Preempted for Special Broadcast
Today, Background Briefing is preempted for a special broadcast of Africa Today, heard regularly on KPFA on Mondays at 7pm PST. For more information and past episodes of Africa Today, see their program page here.
Background Briefing
3:00 PM PACIFIC TIME: MONDAYS - THURSDAYS
Background Briefing offers an educational approach to providing information in an era of “fake news.”
Preempted for Pacifica Radio Archives Fundraiser
Our regularly scheduled programming is preempted from 6am to 9pm (PST) today for a special fundraiser. During this one-day event, we air old and new broadcasts that demonstrate the richness of the Pacifica Radio Archives and how important it is that we ensure their preservation and accessibility. We appreciate your understanding and support in contributing … Continued
Background Briefing – November 13, 2023
Why Does the Mainstream Media Treat Trump With the Equal and Opposite Convention of So-Called Balance? Then we examine the role of the mainstream media in treating Trump, who is the leader of one of America’s two major parties, with the normal binary, equal and opposite media convention of so-called balance. Joining us is Will Bunch, … Continued
Background Briefing – November 9, 2023
Republican Presidential Hopefuls Want War Against Iran, China, Mexico and Even Canada We begin with the latest Republican presidential debate in which Nikki Haley called Vivek Ramaswamy “scum” and others on the stage wanted to go to war against Iran, China, Mexico and even Canada. Joining us is a former Republican Justin Higgins, who has worked … Continued
Background Briefing – November 8, 2023
One of the “Adults in the Room” on Trump’s Vengeful Plans For a Second Term We begin with alarming reports in The Washington Post and The New York Times about Trump’s vengeful plans for a second term outlining how he would invoke the Insurrection Act on day one and round up his enemies such as … Continued
Background Briefing – November 7, 2023
Trump on the Witness Stand in a Case He Has Already Lost We begin with Trump in the witness stand today in a $250 million fraud case he has already lost in which the judge repeatedly told him to answer questions and not make political speeches, at one point imploring his counsels to rein in … Continued
Background Briefing – November 6, 2023
A Palestinian Mother and Daughter Who Just Lost 36 Members of Their Family in Gaza We begin with the humanitarian tragedy underway in Gaza with 9,425 killed and 24,000 wounded according to Palestinian officials in the West Bank. Joining us is a mother and daughter who have lost 36 members of their family, Ghada Ageel, a … Continued
Background Briefing – November 2, 2023
MAGA Mike Johnson’s Top Priority to Cut Taxes on the Rich by Gutting the IRS’s Ability to Collect Revenues From Wealthy Tax Cheats We begin with the top priority of MAGA Mike Johnson, the new House Speaker, which is to serve his benefactors by cutting taxes on the rich. Johnson’s first act is to gut … Continued
Background Briefing – November 1, 2023
More Civilian Deaths in Gaza as Israel’s Ground Campaign Intensifies We begin with more civilian deaths in Gaza as Israeli ground forces move into the north and destroy tunnels in a campaign that may be over much sooner than the months that Netanyahu recently announced. Joining us to discuss the war’s impact on domestic politics … Continued
Background Briefing – October 31, 2023
How the War in Gaza is Impacting U.S. Electoral Politics We begin with an analysis of how the war between Israel and Hamas is impacting electoral politics in the U.S. as a new poll indicates a drop of 11% among Democratic voters in support for President Biden since the war began in early October. Joining … Continued