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Archive 10: 2017

Shows Available from Pirate Television

Pirate Television is a weekly 58 min television program nationally syndicated on Free Speech TV.  In addition it is broadcast on Seattle Community Media and several  Public Access stations in the US.  Pirate TV challenges the Media Blockade by bringing you alternative information and independent programming that is unavailable on the Corporate Sponsor-Ship.  The show features talks, interviews and documentaries.  The purpose of Pirate TV is to put back what corporate media filter out.

These links are to the online version of these programs which are usually longer than the broadcast versions. Some of the material seen on Pirate TV is obtained from other sources but most of it is locally produced and owned by us.  We are offering to sell copies of this material to support the operation.  If you would like to support the Pirate Television project you can obtain a copy of any of these discs for a $20 donation (includes postage) in advance.  To obtain videotapes or DVDs, contact us first by email:

PirateTVSeattle(at)gmail.com

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Shows are listed in reverse cronological order:

David Neiwert: Alt America, Monday 12/18, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

With a reported increase of racially motivated hate crimes and following the harrowing events of Charlottesville, VA, many of us are struggling to understand the rise of xenophobic extremists and white supremacists in our country. How have these groups evolved, and what factors have helped their ideals gain traction? Seattle-based investigative reporter David Neiwert brings two decades of research to help us understand the mindsets that shape American extremism.
In conversation with Crosscut author Knute Berger, Neiwert lends insight into the momentum that has been gathering behind these belief structures since the 1990’s, citing the influence of powerful right-wing media and growth of radical conservative activist groups. He charts the evolution of the mysterious “alt-right”—from a post-9/11 profusion of fresh conspiracy theorists to the virulent rebuke against the first black president by militant racists, up to a present-day examination of connections between Donald Trump and figures on the far right. Sobering and urgent, Neiwert’s expertise provides crucial perspective about one of the most disturbing pieces of American society.

David Neiwert is a journalist and author and an acknowledged expert in American right-wing extremism. He has appeared on Anderson Cooper 360, CNN Newsroom, and The Rachel Maddow Show and is the Managing Editor of the popular political blog Crooks and Liars.

Knute Berger is Mossback, Crosscut’s chief Northwest native. He also writes the monthly Gray Matters column for Seattle magazine and is an occasional guest on Weekday on KUOW-FM (94.9). His newest book is Pugetopolis: A Mossback Takes On Growth Addicts, Weather Wimps, and the Myth of Seattle Nice, published by Sasquatch Books.

Recorded 10/24/17 Thanks to Town Hall Seattle and Elliott Bay Books

Richard White: America in the Gilded Age, Monday 12/11, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

MacArthur Fellow and leading American historian Prof. Richard White turns our attention to some of the most ignored and ignoble years in America’s history: Reconstruction and the Gilded Age. The nation was deeply divided across religious, racial, economic, and political lines (sound familiar?), leading to three decades (1865-1896) ridden with racial violence, bitter labor strikes, political corruption, and rapidly widening wealth disparities.
In this latest installment of the award winning Oxford History of the United States series The Republic for Which It Stands: The United States during Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865-1896, Richard White offers a fresh, unblinking look at the challenges America faced during these times and the vigorous efforts made—not from political leadership, but from grassroots coalitions—to effect real reform. With an integrated interpretation of an era that resonates with so many of us today, White casts this period as the seedbed for Modern America.

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall and Elliott Bay Books
Recorded 9/29/17

Randy Mandell: Modern Money Green Economics for a New Era, Monday 12/4, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM
The unfolding climate crisis demands that we make an urgent and just transition to a green economy. The question many are asking is, “How will the U.S. government pay for this transition?” In this talk we learn how the U.S. has used “modern money” since we came off the gold standard in 1971, which offers substantial new options which have not been utilized. Modern monetary theory can be used by the federal government to create new green jobs, build a green economy, and fund social programs in a surprisingly affordable and complete way.

Randy Mandell works on Modern Money Revolution, a
campaign of 1 Sustainable Planet and 350Seattle.org, and
actively works for climate recovery.

Recorded 11/12/17 at Prospect Congregational United Church of Christ, Seattle. Thanks to The Faith and Climate Team.

Michael Hardt, widely considered one of the most articulate and creative thinkers/writers on the Left these past twenty years, has done so from a base of Duke University, where he is a professor of literature. But he is also, part of the year now, calling Seattle home. With Antonio Negri, he has written a trilogy of Empire, Multitude, and Commonwealth; and Declaration. He is here this evening with the newest of their joint volumes, Assembly (Oxford University Press).

"Are you ready for democracy? Assembly argues: don't be scared to remake it. Disturbing the tendency of resistance struggles to become hamstrung by a poverty of organization, Hardt and Negri throw question after question at left political habits and traditions of thought, imagining a New Prince from the multitude and new tools for self-governance. Some of their many propositions may seem questionable and some viscerally right, but all are thoughtful, potentially revelatory, fuel." -- Lauren Berlant.

"A smart and in-depth examination of Marxist politics for a new century... [Assembly] is a fascinating, challenging theoretical journey into a future beyond capitalism."--Publishers Weekly.

Recorded 9/30/17
Thanks to Elliott Bay Books, co-presented with RED MAY SEATTLE

Brian Snoddy with Special Guest Rod MacKenzie: JFK, The Killers

Longtime Kennedy assassination researcher Brian Snoddy connects the dots regarding the cast of characters involved in the plot to kill JFK. Examining the evidence of who was on the various shooter teams and their connections to various mob organizations, government agencies, deep state actors, and high level public and military officials, he sheds light on who would have a motive and how they were able they to take out the President of the United States and get away with it.

Recorded 11/18/17 At the Seattle Public Library, Green Lake Branch

Christopher Bollyn: Making Sense of the War on Terror

Christopher Bollyn, author of Solving 9/11, presented a lecture on his latest book, The War on Terror: The Plot to Rule the Middle East. Bollyn discussed the dual deception of 9/11 and the War on Terror and explained the hidden strategic plan behind America's longest and costliest war.

Recorded 10/5/17 at Seattle Public Library Ballard Branch

Deborah Parker: Love at the Crossroads- Climate and Social Justice

Keynote address, 2017 Faith and Climate Conference Former vice chair of the Tulalip Tribe, Deborah Parker is on the board of Our Revolution (Bernie Sanders). She has also
served as a Policy analyst in the office of Governmental Affairs for the Tulalip Tribe from 2005-2012. She has testified many times in DC and is outspoken on mental health issues. She also spoke at a huge Native women led NO DAPL demonstration in DC and is passionate about climate issues.

Stop the Sweeps, Monday 11/20, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

On November 1st Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, of Socialist Alternative, and a broad coalition of organizations, many of whom are organized into a coalition called “Housing for All,” mobilized for a City Council Public Budget Hearing and occupied City Hall overnight to demand to end the brutal demolition of unsanctioned encampments of homeless people (called “sweeps”). Instead of wasting money on sweeps, it is proposed to tax big business to build affordable housing and fund human services in this year’s city budget which will be finalized in mid-November. Pirate TV was there.

Going to Extremes: The future of weather in the Pacific Northwest, Monday 11/13, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM
Going to Extremes: The future of weather in the Pacific Northwest. How is climate change impacting weather in our region? Will floods and droughts be the new normal? And how will people and wildlife cope? This Climate Science on Tap will examine the relationship between extreme weather events and our changing climate. Three scientists (Joshua Lawler [School of Environmental and Forest Sciences], James Rufo-Hill [Seattle Public Utilities], and Rachel White [UW Department of Atmospheric Sciences]) share the data and their perspectives in riveting presentations and a lively panel discussion of the issue and the impacts to the people and creatures that call the PNW home.

Alfred McCoy: The Rise and Decline of US Global Power, Monday 11/6, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM
Prize-winning historian Alfred W. McCoy first came to prominence with his 1972 book, “The Politics of Heroin in South East Asia”. His latest book “In the Shadows of the American Century: The Rise and Decline of US Global Power”, explores America's rise as a world power--from the 1890s through the Cold War--and its bid to extend its hegemony deep into the twenty-first century through a fusion of cyberwar, space warfare, trade pacts, and military alliances and analyzes the marquee instruments of US hegemony--torture, client elites, psychological torture, and worldwide surveillance. McCoy exposes a military and economic battle for global domination fought in the shadows, largely unknown to those outside the highest rungs of power.
Professor McCoy was in Seattle when he gave this rousing talk.

Thanks to Elliott Bay Books
Recorded 10/25/17

Tali Sharot: The Influential Mind, Monday 10/30, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Raj Patel: A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things, Monday 10/23, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Raj Patel: A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things, Monday 10/23, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM
Nature, money, work, care, food, energy, and lives: these are the seven things that have made our world and will shape its future. Award-winning writer and activist Raj Patel makes the case that in making these things cheap, modern commerce has transformed, governed, and devastated the earth. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman once said, “I believe in capitalism. But capitalism only works if you have safety nets to deal with people who are naturally left behind and brutalized by it.”

In A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things: A Guide to Capitalism, Nature, and the Future of the Planet, Raj Patel and Jason W. Moore present a new approach to analyzing today’s planetary emergencies, bringing the latest ecological research together with histories of colonialism, indigenous struggles, slave revolts, and other rebellions and uprisings. In the grips of another upheaval, Patel and Moore suggest innovative thinking to understand and reclaim the planet.

Thanks to Town Hall and University Bookstore
Recorded 10/11/17

Frances Moore Lappé and Adam Eichen: Daring Democracy, Monday 10/16, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Frances Moore Lappé and Adam Eichen: Daring Democracy, Monday 10/16, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM
Many Americans are distraught as tightly held economic and political power drowns out their voices and values. Legendary "Diet for a Small Planet" author Frances Moore Lappé and organizer-scholar Adam Eichen offer a fresh, surprising response to this core crisis in "Daring Democracy: Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want."
This intergenerational duo opens with an essential truth: It’s not the magnitude of a challenge that crushes the human spirit. It’s feeling powerless—in this case, fearing that to stand up for democracy is futile. It’s not, Lappé and Eichen argue. With riveting stories and little-known evidence, they demystify how we got here and expose the well-orchestrated effort that has robbed Americans of their rightful power. Even in this divisive time, Americans are uniting across causes and ideologies to create a new democracy movement. Millions of Americans are leaving despair behind as they push for and achieve historic change. Lappé and Eichen offer proof that courage is contagious in the daring fight for democracy.

Recorded 10/7/17
Thanks to Seattle Town Hall & Elliott Bay Books

Gilad Atzmon: The Post Political Condition, Monday 10/9, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

The full title of this talk was "The Post Political Condition, Brexit, Trump and the Rest of Us".
This event had to be relocated at the last minute because an anonymous caller - we are told - cited ADL links that attack Gilad Atzmon.  A world class touring jazz musician with 15 albums to his credit, he is also a best selling author with two novels and two nonfiction books as well as a popular political analyst writing for World News, Press Tv, The Daily Telegraph, Veterans Today, Palestine Telegraph, Counterpunch, Aljazeera Magazine, and The Guardian, to name a few.
Atzmon was born in Israel in 1963 and trained at the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem but he now lives in England renouncing not only the Jewish state but also Jewishness itself.   His latest book: “Being In Time: A Post Political Manifesto” is the sequel to “The Wandering Who?”, a study of Jewish identity politics.  Clearly, he doesn’t identify with the Zionist state and is a fierce critic of Israeli foreign policy. But as he explains, he is against any form of identity politics whatsoever and this might help explain why he and Pink Floyed star Roger Waters who he recorded with are being subjected to an international smear campaign.  This campaign, he says is orchestrated and promoted by various Zionist institutions that attempt to silence every form of legitimate dissent of Zionism and Israeli politics.  In this talk we hear why he thinks identity politics has destroyed social progress and the left.
Thanks to BD Sanctions, Seattle
Recorded 9/30/17

Peter Ward: Climate Scientist Meets Direct Action Activists, Monday 10/2, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Paleontologist, Professor Peter Ward meets the Valve Turners for a deep conversation on how scientists and activists can communicate the existential necessity of climate action in both word and deed.

Professor Ward has long communicated how Earth's five major mass extinctions offer a frightening window into the future we ourselves might catalyze. His standing within the scientific community comes from his skill in finding and interpreting what the fossils say about the horror of each environmental cataclysm. His gifts and energy for outreach — for communicating to the public the stark relevance of the science — is top tier.

As valve turner Leonard Higgins has said from the get-go, "If we want people to understand that this is an emergency, then we have to act like it is an emergency." By turning the emergency shut-down valve of the tar sands pipeline transiting Montana, Leonard powerfully communicated by deed.

Peter Ward was featured in the PBS Evolution series (2001) and has appeared on NOVA Science NOW. He was also one of the scientists on Animal Planet's Animal Armageddon (2009). According to Ward's 2007 book, Under a Green Sky: Global Warming, the Mass Extinctions of the Past, and What They Can Tell Us About Our Future, all but one of the major mass extinction events in history have been brought on by climate change.

Valve Turners in attendance were Emily Johnston, Leonard Higgins, and Annette Klapstein. Valve Turners Michael Foster and Ken Ward participated via Zoom Web Conference.

Recorded 9/16/17
Thanks to Nicky Bradford

Vanessa Grigoriadis: Sex, Power, and Consent on Campus, Monday 9/25/28, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Women use fresh, savvy methods to fight entrenched sexism and sexual assault, even as they celebrate their own sexuality as never before. Many “woke” male students are more sensitive to women’s concerns than previous generations ever were, while other men perpetuate the most cruel misogyny. Amid such apparent contradictions, it’s no surprise that intense confusion shrouds the topic of sex on campus.

In an unprecedented investigation, Vanessa Grigoriadis dispels that confusion with Blurred Lines: Rethinking Sex, Power, and Consent on Campus. She traveled to schools large and small, embedding in their social whirl, and talking candidly with students, administrators, parents, and researchers to reveal a host of surprising truths. Offering convincing, if controversial, advice on how schools, students, and parents can make college a safer, richer experience, Grigoriadis offers a revelatory account of what’s happening these days and nights on our college campuses.

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall and Third Place Books
Recorded 9/13/17

John Nichols: Horsemen of the Trumpocalypse, Monday 9/18, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Whose hands are really on the levers of power in President Trump’s administration? The Nation’s John Nichols returns to our stages for an in-depth examination with his new book: Horsemen of the Trumpocalypse: A Field Guide to the Most Dangerous People in America. Nichols asserts that Trump has assembled a collection of “white nationalists, alt-right hatemongers, voter-suppression schemers, immigrant bashers, and climate-change deniers” to run the American government…and it’s up to us to challenge their excesses.
Having covered many of these political figures for decades, Nichols offers would-be resisters a clear-eyed look at Trump’s inner circle.

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall and Elliott Bay Books
Recorded 9/11/17

Sarah Sentilles: Draw Your Weapons, Monday 8/28, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

I once heard that the Dali Lama said he thought the world had enough Buddhists and that what was needed were more activists. In divinity school, on the way to becoming a priest, Sarah Sentilles lost her belief in God and decided to become a teacher, activist, and writer instead. Naturally, she wrote a book about it- "Breaking Up With God: A Love Story". But this honest and courageous act of going beyond belief only plunged her deeper into the vexing questions- What is faith, really? How do we be ethical? What is the way to live a meaningful life in our violent times? What is happiness? What is the purpose of art? ... 

Maybe the journey through divinity school wasn’t such a waste of time. The strength gained from her personal metamorphosis shines through as she reads from her powerful new book "Draw Your Weapons" wherein she attempts a metamorphism on us. The book is about two men: a man who was a conscientious objector in World War II who makes violins and another man who was a US military prison guard at Abu Ghraib who paints detainee portraits. Weaving through a collage of images, she changes us in the act of telling. -A revolutionary act. After the reading, she shares what she learned in the ten years journey of writing a masterpiece.

Recorded 8/8/17
Thanks to Elliott Bay Books

Can One Medical School Change the World?, Monday 8/21, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Revered throughout the world but little known in the US, this show tells the story of the largest medical school in the world, the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) in Havana, Cuba. It opens with a 30 minute movie called Dare to Dream, produced by filmmaker and Professor of Communications, Jennifer Wager. Through the eyes of US students who received full scholarships from the Cuban government with the commitment to practice medicine in under-served communities, we learn the history of this medical school that is revolutionizing healthcare on a global level, graduating more than 26,000 doctors from around the world. After the documentary, questions and answers are fielded by producer Jennifer Wager, and Sol Bockelie a current ELAM student from members of the audience composed of health care professionals and activists with the Seattle Cuba Friendship Committee.

Thanks to the Seattle Cuba Friendship Committee & Jennifer Wager
Recorded 8/5/17

Terry Jastrow: What If Bush Was Tried for War Crimes?, Monday 8/14, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

What if George W Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq not on assumptions but outright lies? Should—and could—a former US president be held accountable in a court of law for war crimes?

A screenwriter, playwright, and celebrated Emmy Award-winning producer/director who traces his roots back to the Mayflower and an American president, Terry Jastrow explores this unprecedented scenario in his gripping debut novel, "The Trial of Prisoner 043". Backed by rigorous research, this hard-hitting work of fiction presents a powerful case that George W. Bush exploited the horrific attacks of 9/11 to win public support for his war with Iraq—even though he may have known that one had absolutely no connection to the other.  Joining him in conversation is Terry's wife, Academy Award-nominated actress Anne Archer (Fatal Attraction).  

Thanks to Third Place Books
Recorded 8/9/17

Dr. Willie Parker: A Moral Argument for Choice, Monday 7/31, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

#ShoutYourAbortion (SYA) presented a discussion with abortion provider Dr. Willie Parker and actress/activist Martha Plimpton.  Dr. Parker read from and spoke about his new book, Life’s Work: A Moral Argument for Choice, his Christian faith, and his life of personal and professional experience in abortion care. After speaking, he was joined in conversation by actress Martha Plimpton, well-known for her work as a film and theater actress (Goonies, Parenthood) as well as her staunch activism on abortion and reproductive rights.

Thanks to #ShoutYourAbortion and Seattle Town Hall
Recorded 6/6/17

Betsy Hartmann: Optimism is Essential for Social Change, Monday 7/24, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

We’re told to “be the change we want to see”—but what if we can’t see it? Tracing our nation’s fixation with doomsday from the Puritans to the present, author and Hampshire College professor Betsy Hartmann argues that fatalism and apocalyptic thinking is a curse on the American mindset that restricts our capacity to imagine social change. Her latest work, The America Syndrome: Apocalypse, War and Our Call to Greatness, presents an optimistic perspective that feels custom made for many of us in the current cultural moment: we have more control over the future than we think. Instead of imagining our doom, Hartmann helps us envision a better tomorrow.

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall and University Book Store
Recorded, 6/26/17

David Barsamian: Winning Independent Media, Monday 7/17, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

To celebrate KEPW community radio now broadcasting at 97.3 FM and on-line at www.kepw.org, Eugene PeaceWorks hosted a meet-and-greet event with award-winning radio host David Barsamian. His “Alternative Radio” show is heard on over 200 stations. KEPW successfully received an FCC broadcasting license after receiving $15,000 in donations from the community for equipment and installation.

One of America's most tireless and wide-ranging investigative journalists, David Barsamian has altered the independent media landscape, both with his weekly radio show Alternative Radio—now in its 30th year—and his books with Noam Chomsky, Eqbal Ahmad, Howard Zinn, Tariq Ali, Richard Wolff, Arundhati Roy and Edward Said. His forthcoming books are with Noam Chomsky and Arundhati Roy. He lectures on world affairs, imperialism, capitalism, propaganda, the media, the economic crisis and global rebellions.

David Barsamian is the winner of the Media Education Award, the ACLU's Upton Sinclair Award for independent journalism, and the Cultural Freedom Fellowship from the Lannan Foundation. The Institute for Alternative Journalism named him one of its Top Ten Media Heroes. He is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center. He has collaborated with the world-renowned Kronos Quartet in events in New York, London, Vienna and elsewhere.

Thanks to Eugene PeaceWorks & Tsunami Books
Camera by Todd Boyle, recorded 5/18/17

China Miéville: The Story of the Russian Revolution, Monday 7/10, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

In February 1917, in the midst of a bloody war, Russia was an autocratic monarchy. Nine months later, it was the first socialist state in world history. How did this remarkable transformation take place? Award-winning author China Miéville has long been inspired by the ideals of the Russian Revolution and now, on the centenary of the revolution, he provides his own distinctive take on this historic moment. October is the story of the extraordinary months between two massive upheavals and the forces and individuals who made them happen—from the urban centers to the remote villages of this sprawling empire. In conversation with The Evergrey editor and cofounder Monica Guzman, Miéville describes the Russian Revolution as a breathtaking story, as well as a political event of profound and ongoing consequence.

Thanks to Elliott Bay Book Company and Seattle Town Hall
Recorded 5/25/17

Naomi Klein with Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor in Seattle, Monday 7/3, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

RESISTING TRUMP’S SHOCK DOCTRINE with NAOMI KLEIN at the Neptune Theatre

Join us for a discussion of resistance in the Trump era with internationally acclaimed journalist and bestselling author Naomi Klein. The election of Donald Trump is a dangerous escalation in a world of cascading crises­. Trump’s vision–a radical deregulation of the U.S. economy in the interest of corporations, an all-out war on “radical Islamic terrorism,” and sweeping aside climate science to unleash a domestic fossil fuel frenzy–will generate wave after wave of crises and shocks, to the economy, to national security, to the environment. In her timely, very new book No Is Not Enough: Resisting Trump’s Shock Politics and Winning the World We Need (Haymarket), Naomi Klein explains that Trump, extreme as he is, is not an aberration but a logical extension of the worst and most dangerous trends of the past half-century. In exposing the malignant forces behind Trump’s rise, she puts forward a bold vision for a mass movement to counter rising militarism, nationalism, and corporatism in the US and around the world. 

Naomi Klein is the award-winning journalist and author of such books as This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, and No Logo. Hers is a vital voice for and in our times.

Naomi Klein was originally scheduled to be in discussion with Jessie Hagopian who had to cancel so to the audience's delight, Naomi was able to schedule a surprise appearance of noted scholar Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor author of From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation. Three weeks prior, Keeanga had to cancel her book talk in Seattle due to death threats. The discussion revolved around the essential role of racism in the neoliberal enterprise.

Thanks to: SEATTLE THEATRE GROUP, ELLIOTT BAY BOOK COMPANY, HAYMARKET BOOKS, and THE LEAP.
Recorded 6/22/17

Kate Moore: The Radium Girls, Monday 6/26, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

During World War I, and for several years afterward, hundreds of teenage girls and young women were employed to paint the tiny glowing numbers onto watch faces and mechanic dials using radium infused paint. They were instructed to lick their radium-covered paintbrushes to a fine point. The powder covered their bodies from head to toe, making them, literally, glow in the dark as they headed home from work at night. Years later, after they had stopped working in the factories, these women begin to suffer mysterious and deadly symptoms. Their teeth fell out. Their bones shattered. Their skin refused to heal. In conversation with Fred Hutchinson researcher Dr. Anne McTiernan, bestselling author Kate Moore discusses The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women. Discover how these dial painters took on the companies that made them sick, bringing nationwide attention to the importance of workplace safety standards.

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall & University Bookstore
Recorded 5/19/17

Manolo De Los Santos: U.S.-Cuba Relations in the Age of Trump, Monday 6/19, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

This April the Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan passed through Seattle on its way to Cuba carrying much need supplies and medicine. As usual, Pastors for Peace and the Seattle/Cuba Friendship Committee organized an event. For 28 years, the Pastors for Peace have staged this act of civil disobedience in the spirit of the US civil rights movement, by committing the civil offence of unlicensed travel to Cuba. In the years 2005 and 2006 all adult Caravanistas received threatening letters from the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the department of the US Treasury responsible for implementing the US economic blockade of Cuba, though in the end no further action was taken. Since then there has been nothing, but it cannot be predicted what stance the incoming Trump administration will take.

Although President Obama finally lifted many aspects of the travel ban in the face of ostracization by the OAS, many people may not realize that the economic embargo is still in place. 

Manolo De Los Santos, an American born theology/philosophy student in Cuba spoke on U.S.-Cuba relations in the age of Trump. The talk is followed by a short Cuban film dubbed in English about the US military occupation of Guantanamo Bay: 
"Todo Guantánamo es nuestro" (All Guantanamo is Ours). 

Manolo De Los Santos is on the Pastors for Peace staff a member of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization.

Recorded April 17, 2017 at El Centro de la Raza in Seattle
Thanks to the Seattle/Cuba Friendship Committee

Ilan Pappé: Prospects for Peace: Facts and Fiction, Monday 6/5, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Internationally known historian and author Dr. Ilan Pappé is a native son of Israel and a former senior lecturer of history and political science at Haifa University. Since 2008 he has been on the faculty at the University of Exeter, U.K. The author of 12 books, Dr. Pappé is well known for his scholarship and commentary on the Middle East, especially the history of Israel and Palestine. His most recent publication is Ten Myths About Israel.. Pappe’s meticulous research examines the socio-political outcomes of the creation and nature of the State of Israel. He traces the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and raises compelling questions around the injustice done to the indigenous Palestinians who were forced to migrate or live as an occupied people in their own land.

Dr. Pappé was joined in conversation by:

Mary Segall, peace activist, international health consultant and 
Chairperson of the Kairos Puget Sound Coalition.

Dr. Alice Rothchild, medical doctor, film maker, educator and author of Condition Critical: Life and Death in Israel/Palestine.

John McKay, former U.S. Attorney, teaches at Seattle University,
was chief of team for the Rule of Law Project in the West Bank 2013-15.

Presented by: Diocese of Olympia, Episcopal Bishop’s Committee for Israel/Palestine with support from Kairos Puget Sound Coalition.

Recorded 5/23/17 at Seattle Town Hall

Tax the Rich! Town Hall with Kshama Sawant & Trump-Proof Seattle, Monday 5/29, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

For those who missed it, this is the long version [complete 2 hr] of the town hall at Washington Hall, Seattle 5/18/17. This event was organized by Councilmember Kshama Sawant, Seattle Transit Riders Union/Trump-Proof Seattle, the Greater Seattle Neighborhood Action Coalition, & 350 Seattle who are organizing for a city income tax to address the massively unfair tax system in Washington State and make the overly abundant number millionaires and billionaires pay more of their fair share. These town halls are being organized in every city council district. This one features Socialist Alternative Councilmember from District 3, Kshama Sawant and several guest speakers addressing different aspects of the issue. In order of appearance:

Daniel Goodman, Kshama Sawant, Ty Nolan, Reverend Jeffrey, KJ Moon, Katie Wilson, Ramy Khalil, Kelly Lyons, Jesse Hagopian, Ximena Velazquez-Arenas, Betiel Desta & Abdinasir Elmi, Kailyn Nicholson, and Scott Myers.

Jeb Wyman: The Invisible Scars of Ordinary Soldiers, Monday 5/22, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

The untold, invisible wounds of war have far-reaching effects. For many soldiers, sharing their stories can be cathartic. Seattle Central College professor Jeb Wyman found that to be true while teaching former Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. This launch event for What They Signed Up For will highlight stories from servicemembers and expose some of the hidden costs of war. Hear about the deaths of soldiers, wounds inflicted by roadside bombs, civilian casualties, starting over after conflict, and the haunting experiences of war, from veterans whose stories appear in the book. Wyman will explain the project, how it has helped the veterans he’s encountered, and explain what the average citizen can—and should—do about this psychological toll. 

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall, recorded 2/17/16

Hedrick Smith: Aftershocks From the Populist Earthquake of 2016, Monday 5/8, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

November 2016 brought a political earthquake, and our country is still feeling the aftershocks. Far from the usual polar clash of left vs. right, conservative vs. liberal, Republican vs. Democrat, it was the most dramatic populist rebellion in American politics since the election of Andrew Jackson, and both major parties were shaken by mass mutinies against “the power elite.” Hedrick Smith, a Pulitzer Prize-winning former New York Times reporter, returns to Town Hall to consider whether President Trump and the Republican majorities in Congress will be able to deliver on their promises of a better deal for working- and middle-class Americans; or will the fractious style of the new President and the conflicting ideologies at work within the Republican Party will do the opposite—widen divisions in American society, increase economic inequalities and sharpen public demands for more basic reforms in our political system.

Hedrick Smith is the author of several best-selling books including, Who Stole the American Dream?

Thanks to Elliot Bay Books and Seattle Town Hall
Recorded May 1st, 2017

David Callahan: Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy, Monday 5/1, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

When “doing good” starts to look like protecting one’s self interest, it’s a tricky business. While famous philanthropists like Bill Gates and Charles Koch are closely scrutinized, thousands of wealthy donors are at work below the radar promoting a wide range of causes. In The Givers: Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age, author and lecturer David Callahan charts the rise of new power players and the ways they are shaping our society. In conversation with Paul Shoemaker, the founding president of the international philanthropy group Social Venture Partners, Callahan will discuss the how this elite sect is impacting education, the environment, science, LGBTQ rights, and, in particular, government policy. Callahan makes the case that the influence of big givers is just beginning, as new waves of billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg establish their own initiatives and foundations. Based on extensive research and interviews with countless donors and policy experts, this is not an argument for or against philanthropy, but an investigation of a power shift in American society that has implications for all of us.

Recorded 4/20/17
Thanks to Seattle Town Hall and Elliott Bay Books

Thomas Frank: Why Democrats Lose, Monday 4/24, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Thomas Frank’s Listen Liberal: Or What Ever Happened to the Party of the People, published in March of 2016, was named as one of “6 Books to Help Understand Trump’s Win” by the New York Times. Frank (bestselling author of What’s the Matter with Kansas? and The Wrecking Crew) made a name for himself for his scathing critiques of Republicans. Now he turns his attention to his own party, arguing that liberals have lost sight of their goal to be a party that champions equity. To support his claim he points out that, after years of occupying the White House, the Democrats have done little to advance traditional liberal goals: expanding opportunity, fighting for social justice, and ensuring that workers get a fair deal. Indeed, the decline of the middle class has only accelerated. Wall Street gets its bailouts, wages keep falling, and the free-trade deals keep coming. In this low point for the Democratic party, Frank reminds them of their historic stance and contends that renewing those commitments is the only way to reverse the ever-deepening rift between the rich and the poor in America.

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall and Elliott Bay Books
Recorded 4/18/17

Ganesh Sitaraman: A Constitution for Economic Equality,  Monday 4/17, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Many Americans worry about the economic divisions in our country. In The Crisis of the Middle-Class Constitution, law professor Ganesh Sitaraman describes the founding generation of our country as a society of almost unprecedented economic equality. In conversation with Paul Constant of Civic Ventures and The Seattle Review of Books, he will discuss the intent of our founders and the fact that the Constitution they created does not include safeguards against capitalist extremes. Despite the belief that equality was essential for the preservation of our democracy, the U.S. Constitution lacks provisions to prevent the upper class from seizing power. Now that the wealthy are doing just that, Sitaraman asserts that Americans face a choice: Will we accept rising economic inequality or will we rebuild the middle class and reclaim our republic?

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall and Elliott Bay Books
Recorded 3/22/17

Alison McDowell: Future Ready Schools,  Monday 4/10, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

This extraordinary event features Jonathan Rosenblum and Steve Early, two labor organizers and reporters who have written books about recent U.S. labor battles. In conversation with Lynne Dodson, secretary treasurer of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, the two authors discuss the successes and the challenges of the movements they have covered and the role of Labor in the age of Trump.

Seattle-based Rosenblum’s Beyond $15 reveals an insider’s view of SeaTac’s fight for a $15 minimum wage. Rosenblum shares firsthand accounts from the grassroots movement, including the face-to-face confrontations between corporate leaders and airport workers and the challenges of uniting a diverse, largely immigrant workforce.

Early’s book Refinery Town tells the story of Richmond, California, home to one of the largest oil refineries in the state. This working class town, made up of 100,000 largely nonwhite residents, fought big oil to reclaim their community after decades of poverty, substandard housing, and poorly funded public education.

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall and Elliott Bay Books
Recorded 3/21/17

Rosenblum, Early, and Dodson: Labor Movements that Work,  Monday 4/3, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

This extraordinary event features Jonathan Rosenblum and Steve Early, two labor organizers and reporters who have written books about recent U.S. labor battles. In conversation with Lynne Dodson, secretary treasurer of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, the two authors discuss the successes and the challenges of the movements they have covered and the role of Labor in the age of Trump.

Seattle-based Rosenblum’s Beyond $15 reveals an insider’s view of SeaTac’s fight for a $15 minimum wage. Rosenblum shares firsthand accounts from the grassroots movement, including the face-to-face confrontations between corporate leaders and airport workers and the challenges of uniting a diverse, largely immigrant workforce.

Early’s book Refinery Town tells the story of Richmond, California, home to one of the largest oil refineries in the state. This working class town, made up of 100,000 largely nonwhite residents, fought big oil to reclaim their community after decades of poverty, substandard housing, and poorly funded public education.

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall and Elliott Bay Books
Recorded 3/21/17

Camille Paglia: Free Women, Free Men,  Monday 3/27, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

The groundbreaking author of "Sexual Personae" will talk about her new collection of essays, "Free Women, Free Men: Sex, Gender, Feminism" that both celebrates and challenges modern feminism.

When Camille Paglia first burst onto the scene with her best-selling "Sexual Personae," she established herself as a smart, fearless, and often dissenting voice among feminists. Now, for the first time, her best essays on the subject are gathered together in one concise volume. Whether she’s declaring Madonna the future of feminism, asking if men are obsolete, calling for equal opportunity for American women years before the founding of N.O.W., or urging all women to love football, Paglia can always be counted on to get a discussion started. The rock-solid intellectual foundation beneath her fiery words assures her timeless relevance. 

Paglia is the University Professor of Humanities and Media Studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. A regular contributor to Salon.com, she is the author of "Glittering Images;" "Break, Blow, Burn;" :Sexual Personae;" "Sex, Art, and American Culture;" and "Vamps & Tramps."

Recorded 3/20/17 Thanks to Seattle Public Library and Elliott Bay Books

Post-Incarceration, the Long Road Back,  Monday 3/20, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

The program opens with an overview of current initiatives by the WA DoC to address problems of inmate transition from Devon Schrum, who has served more than 20 years with the WA Department of Corrections in a broad array of positions from entry level typist to operating a prison. She is regularly recognized for the ability to design and implement statewide systems. As the Assistant Secretary for the Reentry Division, Devon is working with others to build a statewide approach to recidivism reduction including designing, implementing, and maintaining a continuum of care for the men and women transitioning from confinement into the community. 

After that, two former inmates shared their heart-wrenching and eye opening stories of what it was like to try to start a new life after incarceration and the almost insurmountable obstacles that they faced. The audience members got answers to many questions, for example:
Did you know that Pierce County collects their debts through a debt collection agency?
Where do the monies go after Pierce County receives it?
Can a landlord deny housing after a background check shows you are a former inmate?

This event was hosted by the City Club of Tacoma. Recorded 2/15/17

Joel Berg and Matt Taibbi: Finding Common Ground in America,  Monday 3/13, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

"Insane Clown President: Dispatches from the 2016 Circus" is a series of essays by political journalist and bestselling author Matt Taibbi telling the story of Western civilization’s current political tangle and presenting an eerie take on our democracy’s uncertain future. Years before the clown car of candidates was fully loaded, the essential themes of this story were all in place: the power of spectacle over substance; the absence of a shared reality; the nihilistic rebellion of the white working class; the death of the political establishment; and the emergence of a new, explicit form of white nationalism.

Joel Berg’s book, " America We Need to Talk: A Self-Help Book for the Nation", starts with the premise that our most important relationship is with our country. Berg, an author, advocate, and political expert makes the case that we must stop blaming the nation’s problems solely on “the politicians” or “the system” and take personal responsibility to solve them. Berg walks a fine line, offering both a parody of self-help books and a sobering analysis of the nation’s political and economic dysfunction.

The two authors discuss the subjects of their books and participate in a joint Q & A with the audience after they speak.

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall and Third Place Books
Recorded 3/2/17

Jeff Robinson: ACLU v. Donald Trump,  Monday 3/6, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

ACLU of Washington has been putting on a series of community discussions of important civil rights issues over locally brewed beer. With the election of Trump, the series has morphed into a major event with over 300 participants. This is the first of the newly branded "Flights & Rights" series and features National ACLU Deputy Legal Director, Jeff Robinson who discuss the ACLU’s plan to protect the rights of all people in the era of Trump. Robinson is introduced by ACLU-WA Deputy Director Michele Storms.

Recorded 2/28/17 at 415 Westlake event center

Florence Williams: Your Brain on Nature,  Monday 2/27, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

For centuries, creative thinkers have extolled the benefits of time spent in nature: Beethoven drew inspiration from rocks and trees. Wordsworth composed while tromping over the heath. Nikola Tesla conceived the electric motor while visiting a park. Intrigued by our storied renewal in the natural world, journalist Florence Williams has set out to uncover the science behind nature’s positive effects on the brain. Combining cutting-edge research with anecdotal evidence from around the world, The Nature Fix demonstrates that our connection to nature is much more important to our cognition than we think and that even small amounts of exposure to the living world can improve our creativity and enhance our mood. Williams’ findings show that time outdoors is not a luxury but is in fact essential to our humanity. As our modern lives shift dramatically indoors, these findings seem more important than ever. REI’s Rob Discher will join her onstage for a moderated Q & A.

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall & University Bookstore
Recorded 2/15/17

Prabhjot Singh: Dying and Living in the Neighborhood,  Monday 2/20, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Dr. Prabhjot Singh is on a mission to makes healthcare more accessible. His “a-ha moment” came as he attended the funeral of one of his patients where he saw the man in context of his life and community, rather than the bare facts included on his chart. Singh realized that this man’s death had been the result of the collective failure of many systems—education, mental health, neighborhood safety, job placement, veteran support. In Dying and Living in the Neighborhood, Singh insists that we must discard our top-down approach to the healthcare system and that regardless of our leadership, the solutions won’t come from our government. We must rebuild our system from the neighborhood up. He discusses a variety of issues, including: skyrocketing healthcare costs; increased chronic health issues; and the possible impacts of a Trump presidency on healthcare reform as well as shares details about his work with neighborhood groups and community leaders in Harlem where they successfully implemented a neighborhood-based health system using cutting-edge technologies.

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall and Third Place Books
Recorded 1/26/17

Lance Bennett: Economic and Democratic System Breakdown,  Monday 2/13, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

This is the opening in a series if lectures given by Lance Bennett titled, "The American Global Challenge: Aligning Economy, Democracy and Environment in the 21st Century". Dr. Bennett is Professor of Political Science and the Ruddick C. Lawrence Professor of Communication at the UW in Seattle. The full title of the talk is "System Breakdown: Economy and Democracy in Crisis". This unedited version contains the entire talk with Q&A. 

Life quality for growing numbers of people on the planet is threatened by a set of systemic problems. The global economy is not working well for people or the environment. Economic policies across the political spectrum rely on unrealistic expectations about economic growth and resource consumption. America and many other democracies face policy gridlock, breakdowns in representation, and voter anger. How did we get here? What can be done to address these great challenges of our time? This lecture series examines the prospects for realigning our economic, environmental and political systems in light of the outcomes of the 2016 elections:

Professor Bennett is the founder and Director of the Center for Communication and Civic Engagement. CCCE. His areas of interest include press-government relations, youth civic learning and engagement, and the roles of digital media in public life. He is a National Communication Association Distinguished Scholar, and recipient of the Ithiel de Sola Pool and Murray Edelman awards of the American Political Science Association. The University of Washington has recognized his work integrating research, learning, and public service with the James D. Clowes Award for the Advancement of Learning Communities.

Recorded 1/17/17 at Kane Hall, University of Washington
Thanks to the Center for Communication and Civic Engagement

Sarah van Gelder: The Revolution Where You Live,  Monday 1/30, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

The revolution starts now, from wherever we are and need to be (marches in Washington, Standing Rock, and right here). Bainbridge Island writer/activist and co-founder of Yes! Magazine Sarah Van Gelder talks about activism and emerging new alternative economies across the land and her new book, The Revolution Where You Live: Stories from a 12,000 Mile Journey Through a New America.

Recorded 1/23/17 at Elliott Bay Bookstore

Richard Gammon: Update on Climate Science,  Monday 1/23, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Richard Gammon, an Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, Oceanography, and Adjunct Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington describes recent scientific findings that are likely to prompt amendments to the 2013 forecasts of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 

Dr. Gammon’s contributions to climate science include measuring atmospheric carbon dioxide at a global network of monitoring sites for NOAA, publishing dozens of articles on greenhouse gas cycles in relation to climate and climate change, and many impactful presentations on climate topics for scientific and lay audience.

Thanks to the University Unitarian Climate Action Team
Recorded 1/10/17

Gary Taubes: The Case Against Sugar,  Monday 1/16, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Sugar is being called the new tobacco. Recent revelations exposed the sugar industry’s backroom cover-up of the harmful effects of this pervasive ingredient. Decades ago scientists were paid thousands of dollars to mislead the public into believing that fat should be avoided, when in fact, sugar causes a multitude of health problems and behavioral issues. Diabetes is more prevalent today than ever before and obesity is at epidemic proportions, especially amongst children. In The Case Against Sugar, science writer Gary Taubes (Why We Get Fat) delves into America’s history with sugar. He explains what research has shown about our addiction to sweets. He clarifies the arguments against sugar, corrects misconceptions about its relationship to weight; and provides perspective for making informed decisions about it. 

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall and University Bookstore
Recorded 1/6/17

Dr. Riyadh Lafta: Life in Baghdad Today,  Monday 1/9, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Dr. Riyadh Lafta, a Professor of Medicine at Mustansiriya College of Medicine in Baghdad, Iraq, in collaboration with the University of Washington Department of Global Health has been doing research on the decline in health of Iraqis after the US invasion.

Thanks to Amy Hagopian and the University of Washington Department of Global Health
Recorded 10/27/16

Hanna Brooks Olsen: Why Do We Vote The Way We Do?,  Monday 1/2, Thurs. 1pm, Sat. Morning 12am on SCM

Why did you vote the way you did—and who helped you make your decision? Between fake Facebook news, the domination of cable news personalities, and the rapid shrinking of local media outlets, it’s harder than ever to figure out how we even feel about an issue. Often, we turn to trusted sources…like our friends and family. But what does that mean for our ballots?

Join Town Hall Scholar-in-Residence, policy wonk, and Seattlish co-founder Hanna Brooks Olsen for an original talk on the subject of trust and voting, followed by an interactive conversation about the role of the news, social media, and community spaces (like Town Hall!) in politics, both local and national.

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall
Recorded 12/13/16