12:00 PM Pacific Time: Mondays to Wednesdays
In-depth analysis and commentary on a variety of matters — political, economic, social, and cultural — important to progressive and radical thinking and activism. Against the Grain is co-produced and co-hosted by Sasha Lilley and C.S. Soong.
The Politics of Self-Delusion. Why are so many working class and poor Americans on the right when it goes against their economic interests? Thomas Frank argues that blue collar people have been mobilized against abortion, gun control, prayer in school, and a number of other issues directed at the "liberal elite," while the pro-business agenda … Continued
Why is a discussion of race and race-related issues largely absent from this election year’s national dialogue? Political scientist Robert Smith, an expert on African American politics, shares his observations. And Jamala Rogers, national organizer for the Black Radical Congress, talks about the keys to advancing a progressive black agenda.
A conversation about misrepresentations of Arabs and Iranians in Western art and the alternative perspectives found in the work of contemporary Middle Eastern and North African arts.
Reshaping Regulation. Schwarzenegger’s California Performance Review would eliminate 120 boards and commissions as part of a government overhaul. But is the CPR really about streamlining bureaucracy or, as Rico Mastrodonato and Jody Freeman argue, consolidating power and removing independent oversight of air and water, workers’ compensation, occupational health and safety, and other key areas of … Continued
Michael Albert, veteran activist and author most recently of Thought Dreams, discusses key questions faced by the left, questions like: Is reformism bad per se? Should the left ever engage in violence? Why do many activists get disillusioned and quit the movement? Should a small leadership group do the theory and lay out strategy?
The Racist Right. Richard Butler, founder of the Aryan Nations in the 1970s, died recently. Local activist Norm Gissel reflects on Butler’s failure to build his organization in northern Idaho. SPLC’s Mark Potok and author/expert Daniel Levitas contend that while white supremacist groups have relatively few hardcore adherents, the ideas they draw upon are everywhere … Continued
Anti-Racism and Global Justice. Can race and gender privilege within social justice movements undermine efforts to achieve global justice? How important is it for energetic, well-meaning activists to face up to their own racist, sexist and other oppressive behavior? Veteran organizer Chris Crass believes anti-racist education and movement building go hand in hand.
Art and Protest. The Cuban revolution produced an enormous number of innovative political posters. Less appreciated, but still impressive, is the graphic art of the American labor movement. Archivist Lincoln Cushing is working to preserve the legacy of both of these bodies of work.
A conversation about the netherworld between childhood and adulthood with Linda Perlstein, author of Not Much Just Chillin’: The Hidden World of Middle Schoolers.
Paying for Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is famous for low prices and substandard wages — but who really pays for what the giant retailer does to its workers? A recent report co-authored by Arin Dube says we taxpayers do. Scott Klinger of United for a Fair Economy discusses CEO compensation and the myth of the self-made millionaire.
