Forward Nation Radio

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   We look at how our leaders are celebrating Memorial Day. One political party commemorates our fallen soldiers by trying to build and preserve what they gave their lives for; the other political party continues its efforts to tear it all down. Any guesses as to who's on which side? Dave discusses the latest in voting rights, battling deadly pandemics, fighting bigotry, preserving the planet, helping families, building a stronger America, and how republicans are fighting all of the above. President Biden fights to have government again serve its citizens,  but republicans and two Democrats are preventing him from doing so. Also, republicans find nazis everywhere except where they actually exist; within their own party. And criminal charges appear to get closer for donald trump.    *Also available on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher...and now Audible!-Please SUBSCRIBE   THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS Forward Nation Radio with Professor David L

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   The Republican party demonstrates anew that it has no leaders; the dog is completely led by the woeful tail it has created over the past four decades.  So who, exactly, is it that Democrats are supposed to be working with? The question of how low they can go is addressed again as the GOP prevents an investigation into its own actions in inciting an insurrection and assault on the US Capitol.  It is being addressed again as they limit abortions in clear violation of Roe v. Wade, hoping that the Supreme Court they have installed as a minority party overrules that long-standing precedent once and for all. Also, Dave discussed the latest on Covid, the noose possibly tightening around the neck of GOP congressman and likely pedophile Matt Gaetz, a disappointing jobs report, and, yes, more trouble in and out of Israel.      *Also available on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher...and now Audible!-Please SUBSCRIBE   THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS Forw

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   The republican party and the events of the last weeks prompts Dave to begin preparing his eulogy for reality, which is already dead to tens of millions in this country.  The big remaining question is whether a eulogy will soon need to be delivered for the United States. Liz Cheney's breed of dishonesty is no longer sufficient in the GOP, as she gets drummed out of leadership for acknowledging the reality that donald trump lost the 2020 election.  Senator Tim Scott delivers the bizarro-world response to the President's not-quite State-of-the-Union address from some planet that can't be earth.  Also, the fake republican reality of guns, net neutrality, trump, and criminal justice in the Dept of Justice under trump AG William Barr. Meanwhile, Biden gives an inspiring speech for those of us who choose to live in the real world.     *Also available on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher...and now Audible!-Please SUBSCRIBE   THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE PO

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   We address the big story of some justice for George Floyd;  the conviction of the police murderer of George Floyd is a watershed event in America.  But it, the reaction to it, and other big events from the week continue to demonstrate how far from "one nation" with "liberty and justice for all" America really is.  So why would we make kids recite this bullshit? President Biden and the Democrats continue to show how far they have progressed in seeking a better country and better planet, proposing policies to dramatically respond to climate change, racial injustice, mass shootings, and deadly pandemics, while republicans continue to show how they will have none of any of that.    *Also available on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher...and now Audible!-Please SUBSCRIBE   THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS Forward Nation Radio with Professor David Leventhal    If you love what you heard, Like Us and share on Facebook - Instagram - Twitter

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   Democratic Senator Joe Manchin says Biden should work to compromise with Republicans. Maybe if he agrees to give up his job they will let him keep his head!  But Biden goes through the motions with his infrastructure plan.  We discuss this pathetic fiction that there is such a thing as compromising with a criminal organization that believes in nothing but its own power, and why moderates and the media keep falling for the fiction that the GOP will be willing to compromise on behalf of an American people they don't care about. Dave also talks about the Biden tax plan and ponders the possibility that this country might return to some form of progressive tax system, where the rich need to chip in a bit more to pay for what this country needs.  In less uplifting economic news, the quest for economic justice took a big hit with the failed unionization effort at an Alabama Amazon warehouse.  The GOP war on unions, and workers, gained another big victor

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   Perhaps the two most crucial things this country needs to do is fix our broken democracy and fix our broken country. We talked about Biden's and the Democrats' efforts to address voting rights last week and this week we discuss Biden's plan to fix the country. The US has failed to invest in itself for years, and Biden's plan is to make much, but not all, of the investment we need to keep America competitive. It is a laundry list of things this country needs that will greatly improve the lives of our citizens while paying for itself by raising taxes on the super-rich, including super-rich foreigners and Covid profiteers. It is immensely popular. So who can be against this? Why, Republicans, of course.  Dave also talks about the military repression and murder in Myanmar that has the GOP up in arms about the fact that they can't do that too. Dave also opines on the latest assaults on US democracy and, speaking of which, on the investigation into pos

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   The US has a real President proposing great things for America. Lest we get too hopeful from that, we are being reminded that he is fighting on our behalf against almost half of our own country. This country is involved in several races for its life right now and much of this country is on the wrong side. The greatest race involves this country's very existence. Biden and the Dems seek to restore US democracy while Republicans race them in their efforts to destroy what little is left of it.  The Dems may have little hope of enacting their agenda because of how far from a democracy we already are, so they will try to highlight the stakes so brightly that even American voters see them. That is where we stand on Covid and guns as well. We are in a race against Covid to defeat it before it can change enough to come roaring back to kill us. So that must mean it's time for spring break and anti-vaccers. The latest mass slaughters remind us of the rava

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   The Senate passes President Biden's Covid Relief Bill, which figures to imminently become law.  In what is being hailed as the most ambitious anti-poverty legislation in decades, the Democrats signal that they can unite behind truly progressive legislation.  But they signal more than that.  They also signal that the party is back from the neoliberal wilderness and is ready to fight on behalf of government for the people.  They also signal that they are capable of learning political lessons and will not be so quick to roll over for Republicans.  And they signal that they have no illusions about being able to work with Republicans for the betterment of America. Dave also notes that while Democrats are the party of government "for the people", Republicans remain the party of making sure it is not "of the people" as well.  We have the latest on voter suppression at the US Supreme Court.  We also talk about CPAC, rallying for the right to kill your ne

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   Reality has never been kind to conservative doctrine, but these last few weeks would have put a stake into its heart...if it ever had one. We look at some of the big events of the week through the lens of failed conservative economic doctrine.  The twin pillars of conservativism have been supply-side economics and market fundamentalism.  The popularity of the Biden recovery plan, designed to help humans, not the super-rich, may indicate that the supply-side economics acid trip is finally wearing off.  Meanwhile, the big news story all remind us how inefficient, and often corrupt, markets are. Dave talks about the CPAC super-spreader fever dream currently showing conservatives have nothing real to offer.  He also discusses the latest on Covid, Biden's cabinet appointments, energy deregulation, and the attempted recall of the California Governor.  We also ask again if, in a country with a democracy so corrupted and a political party so corrupt, D

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   Winter storms that are the product of climate change devastate Texas and much of the US.  Republicans finally agree that the US is under assault; not by angry mobs, not by climate change, but by renewable energy.  Seriously. donald trump survives impeachment.  In fact, he wins his impeachment trial the way republicans win presidential elections; by being outscored by his opponent.  57 Senators voting to convict, versus 43 for trump, represents the most votes for conviction by the President's own party ever.  Somebody probably told trump that it's like golf, and being 43-57 means you won big! Dave also celebrates the death of rush limbaugh.  The world is a little bit better place today because limbaugh is no longer in it.  We also talk about trump being the only former President not getting intelligence briefings and the latest on COVID includes the first death of a US congressional representative. And troubles at the Lincoln Project remind us th

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   Corporate America will act only for its own benefit, without regard to its impact on society; the McKinsey settlement reminds us of that.  A functioning society, has the ability to rein-in its behavior and protect itself.  Right-wing media presents a unique threat, however.  By creating its own reality and preventing oversight it offers the same selfish disregard without the safeguards.  Dave talks about the unique threat to civilization it poses and suggests some responses.  Are recent defamation lawsuits against foxnews and some of its most prominent liars the answer?  Despite obvious concerns, it's a start. Dave also talks about the Biden stimulus and trump's upcoming impeachment trial.  Also, brave people risk their lives fighting for freedom around the world, while republicans continue to fight for the freedom to risk the lives of others.   *Also available on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher...and now Audible!-Please SUBSCRIBE   THE HOME F

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   In our second show of the Biden era, we try to maintain our hopefulness, but it is already really hard to do.  Dave talks about how Biden is trying to do the right thing, and his executive orders so far have been inspiring.  But the Republicans are going to use the same tired playbook of obstructing everything he wants to do on behalf of the country to make sure they have something to run on in 2022 and beyond. Republicans took back power because of, not despite, eight years of undermining President Obama's efforts to help Americans.  There was never any reason to think they would do anything else this time around.  They are aided in this by the fact that it is much easier to break something than to fix it, and by the fact that they have no decency, they believe in nothing, the system is rigged in their favor, and their constituents are either assholes or morons (or more likely both).  Dave talks about the latest on impeachment and the continuin

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   Our long national nightmare is over, for now, but the threat lives on. What it means when a presidential inaugural has to point out that "democracy has prevailed", and when those words present too rosy a picture. Democracy may have survived, also for now, but it remains on life support. Dave talks about the inauguration of President Joe Biden, and the fragile hope our new President engenders for a better future. We talk about the promise of Biden's first few days, the dramatic changes he is already implementing and those he is promising, and his efforts to stamp out Trump's tragic legacy.     *Also available on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher...and now Audible!-Please SUBSCRIBE   THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS Forward Nation Radio with Professor David Leventhal    If you love what you heard, Like Us and share on Facebook - Instagram - Twitter

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   Donald Trump becomes the first President in US history to be impeached. He still seems as likely to survive his term as the US does, but this time he may not avoid accountability.  Dave discusses the impeachment, which now gives trump half of all impeachments in US history, and what to make of "bipartisanship" in the wake of ten members of the criminal organization voting against their own don. Trump's sad legacy continues to be written in blood, as he and his supporters continue the insurrection against their (and our) own country. Dave has the latest on the insurgency and our continuing efforts to survive it.   Meanwhile, Biden continues to give us hope for what a country with a President might look like.  Plus, an update on the plague infecting America that is not man-made.   *Also available on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher...and now Audible!-Please SUBSCRIBE   THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS Forward Nation Radio with Professor David L

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   On a day on which the Democrats take over the US Senate and Joe Biden's election is to be certified, the only story is the attack on America...instigated by the President of the United States and the Republican criminal organization. The unprecedented assault on the US Capitol is reminiscent of 9/11, but much worse because the attack came from within.  Dave discusses the event that makes America look like a tinpot dictatorship, and which would have been unimaginable before trump, but not at all surprising after four years of him and his criminal party.  Dave discusses the implications of this attack on America and where we can expect to go from here.   Oh, and did we mention that the Dems took over the Senate?   *Also available on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher...and now Audible!-Please SUBSCRIBE   THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS Forward Nation Radio with Professor David Leventhal    If you love what you heard, Like Us and share on Faceb

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   Dave reviews the year 2020, a year we will be happy to have behind us.  But does 2021 promise to be so much better?  Where we stand regarding the two plagues of 2020: COVID and Trumpism. Tragically, we do not appear to be getting rid of either plague soon.  Both may get worse before they get better, in part because trump has criminally mismanaged the rollout of COVID vaccines.  While we can nevertheless foresee the end of one of these plagues way down the road, we still don't seem to have an antidote for the greater threat. Dave also talks about the latest in trump pardons and the stimulus bill that trump finally signs.    *Also available on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher...and now Audible!-Please SUBSCRIBE   THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS Forward Nation Radio with Professor David Leventhal    If you love what you heard, Like Us and share on Facebook - Instagram - Twitter

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   We continue our conversation of moral hazard, or how the rich avoid the consequences of their own bad actions, in the context of the latest efforts by Trump to sabotage America.   Dave discusses moral hazard and market externalities involving Trump's sell-off of US land to mining and oil and gas interests.  The devastating consequences of the Russian hacking scandal become more real to everyone who isn't the President of the United States, who is too busy pardoning the swamp and trying to overturn elections to notice.   COVID continues to devastate the country as well, even as rich people and COVID enablers seek to buy their way to the front of the vaccine line.  Finally, a discussion of the on-again-off-again government funding and COVID relief bills.  Or, as Moscow Mitch calls them, the "keep the Senate republican" bills.   *Also available on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher...and now Audible!-Please SUBSCRIBE   THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLIT

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   The Electoral College vote gives Joe Biden the presidency, after the Supreme Court refused to give it to trump.  It's now official, even Moscow Mitch says so, but does anybody think this is over?  Never overestimate the republican party or trump supporters, who will never accept Biden's legitimacy.  And the violence may just have begun. Americans begin getting the first of the COVID vaccines.  Salvation is just around the corner...if the corner is 9 or 10 months away.  Meanwhile, the virus rages out of control, in the mismanaged US, worse than ever.  The US surpasses 300,000 dead. Dave also explores the issue of moral hazard, or the justification for making people suffer the consequences of their own bad decision-making.  Republicans have always demonstrated that this "tough love" only applies to the poor, never to the rich.  But maybe it is time to start applying it to COVID deniers, like rudy giuliani, who take valuable hospital beds away from

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   Dems seek to give us legal weed as the GOP continues to seek to give us more reasons to need it.  The Democratic House bill to legalize weed is a great political move to boost their odds of retaking the Senate, but it also happens to be good policy as well. Meanwhile, trump and the republican criminal organization continue their assault on the government, the law and reality.  With the help of the Supreme Court monster they created, they seek to destroy this country beyond the Dems' ability to repair it. Dave talks about the big events of the week in light of this effort.  Turns out trump didn't mean to drain the swamp so much as pardon it.  As Covid rages, the president and his criminal organization refuse to do anything to help the sick or the US economy.  Israel assassinates the top Iranian nuclear scientist, perhaps to start a war the US will have to fight, but perhaps just to sabotage the incoming Biden administration's efforts to negotiate

THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS This Week’s Discussion:   We devote a special episode this week to an interview with FNR founder Damian Hardeen.  This is our way of celebrating the holiday (the impending end of the trump nightmare), since Damian created FNR as a counterweight to trump's lies and as an antidote to the media misinformation that got us into this mess in the first place. We talk to Damian about the election, the state of our media and disinformation, and the future of this country.  We find out why Damian is optimistic for our future...and why he's more optimistic than your FNR host!   *Also available on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher...and now Audible!-Please SUBSCRIBE   THE HOME FOR PROGRESSIVE POLITICS Forward Nation Radio with Professor David Leventhal    If you love what you heard, Like Us and share on Facebook - Instagram - Twitter