Episode 632: Arnie Arnesen Attitude January 13 2025

Part 1:We talk with Dylan Gyauch-Lewis, Senior Researcher at The Revolving Door Project.We discuss the war on information that the Trump administration has been waging. Data is unavailable or poorly analyzed, thus leading to poor decisions and policies. Government bureaus that gather data have been decimated by the personnel and program cuts. This creates a lot of uncertainty. We discuss the growth of 'prediction markets" that appear rigged, because not everyone has the same data.Part 2:We talk with Laura Belin, publisher of "The Bleeding Heartland", based in Iowa.We discuss election trends in Iowa, which are now more favorable to Democrats, though Iowa is still very Republican. The main industry in Iowa is farming, which has been hurt by Trump's tariff policies. There are many follow-on effects on other sectors in Iowa.  WNHNFM.ORG  production

Part 1:We talk with Emma Whitford, of Insider Education.We discuss the pressure from the administration to identify Jewish faculty members to the government, providing their group membership data, election behavior/choices, social security data, residencies, etc. This is being viewed as an invasion invasion of privacy, and discriminatory of the basis of religious freedom, though a judge doesn't seem to agree.Part 2:We talk with John Martin, Asst. Professor at Quinniapiac University, election law.We discuss Trump's campaign to expand federal control of election management, even though the Constitution specifically leaves this task to the individual states.  WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: "That's How Every Empire Falls", John Prine, 2016

This is a panel discussion with the following participants:Lincoln Mitchell, Stephen Pimpare, Aaron Rosenthal, Jamie RowenTopics:- Iran War, Trump's magical thinking- No incentive for Iran to resolve, and this existential- Trump's goal seems to be to destroy the USpart 2- The number one issue in US is health care, especially as the administration is planning to shift money to the war- The next large issue for US residents is economic insecurity- Birthright citizenship before the Supreme Court- Mail in voting attacked by admin, though Trump and his family all vote by mail- Todd Blanche replaced Pam Bondi at AGWNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: "Masters of War", Bob Dylan,

Part 1:We talk with Harvey Kronberg, publisher of the Quorum Report in Texas.we discuss the Senate campaign in Texas, and how both Cornyn(R) and Paxton (R) are advertising in Florida. We discuss Talarico (D)' s campaign.We also discuss affordability, and the housing shortage is affecting Texas, because many workers are not available. School vouchers in Texas are also an issue.Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry and Ryan Cooper.We discuss the 'progress' of the Iran war. The Iranians have monetized the Strait of Hormuz by creating a toll system, allowing tankers through unharmed if they bay a $2M toll. This will support Iran at $100 B/year.We discuss the breakdowns in the US.-Alliances-Rule of law-Use of assassinations as a tool of warDresdenication by attacking civilian targets-Power of large armed forces is diminished(asymmetric war now increasingly possible and effective)-The white-collar crime wave led by Trump and his cronies. WNHNFM.ORG  production 2026Music: "Masters of War'", Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell

Part 1:We talk with John Nichols, Executive editor, The Nation.We discuss the NO KINGS rally in Minneapolis, and Bernie Sanders' speech there. "No Kings, No ICE, No War". We also discuss how the campaign should proceed to rid the country of trumpism.Part 2:We talk with Ken Morales, reporter for ProPublica.We discuss the 23,000 criminal investigations that were abandoned by the DOJ to shift to immigration enforcement efforts. Those criminal investigations ranged through terrorism, white collar crime, drug trafficking, violent assaults, etc. The country is less safe as a result.WNHNFM.ORG   productionMusic: "That's how every empire falls," John Prine 2016 

Part 1:We talk with Jeff Bryant, writing fellow and chief correspondent for Our Schools.We discuss the us of vouchers, which is increasing in many states. We examine how vouchers are used, and how they are subsidizing well-off families through tax dollars, to the detriment of public schools. We also look at how the Chinese have entered the school 'marketplace' and benefiting from the vouchers in US schools through private equity schemes.Part 2:We talk with Norm Solomon, American journalist, media critic, and progressive activist.We discuss how Democratic Party leaders are no longer responsive to their base. There is pseudo-leadership, but no true 'spine' left in the current leadership. They are not acknowledging their mistakes, and thus show no appetite for fixing them. Instead, grass-roots sentiment is being ignored. The book “The Blue Road to Trump Hell” is cited. WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: "That's how every empire falls." John Pine, 2016

Part 1:We talk with NItish Pahwa, Staff writer for Business and Technology at Slate.com.We discuss the latest developments in the AI arena. Specifically, we talk about AI contracts between corporations that are being cancelled. Is it the beginning of the AI bubble bursting?Part 2:We talk with Arno Rosenfeld, enterprise reporter at theForwardand author of theAntisemitism Decodednewsletter. An award-winning investigative journalist, he has chronicled the Jewish American response to antisemitism.We discuss how the growing Islamophobia in the US resembles antisemitism. Who defines religion vs. political outlook? We look at the various forms of Islamophobia, including the spread of "anti-Sharia" laws and sentiment. WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: "Masters of War", Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, artist

This is a panel discussion with guests Dave Levinthal, Lincoln Mitchell, Stephen Pimpare, Egberto WilliesTopics:- The Iran war is being cast as a crusade for christian nationalism.- Trump seems to not understand reality- NATO sees an opportunity to separate from the US: they are not supporting the Iran war.- Trump and his family are profiteering from the war- Corruption is rife among Trump's circle- The SAVE act will harm red states more than blue states- the SAVE act is a tool to cast doubt on all elections in future.  WNHNFM.ORGMusic: "Masters of War", by Bob Dylan, singer Joni Mitchell, 1962

Part 1:We talk with Asma T. Uddin, Professor of Constitutional Law.We discuss how religious liberties must be defended against what is happening now. The administration and its adherents are attempting to reclassify the Muslim faith as NOT a religion, but a political movement. ALL faiths must be protected under the Constitution.Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry and Jamie Rowan.We discuss how Trump is slanting discussion of people with either disabilities or those who are neurodivergent as somehow having fewer rights. Eugenicist rhetoric is used to justify this.We also discuss the court cases that have recently been announced that find tech companies guilty of causing harm to children through social media. We need more "adversarial legalisms" to cover what regulations do not cover explicitly. WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: "Masters of War", by Bob Dylan, performed by Judy Collins 1962

Part 1:We talk with Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein, freelance journalist and book author.We discuss the problem of worker shortage. This 'shortage' can be attributed to the managers, who choose to reduce their operating costs by not hiring enough workers to perform the needed tasks. Consumers' expectations are being managed by corporations to believe that they should perform many self-service tasks versus having an employee help. This can cause dangerous outcomes: wrong prescriptions filled, incorrect instruction on using dangerous devices, no or delayed service in treating injuries or accidents, etc.Part 2:We talk with Prof. Jonathan Feingold of Boston University as part of Race Class.Ep. 59 | You Cant Combat Racism if You Dont Name RacismJon and Arnie discuss the many segregationist and white supremacist dimensions of the Trump administrations war on multiracial democracy. To map the assault on equality and democracy, we engage a recent report from the African American Policy Forum titled: Antiblackness is the Point: Racism, Misogyny, and Donald Trumps Assault on Equal Opportunity. The AAPF report connects todays racial fascism to the 19thRedeemers who employed a combination of racist rhetoric, policy and historical narratives meant to rationalize white male domination and undo the gains of post-Civil War Reconstruction. We also touch upon Toni Morrisions 1995 essay Racism and Fascism, which offers a useful framework for understanding the tactics the Trump regime is employing to dehumanize and brutalize so many communities in the United States. The conversation leads to a pressing question: Why do so many of todays democracy defenders continue to sideline Trumps racism when challenging Trumps policies? If we dont name racism, how can we hope to combat it?Jonathan FeingoldProfessor of LawBoston University School of [email protected]|#RaceClass Podcast|researchWNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: "Masters of War", Bob Dylan, 1963