Living in the USA

The Green New Deal in California: bad news is that the governor seems to be pessimistic about high-speed rail; meanwhile, in Los Angeles, the mayor had good news about stopping natural gas plants - David Dayen reports. Next up, February is Black History Month in America - we revisit an interview with Pulitzer-prize winning author, Isabel Wilkerson, where she talks about her book 'The Warmth of Other Suns' and the great migration of Black people out of the South.

The State of the Union is not good -- Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect on the president's speech Tuesday night -- and whether "socialism" is as big a negative for Americans as Trump thinks it is. Also: as of October, 2018, California had filed 44 lawsuits against Trump, and more are expected for 2019. We talk with Manuel Pastor about climate, immigration and the future of California v. Trump. Plus Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer-prize winning author of The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, on Trump, climate and endangered species.

As trade talks with China continue, the DOJ has charged telecom giant Huawei with Iran sanctions violations, bank fraud and more; meanwhle, a million Uyghur Muslims are being interned at Chinese 're-education camps'. We talk with Jeff Wasserstrom, a UCI historian of modern China, about Trump, trade, and human rights in China. Also: Politics after the shutdown -- Harold Meyerson reports, tracing the history of the air traffic controllers from Reagan breaking their union to last week's decisive sick-out at Laguardia airport. Plus: TPS (Temporary Protected Status), the travel ban and Trump -- Sasha Abramsky reports on the human toll of initiatives that are simply cruel.

We take a step back from all the Trump headlines to look at how we got here. Later in the show, historian Nancy MacLean talks about the roots of the right’s stealth plan for America, bringing together the Koch Brothers and their libertarian economic policy advocacy with segregationist opposition to civil rights. Nancy is an award-winning historian and the William H. Chafe Professor of history and public policy at Duke University. Her book “Democracy in Chains” was named the “most valuable political book of the year” on The Nation’s progressive honor roll. But first, Fred Trump and the KKK of the 1920s. The group had millions of members outside the South. It targeted Catholics and Jews as well as blacks, and had impressive success at electing governors and congressmen. It passed anti-immigrant restrictions that remained in effect until 1965. And Fred Trump, the president’s father, was arrested as a young man at a Klan march in New York City. Historian Linda Gordon explains—her new book is ‘The Second Coming of the KKK: The Ku Klux Klan and the American Political Tradition’.

Today is day four of the LA teachers' strike. "This bitter conflict is also a fight about the meaning of progressive politics”--that's what Nelson Lichtenstein says -- he's professor of history and director of The Center for the Study of Work, Labor and Democracy at UC Santa Barbara. Also: despite the fact that 58% of Americans oppose the wall, we are on day 27 of Trump's government shutdown over funds to build one. What are the politics of the Republicans in this situation? We turn to John Nichols for comment. Plus: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen says "call me a refugee, not an immigrant" -- his new book is "The Displaced."

Russiagate is basically a political corruption scandal, says David Klion. The basic facts have been obvious for a long time—and they should bring down Trump’s presidency. Also: we ask Jane Mayer of the New Yorker what may be the most important question of the year: Would Pence be worse? Plus: Why are Danes so much happier than Americans? Is it just because Donald Trump is NOT their president? Joshua Holland says there’s more to it than that. And we also have a history segment today: Sean Wilentz talks about the place of slavery in the origins of the United States--his new book is "No Property in Man."

The 116th Congress convened today -- the Democrats took over the House, there were many firsts and a few surprises: Harold Meyerson has the report. Next, Amos Oz, Israeli author and peace advocate passed away last week; former Jerusalem correspondent for The New Yorker, and contributing editor at The Nation, Amy Wilentz remembers Oz and his work. Plus: What's it like to work at Amazon? Alex Press reports.

2018 was a big year for progressives -- John Nichols with the Progressive Honor Roll names some names on our year in review show. Next, we talk with Gustavo Arellano about the biggest change in California politics in decades: how the OC turned blue. Finally, David Cay Johnston reports on Trump family financial fraud, saying, "Nixon's crimes are pebbles compared to the mountain of tax cheating by the Trumps."

Prescription drug prices are on the rise and two Senators are taking on the problem. Bernie Sanders has introduced a bill advancing generics; and last Tuesday, Elizabeth Warren introduced her own bill, promoting drug manufacture by the government. David Dayen explains--and also talks about Steve Mnuchin, the subject of his new book, "Fat Cat." Next, from Obama to Trump — what happened? Tom Frank explains. Lastly, the Bob Dylan Xmas album: Sean Wilentz, Princeton professor and official historian in residence at BobDylan.com, answers the question, "What the heck is this?"

George H. W. Bush paved the way for today’s Republican party with his racist Willy Horton campaign. He also nominated Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court, and pardoned the Iran-Contra conspirator whose trial would have exposed his own abuse of power. Harold Meyerson explains -- he’s executive editor of the American Prospect. Plus: Frederick Douglass, the black abolitionist, was the most famous black American of the 19th century. Historian Eric Foner says Douglass’s political ideas can help us in our struggles today.

Michelle Obama declares in her new memoir, “I am not a political person, so I’m not going to attempt to offer an analysis” of Trump’s victory. That’s her stance in the rest of the book as well. It seems strange for the person the New York Times called “The most outspoken first lady in modern history.” What’s going on here? Amy Wilentz comments. Plus: The Democrats won the midterms by the largest popular vote margin for either party in the history of midterm elections — larger than the Watergate midterm after Nixon resigned in 1974, 44 years ago. But there was a deeper and more significant victory hidden behind those numbers, Kai Wright argues: the political mobilization of millions of people of color in the South.

Fifty-three per cent of white women voters, according to exit polls in 2016, voted for Trump. Why? And, will their minds be changed? We turn to Katha Pollitt for comment. Next up: Republicans who stood up to the president's abuses of power in the early 1970s -- and Republicans today, who don't. Micheal Koncewicz, author of "They Said No to Nixon" revisits Watergate and 'The enemies list project'. Magician, actor, author, scholar and master showman, Ricky Jay passed away last Sunday -- we remember him with an interview from 2001.

Frank Rich finds lessons for Democrats in the midterms: seeking “the political center,” as recommended by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff, running on “clean-government themes and promises of incremental improvement to the health care system rather than transformational social change,” is “ridiculous.” Frank writes about politics for New York Magazine and is executive producer of VEEP on HBO. Also: Trump’s appointment of a new acting attorney general, Matt Whitaker: is it legal? He hasn’t been confirmed by the Senate – or even nominated. Erwin Chemerinsky comments—he’s dean of the law school at UC Berkeley, and his new book is “We the People: A Progressive Reading of the Constitution for the 21st Century.”

The 2018 Midterm Elections: What can we learn from what happened in the Midwest and the Rust Belt? John Nichols has the report on Pennsylvania, Michigan, and--of course--Wisconsin. Next, we talk with Sasha Abramsky for his take on the Southwestern states: Arizona, Nevada, Texas--and of course California. Plus, Katha Pollitt talks about all those women candidates -- the Democrats and the Republicans.

The terrible record of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General: Ahilan Arulanantham, ACLU SoCal Senior Counsel, who argued in the 9th circuit against Sessions' policies -- and won. Also: the latest on DACA. Also, Harold Meyerson on the midterms: they deepened the Dem hold on cities and suburbs -- and the Republican hold on the hills and the dales. Plus: Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the law school at UC Berkeley, on the old Attorney General, and the new one--and what the change could mean for Mueller and his investigation.

With under five days until the November 6, Midterm elections, we have two political updates: John Nichols comments on national matters and David Dayen reports on the California situation. Plus: Singapore-born film-maker Sandi Tan, joins us in-studio to talk about her Sundance award-winning documentary, "Shirkers," now streaming on Netflix.

From the pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats, to Trump's efforts to distract voters with stories about migrants on the march in Mexico -- Harold Meyerson analyzes the state of the midterm elections, now less than 2 weeks away. Also: pop-up Guerilla theater in Los Angeles: the great Hieronymous Bang explains what's going on with the political play whose name cannot be spoken on the radio, and Alan Minsky joins in.

The most important voting rights issue on the ballot in 2018 is restoring the voting rights of 1.4 million ex-felons in Florida--and it seems likely to pass. An initiative on the ballot there would repeal one of country's worst Jim Crow laws. Sasha Abramsky has that story. Also: the political power of women’s anger: Rebecca Traister has been thinking about that. Her new book is called “Good and Mad.” .

What the Democrats can do about newly-confirmed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh when they win the House in November and take control of the Judiciary Committee in January: John Nichols talks about investigations that could lead to the filing of articles of impeachment--and some other possibilities. Also: D.D. Guttenplan talks about some alternatives to those old white Republican men who shouted and pouted and voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing – his new book is “The Next Republic: the Rise of a New Radical Majority.”

Amy Wilentz of The Nation talks about Kavanaugh, Trump, and women --the women in the hearings, in Kavanaugh's past, and in America. Also: John Nichols on politics and the Senate--and how Mitch McConnell is killing the senate. Plus: Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the Law School at UC Berkeley, says the Supreme Court will soon have FIVE Republican justices, all of whom were seated illegitimately.

The facade has been ripped off: Christine Blasey Ford faced the Senate Judiciary Committee today, followed by a raging Brett Kavanaugh. Moments after the hearing adjourned, we turned to historian Rick Perlstein and journalist Sarah Posner for their comments on the "ugly business" of the Republican-dominated Judiciary Committee.

Did Trump's Supreme Court nominee try to rape a 15-year-old girl when he was 17-years old, 36 years ago? Was he telling the truth when he said he did not, and how much should it matter now? For comment we turn to Amy Wilentz. Next, Michael Moore's new film, "Fahrenheit 11/9" opens tomorrow — David Edelstein, chief film critic for New York Magazine, shares his review. Finally: Michael Moore on Trump--and his film, "Fahrenheit 11/9."

Republican Senate candidate and current Florida Gov, Rick Scott challenged Trump today on Puerto Rico casualty figures; SCOTUS nominee Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual misconduct, and, measuring the Blue Wave now that Obama has joined the campaign — Harold Meyerson with the political update. Next, Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress, has quit the House to run for state Attorney General. What was he thinking? David Dayen reports. Plus: Unions are fighting for their lives and DeVos wants to put more guns in schools — we talk with Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation for Teachers about the state of education.

In a dramatic showdown on the floor of the Senate, the third day of hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. released documents deemed 'committee confidential' — and, last Tuesday, Boston city councilor Ayanna Pressley unseated 10-term US Rep. Michael Capuano in a Democratic primary — John Nichols with the political update. Also, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Miriam Pawel on Jerry Brown's fight against climate change--and Donald Trump. Her new book is “The Browns of California: The Family that Transformed a State and Shaped a Nation.” Finally — Melania Trump: Hero of the people, or accomplice of evil? We turn to Amy Wilentz for comment.

After 40 years as an investigative journalist, Judith Coburn became a private investigator. We talk with her about Surveillance Capitalism in the Age of Trump. Next, Florida's general election for governor will feature two candidates who could not be more different: Andrew Gillum, a black progressive, and Ron DeSantis, "a fully 'Trumpacized'" conservative -- John Nichols reports. Plus: We might have reached peak-Trump, but Gary Younge says, "if Dems want to win, they've got to motivate their base."

Trump's attorney Micheal Cohen has pled guilty to many crimes of bank fraud and tax fraud but there were two really significant ones: payments of hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels (real name, Stephanie Clifford) and Playboy model Karen McDougal -- on orders of the president. Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect comments. Also: Around the world, mothers and pregnant women are undervalued, discriminated against, and punished -- we talk with Katha Pollitt about why and how. Plus: Farah Griffin of Columbia University comments on Aretha and Angela, and Aretha and Obama.

Amy Wilentz comments on the mental and emotional status of the president, as analyzed by 27 psychiatrists in 'The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump,' a book edited by Bandy X. Lee. The book was number four on the New York Times bestseller list. Also: Would Pence be worse? Jane Mayer of The New Yorker reports—she interviewed more than 60 people in search of answers, including Pence’s mother. Several say he’s wanted to be president at least since high school. Plus: America After Trump: E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post argues that Trump has mobilized progressive political forces that can transform America—and he reminds us that Trump never had a majority of voters, and is the most unpopular presidents in our history. E.J. is co-author of 'One Nation After Trump: A Guide to the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate, and the Not-Yet-Deported'--it's out now in paperback.

Left politics can win all over the country, not just in New York City and Chicago and LA – that’s what Mike Lux says, he’s a longtime strategist for the progressive movement and Democratic candidates, and his new book is “How to Democrat in the Age of Trump.” Katha Pollitt is not happy with leftists calling Trump a “fascist” – maybe there’s a better term for his attacks on democracy, which have a lot in common with authoritarian leaders in Russia, Turkey, Egypt, Hungary, Poland, and other places. The foundation for all of them: austerity, pushed by the big banks and right-wing parties, which creates the economic anxiety that fuels racism and anti-immigrant sentiment.

August 1968, 50 years ago: fighting the police outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, while the whole world was watching: it was the culmination of an overwhelming year for the anti-war movement. But where was young Donald Trump? Activist, sociologist and author of "The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage," Todd Gitlin, comments on politics then -- and now. Plus, John Nichols says the age of Trump is NOT a golden age for American journalism -- cutbacks and mass layoffs have crippled our news media, just when we need them the most.

Pulitzer prize-winning restaurant critic Jonathan Gold died July 21; Harold Meyerson talks about how he taught readers in LA about the new immigrant city around them--by exploring immigrant neighborhoods and their restaurants. Harold also reviews Trump world after Trump's worst week. Also Tom Frank explains how we got from Obama to Trump -- his new book is “Rendezvous with Oblivion." Plus Bob Zaugh tells amazing and true stories about the LA draft resistance movement in the Vietnam era. He helped organize the exhibit, "We Won't Go: The L.A. Resistance, Vietnam and the Draft," on view at the Getty Gallery of the Central Library in Downtown Los Angeles until August 19th. Exhibit details here: https://bit.ly/2uq5iee

Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect analyzes Trump’s tumultuous post-Putin week, perhaps a turning point for Republicans--at least some Republicans. Also: Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the Law School at UC Berkeley, talks about the worst things about Brett Kavanaugh, and about his greatest vulnerabilities in the upcoming confirmation hearings for Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. Plus: Does your job make a meaningful contribution to society? David Graeber posted that question on the internet – a million people clicked on it, and many posted answers. Now his book about those answers is out – it’s called ‘B.S. Jobs,’ and it casts dramatic light on our economy and politics.

Laurent Dubois, author of "The Language of the Game: How to Understand Soccer," and Alan Minsky, KPFK Program Director, and founding member of the People's Game Football Collective, join guest-host Amy Wilentz to explore the world of the World Cup. Plus: Jeff Wasserstrom, American historian of modern China and Professor of History at the University of California, Irvine, talks about Xi Jinping, Trump and China today. Last, we speak with James North, author of "Freedom Rising, a first-hand look at apartheid South Africa," about the trouble in Haiti--not random violence, but focused on elite targets.

The Supreme Court gave the green light to anti-abortion 'pregnancy crisis centers' in California, and the campaign to overturn Roe v. Wade is under way -- we talk with Katha Pollitt about the future of abortion rights with Trump's Supreme Court. Next up, David Cole, Legal Director of the ACLU talks about voting rights and the ACLU in the age of Trump--and says "vote like your rights depended on it." Finally: Trump in June: the bad, the ugly, and the merely inexplicable -- Amy Wilentz joins us in-studio.

The only Republican in the House from LA County, Steve Knight, is facing a strong challenge from first-time Democrat Katie Hill. He's against Obamacare; she's for Medicare for All -- and her chances look good. Dana Goodyear of the New Yorker reports. Plus: Despite Trump's reversal on family separation at the border, the crisis continues. Sonia Nazario, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of "Enrique's Journey," a book that detailed experiences of Latin American children immigrating to the US, joins us today to talk about Trump's fake news, the experiences of migrants, and how we might improve family detention while people are waiting for their asylum hearings. Also: a really bad week at the Supreme Court Unions: for unions, for stopping gerrymandering, and for replacing Justice Anthony Kennedy: Harold Meyerson of the American Prospect reports on what we should do now.

Over 11,000 immigrant children are being held in detention centers across the US: Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect comments on the political disaster for Trump of his family separation policy; Zoe Carpenter of The Nation reports on the inside of a Border Patrol children's detention center in Texas--and the uncertainities those children now face; and Ahilan Arulanatham, Legal Director of the ACLU of Southern California, has the latest on family detention litigation--and what people can do to help.

Seymour Hersh won a Pulitzer Prize in 1970 for his expose of the My Lai massacre—he was a 33-year-old freelancer at the time. Since then, he’s won pretty much every other journalism award. He’s worked as a staff writer for The New York Times and The New Yorker. He’s also written a dozen books, most recently Reporter: A Memoir. Plus: Since Trump took office, the Democrats have flipped 44 state legislative seats. What's next for the Democrats? John Nichols reports.

Trump asked for, and got, a ten percent increase in defense spending this year – even though the American military is the most massive, the most technologically advanced, and the best-funded fighting force in the world. But in the last fifteen years of constant war it has won nothing. Tom Engelhardt comments; he’s the legendary editor who created and runs the TomDispatch website, and his new book is “A Nation Unmade by War.” Plus: Trump and Syrian refugees: During Obama’s last year, about 10,000 were admitted to the US; so far this year, the number is eleven. Wendy Pearlman explains – she interviewed hundreds of Syrian refugees across the Middle East and Europe. Her new book is “We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria."

After reviewing Trump’s growing confrontation with Europe, Yanis Varouvakis concludes that 'Trump Isn’t Stupid.' Yanis is a former finance minister of Greece who took office in 2015, after five years of debt crisis and economic and social decline had left half the country’s young people unemployed. Greece at that point elected the most radical coalition to govern a European country in decades. Yanis became a European-wide celebrity when he resisted the demands of Europe’s bankers for austerity as Greece held out for restructuring its debt, --But then the government submitted and Yanis left office. Now he has co-founded an international grassroots movement that is campaign for the revival of democracy in Europe. He’s written many books, most recently “Adults in the Room” and “Talking to my Daughter About the Economy—or, How Capitalism works—and how it fails.” Also: there are 219,000 women in prison in the United States -- Rachel Kushner’s new novel, “The Mars Room,” is a story about of one of them. She’ll be in-studio to talk about it.

Is Trump crazy? Amy Wilentz talks about 'The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump,' a book edited by Bandy X. Lee, in which 27 psychiatrists and mental-health experts give their assessments of the president. The book was number four on the New York Times bestseller list. Also: Trump and the NRA: at the beginning of the 2016 campaign, Trump's status as a gun person was uncertain -- but he succeed in transforming himself during the campaign. The Nation's George Zornick reports (recorded after the Las Vegas shootings).

Trump’s plan on pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal is to pressure Iran to restart negotiations on terms more favorable to the US—but that’s never going to happen, says Michael Klare. And Trump has no Plan B – except for war—which could quickly involve Israel fighting in Lebanon against Iran’s ally Hezbollah, which has thousands of rockets aimed at Israeli cities. Also: the coming showdown in Texas between populist Democrats and establishment Democrats: D. D. Guttenplan has returned from the Lone Star State with a report on the political transformation underway there.

The amazing news from Korea about the prospects for peace and de-nuclearization: historian Bruce Cumings of the University of Chicago comments, warning that the Washington consensus opposes a treaty. His books include “The Korean War: A History” and “North Korea: Another Country.” Plus: Trump’s greatest vulnerability may not be Russiagate, but rather his financial and tax crimes. David Cay Johnston has been investigating and reporting on Trump’s finances for nearly 30 years. He won a Pulitzer Prize at The New York Times, and now he’s editor-in-chief of DCReport.org.

Full Employment is emerging as a key component of Democratic platforms — Harold Meyerson talks about the history and the prospect of a new "Jobs for All" program. Plus, the Trump re-election nightmare could come true — Tom Frank talks about why (it's the economy!) and how we can stop it. Lastly, Mueller's Questions and Trump's Answers: Bob Dreyfuss of the Nation comments on the changing story about paying Stormy Daniels, and about Trump's options in the face of the release of Mueller's questions for him.

on Wed. April 25 the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Travel Ban 3.0 case (Trump v. Hawaii) — David Cole, National Legal Director of the ACLU, for comments. Plus, the legendary Washington political journalist and author of “Washington Journal: Reporting Watergate and Richard Nixon's Downfall,” Elizabeth Drew, reviews "A Higher Loyalty," by James Comey. Lastly, it has been 50 years since Columbia '68 — Mark Rudd, political organizer, mathematics instructor, anti-war activist and onetime member of the Weather Underground, shares his lessons for the left: "build the base!"

Viet Thanh Nguyen talks about being a refugee in the US—he has edited a new collection, "The Displaced: Refugee Writers on Refugee Lives," published by Abrams Books. Plus, Harold Meyerson on California v. Trump (29 lawsuits and counting), the teacher's strike, and more. Lastly, Margaret Atwood on her book, "The Handmaid's Tale," now a TV series—season two premieres on April 25th.

Paul Ryan calls it quits: Why now? John Nichols comments. Plus, Adam Winkler on the civil rights of corporations, and what they mean in this time of Trump; his new book, "We the Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights," was published earlier this year. Lastly, Mark Hertsgaard on cellphones, cancer and his new article for The Nation: "How Big Wireless Made Us Think That Cell Phones Are Safe: A Special Investigation."

Adam Hochschild talks about his visit to a gun show, the NRA, the Koch brothers, and gun laws in America — his new piece, "Bang for the Buck," is in the latest issue of the New York Review of Books. Next, Trump made his first statement on Stormy Daniels today — we turn to Joshua Holland of The Nation (our Chief Stormy Correspondent) for the update. Lastly, yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — Tavis Smiley talks about his last days and his legacy.

Harold Meyerson comments on Trump's attack of Amazon, the prospect of a Trump re-election, the new model for unions after the Janus v. AFSCME case, and much more — his new article, "What Now for Unions" is out now in The American Prospect. Next, we ask Amy Wilentz, should Ivanka be indicted? She describes the "grotesque abuse of power" that is the Trump Kleptocracy. Lastly, Katha Pollitt says, it's time to "get real about Russiagate."

John Nichols with Breaking News from Wisconsin: trade policy, tech, and a victory for voting rights — you can read more in, "Scott Walker Is Ordered to Stop Blocking Special Elections," his new piece published today, in the Nation. Also today: the 10th anniversary of "Men Explain Things To Me," we hear the backstory firsthand from the author, Rebecca Solnit. Lastly, Chris Hayes on Trump, Crime and his new book, "A Colony in a Nation," out now in paperback from W. W. Norton & Company.

David Corn on Trump, Putin and his new book, "Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump." Plus: Is Disneyland really the happiest place on earth? Peter Dreier says, "Not if you work there." Dreier, Professor of Political Science at Occidental College, was part of the research team behind, "Working for the Mouse: A Survey of Disneyland Resort Employees," an Economic Roundtable report released February, 2018. Lastly, March 16, marks the 50th anniversary of the My Lai massacre; we talk with Hugh Thompson, the pilot who put an end to the killing that day fifty years ago.

The mass shooting at that high school in Parkland, Florida is still in the news, because of the brilliant political work being done by the students who survived. George Zornick analyzes the big picture: the decline of the gun industry, the growth in popular support for an assault weapons ban, and campaigns to shame companies that support the NRA and haven't divested from gun manufacturers. Plus: Last week the supreme court heard a case that could cripple public-sector unions, some of the last strong unions in America. Jane McAlevey talks about Janus v. AFSCME and what the unions need to do to recover the ground they have lost.

Amazon is a radically new kind of monopoly that seeks to control all of online commerce. Stacy Mitchell says it’s time for anti-trust action to separate the Amazon Marketplace from Amazon’s own retail operations. Also: Why have wages stagnated since the seventies? Bryce Covert says one reason is the mandatory noncompete and no-poaching agreements that prevent low-wage workers from taking better-paying jobs. California, Oklahoma and North Dakota have made them unenforceable; the rest of the states should do the same.

Senator Elizabeth Warren wants to make the fight against monopoly power in America a key part of the Democrats’ agenda; George Zornick reports on his interview with her for the magazine’s special issue on the topic. Also, Warren Buffett’s secret: “The sage of Omaha” is America’s favorite tycoon. He supported Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for president; even Bernie Sanders has praised his unselfishness. But David Dayen says Warren Buffett’s wealth has actually been built on monopoly power—and the unfair advantages it provides.

Here comes the next financial crisis: maybe not this week, but eventually—and Republican deregulation, undermining the institutions designed to protect us, will make it much worse. Nomi Prins explains. Plus: Remember when Trump said we should get fewer immigrants from “shithole countries,” and more from places like Norway? Ann Jones lived in Norway for four years; she explains what Norwegians might bring to the US if they did come: a commitment to equality in health care, education, and a dozen other necessities.

Gary Younge traveled from Maine to Mississippi interviewing Trump’s white working-class supporters. He found anxiety, pain, and a loss of hope. For many, he concludes, “Whiteness is all they’ve got.” Plus, Amy Wilentz talks about Ivana Trump’s new memoir, ‘Raising Trump’—stories about Don Jr., Ivanka, and little Eric, and their mom and dad. It’s like a reality show about “Real Housewives of Trump Tower.”

Trump’s not on the ballot this year, but that’s not stopping Democratic women from running against him in races across the country. John Nichols reports on recent Democratic victories where female candidates in special elections in state races flipped formerly Republican seats—they show how to do it in the mid-term elections in November. Also: Fortress America is crumbling—the rise of China started long before Trump, but he’s alienated allies and abandoned alliances in a way that may now make the process irreversible. Alfred McCoy explains.

Since Trump took office a year ago, Katha Pollitt says, women have been unleashing decades of pent-up anger: starting with the Women’s March, then in some amazing political victories, and in the #MeToo movement. But Trump has also shown how terrible the loss of the White House has been. Also: David Bromwich says there are no surprises with Trump: he’s been the same for decades, a “wounded monster” with a history of racism and a contempt for people he considers “losers.” But defeating him requires more than an issue—it has to be a cause.

Trump has targeted California, the biggest blue state, with his tax and immigration policies, but the state has been resisting—and some vulnerable Republican House members have been withdrawing from their reelection races. Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect comments. Plus: Father Greg Boyle of Los Angeles talks about his amazing work with former gang members—he’s the founder and head of Homeboy Industries, the biggest and best job training and reentry program in America for previously incarcerated men and women. His new book is Barking to the Choir.

Historian Linda Gordon talks about the KKK of the 1920s, and the arrest of Fred Trump, father of the president, at a Klan march in New York City in 1927. her new book is "The Second Coming of the KKK." Also, historian Nancy MacLean talks about the roots of the right's stealth plan for America, a bringing together of libertarian economic theory and segregationist opposition to civil rights. Her new book is "Democracy in Chains" - it was named the "most valuable political book of 2017" on The Nation's progressive honor roll.

Our year-in-review show starts with Katha Pollitt on #MeToo, from Bill O'Reilly to Al Franken. Katha of course is a columnist for The Nation. Also: Alabama was the state with the most remarkable political year. Howell Raines, the legendary Alabama journalist, reviews the year, starting with Jeff Sessions's appointment as attorney general and ending with his replacement by the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Alabama in 30 years.

Gary Younge traveled from Maine to Mississippi interviewing Trump’s white working-class supporters. He found anxiety, pain, and a loss of hope. For many, he concludes, “Whiteness is all they’ve got.” Plus, Amy Wilentz talks about Ivana Trump’s new memoir, 'Raising Trump'—stories about Don Jr., Ivanka, and little Eric, and their mom and dad. It’s like a reality show about “Real Housewives of Trump Tower.”

For our year-in-review show, we turn to John Nichols, The Nation magazine's National Affairs Correspondent, who highlights the Resistance in 2017. His Progressive Honor Roll for the year appears at TheNation.com.

Two ways to interview a Nazi: on the one hand, The New York Times recently did a profile of “the Nazi next door,” portraying him as an ordinary guy; on the other, Gary Younge confronted Richard Spencer, America’s leading white supremacist, on video. With Gary’s help, we compare and contrast the two approaches.

Jane Mayer of The New Yorker reports on Mike Pence's family, his life, and his lifelong ambition to be president.

"Raising Trump" is Ivana's new book about Don Jr., Ivanka, Jared and little Eric—Amy Wilentz says it's not your typical child-raising advice book. Plus: The GOP tax bill in the Senate: Harold Meyerson brings us the bad news. And historian Linda Gordon on the arrest of Fred Trump (Donald Trump's Father) at a KKK rally in 1927, and, her new book: "The Second Coming of the KKK: The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s and the American Political Tradition”

The legendary journalist Howell Raines reports from Alabama on the continuing Republican support for Roy Moore, the Senate candidate accused of molesting a 14-year-old and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl. Meanwhile, his Democratic opponent, the heroic civil-rights attorney Doug Jones, is running “the most vigorous Democratic campaign that’s been waged in Alabama in at least 30 years.” Also, Trump and the bomb: We’re hoping the generals keep him from doing anything crazy, like starting a nuclear war with North Korea—but the system is set up to give the president control over nuclear weapons, rather than the military. Adam Shatz explains--he wrote about Trump and the bomb for the London Review of Books.

Trump Year One: the Resistance & the ACLU, David Cole reports--voting rights, the travel ban, and more. Plus: The GOP tax bill just got worse, Harold Meyerson explains what happened in the House; plus Your Minnesota Moment: Al Franken apologizes. Also: Steve Ross talks about his new book "Hitler in LA: How Jews foiled Nazi Plots Against Hollywood and America".

The Democratic triumph in Tuesday's Virginia election and its implications for 2018--Harold Meyerson comments, also: what the Democrats should do on tax policy. Plus: Katha Pollitt on anger management, one year after Trump was elected; And: New York City--it's Trump's home, and it's also the antithesis of Trump. Comment from Mike Wallace--he won the Pulitzer Prize in History in 1999 for "Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898" and has authored a follow up, it's called "Greater Gotham: A History of NYC 1898-1919".

Amy Wilentz joins us live in-studio to talk about the Trump family troubles around the indictments; Plus, John Nichols talks about what's in the House tax bill.

America After Trump: E.J. Dionne argues that Trump has mobilized progressive political forces that can transform America—and he reminds us that Trump never had a majority of voters, and is the most unpopular presidents in our history. E.J. is co-author of "One Nation After Trump: A Guide to the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate, and the Not-Yet-Deported." Also: Why are Trump voters so angry? Historian Steve Hahn examines explanations of white working class rage, starting with the monster bestseller “Hillbilly Elegy” by J.D. Vance, which has spent more than a year on the best-seller list. Also: “White Rage” by Carol Anderson, and Justin Gest’s book “The New Minority: White Working Class Politics in an Age of immigration and Inequality.”

Ai WeiWei, the most famous political artist in the world, talks about his new documentary on global refugee crisis. It's called “Human Flow” --it opens in LA Friday Oct 20. Plus: Amy Wilentz on 'The Children's Hour': Ivanka, Jared, and Don Jr.

Is Trump Crazy? The Psychiatrists speak in "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump" by Bandy Lee, MD -- Amy Wilentz comments: do psychiatrists have a "duty to warn"? Plus: Trump and the NRA after the Las Vegas shootings, George Zornick comments.

Sasha Abramsky talks about Trump and the triumph of fear -- his new book is “Jumping at Shadows: The Triumph of Fear and the End of the American Dream.” Also: Pundits say the three former generals on Trump's staff are "the adults in the room" who will block him from doing his worst. John Nichols isn't so sure about that -- the generals are featured in his book "Horsemen of the Trumpocalypse." And, for something completely different: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy. One of the darkest days at the end of what we call “the sixties” came on Sept. 9, 1971, after 1,300 prisoners at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York rebelled -- to protest years of mistreatment. The true story of what happened at Attica was covered up by officials for decades. but now, 47 years later, we finally know the true story, thanks Heather Ann Thompson.

Sarah Leonard of The Nation says Hillary's campaign memoir "What Happened" has its enjoyable parts, but fails to recognize the populist forces that explain what happened. plus Bob Dreyfuss on the Robert Mueller's coming indictment of Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort -- and Todd Gitlin replies to critics of Ken Burns's Vietnam series on PBS -- it's a powerful portrayal of the reasons the war was a disaster, he argues.

Hillary’s book about what happened in her loss to Donald Trump – it’s called ‘What Happened,” and D.D. Guttenplan of The Nation says she really doesn’t understand what happened. Plus: the horrible Betsy DeVos – billionaire opponent of public schools, and now Trump’s Secretary of Education: David Dayen will explain. Plus, the Republicans’ final attempt to repeal Obamacare is underway; Harold Meyerson will report.

Hillary's book about 'What Happened' has a clear message, Tom Frank says: "don't blame me." Also: Is Pence Worse? Do we really want Trump out? Joan Walsh says 'yes' to both. And Harold Meyerson comments on the Medicare-for-all bill introduced in Congress yesterday by our man Bernie. He says it’s not only necessary, it’s “strategically savvy.”

Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect talks about Trump's 180 on DACA and the Dreamers. Also: Hurricanes, Texas Toxics and Trump's EPA: John Nichols comments. And Bob Dreyfuss explains what we now know about Facebook taking money from Russians for political ads, and answers the question, 'Who is Felix Sater -- and why is Trump so afraid of him?"

Plus: What Trump's people have been doing (or not) about the disaster in Texas. Elizabeth Holtzman, who served on the House Judiciary Committee that brought articles of impeachment against Nixon, reviews the case against Trump at this point -- and what special counsel Robert Mueller is doing to protect his investigation. Also: Trump vs. Trans soldiers and sailors: the ACLU is taking him to court. Chase Satrangio explains. And John Nichols of The Nation talks about his new book "Horsemen of the Trumpocalypse," and what they've been doing about the floods in Texas.

Plus: Trump & Golf, & an Abbie Hoffman anniversary Frank Rich has been “wallowing in Watergate,” as he put it, and found some fascinating stuff about Trump’s situation today and Nixon’s a year before his fall. Also: the ways Nixon was significantly stronger than Trump in resisting impeachment and resignation. Also: if you understand golf, you understand Trump. Golf is a game for “successful greedheads and their wannabes,” says legendary sportswriter Robert Lipsyte. It’s a waste of space and water, and it poisons local aquifers with chemicals. And it represents all that is retrograde and exclusionary in American life. Lipsyte asks, Doesn’t that remind you of our president? Plus: It was 50 years ago today: Abbie Hoffman and friends invaded the heart of capitalism, the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street, and threw money from the gallery onto the trading floor. Bruce Dancis explains what happened --he was there.

Joshua Green talks about Steve Bannon's relationship with Donald Trump —Green's best-selling book is "Devi's Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency." Plus: Bannon was fired because of his interview with The American Prospect -- Harold Meyerson, The Prospect's executive editor, talks about the interview, who said what, and how it happened. And the story of the big fight against big oil and big money in one city: Richmond, California. Steve Early will tell that story—his new book, with a foreword by Bernie Sanders, is "Refinery Town: Big Oil, Big Money, and the Remaking of an American City."

Trump has stopped hinting about firing Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating him and his campaign – - maybe because Mueller has a growing number of supporters among Republicans. Robert Dreyfuss reports -- plus the news about the FBI raiding Paul Manafort's house. Also: Bernie has been busy: Ben Wallace-Wells has been travelling with Bernie Sanders, who has done rallies in more than a dozen states over the last few weeks. And Katha Pollitt has some advice for the anxious and the depressed among us on how to survive the coming months of the the Age of Trump.

David Cole, legal director of the ACLU, talks about different ways Trump could end the work of the special counsel -- and what that would mean politically. plus Nancy MacLean, author of "Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America" and Bob Dreyfuss of The Nation on the Russia investigations and the Trump family businesses.

Amy Wilentz comments on Jared Kushner's congressional testimony about that meeting with the Russian promising dirt on Hillary, and 6-year-old Arabella "interrupting" the NY Times interview with Trump in the Oval Office. Also: Rick Wartzman on the rise and fall of good jobs in America--his new book is "The End of Loyalty." And Harold Meyerson analyzes the latest efforts of Senate Republicans to repeal and replace Obamacare.

John Nichols of The Nation opens the show with comment on Jeff Sessions's past, present, and possible future--Sessions is featured in John's forthcoming book, "Horsemen of the Trumpocalypse." And Al Franken talks about the dangers of humor in politics, about the voters who supported Trump, and the need for a public option in health care in America. He also answers the question, "Is Jeff Sessions a lying little weasel"? His new book, a numer one bestseller, is "Al Franken: Master of the Senate."

It’s not enough to say “no” to Trump, Naomi Klein argues; we need to transform ourselves and our movement to bring about the change we need. And we revisit our 2003 interview with Al Franken about his number one bestseller, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them. Now he has a new number=one bestseller: Al Franken, Giant of the Senate.

45 out of 50 of the state governments are resisting Trump’s voting commission – even the red states. And the five others are not complying; they simply haven't decided yet. It’s pretty amazing -- John Nichols comments. Also: The LA Times series of editorials about Trump, titled “Our Dishonest President,” was published as a book on July 4. When they first appeared online they got more than seven million page views. Nick Goldberg, editor of the paper’s editorial pages, explains what the series argued, and why it was such a success. Plus: young people are voting – for old socialists – in many countries. Why is that? Sarah Leonard has some answers; she wrote about it for the New York Times op-ed page.

Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect proposes concrete programs to win back white working class voters who switched from Obama in 2012 to Trump in 2016. plus George Zornick of The Nation talks about the Senate healthcare fiasco-- and legendary LA Activist attorney Carol Sobel makes the case for the rights of homeless people.

Amy Wilentz comments on the latest news about Jared Kushner, the most trusted man in the Trump White House, as he arrives in Israel seeking peace in the mideast. Also Harold Meyerson comments on the Republicans' impending fiasco in the Senate with Trumpcare, and looks for lessons in the defeat of Jon Ossoff for Congress in suburban Atlanta. and John Nichols makes the case for impeachment, arguing that Trump is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors.

Every day seems to be a bad news day for the President -- today, yesterday, the day before. . . Rick Perlstein comments. plus Jonathan Lethem on Bob Dylan's Nobel speech and "Great American Writing on Rock" and Larry Tye on "Bobby Kennedy: The making of a liberal icon"

As things get worse for Donald Trump, he's likely to become more irrational and dangerous, says Sasha Abramsky of The Nation. Also--Trump is NOT like Nixon--that's what Rick Perlstein says. He wrote the classic "Nixonland."

Harold Meyerson traces parallels--and differences--between Nixon's efforts to stop the FBI from investigating him, and Trump's efforts to accomplish the same thing. Nixon's efforts led to impeachment; will Trump's? Also: Evangelicals and politics: Frances Fitzgerald comments.

Amy Wilentz follows Donald Trump on Twitter -- we ask her what that's like, and why she does it. Also, she has a modest proposal: somebody should stop him. Plus: Harold Meyerson on the Trump impeachment scenario: lessons from the Democrats' successful effort to remove Nixon, and the Republicans' failure to remove Bill Clinton.

John Nichols comments on the appointment of Robert Mueller as special prosecutor, and its significance for the impeachment scenario. and Ari Berman reports on the Supreme Court's ruling in the North Carolina voting rights case, and on Trump's "election integrity" commission.

(1) Harold Meyerson on the politics around Trump firing FBI Director James Comey -- and the 2018 elections (2) Laura Poitras on her film about Julian Assange, "Risk"

John Nichols on the House vote on Obamacare--and The Democrats' obligation to resist. Plus Margaret Atwood on the shocking relevance of “The Handmaid’s Tale” on Hulu; and Katha Pollitt says “It’s not McCarthyism to demand an investigation of Trump."