The BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

On today's 'BradCast':  An update on 2024 election results announced over the weekend, and remaining races still being tallied, including Pennsylvania's extremely close U.S. Senate race. Many listeners have voiced concerns about various voting system issues and election anomalies across the country in last week's election. Brad explains what is known so far about the incidents and anomalies, particularly in Pennsylvania and Michigan, and notes that, as of yet, there is no evidence of voting system issues that would change the results of the presidential race. Surveys show that large numbers of voters are wildly misinformed about key facts on the economy, inflation, the threat of Trump to democracy, and more - - how did that happen, and who is to blame? Callers weigh in.

On today's 'BradCast':  Top election security experts and computer scientists are urging Vice President Kamala Harris to seek hand recounts of the presidential election in key states to verify election totals, citing voting system breaches by Donald Trump allies in 2021 and 2022, and Georgia's refusal to apply recommended security patches to their election system. The scientists emphasize that they have 'no evidence' that voting systems were compromised, and that such audits should be routine - - particularly when massive software breaches are known and documented - - 'to set an example for security best practices in all elections.' Dr. DUNCAN BUELL of the University of South Carolina, a member of the group, explains the known breaches and other concerns, and ways to upgrade the nation's election security going forward. Satirical website The Onion purchased rightwing conspiracy monger Alex Jones' 'Infowars' on behalf of families of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre. Plus Desi Doyen has our new 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  Donald Trump lost a political battle after his upcoming Republican US Senate Majority chose Sen. John Thune (R-SD) as its majority leader, rejecting Trump's favorite. Trump is nominating a wave of toadies, unqualified buffoons and corporatists to key cabinet and administration roles:  a Fox 'News' TV host for Defense Secretary; billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head a non-existent government agency; Putin apologist Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence; and accused sex trafficker Rep. Matt Gaetz as US Attorney General. National security journalist MARCY WHEELER explains the status of Trump's four separate criminal felony indictments (and 34 convictions), what happens next, and much more. Updates in as-yet-undecided U.S. House races hold good news for Democrats, but Republicans are expected to win majority control.

On today's 'BradCast':  Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego won Arizona's U.S. Senate seat against Republican election denier Kari Lake, one of several updates on key 2024 races. Control of the U.S. House remains undecided. Donald Trump rapidly nominated a number of cabinet appointees, including ultra far-right Tom Homan as 'border czar', who supported Trump's cruel family separation policies in his first term, and vows to carry out mass deportations. Oil and coal lobbyists on Trump's EPA transition team plot to gut the agency, pivot to fossil fuels, reverse US climate and pollution rules, and more. JEAN SU, Director of the Energy Justice Program at the Center for Biological Diversity, explains actions the Biden Administration can take now to protect hard-won gains and advance climate and environmental goals, ways environmental groups can defend against and delay Trump's anti-environment onslaught, and much more. Plus Desi Doyen has our new 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  An update on 2024 election results announced over the weekend and remaining races still being tallied, including Pennsylvania's extremely close US Senate race. Many listeners have voiced concerns about various voting system issues and election anomalies across the country in last week's election. Brad explains what is known so far about the incidents and anomalies, particularly in Pennsylvania and Michigan, and notes that, as of yet, there is no evidence of voting system issues that would change the results of the presidential race. Surveys show that large numbers of voters are wildly misinformed about key facts on the economy, inflation, the threat of Trump to democracy, and more. How did that happen, and who is to blame? Callers weigh in.

Encore: original airdate 11-6-2024. On today's 'BradCast': A deeply divided voting population in the United States re-elected disgraced former president and convicted felon Donald Trump to another term on Tuesday. Vice President Kamala Harris in a brief concession speech vowed to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, and to continue the fight for freedom, opportunity, fairness, democracy and much more, 'in the voting booth, the courts, and in the public square.' Salon opinion columnist HEATHER DIGBY PARTON and 'DRIFTGLASS', of the Professional Left Podcast, offer analysis, history and context for the stunning election result, what it reveals about America, the role of media and disinformation, and what it all means going forward.

On today's 'BradCast':  President Joe Biden pledged a peaceful transfer of power and urged Americans to never give up fighting to defend freedom and democracy, in his first public remarks since the disgraced, lawless former president Donald Trump was re-elected. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special legislative session to bolster legal resources to protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and more, in preparation for the Trump Administration. The fast-moving, wind-driven Mountain Fire has destroyed dozens of homes north of Los Angeles. Politico's ALICE MIRANDA OLLSTEIN breaks down abortion rights ballot measures that were decided in ten states on Tuesday, schemes by Republicans and anti-choice groups to block the measures, and where the never-ending battle over reproductive freedom goes from here. Voters in Washington State rejected an attempt to repeal the state's landmark climate law. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  A deeply divided voting population in the United States re-elected disgraced former president and convicted felon Donald Trump to another term on Tuesday. Vice President Kamala Harris, in a brief concession speech today, vowed to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, and to continue the fight for freedom, opportunity, fairness, democracy and much more, 'in the voting booth, the courts, and in the public square.' Salon opinion columnist HEATHER DIGBY PARTON and 'DRIFTGLASS', of the Professional Left Podcast, offer analysis, history and context for the stunning election result, what it reveals about America, the role of media and disinformation, and what it all means going forward.

On today's 'BradCast':  As we go to air, voting is still underway in the critical 2024 Election. A number of polling place problems were reported around the country, but were not widespread, and there were no reports of violence. Georgia and several other states received hoax bomb threats that officials linked to Russian sources. We explain what to expect over the next few hours, days, weeks and months, key upcoming dates for certification of the election, and different scenarios for how it all might play out. Expect Trump to declare victory on election night no matter what. A 1958 TV show is shockingly prescient for 2024. Entertainment legend Dick Van Dyke shares a hopeful speech he delivered in 1964. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  The last day to vote in the critical 2024 election is Tuesday,  Nov. 5th. Either Kamala Harris will become the next President of the United States, and the first Black, Southeast-Asian American woman to do so, or Donald Trump, a convicted criminal felon, adjudicated rapist, and self-proclaimed wannabe-dictator, will be. Trump will declare victory on Election Night, regardless of the actual results; if he loses, he will use any means to overturn the results, as when he tried and failed to steal the 2020 election. European Green parties call on Jill Stein, US Green Party presidential candidate, to withdraw from the race to prevent being a spoiler. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) explains why he believes it is critical to elect Kamala Harris, despite his disagreement over the Biden Administration's policy on Israel and Gaza. Callers make their case to voters who may be undecided, considering not voting at all, or voting for a so-called 'third-party' candidate.

Encore: original airdate 10-23-2024. On today's 'BradCast':  The very conservative General John Kelly, former Dept. of Homeland Security chief and Donald Trump's former White House Chief of Staff, explains in an alarming, on-the-record taped interview that Trump meets 'the definition of fascist,' frequently praised Hitler, disdained U.S. military service members and disabled veterans, and more. But Fox News hasn't informed its viewers about Gen. Kelly's warnings. The Executive Director of the nonprofit Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, CHRIS MELODY FIELDS FIGUEREDO, discusses why we are seeing a surge of citizen-led ballot measures across the country, covering everything from reproductive rights to minimum wage, paid sick leave, redistricting, and much more. Figueredo also highlights 'sneaky', deceptive ballot initiatives, efforts in GOP-controlled states to block voter-led ballot measures, and useful tools for voters to make informed choices.

On today's 'BradCast:  Get ready for a tsunami of 'fraud' claims, both real and fake, likely to come our way in the next few days and weeks, IF Donald Trump loses to Kamala Harris on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Understand the facts to combat disinformation spread by Trump, Republicans and their MAGA supporters, as they lay the groundwork to contest the election. Actual proven voter fraud cases are exceedingly rare and are caught by an extensive fraud check system, as recent arrests in several states show. Republicans in Arizona stopped trying to remove 100,000 voters from the rolls over citizenship 'questions' when it was clear most were GOP voters. But the rightwing supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Virginia Republicans' deeply flawed, unlawful purge of 1,600 'suspected' non-citizen voters to continue, even though it ensnared actual U.S. citizens. Plus Desi Doyen has our new 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  The contrast and choice for American voters could not be starker in the waning days before the most consequential Election Day in modern American history. On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a 'closing argument' on the Ellipse in front of the White House, the same spot where former President Donald Trump incited the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Harris underscored her many policy proposals to boost average American families, restore reproductive rights, and much more, and accurately characterized Trump as a threat to democracy itself. Her address came just days after Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden, which was full of crude, racist, and misogynistic threats and attacks. HEATHER DIGBY PARTON of Salon and 'DRIFTGLASS,' of the Pro Left Podcast, offer analysis, insight, history and context on both events and the state of the race, as America chooses between two very different paths to the future.

On today's 'BradCast':  The Washington Post has lost at least 200,000 subscribers following billionaire owner Jeff Bezos' cowardly decision to kill the legendary paper's planned endorsement of Kamala Harris just days before the 2024 presidential election. Bezos is apparently seeking to appease vengeful former President Donald Trump in case he wins. Trump and billionaire Twitter/X owner, Elon Musk, are reportedly in regular, secret contact with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Russia expert (and former Trump official) Fiona Hill chillingly explains how great nations slip into oligarchy and authoritarianism, to the deep detriment of their ordinary citizens. The New York Times editorial board details Trump's actual words, his record, and his threats on a broad range of issues, from prosecuting his political enemies to deploying the US military against Americans and more, warning, 'Believe him.' Plus Desi Doyen has our new 'Green News Report.'

On today's 'BradCast':  The FBI is investigating ballot drop boxes in Portland, OR, Vancouver, WA that were set on fire, destroying hundreds of ballots, in apparent arson incidents. Philadelphia's district attorney sued billionaire Elon Musk to halt his 'lottery' giveaway as a likely unlawful vote-buying scheme. The billionaire owners of the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times cited flimsy excuses for killing their papers' planned endorsements of Kamala Harris for president, in turn triggering warnings from experts in fascism that the outlets have succumbed to 'obeying in advance,' kowtowing to a wannabe dictator who's not even in office yet. Callers weigh in, and offer their own endorsements in the last days before the pivotal 2024 presidential election.