Counterpoint with Scott Harris

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.orgSome segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint1) Israel Election and Trump's Threat to Escalate his Iran War, Comes One Week Before Critical U.S. Midterm ElectionJennifer Loewenstein, former associate director of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discusses Israel's October 27th election, Trump's latest threat to escalate his war against Iran, the renewed Houthi-Saudi conflict, and the ongoing blockade of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.2) Trump Executive Order a Blueprint to Criminalize Political Opposition and Suppress Constitutionally Protected Free Speech Shilpa Jindia, Policy Council with the media and democracy group Free Press, talks about her group's recent report, "Enemies of the State: NSPM-7 and the Trump Plan to Crush Dissent," which she co-authored, that warns that the Trump administration has established a coordinated federal strategy to criminalize political dissent, intimidate opposition groups and undermine constitutional protections for free speech and assembly. 3) Protest Challenges Corporate America to Resist Trump's Authoritarian Plot to Subvert Midterm Election Jawanza James Williams, Lead fightback campaigner with Popular Democracy, discusses a coalition of groups that organized a recent protest action at JPMorgan Chase calling on the company to sign the Business for Democracy Pledge. The Pledge commits companies to publicly support free and fair elections, and oppose efforts by Donald Trump and his administration to interfere with, and manipulate the outcome of the midterm election. 4) Nonprofit Educates, Inspires, and Empowers Young Women and Girls In LiberiaFaith Kasor, founder and president of Girl Uplift Inc. a non-profit organization based in CT, talks about her group's work in Liberia, West Africa to educate, inspire, and empower young women and girls through scholarships, leadership programs, and health and wellness workshops. Girl Uplift's annual Gala Dinner Ball will take place on Saturday, November 7th. Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.orgSome segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint  1) Amid Iran War U.S. Peace Movement MIA Frida Berrigan, a long-time activist opposing the ever-stretching shadow of militarism who lives in Southeastern Connecticut, is the author of, “It Runs In The Family: On Being Raised By Radicals And Growing Into Rebellious Motherhood,” talks about her recent commentary, "Where Are the Iran War Protests: Despite a wildly unpopular war with Iran, a mass protest movement for peace hasn’t materialized — at least in the ways we’ve been taught to recognize." 2) After Democratic Socialists of America's Recent Electoral Success What's Ahead for the Movement?Paul Heideman, author of "Rogue Elephant: How Republicans Went from the Party of Business to the Party of Chaos," discusses his recent Jacobin magazine article, "Where Are the Democratic Socialists of America Going?" which examines how the group is successfully navigating the US electoral system but continues to face considerable challenges in rooting itself in the U.S. working class. 3) After Election Will Republicans Refuse to Certify Democratic Candidate Victories to Maintain Congressional ControlBill Blum, a Los Angeles lawyer and a former state of California administrative law judge, talks about his recent commentaries re: the midterm election, "Will Jan. 3 Be the New Jan. 6? When it comes to election subversion, expect the worst when Congress reconvenes in 2027," and "Trump’s Voter Purge Machine Just Got a Boost From the Supreme Court," as well as other threats looming over the midterm election. 4) Trump's Attack on Mail-In Voting Could Backfire, Disenfranchising His Own Supporters Nick Licata, author of "Becoming A Citizen Activist," has served 5 terms on the Seattle City Council, named progressive municipal official of the year by The Nation, and is founding board chair of Local Progress, a national network of 1,000 progressive municipal officials.  He'll talk about his recent Counterpunch article, "Trump’s Restrictions on Mail-In Voting Will Reduce the Republican Vote," and share his views on Trump's other plans to subvert the outcome of the November 3rd election.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.orgSome segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint 1) Lula Fights to Stop Right Wing Wave in Brazil and Latin America.Alexander Main, Director of International Policy at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C., assesses Brazil's recent first round presidential election where right wing candidate Flávio Bolsonaro received 2.25 million more votes than incumbent president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, major issues debated, prospects for the final election round, and the Trump regime's attempt to influence the outcome. 2) Trump Allied Oligarchs Take Over Another Hollywood Media Behemoth Ari Paul, New York City-based journalist and lecturer at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, discusses his recent FAIR.org column, "CNN Cleared to Join CBS Under Trumpian Paramount Ownership," and issues related to the growing concentration of U.S. media ownership in the hands of Trump friendly oligarchs. 3) As American Dream Slips Away, More Americans are Searching for Answers from Socialist Candidates Michael Zweig, emeritus professor of economics, founding director of the Center for Study of Working-Class Life at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and author of “Class, Race, and Gender: Challenging the Injuries and Divisions of Capitalism,” talks about the 2026 midterm election debate about "socialism," recent primary victories by Democratic Socialists of America candidates, and a growing number of Americans' declining confidence in attaining the "American Dream." 4) Republican's Attempt to Rehabilitate Richard "Tricky Dick" Nixon: the GOP Scheme to Normalize Trump's Lawlessness and Corruption Salon columnist Heather Digby Parton, who writes Digby’s Hullabaloo blog, talks about her recent article, "The dark reasons behind all the Richard Nixon worship: MAGA needs to maintain its grip on the GOP after Donald Trump — and the 37th president is key." The column outlines Trump supporters' current effort to rehabilitate Nixon, along with unsupported charges that he was unjustly forced to resign in 1973 by the "deep state." Some segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.orgSome segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint 1) GOP Hearing Launches Latest Effort to Cut Social Security BenefitsAlex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, talks about a U.S. House Budget Committee field hearing held on September 21st at a Dallas property owned by billionaire Harlan Crow, which focused on establishing a fast-track commission, which senior advocates view as a GOP strategy to cut Social Security benefits behind closed doors. 2) Former Senior Military, Security Officials Urge State Attorneys General to Block Federal Armed Interference in Midterm ElectionDan Schwartz, Legal Affairs Lead with National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A) discusses his group's recent call on state attorneys general to prepare to block armed federal interference in the midterm election, and other issues related to President Trump's threat to interfere with and manipulate the outcome of the midterm Congressional election that the Republican Party is predicted to lose. 3) In Germany’s Recent Elections Left Rising Alongside Far Right  Cas Mudde, Stanley Wade Shelton UGAF Professor of International Affairs and Distinguished Research Professor, School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia discusses his recent Guardian column, "Look again – there’s more to Europe’s election trends than far-right success," and shares his views on the outcome of recent elections in Germany and the rise of the far right across Europe. 4) 13 Years After the New Haven Advocate's Demise, the Alternative Weekly Newspaper is Reborn into a Quarterly Tom Smith, writer, editor, drummer, and author of, "The Crescent City Lynchings," who served as an Associate writer and columnist with the New Haven Advocate newspaper from 1978 to 1987, talks about the recent relaunch of the New Haven Advocate as a quarterly alternative newspaper more than 50 years after the publication’s first printing, featuring news, commentary and humor. Smith, along with Colleen Van Tassell, and writer and illustrator John Guillemette, serve as the revived newspaper’s editors.

COUNTERPOINT RADIO, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 – 9:30 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.orgSome segments featured on Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio news magazine. Visit their web site at http://www.btlonline.org for free subscriptions to mp3 - podcast audio files, program summaries and interview transcripts. An archive of current and past Counterpoint interviews are accessible for free at our Counterpoint Radio web site: http://counterpointradio.org The full 1.5 hour unedited program can be accessed for a 2 week period after the show, at the WPKN Radio archives: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/search/counterpoint 1) White House Ban of Three Media Outlets, Only the Latest Trump Attack on the Constitution's First AmendmentVictor Pickard, the C. Edwin Baker professor of Media Policy and Political Economy at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses Donald Trump's decision to ban journalists from CNN, MS-NOW, and Politico from the White House grounds, revoking their press credentials and triggering a major constitutional showdown over press freedom. He'll focus on this recent issue in the context of the many other instances of Trump regime attacks on journalists, media outlets and the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the press. 2) Yemen's Houthi's Playing an increasingly Pivotal Role in the U.S. War on IranNicolas J. S. Davies is an independent journalist, a researcher with CODEPINK, and the author of "Blood On Our Hands: the American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq." He'll discuss his recent column co-written with Medea Benjamin, "The Urgency of Recognizing the Ansar Allah Government in Yemen," and issues related to the current situation in Yemen, Trump's war on Iran, and conflict's impact on the flow of Middle East oil. 3) Erik Prince, founder of the Blackwater Mercenary Army, is now Operating in Haiti & linked to Civilian DeathsKim Ives, a journalist and editor at the weekly newspaper Haïti Liberté, talks about the issues he's covering in Haiti, news of ongoing violence, the role of Erik Prince, founder of the private military contractor Blackwater, the UN adjacent Gang Suppression Force, and the Trump regime's decision to revoke TPS status for some 350k Haitians in the U.S., with the threat of mass deportation. 4) Trump's March to Consolidate U.S. Fascist State Can Only be Stopped by Mass Civil Society UprisingPaul Street is an independent radical-democratic policy researcher, journalist, historian and author of "This Happened Here: Amerikaners, Neoliberals, and the Trumping of America." He'll discuss his column, "It’s Only Wednesday, For Fascist’s Sakes!" a compendium of Donald Trump's crimes against democracy from less than one recent week.