Against the Grain

Habermas and Adorno on Reason and Rationality

What happens when “reason” is in decline, when the world appears to be moving in the direction of irrationality and political pathology? Martin Jay discusses how two Frankfurt School thinkers, Theodor Adorno and Jürgen Habermas, tried to salvage a critical version of reason. Whereas Adorno looked to art and aesthetics, Habermas appealed to practices of … Continued


On today’s show host Mitch Jeserich is in conversation with Professor Laurel Lucia about the Republican Healthcare Bill.  Professor Lucia is director of the Health Care Program at the Center for Labor Research and Education at UC Berkeley. Then, Micth interviews Levi Laub who translated into English Maurice Rajsfus’s book The Vel d’Hiv Raid. Today is the … Continued


It’s the mother of all Grand Bargains: Governor Brown is doing shuttle diplomacy between oil companies, developers, trade unions, environmental groups, and affordable housing advocates to pass a growing package of bills before the legislature goes on recess. We tackle the climate deal, and look at why it’s drawing fire from some environmental groups. Plus: … Continued


Outrage Mounts as Saudi Arabia Plans Imminent Executions for 14 Accused Pro-Democracy Protesters; How Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Undermines Civil Rights & Favors Predatory Lenders Over Students; In Precedent-Setting Trial, Lawyers Say Arizona’s Ethnic Studies Ban is Discriminatory & Illegal; From Pence to Price: How Big Tobacco Gained Massive Influence Under Trump, Plans to Expand … Continued


Needa Bee, Oakland-based housing advocate; Messiah Ali, Oakland resident; Tom Waldman, Director of Communications, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority; Flora Harris, C-3 Program Director, St. Joseph Center; Chyheeb Joseph, Outreach Worker, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority; Riyaadh Najaar, pigeon racer who was relocated during Apartheid; Delia Adrian and Shahied Mizenheimer, District 6 residents; Jane Roberts … Continued


A revised Republican Healthcare Bill designed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act would gut Medicaid, give massive tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and defund Planned Parenthood, making it harder for women to access breast cancer screenings and basic reproductive services. The revised bill is largely similar to the previous Senate bill, including … Continued