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Living in the USA
Living in the USA
Talking about politics, thinking about the Left. Hosted by Jon Wiener, co-author of "Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties," contributing editor at The Nation, and broadcast live at KPFK 90.7FM in LA Thursdays at 4.
- 23 episodes
- weekly
- Avg 56 min
- English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
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September 4 · 58 minUnions and Data Centers: Harold Meyerson; The Supremes and the Ballroom: Rob Weissman; The Dems' Senate Candidates: John Nichols
The political surprise of 2026: the movement to block AI data centers – it's popular among both Democrats and Republicans at the grassroots. But, in many places the building trade unions are opposing that movement – they want to build those data centers – and in some places, Democratic political candidates are standing with those unions. Harold Meyerson comments on this "trans-partisan" issue. The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that Trump could proceed with construction of his ballroom—they explicitly did not rule on the merits of the case, but on the issue of standing for the plaintiff. Robert Weisman has our analysis – he’s co-president of Public Citizen. Also: The Democrats are now favored to win not only the House but also the Senate in November – they need to flip four seats, and their candidates are ahead in five. John Nichols explains.
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August 28 · 58 minFrom the Iran War to the Reflecting Pool: Harold Meyerson; The Supremes, the Postal Service, and Voting: David Cole; 'The Sympathizer': Viet Nguyen.
On Monday, the Postal Service announced that it would follow Trump's executive order, which attempts to block voting by mail in states that do not provide its voter rolls for scrutiny by the Trump administration. As of today, Friday – 67 days away from the midterm elections: November 3, 2026 – the Postal Service is prohibited from following Trump's unconstitutional order. Next: Tariffs on Canada, the Iran war and the reflecting pool – Harold Meyerson comments. Also: The Supreme Court is not a Trump court – at least not on several issues – but where do they stand on voting rights? And what exactly did the court say on Monday about the postal service cooperating with Trump in his effort to restrict voting by mail? David Cole explains – he’s the former National Legal Director of the ACLU, and The Nation's legal affairs correspondent. Plus: From the archives: Viet Nguyen talks about his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Sympathizer" – it opens in Saigon on the last day of the Vietnam war and follows a nameless spy who has infiltrated the South Vietnamese army and then flees with its remnants to America (originally recorded April 2016).
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August 21 · 58 minSurprise Dem Victories - Harold Meyerson; Indivisible and the Elections: Leah Greenberg; Defending Voting: Vanita Gupta
More progressive democrats have triumphed over AIPAC money — starting with the surprising victory of Aisha Wahab in Northern California – Harold Meyerson comments on how "AIPAC is on a negative roll". Also: Indivisible’s 2,500 local volunteer-led groups are preparing for a rapid response to any threats to free and fair voting around election day, starting with plans to promote early voting, and including preparations to mobilize large-scale protests if there are attempts to undermine the results. Leah Greenberg, co-founder and co-executive director, explains. Plus: Vanita Gupta reviews the massive legal planning underway to defend the vote, the count, and the certification of the winners in the midterms – she was Associate Attorney General in the Biden administration, and has been working with the Senate Democrats’ Elections Task Force on planning and preparations for November. Bonus: History on the March: A 'Save Our Signs' project update: Hundreds of volunteers have submitted 17, 236 photos of historic signs before the Trump administration removes them: the signs deal with things like slavery, women's rights and climate change, among other topics the Trump administration doesn't want people to know about.
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August 14 · 58 minWisconsin and Minnesota Dems: Harold Meyerson; ACLU Election Protection; Dave Zirin on Howard Zinn
News from Wisconsin, one of the most gerrymandered states and a key to the national Democratic strategy; and from my home state of Minnesota, where Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan triumphed over opponent in the primary for state senate, Angie Craig, who out-spent her by 4 to 1 – Harold Meyerson comments. Also: The ACLU is organizing thousands of volunteers, preparing to respond to 25 different ways Trump could try to subvert or sabotage the midterms. Deirdre Schifeling explains—she’s the ACLU’s Chief Political and Advocacy Officer. More info at https://www.aclu.org/campaigns-initiatives/people-power. Plus: Howard Zinn’s book A People’s History of the US has sold four million copies—and now we have a biography of the author, written by Dave Zirin, The Nation’s longtime sports editor - his new book is The People’s Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn.
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August 7 · 56 minAbdul El-Sayed's Tasks: Harold Meyerson; A GOP Ballot Seizure: Zach Roth; Jurassic Museum: David Wilson
Abdul El-Sayed's first task is winning Black Detroit; next is making inroads in working class white Michigan. Harold Meyerson comments. Also: A rehearsal for the election protection groups: the California sheriff who seized 650,000 ballots from November’s referendum, claiming he needed to recount them. Zach Roth of Democracy Docket will explain how the Chad Bianco case provides a test of one key Republican strategy for holding on to the House after the midterms. Plus: From the archives: The Museum of Jurassic Technology is one of Culver City's hidden treasures - David Wilson explains (originally broadcast 6-19-2001).
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July 31 · 53 minTrump's Todd Blanche problem: Harold Meyerson; Election Protection: Skye Perryman; 'The Odyssey': John Powers
Trump's trouble this week is getting the Senate committee to advance his nomination of Todd Blanche as Attorney General. Two key Republican senators are refusing to vote for Blanche unless Trump gives up on his deal that gives him immunity from tax audits – Harold Meyerson comments. Also: An impressive alliance of groups have been preparing for months to counter Trump’s threats to Democrats in the midterms. Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward and a member of The Senate Democrats’ Election Protection Task Force, explains why “we are going to have free and fair elections” in November. Plus: Elon Musk calls Christopher Nolan’s film “The Odyssey” “part of a left-wing plan” to “destroy Western Civilization.” John Powers has a different view – he’s critic-at-large on NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross.
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July 24 · 52 minSinking Republicans: Harold Meyerson; Rising Democrats: John Nichols: 'Blonde on Blonde": Alan Minsky
The Dems vs. the GOP in the 2026 Midterms: in the latest Fox News poll, 53% of Americans said they'd vote Democrat; but will that hold until November? "Assuming Donald Trump continues to be Donald Trump... these gaps may grow larger" – in the Dems' favor – Harold Meyerson comments. John Nichols on the Senate Candidates in Maine and Nebraska, and the governor’s race in Wisconsin. John of course is executive editor of The Nation. Plus: It's the 60th anniversary of Bob Dylan's "Blonde on Blonde" – "Everybody Must Get Stoned" "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" and "Visions of Johanna" – we discuss this historic – and literary – album with Alan Minsky.
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July 17 · 56 minTrump from 2020 to 2026: Harold Meyerson; Smithsonian & History: Beverly Gage; Trump and Golf: Robert Lypsite
Trump's TV speech, and his declining situation, politically and mentally: Six years after he lost the 2020 election, Trump is still trying to find someone, anyone, to tell him he won. Trump said that last night's speech was about the 2020 election but really it was about the 2026 elections – and Trump's efforts to cause people to doubt the vote counters because he knows Republicans are set to suffer great losses in the upcoming midterms – Harold Meyerson comments on Trump's bad week leading up to the speech. Also: Trump believes the teaching of history really matters—that’s why on July 4 he issued a 162-page attack on the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Yale historian Beverly Gage comments – her new book is This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip through US History. Plus: from the archives, "Trump and Golf": The Saudi-backed LIV golf league returned to Trump’s Doral Resort in April 2025 – an early sign that Trump family business deals using Saudi government financing were going to continue into the new presidency. The legendary sportswriter Robert Lipsyte comments on Trump and golf. (broadcast originally in August 2017)
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July 10 · 58 minDems after Platner: Harold Meyerson; House Dems v. Trump: Jamie Raskin; Haitians After TPS: Amy Wilentz
The Democrats in Maine have got to pick a new candidate to replace Platner by July 27th. As we've learned from Kamala Harris, replacing a candidate this late is hard – but, Harris carried Maine by 7 points in 2024, the Democratic candidate for governor there leads by 15 points, and Susan Collins' approval rating is negative. So, what chance does new Democratic candidate have to defeat Collins? Harold Meyerson comments. Also: Jamie Raskin, Democrat from Maryland, talks about Congress reforming the Supreme Court, and the House challenging Trump’s corruption. His article in the current issue of The Nation magazine is “We Must Restore Congress as the Predominant Branch of Government.” Plus: The Court ended Temporary Protected Status, TPS, for Haitians (and others), but that does not mean deportations will begin immediately. Instead most of those with TPS will be given an opportunity to contest a deportation order or apply for remaining on a different basis. Amy Wilentz comments on the current responses in New York City, Miami, Springfield, Ohio, and in Congress.
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July 3 · 58 minThe Supremes and Us: Harold Meyerson and David Cole; 'Common Sense' for Today: Alan Minsky
On the Supreme Court today there is a 6 to 3 majority—I hesitate to call them 'conservatives' because they have been ripping apart tradition so drastically—right-wing Republican rule; Harold Meyerson comments on the "week of do this but don't do it here decisions". Trump's biggest losses in the Supreme Court rulings announced this week were on birthright citizenship—widely anticipated—and the voting rights case where the majority ruled states could count ballots mailed but not received by election day. His biggest win was abolishing independent agencies except for the Federal Reserve. David Cole has our analysis—he’s the former legal director of the ACLU. Also: This July 4th, the 250th anniversary of the signing of Declaration of Independence, is an anxious and unhappy holiday for Americans this year; as threats to our democracy have not be this dangerous since the Civil War. The question: "What is to be done?" is visited in "Common Sense 2026"—it's not a TikTok video, not an instagram post, but a pamphlet, inspired by "Common Sense" by written Thomas Paine in 1776—Alan Minsky, its author, explains.
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June 26 · 58 minTrump vs. Republicans: Harold Meyerson; Election Protection: Norm Eisen; How Protest Works: John Nichols
In New York City, Zohran Mamdani's three candidates for the House all won, showing that Mamdani has "one heck of a lot of clout in New York". Meanwhile, some point out that Democrats should be focusing NOT on DSA victories in urban areas, but on the districts that voted for Trump – Harold Meyerson comments. Also: Election protection: defending Ohio’s biggest voter registration group, and blocking Trump’s attacks on voting by mail: Norm Eisen, co-counsel on the first Trump impeachment, comments. Plus: How protest pushed ICE to abandon most of its warehouse detention center plans, and pressured Georgia Republicans to abandon their redistricting plans – John Nichols explains.
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June 19 · 58 minIran and Ohio: Harold Meyerson; Harvard and Trump: Randall Kennedy; Supermarket Workers: Ann Larson
Trump says his memo of understanding is a big win for him because Iran has pledged NOT to develop nuclear weapons and to open the Strait of Hormuz. But, that only "gets us back to what the status quo was before Trump decided to go to war" and "the Iranian pledge not to develop nuclear weapons, that's a pledge they made 40 or 50 years ago". Next: News from Ohio, where Trump's favorable rating has gone from 58% to 42% – Harold Meyerson comments. Also: In his campaign against elite universities as centers of resistance, Trump hasn’t been able to force Harvard to submit. And it seems less likely now that they will settle. Harvard law professor Randall Kennedy has our analysis. Plus: the essential workers at our supermarkets: Ann Larson talks about poverty wages and worker solidarity. Her new book is Cleanup on Aisle Five: Essential Work, Poverty Wages, and the View From Behind the Supermarket Register.
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June 12 · 58 minCalifornia's primary, and Maine's: Harold Meyerson; AI "Poetry": Katha Pollitt; George Harrison: Allan Kozinn
Democratic strength, and Democratic divisions, in primaries from L.A. to Maine—Harold Meyerson has our analysis of the week’s political developments. Also: Can AI write poetry? Good poetry? Katha Pollitt decided to find out. She’s an award-winning poet herself, and a columnist for The Nation. Plus: From the archives: We remember George Harrison with Allan Kozinn; he was music critic for The New York Times and wrote of the George Harrison obituary, as well as the book "The Beatles" (originally recorded in December 2001, one week after George Harrison died).
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June 5 · 58 minThe Primaries and Us: Harold Meyerson and John Nichols; Girl Groups: Gary Stewart
California's next Governor will likely be Xavier Becerra – as a former California Attorney General, he has a record of suing Trump; but is also known to be a corporate-friendly Democrat. Still, with California's notoriously slow count, it is too soon to call. Meanwhile, the 35% Karen Bass has in the LA mayoral race, "reflects the lack of enthusiasm" among LA voters – Harold Meyerson comments. Also: Primaries in Iowa, New Jersey and elsewhere tested the strength of progressives in the party. John Nichols has our analysis. Plus: From the Archives: Girl Groups of the Sixties: Raw emotion, youthful energy, and teenage angst in a 4-CD Rhino box set: One Kiss Can Lead To Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost & Found. Jon Pareles of the New York Times wrote, "to hear all these long-suffering voices is to realize that feminism didn’t arrive an instant too soon." Gary Stewart, who died in 2019, produced the 120-track collection along with Cheryl Farber, in 2005. PLAYLIST: “Needle in a Haystack,” The Velvelettes (1964); Nobody Knows What's Going on in my Mind but Me, The Chiffons (1965); Nothing but a Heartache, The Flirtations (1968); I Never Dreamed, The Cookies (1964); “I’m Blue (The Gong-Gong Song),” The Ikettes (1961). (Originally recorded in 2005.)
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May 29 · 1 hr 2 minTexas Republicans: Harold Meyerson; Suing Trump: Rob Weissman; Elmore Leonard's Rules
The big picture of national politics: Trump is not just sinking in the polls, he's accelerating into the most unpopular and toxic parts of his presidency. People are focused on the economy, they want the war in Iran finished – instead, Trump is pushing his billion-dollar ballroom and his slush fund to pay-off the white-supremacist insurrectionists – Harold Meyerson comments. Also: Trump’s Billion-Dollar Ballroom is a familiar kind of corruption, but his slush fund to pay the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence in his name is an unprecedented attack on democracy. Rob Weissman of Public Citizen explains, and also talks about the immense, and immensely unpopular, proposed Arc d’Trump. Plus: I met Elmore Leonard, who died on August 20, 2013 at age 87, only a couple of times, but he was a memorable guy, totally unpretentious about his massive accomplishments: 45 novels, including many best-sellers, almost a dozen made into movies and TV shows, and a reputation among the literati as one of the great writers of dialogue in our time. When I spoke with him in 2000, he had just published Pagan Babies, a comic novel on the unlikely subject of genocide in Rwanda. (Originally recorded in October, 2000 and later published in LARB on August 20, 2013.)
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May 22 · 52 minThe Billion Dollar Ballroom: Harold Meyerson; The States Project: Daniel Squadron; Minneapolis vs. ICE
The primary elections results this week show the success of Trump's revenge campaign — and the limits of that campaign. Harold Meyerson comments. Also: History on the March: The American Historical Society has filed a lawsuit and a federal judge has ordered the Trump White House to comply with the Presidential Records Act. Next: State legislatures have a lot of power in America—the States Project focuses on expanding that. Daniel Squadron explains. His new book is The Fourth Branch: How State Government can Save Our Union. Plus: Your Minnesota Moment: Today, Minneapolis prosecutors charge an ICE agent with assault and lying.
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May 15 · 48 minA rough week: Harold Meyerson; Jews against Zionism: Adam Hochschild; Historians vs. Tennessee
Last week was one of the roughest for Democrats since Trump won the election in 2024: The Supreme Court ended Black congressional representation in most of the South and opened the door to the creation of several more Republican House seats, and then the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the state’s initiative that created four more Democratic House seats was invalid. Nevertheless, Trump is so unpopular that Democrats remain strong favorites to retake the House in November. Harold Meyerson comments. Also: During the first part of the 20th century, 100,000 Eastern European Jews joined a socialist organization that opposed Zionism. Their organization we call the Bund, and they believed that Jews should fight for full rights wherever they were, not for a new homeland somewhere else. Their motto was “Here, where we live, is our country”—that’s the title of a new book about them by Molly Crabapple. Adam Hochschild comments. Plus: Historians on the March: Tennessee's anti-communist curriculum.
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May 8 · 46 minThe Redistricting Wars: Harold Meyerson; Election Protection: Ian Bassin
Fifty-nine percent of Americans believe Trump does not have the mental sharpness necessary to lead the country; 55 percent think Trump does not have the physical health to serve as president; and 67 percent think Trump does not carefully consider important decisions – according to a new Washington Post/ABC News Ipsos poll. And, in a time when energy costs are soaring and many Americans are losing their healthcare, Trump continues to talk about his ballroom — with a $1 billion price tag of taxpayer money. Harold Meyerson comments. Also: History on the march: The battle over our understanding of our American past. The history profession had a big win in federal court this week when a federal judge ruled that DOGE did not have the authority to cancel grants awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities; which totaled $100 million this year. Plus: Trump’s efforts to block Democratic voting in the midterms, or overturn the results, is not going to work—Ian Bassin explains the widespread preparations underway for defending the election in November. Ian is co-founder of the organization Protect Democracy and winner of a MacArthur genius grant.
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May 1 · 57 minAfter the Voting Rights Act: Harold Meyerson; Trump's ICE Prisons: John Nichols; Confederate Monuments: Christopher Knight
What Democrats need to do to counter the Supreme Court abolishing Black congressional districts: Harold Meyerson comments on the continuing reapportionment wars and the upcoming elections. Also: John Nichols explains why Trump may never succeed at building any of his ICE prison camps, and how this Friday’s May Day strike is a test of our power to resist. Plus: MOCA’s “Monuments” show in LA critiques Confederate monuments that have been taken down in response to protests. Critic Christopher Knight has our evaluation. The show closes Sunday. (Originally broadcast October 31, 2024.)