WZBC 90.3 FM Newton

There are reasons that so much news media is consumed with crime. Not just any crime, not wage theft, not lethal pollution—but street crime, random, individual crime. “If it bleeds, it leads” journalism draws eyes to the set, doesn’t bother advertisers, is cheap to produce and lets news outlets look as though they’re tracking an important event in real time, and pretend as though they’re protecting real people…as they forcibly distract from actual humane efforts to respond to the ongoing crises—homelessness, poverty, addiction—that lead to crime, but are less cheap and easy to cover than cops and robbers. It’s a story old as journalism, but it’s still messed up. We’ll talk about that with activist and writer Josmar Trujillo, working now with Copwatch Media, a community-based project that reports on the effects of hyper-policing on communities.

On April 20, 2022, the podcaster Katie Halper presented Richard Wolff, Professor of Economics Emeritus at UMassAmherst, and Visiting Professor at New School, New York City, with a very different view on Ukraine. How is the war affecting the status of the US as dominant Empire, and how will the sanctions on Russia change all global economic relations. This is an excerpt from a 45 minute presentation – beginning with the history of the world wars. Professor Richard Wolff is the author of several books including Democracy at Work, Understanding Marxism, and Capitalism Hits the Fan. He hosts the weekly radio program Economic Update. Thanks to podcaster Katie Halper for excerpts from her interview.

US Failure to Support Self-Determination for Western Sahara, and Against the Atrocities on Sahrawis.

This discussion was recorded in a podcast sponsored by Adalah and the American Friends Service Committee. It features an activist from each of the major sectors which divide the Palestinian people, Gaza, Israel which Palestinians often call Palestine 48, and of course the West Bank. The activists are Ahmed Abu Artema (Gaza), Sandra Tamari (Palestine '48), and Mariam Barghouti (West Bank). They are introduced and presented with questions by Adam Horowitz, an editor of the website Mondoweiss. Each one gives an analysis of the area in which he or she lives and works. The full podcast is at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/palestinian-activists-reflect-on-the-future/id1538511432?i=1000558259464 .

This piece is a podcast from its right-wing sponsor, The New Republic. You will find out that its claims collide with the views of most knowledgeable peace and justice activists. Its British-sounding "experts" are shocked! shocked! about the supposed "propaganda" mission of RT before it closed. Never mind that it isn't completely closed. Never mind that US mainstream media generates or parrots pro-US anti-Russia propaganda and disinformation every day of the week. Never mind that its content is based on respected sources. Never mind that Chris Hedges had a regular show on RT. It goes on from there, with incendiary remarks about Putin's "thoroughly totalitarian regime" and his "totally unprovoked" attack on Ukrainian fascists.

We discuss the banning of books and a few other assorted items. You may disagree!