Julie Hollar discusses her recent commentary, “Who Will SAVE America From Misleading Coverage of Voter Suppression?” and the importance of calling out the disinformation in Trump and GOP talking points regarding their false claim that millions of non-citizens are voting and discrediting U.S. election outcomes.

Carr and Professor Harris discuss their views on the five-week U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran that many call a strategic disaster, the future of negotiations to end the war, Israel’s continued destabilizing attack on Lebanon and the dangerous erosion of international law.

•    Diane's Hot Topics
•    Small Farms Report with Steve Munno
•    Honey Bee Update with Vincent Kaye
•    Legislative Update with Kim Stoner, Director of Advocacy for CT NOFA

Hosted by Richard Hill and Diane Lauricella

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Ann Froines, an activist with the group Back from The Brink, which works to reduce the danger of nuclear war. Here she discusses the threat of nuclear catastrophe and provides information on how individuals can take action.

Daniella Hobbs, a member of the Hartford Jewish Organizing Collective, talks about her group organizing a Passover seder on Tuesday, April 7 outside the ICE regional field office in Hartford, Connecticut “to demand ICE out of Connecticut.” The seder will include music and ritual elements adapted to modern times, including a recitation of 10 modern-day plagues and 4 cups dedicated to collective liberation. In observing this year’s Passover, the group is demanding freedom for our neighbors held by ICE.

Jeff Hauser discusses the multiple and unprecedented instances of Trump administration corruption that the Revolving Door Project has been investigating during the president’s second term. He addresses the need for accountability and what government reforms will be necessary to prevent such blatant executive branch abuses in the future, similar to what followed the Nixon-era Watergate scandal.

David Daley discusses the ongoing efforts by Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to implement voter suppression laws and policies, including Senate debate on the “Save America Act,” and the president’s most recent executive order that instructs the federal government to compile a list of eligible citizens who can vote in each state, and as well as ordering the U.S. Postal Service to only transmit mail-in ballots to people on that list.

Professor Sohrabi discusses the impact of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, and average Iranian people not generally discussed in U.S. media, as explored in her blog, “These Are the True Things,” which focuses on stories written by Iranians coping with life inside the Islamic Republic.

On our March 19, 2026 program we first talk about the U.S. Israeli war on Iran with Jennifer Loewenstein, a former associate director of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Jennifer has a newsletter comprehensively covering many different Middle East issues from perspectives difficult to find on mainstream news outlets. 

In our 2nd segment we discuss the upcoming 3rd No Kings Day anti-Trump, pro-democracy protest on March 19th with Carol Rizzolo, a Board Member of the Tri-State Maxed-Out Womens PAC,  CT Coordinator of the Center for Common Ground, and Team Leader of the CT Shoreline chapter of Indivisible, and Ambassador with The Campaign School @Yale University.

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Xavier de Janon, co-founder of the People’s Law Collective, which represents political defendants across the South. De Janon, a member of the National Lawyers Guild, represents one of the defendants, Elizabeth Soto in her state case and provided support to defense attorneys in the federal case. Here, de Janon explains why he believes this prosecution represents an escalation in the Trump regime’s attack on people’s right to protest and free speech.

Texas State University history professor Tom Alter talks about his termination from the university without due process for remarks he made at a socialist conference in his capacity as a private citizen. Alter also talks about his legal battle defending free speech and academic freedom important to all educators and citizens — as well as his national speaking tour, including events in Connecticut in April.

Kica Matos discusses her critical work at National Immigration Law Center, the recent Senate confirmation of Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, what if any changes may be made in DHS/ICE policies, and her view of what Senate Democrats are doing to negotiate reforms in ICE operations.  Matos is distinguished practitioner at Yale University’s Brady Johnson Program in Grand Strategy.

Gerry Condon assesses the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran from the perspective of veterans and active-duty service members, some of whom are now seeking advice on how to follow the protocol to disobey illegal orders and apply for conscientious objector status.  Condon is a Vietnam-era veteran and war resister, former president and current national board member of Veterans For Peace.

Former U.S. Marine Capt. Matthew Hoh assesses the current state of the illegal U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, including allegations that the U.S. lacks a coherent strategy and made inadequate preparations for this conflict — as well as prospects that the Trump regime may soon deploy U.S. troops for a ground war inside Iran.  Hoh is a Iraq War combat veteran and Afghanistan State Department officer who resigned in protest over U.S. war policy in 2009.

Andy Shallal talks about the Trump regime’s blockade of oil to Cuba, the impact on the Cuban people and the Nuestra América Convoy to Cuba, which recently delivered a shipment of 6,300 pounds of critical humanitarian aid to the island nation by air and sea.

Parshley examines the spike in energy prices and interruption in the delivery of energy supplies due to Trump’s Iran war, creating hardship for vulnerable populations. She also discusses strategies for the world escaping this cycle of endless oil wars that has caused so much violence and destruction — and the catastrophic contribution to the climate crisis.

For more information read her article, “Memo: The Strait That Runs Through Everything.”

Katherine Spillar discusses her Ms. Magazine article, “Project 2026 Declares Open War on Women’s Rights,” with a focus on Trump administration policies’ impact on women and the SAVE Act—voter suppression legislation designed to disenfranchise millions of women across the country in the 2026 midterm election.

Raed Jarrar discusses the current state of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, escalation of the regional conflict destroying fossil fuel infrastructure and disrupting energy supplies, the prospect of the deployment of U.S. troops to Iran and the consequences for international law. 

Jarrar is advocacy director with Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), founded by Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi before his assassination.

Sarah Ganong discusses the Working Families Party’s Connecticut legislative agenda, which includes standing up for immigrant rights, advocating for an equitable state budget with higher taxes on the wealthy and demanding fair schedules for workers in hospitality, retail and food service jobs. She also talks about statewide groups organizing for the March 28 anti-Trump, pro-democracy No Kings Day protests in Connecticut and nationally.

In this Nov. 2, 2025 speech, Bishop William Barber talks about the Moral Mondays coalition response to President Trump and GOP’s effort to gerrymander the 1st Congressional district in North Carolina and efforts to rig the 2026 midterm election nationwide. Watch the full speech on the YouTube channel, Repairers of the Breach.

Bishop Barber is president and senior lecturer at Repairers of the Breach and founding director of the Center for Public Theology & Public Policy at Yale Divinity School.

Branko Marcetic talks about his recent commentaries, “Trump Is in Way Over His Head in Iran,” “The U.S. Is Fighting Israel’s War on Iran,”and “U.S. Military Aid to Israel Is a National Security Risk.”

Mel Goodman shares his views on the motivation and conduct of the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran, as well as the short and long term consequences for international law, the world economy and the American empire.  Goodman is a professor of government at Johns Hopkins University and a former CIA analyst.

Justin Glawe discusses his recent article, “Inside the FBI Raid in Georgia — and What It Really Means,” and his reports on the Trump regime plan to nationalize the 2026 midterm election in a clear effort to employ voter suppression to prevent a Democratic party takeover of the House and U.S. Senate.

Craig Mokhiber discusses the catastrophic war launched against Iran by President Donald Trump and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the further dismantling of international law and the resulting death and economic chaos engulfing the region, addressed in his recent article, “Understanding the U.S. and Israel’s Illegal War on Iran.”

Mokhiber was former director of the New York Office of the United Nation’s High Commissioner for Human Rights until he resigned in protest due to UN inaction on the Gaza genocide.

Professor Levitsky, co-author with Daniel Ziblatt of How Democracies Die and Tyranny of the Minority, talks about his recent article, “The Price of American Authoritarianism,” assessing Donald Trump’s first 12 months back in the White House and the threat he now poses to the 2026 midterm election, U.S. democracy and our republic.
 

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Ben Linden, Amnesty International’s advocacy director for Europe and Central Asia, who assesses the current state of the war and prospects for a lasting peace.

Lily Mercado talks about anti-ICE student protests that took place across the U.S. on Friday, Feb. 13 — and the organizing going on now among national student groups for the ‘Spring Surge to Melt Ice’ campaign.

Kamolika Das talks about a current nationwide effort to raise revenue in states to replace billions of dollars in vital local and state funding for social safety net programs that were lost in last year’s Trump-GOP budget mega-bill that dramatically cut social programs while giving away huge tax cuts for profitable corporations and the rich.

Andrea Pitzer examines Donald Trump’s current violent mass deportation campaign and the haunting similarities to Germany’s rounding up, brutalizing and imprisoning immigrants, Jews and other minority groups in concentration camps in the 1930s.

Amanda Hollowell talks about her group’s 20 years of critical work advocating for racial justice. She assesses the Trump administration’s aggressive attack on America’s long struggle to achieve a multi-racial democracy and implementation of discriminatory federal policies, underscored by President Trump’s personal racism and bigotry that he regularly publicly displays in his speeches and on social media.

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Josh Ruebner, an adjunct lecturer in Georgetown University’s Program on Justice and Peace. Here he talks about the continuing humanitarian disaster in Gaza and implementation of the deeply flawed second phase of the ceasefire plan.

Kevin Gosztola talks about his recent Dissenter article, “FBI Spied on Washington Post Reporter Prior to Raiding Their Home,” the related Trump regime attacks on the First Amendment with the recent arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort and the mass layoff of one-third of the Washington Post staff.

Helena Olea discusses concerns about the growing humanitarian crisis impacting the Cuban people resulting from Donald Trump’s recent executive order blocking oil shipments to the island, shutting down their energy-generating capacity while threatening secondary sanctions on any nation that provides Cuba oil supplies.

David Daley examines Donald Trump’s recent threats to “nationalize” this November’s midterm elections and Steve Bannon’s recent warning that ICE agents will surround polling places — all driven by MAGA’s false claims of massive voter fraud. He shares his views on what steps could and should be taken now to implement safeguards to protect the nation from these threats and ensure we have a free and fair election.

Professor Vials, who studies the cultural impact of the U.S. far right, is the author of Haunted by Hitler: Liberals, the Left and the Fight against Fascism in the U.S. and co-editor of The U.S. Antifascism Reader. He assesses Donald Trump’s first 12 months back in the White House of his second term and the threat he now clearly poses to the 2026 midterm election, democracy and our republic, touching on some of the issues examined in a recent commentary he co-authored with Bill Mullen, Donald Trump and the MAGA Movement’s Aspirational Fascism.

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Silvia Baldwin, a barista who’s worked at a Starbucks store on the university of Pennsylvania campus in West Philadelphia for the past 3 1/2 years. She’s an elected bargaining delegate and a strike captain. Here she explains her decision to work at Starbucks and then to go out on strike — and what the union is demanding.

Mike Tork and Anthony Aguilar discuss the Veterans For Peace education campaign, including billboards, and reaching out to active-duty U.S. soldiers and National Guard troops, urging them to “follow the law and their conscience” and refuse to obey illegal orders. This veterans campaign comes in the face of Donald Trump’s ordering the U.S. military to attack civilian boats, seize oil tankers in international waters, kidnap Venezuela’s president, threats to occupy Greenland and deploy ICE secret police force to U.S. cities, while warning of a future invocation of the Insurrection Act that could send the US Army or Marines to states across the country.

Jon Wolfsthal discusses the Bulletin of the American Scientists’ announcement that their Doomsday Clock was recently set at 85 seconds to midnight, “the closest the Clock has ever been to midnight in its history, while calling for urgent action to limit nuclear arsenals, create international guidelines on the use of AI and form multilateral agreements to address global biological threats.”

Steve Descano talks about the mission of the Fight Against Federal Overreach (FAFO) national coalition of district attorneys collaborating to ensure federal officials are held accountable when they exceed their lawful authority—violating the U.S. Constitution and ignoring the Bill of Rights, the rule of law and basic human decency. The group’s goal is to hold all federal officials, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents and their commanders accountable for illegal actions.

Pastor Doug Pagitt talks about the extraordinary courage and resilience the nation has witnessed among his city’s ordinary citizens standing up to the brutal and cruel ICE secret police force that engages in lethal violence. He discusses what people across the country can learn from the incredible grassroots organizing going on in Minneapolis to meet the current crisis and how Americans can adapt those skills, tactics and logistics to their own local efforts in defense of the rule of law and democracy.

Under the Trump administration’s push for U.S. “energy dominance” — albeit one that excludes renewable sources like wind and solar — there’s a building frenzy along the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coast where construction of six liquified natural gas or LNG export terminals are now underway or planned. That’s in addition to six terminals currently operating.

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Eddie Lejuine, a fisherman from Cameron, who talks about all the fossil fuel projects now under development in his community and what fisherfolk and their supporters are doing to fight back.

Stan Cox, who formerly served as lead scientist at the Land Institute for 20 years, talks about his new book Anthropause: The Beauty of Degrowth, which indicts our obsession with endless expansion and poses a new model of degrowth to protect the Earth from climate collapse.

Stan is the author of eight books including, The Path to a Livable Future, Sick Planet and How the World Breaks.

Greg  talks about his recent investigation, “How Venezuela’s New President Will Save Us from Trump’s Crazy: The Radical Pragmatist versus Rubio’s Vulture,” explaining how billionaire and Trump donor Paul Singer is one of the prime beneficiaries of the U.S. military attack and abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as Singer is about to take over CITGO, the crown jewel of Venezuela’s oil empire.

Madison McVan talks about Minnesota residents’ response to Trump’s deployment of a flood of ICE agents to the state; the federal agent killing of Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse; the earlier ICE agent killing of Renee Good and the Jan. 23 statewide general strike. She also discusses Trump’s threat to invoke the Insurrection Act and send in potentially thousands of active-duty U.S. military to Minnesota.
 

Melvin Goodman, whose most recent book is titled, American Carnage: The Wars of Donald Trump, talks about President Trump’s disastrous foreign policy including his attack on Venezuela and kidnapping of its president; threats to takeover Greenland and breakup NATO; his irrational imposition of tariffs around the world and the subject of his recent columns, “Donald Trump, Poster Child for Megalomania” and “Nazi Germany 1933 and MAGA America 2025.”
 

Commissioner Gomez talks about her concerns regarding the concentration of media ownership, FCC censorship and interference in the exercise of First Amendment right to free speech, the future of public media and the expansion of broadband access.

Tamika talks about the Jan. 20th Free America Walkout protest and other important work Women’s March is prioritizing. Student leader Saniyah Yolanda of the group Get Free, a youth-led progressive activist movement, talks about the work they’re doing organizing students for the Friday, Jan. 23 school walkout protest.

Rabbi Jacobs talks about her group T’ruah’s condemnation of the ICE killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis, as she and religious leaders call for accountability, justice and an end to ICE brutality nationwide.

Yint Hmu discusses the work her group is doing to challenge and resist the Trump authoritarian agenda both at home and abroad, including their many lawsuits and national protest organizing. She talks about the explosive situation in Minneapolis in the aftermath of the ICE shooting death of Renee Good, as Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act and declare martial law.

•    Hot Topics with Diane Lauricella
•    Small Farms Report with Steve Munno
•    Nutrient-rich soil and how it produces nutrient-dense food with Monique Bosch

 Hosts: Richard Hill and Diane Lauricella

Panel: Scott Harris, Ruthanne Baumgartner and Richard Hill

Marjorie Cohn discusses her recent commentary, “Trump Will Try to Defend Aggression Toward Venezuela. It’s Still Illegal,” and a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators that advanced a war powers resolution that ultimately failed. She also comments on the legal and accountability issues related to the ICE murder of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

Victor Pickard talks about recent mega-media mergers, spinoffs and the effort by Trump-supporting oligarchs to buy up media properties that could dramatically impact news coverage and cultural content. He touches on his recent co-written piece, “The Political Economy of the US Media System: Excavating the Roots of the Present Crisis.”
 

Pastor Doug Pagitt talks about this moment of crisis in the aftermath of the ICE shooting death of ICE observer Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of 3. Vote Common Good organizes religious activists to take action against the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda.

Alexander Main talks about President Trump’s regime’s illegal kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, imposition of a naval blockade, seizure of oil tankers and the president’s declaration that the U.S. will run Venezuela and take control of that nation’s oil for many years ahead. He also addresses Trump’s threat to attack other nations including Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, Greenland, Canada and Iran.

Third Act is a national organization of American activists over the age of 60, focusing on the issues of climate and democracy. The group was founded by author and climate activist Bill McKibben, whose 2025 book titled, “Here Comes the Sun,” extols the value of solar energy for providing affordable, carbon-free power, and the importance of making this renewable energy source accessible to everyone in the world.

Professor Anderson talks about his recent article, “The Worm Turns: Trumpist Fascism,” as well as issues related to effective resistance, the need to organize a popular front, “big tent” opposition to Trump’s authoritarian rule, while ensuring progressives don’t sacrifice minority constituencies or controversial positions on the climate crisis, the right of Palestinians to self-determination and independence, and trans people’s rights to basic human rights.

Kayla Hancock talks about her group’s opposition to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to cut seven grants worth millions of dollars to The American Academy of Pediatrics—jeopardizing initiatives on reducing sudden infant deaths, improving adolescent health, preventing fetal alcohol syndrome and identifying autism early.

Steve Ellner, a retired professor at the Universidad de Oriente in Venezuela, where he lived for over 40 years and Andreína Chávez, based in Caracas, who wrote the recent DropSite News article, “War of the entire people: Venezuela’s Grassroots Rise to Resist Trump’s Naval Blockade,” examine the consequences of Donald Trump’s attack on Venezuela and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro, in Venezuela, Latin America and the world.

Trita Parsi talks about his recent article, “As Expected, Netanyahu Back Demanding More War with Iran,” recent Trump threats to intervene in Iran if the government kills anti-government protesters and the message to Iran’s leaders after the U.S. kidnapping of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro.

Paul Street talks about his recent commentary, “Four Pieces in the Fascist & Exterminist Jigsaw Puzzle,” and his hopes for effective anti-fascist organizing in 2026. Street is the author of more than 10 books. His latest is titled, "This Happened Here: Amerikaners, Neoliberals, and the Trumping of America."

Craig Aaron talks about CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss’ decision to kill the 60 Minutes’ story on the Trump regime’s deportation of immigrants to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT Prison, and recent corporate mergers that are enabling political censorship.

Parker Molloy discusses her views on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s and Dr. Mehmet Oz’s, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, recent announcement essentially banning gender-affirming care for transgender young people, even in states where it’s still legal.

Jim Saksa discusses his recent Democracy Docket article, “DOJ Sues Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., Expanding Campaign of Voter Data Lawsuits to 22,” and other warning signs about the Trump administration’s possible plans for disrupting and/or manipulating the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections.

Mary Turner discusses two issues the union is currently addressing: National Nurses United’s demand Congress take agent action to restore Affordable Health Act (ACA) subsidies to prevent a spike in monthly health insurance premiums for some 24 million ACA policy holders. Turner also talks about the union’s concerns over President Trump’s executive order banning state regulations on artificial technology medical applications.

John Bonifaz discusses Rep. Al Green’s recent introduction of articles of impeachment against Donald Trump, which was tabled by a House vote of 237-140, and what accountability for Trump’s long list of unconstitutional and corrupt actions would and should look like if Democrats win back control of the House and/or Senate in the 2026 midterm election.

Medea Benjamin talks about President Trump’s unconstitutional march to war with Venezuela, some pushback now seeing in Congress, the work Code Pink is doing to raise awareness about the regime’s murderous interventionist policy and the current lack of an active and effective U.S. peace movement.

John Nichols talks about his recent Nation magazine article, “Zohran Mamdani on FDR, LaGuardia—and Trump,” on his hopeful interview with New York City mayor-elect and the current political environment where there are increasing signs Donald Trump’s MAGA world might be starting to fracture.

Nichols is author, co-author and editor of over a dozen books. His latest book is co-written with Sen. Bernie Sanders is the New York Times bestseller, It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism.

The event featured a conversation between Khalil and Stanley Heller, chairman of the Connecticut-based Middle East Crisis Committee and sponsor of Khalil’s appearance.  He began by describing his court cases, both as a plaintiff and a defendant.

Eric Ross discusses the rising tensions and violence directed by the Trump regime targeting Venezuela, and his recent article, “The Trump Corollary: U.S. Imperialism in Latin America from the Monroe Doctrine to Maduro,” with a view to better understanding the current crisis in the context of the long history of U.S. military intervention in Latin America.

Dr. Steinbrook discusses his views on the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice vote last week changing CDC’s recommendations for administering the hepatitis B vaccine to infants, major Trump administration and HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.’s cuts to research on cancer, Alzheimer’s and other chronic diseases, as well as general administration threats to public health.

Alex Lawson talks about the U.S. healthcare crisis, where Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress have refused to restore Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies and if not approved, will cause many of the 24 million ACA recipients to see their monthly insurance premiums double or triple, resulting in millions losing their coverage. He also discusses long term solutions to America’s broken health care system.

John Gartner shares his concerns about President Trump’s deteriorating mental health as he nears the end of his first year in his second term in the White House. He also addresses the cult-like devotion Trump continues to command from millions of Americans. He cofounded the group, Duty to Warn in 2017, with other mental health professionals and laypeople to warn the community-at-large of impending danger of Donald Trump’s presidency.

Nell Bernstein recounts the story of how a coalition of parents, activists and prison officials launched a successful campaign in states across the U.S. to end the prosecution of young people as adults, slashing the number of children locked in cages by a stunning 75 percent.

Maurice Carney discusses Africa observers’ concerns over Donald Trump’s recent meeting with the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, where they signed an agreement aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Congo, while opening the region’s critical mineral reserves to the U.S. government and American companies.

Hoh discusses the Trump regime’s announced intention to launch covert CIA operations and airstrikes against Venezuela, as well as the U.S. bombing of suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific seas amid news reports of standing orders to kill survivors of those attacks.

Hoh is a former U.S. Marine Corps captain and State Department officer, Iraq War combat veteran and Afghanistan War State Department officer.

Sen. Sanders denounced the Trump administration’s defiance of the U.S. Constitution and rule of law, describing it as a dangerous move toward oligarchy, authoritarianism and kleptocracy. Rebroadcast of his Feb. 4, 2025 speech from the U.S. Senate floor.

David Rovics talks about his latest album of songs, “Ai Tsuno’s Army of Robots,” created with artificial intelligence. He explores the controversy, skepticism and fear surrounding this new powerful technology regarding job displacement, privacy and the potential for abuse and misinformation.  Rovics talks about his music being censored on YouTube, and shares his positive experience collaborating with an AI music production platform that created his new album.

Gerry Condon talks about VFP’s support for the legislators’ message to active duty military and National Guard men and women, advising them they have an obligation to refuse illegal orders to fight illegal wars at home or abroad. He also discusses the recent tragic shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C.

John Noël talks about the lack of action to phase out fossil fuels at the UN COP30 Climate Summit in Belem, Brazil that ended Nov. 22. He also addresses the Trump regime’s refusal to send a U.S. delegation to COP30 and the global impact of a diminished U.S. role in green energy production, as well as efforts to mitigate the climate crisis.

Sasha Abramsky discusses his recent Nation and TruthOut commentaries that have tracked Donald Trump’s increasing depravity and erratic behavior which the nation has witnessed in recent weeks. Abramsky also talks about his new book, American Carnage: How Trump, Musk, and DOGE Butchered the U.S. Government, which follows 11 federal workers from 8 agencies for the first half of 2025 as their lives were upended by the Trump regime’s mass layoff of government workers and assault on the government.

Oliva talks about the two approaches to ending homelessness and her organization’s opposition to Trump’s recently announced policy that will  cause 170,000 formerly homeless people to lose their federal funded housing. 

Mello discusses his views on Donald Trump’s comment several weeks ago about his intention to resume nuclear weapons testing. He also talks about the danger many see in the expiration and/or violation of long-standing nuclear weapons treaties with Russia, with the remaining New Start treaty expiring in February 2026.

Palast talks about the recently released emails between Harvard University’s Larry Summers and Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex trafficker of minors — emails in which Summers, who is married, seeks advice from the convicted predator on how to seduce a young economist he was mentoring at Harvard.  Palast investigated international banking deregulation back in 2013 and discusses how these Epstein emails and his relationship with Larry Summers brought this important story about the 2008 Great Recession back into focus.

Adler discusses what was and what was not accomplished at the UN COP30 Climate summit in Belem, Brazil, with a focus on FOE’s views on the widening climate crisis, finance and justice gaps blocking real climate progress.

Dr. Singh talks about America’s deepening health care crisis with a focus on the expiring Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies and her work at Physicians for a National Health Program advocating for the adoption in the U.S. of a universal, comprehensive, single-payer national health program.

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Raymond about the evolution and current state of Sudan’s war, which included the RSF’s 18-month siege of El Fasher, leading to the highest of five levels of famine for the 500,000 people who were sheltering there.

Michael Brown discusses his recent article, “Trump Ambassador Pick Vows to Pressure South Africa Over Gaza Genocide Case,” and nominee Brent Bozell’s unwillingness to declare his opposition to repealing laws allowing Black Americans to vote in U.S. elections.

Parton talks about the Epstein files legislation and Trump's coverup, and her recent commentary, “Donald Trump’s Enemies List Keeps Growing,” the Epstein files controversy, his increasing number of “pay-to-play” pardons and convicted Jan. 6 insurrectionists pardoned by Trump who have since been re-arrested for new crimes including child molestation, sexual abuse and threats to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Ari Paul discusses his recent coverage for FAIR.org regarding the ongoing MAGA-connected right-wing media takeover in his articles, “As Ellison Buys Out TikTok, U.S. Moves Toward One-Party Media” and “Conde Nast, Paramount Cut Jobs—and Political Dissent.”   

Jennifer Loewenstein discusses the situation in Gaza and the West Bank that has been mostly absent from news coverage since the ceasefire was signed on Oct. 9, as well as the important current debate in the UN Security Council over the control and composition of an international force that would be deployed to Gaza.

Professor Robinson, the event’s keynote speaker, is an authority on what’s driving the world’s elites toward ever-greater austerity and repression. His talk focused on the political economic context in which neoliberal governments are losing authority and the far right is gaining ground, as well as the relationship between the crises of global capitalism and strategies needed to resist. Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus attended the conference and presents this excerpt of Robinson’s talk.

Norman Solomon talks about his recent commentary, “A Year After Trump Won, Why Won’t Democrats Change Their Playbook?” — a discussion that goes well beyond the mainstream’s superficial analysis of the 2025 off-year election results. Solomon is author of War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine.

John Tarleton reflects on Zohran Mamdani’s election victory, becoming New York City’s first Muslim and immigrant mayor in 50 years, the youngest mayor in a century, as well as the city’s first democratic socialist mayor, the challenges ahead for governing America’s largest city, and how his winning campaign could impact national politics.

Steve Ellner discusses the situation in Venezuela as the Trump regime appears to be preparing an attack or invasion of the country with the goal of removing President Nicolás Maduro from power. Ellner is a retired professor at the Universidad de Oriente in Venezuela, where he lived for over 40 years and is co-editor of Latin American Social Movements and Progressive Governments: Creative Tensions Between Resistance and Convergence.

Doug Pagitt discusses his group’s mission of “mobilizing people of faith to make the common good their voting criteria,” with a focus on how progressive religious activists are now taking action to oppose the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda and frequently violent ICE raids targeting communities of color.

Peggy Bailey discusses her group’s views on the major issues and possible solutions to end the ongoing government shutdown, i.e.: extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and addressing the impending cutoff of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The project, which channels the “power of art to illuminate the ongoing struggle to realize America’s democratic ideals,” offers a variety of ways to engage with his portraits through exhibits and educational programs. Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Shetterly about his personal development as a portrait painter and discusses his goal of inspiring courageous citizenship.

Maria Stephan assesses the recent No Kings Day protests, Trump and the Republican Party’s labeling anti-authoritarian protesters as “anti-American and terrorists,” and what new strategies and tactics may be necessary to adopt in the face of Trump’s deployment of heavily armed ICE agents and the US military to cities across the country.

Henry Burke examines Donald Trump’s recent pardon of convicted money launderer Changpeng Zhao, which many observers link to Zhao’s boost of the Trump family’s crypto business and an “example of Trump’s Pay-to-Pardon scheme.” He also shares his views of how Trump, unlike any other U.S. president, has exploited his office to accumulate what some estimate to be more than $3 billion added to his personal fortune during the first nine months of his second term.

Andra Watkins discusses the current government shutdown, suspension of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) food and nutrition benefits that relate to her recent, timely discussion and articles, “How Project 2025 Plans to Starve You into Faith” and “How to Starve Fascists and Cause Their Christian Nationalist Takeover of SNAP and Other Welfare Assistance to Backfire.”

Chad Marlow takes a critical look at President Trump’s late September National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM-7) authorizing government-wide investigations into nonprofits, activists, and their donors and funders using vague and overbroad labels of “terrorism” and “conspiracy against rights.” He also explores what pro-democracy groups and state governments can do to protect groups and individuals’ right to dissent and free speech.

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Gregg Gonsalves, a recipient of a MacArthur fellowship in 2018, who describes Defend Public Health’s work over the past year and what he thinks the future prospects are for repairing the damage done to U.S. public health policy.

David Paul assesses the Trump regime’s escalating military threats against Venezuela, Columbia and Latin America; the bombing of small boats and murder of 40+ alleged drug smugglers or fishermen in international waters; open White House discussion of a regime change war targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and a summary of recent U.S.-Venezuela relations.

Hardy Merriman discusses his views on the direction and strength of the U.S. anti-authoritarian resistance movement, i.e. the recent No Kings Day mobilization — and what new strategies and tactics may be necessary to rapidly adopt in the face of Donald Trump’s deployment of heavily armed ICE agents and the U.S. military to cities across the country.

The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict’s research and training focuses on support for nonviolent civil resistance movements fighting for rights, freedom, and justice and how communities can organize to counter political violence.

Secretary Thomas discusses the importance of local elections, highlighting typical low turnout and the need for more civic engagement. She also talks about steps her office is taking to ensure elections in Bridgeport, Connecticut are secure and open to all eligible voters, questions about early voting and absentee voting, as well as concerns that the Trump regime is now laying the groundwork to manipulate the results or cancel the 2026 midterm election.

Robert Weiner discusses the critical issues being decided in the Louisiana v. Callais case now before the U.S. Supreme Court: racial gerrymandered congressional district maps eliminating the voices of Black and Latino legislators and the battle ahead to restore and strengthen civil rights law, democracy and equal access to the ballot box in coming months and years.

Eddie Lejuine traveled with other Gulf residents to Washington, D.C. in September to protest the continued buildout of LNG facilities. The group met with government agency representatives and politicians, and participated in a 'Petrostate Tour' organized by Third Act Actions Lab.  They also visited the offices of powerful fossil fuel industry promoters including the American Petroleum Institute, the American Gas Association and Venture Global, the company behind the construction of two LNG terminals in Cameron. Here Lejuine talks about the decimation of fishing in his community and fisherfolks’ efforts to hold Venture Global accountable.

Dr. Ira Helfand, a steering committee member of the 'Back from the Brink' campaign, discusses the threat nuclear warfare poses to humanity and how the public can help mitigate it. He is calling on the U.S. to implement policies to lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war. Dr. Helfand will be speaking at the Wilton, Connecticut Quaker meeting on Sunday, Oct. 26, from noon-1:30 pm.

Helfand is past president of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and co-founder and past president of Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Steven Cash, who formerly served as senior advisor to the undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence & Analysis, talks about his group’s “Assessment of U.S. Democracy,” which warns the Trump administration’s consolidation of executive power, weakening of institutional checks and balances, politicization of justice and intelligence, and deliberate erosion of civil service neutrality—labeled competitive authoritarianism—constitutes an existential threat to U.S. democracy.

Steve Phillips discusses his views on the important issues being decided in the Louisiana v. Callais case now before the U.S. Supreme Court, which could eliminate the remaining protections in the Voting Rights Act — and the battle ahead to restore and strengthen civil rights law, democracy and equal access to the ballot box in the months and years ahead.

Phillips is a national political leader, columnist and author of the national bestselling book, How We Win the Civil War: Securing a Multiracial Democracy and Ending White Supremacy for Good.

Phyllis Bennis shares her views on the Gaza ceasefire agreement and its many shortcomings, including the lack of specificity on a number of key issues such as who will govern Gaza and when will Israeli forces fully withdraw? But most important, how can reconstruction begin with no details on enforcement mechanisms, clear timelines or international guarantees?

Lockwood was one of three Marine Corps linguists aboard the ship and was seriously burned when a torpedo exploded. He was awarded a Purple Heart and also a Silver Star for rescuing three sailors trapped in flooded ship compartments. Altogether, 34 were killed and 174 wounded.

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Lockwood about the U.S. government’s cover-up of the incident and his belief that this incident has led to Israel’s actions, steeped in impunity, in the decades since.

John Feffer discusses the U.S. military’s deadly strikes on four boats in international waters off Venezuela’s coast; Donald Trump’s designation of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a “narco-terrorist” and growing concern that the U.S. may be moving toward initiating action to overthrow Maduro’s government.

Wendell Potter discusses his views on the current federal government shutdown triggered due to Congress’ failure to renew ACA subsidies that will cause millions of policyholders’ premiums to skyrocket. He also talks about the many failures of the U.S. healthcare system and the reforms he advocates to reduce costs and achieve universal coverage. Potter is speaking in Hartford, Connecticut on Oct. 15.

Potter is a former vice president for corporate communications at Cigna and author of "Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans."

Robert Jereski discusses the release of live 20 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and some 2,000 Israeli-held Palestinian prisoners under phase #1 of President Trump’s 20-point Gaza Ceasefire plan, with the goal of ending Israel’s war in Gaza that’s killed more than 67,000 Palestinian civilians.

Col. Lawrence Wilkerson discusses his views on the Gaza ceasefire agreement and Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to cities across the U.S.; the legality and dangers of this policy; and his thoughts on the president’s ultimate goal and its impact on our democracy.

Wilkerson is a senior fellow with the Eisenhower Media Network.

Danny Tsoi, a federal worker at the Department of Health and Human Services, is one of 620,000 government employees who’ve been placed on furlough since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. Between The Lines’ Scott Harris spoke with Tsoi, who works at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in New York and is a member of the American Federation of Government Employees union, about what’s at stake in negotiations to end the shutdown for workers like him and essential government programs that serve the needs of millions of Americans.

Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck, 7 Directions of Service co-founder with her husband Jason Crazy Bear, talks about four presentations she made during Climate Week at the United Nations, and summarizes the information shared here.

David Rovics, talks about Trump’s targeting of Portland with a National Guard troop deployment — which Rovics wrote about in a recent commentary, “Portland, Oregon: Myths and Realities in 2025,” covering what is, and is not going down on the ground in that city — while providing context for understanding Portland’s unique activist history over recent decades. David will be touring the Northeast states in October, including a concert in New Haven, Connecticut on Oct. 16, which he discusses in the interview.

Chuck Collins talks about his latest book titled, "Burned by Billionaires," where he chronicles how the actions of the top .01 percent have severe consequences for the rest of us, exposing how the rich rig the game in their favor, resulting in a concentration of wealth in the hands of a tiny class of billionaires—and leading to both intense income and political polarization.

Mel Goodman, author of American Carnage: The Wars of Donald Trump, and national security columnist for CounterPunch.org, discusses his recent article, “Setting the Stage for the Insurrection Act,” which examines the possibility that the Trump regime could invoke the Insurrection Act and declare martial law in certain cities or nationally, escalating the president’s attack on Americans’ civil liberties, the Constitution, rule of law and free speech.

Here Goldsmith talks about his film which examines the role of vulture capital in the wrecking of local newspapers nationwide. The film profiles the courageous journalists who fought against the hedge funds gobbling up newspapers in order to save and rebuild local journalism.  

Here he discusses his recent Counterpunch commentary, “Would Orwell Be Branded a Terrorist? The Government’s War on Thought Crimes,” regarding the Trump regime’s daily violation of the Constitution and rule of law, seen most recently in the selective and vindictive grand jury indictment of former FBI Director James Comey — and the criminalization of Trump critics as terrorists who must be prosecuted and imprisoned.

Alan McPherson examines whether recent U.S. military attacks on small boats off the coast of Venezuela were a violation of the congressional War Powers Resolution of 1973 and international law. McPherson also expresses his concern that the current buildup of U.S. military forces in the region could be a prelude to a U.S. assault on Venezuela to remove the nation’s President Nicolás Maduro from power.

Abby Maxman shares her perspective on Donald Trump’s UN speech; his closing down USAID worldwide and the cost in lives lost; the ongoing slaughter and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza and other priorities Oxfam is currently working on.

Theodore Hamm talks about his latest book, Run Zohran Run! Inside Zohran Mamdani’s Sensational Campaign to Become New York City’s First Democratic Socialist Mayor, an inside look at how Mamdani’s bold, grassroots campaign toppled New York’s political establishment and delivered the city’s most progressive mayoral primary victory. The author will also assess the state of the election campaign after incumbent NYC Mayor Eric Adams ended his campaign on Sept. 28.

Hosted by Scott Harris, Ruthanne Baumgartner and Richard Hill.

Tom Swan talks about the Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG) and other groups’ demand that Gov. Ned Lamont declare a fiscal emergency and call a special session of the  state legislature to take immediate action to protect the state’s residents from the Trump- GOP’s deep federal budget cuts to crucial social safety net programs, including Medicaid, SNAP and the Affordable Care Act.

Professor Jacobs shares her views on the actions taken by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which reversed recommendations for COVID vaccinations and a combined measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox vaccine. Observers say committee members, all of whom were appointed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after he dismissed all 17 previous members, were unprepared, misunderstood, or ignored key data, and highlighted flawed or inconclusive research often trumpeted by vaccine critics.

Wood focuses on the continuing pattern of Trump regime threats, lawsuits and intimidation targeting media companies, as too many CEOs in the media industry are surrendering to authoritarianism, turning their backs on their duty to protect free speech.

Rachel Bitecofer, a political analyst, pollster and strategist, discusses her views on the state of our democracy in the face of Donald Trump’s daily assaults on our Constitution, the rule of law and freedom of speech. She also talks about her recent Substack post, “From Goebbels to Google,” which examines the links between radio during the Nazi era and today’s social media, where algorithms amplify hateful posts, sensationalism and other forms of emotionally charged content.

Kimberly discusses the unique educational focus of the Brave Nature School, and Carl and Hugo talk about B&P's important history in political theater, their performance at New Haven’s Edgerton Park, 5:30 pm on Sept. 18, titled, “Our Domestic Resurrection Revolution in Progress Circus.”

Glawe discusses his latest column, “Martial Law is Already Here,” rising polarization and U.S. political violence in the aftermath of the murder of Charlie Kirk in Utah, and the blatant politicization and dysfunction of the Trump FBI and Department of Justice.

Sheppard discusses the upcoming “Make Billionaires Pay” international mobilization for climate justice, happening from Sept. 19  to Sept. 21, with a focus on the issues, demands, and information on how listeners can participate in this action.

Rev. Graylan Hagler discusses his recent column, “The Killing of Charles James Kirk: Violent Speech Leads to Violence,” and his views and experiences regarding Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. Rev. Hagler is a retired senior minister at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington, D.C.

Pierre D’Haiti talks about two workshops sponsored by WPKN during Latino Heritage Month at HCC on Sept. 17 and 29. The sessions from 7 to 9 p.m., will focus on immigrant rights and safety, addressing such questions as, What should you do if ICE stops you, and what are your rights? What is the red card? What is the red folder? If you don’t know the answers to these questions and you’re either a possible enforcement target or know someone who might be, the events could be life-saving.

Micah Sifry discusses his recent article, “Keep Calm and Protect Democracy,” on the issues of Pro-democracy activists and veteran organizers alike struggling with information overload and outrage fatigue — while also reflecting on his recent conversation with Ian Bassin, the executive director of Protect Democracy on the seven steps to autocracy and how to resist them.

Melvin Goodman, the national security columnist for Counterpunch.org, talks about his recent commentary, “Trump and the Post-American World,” and Trump’s recent attack on a speedboat that killed 11 on board off the coast of Venezuela and the U.S. naval buildup in the region.

A former CIA analyst, Goodman is the author of Failure of Intelligence: The Decline and Fall of the CIA and National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism.

Brett Edkins, Stand Up America’s managing director of policy and political affairs, discusses his group’s work defending democracy, opposing Trump’s military deployments to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and likely other U.S. cities in the Trump-GOP attempt to rig the 2026 midterm election — as well as the work Stand Up America is doing with the national “Not Above the Law Coalition.”

Aziz discusses the Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs’ response to the Trump administration’s order halting construction of the Revolution Wind offshore wind project that’s 80 percent complete, and would have powered 350,000 homes in Connecticut and Rhode Island. He also discusses other priorities his group is working on in the CT state legislature this year.

Here he discusses the urgent issues examined in his recent article, “How Trump’s National Guard shock troops could seize voting machines,” and other concerns about the security of the 2026 midterm election that Trump and the Republican party are clearly worried they’ll lose — and now taking action on rigging the outcome.

Fletcher Jr. is the former president of TransAfrica Forum and the author of "They’re Bankrupting Us!: And 20 Other Myths about Unions.” His latest novel is titled, "The Man Who Changed Colors."

Melinda Tuhus spoke with Tabitha Sookdeo, executive director of CT Students for a Dream, which works mostly with young immigrants. Sookdeo herself is West Indian and she recently convened a meeting in Hamden, Connecticut, to bring together black immigrants from various countries to discuss their experiences and how they might increase collaboration with others at risk of abduction and deportation by ICE agents under Trump’s oppressive policies.

The Rev. Sierra-Marie Gerfao and Juliana Soares talk about the escalation of violent ICE raids and abductions in Danbury and in Connecticut, as well as what opponents of this lawless repression are doing to rally resistance against the Trump regime’s dehumanizing mass deportation policy.

Heather Digby Parton discusses the important issues examined in her recent Salon article, “Paging FDR: Democrats need to embrace New Deal-style politics,” where she recounts how President Franklin Delano Roosevelt fought for the underdog — and was brazenly ruthless, urging floundering Democrats to follow FDR’s lead.

University of Washington School of Medicine professor Dr. Ferric C. Fang discusses his views on the decision by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattachary to cancel all federal contracts for research on mRNA vaccines because RFK Jr. believes “the public lacks trust in the technology,” and the consequences for U.S. and global public health in normal times, as well as in the event of future deadly pandemics.

RootsAction.org‘s Political Director Sam Rosenthal talks about the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the coalition of progressive groups supporting a resolution calling for “an immediate ceasefire, an arms embargo and suspension of military aid to Israel” that will be heard at a meeting of the Democratic National Committee Aug. 25 to 27.

Susan Campbell discusses her recent commentary, “Debunking Lies about America’s Homeless,” in the context of President Trump’s takeover of the Washington, D.C.’s police department and his announced deployment of 800+ National Guard troops to “crack down on crime and homelessness.”

Sydney Register and Aaron Stephens discuss their group’s campaign targeting Paramount’s cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s contract on “The Late Show” as an example of Donald Trump’s transactional corruption vis-a-vis the company’s request for FCC approval of their $8 billion merger with Skydance. Register and Stephens also discuss PCCC’s response to the Trump regime and GOP’s unprecedented effort to gerrymander five congressional seats in Texas and possibly 8-10 seats in other states in advance of the 2026 mid-term election.

Mara Verheyden-Hilliard discusses her group’s response to Donald Trump’s militarized takeover of Washington, D.C., and growing concern that this is yet another test (along with Los Angeles) that is laying the groundwork for the deployment of the U.S. military to cities across the nation. She also assesses the possible future invocation of the Insurrection Act and suspension of constitutional rights.

Professor Stanley explains why he left the U.S. after Donald Trump's election, and examines the Trump regime’s seven-month history of imposing authoritarian rule, including the recent executive order mandating an expansive review of the Smithsonian Institution’s museum exhibitions, materials and operations to ensure they align with President Donald Trump’s view of history.

Stanley is a professor of philosophy and also author of "How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them." His latest book is "Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future."

Anti-fossil fuel campaigners from the U.S. Gulf South joined other activists in New York City from July 28 to Aug. 2 for an action dubbed, “From the Gulf South to the Global South.” Stop the Money Pipeline, a group that targets banks and insurance companies enabling the construction of methane pipelines and liquefied “natural” gas or LNG, export terminals, co-organized the protest.

Kellie Snider discusses the nation’s history of white supremacy and racism before, during, and after slavery. She also talks about her work as an artist and the intersection of art and politics during our current crisis, where the Trump regime is launching attacks on virtually all democratic institutions.

Matt Gertz assesses how corporate and MAGA media are covering public demand for the release of the Epstein files, with some cooperating with the Trump White House by amplifying bogus distraction stories designed to tamp down the controversy.

He also comments on Paramount’s decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, as well as concerns that the president has. Trump’s lawsuits and many other attempts to intimidate media outlets constitute a very real threat to free speech, freedom of the press, and democracy itself.

Candice Fortin provides an overview of the Trump regime’s multi-pronged attack on all federal climate regulations; the short- and long-term impact on the environment; what if anything states can do to implement their climate regulations and how climate/environmental activist groups like 350.org can challenge these policies both in court and in the streets.

David Daley discusses his recent Nation article, “How the GOP Hopes to Gerrymander Its Way to a Midterms Victory,” given what Trump and Republicans are doing to carve out five new GOP-leaning districts in Texas and what democracy defenders could and should be doing now to prevent the further erosion of our democratic system and ensure the integrity of elections in both the short and long term.

Daley is the author of the national bestseller, “Antidemocratic: Inside the Far Right’s 50-Year Plot to Control American Elections,” and Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesn’t Count,” which helped spark the drive to reform gerrymandering. Daley’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, the New York Times, the Atlantic and the Guardian.

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Kimberly Fountain, consumer financial justice field manager at Americans for Financial Reform. Here she explains why medical debt shouldn’t be included in consumers’ credit ratings and the disparate impact it has on different communities.

Ayesha Clarke discusses how the federal slashing of social safety net programs in Trump’s recently passed budget bill will impact Connecticut residents, and what Gov. Ned Lamont and the legislature can do to prepare and offset the pain and disruption to essential services serving the state’s most vulnerable residents.

Rebecca Gordon discusses her important coverage of how the Trump regime is expanding the “surveillance state” targeting perceived enemies to extend and consolidate authoritarian power.

Gordon taught philosophy at the University of San Francisco. A long-time political activist, she’s presently retired from teaching but remains active with the faculty union and writes regularly for TomDispatch.com. She is the author of several books, including "Mainstreaming Torture" and "American Nuremberg."

Richard Behan discusses his recent Counterpunch article, “The Peril of Spectacle, Especially Jeffrey Epstein’s,” explores where the deepening bipartisan suspicion and anger about Donald Trump’s expanding scandal may lead the country; and how it may serve as a distraction from the central, existential fight to defend democracy against Trump-Republican party fascism.

Jennifer Loewenstein examines the current famine crisis in Gaza; the Trump regime’s incoherent and dishonest policies toward Gaza and Palestinians; France, the U.K. and Canada’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state — and what, if any, difference that policy shift could make.

Scarlett explains that after June ICE raids led to the arrests of hundreds of immigrants in Los Angeles. ACT-LA sent a letter to the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority asking for changes to strengthen protections for immigrants against ICE abductions.

Hannah Levintova talks about her investigation featured in the Public Radio series, “Reveal,” titled, “The Landlord Gutting America’s Hospitals,” which examines how a real estate company buys up hospitals and then leases them back to healthcare systems, causing dozens of its hospitals to go bankrupt, close or be sold because profits were sucked out of them, resulting in the deterioration of patient care.

Robert Greenwald talks about his new documentary titled, “Gaza: Journalists Under Fire,” which exposes Israel’s crimes against journalism and humanity, where more than 200 Gaza-based journalists have been killed since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel — through the lives and deaths of Palestinian journalists Belal Jadallah, Heba Al-Abadla and Ismail al-Ghoul.

Brave New World, a nonprofit production company that creates and distributes investigative political and social justice documentaries.

Sharif Abdel Kouddous discusses his coverage of Israel’s starvation campaign against Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinian civilians — and the Trump regime’s role in this war crime via the U.S.-backed “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” — as reported in his recent article, “Palestinians are Collapsing in Gaza’s Streets from Israeli-Imposed Starvation Campaign.”   Kouddous received a George Polk Award for his investigation into the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

Melvin Goodman, a former CIA analyst and author, discusses his recent Counterpunch commentary, “The Waste and Futility of the Golden Dome National Defense System,” estimated to cost between $161 billion and $542 billion over two decades, as well as the larger danger of expiring U.S.-Russia nuclear arms control treaties. 

Joan Cavanagh talks about the new documentary film titled, “Thoughts on Medical Assisted Suicide,” which will be available for viewing online from July 23 through July 30, in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990.

Greg Palast talks about his recent investigations into the Trump-Republican party plan to win the 2026 midterm elections in 2025 by employing massive voter purges in purple states, racial gerrymandering, and voter suppression tactics.

John Tarleton discusses his coverage of Zohran Mamdani’s surprise victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary and the obstacles ahead for his progressive campaign in the November election, where he’ll face both Mayor Eric Adams and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He also considers what Mamdani’s rise could mean for progressive candidates in the Democratic party and across the U.S.

Dr. Feroze Sidhwa and Dr. Ayaz Pathan discuss their experiences working as physicians in Gaza; the ongoing slaughter and starvation of Palestinian civilians there; and their understanding of the mission of the Israeli-U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in distributing food that has resulted in hundreds of lives lost and the U.S. role in Israel’s 21 month-long Gaza war.

Beyond the current bloody war and genocide in Gaza, people across the Middle East and world are asking whether or not the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians can ever be resolved. Jonathan Kuttab is a Palestinian-American human rights attorney who practices in the U.S., Palestine and Israel. Kuttab, a practitioner of nonviolent resistance, is the co-founder of both the independent Palestinian human rights association Al-Haq and Non-Violence International. He recently spoke about the prospects for peace and co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians at the Unitarian Society of New Haven, Connecticut. Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus was there and presents this excerpt of his powerful talk.

Indivisible organizers Debra and Tom discuss plans for the Thursday, July 17 “Good Trouble Lives On Rally” — with speakers and music on the New Haven Green in downtown New Haven, CT from 6 to 7 pm. This event, part of the day’s some 1,000+ protests nationwide, is being organized in response to the attacks on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration — and in defense of voting rights, democracy, and civil liberties. The protests are inspired by the legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis, who died five years ago and his lifelong call to get into “good trouble.”

The ‘No Kings Day’ protests involved 2,100 protest sites across the U.S. and attracted the participation of an estimated 5 million protesters.

Kali Holloway discusses her recent articles on white supremacy and the Trump regime, with a focus on the multiple ways Trump has carried out an explicitly racist, white supremacist agenda. She also addresses corporate media’s failure to call out Trump’s racism, while normalizing his actions driven by hate and bigotry. 

Victor Pickard discusses the important issues examined in his recent Nation magazine article, “The Media’s Profits Trump Democracy, Once Again,” with Paramount’s settlement with Trump as a symptom of deep structural rot in our corporate media system. In his analysis, Pickard goes beyond the predictable commentary on “bad media companies” surrendering to Trump, but discusses the urgent need to envision a community-based media system that prioritizes journalism, democracy, and equality over profit.
 

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Xavier de Janon, an attorney representing one of the 61 defendants. Here, he discusses the status of the cases and the serious possible sentences — up to 20 years in prison — that await any who are convicted. On July 7, a few days after this interview was conducted, the judge in King’s case declared a mistrial, saying there were “juror issues.”

Maggie Mitchell Salem discusses the impact of the Trump administration’s new immigration policies on IRIS services, as well as federal funds revoked or withdrawn from IRIS’ budget. She also talks about her group’s latest Know Your Rights campaign that was launched on the July 4th weekend, and other projects and services local listeners can support or volunteer for.

Teddy Wilson talks about indicted Jan. 6 insurrectionist Jared L. Wise’s appointment as a counselor to Ed Martin, director of the so-called Department of Justice Weaponization Working Group. Wilson also discusses investigations he’s conducted in his “Pardon Tracker” series regarding the alarming activities of insurrectionists and other convicted criminals after they were pardoned by Donald Trump. Wilson has more than a decade of experience covering the U.S. radical right, publishing the Radical Reports newsletter.

Chris Lehmann discusses the important and timely issues examined in his recent Nation article, “Trump’s Big Bill is Building a Big Police State,” explaining that “with more than $150 billion in outlays to expand the horrific surveillance, detention and rendition regime created under the Laken Riley Act, the measure will carry out Trump’s pledge to make the terror — wreaked by masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, alongside federal and National Guard troops in Los Angeles — the standard operating procedure for immigrant roundups going forward.”

Dr. Adam W. Gaffney and Bruce Lesley discuss the expected overall healthcare impact of the Trump-GOP federal budget bill just passed by Congress that cuts $1 trillion from Medicaid and Medicare, will take away millions of poor families’ access to food and nutrition programs and close hundreds of community and rural hospitals. Both will also address viable alternatives to America’s current failed for-profit healthcare system.

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus visited friends in the area in June and saw firsthand some of the damage and ongoing recovery efforts. Padma Dyvine and her husband, who live in the hamlet of Bat Cave, were airlifted from their home by helicopter when fallen trees blocked their ability to leave their home and get supplies. The couple spent 55 days as refugees, moving back home just before Thanksgiving. Increases in hurricane strength and rainfall due to the worsening climate crisis are predicted to make future hurricane seasons more dangerous over time.

Dulce Guzman discusses her group, Alianza Americas’ response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limits the power of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions, without addressing the constitutionality of Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship. She’ll also discuss the next steps in defending the U.S. Constitution from the Trump regime’s authoritarian rule.

India Walton discusses Zohran Mamdani’s apparent and historic victory in the New York City primary election, and the attacks and obstacles he’ll likely face in the general election campaign as the Democratic party establishment, their corporate allies, and Wall Street attempt to smear Zohran as a “dangerous Muslim socialist.”

Walton won the Democratic primary for mayor of Buffalo, N.Y. in 2021, but lost the general election after establishment Democrats, Republicans, and the city’s business sector pulled out all the stops to defeat her.

Amanda Marcotte talks about her recent commentary, “Evangelicals Push Trump into Conflict with Iran,” making the case that the Christian Right remains Trump’s most important constituency.

Sarah talks about the Trump-GOP mafia state’s aggressive attack on the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law and dissent, as the regime deploys National Guard troops and the Marines to U.S. cities and instigates war (with Israel) against Iran.

In this show we speak with two guests Praisely McNamara A 50501 Connecticut organizer of protests against the Trump administration's authoritarian agenda, and Nora Benavidez senior counsel and director of digital justice and civil rights with the media democracy group Free Press.  The conversation is about "NO KINGS DAY" protests that same day, June 14th, where more than 2,000 individual protests were organized across the nation -on a day of action rejecting the Trump regime's authoritarian agenda, violations of the basic principles of the US constitution, defiance of the rule of law and attempt to transform democracy into a corrupt oligarchy. 

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Mike Ferner, a former national director of Veterans for Peace who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, later discharged as a conscientious objector. Ferner began the fast with the others, but was forced to drop out after 21 days due to health reasons. Here he talks about his hope that the fast will draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and end the suffering of Palestinian civilians there.

Carolina Bortolleto and Juliana Soares discuss recent ICE deportation raids in Danbury and elsewhere in Connecticut, the Danbury community’s response and demands issued by Danbury Unites for Immigrants, a collective of local immigrant community leaders.

Norman Solomon talks about the recent massive June 14th nationwide anti-Trump protests and his recent commentary, “No Kings Day’ Was Historic: Now We Need a Powerful — and Independent — Movement Against Trump,” discussing the strategies and tactics necessary to stop the Trump-GOP march toward fascism.

David Schultz discusses his recent Counterpunch article, “The Tragedy of Political Violence: It Works,” recounting how violence has played a critical role in shaping history across the world and here in the U.S. He examines Donald Trump’s and the Republican party’s embrace and normalization of political violence, such as the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and the more recent deployment of U.S. military forces to suppress anti-Trump/ICE protests in Los Angeles, as well as how Trump’s MAGA movement could employ political violence to extinguish U.S. democracy.

Phyllis Bennis talks about President Trump’s decision to launch of air strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities, the ongoing Israel-Iran air battle, and the danger that Trump’s entry into the conflict could ignite a dangerous regional war.

Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus spoke with Randi Spivak, public lands policy director with the Center for Biological Diversity, discusses these threats and suggests ways listeners can help protect America’s public lands.

Ann Wright discusses her views on Donald Trump’s federalization and deployment of National Guard and Marine troops to Los Angeles over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, to suppress mostly peaceful protests regarding: militarized ICE deportation raids, and growing concern about the Trump regime’s partisan politicization of the U.S. military. 

Sasha Abramsky discusses his recent articles, “Trump Calls Up the Marines. Democracy Is in Danger,” and “Trump’s Dangerous Escalation in LA,” as well as the most dangerous authoritarian actions Trump may take in the coming days.

Elizabeth Jacobs discusses her alarm at Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s changes to COVID vaccine recommendations for pregnant women and children; as well as removing all 17 sitting members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee and replacing them with new members, many of whom are reported to be critics of mRNA vaccines and public health measures taken during the COVID pandemic.

Jennifer Loewenstein assesses the rationale and consequences of Israel’s attack on Iran, Tehran’s retaliation, the Trump regime’s apparent role in the attack, and the threat that this conflict could trigger a wider regional conflict involving the U.S.

The Trump administration is cutting every subsidy and tax rebate for clean energy under the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in 2022. The Trump administration and the Republican Congress is also eliminating any other laws that promote the transition to clean energy that created hundreds of thousands of green jobs, many in red states.

Charles Haynes talks about Trump’s deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid protests against ICE deportation raids, and his recent column, “Trump Protestors: You Have No Idea What Is to Come,” with a focus on Israel’s seizure of ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza violates international law.

Brandon Wolf provides an overview of Donald Trump’s many attacks on the LGBTQ+ community over the first five months of his administration and in the first few days of June Pride Month. He also discusses how HRC and a national coalition of allied groups are pushing back in the courts and on the street.

Tamika Middleton discusses a broad coalition’s plans for the June 14th national No Kings and Kick Out the Clowns protests, which are being organized in more than 1,800 locations across the U.S. in response to President Trump and the Republican party’s attack on democracy and the rule of law.

Craig Mokhiber discusses his urging the UN to convene under Uniting for Peace to mandate a protection force be deployed in Gaza, a call for a complete military embargo of Israel, robust sanctions against the regime, demand for a ceasefire, and action be taken to hold all perpetrators accountable.

Mokhiber is an international human rights lawyer who resigned in protest from his post as director of the New York Office of the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2023, due to the unfolding Gaza genocide and the UN’s failures.

Avelo Airlines is the only known commercial carrier that is operating deportation flights from the U.S. under contract with Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security. One of its commercial passenger hubs is in New Haven, Connecticut, where it has grown from a few flights to as many as 14 per day, mostly to the Southeast and Puerto Rico.

• The Coalition to Stop Avelo
• Defend and Recruit
• Immigrant Rights Advocacy Group: Siembra NC
• "Activists Are Fighting Tax Subsidies for Airline Running ICE Deportation Flights By Umme Hoque," Truthout, May 15, 2025

Juan Fonseca discusses the CT Senate’s recent passage of amendments to the state’s TRUST Act, assessing what was, and was not accomplished by groups working to strengthen protections for the state’s immigrant community.

Seth Donnelly talks about his group, Taxpayers Against Genocide, and the National Lawyers Guild International Committee’s legal complaint filed with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights against the U.S. government for complicity in genocide in Gaza. The lawsuit includes notarized affidavits by Palestinian-American plaintiffs who have lost loved ones to the U.S.-funded slaughter of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Andra Watkins discusses her recent column, “Project Esther: Where Dissent = Terrorism,” with a focus on the Trump regime’s targeting of individuals and groups protesting Israel’s genocide in Gaza and in support of independence and self-determination for Palestine. Watkins says Project Esther’s larger goal is the suppression of all dissent, which they label as terrorism.

Alan Minsky discusses a petition circulated by several progressive groups calling for the Democratic National Committee to “convene an emergency meeting of all its members—fully open to the public—as soon as possible,” to strategize in confronting “the predatory, extreme and dictatorial actions of the Trump administration.” He’ll also review what happened in the May 30th meeting of the DNC’s executive committee.

Leslie Blatteau talks about the CT chapter of the American Federation of Teachers union’s recent civil disobedience protest resulting in the arrest of 10 members and students in front of Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s office at the State Capitol. The protest was part of a campaign to “secure more robust and equitable investments in the state’s neighborhood and magnet schools.”

Russell Brown talks about his participation in the 40-day “Veterans & Allies Fast for Gaza,” where dozens of U.S. war veterans and religious activists have gathered at United Nations headquarters in New York City to raise awareness of the famine looming over Gaza. Participants plan to consume less than 250 calories daily, mirroring the average daily nutrient intake of residents in Gaza. The fasters are demanding full humanitarian aid to Gaza under UN authority and no more U.S. weapons to Israel.

Ron Jacobs talks about his commentary, “Culture, Christianity, and the Afrikaner Blues,” in the context of the blatantly false claims made by Donald Trump during South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent meeting at the White House.

Alex Lawson discusses his group’s strategy to defeat Trump’s grotesque budget bill in the U.S. Senate that mandates the largest cuts in U.S. history — totaling $1.5 trillion from Medicaid and Medicare as well as the the SNAP food assistance program — while disproportionately giving the wealthiest Americans and profitable corporations a tax break that will cost $4 trillion over the next decade. All this while increasing the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion.

Lia Holland talks about her group’s opposition to a provision included in this year’s Republican reconciliation bill, similar to last year’s H.R. 9495, which would allow the Trump regime to remove the tax-exempt status of nonprofits that it says support terrorism, with no requirements for providing evidence to prove such a charge, as a way to punish charities that advocate for issues that don’t align with Trump’s MAGA agenda.

Sim Kern talks about his new book, Genocide Bad: Notes on Palestine, Jewish History, and Collective Liberation, a part-activist memoir, part-crash course in Jewish and Palestinian history. Genocide Bad dismantles Zionist propaganda in 10 unapologetic essays, drawing connections between Biblical promises and exploding pagers, medieval dress codes and modern-day apartheid.

Analilia Mejia discusses her group’s opposition to the Trump/GOP budget proposal that will cut a combined $1 trillion from Medicaid and the SNAP food stamp program, which will result in 10.3 million people losing Medicaid coverage over the next decade to pay for major tax cuts primarily benefiting the nation’s wealthiest families.

Raed Jarrar, advocacy director with the Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), discusses the group’s views on President Trump’s recent visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the U.A.E., the deals announced, gifts received, and major issues discussed, including the ongoing slaughter and starvation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

DAWN is an American non-profit organization founded in September 2020 by Saudi U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi before his assassination ordered by the Saudi monarchy.

Resistance Roundtable Hosts: Ruth Anne Baumgartner, Scott Harris and Richard Hill

Jeremy Brecher talks about his latest book, “The Green New Deal from Below: How Ordinary People Are Building a Just and Climate-Safe Economy,” which explores community-led initiatives in various sectors such as renewable energy, green schools and fair labor practices.
Brecher has written over a dozen books on labor and social movements, including his widely acclaimed book, “Strike!” which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1972.

Margaret Poydock discusses EPI’s new report, “100 Ways Trump Has Hurt Workers in his First 100 Days,” which she co-authored, as well as the response of workers and opponents challenging the Trump regime policies. His new book Examines “The Green New Deal from Below” Jeremy Brecher, is a historian, documentary filmmaker, activist, and author of over a dozen books on labor and social movements, including his widely acclaimed book, “Strike!” which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1972. Jeremy will talk about his latest book, “The Green New Deal from Below: How Ordinary People Are Building a Just and Climate-Safe Economy,” which explores community-led initiatives in various sectors such as renewable energy, green schools, and fair labor practices.

Jacob Love talks about his work challenging President Trump’s executive order to strip birthright U.S. citizenship from children born to immigrant parents. He’ll also discuss his concern about reports that the Trump regime is now actively considering deporting immigrants from the U.S. to Libya and Rwanda — as well as the hundreds of Venezuelans who have already been remanded to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison without due process.

Kathy Boylan discusses her hopes for Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, as a peacemaker and advocate for social justice, as well as personal appeal to the new Pope to visit Gaza and take a moral stand against Israel’s continuing war against the civilian Palestinian population, and current blockade of all food and humanitarian aid.

Dr. Kristen Panthagani discusses criticism of Trump-appointed HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s spread of disinformation about the safety of vaccines, promotion of bogus “cures” for the growing measles epidemic, regressive rhetoric about people suffering from autism, the mass firing of federal research scientists and budget cuts ending research into Alzheimer’s and cancer.

Mark Colville discusses Yale University administrator’s decision to revoke Yalies4Palestine university club status, the larger issues of freedom of speech on campus, the illegitimate conflation of any criticism of Israel with antisemitism, and the Trump administration’s attack on colleges and university federal funding to suppress dissent and academic freedom.

Craig Mokhiber discusses Israel’s blockade of food supplies to Gaza, starving 2.3 million Palestinians, the recent International Court of Justice hearings on Israel’s attack on and interference with UNRWA and other UN agencies in Palestine — as well as the long-term impact of Israel and the U.S. government’s undermining of international law and the impact on future conflicts around the world.

Mokhiber is an international human rights lawyer and former director of the New York Office of the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights who resigned in protest in 2023 because of the unfolding genocide in Gaza and the UN’s failures.

Ralph Nader talks about the current constitutional crisis under the Trump regime, and his new book, “Civic Self-Respect,” a handbook on democracy and how citizens are empowered by their several roles, not only as voters but through other roles: such as workers, parent, and veteran.

Gareth Gore talks about his new book, “Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church. He discusses the late Pope Francis’ views on Opus Dei, the conservative personal prelature within the Catholic Church, and the coming college of cardinals vote for his successor, as well as the rising influence of the political right-wing inside the U.S. Catholic Church.

Kevin Martin talks about his article, “Trump, the Peace President? More Likely the Proliferation President,” assessing the Trump regime’s foreign policy on Iran’s nuclear program, the Ukraine war, Israel’s ongoing slaughter of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and nuclear disarmament.

Dulce Guzmán discusses her group’s concerns about the arrest of Milwaukee County Judge Hanna Dugan over allegations she obstructed justice after directing a migrant out of her courtroom as federal agents waited to arrest him. She also addresses the Trump regime’s continued defiance of federal and Supreme Court orders while hundreds of people are being deported without due process, some to a brutal prison in El Salvador.

Mel Goodman talks about his recent article, “The Meltdown of the United States,” where he observes, “The executive branch has taken on powers that are usually associated with wartime requirements. The legislative branch has been neutralized because of the near total abdication of the Republican party. And the judicial system is facing an unprecedented challenge from a president and vice president who have no respect for our courts and our judges.”

Sam Rosenthal discusses his group and Progressive Democrats for America’s petition calling for the Democratic National Committee to convene an emergency meeting, declaring that “business as usual must give way to truly bold action that mobilizes against the autocracy that Donald Trump, Elon Musk and their cronies are further entrenching every day.” He also talks about what actions petitioners are asking the Democratic party to take in response to the current constitutional crisis.