Background Briefing – June 26, 2025
Background Briefing offers an educational approach to providing information in an era of “fake news.”
The Visionary Activist Show – Democracy is calling
Democracy is calling….Trickster recruiting! Caroline welcomes fellow Libra Dragon astrologer, pragmatic mystic Rachel Lang, that we honor our teammate, true Visionary Activist, Zohran Mamdani… and all the descriptive and navigational guidance available to us all….. With a Libra Sun and Taurus Rising, Rachel also weaves the astro-politico worlds — one foot in the mystical, the … Continued
Pride Month: Novelist and biographer David Leavitt discusses the career of gay mathematician Alan Turing in an interview recorded in November, 2005. Playwright Terrence McNally (1938-2020) talks about his work and its relation to gay themes in this 2004 interview. Plus: Reviews of “Co-Founders” at ACT Strand Theatre and “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean” at ThaetreWorks Mountain View. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Iran, fake work
Sohrab Ahmari, US editor of UnHerd, on Iran, Israel, and the US • Leigh Claire La Berge, author of Fake Work, on the ludicrous side of capitalism
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on pediatric gender affirming health care with a decision that lowered the bar for establishing its constitutionality and that imperils the rights of young trans patients in the 20 other states with similar laws — all despite the opposition of every major U.S. medical association. Brad Sears, Distinguished Senior Scholar of the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, unpacks the ruling (interviewed by David Hunt).
This week’s conversation is about curiosity in translation and interpretation. Not just the literal, “how do you say this thing in that language?” but how do we use our curiosity to communicate our ideas effectively, to investigate what’s really being said when we’re quite literally not speaking one another’s language. Luckily, there are people like … Continued
Voices of the Middle East and North Africa – June 26, 2025
The richly diverse and fascinating world of culture and politics of the Middle East and North Africa, co-hosted by Khalil and Malihe.
Guest: Stephen Greenblatt is the John Cogan University Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University. His numerous books include The Swerve: How the World Became Modern, which won a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award. His latest is Second Chances: Shakespeare and Freud co authored with Adam Phillips. He is also the general editor of The Norton Shakespeare.
Democracy Now 9am (rebroadcast) – June 26, 2025
Democracy Now! is a daily national independent award-winning news program, hosted by journalists Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. This hour rebroadcasts the 6am hour. For daily episode descriptions, see Democracy Now! (6am).
Victory for Zohran Mamdani w/ John Nichols and Haiti Action w/ Pierre Labossiere
We speak with The Nation’s John Nichols about the stunning victory of New York City mayoral candidate and Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani. John is the National Affairs correspondent for The Nation and associate editor of The Capital Times. His latest article for The Nation is called “Zohran Mamdani Proves that Power Belongs to the People.” … Continued
US, Israel, Iran and the War They All Claim Victory Over; Plus, Trump Administration’s Refugee Resettlement Ban and Supreme Court Ruling Allowing Third Country Deportations; Plus, Children’s Hospital Oakland Strike Over Union Contract
00:08 — Khury Petersen-Smith, Michael Ratner Middle East Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, where he researches U.S. empire, borders, and migration. 00:33 — Yael Schacher, director for the Americas and Europe at Refugees International. 00:50 — Griselda Chavez, is an Infant Development Specialist at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and has worked … Continued
Democracy Now 6am – June 26, 2025
On today’s show: “The Economy Is Rigged”: Robert Reich on Zohran Mamdani, The Democratic Party, Inequality, and Trump “A Clown Show”: RFK Jr. Fires CDC Panel and Stacks It with Anti-Vaxxers, Cuts Funding for International Vaccines “Buy More U.S. Weapons”: “Daddy” Trump Pushes Military-Industrial Complex on NATO Countries
Jennifer Kavanagh / Joseph Cirincione / Brian Levin
With Trump and Hegseth’s Bombastic Claims of “Total Obliteration” Blowing Up, Will Iran Now Sprint to a Bomb?
This is Trump’s War, and It’s Only Just Beginning
Trump and Miller’s ICE Stormtroopers’ Reckless and Brutal Roundups of Non-Criminals on the Streets of Los Angeles
Non-fiction Music – June 26, 2025
A mix of jazz, folk, blues and more with Joel Sachs.
LoveSoul with Al Glenn – June 26, 2025
Enjoy sensuous bedroom soul, sexy Smooth Jazz, and scintillating social commentary with Bay Area native and longtime Classic Soul radio taste-maker and Smooth Jazz connoisseur Al Glenn. Have some before this tasty Midnight snack is all gone!