Living in the USA

We’ve been told many times that Trump won the 2016 election because his populist appeal won the white working class. Populism is the problem, in this view -- populism mobilized the irrationality, bigotry, & authoritarianism of the white working class. Tom Frank say that’s all wrong -- he wrote the classic “What’s the Matter with Kansas?,” and now he has a new book out: “The People, NO: A Brief History of anti-Populism.” And Ella Taylor reviews a documentary about fascism in the Philippines – where the regime of President Rodrigo Duterte has killed 30,000 people, claiming they were drug dealers – and drug users. Also: Mike Davis talks about LA in the Sixties –the huge nonviolent direct action campaign for integrated housing that came before Watts. The defeat of that campaign, in a statewide referendum, was one of the things that made the Watts rebellion, 55 years go this month, inevitable.

The Feds vs the Protests in Portland: David Cole, National Legal Director of the ACLU, explains what's at stake there. And Ella Taylor reviews a documentary on the ACLU’s legal battles of the past few years--the fight for immigrant rights, voting rights, abortion rights and LGBTQ rights. Also, Mike Davis talks about LA in the Sixties –the fight in those years against the LAPD and for black lives continues today

Trump’s “performative authoritarianism” as a campaign ploy designed for Fox News—that’s what Harold Meyerson says. He’s Editor at large of The American Prospect. Plus: it’s time to disarm the police—that’s what Don Guttenplan argues. He’s editor of The Nation. And film critic Ella Taylor is back with virus-time TV recommendations: this week, two Netflix shows about Brazil: an animated feature on migrant labor, and a documentary about the crisis of democracy there.

Black Lives Matter-L.A. says “defund the LAPD.” And the sherriffs, and the school police. Kelly Lytle Hernandez explains – she teaches history at UCLA, and she’s the recipient of a MacArthur ‘Genius” grant. Also: Black Lives Matter protests are everywhere, including some fo the most unlikely places: Zoe Carpenter reports on what’s been happening in Laramie, Wyoming; Florence, Alabama; and even Vidor, Texas—it’s a former Ku Klux Klan haven that Texas Monthly described as the state’s “most hate-filled town.” Plus: another episode of “The Children’s Hour,” stories about Ivanka, Jared, Don Junior, and Little Eric, with Amy Wilentz. This week Ivanka gets in trouble for wearing a mask – and Don Junior’s girlfriend tests positive. And Ella Taylor talks about the new Netflix series “Stateless,” about a refugee detention camp in Australia, created by and starring Kate Blanchett—and also about “The Old Guard,” starring Charlize Theron, it’s the first superhero movie directed by an African-American woman, Gina Prince-Bythewood.

The US accounts for 4 per cent of the world’s population, but 25 per cent of the people who have come down with COVID-19 and 25 percent of those who’ve died from it. How did the richest country in the world --that spends the most on health care--become the sickest? Harold Meyerson comments. Also: in our 'news you can use' segment, Ella Taylor talks about the new L.A. noir detective show, “Perry Mason”--and about the wonderful HBO series "My Brilliant Friend," about two girls growing up poor in Naples in the Fifties. Also later in this hour: Black Lives Matter, and Sandra Bland’s was one of them. This week is the fifth anniversary of the death of Sandra Bland in a Texas jail—July 13, 2015. What happened to Sandra Bland? To understand that, you have to begin way before she died. Debbie Nathan reports on the life, as well as the death, of Sandra Bland.

As new cases of Covid-19 continue to climb, the price of the drug Remsidivir, which helps reduce hospital stays, was announced: $3,120. Cost to Gilead Pharmaceuticals of production: $10. David Dayen talks about how Biden could cut the price--he's executive editor of The American Prospect, and writes the daily "Unsanitized" blog. Also: UC Irvine law prof Michelle Goodwin talks about her experience of racism in Minneapolis. And film critic Ella Taylor discusses "Babylon Berlin," the German series set against the rise of fascism in Germany in 1929, and Kore-Eda's new film "The Truth," starring Catherine Deneuve.

The Trump campaign said that a million people had requested tickets but the Tulsa arena seated only 17,000, so, they set up a big stage outside for the overflow, but only 6,200 people showed up. Is Trump's base turning away from him, at last? Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect comments. Next up: UCLA Historian Robin Kelley on the Police vs. the People and how so many communities continue to suffer under police violence. Plus: News you can use -- film critic Ella Taylor on films about bad cops: especially "LA Confidential" and "Serpico."

Today's number one topic is the people and the police. The Democrats have unveiled a new law to reform police everywhere. Jody Armour, professor of Law at USC, comments -- his new book is "N*GGA THEORY: RACE, LANGUAGE, UNEQUAL JUSTICE and the LAW" forthcoming in August. Next up: Ivanka Watch -- after using pepper balls and flash bang grenades to clear demonstrators for Trump's bible photo-op, the White House said that it was Ivanka's idea -- Amy Wilentz reports. Plus, We can't go to the movie theaters but we can stream them at home. Spike Lee's new film "DA 5 BLOODS" is out now -- film critic Ella Taylor comments.

"The best thing about the protests during the last few weeks is that they are NOT about Donald Trump," says Dahlia Lithwick, "they are about us." She writes about courts and the law for Slate and she hosts the podcast "Amicus". Next up: Protests against police violence have been met with more police violence -- and Democratic mayors in deep-blue states have failed to stop them -- Elie Mystal comments. Plus: The Criterion Collection has taken down its paywall for a series of films by black filmmakers -- Ella Taylor has news you can use with criterion, virus-time TV watching.

In almost all of our big cities we've seen massive protest against racist police violence after the murder of George Floyd by that Minneapolis cop -- in almost every city the police response to protest against police violence has been more police violence. For comment we turn to Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect. Next up, can Trump do what Nixon did with white backlash -- when it comes to backlash, will America in 2020 be like America in 1968, or Reagan in 1980? We talk with Rick Perlstein, author of "Reaganland: America's Right Turn 1976-1980" out in August of 2020. Plus: Virus-time TV with Ella Taylor -- this week, police procedurals with women detectives in the Netflix mini-series "Unbelievable".

Did Joe Biden sexually assault Tara Reade in 1993? Katha Pollitt examines the evidence—and concludes that it supports Biden’s denial. Especially significant: the PBS NewsHour interviews with 74 former Biden staffers, of whom 62 were women; none said they had experienced sexual harassment, assault or misconduct by Biden. All said they never heard any rumors or allegations of Biden engaging in sexual misconduct, until the recent assault allegation made by Tara Reade. Also: Film critic Ella Taylor has news you can use -- some recommendations about virus-time television. In particular: the new film “Shirley” starring Elisabeth Moss and novelist Shirley Jackson. Also: Your Minnesota Moment: today, the secret history of the Koch Brothers: how the key to their empire, and their fortune, is a refinery south of St. Paul. Christopher Leonard has that story—his book is “Kochland.”

High unemployment usually hurts working class organizing--"except when it doesn't," Harold Meyerson says. He looks a the possible futures for the labor movement when the virus is finished. Harold is executive editor of The American Prospect. Also: Greil Marcus has a new book out--it’s about The Great Gatsby and its place in American culture and American life--including on Saturday Night Live with Andy Kaufman. Greil of course has written many books, Starting with the classic “Mystery Train” and including “Lipstick Traces.” His new book is titled “Under the Red White and Blue: Patriotism, Disenchantment and the Stubborn Myth of The Great Gatsby.”

Before Bernie and AOC, before Jesse Jackson and George McGovern, there was Henry Wallace, FDR’s vice president, who fought for the soul of the Democratic party in the 1940s. John Nichols tells that story, and links it to today’s battles between progressives and Wall Street Democrats—his new book, out now, is “The Fight for the Soul of the Democratic Party." Next up: One of the key forces making inequality greater in America has been the Supreme Court -- Adam Cohen will explain -- his new book is, "Supreme Inequality: The Supreme Court's Fifty-Year Battle for a More Unjust America." Plus: a new episode of “The Children’s Hour” with Amy Wilentz, stories about Ivanka, Jared, Don Junior, and little Eric--boy are those kids in trouble this week! Amy of course is our Chief Jared Correspondent—and was just awarded a Guggenheim fellowship.

As parts of the US reopened their economies, the Trump Administration defunded the W.H.O., and Dr. Micheal Osterholm reminded that the point of flattening the curve was not to keep everyone from getting the virus, it was to spread-out the infection-rate over time – Mike Davis reports. Next up, we talk with David Dayen of the American Prospect about the need to save the United States Postal Service; he also reports on reasons for the shortage of hospital beds in New York City, the US healthcare system on the whole and Medicare for all. Plus, John Powers of NPR's Fresh Air makes his recommendations for virus-time TV watching.

Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz says the US has “one of the poorest systems of unemployment insurance in the world”—and that our number one priority should be to keep workers connected to their jobs. His book "People, Power and Profits: Progressive Capitalism for an Age of Discontent" is out now in paperback, with a new preface. Plus: Harold Meyerson has today’s update in the politics of the coronavirus--and we’ll also talk about about the future of labor after the pandemic. Also: Katrina vanden Heuvel reports on solidarity with the front-line workers fighting the virus—starting in New York, where people cheer hospital workers coming off their shifts at 7pm every night. Finally: Where's Paul Krassner when we need him?

Mike Davis argues that the coronavirus crisis is bringing about the fragmentation of Europe and the marginalization of the WHO; he also considers the danger to Africa, and whether China will emerge less powerful in the world economy because of the rise of economic nationalism. Mike wrote about the avian flu in 'The Monster at Our Door.' Plus Harold Meyerson comments on southern states reopening for business--and also surveys the possible Democratic candidates for vice president. Also Barbara Ehrenreich reports on her experiment in trying to survive on low wage work. Her classic essay “Nickel and Dimed,” is the lead piece in her new book, a collection of essays titled Had I Known. We recorded this interview when her book Nickel and Dimed was published, in 2002.

Despite massive Republican efforts to prevent Democrats from voting in the Wisconsin primary, the Democrats won--by a huge margin. John Nichols explains how they did it -- and the implications for November. Also: Harold Meyerson comments on Bernie's endorsement of Biden on Sunday - and the skepticism of some of Bernie's supporters about Biden, as well as the apparent reluctance of some progressive leaders to join Bernie in the endorsement.

Republicans forced Wisconsin to go ahead with an election on Tuesday, despite the coronavirus, after rejecting the proposals to extend voting by mail. John Nichols reports -- he says it's a frightening example of what they will try to do in November to reduce the Democratic vote. Also: The Cold War was fought in many ways: it was a traditional political and military confrontation, but it was also a cultural contest, on a global scale – and one of the most important arenas in the cultural contest was sports. historian Robert Edelman explains: he’s co-editor of the new book The Whole World Was Watching: Sport in the Cold War." Plus: Nation columnist Laila Lalami talks about her novel “The Other Americans." it’s about the suspicious death of a Moroccan immigrant in a small town in California. It’s a family saga, a murder mystery, and a love story. And it’s out now in paperback.

Harold Meyerson reports that Republicans in the Senate voted against expanded unemployment benefits almost unanimously. And the bailout support for big banks and corporations has many fewer restrictions than the small business funding support. But moments of crisis are also moments of opportunity, and number one on the Dem's list should be Medicare for All. Also: E. J. Dionne, the Washington Post columnist, talks about what it’s going to take to beat Trump in the Age of the Coronavirus – his new book is called “Code Red: How Progressives and Moderates Can Unite to Save Our Country.” Also, Katha Pollitt has some advice about how to spend all those hours at home – watching movies on TV -- and reading the classics. And finally, the great Gail Gollins of the New York Times op-ed page talks about the adventures of older women. Her book, “No Stopping us Now,” is out in paperback.

David Dayen of The American Prospect analyzes all the ways the economic stimulus bill passed by the Senate rewards the big corporations and doesn't do enough, or won't work well enough, for the unemployed, small businesses, and everybody hoping to receive a direct payment. David writes "Unsanitized" daily at Prospect.org. Also: Paul Krugman, the New York Times columnist and Nobel-prize winning economist, says that we don’t have an easy way of responding to the economic threats posed by the corona-virus, and that Trump’s preoccupation with the stock market is a big mistake. And we have 20 minutes without Trump: a conversation with Rebecca Solnit about how she became a writer and a feminist, growing up in San Francisco in the eighties. her new book, a memoir, is called “Recollections of my Nonexistence.”

Melina Abdullah, a founder of Black Lives Matter in Los Angeles (she's also Professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA), talks about how the coronavirus raises new issues for Black Lives Matter--while the old ones remain vital--and how it also changes the forms for organizing protest.

John Nichols examines everything that went wrong with Tuesday’s elections, and talks about what we must do to ensure there’s no postponement of the November election. Also: the Republican senators who say paid sick leave for people with the coronavirus will “make workers lazy”—that’s what Ron Johnson says, he represents Wisconsin. Also: Melina Abdullah on Black Lives Matter in the Age of Coronavirus. She's a founder of the LA chapter and also Professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA. And Amy Wilentz, our Chief Jared Correspondent, reports on the Kushners and the Coronavirus.

Trump's Oval Office TV address on the coronavirus was followed by the biggest losses in the stock market since 2008. Meanwhile, the House Democrats have proposed a bill that includes paid sick leave, food assistance, and other measures to help wage workers through this pandemic. Will the Republicans pass it? Harold Meyerson comments. Next up: Can Joe Biden recruit Bernie's young voters? Also, we need congress to fund a universal vote-by-mail system now: what might the Republican party do about that? Jeet Heer of the Nation magazine comments. Plus: Fifteen minutes without Trump: Historian Adam Hochschild on his new biography, "Rebel Cinderella: From Rags to Riches to Radical, the Epic Journey of Rose Pastor Stokes".

Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect says "electability" trumped (no pun intended) both the ground games and the air games of the candidates. plus: The Nation has endorsed Bernie, AND his movement--D.D. Guttenplan, editor of the magazine, explains. And Joan Walsh talks about life after Super Tuesday - what Bernie needs to do now.

Bernie has already won--the ideas primary: That’s what Bob Borosage argues. Bernie sets the agenda for the race and the other candidates define themselves in relations to his positions. Also: pundits have declared that Elizabeth Warren is finished, but we’re not so sure. While Warren came in third in Iowa and fourth in New Hampshire and Nevada, only a hundred delegates have been selected—while more than 1,900 delegates are necessary to win. Eventually, progressives and moderates in the party will have to come together--Could Warren be the unity candidate? Joan Walsh takes up that question. Plus: John Sayles has directed two dozen films, including Matewan and Lone Star. Here he talks about his new novel, 'Yellow Earth'—it’s about what happens when shale oil is discovered underneath an Indian reservation in the North Dakota badlands—and outsiders descend.

Democrats can win in rural America: Jane Kleeb talks about strategies for fighting Trump in red states. She’s a grassroots organizer based in Hastings, Nebraska, and she put together the coalition of ranchers, farmers, Native Americans, and environmentalists that stopped the Keystone XL Pipeline. She’s chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, and her new book is 'Harvest the Vote.' Also: another episode of The Children’s Hour: stories about Ivanka, Jared, Don Junior, and little Eric. Today: Don Junior writes a best-seller! Just like his father, his mother, and his sister: a family of literati. Amy Wilentz reports.

Bernie emerged from the New Hampshire primary as the Democratic frontrunner; Harold Meyerson says that, as more of the "moderates" drop out, Bernie needs to get some of their supporters--starting with Biden's. Also: Democrats are full of anxiety about the November election. Whoever they support, they wake up anxious that somehow Donald Trump will not be defeated on Nov. 3. There are many ways that the voting process could be sabotaged, starting with a cyberattack on the power grid on Election Day. That’s what Rick Hasen says. His hew book is “Election Meltdown: Dirty Tricks, Distrust, and the Threat to American Democracy.”

It's been a big week in American politics: Monday: the long awaited Iowa Democratic caucuses failed to give results; Tuesday: Trump gave his State of the Union address; Wednesday: the Senate Republican majority voted NOT to convict Trump of high crimes and misdemeanors or to remove him from office; and today Trump gave a 63-minute victory speech -- Harold Meyerson comments. Next up: February is Black History month -- we talk with Taylor Branch about Martin Luther King Jr. from 1965 and the Selma campaign to 1968 and the Memphis sanitation strike.

As Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate continues, the Democrats continue to come out ahead politically. also, the latest on Bernie on the campaign trail -- Harold Meyerson of the American Prospect comments. Also The W.H.O. declared the coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan, China a global health emergency today -- we talk with historian of modern China about China's handling of the crisis with Jeff Wasserstrom. Plus: Toxic masculinity -- on the football field and in the White House -- Robert Lipsyte talks about the Super Bowl and Trump.

The Senate impeachment trial shows the "ism" the Republicns fear more than socialism or liberalism is empiricism, says Harold Meyerson -- as the Democrats move toward concluding their presentation, and the Republicans refuse to admit evidence or hear witnesses. Also: A Report from Haiti: It’s been ten years since Haiti was devastated by the earthquake that killed more than a hundred thousand people. Amy Wilentz, who has been reporting on Haiti for three decades, returned to the island and found the country oddly calm, despite deepening poverty, violence, and corruption. She also found “little sprouts of possibility everywhere.”

Harold Meyerson talks about how to get past the fight between Bernie and Elizabeth Warren-- and about the upcoming trial in the Senate. Next up -- a report from Hong Kong: historian Jeff Wasserstrom talks about the months of demonstrations there and what they mean for the future. Plus: Tom Lutz, founding editor of the LA Review of Books, has a novel out: "Born Slippy" from Repeater Books.

The House votes on the war powers resolution and we are NOT at war with Iran today -- for comment and analysis we turn to John Nichols. Next up, progressive politics in the red, purple and blue districts of Orange County -- Gustavo Arellano reports. Plus: Fires continue to devastate Australia; Lizzie O'Shea reports from Melbourne. Also, we talk about her new book, 'Future Histories: What Ada Lovelace, Tom Paine, and the Paris Commune Can Teach Us About Digital Technology'.

Historically, a booming economy means the incumbent will be re-elected -- but NOT in 2020, says Harold Meyerson of the American Prospect: 'Trump Trjumps the Economy," and will not be reelected in 2020. Next up, we talk with Bill McKibben about the Green New Deal and his new book "FALTER: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?" Plus: Rick Perlstein on impeachment -- Nixon's and Trump's.

The 2020 election will liberate us from Donald Trump and Republican hegemony. A sweeping Democratic victory will make it possible at last for us to address our most serious problems. That’s what Stan Greenberg says – he’s a longtime pollster and adviser to Democratic presidents from Clinton to Obama. He’s also a bestselling author, with a new book out – it has the wonderful title R.I.P. G.O.P.: how the New America is Dooming the Republicans. Plus: Stacey Abrams probably would be governor of Georgia right now if the vote count had been fair and the vote suppression stopped – she’s a remarkable person and a fighter for the right to vote. Her new book is “Lead from the Outside”--it was Number Three on the New York Times bestseller list. Also: We look back at some of the big events of 2019, and some of our favorite interviews, starting with the terrorist attacks by white nationalists, in El Paso and elsewhere. Historian Kathleen Belew says they are NOT isolated events carried out by loners; in fact they are connected, the work of a movement, with tens of thousands of active members.

Wednesday was the worst day of Trump's life. But does impeachment help the Democratic candidates? Harold Meyerson doesn't think so -- he's editor at large of the American Prospect. Also, our segment that has nothing to do with Trump: Thousands of Muslim women left their homes in the US and Europe to travel to Syria to join ISIS, the Islamic State, especially after it declared a Caliphate in 2013. Many of them were educated and successful – Why did they do it? Azadeh Moaveni wanted to find out—she spent years interviewing former ISIS women in camps in Turkey and Kurdistan. Her book is "“Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS.”

Last month, Virginia became the first Southern state in the post-civil rights movement era to entirely flip back to Democratic control. How did they do it? And can the Democrats do the same thing in other states in 2020? Joan Walsh comments. Also: what Trump is doing about war criminals: maybe you heard that he’s pardoning them--and firing Pentagon officials who object. Jeet Heer has a report, and a political analysis. Plus: More workers went on strike in America last year than at any time since 1986, more than 20 years ago. There’s something happening here--we have comment from Bryce Covert.

Bernie’s back in second place – he spoke recently with John Nichols of The Nation, and we have highlights—“It can’t all be Bernie Sanders,” he says to John, emphasizing that a movement is necessary to change America. Also: Martin Scorcese’s new film “The Irishman” is playing now on Netflix; it claims to tell the true story of the murder of Jimmy Hoffa, the head of the Teamsters Union, who disappeared in 1974. But nobody who’s studied that history thinks the movie is right about what happened to Hoffa. Does that fact change our judgement about the film? John Powers comments; he’s critic at large for Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

The Trump impeachment proceedings have one big difference from Nixon's--the Republicans are not participating in drafting articles of impeachment. Rick Perlstein argues that, as a result, the Democrats should include all of Trump's high crimes--not just those that might win a few Republican votes. And we’ll also talk about one of our favorite writers, John le Carré – he has a new book out: 'Agent Running in the Field'--they're calling it his "Brexit book." It’s number five on the best seller list. He’s now 88 years old, he’s written twenty-six books, mostly about loyalty and betrayal, mostly during the Cold War – they’ve been published in over 50 countries and 40 languages. John Powers will comment-–he’s Critic-at-Large on “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross.

This week's impeachment hearings--esp. Gordon Sondland and Fiona Hill--leave the Republicans with no good arguments. Harold Meyerson comments, and takes up the question, why are they focusing exclusively on Ukraine when Trump has committed so many other crimes? Next up, Senator Sherrod Brown was reelected in Ohio by 7 points, a state Hillary lost by 8. We ask him: what are the lessons for 2020? Plus: Against Biden -- D.D. Guttenplan explains The Nation's "anti-endorsement" of the former vice-president.

Impeachment proceedings began yesterday--John Nichols comments; he has some doubts about "bribery" as a charge. Also: it’s an unhappy annversary: 100 years since the Palmer Raids. Adam Hochshild talks about deportations of people the government considered "undesirable" – in 1919--and also today. Also, Howard Rodman on his novel "The Great Eastern." Ricky Jay called it "A splendid and notable achievement."

This week we are one year away from the election where Donald Trump will be seeking four more years in power. He’ll be the first incumbent running for reelection after having been impeached –unless the Senate votes to remove him from office. Elie Mystal analyzes what it would take for that to happen. Also: Joe Biden may be the frontrunner, but he’s slipping, and big donors are pulling away from him. But do the so-called “moderates” in the party–-the Wall Street Democrats--have a Plan B? Jeet Heer will evaluate the possibilities—there are a lot of them, but none are very promising. Plus: Left politics can win in New York City and L.A. and San Francisco but what about Iowa and Ohio? Mike Lux says ‘Left Politics Can Win All Over the Country’ –he’s a longtime strategist for the progressive movement and Democratic candidates. And finally: Amy Wilentz reports on the recent street protests in Haiti, one of those countries about which Trump has made those disparaging remarks.

Christopher Leonard explains why the Koch Brothers did not want Trump to get the nomination - and how they got to be as wealthy, and politically active, as they are. His new book is "Kochland." Also: We all know Trump got famous on TV with The Apprentice – but how many of us ever watched The Apprentice? Reality TV was a key force in making Trump president. Tom Carson talks about “Audience of One” by James Poniewozik. Tom, a longtime writer on pop culture and politics, won two National Magazine Awards during his time as Esquire‘s “Screen” columnist; now he writes for BookForum. Pls: Ilhan Omar has endorsed Bernie for president – how does she deal with Trump’s vicious attacks? David Perry has spent the last few months with her in her Minneapolis district—he says he’s never seen a politician talk as little about themselves as she does in her town halls.

Trump says his favorite Supreme Court justice is Clarence Thomas – but Thomas is not a conventional right-wing thinker, Corey Robin says—he’s a conservative black nationalist. Corey’s new book is “The Enigma of Clarence Thomas.” Plus: The political promise of the abortion pill: Despite the fact that more than 75% of Americans favor Roe v. Wade, abortion rights face increasing jeopardy at the Supreme Court, and the right finally succeed at defunding Planned Parenthood. But there’s one immensely promising factor at work: abortion drugs, especially misoprostol, which is easily obtained on the Internet, despite the FDA’s attempts to prevent online pharmacies from selling them. Katha Pollitt will explain. Also: Our increasingly desperate president: even Fox News has become an inconsistent and unreliable defender of Trump’s actions. Sasha Abramsky will separate Trump’s efforts at distraction from the political reality he now faces.

Twelve Democrats debated for 3 hours on TV Tuesday night -- John Nichols says Bernie looked great--and Biden didn't. Also: The Supreme Court term began its fall term this week--and even though Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed at the start of last year’s court term, this year the Supremes’ decisions will be worse – a lot worse. Elie Mystal explains why—he’s the executive editor of Above the Law and a contributing writer for The Nation. Plus: a new episode of ‘The Children’s Hour’--stories about Ivanka, Jared, Don Junior, and little Eric. This week: who’s helping Dad fight impeachment? Amy Wilentz has our story.

Trump's base among white nationalists goes back to at least the Reagan era. The recent El Paso killings have been treated as an isolated event carried out by a loner. But the attacks in Charleston, Charlottesville, Christchurch, El Paso and elsewhere are connected; they are all part of the White Power movement, with roots going back to the 1970s. That’s what Kathleen Belew says -- she writes for the New York Times op-ed page, she teaches history at the University of Chicago, and she’s the author of the book “Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America,” it’s out now in paperback. Also: Your Minnesota moment:Trump comes to Minneapolis, home of Ilhan Omar, on Thursday night. Plus: The big question about impeachment is not the House -- there now seem to be enough votes there to pass at least one article of impeachment--the big question is about the Senate and whether some Republicans will abandon Trump. Former Republican Senator Jeff Flake says that at least 35 Republican senators would vote to remove Trump from office--IF they could vote in private. Joan Walsh comments.

Could the Republican defense of Trump in the impeachment proceedings open the door to a watershed victory for Democrats across the board? Even before Nancy Pelosi finally agreed that it was time to begin impeachment proceedings, the Democrats’ prospects for a sweep of the 202 elections were good. That’s what Stan Greenberg says -- he’s a longtime pollster and adviser to Democratic presidents from Clinton to Obama. He’s also a bestselling author, with a new book out – it has the wonderful title 'R.I.P. G.O.P.' Also: Jeet Heer of The Nation magazine considers the Republicans’ defense of Trump – that Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden really was corrupt in his dealings in Ukraine, and that he really did influence his father’s work as vice president, and so Trump was right to ask the president of Ukraine for more information. Plus: historian Eric Foner talks about voter suppression and the right to vote, about who gets to be a citizen, what rights undocumented immigrants have, and about the history of mass incarceration--and how they all relate to the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, part of the country’s attempt to redefine citizenship after the end of slavery. His new book is 'The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution.' how the New America is Dooming the Republicans. We spoke with him about the 2020 election BEFORE impeachment proceedings began—

After months of resisting calls for impeachment, Nancy Pelosi has authorized beginning the proceedings--and the whistleblowers' complaint became public today -- it's devastating for Trump. John Nichols comments on the latest. Next up: Edward Snowden has published an new memoir called "Permanent Record" -- for comment we turn to DD Guttenplan, editor of The Nation, which has published an excerpt. Plus: What should day one of the post Trump era look like? We talk with David Dayen of the American Prospect about the things that the next president of the US could do on the first day in office without passing any new legislation. For more visit: https://prospect.org/day-one-agenda/using-presidential-power-executive-authority/

The Working Families Party has just endorsed Elizebeth Warren – not Bernie Sanders. For comment and analysis we turn to John Nichols, host of the Nation podcast “Next Left”. Next Up: Fifty-thousand auto workers went out on strike Sunday night against General Motors – we hear from Jane McAlevey, the new Strikes Correspondent at The Nation. Plus: The Tories and Boris v. the GOP and Trump: DD Guttenplan compares and contrasts the two parties.

How will the American war in Afghanistan end? Probably like the American war in Southeast Asia--that's what Andrew Bacevich says-- he's Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History at Boston University. Next up: A new labor law has passed in the state of California, requiring that gig workers at Uber, Lyft and elsewhere be classified as employees -- how big a deal is it? Harold Meyerson of the American Prospect explains. Also: Who is "Un-American"? We talk with David Maraniss, author of the new book, "A Good American Family: The Red Scare and My Father".

Democratic candidates debated climate change last night on CNN and we're especially interested in what the front-runner in the polls, Joe Biden, had to say; also, a new labor bill that could determine the future of the gig economy -- for comment, we turn to Harold Meyerson. Next up: Is Melania Trump a secret hero of the people--or an accomplice of evil? Amy Wilentz explains. Also: Sola means "peace" in Pashto; and SOLA (The School of Leadership, Afghanistan)is the first and only boarding school for girls in Kabul; we talk with the school's founder, Shabana Basij-Rasikh about the future of girls' education in Afghanistan after an American pullout. To find out more, visit https://www.sola-afghanistan.org