Full Program

Part 1

We begin with the alarming possibility that the brutal and unconstrained Saudi Crown Prince MbS will get away with a gruesome murder that shocked the world because the corrupt Turkish dictator Erdogan who may or may not have the evidence of what happened inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, is so easily bribed. David Phillips, the Director of the Peace-building and Rights Program at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University and author of “An Uncertain Ally: Turkey Under Erdogan’s Dictatorship”, joins us to discuss his article at the Globe Post, “U.S. Needs Strategic Balance in Dealing with Saudi Arabia and Iran” and how Erdogan is likely to line his pockets rather than reveal the evidence of MbS’s guilt which he has been dribbling out. And although there are reports that Erdogan is trying to talk King Salman into not having MbS ascend to the Saudi throne, the likelihood is that this reckless, ignorant young leader will be around for decades causing a lot more chaos than the disastrous record so far in his short tenure as Crown Prince.  But with America led by a venal and callous president and his sycophantic Secretary of State, along with our own wrecking ball John Bolton, the kind of strategic balance in the region between Saudi Arabia and Iran that David Phillips is calling for is not likely to come from this administration, unless the American people rise up and vote these corrupt incompetents out of office.   

Part 2

Then we speak with Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University and a cultural critic who writes on fascism, racism, authoritarian rulers and propaganda. She joins us to discuss her article at CNN, “Mail bombs: Hate speech can have consequences” and we examine some historical parallels with the rise of Mussolini in the 1920’s and rise of political violence in America today under a president who has been inciting political violence throughout his campaign and presidency. We also assess whether Trump will resort to a “Reichstag fire” event to distract the public and inflame his base prior to the election.

Part 3

Then finally we look into the latest surge of demonization of immigrants as a threat to U.S. national security from Trump who is unleashing shameless demagoguery at the caravan of migrants heading north from Central America to our southern border where Trump has now deployed the U.S. military. Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and filmmaker Jose Antonio Vargas, joins us to discuss his new book, just out, “Dear America, Notes of an Undocumented Citizen” and what it is like living in the shadows with no fixed address while being subject to deportation at any moment.

Full Program

Part 1

We begin with the torrent of lies issuing forth from Donald Trump as he doubles down in the final two weeks of campaigning ahead of the midterms rallying his base with the most absurd lies and fact-free assertions echoed by Fox News which unfortunately too many Americans believe. Charles Lewis, a bestselling author and investigative journalist and founder of the Center for Public Integrity and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists joins us to discuss his book “935 Lies: The Future of Truth and the Decline of America’s Moral Integrity” and Trump’s war on the truth.  We examine why ridiculous lies like passing a new middle class tax cut in November when the congress in not in session and the bill has not been written are believed by Trump’s base who, according to the polls, are increasingly motivated to vote apparently by the combination of brazen lies and demagogic fearmongering. We will assess whether facts matter anymore in America and since we are reaching the point in the public discourse where virality trumps veracity, we explore the role of the tech titans like Facebook and Google in providing platforms for the spreading and dissemination of lies without what is described as algorithmic accountability.

Part 2

Then we look further into Trump’s assault on the truth and his unabashed cynicism as he stokes fears of an invasion of migrants mixed with terrorists and criminals heading towards out southern border because Democrats have promised them luxury cars, even Rolls Royces. Will Bunch, an award-winning writer and national columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer Daily News and author of “The Backlash: Right Wing Radicals, High-Def Hucksters, and Paranoid Politics in the Age of Obama” joins us. We discuss his latest article “With lie-filled ‘nationalist’ war on caravan, transgender people, Trump moves U.S. toward tyranny” and how much Trump is motivated to stop the Democratic takeover of the House because of his fear of impeachment.

Part 3

Then finally we speak with a successful capitalist, Jonathan Tepper, about his new book which is a critique of American capitalism “The Myth of Capitalism: Monopolies and the Death of Competition”. He joins us to discuss how monopolies and oligopolies are not inexorable and how a revival of antitrust is needed to save us from an economy in which consumers already have little to no choice in banking, beer, beef, health insurance, social networks, air travel, Internet access and even the funeral industry.