The BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

On today's 'BradCast':  We're covering the track conditions of the 2024 election, rather than the horse race, as the GOP seems to be getting an early start on deploying dirty tricks and voter suppression tactics. Ohio's heavily gerrymandered, Republican-controlled state legislature has failed to pass a routine legislative fix to ensure President Joe Biden appears on the state's 2024 ballot, as they've done many times before. In Washington State, a rightwing activist's attempt to confuse Democratic voters with multiple bogus candidates has been foiled. Georgia's GOP Gov. Brian Kemp has signed another round of new voter suppression laws. The new progressive on Wisconsin's Supreme Court majority may finally overturn a silly, specious ban on secure ballot drop boxes. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  A crazy election recount in California hopefully won't be a harbinger of election challenges in the critical upcoming November 2024 election. The state's March 5 Super Tuesday primary resulted in an exact tie for 2nd place to fill a U.S. House seat that could determine majority control of Congress. California law allows any voter to request a recount if they pay exorbitant fees that vary wildly by county, so only wealthy candidates can afford one.  DR. JOHN MAA, an expert in CA election recounts, explains how this recount exposed many flaws in California's antiquated recount laws, the need for standardization of costs, and much more.  Legal woes mount for top Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon, disgraced former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and sitting Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez. In his New York criminal hush money-election interference trial, Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen directly implicated Trump. Callers weigh in.

Encore: original airdate 5-2-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  A surge of largely peaceful pro-Palestinian protests have sprung up on college campuses across the U.S., in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's punishing, ongoing assault of Gaza and the Biden Administration's facilitation of that effort. We focus on the response to those protests by counter protesters, media, politicians (including remarks by Joe Biden today), and the armed riot police who seem to be triggering the bulk of the violence, which is easy to show on television news whether it captures the truth of the moment or not. Congressional Democrats released a damning report exposing Big Oil's ongoing campaign of 'deception, disinformation, and doublespeak' to mislead the public about the role of fossil fuels in our accelerating climate crisis. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast': Why we're taking sides for democracy in this year's election, and why all journalists should - - and why veteran reporter John Harwood says, 'Donald Trump's threat to democracy should be the biggest political story of 2024'. The Department of Homeland Security is ramping up its efforts to respond to election threats.  MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) failed spectacularly to remove the Republican House Speaker again, thanks to help from House Democrats. The cross-examination of adult film star Stormy Daniels in Trump's criminal hush money-election interference trial did not go well for Team Trump. President Biden finally cut off delivery of offensive weapons to Israel after far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened a full ground invasion of southern Gaza. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  In the Indiana primary, Nikki Haley racked up 22 percent of the Republican vote despite having dropped out of the GOP's presidential race months ago. In next week's West Virginia primary, Republican former coal baron and convicted criminal Don Blankenship is running as a Democrat for the state's open U.S. Senate seat. We also catch up on the latest in Donald Trump's criminal hush money-election interference trial in New York, in which several witnesses have delivered damning testimony - - including blockbuster, disturbing testimony from adult film star Stormy Daniels, the target of the hush money scheme. HEATHER DIGBY PARTON, award-winning columnist at Salon and Hullaballoo, and former attorney KEITH BARBER of Daily Kos discuss the witnesses and evidence revealed in the trial so far, along with the broader legal, political, and cultural ramifications of the trial's latest developments.

On today's 'BradCast':  Georgia's Republican former Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan endorsed Joe Biden for President 2024, and encouraged his fellow Republicans to do the same. Porn star Stormy Daniels testified in Donald Trump's criminal hush money-election interference trial. Election integrity and security expert Marilyn Marks, of the non-profit Coalition for Good Governance, explains shocking new revelations of a cyber-attack on the systems of Coffee County, Georgia - - the same county where Donald Trump operatives, in January 2021, unlawfully breached, copied and distributed Georgia's touchscreen voting system software. Marks also discusses new developments in her lawsuit seeking to require Georgia to ditch its unverifiable, breached voting system and switch to verifiable hand-marked paper ballots, the GA Sec. of State's refusal to apply recommended security patches to the compromised system, and much more. Plus Desi Doyen has our new 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast': In the UK, mayoral elections resulted in crushing defeats for the country's ruling Conservative Party. In Panama, voters elected another far-right, criminally-indicted authoritarian leader. In Israel's War on Gaza, far-right Prime Minister Netanyahu attacked press freedom by shutting down the local operations of news agency Al-Jazeera, and appeared to reject a ceasefire deal with Hamas, while striking new targets in the Gazan city of Rafah. The US Dept. of Justice indicted Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) on bribery and corruption charges. Donald Trump fined again for violating a gag order in his criminal election interference-hush money trial, and more. Brazil is reeling from historic flooding intensified by climate change. Relentless rains triggered widespread flooding and evacuations across Houston, Texas. Los Angeles County released sterile, irradiated male mosquitoes in a new pilot program aimed at stopping the spread of vector-borne diseases, as the pests' range expands thanks to man-made global warming.

Encore: original airdate 4-22-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  With assistance from House Democrats, GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson finally allowed passage of critical military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and Taiwan that has been blocked by far-right Republicans. Donald Trump's first criminal trial got underway in New York City, focused on allegations that he unlawfully falsified business records and violated campaign finance laws in paying hush money to a porn star before the 2016 election. Veteran labor journalist and author STEVEN GREENHOUSE discusses the landslide vote by non-union autoworkers at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee to join the United Auto Workers union. Greenhouse explains why the historic vote succeeded where others have failed in the famously anti-union South, the UAW's ongoing organizing efforts to unionize other plants, the surge to restore labor rights in many sectors across the US, and much more.

On today's 'BradCast':  A surge of largely peaceful pro-Palestinian protests have sprung up on college campuses across the U.S., in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's punishing, ongoing assault of Gaza and the Biden Administration's facilitation of that effort. We focus on the response to those protests by counter protesters, media, politicians (including remarks by Joe Biden today), and the armed riot police who seem to be triggering the bulk of the violence, which is easy to show on television news whether it captures the truth of the moment or not. Congressional Democrats released a damning report exposing Big Oil's ongoing campaign of 'deception, disinformation, and doublespeak' to mislead the public about the role of fossil fuels in our accelerating climate crisis. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  We catch up on the latest developments in the first-ever criminal trial of a former president while the historic trial over Donald Trump's 2016 election interference-hush money scheme is on break for a day. DR. ALLISON GILL of the notorious 'Mueller, She Wrote' and 'Daily Beans Podcast' and attorney KEITH BARBER of Daily Kos explain the legal and political implications of new evidence and witness testimony, the judge's ruling finding Trump in criminal contempt of court for violating his gag order, and much more. Democrats outperformed pre-election polling in yet another special election for the U.S. House. A Trump-appointed appeals court ruled that Pennsylvania voters' mail-in ballots can be tossed out for minor, immaterial technical errors. A federal court rejected Louisiana's newly-drawn second majority-Black U.S. House district as 'an impermissible racial gerrymander.'

On today's 'BradCast':  American University professor Allen Lichtman has been uncannily accurate in predicting who will win presidential elections - - who does he predict will win in 2024?  Donald Trump found in criminal contempt of court in his New York hush money-election interference trial. United Auto Workers union wins big wage increases for workers in North Carolina. Indicted Arizona Republican 2020 fake elector rewarded with new RNC position. Appeals court rejects effort by West Virginia and North Carolina to block gender-affirming care for transgender people. U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency moves to reclassify marijuana, easing restrictions nationwide. The Biden Administration is racing to issue new standards to protect them from repeal under the Congressional Review Act. Plus our new 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  The corrupted rightwing supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether Presidents have 'absolute immunity' for any and all crimes they commit while in office. They don't. Despite rejection by lower courts, the rightwing justices heard Donald Trump's ridiculous assertions of 'immunity,' helping him delay the federal criminal trial over his multi-pronged scheme to steal the 2020 election, thus preventing voters from obtaining critical information before the November 2024 election about whether they should grant another term to the ex-president who tried to steal the 2020 election. We delve into the absurd arguments that seem to have finally made clear to the nation that the Roberts Court is corruptly running interference for Republican policies in general, and Trump in particular. Callers weigh in on what can or should be done about any of it, as the nation stumbles its way toward November...

Encore: original airdate 4-17-2024. On today's 'BradCast': The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in 'Fischer v. U.S.,' a challenge to the criminal statute used to charge and convict hundreds of January 6 insurrectionists, including Donald Trump. Legal journalist CHRIS GEIDNER of Law Dork News discusses the case, which questions whether some January 6th insurrectionists should have been charged with obstruction of an official government proceeding. Geidner explains how a ruling could pivot on the meaning of the word 'otherwise;' the rightwing justices' newly-discovered concerns about over-criminalization; potential impacts on January 6 cases and the Trump indictment; and upcoming oral arguments on Trump's ridiculous assertions of 'absolute immunity.' Also today: Republicans' revenge impeachment against DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas quickly failed in the US Senate. Arizona GOP lawmakers again blocked repeal of the state's 1864 abortion ban. Alabama's newly-drawn, fairer House maps generated a massive surge in voter turnout in a special election.

On today's 'BradCast':  The corrupted U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on 'Trump v. United States', in which disgraced former President Donald Trump ridiculously asserts that he has 'absolute immunity' from any and all crimes committed while serving in office, including bribery, treason, sedition, murder and conspiring overturn the results of an election and keep himself in power. The court's rightwing supermajority has helped Trump delay the trial on criminal charges brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Former U.S. Attorney RANDALL ELIASON and former Deputy Asst. U.S. Attorney General LISA GRAVES offer insight and expertise on today's 'astonishing' oral arguments, and much more. Arizona's Attorney General indicted 16 people for acting as fake electors in an attempt to steal the 2020 election, along with Trump's former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, attorney Rudy Giuliani and others. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast': In Pennsylvania's primary elections, a large percentage of Republicans voted for ousted rivals of presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump. President Biden signed a long-overdue aid package for Ukraine. The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether federal law requires hospitals to provide abortion care when necessary to save a patient's life. In Arizona, state Democratic lawmakers gained ground on an effort to repeal the state's 1864 abortion ban. Columnist HEATHER DIGBY PARTON of Salon and attorney KEITH BARBER of Daily Kos discuss Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York on allegations that he conspired to falsify business records to cover up hush money payments he made to a porn star, to help him cheat to win the 2016 Presidential election. Parton and Barber analyze what we've learned so far in the historic trial, the legal hurdles faced by prosecutors, and what to expect in the days ahead.

On today's 'BradCast':  Voters in Pennsylvania's primary election are reportedly struggling with newly-implemented voter ID restrictions. Donald Trump's election-fraud-via-hush-money criminal trial in New York began with a hearing over whether Trump violated a court-imposed gag order on attacking jurors and witnesses, then the former National Enquirer publisher detailed his participation in a 'catch and kill' scheme to bury negative stories about Trump (like affairs with porn stars) to help him win the 2016 election. US Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Arizona Republican election deniers Kari Lake and Mark Finchem. Wisconsin GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde backtracked on comments suggesting the elderly should not vote. Trump Campaign/RNC launch an 'election integrity' initiative. Republican Arizona state representative resigns amid accusations he forged petition signatures for his own re-election campaign. Plus Desi Doyen has our new 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  With assistance from House Democrats, GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson finally allowed passage of critical military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and Taiwan that has been blocked by far-right Republicans. Donald Trump's first criminal trial got underway in New York City, focused on allegations that he unlawfully falsified business records and violated campaign finance laws in paying hush money to a porn star before the 2016 election. Veteran labor journalist and author STEVEN GREENHOUSE discusses the landslide vote by non-union autoworkers at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee to join the United Auto Workers union. Greenhouse explains why the historic vote succeeded where others have failed in the famously anti-union South, the UAW's ongoing organizing efforts to unionize other plants, the surge to restore labor rights in many sectors across the US, and much more.

Encore: original airdate 4-10-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  The real news is bad enough, but fake news sites masquerading as real news sites are proliferating across the country and spreading disinformation in advance of the critical 2024 election. Funded by shadowy rightwing billionaire activists, the number of fake 'pink slime' news sites now equals the number of legitimate local news sites. ALEX MAHADEVAN, Director of the non-profit Poynter Institute's MediaWise project, explains how and why these fake news sites are surging, the rightwing funders behind them, techniques to protect against misinformation and disinformation, and much more. Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg sentenced to five additional months in prison for committing perjury in Donald Trump's massive New York bank, tax, and insurance fraud trial. The Arizona Supreme Court's ruling reinstating an 1864 ban on all abortions in the state has Republicans in panic mode to manage the fallout, which may have a remarkable effect on turnout in the November election.

On today's 'BradCast':  Climate change is a key factor in persistent inflation by driving the skyrocketing costs of insurance premiums for homes and cars, according to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Loss and damage from human-caused climate change is already costing Americans dearly, and a new study warns it will cause $38 trillion in global economic damages every year, unless governments move faster to cut climate-warming fossil fuel pollution. Ohio Republicans threaten to block President Biden from the 2024 ballot over a scheduling issue. Nevada Supreme Court approves a measure guaranteeing reproductive rights for the November ballot. Jury selection for Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York is complete, but two were excused after reporters revealed personally identifying details. Non-union autoworkers in Tennessee may succeed at unionizing, despite unprecedented threats from southern Republican governors. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast': The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in 'Fischer v. U.S.,' a challenge to the criminal statute used to charge and convict hundreds of January 6 insurrectionists, including Donald Trump. Legal journalist CHRIS GEIDNER of Law Dork News discusses the case, which questions whether some January 6th insurrectionists should have been charged with obstruction of an official government proceeding. Geidner explains how a ruling could pivot on the meaning of the word 'otherwise;' the rightwing justices' newly-discovered concerns about over-criminalization; potential impacts on January 6 cases and the Trump indictment; and upcoming oral arguments on Trump's ridiculous assertions of 'absolute immunity.' Also today: Republicans' revenge impeachment against DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas quickly failed in the US Senate. Arizona GOP lawmakers again blocked repeal of the state's 1864 abortion ban. Alabama's newly-drawn, fairer House maps generated a massive surge in voter turnout in a special election.

On today's 'BradCast':  The value of Trump Media, listed under Donald Trump's initials as DJT, has plummeted since its debut on the stock market, destroying the life savings of many brain-poisoned MAGA cult members who believed rightwing media hype and plowed all of their money into the fraudulent scheme. Trump demanded that presidents must receive 'absolute immunity' for any crimes committed while in office, except for President Joe Biden. Jury selection is moving quickly in Trump's criminal hush money-election interference trial in New York. House GOP lawmakers sent two baseless articles of impeachment against DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas to the US Senate, which are expected to be dispatched quickly. Far-right news outlet One America News has struck a confidential deal to settle the massive defamation lawsuit brought by voting system vendor Smartmatic over OAN's 2020 election lies. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  An historic day for the United States -- the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. President is now underway in a Manhattan courtroom. It's the first of four criminal trials seeking accountability for disgraced ex-President Donald Trump, the Republican Party's presumptive nominee for the 2024 election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's 34 felony criminal counts allege that Trump unlawfully falsified business records to hide hush-money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and violated federal campaign finance laws in service of cheating to win the 2016 election. Columnist HEATHER DIGBY PARTON of Salon and former attorney KEITH BARBER of Daily Kos delve into the legal, political and cultural significance of the historic first day of Trump's first criminal trial, the evidence in the case, and its potential ramifications for the critical 2024 election in November.

Encore: original airdate 4-12-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  Encouraging news from Tuesday's elections in rural Enid, Oklahoma, where voters successfully removed a neo-Nazi from the city council in a recall election. In Presidential primaries in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and Wisconsin, President Biden again saw small but noteworthy protest votes against him in response to his policy on Israel's brutal war in Gaza. Donald Trump continued to do worse among his own Republican Party voters, with significant numbers voting for Nikki Haley, who dropped out of the race weeks ago. In Wisconsin, voters approved two deceptively benign constitutional amendments, placed on the ballot by the extremely gerrymandered Republican-controlled state legislature, that could unleash chaos in the November 2024 election. Voting rights journalist ALEX BURNESS of Bolts Magazine explains the two ballot measures that are likely to wreak havoc in November in the closely divided state, and could be wielded to criminalize routine election tasks, intimidate election officials and volunteers, and more.

On today's 'BradCast':   Donald Trump's hand-picked new RNC Chair channels Russian propaganda to suggest Ukraine is somehow trying to 'meddle' with our elections. In a victory for gun safety, President Biden closed the 'gun show loophole.' Alabama's Republican Sec. of State follows GOP-controlled Ohio in warning he may not allow Biden on the state's 2024 ballot because the DNC convention is scheduled after state deadlines. Georgia's Lt. Governor Burt Jones (R) is now being investigated for his role as a fake elector in the 2020 election. Fox 'News' omitted coverage of the Arizona Supreme Court's ruling banning abortion in nearly all of its primetime shows, then the next day misled viewers to blame Democrats for the political fallout. Liberal justice on Wisconsin Supreme Court will not run for re-election next year, potentially tipping the court's majority control back to Republicans; the stakes could not be higher. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  The real news is bad enough, but fake news sites masquerading as real news sites are proliferating across the country and spreading disinformation in advance of the critical 2024 election. Funded by shadowy rightwing billionaire activists, the number of fake 'pink slime' news sites now equals the number of legitimate local news sites. ALEX MAHADEVAN, Director of the non-profit Poynter Institute's MediaWise project, explains how and why these fake news sites are surging, the rightwing funders behind them, techniques to protect against misinformation and disinformation, and much more. Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg sentenced to five additional months in prison for committing perjury in Donald Trump's massive New York bank, tax, and insurance fraud trial. The Arizona Supreme Court's ruling reinstating an 1864 ban on all abortions in the state has Republicans in panic mode to manage the fallout, which may have a remarkable effect on turnout in the November election.

On today's 'BradCast':  Every vote matters. In California, a tie in last month's primary means a three-way U.S. House race in November. Nationally, new polls are finally turning in favor of President Joe Biden, with caveats. Rightwing dirty tricksters Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman will pay a million-dollar fine for misleading robocall scheme attempting to deceive voters before the 2020 election. Woman is sentenced to prison for stealing a diary belonging to President Biden's daughter, Ashley, and selling it to rightwing dirty trickster James O'Keefe. Another New York appeals court rejected another attempt by Donald Trump to delay his criminal 'hush money' trial. New revelations indicate major problems with the company that backed Trump's last-minute $175 million bond posted in New York State's $454 million civil fraud judgment against him. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  President Biden unveiled another big plan to relieve student loan debt for 30 million Americans. Corporate media helped Donald Trump deeply mislead the American public in misreporting his 'new' position on abortion rights. Ohio's Republican Secretary of State informed Democrats that President Joe Biden will not qualify for the state's 2024 ballot unless they change their party's convention date, or if the state's GOP legislature refuses to change state law like they did in 2020. Investigative journalist HELEN SANTORO of The Lever discusses her recent articles on accountability for the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after it was struck by a massive mega-container ship. Santoro explains how former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) ignored repeated warnings on bridge safety as he pushed to expand the port. Santoro also delves into the 1851 law that the responsible shipping company hopes will cap its liability for the billion-dollar disaster, and how Republicans have stymied modernization of the law at the behest of lobbyists from Big Oil and other industries.

Encore: orginal airdate 4-1-2-24. On today's 'BradCast':  It may be April Fools Day, but it's no joke that we are back! Last week brought a firehose of important and historic developments. Our old friends 'DRIFTGLASS' and his co-host of the Pro Left Podcast, FRANCES LANGUM, who is also Associate Editor at the Crooks & Liars blog, join us today to add actual context, depth and insight to all those headlines, and what it all means going forward. In a lively and insightful conversation, we cover a smorgasbord of big news -- from the MAGA GOP histrionics over averting a government shutdown to the latest on Donald Trump's many criminal and civil cases, his scammy, just-in-time public stock offering of his social media site, and his peddling of a Trump-branded Bible (both of which directly line his pockets). We also cover new developments in the Israel-Hamas war and Gaza, NBC's hiring/firing of Ronna McDaniel, a remarkable special election result in Alabama, and much, much more.

On today's 'BradCast':  It's been a bad 24 hours in court for disgraced ex-President Donald Trump. Judges in three of his four criminal cases -- in New York, Florida and Georgia -- all rejected his specious motions to dismiss. So-called 'centrist' group No Labels ended its ill-advised effort to mount a third-party presidential campaign. In Iowa, the wife of a white elected Republican official was sentenced to just four months in prison for 52 counts of intentional voter fraud. Wisconsin's Supreme Court may reverse ridiculous bans on secure ballot dropboxes. A scheme to game Nebraska's Electoral College votes for Trump has failed, for now. President Biden warned Israel's far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to change course in Gaza. Senator Bernie Sanders joined Joe Biden to tout their success at lowering the cost of healthcare and prescription drug prices. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report'.

On today's 'BradCast':  Encouraging news from Tuesday's elections in rural Enid, Oklahoma, where voters successfully removed a neo-Nazi from the city council in a recall election. In Presidential primaries in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and Wisconsin, President Biden again saw small but noteworthy protest votes against him in response to his policy on Israel's brutal war in Gaza. Donald Trump continued to do worse among his own Republican Party voters, with significant numbers voting for Nikki Haley, who dropped out of the race weeks ago. In Wisconsin, voters approved two deceptively benign constitutional amendments, placed on the ballot by the extremely gerrymandered Republican-controlled state legislature, that could unleash chaos in the November 2024 election. Voting rights journalist ALEX BURNESS of Bolts Magazine explains the two ballot measures that are likely to wreak havoc in November in the closely divided state, and could be wielded to criminalize routine election tasks, intimidate election officials and volunteers, and more.

On today's 'BradCast':  As it is said, 'the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.'  A New York judge has expanded his gag order against Donald Trump in his criminal 'hush money' trial in order to protect court staff family members. Florida State Supreme Court ignored precedent to allow a 6-week abortion ban to take effect, but also approved statewide ballot initiatives to protect reproductive rights and legalize recreational marijuana. Arizona GOP lawmakers push a ballot measure to ban early voting and vote-by-mail. Another round of white male Republicans convicted of intentional voter fraud and election fraud have received little to no punishment. But black Texas voter Crystal Mason, who was egregiously and wrongly sentenced to five years in prison for unintentionally voting while ineligible, has finally been acquitted by an appeals court. Plus Desi Doyen has our new 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  It may be April Fools Day, but it's no joke that we are back! Last week brought a firehose of important and historic developments. Our old friends 'DRIFTGLASS' and his co-host of the Pro Left Podcast, FRANCES LANGUM, who is also Associate Editor at the Crooks & Liars blog, join us today to add actual context, depth and insight to all those headlines, and what it all means going forward. In a lively and insightful conversation, we cover a smorgasbord of big news -- from the MAGA GOP histrionics over averting a government shutdown to the latest on Donald Trump's many criminal and civil cases, his scammy, just-in-time public stock offering of his social media site, and his peddling of a Trump-branded Bible (both of which directly line his pockets). We also cover new developments in the Israel-Hamas war and Gaza, NBC's hiring/firing of Ronna McDaniel, a remarkable special election result in Alabama, and much, much more.

Encore: original airdate 3-20-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  A quick review of Tuesday's Primary and Special Election results in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio and California, and some telling data points. The Biden Administration EPA released a new final rule that strengthens tailpipe pollution and emissions standards for cars and trucks, to accelerate the nation's transition to clean vehicles and combat dangerous man-made climate change. Slate's legal journalist MARK JOSEPH STERN discusses two bonkers cases that came before the U.S. Supreme Court this week. The first is an absurd case brought by Republican-run states falsely claiming the federal government unconstitutionally forced social media companies to censor misinformation, which Stern thoroughly debunks. The second lawsuit is the Court's shocking ruling to allow a blatantly unconstitutional, radical new Texas immigration law to take effect while under appeal, which was immediately put on hold by the extremist Fifth Circuit. Stern unpacks the bizarre twists and turns, plus a new rule ending the practice of 'judge-shopping,' and much, much more.

Encore: original airdate 3-19-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  Some much needed 'context' for what will absolutely be the most important election in U.S. history this November. Donald Trump is running on the PROMISE of political violence -- whether he wins or loses. Experts in authoritarianism say Trump made that clear (again) in recent rallies, interviews and social media postings as he escalates his violent rhetoric. Former Trump advisor Peter Navarro reported to prison on charges of defying a lawful subpoena, while MAGA Attorney Stefanie Lambert was arrested on charges related to Trump's 2020 election lies. The corrupted US Supreme Court allowed a radical, far-right Texas border enforcement law to take effect that allows local police to round up 'suspected' migrants, which dissenting justices said will 'sow chaos' at the border. President Biden's State of the Union address was so popular that Congressional Republicans now want to block future SOTU speeches. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Encore: Original airdate 3-18-2024.  On today's 'BradCast':  Major corporations have launched an unprecedented effort to dismantle nearly a  century of labor law in the United States. Veteran labor journalist and author STEVEN GREENHOUSE reports on the disturbing lawsuit now underway by major corporations like Amazon, Starbucks, Trader Joe's and Elon Musk's SpaceX to have the courts declare the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) unconstitutional. Greenhouse explains the history of the NLRB and its role in enforcing labor laws, the lawsuit attacking its existence, what happens if it succeeds, and much, much more.  Also today: Russian President Putin was illegitimately re-elected to another term in power. Donald Trump's lawyers say he can't pay the bond to appeal his $454 million civil fine in New York after being found liable for years of massive bank, tax and insurance fraud.

Encore: Original airdate 2-19-2024.  On today's 'BradCast':  In Pakistan, a top official has alleged that the nation's recent parliamentary election was littered with fraud, confessing that he oversaw efforts to the rig the election in one of its largest provinces. In the U.S., the makers of the phony, thoroughly debunked film, '2000 Mules', which alleged widespread fraud in the 2020 election, were finally forced to admit to a Georgia court that they have no evidence of any fraud and cannot produce any so-called 'whistleblowers' and 'informants' that they asserted as proof of their claims. World leaders condemned Russian dictator Vladimir Putin after revelations that Alexei Navalny, Russia's democratic hero and Kremlin opponent, died in an Artic prison under mysterious circumstances.  In one of his final interviews, Navalny called on his supporters and all people who support democracy, 'My message is very simple: don't give up... The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.  So don't be inactive.'

Encore: Original airdate 3-5-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  It's the Super Tuesday elections in 16 states, and we've got a few reminders today of the stakes, the challenges ahead, and why it all matters. New Brennan Center study finds that the racial gap between white and black voters has grown since the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the heart of the Voting Rights Act in 2013, with the gap double in jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination previously covered by the VRA. Republican 'voter fraud' fraudster groups have ramped up voter suppression, targeting registered voters in swing states for purging from the voting rolls. Allen Weisselberg, Donald Trump's Chief Financial Officer, pleaded guilty to perjury in Trump's massive bank, tax, and insurance fraud civil case. U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and his wife slapped with new obstruction charges in bribery scandal. So-called 'Christian' Liberty University fined an unprecedented $14 million for years-long coverup of sexual assault allegations on campus. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Encore: original airdate 3-13-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  The most powerful pro-gun lobbying group in the nation has finally been held to account for years of massive fraud. So what comes next for the NRA, the firearms industry's ironclad death grip on the Republican Party, and the continuing battle to enact popular gun safety reforms in the U.S.?  KELLY SAMPSON of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence discusses the National Rifle Association's evolution into a powerful firearms industry lobbyist group; the court verdict finding the NRA engaged in fraud and other illegal actions; groups now filling the void to oppose all gun safety reform; and ongoing efforts to stem the nation's epidemic of gun violence. Also today:  both President Biden and disgraced ex-President Donald Trump have clinched their respective party's nominations. Georgia judge dismisses six counts against Trump and co-conspirators in the sprawling Fulton County RICO investigation into Trump's efforts to steal the 2020 election.

On today's 'BradCast': Climate scientists are baffled over the sudden spike in global heating in 2023 that was worse than predicted. President Biden canceled another $6 billion in student loan debt for public-service workers who were misled and defrauded by schools and private companies administering their federal loans. Sec. of State Antony Blinken called for an 'immediate, sustained ceasefire' and reiterated U.S. opposition to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's promised offensive in Rafah, as Gaza sinks into famine. New data show the Biden Campaign's fundraising is far outpacing the Trump Campaign. It's crunch time for Donald Trump as the bill comes due in the $454 civil judgment for his many years of bank, tax, and insurance fraud. The judge overseeing Trump's criminal hush money trial rejected Team Trump's frivolous trial motions. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  A quick review of Tuesday's Primary and Special Election results in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio and California, and some telling data points. The Biden Administration EPA released a new final rule that strengthens tailpipe pollution and emissions standards for cars and trucks, to accelerate the nation's transition to clean vehicles and combat dangerous man-made climate change. Slate's legal journalist MARK JOSEPH STERN discusses two bonkers cases that came before the U.S. Supreme Court this week. The first is an absurd case brought by Republican-run states falsely claiming the federal government unconstitutionally forced social media companies to censor misinformation, which Stern thoroughly debunks. The second lawsuit is the Court's shocking ruling to allow a blatantly unconstitutional, radical new Texas immigration law to take effect while under appeal, which was immediately put on hold by the extremist Fifth Circuit. Stern unpacks the bizarre twists and turns, plus a new rule ending the practice of 'judge-shopping,' and much, much more.

On today's 'BradCast':  Some much needed 'context' for what will absolutely be the most important election in U.S. history this November. Donald Trump is running on the PROMISE of political violence -- whether he wins or loses. Experts in authoritarianism say Trump made that clear (again) in recent rallies, interviews and social media postings as he escalates his violent rhetoric. Former Trump advisor Peter Navarro reported to prison on charges of defying a lawful subpoena, while MAGA Attorney Stefanie Lambert was arrested on charges related to Trump's 2020 election lies. The corrupted US Supreme Court allowed a radical, far-right Texas border enforcement law to take effect that allows local police to round up 'suspected' migrants, which dissenting justices said will 'sow chaos' at the border. President Biden's State of the Union address was so popular that Congressional Republicans now want to block future SOTU speeches. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  Major corporations have launched an unprecedented effort to dismantle nearly a  century of labor law in the United States. Veteran labor journalist and author STEVEN GREENHOUSE reports on the disturbing lawsuit now underway by major corporations like Amazon, Starbucks, Trader Joe's and Elon Musk's SpaceX to have the courts declare the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) unconstitutional. Greenhouse explains the history of the NLRB and its role in enforcing labor laws, the lawsuit attacking its existence, what happens if it succeeds, and much, much more.  Also today: Russian President Putin was illegitimately re-elected to another term in power. Donald Trump's lawyers say he can't pay the bond to appeal his $454 million civil fine in New York after being found liable for years of massive bank, tax and insurance fraud.

Encore: original airdate 3-7-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  We are joined today by constitutional law expert RON FEIN, Legal Director of non-profit group Free Speech For People, which brought the issue of the Constitution's 'Insurrection Disqualification Clause' to the nation's attention, before the corrupted, activist U.S. Supreme Court 'invented' a way to nullify it to protect disgraced former President Donald Trump earlier this week. Fein explains the legal history and context of the 14th Amendment and its Section 3 'insurrection disqualification' clause; how the U.S. Supreme Court ignored its plain text to avoid applying it to Trump; what it all means going forward, and much more. Also today: Sweden formally joined NATO to protect against Russia's aggression. President Biden announced the US military will construct a temporary port to deliver aid to Gaza. Third-party group 'No Labels' moves ahead with a bipartisan 'unity' ticket. Utility company Xcel Energy admits their equipment sparked the record Texas wildfire. Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY-D), a lifelong supporter of Israel who represents the world's largest Jewish population in New York, called for new elections in Israel, saying that far-right Prime Minister Netanyahu is an 'obstacle to peace' who risks turning Israel into an international 'pariah' over his war against Gaza. Why the bipartisan push in Congress to ban TikTok is a terrible idea. Ex-FBI informant arrested for passing lies from Russian Intelligence officials - used by Republicans as the basis of their bogus 'impeachment' inquiry into Joe Biden - was paid by $600,000 by business associates of Donald Trump before the 2020 election. Federal judge denies Trump's motion to dismiss stolen classified documents case. Manhattan District Attorney Bragg willing to delay start of Trump's criminal 'hush money' trial due to new document trove. Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro loses bid to avoid prison for defying lawful subpoena. UK judge orders Trump to pay attorneys' fees for former British spy Christopher Steele after losing lawsuit. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  The most powerful pro-gun lobbying group in the nation has finally been held to account for years of massive fraud. So what comes next for the NRA, the firearms industry's ironclad death grip on the Republican Party, and the continuing battle to enact popular gun safety reforms in the U.S.?  KELLY SAMPSON of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence discusses the National Rifle Association's evolution into a powerful firearms industry lobbyist group; the court verdict finding the NRA engaged in fraud and other illegal actions; groups now filling the void to oppose all gun safety reform; and ongoing efforts to stem the nation's epidemic of gun violence. Also today:  both President Biden and disgraced ex-President Donald Trump have clinched their respective party's nominations. Georgia judge dismisses six counts against Trump and co-conspirators in the sprawling Fulton County RICO investigation into Trump's efforts to steal the 2020 election.

On today's 'BradCast':   Far-right Republican Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) announced he is retiring from the U.S. House next week due to the dysfunction of House Republicans, further reducing the GOP's razor-thin majority. Donald Trump's takeover of the Republican National Committee is complete after installing his inexperienced daughter-in-law as co-chair to route RNC money to pay Trump's mounting legal bills. Dozens of RNC staffers were immediately fired in a preview of Trump's plan, if he becomes president, to replace federal agency employees with partisan Trump loyalists. A Wisconsin MAGA group wants to remove the state's very partisan GOP assembly speaker for not being Trumpy enough. Mainstream corporate media outlets published hundreds of stories touting Special Counsel Robert Hur's report smearing President Biden's mental faculties and age, but transcripts released today portray Biden as 'clearheaded.'  ABC's George Stephanopoulos demonstrates how to counter Republican disinformation live on air. Media critic Dan Froomkin schools corporate media on how to report accurately. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':   It's Daylight Savings Time again, and Brad discovered a great hack to help you adjust to the time switch with minimal disruption. President Biden delivered a rousing, feisty State of the Union address that apparently freaked out Republicans. US Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) delivered an incredibly bizarre rebuttal to the SOTU that was based on an outrageous lie, exploiting the horrific experiences of a victim of sex trafficking twenty years ago in Mexico, in a blatant attempt to mislead the public about Biden's border policies. The Biden Administration's new budget proposal for fiscal year 2025 calls for the expansion of social programs, along with new taxes on corporations and the rich to pay for it all and shave $3 trillion off the national debt. Disgraced Donald Trump welcomed Hungarian dictator Viktor Orban to his beach resort over the weekend, celebrating the rightwing strongman's autocratic rule. Thousands of protesters marched outside Sunday's Academy Awards to protest Israel's attack on Gaza. Callers weigh in.

Original airdate 2-29-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  Brad is back after taking a few sick days, just in time to wrangle the fire hose of historic, breaking news this week. The rightwing supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court delayed for weeks before finally announcing they would hear oral arguments on Donald Trump's ridiculous claim that presidents have 'absolute immunity' for any crimes they committed while in office - - an absurd claim unanimously rejected by all lower courts. The hearing, set for late April, paused Trump's criminal trial for trying to steal the 2020 election, making it increasingly likely he will not stand trial before the 2024 election. A New York state appeals court denied Trump's attempt to negotiate a lower bond amount to avoid seizure of his assets to pay $454 million penalty he faces for a decade of massive fraud via his corrupt real estate company. Award-winning opinion columnist HEATHER DIGBY PARTON of Salon and 'DRIFTGLASS' of The Professional Left Podcast, bring insight, analysis, context, and perspective on these key, historic events. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  We are joined today by constitutional law expert RON FEIN, Legal Director of non-profit group Free Speech For People, which brought the issue of the Constitution's 'Insurrection Disqualification Clause' to the nation's attention, before the corrupted, activist U.S. Supreme Court 'invented' a way to nullify it to protect disgraced former President Donald Trump earlier this week. Fein explains the legal history and context of the 14th Amendment and its Section 3 'insurrection disqualification' clause; how the U.S. Supreme Court ignored its plain text to avoid applying it to Trump; what it all means going forward, and much more. Also today: Sweden formally joined NATO to protect against Russia's aggression. President Biden announced the US military will construct a temporary port to deliver aid to Gaza. Third-party group 'No Labels' moves ahead with a bipartisan 'unity' ticket. Utility company Xcel Energy admits their equipment sparked the record Texas wildfire. Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':   We cover notable results, news, concerns, and voting system problems from Super Tuesday's 16 primaries and caucuses. Donald Trump won nearly all of the GOP nominating contests, but lost a significant chunk of Republican voters to Nikki Haley, who suspended her campaign without endorsing him. Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell endorsed Trump despite Trump's incitement of the January 6 insurrection. President Joe Biden easily won all of the Democratic primaries but one. Voters in some states faced big problems in the voting process. North Carolina Republicans nominated their Holocaust-denying Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the race for governor, while Texas Democrats selected Rep. Colin Allred to face Sen. Ted Cruz (R). The substantial 'Uncommitted' vote in several states registering opposition to the Biden Administration policy towards Israel's war in Gaza appears to pushing the Administration to shift course, with Vice President Kamala Harris calling for an 'immediate ceasefire,' and more.

On today's 'BradCast':  It's the Super Tuesday elections in 16 states, and we've got a few reminders today of the stakes, the challenges ahead, and why it all matters. New Brennan Center study finds that the racial gap between white and black voters has grown since the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the heart of the Voting Rights Act in 2013, with the gap double in jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination previously covered by the VRA. Republican 'voter fraud' fraudster groups have ramped up voter suppression, targeting registered voters in swing states for purging from the voting rolls. Allen Weisselberg, Donald Trump's Chief Financial Officer, pleaded guilty to perjury in Trump's massive bank, tax, and insurance fraud civil case. U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and his wife slapped with new obstruction charges in bribery scandal. So-called 'Christian' Liberty University fined an unprecedented $14 million for years-long coverup of sexual assault allegations on campus. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  The corrupt, stolen, and packed rightwing supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday engineered a ruling that prevents states from using the plain language of the 14 Amendment, Section 3 to disqualify Donald Trump from the 2024 election for having 'engaged in insurrection.'  The dissenting liberal justices made clear that the 9-0 ruling that was actually a 5-4 ruling, in which the so-called GOP-appointed 'originalists' further cemented their well-earned reputation as an activist rightwing court inventing legal concepts to reverse engineer the political result they seek. Former U.S. Asst. Deputy Attorney General LISA GRAVES of True North Research and longtime legal journalist CHRIS GEIDNER of Law Dork explain the corrupt, hypocritical ruling by the rightwing justices, with context, history, and insight into what it all means. Also today: Nikki Haley won her first GOP primary after Trump threatened voters. On Tuesday, it's the Super Tuesday primaries -- if you live in one of those 16 states and territories, get out and vote!

Encore: original airdate 2-20-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  It was a very good day for democracy in America when Wisconsin's Gov. Tony Evers (D) signed a law approving fairer legislative maps that will take effect before the 2024 election. The new maps, achieved after a decade-long fight by pro-democracy activists, eliminate the extreme partisan gerrymandered maps that Republicans rammed through in 2010, trying to entrench themselves in permanent minority power while dismantling the state's precious rights and freedoms. Wisconsin native and journalist JOHN NICHOLS of The Nation discusses the history of the long fight to achieve fairer maps, why state Democrats voted against the law, and what it means for the 2024 election, for voters, and for democracy itself. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Trump attorney Sidney Powell to reduce fines for her election lies and abuse of the legal system.  Yes, there were many victims of Trump's massive fraud in New York. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  Brad is back after taking a few sick days, just in time to wrangle the fire hose of historic, breaking news this week. The rightwing supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court delayed for weeks before finally announcing they would hear oral arguments on Donald Trump's ridiculous claim that presidents have 'absolute immunity' for any crimes they committed while in office - - an absurd claim unanimously rejected by all lower courts. The hearing, set for late April, paused Trump's criminal trial for trying to steal the 2020 election, making it increasingly likely he will not stand trial before the 2024 election. A New York state appeals court denied Trump's attempt to negotiate a lower bond amount to avoid seizure of his assets to pay $454 million penalty he faces for a decade of massive fraud via his corrupt real estate company. Award-winning opinion columnist HEATHER DIGBY PARTON of Salon and 'DRIFTGLASS' of The Professional Left Podcast, bring insight, analysis, context, and perspective on these key, historic events. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  Brad is still under the (non-COVID) weather, so guest host Nicole Sandler of NicoleSandler.com is in the captain's chair for us today. Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced he will retire from Senate leadership in November. In the Michigan primary, reported results showed President Joe Biden and Donald Trump easily winning their respective contests, but corporate media found a strange way to spin the results, and failed to provide context for the 13 percent of voters who selected 'Uncommitted' as a protest vote against the Biden Administration's policies regarding Israel's brutal invasion of Gaza. Nicole speaks with investigative reporter JORDAN GREEN of Raw Story about his months-long investigation into a group of neo-Nazi teenagers who are working to recruit and indoctrinate even younger white kids online, and have now targeted Green for harassment and intimidation. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Original airdate 2-8-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  Today's oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court over whether Donald Trump must be disqualified from the 2024 ballot under the plain text Constitution's 'Insurrectionist Disqualification Clause' prove yet again that the rightwing justices on the US Supreme Court easily abandon their 'textualist' and 'originalist' stances when it suits them. The Court heard a challenge to the Colorado State Supreme Court's airtight ruling that Trump is disqualified for inciting and engaging in insurrection. Former U.S. Deputy Asst. Attorney General LISA GRAVES and retired attorney KEITH BARBER, contributor at Daily Kos, join us to discuss what occurred in the historic hearing today, the relative merits of the arguments presented by both sides (some of them patently absurd), and what it all could mean as the nation hurtles inexorably toward the critical 2024 election. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  The GOP South Carolina primary results confirm again that a solid 40 percent of Republican voters consistently oppose Donald Trump. Get ready for a slew of primaries, caucuses and dysfunctional GOP conventions, including more than 16 states and territories on Super Tuesday, March 5. In Michigan, Trump has succeeded in rigging the GOP primary system, while some on the Left are calling out Joe Biden for his position on Israel. Inept House Republicans scheduled a partial government shutdown on the same day as President Biden delivers his State of the Union address. Russia's deadly invasion of its sovereign neighbor Ukraine is now in its third year, and a new trove of documents reveals the Kremlin's decade-long, active intelligence operation to interfere with U.S. elections. Putin's disinformation campaign succeeded in pulling in 'useful idiots' on the Left, who are literally repeating Kremlin talking points. Callers weigh in, and lively discussion ensues.

Original airdate 2-5-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  Last month in a federal courtroom in Georgia, a cybersecurity expert demonstrated how Georgia's touchscreen voting systems can be hacked within seconds by one person with a ballpoint pen. State election officials admitted that apparently nobody oversees cybersecurity for the Georgia's computerized voting system, used in every polling place in the state, and much more. Election security expert SUSAN GREENHALGH of the non-profit Free Speech for People explains the many astonishing revelations from the civil trial that concluded last week. The lawsuit, brought by the non-partisan Coalition for Good Governance, is challenging Georgia's use of the vulnerable, unverifiable touchscreen voting systems and hopes to force the state to move to verifiable hand-marked paper ballots before the critical November 2024 Presidential election. Also today:  news headlines from the weekend, including a historic storm, intensified by climate change, that has triggered widespread flooding across Southern California.

On today's 'BradCast': This week it became clearer than ever that the U.S., corporate media, the Republican Party, its front-runner for the 2024 Presidential nomination, and even some on the 'left' have all fallen prey - -  knowingly or unknowingly - - to a wildly successful, decade-long Russian intel op. From the Hillary emails in 2015 all the way through to this week's arrest of House Republicans' linchpin witness for their fake corruption allegations against President Biden, who turned out to be a conduit for Russian disinformation. Russian intelligence has easily laundered phony narratives through Fox News, rightwing media, Republicans, and disgraced ex-President Donald Trump, and our corporate media continues to fall for it. Judge orders MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell to pay prize money to computer expert who proved his false 2020 election fraud allegations were nonsense. President Biden is beating Trump in new polls, but corporate media instead reports that Biden is old. Pundits calling for Biden to step aside are ignoring new polling data. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  New York Attorney General Letitia James says she is prepared to seize Donald Trump's assets in the state, including buildings, if he fails to pay more than $400 million in fines from Judge Engoron's civil judgment ruling clawing back Trump's ill-gotten gains from many years of bank, tax and insurance fraud. President Joe Biden used executive authority to forgive another $1.2 billion in student loan debt, bringing the total to nearly 4 million Americans who have seen some or all of their student debt wiped out. In Florida, a new state law passed by the Republican-controlled state legislature is poised to literally wipe out most local public sector unions. RICH TEMPLIN of Florida's AFL-CIO explains the sneaky structure of the new anti-labor law that will swiftly dismantle public sector unions and their efforts to fight it, how it was crafted by out-of-state rightwing groups to promote far-right Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign, and how voters can help to turn things around in the state after years of rightwing autocracy.

On today's 'BradCast':  It was a very good day for democracy in America when Wisconsin's Gov. Tony Evers (D) signed a law approving fairer legislative maps that will take effect before the 2024 election. The new maps, achieved after a decade-long fight by pro-democracy activists, eliminate the extreme partisan gerrymandered maps that Republicans rammed through in 2010, trying to entrench themselves in permanent minority power while dismantling the state's precious rights and freedoms. Wisconsin native and journalist JOHN NICHOLS of The Nation discusses the history of the long fight to achieve fairer maps, why state Democrats voted against the law, and what it means for the 2024 election, for voters, and for democracy itself. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Trump attorney Sidney Powell to reduce fines for her election lies and abuse of the legal system.  Yes, there were many victims of Trump's massive fraud in New York. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  In Pakistan, a top official has alleged that the nation's recent parliamentary election was littered with fraud, confessing that he oversaw efforts to the rig the election in one of its largest provinces. In the U.S., the makers of the phony, thoroughly debunked film, '2000 Mules', which alleged widespread fraud in the 2020 election, were finally forced to admit to a Georgia court that they have no evidence of any fraud and cannot produce any so-called 'whistleblowers' and 'informants' that they asserted as proof of their claims. World leaders condemned Russian dictator Vladimir Putin after revelations that Alexei Navalny, Russia's democratic hero and Kremlin opponent, died in an Artic prison under mysterious circumstances.  In one of his final interviews, Navalny called on his supporters and all people who support democracy, 'My message is very simple: don't give up…The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.  So don't be inactive.'

Original airdate 1-31-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  In a split ruling, the rightwing majority on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals this week let stand a shocking lower court ruling based on the absurd premise that neither voters nor private organizations like the NAACP have the right to sue to enforce the Voting Rights Act. The ruling flouts decades of precedent to allow the use of gerrymandered voting maps in Arkansas that discriminate against Black voters, and is likely headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. CHRIS GEIDNER, veteran legal journalist at Law Dork, explains the gob-smacking series of rulings from rightwing-majority appeals courts and what they could mean for voting rights going forward and what remains of the Voting Rights Act. Also today:  new revelations suggest that far-right, pro-Trump propaganda outlet One America News (OAN) may have violated the law in obtaining and distributing passwords of employees at voting system vendor Smartmatic, in its effort to boost Donald Trump's and Republicans' baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

On today's 'BradCast':  The deadly mass shooting at the Kansas City Chief's Super Bowl victory parade was one of several on Wednesday, and the only way out of America's gun violence epidemic is to vote for gun safety reform candidates. Special Counsel Jack Smith urged the US Supreme Court to rule quickly so that the criminal trial over Donald Trump's attempts to steal the 2020 election can proceed. NY State judge sets March 25 trial date for Trump's criminal trial on hush-money payments to a porn star. In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis defiantly pushed back against efforts to disqualify her from prosecuting Trump's failed criminal conspiracy to steal the 2020 election. The FBI charged an informant with lying about President Biden and his son - - lies that were central to House Republicans' phony attempts to smear the Biden family. Corporate media outlets misleadingly frame positive economic news again. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast': House Republicans succeeded in their second try in launching their baseless revenge impeachment of DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas, despite no evidence of any wrongdoing. The slim GOP House majority lost another seat after Democrat Tom Suozzi won Tuesday's special election in New York to replace disgraced, expelled and indicted Rep. George Santos (R). Wisconsin voters will finally get new, fairer state legislative maps, as ordered by the state's Supreme Court. In a Michigan court room, a 2020 fake elector testified that Republican party officials lied to him about the legality of the scheme. Investigative journalist JOSH KOVENSKY of Talking Points Memo explains a trove of new documents from former Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro, who invented the fake electors scheme in the first place, that reveal surprising new details on the broad extent of the multi-state 'legal coup' attempt, and how it almost succeeded in stealing the 2020 election and overthrowing the US government.  Also today: another mass shooting, this time at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory parade.

On today's 'BradCast':  Jon Stewart is back on 'The Daily Show' on Monday nights, where he is again framing serious issues with clarity - - including the conversation that Democrats need to have to come to terms with the fact that President Biden is old and running for re-election, while being historically effective at his job.  House Republicans race to hold another vote on their baseless revenge-impeachment of DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas after failing last week, while also trying to block foreign aid funding for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan because Donald Trump ordered them to. Trump endorsed his own daughter-in law for co-chair of the Republican National Committee. The corporate media epically failed to accurately report on the findings of Special Prosecutor Robert Hur, who exonerated Biden of wrongdoing in a classified documents probe, and instead amplified Hur's gratuitous, scurrilous criticisms of Biden being old. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  The GOP rigged its Nevada caucuses to ensure Donald Trump won, after they blocked challenger Nikki Haley from participating. New York State on Tuesday will hold a special US House election to replace expelled pathological liar and con artist, former Rep. George Santos (R). Trump has petitioned his appointees on the rightwing US Supreme Court to rule he has absolute immunity from any crimes he may have committed while in office. In a lengthy report, GOP Special Counsel Robert Hur exonerated President Biden of any wrongdoing in mishandled classified documents and then focused on unprecedented, gratuitous remarks detailing that Biden is old. In a rally, Trump again lied about America's allies in Europe, and said he informed EU leaders he would violate the NATO Treaty's Article 5 and refuse to come to their defense if they are attacked by Russia, drawing sharp rebukes from EU leaders. Callers weigh in.

Original airdate 1-29-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  A federal jury in New York ordered Donald Trump to pay $83 million in punitive and other damages to writer E. Jean Carroll, after an earlier jury determined he had sexually assaulted and repeatedly defamed her. A judgment is expected soon in the New York State Attorney General's civil case, in which the court already determined that Trump committed massive bank, tax and insurance fraud. Trump is also facing four extremely serious criminal indictments. Will any of it make any difference to hardcore Trump MAGA voters? RICH LOGIS, himself a former hardcore MAGA member, now runs a non-profit dedicated to 'healing political trauma' and helping MAGA voters leave the movement. Logis offers deep insights into the 2024 GOP presidential primary and today's MAGA voters, why they were and continue to be drawn to Trump, and how family and friends can help those captured by MAGA to reconnect, re-engage, and find their way out.

On today's 'BradCast':  Today's oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court over whether Donald Trump must be disqualified from the 2024 ballot under the plain text Constitution's 'Insurrectionist Disqualification Clause' prove yet again that the rightwing justices on the US Supreme Court easily abandon their 'textualist' and 'originalist' stances when it suits them. The Court heard a challenge to the Colorado State Supreme Court's airtight ruling that Trump is disqualified for inciting and engaging in insurrection. Former U.S. Deputy Asst. Attorney General LISA GRAVES and retired attorney KEITH BARBER, contributor at Daily Kos, join us to discuss what occurred in the historic hearing today, the relative merits of the arguments presented by both sides (some of them patently absurd), and what it all could mean as the nation hurtles inexorably toward the critical 2024 election. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  Congressional Republicans have hit a new high (or low?) for failure. In a dramatic rebuke, House Republicans failed to get enough votes to proceed with their sham impeachment of Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas, after failing to produce any evidence of wrongdoing. Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan border deal and foreign aid package that met their demands, after months of negotiations, on orders from disgraced ex-president Donald Trump, who wants to campaign on claims of a 'border crisis'. Trump is pushing out RNC Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel in an election year, blaming her for electoral losses. As part of a court settlement, fake GOP 'journalist' James O'Keefe quietly admitted he spread false claims lying about election fraud in Pennsylvania after the 2020 election. Nikki Haley lost a one-person race in Nevada's 2024 Republican Presidential Primary after Trump and the NV GOP rigged it. Plus: fun and insightful listener mail.

On today's 'The BradCast':  The federal D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a unanimous ruling, rejected the absurd argument made by disgraced ex-president Donald Trump that he is immune from prosecution for any crimes he committed while in office. Will the corrupt rightwing majority on the US Supreme Court grant his appeal? How will the ruling affect the scheduling of Trump's upcoming federal criminal trial over his many attempts to steal the 2020 election? Veteran BRAD BLOG legal analyst ERNEST A. CANNING explains today's immunity ruling and the far more consequential upcoming oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court later this week to determine whether Trump must be disqualified from the 2024 ballot under the Constitution's 'Insurrectionist Disqualification Clause' in the 14th Amendment. Also today:  Nevada's confusing, split Republican primary and caucus is a result of the state GOP trying to rig the outcome for Trump. A record storm continues to wreak havoc across Southern California. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  Last month in a federal courtroom in Georgia, a cybersecurity expert demonstrated how Georgia's touchscreen voting systems can be hacked within seconds by one person with a ballpoint pen. State election officials admitted that apparently nobody oversees cybersecurity for the Georgia's computerized voting system, used in every polling place in the state, and much more. Election security expert SUSAN GREENHALGH of the non-profit Free Speech for People explains the many astonishing revelations from the civil trial that concluded last week. The lawsuit, brought by the non-partisan Coalition for Good Governance, is challenging Georgia's use of the vulnerable, unverifiable touchscreen voting systems and hopes to force the state to move to verifiable hand-marked paper ballots before the critical November 2024 Presidential election. Also today:  news headlines from the weekend, including a historic storm, intensified by climate change, that has triggered widespread flooding across Southern California.

Original airdate 1-25-2024. On today's BradCast':  New economic data released by the Commerce Department show 'stunning and spectacular' new GDP numbers indicating the post-pandemic economic recovery is resilient and growing. All economic indicators are now better than even pre-pandemic years, with historically low unemployment, wages rising faster than inflation, inflating falling below Federal Reserve targets, and no recession in sight. But will Americans hear about the booming economic recovery under Joe Biden?  United Auto Workers union rousingly endorses Biden for re-election. Former Trump White House aide Peter Navarro sentenced to four months in prison for defying lawful congressional subpoenas. Far-right extremist sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol and plot to attack Portland, OR. Michigan Republican Party unravels amid vicious infighting and financial mismanagement. Florida Republican Party fired its chairman amid sexual abuse allegations. Arizona Republican Party chairman resigns after audio tapes suggest he attempted to bribe perennially-failed GOP candidate Kari Lake. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':   All of Donald Trump's failed lawsuits and legal defense bills are costing his supporters/gullible dupes a lot of money -- according to new campaign filings, in 2023 alone, Trump spent $50 million in donor funds on legal bills for his four criminal felony indictments, multiple civil fraud cases and failed lawsuits. A London court tossed out Trump's frivolous lawsuit against the author of the Steele Dossier. The Oregon Supreme Court ruled that 10 Republican state senators are ineligible to run for re-election in 2024 after they violated a law that punishes lawmakers for staging extended walkouts to extort legislative concessions. The U.S. House passed a bill! Republicans agreed to extend modest tax relief to low income families with children in exchange for huge tax corporate tax breaks. President Biden has succeeded in enacting an historic slate of positive climate/energy legislation and initiatives, but the public mostly hasn't heard about it because actual workaday governing that materially improves people's lives doesn't fit the drama-outrage cycle of modern media and social media. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  In a split ruling, the rightwing majority on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals this week let stand a shocking lower court ruling based on the absurd premise that neither voters nor private organizations like the NAACP have the right to sue to enforce the Voting Rights Act. The ruling flouts decades of precedent to allow the use of gerrymandered voting maps in Arkansas that discriminate against Black voters, and is likely headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. CHRIS GEIDNER, veteran legal journalist at Law Dork, explains the gob-smacking series of rulings from rightwing-majority appeals courts and what they could mean for voting rights going forward and what remains of the Voting Rights Act. Also today:  new revelations suggest that far-right, pro-Trump propaganda outlet One America News (OAN) may have violated the law in obtaining and distributing passwords of employees at voting system vendor Smartmatic, in its effort to boost Donald Trump's and Republicans' baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

On today's 'BradCast':  The 'track conditions' for voters in the critical 2024 Election are getting muddier and more confusing by the day. Next week's Nevada Primary (on Feb. 6) and Caucuses (on Feb. 8) have been rigged by Team Trump to ensure he cannot lose a single delegate to challenger Nikki Haley. Disgraced former president Donald Trump supported a Republican National Committee proposal to declare him the 'presumptive nominee', but then quashed it, likely for legal reasons. Ultra-conservative retired federal Judge Michael Luttig calls on the US Supreme Court to adhere to 'textualism' to disqualify Trump from the 2024 ballot under the Constitution's Insurrection Disqualification Clause. Former Trump White House advisor and con artist Steve Bannon is trying to block state fraud investigators from accessing his bank records by arguing it would violate his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Judge blocks Elon Musk's $55 billion compensation package. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  A federal jury in New York on Friday ordered Donald Trump to pay $83 million in punitive and other damages to writer E. Jean Carroll, after an earlier jury determined he had sexually assaulted and repeatedly defamed her. A judgment is expected soon in the New York State Attorney General's civil case, in which the court already determined that Trump committed massive bank, tax and insurance fraud. Trump is also facing four extremely serious criminal indictments. Will any of it make any difference to hardcore Trump MAGA voters? RICH LOGIS, himself a former hardcore MAGA member, now runs a non-profit dedicated to 'healing political trauma' and helping MAGA voters leave the movement. Logis offers deep insights into the 2024 GOP presidential primary and today's MAGA voters, why they were and continue to be drawn to Trump, and how family and friends can help those captured by MAGA to reconnect, re-engage, and find their way out.

Original airdate 1-22-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  Brad Friedman is back, with lessons learned from his bout with COVID. In New York, the second defamation trial brought by writer E. Jean Carroll against disgraced ex-President Donald Trump was delayed, reportedly due to COVID among his attorneys. After condemning Republicans who 'kiss the ring' of Donald Trump for political gain, Florida Governor and failed 2024 Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is the last to challenge Trump for the Republican nomination for the New Hampshire primary. In rallies, Trump praised foreign dictators and said the US Supreme Court should grant presidents total immunity to commit crimes. A fake, artificial intelligence-generated robocall of Joe Biden's voice may be the first known dirty trick of the 2024 election. The US Supreme Court granted the federal government authority to remove razor-wire installed by far-right Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at the southern border. Callers weigh in.

On today's BradCast':  New economic data released by the Commerce Department show 'stunning and spectacular' new GDP numbers indicating the post-pandemic economic recovery is resilient and growing. All economic indicators are now better than even pre-pandemic years, with historically low unemployment, wages rising faster than inflation, inflating falling below Federal Reserve targets, and no recession in sight. But will Americans hear about the booming economic recovery under Joe Biden?  United Auto Workers union rousingly endorses Biden for re-election. Former Trump White House aide Peter Navarro sentenced to four months in prison for defying lawful congressional subpoenas. Far-right sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol and plot to attack Portland, OR. Michigan Republican Party unravels amid vicious infighting and financial mismanagement. Florida Republican Party fired its chairman amid sexual abuse allegations. Arizona Republican Party chairman resigns after audio tapes suggest he attempted to bribe perennially-failed GOP candidate Kari Lake. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  We have special coverage and analysis of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary results and whatever the hell might happen next in the critical 2024 Presidential election. Donald Trump received just over half the votes cast in the NH Republican primary, defeating Nikki Haley by just 11 points. President Joe Biden won the vast majority of votes in the unofficial Democratic primary as a write-in candidate, with Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) coming in distant second. Haley delivered a quasi-victory speech declaring she will remain in the race, which clearly infuriated Trump. Columnist HEATHER DIGBY PARTON of Salon and Hullabaloo and 'DRIFTGLASS' of 'The Professional Left Podcast' offer insightful analysis on the primary results, the differing strategies of the campaigns going forward, the media's coverage, and what might unfold in coming months in this unprecedented election year, in which the Republican front-runner faces four criminal indictments and promises retribution and dictatorship to his cult-like followers if he returns to power.

On today's 'BradCast':  The New Hampshire primary is underway, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley made a clean sweep of all 6 votes in the first town to vote in the state's first-in-the-nation primary. New revelations show that 2020 election vote totals were inaccurate in Prince William County, VA, due to human error. The mis-tally benefited Donald Trump, and again contradicted Republicans' false claims for years that there was 'fraud' in the 2020 election. Good news for fair voting maps: In North Dakota, a federal judge ordered new state legislative maps and new special elections to undo Republicans' gerrymandered districts that unlawfully diluted Native American votes. Louisiana Republicans forced to draw new, fair legislative maps that accurately represent the Black voting population in the state. Wisconsin voters petition the state Supreme Court to force new, fairer U.S. House maps in the wake of a ruling requiring new state legislative maps. San Diego hit with widespread flooding after record rainfall. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  Brad Friedman is back, with lessons learned from his bout with COVID. In New York, the second defamation trial brought by writer E. Jean Carroll against disgraced ex-President Donald Trump was delayed, reportedly due to COVID among his attorneys. After condemning Republicans who 'kiss the ring' of Donald Trump for political gain, Florida Governor and failed 2024 Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is the last to challenge Trump for the Republican nomination for the New Hampshire primary. In rallies, Trump praised foreign dictators and said the US Supreme Court should grant presidents total immunity to commit crimes. A fake, artificial intelligence-generated robocall of Joe Biden's voice may be the first known dirty trick of the 2024 election. The US Supreme Court granted the federal government authority to remove razor-wire installed by far-right Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at the southern border. Callers weigh in.

Original airdate 1-10-2024. On today's 'BradCast': The 2024 election year will be like none other in US history, but is the mainstream media, which arguably helped lead us to the potential collapse of American democracy, up to the challenge? Or will they double down on false, corrupt 'both sides' framing on critical issues? Veteran media critic DAN FROOMKIN of Press Watch discusses the 'intense internal pressure to defend democracy' that newsrooms are facing in 2024, how they can better serve the public by dropping 'horse race' coverage of politics that obscures the high stakes of the 2024 election, some encouraging signs, and much more. Accountability today:  NY Attorney General seeks increased penalties against the Trump Organization for committing bank, tax and insurance fraud. Corrupt leader of the National Rifle Association resigns as civil fraud trial begins. Republican grifter James O'Keefe's Project Veritas collapses under new evidence of financial fraud. Kentucky county clerk who discriminated against same sex couples must pay steep civil fines. Chris Christie drops out of the GOP 2024 presidential primary.

On today's 'BradCast':  Guest host Nicole Sandler is back while Brad is out with a COVID rebound infection - - he's doing better and hopes to be back soon! Among the stories covered today:  U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland released a damning report detailing 'cascading failures' of law enforcement in responding to the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in which 19 students and two teachers were killed. The report catalogues multiple points of failure, including lack of leadership, training, coordination, and much more. After being admonished by a judge for disruptive behavior, disgraced ex-President Donald Trump did not show up in court at his second defamation trial, brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. Author KELLY CARLIN, daughter of the legendary comedian George Carlin, discusses the shocking new AI-generated YouTube 'comedy special' that uses a fake version of her father and his signature style to say and do things her father never said and never did. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  Brad is still dealing with a rebound case of COVID, so guest host Nicole Sandler and 'BradCast' producer Desi Doyen have joined forces to bring you a fresh, new 'BradCast' to tickle your ears and brain cells. Among the stories covered today:  In oral arguments, the stolen-and-packed rightwing supermajority on the US Supreme Court appeared ready to overturn the Chevron Deference, a landmark precedent that requires judges to defer to federal agency expertise rather than insert their own political or ideological preferences in deciding ambiguous statutes -- a long-sought goal of rightwing legal groups and polluting industries. In the second defamation trial brought by former columnist E. Jean Carroll against disgraced ex-president Donald Trump, the federal judge threatened to eject Trump from the courtroom over his distruptive antics. Plus Nicole's illuminating interview with author and communications expert ANAT SHENKER-OSORIO of ASO Communications, who offers key insights on how the words we use matter, practical advice on winning messages that counter defeatist messaging, and much more.

On today's 'BradCast': Republican voters in the Iowa caucuses cast the first votes in the critical 2024 presidential race, amid record cold temperatures that severely reduced turnout. A bare majority selected disgraced ex-president Donald Trump, underscoring this unprecedented, perilous moment for the nation and the need for an overwhelming majority of voters to step up to save American democracy. Increasingly unhinged rhetoric from Republicans suggests they desire a new civil war. In Texas, ambitious far-right Republican Gov. Greg Abbott appears keen to touch off a new civil war by deploying Texas military personnel to physically block the U.S. Border Patrol from enforcing the law at the international border with Mexico, in defiance of federal law and local authorities. Abbott's tin-pot dictator act resulted in the drowning deaths of a woman and two children. Congressional Republicans admit they intend to block any solutions at the border for their own political gain. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

'The BradCast' has had a surprise rebound case of COVID. We will return with fresh new shows as soon as possible.Original airdate 1-9-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  While it's still very, very early in the 2024 Presidential race, new polls in New Hampshire show that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is now within single digits of indicted Donald Trump just two weeks before that state's GOP primary. A different poll finds that New Hampshire Democrats and Independent voters say that protecting 'American democracy' is the issue they are most concerned about this election year, and shows that President Biden is seven points ahead of Trump in a general election match-up. A three-judge panel on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals appeared dubious at assertions by Trump's attorneys that a president is entitled to 'absolute immunity' from prosecution for crimes committed while in office, and could even lawfully order the assassination of his political rivals, among other specious arguments. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Encore: original airdate 1-4-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  We are back on the air, for now, after being hit with Covid. We pick up 2024 with a surge of new developments in the multiple indictments of disgraced ex-president Donald Trump. Colorado's highest state court and Maine's Sec. of State barred Trump from the 2024 primary ballot under the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment barring insurrectionists from public office. That and other cases critical to the survival of American democracy are headed to the rightwing supermajority of the US Supreme Court, including Trump's bonkers claim that he has 'absolute immunity' for any crimes committed while in office, and a bizarre petition challenging the law underpinning the prosecution of hundreds of January 6 defendants. Former U.S. Deputy Asst. Attorney General LISA GRAVES, now of True North Research, and retired attorney KEITH BARBER deliver smart analysis and expert insight on these crucial issues as the 2024 election unfolds, or unravels, before our eyes. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  Special coverage of the fifth Republican 2024 presidential primary debate, the final debate before the Iowa caucuses on January 15 amid frigid, sub-zero temperatures. Former SC Gov. Nikki Haley squared off with FL Gov. Ron DeSantis in Des Moines, Iowa just hours after former NJ Gov. Chris Christie dropped out of the race. The Republican front-runner, the disgraced ex-president Donald Trump, held a televised town hall a few blocks away. HEATHER DIGBY PARTON of Salon and Hullabaloo and 'DRIFTGLASS' of the weekly 'Professional Left Podcast' join us for smart insights, fact-checking and snark on the debate, and what it all means (if anything) for the GOP, for Americans, for Democrats and -- most importantly -- for American democracy.

On today's 'BradCast':  The 2024 election year will be like none other in US history, but is the mainstream media, which arguably helped lead us to the potential collapse of American democracy, up to the challenge? Or will they double down on false, corrupt 'both sides' framing on critical issues? Veteran media critic DAN FROOMKIN of Press Watch discusses the 'intense internal pressure to defend democracy' that newsrooms are facing in 2024, how they can better serve the public by dropping 'horse race' coverage of politics that obscures the high stakes of the 2024 election, some encouraging signs, and much more. Accountability today:  NY Attorney General seeks increased penalties against the Trump Organization for committing bank, tax and insurance fraud. Corrupt leader of the National Rifle Association resigns as civil fraud trial begins. Republican grifter James O'Keefe's Project Veritas collapses under new evidence of financial fraud. Kentucky county clerk who discriminated against same sex couples must pay steep civil fines. Chris Christie drops out of the GOP 2024 presidential primary.

On today's 'BradCast':  While it's still very, very early in the 2024 Presidential race, new polls in New Hampshire show that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is now within single digits of indicted Donald Trump just two weeks before that state's GOP primary. A different poll finds that New Hampshire Democrats and Independent voters say that protecting 'American democracy' is the issue they are most concerned about this election year, and shows that President Biden is seven points ahead of Trump in a general election match-up. A three-judge panel on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals appeared dubious at assertions by Trump's attorneys that a president is entitled to 'absolute immunity' from prosecution for crimes committed while in office, and could even lawfully order the assassination of his political rivals, among other specious arguments. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  President Biden officially launched his re-election campaign in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, by calling out disgraced ex-president Donald Trump as an insurrectionist, and marking the third anniversary of Trump's deadly January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol attack by stating in plain language that 'Trump is trying to steal history the same way he tried to steal the election.' In Iowa, Trump did not sign a pledge promising not to overthrow the government, despite signing it in 2016 and 2020. Voting system security expert SUSAN GREENHALGH, of the non-profit group Free Speech for People, discusses the long-awaited start of a federal voting system security trial in Georgia this week that seeks to block the state from using insecure, unverifiable touchscreen voting systems that were compromised by MAGA operatives in the notorious Coffee County Breach. GREENHALGH explains what's at stake in the trial, the scientific evidence of the system's vulnerability, the bizarre machinations of state Republican election officials, and much more. Also today:  COVID is surging again around the U.S., with hospitalizations and deaths on the rise.

'The BradCast' was hit with Covid and will return with fresh new shows as soon as possible! More info here: ttps://bradblog.com/?p=14885.Original airdate 12-7-2023. On today's 'BradCast':  Special coverage of the GOP 2024 primary debate, where once again, front-runner Donald Trump was absent. The four remaining eligible candidates who showed up were former UN Ambassador and former SC Gov. Nikki Haley; FL Gov. Ron DeSantis; former NJ Gov. Chris Christie; and scammy business dude and intensely obnoxious conspiracy theorist Vivek Ramaswamy. Joining us for analysis, context and snark are our tireless 2024 post-debate panelists and long-time OG bloggers: HEATHER DIGBY PARTON of Salon and Hullabaloo and 'DRIFTGLASS' of 'The Professional Left Podcast'.  It was a lively, if insane, affair that highlighted the brokenness of today's Republican Party. The candidates raucously attacked each other, while Christie stood up for actual old-school 'conservative' values and finally took on Trump head on, underscoring the threat that Trump poses to his party and the nation.

On today's 'BradCast':  We are back on the air, for  now, after being hit with Covid, but it is unclear if we can pull it off again until everyone tests negative (see: https://bradblog.com/?p=14885 for details). We pick up 2024 with a surge of new developments in the multiple indictments of disgraced ex-president Donald Trump. Colorado's highest state court and Maine's Sec. of State barred Trump from the 2024 primary ballot under the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment barring insurrectionists from public office. That and other cases critical to the survival of American democracy are headed to the rightwing supermajority of the US Supreme Court, including Trump's bonkers claim that he has 'absolute immunity' for any crimes committed while in office, and a bizarre petition challenging the law underpinning the prosecution of hundreds of January 6 defendants. Former U.S. Deputy Asst. Attorney General LISA GRAVES, now of True North Research, and retired attorney KEITH BARBER deliver smart analysis and expert insight on these crucial issues as the 2024 election unfolds, or unravels, before our eyes. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  We are back on the air, for  now, after being hit with Covid, but it is unclear if we can pull it off again until everyone tests negative (see: https://bradblog.com/?p=14885 for details). We pick up 2024 with a surge of new developments in the multiple indictments of disgraced ex-president Donald Trump. Colorado's highest state court and Maine's Sec. of State barred Trump from the 2024 primary ballot under the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment barring insurrectionists from public office. That and other cases critical to the survival of American democracy are headed to the rightwing supermajority of the US Supreme Court, including Trump's bonkers claim that he has 'absolute immunity' for any crimes committed while in office, and a bizarre petition challenging the law underpinning the prosecution of hundreds of January 6 defendants. Former U.S. Deputy Asst. Attorney General LISA GRAVES, now of True North Research, and retired attorney KEITH BARBER deliver smart analysis and expert insight on these crucial issues as the 2024 election unfolds, or unravels, before our eyes. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

'The BradCast' was hit with Covid and will return with fresh new shows as soon as possible! Original airdate 12-13-2023. On today's 'BradCast':  Slate legal journalist MARK JOSEPH STERN explains how far-right, lower-court appointees of disgraced former president Donald Trump are undermining voting rights and the US Supreme Court itself. Stern also delves into the Supreme Court's announcements that they will hear a case challenging a drug widely used in medical abortions, and a lawsuit to overturn a federal law used to charge hundreds of January 6 insurrectionists, including Trump himself, that could seriously delay his criminal trial in D.C.  On Wednesday, the judge put that case on hold until Trump's ridiculous immunity appeal is resolved. Also today:  the stock market soared after the Federal Reserve indicated it will lower interest rates next year as inflation continues to fall. The GOP-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted along party lines to open an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden, despite no evidence of any crimes or wrongdoing. House Republicans again refused to accept Hunter Biden's offer to testify in a public hearing.

'The BradCast' was hit with Covid and will return with fresh new shows as soon as possible! Original airdate 11-16-2023. On today's 'BradCast':  A high stakes voting system trial is set to begin in Georgia with critical implications for the nation and the 2024 election. The long-awaited 'Curling v. Raffensperger' voting system trial seeks to force Georgia ditch its costly, unverifiable and insecure touchscreen voting system statewide, and switch to verifiable hand-marked paper ballots at all polling places. The case spawned a landmark expert cybersecurity report that identified so many critical vulnerabilities in the system that the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an advisory recommending that all jurisdictions using the same equipment to immediately apply security patches. But Georgia's Republican Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger said he won't apply those security patches until after the 2024 election. The same Dominion-made voting system is also at the center of the statewide voting system software breach in Coffee County, GA, by MAGA Republican operatives.  Plaintiff MARILYN MARKS, election expert and Executive Director of the non-profit group, Coalition for Good Governance, explains the latest developments in the lawsuit, and the stakes for the state and the nation. Also today:  New developments in the Fulton County election theft RICO trial, including the attorney who confessed to leaking sensitive pre-trial proffer videos - - but is he really the source? Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Original airdate 12-14-2023. On today's 'BradCast':  The last-minute, final agreement at the COP28 U.N. climate conference called for a 'transition away from fossil fuels,' for the first time ever, and finally operationalized the long-sought 'loss and damage' fund, among many other provisions. We delve into the details of the good and the bad in the flawed but useful plan to deal with human-caused climate change. Disgraced Donald Trump lied again to his supporters about gas prices, and promised to renege on U.S. international climate commitments. Trump's legal woes ratchet up in his federal criminal trial and two state civil trials. In the Georgia civil defamation suit against Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, 2020 election worker Ruby Freeman testified to how the litany of lies shamelessly spread by Giuliani has destroyed her and her daughter's lives. Giuliani's attorney claimed that Giuliani may ultimately be bankrupted by the GA defamation lawsuit, two other defamation lawsuits, and separate criminal charges for his role in the plot to ste

Original airdate 12-19-2023. On today's 'BradCast': Late-breaking news out of Colorado, where the state's highest court barred disgraced former president and insurrectionist Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot, citing the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment. Good news for voting rights out of the extremely conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, with rulings that require Louisiana to draw fair, non-racist U.S. House maps before the 2024 election, and upholding that voters and private organizations have a private right to sue under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Civil rights groups sue to stop Texas' authoritarian GOP Gov. Greg Abbott's new state law granting authority to state police to arrest anyone suspected of being an undocumented immigrant. The very conservative 11th Circuit rejected former top Trump aide Mark Meadows' latest motion in a ruling that dismantles Trump's immunity claims. A compelling new essay delves into disturbing recent polls on the 2024 presidential election and explains why 'pro-democracy Americans [should] approach the 2024 election with enthusiasm, not only dread.' Florida student delivers a brilliant call for the resignation of the far-right co-founder of Moms For Liberty from the school board. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'