Equal Time with Martha Burk

Equal Time with Martha Burk is a weekly 2 ½ minute podcast, with occasional 30 minute interviews on current affairs. She covers political issues, how decisions in Washington and around the world affect ordinary citizens, particularly women (with no shouting), historical anniversaries of note, what’s changed and what hasn’t. Lively, pithy commentary on a wide variety of important topics with a light (and sometimes irreverent) touch: past progress, needed future advances, and what’s at stake now for women and men -- as citizens, as voters, and inhabitants of the world we live in and help to shape. And -- you'll almost always learn something you didn't know.

Ghosts, Goblins and Ghouls: Watch Out for the Scariest One!

Halloween is here, with the usual ghosts.  goblins, ghouls, and scary clowns: this year watch out for a new one.

10-27
02:30

It's Banned Book Month: Watch Out for the Censors

Every year the American Library Association puts out a list of banned books in libraries and schools. Censors are hard at work. 

10-20
03:01

Tie a Purple Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree

Have you been seeing purple ribbons lately around your area on lamp posts, fences, and other public places?  They're aimed at one group you've probably never thought about.

10-13
03:01

Coffee Break? Yeah, a Permanent One for These Workers

Coffee fan alert:  Big new announcement  from Starbucks. They’re upwards of 100 stores, and at least 59  just happen to be unionized. Coincidence? You decide.

10-06
03:01

Hispanic Heritage Month: Honor United Farm Workers Founders

It's Hispanic Heritage Month, so let's recognize their leaders, and raise a glass to the founder of the United Farm Workers. If you’re thinking Cesar Chavez, you’re a little less than half right.

09-29
03:02

New Wage Gap Numbers are Out: Guess Who Gets the Short End

The U.S. Census Bureau released the new wage data earlier this month.  Big surprise? Nope -- same old, same old. 

09-22
03:00

The News Ain't Good These Days: Take a Silly Celebration Break

What with lousy politics, floods, guns everywhere you look, and fools on the Hill, there’s not much to feel good about in the news.  So let’s take a break and mark this week with some celebrations you probably don’t know about.

09-15
03:01

Hegseth Torpedoes Ship Names Honoring Heroes

Last June Secretary of the Navy Pete Hegseth announced the renaming of eight U.S. naval ships. The decree came during Pride month, when Hegseth gleefully celebrated the renaming of the USS Harvey Milk, which had honored the prominent gay civil rights activist. So it’s no surprise that the seven ships remaining on Hegseth’s current  hit list all honor women and minorities. 

09-08
03:01

Labor Day: Do Workers Get the Gold Mine? Or Maybe the Shaft?

This week we celebrate Labor Day, honoring American workers.  It’s been celebrated every year since 1894, when President President Grover Cleveland signed the law making the first Monday in September a national holiday.  Bur how are our workers really doing?

09-01
03:01

School’s In: What Will the Kid’s Be Packing

Will students heading back to college this month be packing heat along with the books and booze?   The campus vigilante group Students for Concealed Carry claims to have 350 chapters on college campuses – to keep the students safe of course. 

08-25
03:00

An Important National Anniversary: Western States Led the Pack

August 26th marks a momentous day in U.S. History, but many Americans don’t know about it, a few celebrate or mark it in any way. What is it?  Listen up and find out.

08-18
03:01

Black Friday’s for Christmas Shopping: But Black August? Try This

I thought I knew about most of US History, at least in passing. Boy, was I an ignoramus. You may be too. Here's the skinny.

08-11
03:01

The Dog Days of Summer are Here: Let's Take Inventory

The Dog Days of Summer aren't actually about dogs -- but the stars and ancient peoples. Still, here are a few humandogs to think about.

08-04
02:30

A Landmark Anniversary, and Today's Threat to the Results

President Lyndon Johnson made history on July 30, 1965, when he signed two laws that would greatly improve the lives of Americans. Both have worked well, and are now under siege.  

07-28
03:01

A Mystery Almost a Century Old: Solved at Last?

It’s come around again- one of the most enduring mysteries of modern times. In July 1937, Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared in an attempt to fly around the world.  

07-21
03:00

Don't Get Caught by the Latest Taboo

If you've been thinking things couldn’t get any worse in the good 'ol USA, think again. Trump’s watchful government has guarded our virtue by banning a slew of words.

07-14
03:00

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Bill

After a visit to his Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention facility in Florida -- which by the way will cost $450 million dollars a year and has already flooded -- Trump is celebrating the July third passage of his so-called greatest bill, saying “There’s something for everyone."  He’s got that right.  Here’s a list.

07-07
03:01

Independence Day is coming up. Time to visit the flawed history

When the Declaration of Independence was written, the "fathers of our country" looked in the mirror, and guess what they saw?

06-30
03:00

It's Hurricane Season: Here's the Sexist History

For decades U.S. storms and hurricanes had exclusively female names. Male forecasters had snickers and snide remarks about the female storms' "temperament" and "instability."  No more.

06-23
03:01

Juneteenth - A holiday 156 Years in the Making

Juneteenth, marking June 19th, 1865 is a federal holiday celebrated each year to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. Most people think that was the day President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves. Wrong. 

06-16
03:01

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