert, and senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and a professor of government at Johns Hopkins University.We discuss the Trump invasion of Venezuela, and the transfer of the president, Maduro, to US custody. This is part of the "Trump doctrine" of dominating the western hemisphere, apparently. We discuss the role of Rubio, Patel, and Hegseth, apparently, as co-presidents.Part 2:We have a panel discussion by: Adam Finkel, Lincoln Mitchell, and Stephen Pimpare.- Venezuela as a distraction from domestic problems in the US: economy, Epstein, and depicting Trump as a 'success'- the fractured and polluted information environment in the US- the government in the US is under control of a "mad king/"- attempt to overshadow Mamdani's inauguration in NYC?WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics

Part 1:We talk with Harvey Kronberg, publisher of the Quorum Report in Texas.We discuss Texas politics, and the issues that will be important in Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott, property taxes, school vouchers implementation, Ted Cruz, Jasmine Crockett, James TAlarico.Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry and Robert Hennelly.We cover the Mamdani inauguration, and the budget problems in New York City. Trump has been using scarcity as a form of social control, and Democrats must change the narrative.  WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: David Rovics

Part 1We talk with Nancy Levine Stearns, a freelance journalist who covers corporate social responsibility. We discuss the complaint filed by Stephen Miller against the NFL for their DEI practice. Miller objects.Part 2We talk with Lincoln Mitchell, Professor at ColumbiaUniversity, who teaches political science. He is also the author of several books. We discuss the deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife. We also discuss the seizure by the US of Venezuelan oil cargo ships, under flimsy pretenses. This kind of high seas piracy will cause long term damage to US shipping, making US ships targets for retaliation.  WNHNFM.ORG  production

Part 1:We talk with Naomi Bethune, John Lewis Writing Fellow at The American Prospect.We discuss the problems Black women face with respect to health care, day care, employment, and other factors, such as "food apartheid". How can Black women cope with the "weathering" that toxic stress causes?Part 2:We talk with Timothy Noah, Senior writer for Slate magazine.We discuss Russ Vought, the author of the Project 2025 document. We look at Vought's version of christianity, and how this has affected the politics of the US. WNHNFM.ORG  prodcuationMusic: David Rovics

Part 1:We talk with Prof. Lisa Given, Prof Lisa M. Given, PhD, FASSA, FASIS&TDirector, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, Research and Innovation Portfolio | RMIT UniversityDirector, Centre for Human-AI Information Environments (CHAI) | STEM CollegeProfessor of Information SciencesSchool of Global, Urban & Social Studies | College of Design and Social ContextSchool of Computing Technologies | STEM Collegein Australia.We discuss the proposal, which is being tried in Australia, of filtering content on the Internet, to protect what children see. This is a recognition that this can harm children and others. In addition, we talk about the regulation in one Japanese city that limits Internet access to two hours daily for all.Part 2:We talk with Ethan Bakuli, who writes in "CapitalAndMain" about the organizing efforts in Michigan which won the right of home care workers, including health care workers, to organize. This demonstrates the power of united workers. The governor, of Michigan supported this outcome. The Trump administration had gutted home care workers' rights by reclassifying them as 'companions'.  WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: The Supremes, "Come See About Me" 

This is a panel discussion.The panelists are: Bill Curry, Susan Milligan, Stephen Pimpare, Aaron RosenthalThe topics we covered:- Events of 2025, and their effects on individuals and the nation- Climate change is being ignored in the US- Since the government depends on the consent of the governed, perhaps time for the populace to rebel- Venezuela: possible new war waged by the "peace" president?- "The problems is not that there is not enough money to feed the poor, but that there is not enough money to satisfy the rich."- Public services should be provided by government: it is cheaper and more transparent to do so.- Constitutional government in the US is effectively gone, and it is time to develop something new.- We must organize and fight. WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: David Rovics

Our guests this day are:: Egberto Willies, Bill Curry, and Laura JedeedPart 1:We talk with Egberto Willies, activist, podcaster, journalist.We discuss the question that was asked during a congressional hearing: "What does a migrant look like?"Scotus has ruled that the National Guard is not authorized to deploy to Chicago or Illinois, a defeat for Trump. The approval ratings for SCOTUS is lower than ever before, just as Trump's approval ratings are.We discuss the education vouchers in Texas, which are not popular, though the governor has pushed them through, to please Trump.Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry and Laura Jedeed.Laura reported on the "Americafest" which has exposed the splits within various factions of the MAGA movement. Erika Kirk endorsed JD Vance for president in the 2028 election.The major networks are being silenced, and no criticism of the administration is allowed. The 60 Minutes cancellation of a the Salvadoran prison story shows the effects of government pressure.  WNHNFM.ORG production Music: David Rovics