Ralph Nader Radio Hour

Latest Episodes:

Randall Kennedy on Race: "Say It Loud!" Oct 23, 2021

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Randall Kennedy, Harvard Law professor and author of a collection of essays entitled "Say It Loud! On Race, Law, History, and Culture" joins us for the full hour to talk about his views on race, class, corporatism, Clarence Thomas, the "n-word," racial optimism versus racial pessimism, and much more.

Two Soldiers' View of War Oct 16, 2021

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Ralph interviews two recent military veterans. First, Erik Edstrom, author of "Un-American: A Soldier's Reckoning of Our Longest War" tells us about his awakening from West Point Army Ranger to peace advocate. Then, Garett Reppenhagen, a former sniper and now director of Veterans for Peace, tells us how that organization helps veterans put down their weapons and work for peace.

Humane War? Oct 09, 2021

Show notes

Constitutional scholar Bruce Fein joins forces with Ralph as we devote the entire radio hour to discussing war powers in the United States with Yale historian, Samuel Moyn, author of "Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War."

Strip Mining Democracy Oct 02, 2021

Show notes

On today's program, we look at two ways that corporate lobbies and their political allies subvert democracy: "gerrymandering" and "preemption." First, law professor Herman Schwartz breaks down the scourge of partisan gerrymandering. Then Mark Pertschuk, director of "Grassroots Change," sheds light on how states and the federal government can "preempt" cities and local communities from for instance raising their own minimum wage, allowing paid sick leave, regulating firearms, banning plastics, or enforcing anti-discrimination laws. Plus, Ralph, David, and Steve discuss the infrastructure package and stock buy backs.

Mass Torts/Politics & the Media Sep 25, 2021

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Ralph welcomes Professor Elizabeth Burch to talk about her work researching how a certain mechanism in the civil justice system called Multi-District Litigation (MDL) is undermining your constitutional right to have your day in court. Then, Professor Jane Hall stops by to discuss the state of the media in her new book, "Politics and the Media: Intersections and New Directions."

Dirty Work Sep 18, 2021

Show notes

Ralph spends the whole hour with Eyal Press, author of "Dirty Work: Essential Jobs and The Hidden Toll of Inequality in America," where they discuss the large gap separating the people who perform the most thankless, ethically troubling jobs in America from the rest of us, who benefit from their work. Plus, Ralph answers listener questions.

Why Do We Still Have The Electoral College? Sep 11, 2021

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Ralph welcomes Harvard history professor, Alex Keyssar, scholar of voting rights and author of "Why Do We Still Have The Electoral College?" to discuss the battle over the Electoral College and the role white supremacy played in conceiving and perpetuating it. Then, we welcome back Steve Silberstein, board member of "National Popular Vote," to update us on the progress that movement is making on the interstate compact where states would promise to give their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote.

Wilkerson on Afghanistan Sep 04, 2021

Show notes

Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell's former chief of staff, gives us his thoroughly unvarnished take on the history of our twenty-year debacle in Afghanistan. Then, we are joined by Jacob Wilson, cofounder of Congressional Progressive Staff Association an organization devoted to drawing congressional staff from the ranks of civic activists, organizers, faith leaders, and people from the labor movement in order to bring fresh, bold, progressive ideas directly into Congress members' offices.

The Remaking of American Liberalism/Nairn on Afghanistan Aug 28, 2021

Show notes

In a fascinating interview, where the historian gets questioned by one of the main subjects of his history, Ralph welcomes professor Paul Sabin to discuss his history of the public interest movement, "Public Citizens: The Attack on Big Government and the Remaking of American Liberalism." Plus, intrepid investigative reporter, Allan Nairn joins us to give us his take on U.S. culpability in the violent history of Afghanistan.

Feeding Local Economies/Starving the IRS Aug 21, 2021

Show notes

Ralph welcomes Stacy Mitchell, co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance to talk about how enforcing anti-trust laws would lead to more decentralized and productive local economies. And Pro Publica's Jesse Eisinger joins us to explain how Republican anti-tax groups have starved the IRS budget, which leads to billions of dollars of uncollected taxes from the wealthy. Plus, Ralph answers your questions.

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