Background Briefing

Trump’s latest move turns cruelty into strategy as he threatens to defund SNAP to force Democrats to reopen the government. Also, a look at a quiet, billionaire-backed race for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and how contests in New York and New Jersey expose deep rifts within the Democratic Party.

After Offering to Half-Fund SNAP, Trump Turns Callousness Into Cruelty by Refusing to Fund It At All Until “Radical Left Democrats” Open Up the Government We begin with Trump’s latest outburst on Truth Social apparently reversing his decision to half-fund the SNAP program by announcing today that “SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions … Continued


The winter holidays can be both joyful and stressful. Join Renée Camila for an exploration of the herbs that can boost physical immune health, emotional regulation, and spiritual protection. This episode focuses on preventative support and includes listener call-ins. Hosted and produced by Emiliano Lemus and Renée Camila. Additionally hosted by Sam Roberts and Violet … Continued


The global rise of the authoritarian right has confounded classification and led to contentious debates on the left. Do politicians like Modi, Bolsonaro, Orban, and Trump represent an extreme form of right-wing populism? Or are they fascists, as some claim? Historian and scholar of populism and fascism Federico Finchelstein argues that we’re seeing something new … Continued


On October 28th, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 104 Palestinians, including 46 children. Writer and journalist Eman Alhaj Ali joins hosts Nora Barrows-Friedman and Ali Abunimah to explain that the ceasefire exists on paper, but it is not implemented on the ground. She also talks about surviving the genocide. She was among a group evacuated … Continued


Law & Disorder

What is FLOCK surveillance w/ EFF’s Sarah Hamid; Oakland Police Commission w/ Ricardo Garcia Acosta and Omar Farmer

Flock Surveillance refers to the camera and data systems developed by Flock Safety, a private technology company that provides automated license plate recognition  and vehicle-tracking networks to police departments, homeowners’ associations, and private businesses across the U.S. This system enables mass tracking of drivers and data sharing across police and private networks without sufficient oversight, … Continued